Page 17 of The Crown of Moonlight
Chapter 9
No Better than Them
Flora
M
y breath clouds in the cool shadows of the narrow, circular steps as I climb.The hope that I can get in and out of my rooms without having to speak to anyone else fades at the scrape of footsteps on the stone above.
Catriona, who has served the family for more than half a century, must hear me coming because she descends the staircase from the top floor that holds my mother’s solar and meets me on the landing.With the height of a warrior and the mass of a woman who likes to eat, she wields a broom and a scowl with equal skill.
Her eye twitches, and her face is flushed.“And where have you been all morning?You’ve frightened me out of ten years’ life.”
“I’m sorry.I had a horse problem.”
“Did you, now?”Catriona says, one eyebrow rising.“Not that you’re obliged to tell me your worries.It’s only me who’s looked after you since you were a wee girl up to more mischief than all three of your brothers together.But far be it for me to poke my nose where it isn’t wanted.Mind, if you’re going to see your mam, you’d best do a better job washing the blood off your face.Which is another thing I won’t ask you about.”
She blocks my path, immovable as a boulder, and I know her well enough to be sure she won’t give way until she’s gotten answers.
The truth is, I no longer have the luxury of keeping her out of my decision about the Ever.Ceapaich and Gleanngaradh have made losing Dunhaelic an imminent threat, and I’ll have to prepare the keep to stand against them as well as make sure our people survive whatever the queen may do.I’m going to need Catriona’s help.
“I’ll tell you if you’ll come with me to my room,” I say.“I need to hurry.”
Catriona’s white brows rise nearly to her hairline, but she follows me to my bedchamber and stands with her arms crossed over her ample bosom while I dig through the trunk where I keep the supplies I use for tending injuries.That includes a pair of my mother’s silver embroidery needles, which I’ve put to more practical use on more than one occasion.Rab stretches out to warm himself in the sliver of sunlight that slants through the narrow window.
“Well?Are you going to tell me what you’re up to?”Catriona asks.
I explain—mostly, at least—while I gather a supply of tinctures and potions into a small bag to take with me.I leave out General Mora’s letter and the way the Ever attacked me.
When I finish, Catriona steps back and makes the sign of horns in the air to ward off evil.“And here I’ve believed you were the sensible one in the family.”
“That doesn’t say much, but you can see why I need your help.”
“I can see you’ve lost your mind.”Scowling, she hands me a fresh cloth to dip into the basin of cold water on the dresser so I can wash my face.
Scowling at my face in the mirror, I wipe away a smudge of blood on my cheek that I can only hope was too small for Tormod and Fergus to notice.Then I pick up the battered leather bag to leave.
Catriona steps in front of me again.“Oh, you’ll not be going just yet,” she says.“Are you seriously meaning to tend the Ever and leave him at Padraig’s until he recovers?With only the two of us to go back and forth to tend him while the queen’s nightmares—and who knows what else—could descend on us at a moment’s notice?Assuming, of course, your Ever’s not already dead or waiting to kill you the moment you go back to help him.”
“He’s notmyEver, and I’ll take him up Glen Colm to hide in one of the shieling huts in the summer pastures as soon as his fever’s broken.I’m planning to position supplies there anyway, in case we need to send the women and children somewhere safe and out of reach.”
“I don’t imagine the Ever will take kindly to sleeping in a herdsman’s hut.”
“Then he’s welcome to find his own hovel to hide in,” I retort.“Pride won’t save his head.”
Catriona gives me a look that makes me squirm, then shakes her head.“You don’t like to admit it, but you know as well as I do what must be done.Keeping the Ever alive is as good as a trip to the gallows for the lot of us, and there isn’t a single one of the outbuildings that offers a place for him to hide if someone comes looking for him.Not to mention that he’ll be weak as a lamb and have no chance to save himself.It’s kinder to kill him quickly, really.Faolan can help if you’re too squeamish.”
The thought of killing the Ever—killing anyone like a wounded animal—makes my stomach roil.Never mind that I had the same thoughts earlier.
“Killing for convenience would make us no better than the Everfolk are,” I snap.“We don’t change ourselves because we’re threatened.I’ll find somewhere safer to hide him.I just need a quiet minute to think.”
“Your mother’s been asking for you,” Catriona says.
“I’m on my way to see her now.”
Catriona’s silence follows me to the threshold.I glance back, and she stands looking down at the floor, her hands clasped together and her brows slanted into lines of worry.
My anger washes away, leaving me feeling limp.I turn back and smile with what I hope looks like reassurance.“Catriona, I know it’s a risk, believe me.But it’s the right thing to do, and we’ll survive.I promise I won’t let you down.”
