lose.”
He winked when her eyes caught his.
“How is Morgann?” she asked on a low voice in case he didn’t want his parents to know about the lad.
“Free. I sent him off.”
“Oh.”
She looked off to the side and bit her fingernail.
“What is it, love?” he asked.
“I had hoped to bid him farewell.”
He blinked. Here she was, betrayed by him, and still wanting to bid him farewell.
“Silene,” his mother interrupted his thoughts. “What do you think of wee Daffodil? Is she not the most precious baby kitten you have ever seen?”
“Aye,” Silene laughed softly reaching up to stroke the kitten on Galeren’s shoulder. “I have come to love—oh!” She turned to him. “The children!”
“There were tears,” Mac told her. “But they canna care fer Daffodil now, and they know that. They unselfishly gave her up fer her own good.”
Silene stared up at Galeren. “You trained them well, Captain.”
“I worry if they will be well,” he whispered.
She made a note to say extra prayers for Alex and Margaret. “I think you will see them again,” she told him.
He smiled. “That is good news to hear, my love.”
She moved a little closer to him. “I like when you call me your love.”
He wanted to kiss her, but he thought it would make her uncomfortable in the sight of everyone. He dipped his mouth and kissed her shoulder instead. “Have I told ye how beautiful ye are to me, my love,” he whispered near her ear instead.
She blushed and kept her head down. But she was smiling.
Galeren looked around, happier than he’d been in many years. He was home with the woman he loved, his kin, and his friends around him.
Where was his youngest brother, Lionell?
Galeren hadn’t seen him last night. He remembered when he was here last, Lionell stayed out late and slept in even later.
“Where is Lionell?” he asked his parents.
“My guess is he is asleep,” his mother told him, sipping her warm milk, a drink she relished from her reiver days. She didn’t look up from it when Galeren rose from his seat, handed Daffodil to Silene, and strode for the stairs. They hadn’t seen Lionell last eve and if Galeren didn’t do something, they wouldn’t see him today either.
He arrived at Lionell’s door at the same time a serving girl was bringing a jug of water and a basin. Galeren took the water from her and, with a grin, dumped it on his sleeping brother’s face.
Lionell bolted upright, roused so alarmingly from his dreams. He swung his arm before him, as if he were wielding a sword. His other sleeve was empty, hanging limply at his side. He opened his heavy lids, revealing vibrant, green, bloodshot eyes.
“Galeren? What the hell are ye doin’ back here so soon and what d’ye want?”
Galeren grinned at him. “Greetin’s Lionell. That is a good question. What I want is ye at the mornin’ table every day and on the practice field after that. I want ye to come to the table now and meet the lass I love and plan to wed in just a few days. Mostly, I want ye to not give up on yer life.”
“I canna fight, Brother, or d’ye not know?” He turned his empty sleeve toward Galeren.
“I know, but there is still much ye can do.
“Aye,” Lionell laughed and cupped his groin. “’Tis good I can still f—”
“Get oot of bed,” Galeren commanded. “Get cleaned up and come to the table. When ye are there, ye will watch yer tongue or I will take ye outdoors and knock yer teeth oot.”
Lionell glared at him. “I am not one of yer soldiers, Captain. Get oot of my room.”
“If ye are not at the table shortly, I will throw ye oot of the house, Lionell. Dinna push me to see how far I will go. I will go far. I’m goin’ to help ye whether ye want me to or not. Best give in to me now.”
His brother lifted an auburn brow and snarled. “Never.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Lionell lost his arm in battle last year,” Braya told Silene and waited for more warm milk. “He does not know how to live his life anymore. My poor husband has tried everything to help him. Bors has also tried.”
Silene looked at Father Timothy. What did he think Lionell needed?
He gave her an understanding smile. “Ye can add yer prayers to mine.”
She nodded and smiled at him.
A loud clang resounded in the dining hall.
“What was that?” Silene began to rise.
“’Tis just them fightin’.” Mac took her wrist