Page 64 of The Splendor of Fire
A hand came to her shoulder and he spoke in a clear, firm voice. “You chose to go back to Dun Ringill. You wanted to get information, and in that you have succeeded. Because of you my brother and his family are safe and well. Because of you we have been a more effective fighting unit. But you chose to accept certain risks. If you are so reckless that you will act on your own and not heed my orders, you will return with me to Lochbuie right now.”
He was right. She’d insisted that she live at Dun Ringill and use her position to gather information, and known the risks—believing she could handle them.
His hands signed as he spoke. “You have done well, Moira. Léo is out of prison because you were able to sway Niall to go to him. That is great power, and that is why I know you are capable of following orders and finding ways to keep yourself safe. And it is my expectation that if you’re in danger, you leave immediately.”
She nodded and looked at her shoes.
“What’s wrong? There’s something more weighing on you.”
I will be punished.
Hector copied her motion, sweeping his finger across his arm. “What does that mean?”
P-U-N-I-S-H.
“What do you mean, punished? I’ve told you I forgive you, and my expectations going forward.”
God will punish me, and I’m afraid.
“Of God?”
Yes.
“What do you think he will do?”
Moira blew out a breath, and considered sharing her story with him. Out of loyalty to Father, she bit her lip and collapsed into a plush chair beside the fire.I don’t know. When I was a small child he took my voice because I didn’t heed my family. He took my mother because I didn’t pray hard enough for her when she went to Dun Ringill. He took my father because I… I kissed Léo.It took all her self-control not to cover her face in embarrassment.
Hector looked amused and he chuckled. “You kissed Léo?”
She nodded.He kissed me…twice. Well three times. Maybe more. I lost count.
Hector’s face looked doubtful. “And you think God allowed your father to die because…Léo kissed you?”
When he said it with that tone he made it sound ridiculous.We were alone. It wasn’t right. Father thought I was taking care of Léo and I betrayed his trust in me.
“It was lust?”
No.
“It was love?”
She began to sign no, then stopped, the truth dawning on her.
“Moira?”
She signed to herself as much as Hector.I’m in love with Léo.
“All this happened in prison?”
Yes. In a few visits. We kissed the first time we met. I believed I was merely infatuated with him.
“The first time? Well…he has always had that effect on women. Even when he was seventeen.”
No. I told you, he kissed me.He was out of his head with fever. He called me Théa. The second time we met he insulted me and couldn’t remember my name. Called me M-O-R-A-G.
Hector laughed and then stifled it, noticing the seriousness of her expression.
The third time, he smelled me and gave me the message for you.
