Page 115 of The Splendor of Fire
She gave a silent chuckle.You murdered my father. You murdered my mother. You kidnapped me for your leman.
“And I never took you by force.” Hurt formed in his muddy brown eyes. The man thought he was being a good person for not adding rape to his list of sins.
A plan quickly took shape in her mind. If she could stay alive for another few days, Léo and Hector might come for her. She might make it to Michaelmas.
Allowing herself to feel the throbbing in her scalp, nose, fingers, jaw, and stomach, she let tears form in her eye.I did it because you hurt me, Niall. How could you?
For a moment his face softened. “Moira…”
Fingon slapped her. “Don’t listen to this hogswallop. She’s taking advantage of your feelings.” Taking her arm in his hands, he pulled her so close to him she could smell his sour breath. “During the attack on the Wolf’s stores, Léo said he was attacked. There was a shadow on his jaw where he’d been hit. Was that your handiwork?”
Yes.
Suspicion crept back into Niall’s expression any time Léo was mentioned.
She scratched her answer and grinned, knowing it was partially true.He’s an interfering French toad—all the MacKinnons disgust me.
Nothing could ever make her give up her team and her mission. Her responsibility to their safety in this moment was greater than her own.
Fingon scoffed. “Why did he mistake you for a small man?”
She shrugged.
Without warning, Niall lunged at her, taking her down to the rotten rush floor. He bellowed at her, and spit hit her in her face. “You betrayed me with my brother! That’s why you stayed and didn’t leave when you had a chance!” He brought the horseshoe down on the crown of her head.
Stars filled her eyes and pain shot down her spine. The horseshoe came down again.
“Because of you the Wolf is ready to have me killed.” The horseshoe came down again and she felt warm moisture trickle down her scalp.
“Because of you my treasury is at the bottom of the sea.” He brought down the horseshoe again and she couldn’t see. Oh God, help her, she couldn’t see!
“Everything was going well until you came to Dun Ringill!” Again and again he hit her. His voice faded away. She couldn’t hear.
Lord, I cannot see, hear, or speak. Help me, God.She felt her soul growing weak.Help me, God!
The world fell away from her and she felt herself being lifted and laid away. They were getting rid of her body. She was dying.
Somewhere, amid the dying ember of her life, she heard Léo’s voice. Praying fervently in his soft French. “Dieu, interviens toi-même et sauve-moi…Agis avec puissance pour me rendre justice…Ecoute ma prière, ô Dieu, prête attention à mes paroles…”
No light penetrated her sightless eyes, but his words were close to her ear, and she could recognize them. Comfort and peace surrounded her. “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life…”
Lord, keep him safe. Get him to Gabriel. Let him love again.
Letting go, she fell into the dark void of death.
Chapter 36
COAST OF SKYE - SEPTEMBER 28, 1385
Misting rain fell fine upon the Hebridean Sea as Calum navigated the merchant vessel over the tossing waves. They’d been sailing for two hours and Cràdh was still six hours away. The fast-moving water didn’t bode well for the attack later that morning, and he prayed the psalm over Aileen again. Getting her back was all he wanted, the rest of it didn’t matter.
Hector looped his plaid over himself to keep the mist off his head. The distinctive sea-blue garment made by his wife during the time Léo had tried courting her made him smile, despite his desperation.
“It’s good tae see a smile on your face. What are you thinking of?”
“Cara.”
Hector frowned, and for the barest second, jealousy passed over his face.
