Page 56 of The Splendor of Fire
“You ask too high a price for a prophecy. I can give you your old room and a position equal to Gordon running the granaries. He can watch after you, and you can watch after him. If your interpretation is true, and your loyalties are proven, then I will consider further gifts.”
Malvina and Gordon both sprang to their feet, protesting the sudden turn of events.
Gordon recovered first. “Have you forgotten he’s a prisoner?—”
Niall pushed Moira off his lap and she tumbled onto the floor as he squared off with Gordon. Léo’s eyes locked on hers for the first time and he shifted forward in his seat.
“No. And I haven’t forgotten your under harvest, either,” Niall snapped. “My brother may be traitorous, but he understands how to conduct a proper reaping. His experience with the King of France would benefit me, and his eyes on you would be surety that you don’t fail me again.”
Léo drained his glass and waved it at her. “More.”
At least he had not added wench. Befuddled, she got to her feet and refilled the empty goblet. For a moment, he had taken notice of her.
Léo bargained. “I want clothes. And a sword.”
“I can get your trunk out of storage, and your estoc was in Elspeth’s things that arrived from Lochindorb.”
Moira walked the glass of wine back to Léo and he gave her a look of disgust as he took the glass.
Confused, swallowing her urge to cry, she sat back down next to Niall and let him lean his sweaty body over her and kiss her lips deeply. Léo would be delivered from prison—she ought to rejoice. Yet her heart was crushed. Whatever they had once shared was gone.
Ardis pushed into the room with a tray of pastries. Léo’s eyes flicked over her. “I want a woman as well.”
Ardis placed the tray down and came forward, her dark hair setting off the fairness of her skin, the blue of her eyes, and the red of her lip. She leaned her bosom toward Léo and smiled. What woman wouldn’t smile with a man so handsome interested in her?
“I would bemosthappy to oblige.”
“Bon.” The pleased little word ground her heart beneath his heel.
Moira’s chest tightened and her throat constricted. She looked awayat the ragged crack in the plaster trying to appear like the empty-headed fool every person in this room thought she was.
“I’d not mind a special attendant myself while here.” All eyes flew to Gordon, everyone having forgotten he was even in the room. “Perhaps Moira has some time to see to my needs.”
Horrified, she shifted beside Niall, praying he wouldn’t be so cruel.
“That—” said Niall his tone menacing, “is out of the question. She is far too busy every afternoon and night pleasing me.” Ardis, Gordon, Malvina, and Léo all stared at her. Two expressions of interest, one of disgust, one of deep disappointment.
Leo scoffed. “What, the mornings are devoted to prayer?”
Niall set his glass on the side table with a thunk. “Hold your tongue or you’ll go back to Cràdh.”
Thoroughly humiliated, she barely hung onto her composure. Niall caught her expression and his sweaty hand caressed her cheek. “Don’t listen to him, my prize.”
Léo’s expression became flinty. “Tell me your dream or I might as well return.”
Niall tightened his hold on her. “A lion, thick with mane and muscled of body, walked straight out of Loch Slapin. He made his home in the rushes and waited to pounce upon Dun Ringill.”
Chill prickled her scalp as she listened to Niall describe his dream aloud, the dream he had told her weeks ago, the dream she was certain came from God.
“Patiently he waits in the rushes, and I know he is there, but I cannae scare him away. After a time a unicorn comes out of the loch as well. The unicorn is malevolent and unable to be controlled, he tramples upon any man in his path and consumes them when they’re dead. After the unicorn has consumed everyone around Dun Ringill he lunges at the lion, but the lion springs from the rushes and devours the unicorn. Just before I wake, an eagle descends from the air, shooting fire from its beak, the flames consuming Dun Ringill and everything around it but the lion. I have told it to all the servants and to Father McElduff in Kyleakin, but no one can interpret it.”
The two lines above Léo’s right eyebrow deepened. “God isrevealing to you what he is about to do. Unicorns represent your power and ideals, and the lion represents courage and strength.”
Niall barked with laughter. “I thought you would tell me that the lion represented you, and the unicorn represented me.”
When Niall told Moira his dream it was the first thought that came to her mind. Léo the lion, and Niall the unicorn, because he aligned himself with Scotland.
Léo chuckled. “They’re symbols of the clan. The lion, the unicorn, and the eagle. The lion is the strength of the clan, the unicorn is the ambition of the clan, and the eagle, the hope of the clan.”
