Page 47 of Bride of Fire
“Honestly, Jen, let it be. We need to make a plan.”
Jenefer had a plan. She intended to send Morgan Mor mac Giric packing to the Highlands. The sooner, the better.
The man was infuriating. For one moment, she’d thought he might actually have a heart beating in his chest. Now she knew he was as cold as chain mail.
“As I was trying to say,” Feiyan continued, “if he only sent one tracker, then Hallie likely wasn’t found.”
Thatwasgood news. “I suppose we’ll know soon enough if she made it to Rivenloch.”
“Aye, and now we know the Highlanders’ strength.”
“Thatwasquite clever, Feiy,” she had to admit, “getting all that out of the maidservant.”
Feiyan smiled with pride.
Jenefer sighed. “I hope Bethac’s grandson doesn’t become a casualty of the siege.”
Feiyan shrugged. “He’s a soldier. He knows the risks.”
“Aye, but ’twill be hard to convince her to stay here if the knights kill her kin.”
“Stay here? Jen, what are you talking about?”
“I’m taking the babe.”
“What?” Feiyan’s eyes were as round as an owl’s.
“And ’twould be good to have a maidservant who knows a thing or two about babes.”
“You can’t just take the babe!” Feiyan hissed.
“Why not?”
“For one thing, the laird would tear Rivenloch apart looking for him.”
Jenefer gave her a puzzled laugh. “Why would he do that? He doesn’t even like the child.”
“The hell he doesn’t. Why do you think he stormed in the way he did?”
Jenefer flinched in surprise. Then she bit the corner of her lip. Morganhadseemed excessively upset that Bethac had brought the lad here. She assumed it was because he hated being disobeyed.
“Besides,” Feiyan added, “I think the babe’s mother might have something to say about that.”
“That’s just it. He doesn’t have a mother. She’s dead.”
“Wait.” Feiyan stared at her for a long while and then bit back a smile. “You don’t thinkyouare going to be his mother, Jen?”
“Of course not.”
Still, the scornful, mocking look Feiyan gave her and the cruel laughter afterward felt like a kick in the gut.
Why Feiyan’s words should bother her, she didn’t know. But ire suddenly blazed in her like fire on a hot forge.
Before Feiyan knew what was coming, Jenefer gave her a shove that made her tumble back onto the bed.
“What the…” Feiyan began.
Another skirmish might have started then, but from outside the window came a distant cry. “Aim! Draw! Loose!”
