it. Can you test your Calling tonight and try to communicate with her?”
“Yep. That’s the plan. If she does have it, what should I tell her?”
I had given the matter of our return to Doon a lot of thought each night as I assessed the progress of the bridge. “I think we should be cautious for the first crossing. Tell her to be ready the night after next and that we’ll be a small party,” I replied. I wanted to suggest that she remain behind for the first trip across the Brig o’ Doon but knew the request would be futile.
Confirming my thoughts, she asked, “Who should we take—besides us, I mean?”
“Alasdair. I’m not comfortable leaving him behind.”
“And Mutton Chops?” She lifted her eyebrows, causing me to smile at the pet name she had for Queen Veronica’s most devoted guard. “I don’t think he’ll stay behind.”
“Aye,” I agreed. “We’ll take him too.”
“What about Fiona?” Mackenna bit her lower lip in a most distracting way, her concern for our friend as plain as the freckles on her face.
Forcing my eyes away from her bewitching mouth, I met her troubled gaze and wished I could ease her distress. “I’d love to take her with us, but I’m afraid it’s not practical.”
“But Fergus is on the other side,” she insisted.
Although Mackenna had become more than adequate in the art of combat, her heart still held dominion over her head. With her emotions ruling how she fought, she was unpredictable and reckless . . . which made her a danger not only to herself but to those around her as well.
“Say something, Duncan.” She tried to pull her hands away but I refused to release them.
Calmly, I replied, “I too wish to see her reunited with Fergus, but I fear this place would cease to function without her.”
She rolled her eyes, clearly still unhappy but unable to argue away my point. She let out a small huff before agreeing. “I suppose that’s true. Can you at least ask her not to go overboard while we’re gone? She keeps getting sick, and of course she won’t stop to take care of herself.”
“Aye. I’ll speak with her.” I waited for her to look at me. Instead, she watched the moon.
“I’ll see if she would like us to deliver a note to Fergus. That is, if we can get across the bridge.” She shook her head from side to side. “Ugh! I can’t believe I forgot about the other ring.”
I continued to hold her hands, unwilling to break the physical connection between us. “Don’t beat yourself up, woman.”
“Speaking of beatings,” she drawled as she glanced at me and away again. “What’s on the rehearsal schedule for tomorrow’s training?”
I’d been giving that much thought as well. “Tomorrow we’re going to exploit your weaknesses.”
Finally meeting my gaze, her breathtaking eyes narrowed in curiosity. “Such as?”
“Anything that makes you vulnerable or distracted. In battle, you have to shut out everyone and everything except the fighting around you. That’s what we are going to focus on tomorrow. Revealing your weaknesses.”
Mackenna arched her brow. “And once they’re revealed?”
“We eliminate them.” I shrugged in a way designed to minimize the importance of my words.
“Sounds fun.” She flashed me a smile that was all pearly teeth and sunlight. I couldn’t help but smile back. She leaned in to kiss me and, in a moment of impulsiveness, I turned away so that her lips grazed my cheek. Instantly, I wished that I could take it back, but it was too late.
Pulling away, she asked, “Are you okay, Duncan?”
Unwilling to witness the hurt I’d cause her, I looked into the starry expanse of sky. “I’m fine.”
“Really?”
“Aye.” I held back the words that threatened to indicate otherwise. “Now ye best get your rest so that you’re refreshed for training in the morn.”
“Okay. Well . . . goodnight.” Her cool fingertips brushed my cheek in a butterfly caress that was over far too soon.
“Goodnight.” The unspoken words I wanted to say caught in my throat. Swallowing them back, I listen to her retreating footsteps, my spirit dropping with each one.
She thought that exploiting her weaknesses sounded fun, like a drama game. But I knew all too well what waited on the morrow’s horizon. How many times had I lectured to soldiers in the lists that they were only as good as their weaknesses? These flaws were so important that a fortnight had been dedicated to the identification and eradication of them. Because a warrior’s weaknesses would get him,