Page 33 of The Splendor of Fire
Calum looked green and sat down on the ground. “I go’ shoogly just watching that.” Angus gave an aye of agreement.
Iain rushed over and felt the muscles in her arms. “I doony see wha’ the stooshie is aboot. Feel thoose muscles. Tha’ was incredible, lass.”
Moira put two fingers to her mouth and opened and closed it mimicking a beak. She pursed her lips and gave a perfect cuckoo call, then changed her breath and sang the linnet song, then the frenzied call of the skylark, then mouthedBirdy.
Hector’s eyes were as round as orbs. “That sounded like three differentdistinctive birds.”
Iain copied the beak sign. “Bairdee?”
She nodded and sat down next to David, accepting a skin of water from him.
Calum recovered and got to his feet. “I ken one thing. She is the sixth member o’ the Shield. If she goes back to Skye she can get information on what the Wolf and the MacKinnons are about. She could create maps and pictures of what they are doing. She could help get Léo out of Cràdh.”
Hector shook his head. “We don’t want to put him, or her, in danger. Six months in Cràdh, Léo will be a shadow of who he was physically.” He looked to her for confirmation and she nodded. He would need much time to regain his strength.
Calum continued to push. “If they’re planning an uprising, we can help them.”
Hector still looked skeptical. “The plan sounds rash. It may be best to aid him and the other prisoners with food or supplies and see where we are in a few months. Niall may get lazier as time goes on and give an opening. Our priority must be getting Léo to his son and not getting him, or anyone else, killed in the process.”
Calum sobered and she knew that he must be feeling the disappointment and frustration of not being able to save his friend.
She rose and tapped Hector on his shoulder. Resolutely, she mouthed four words.I want to help.
He considered her but shook his head. “Do you realize what committing to the Shield will mean? It will require much more than working to help Léo. We do this for all of the citizens of the Islands and Highlands.”
What he spoke of was not revenge as her father sought. It was for the protection of others, a holy call. Enthusiastically she pulled paper and charcoal from her bag and sketched her thoughts, arguing her side.
Let me stay while we wait for the return message from France. I will teach you all my signs so you know much more than basic communication. Teach me everything you need me to know to be a part of your team. I promise I will work hard. I want to defeat what Léo was on a mission to defeat. Let me serve in his place. I promise I will not let you down.
Hector’s expression softened and he put two fingers to his lips and moved them like a beak. “Birdy?”
The men put their fingers to their lips and moved them. “Birdy.”
Chapter 10
CRÀDH PRISON - AUGUST 30, 1384
Sunset burned across the open sea spending its last rays of brilliant daylight. Sitting on the stairs at the bottom of the tower with the door opened wide, Léo drank in the last glow of sun.
Desire to reclaim the role his father had given him had not increased by one measure in the passing weeks, despite Mowbray and Father Allen’s daily pleas for revenge. Without Gabriel, without Moira, without purpose, all he could feel was tired. Emptied of physical strength, soul-wearied, he was fully dependent on the will of God. No cause but surviving until nightfall seemed important anymore.
It had been two months since he’d last seen Moira, since he’d lost himself in the scent of her skin. But nightly her still company beside him in the dream called him to remain hopeful that she would return soon. She was his only comfort now, as she had been in those long, terrible days after Pontvallain—her thoughts audible to his heart even though she did not speak.You are not alone.
Looking across the purple velvet skies, desperate now to see her again, he spoke a plea to the voice in his heart. “Moira.”
Vitality draining away, certain his hope of seeing Gabriel was lost, he longed to see her and spend his last days learning the heart of the woman who had saved his life, who’d sewn the clothes on his back, putreal food in his stomach, given him his son’s face, and sailed across the Hebrides to try and help him.
What lay in that heart that she would save him, care for him, comfort him, and help him, when she didn’t know him and he didn’t know her? Daily he pondered over the mysteries in her character, looking ahead instead of behind, and God help him, he wanted more.
Craving a taste of hope, he dropped his voice and begged the unseen presence on which he’d come to depend. “Just a drop will suffice.”
Movement at the corner of his eye caught his attention and he peeled his eyes away from the sunset. His heart fell out of his chest. He blinked and rubbed his tired eyes, unable to believe that his answer had come so quickly. She was here.
Shakily, he got to his feet and took a step forward, almost forgetting himself and running to her on the parapet. From the prison, Father Allen waved to him, a knowing smile on his face, then disappeared inside, leaving them alone on the walls. The man was certainly up to something but Léo didn’t care. All he wanted was Moira.
Rays of orange and purple illuminated the coils of her hair, beryl eyes glowing in the soft, sensual light. The flame of love that burned inside his chest blazed strong and bright, a splendor of fire that God had placed there only for her.
Awe filled his heart. Love. He loved her. Deeply.
