Page 130 of Ironling
“My lady,” he said, “forgive the delay.”
“Connor, what’s happened?” Sorcha demanded, trying to turn his face so she could inspect his cut.
He ignored his sister, his expression grave. Aislinn already knew what he’d say when he continued, “I was found by the mercenaries and held prisoner, meant for ransom. I escaped when we crossed into the Crown Forest.”
“Then…”
Connor nodded. “Jerrod is coming. They’re four, maybe five days behind me at most.”
Knowing what he would say still didn’t prepare her for its impact. It hit Aislinn deep in the chest, where she’d pushed all her hurts and pains.
Jerrod was coming to attack her and their home. Her own brother.
Everything she’d thought, everything she’d done—wrong.
Panic stampeded through her, crushing her windpipe. Her next breath brought her no air, and in the next she was gasping. The worries and fears and decisions pressed all around her, caving in her chest.
Her knees wobbled before buckling. Someone caught her before she went down—someone else said her name.
No, no, not here.
Not now. Not in front of everyone.
Tears gushed, clogging her nose, and her vision went bright with bursts of blue and green.
No no no no—
Hakon stood from his place at the table, dinner forgotten. He’d hardly touched it, watching the volleying between Aislinn and Bayard while trying to read lips.
Before Connor Brádaigh walked into the hall, hardly recognizable.
Pulse throbbing so hard it nearly choked him, Hakon watched as a small group gathered around Aislinn and Connor. Words were said he didn’t catch. And Aislinn nearly went down.
Brenna caught her and began to lead her out of the hall.
A gasp swirled through the staff.
Fia too jumped to her feet, hopping over the bench.
“Fia,” he begged before she could leave.
She looked at him with wide, scared eyes before nodding once.
He followed on her heels as they made for the far side of the hall, passing a growing group of knights and an agitated Bayard, who was being kept back.
Captain Aodhan waved Fia through but stopped Hakon.
“He can come,” said Fia.
Hakon barely waited for the captain’s approval, pushing past into the corridor. A door to the right was open, leading into a storeroom. Extra chairs and tables sat draped in cloth, a fine layer of dust blanketing it all.
Just inside, Connor, Sorcha, and Orek had gathered in a semicircle around Brenna, who held Aislinn by the shoulders. Fia rushed forward, only to stop and join the others watching asAislinn sobbed and gasped and wailed—and Brenna shook her.
“Be calm!” cried the chatelain. “Aislinn, look at me! Calm yourself!”
But Aislinn was lost to her tears, her head thrashing violently back and forth as fat tears rolled down her cheeks.
Brenna shook harder. “Stop it! Stop now!”
