Moon Burning - By Lucy Monroe Page 0,41

courage. “Thank you.”

“You do not thank your laird for doing his duty, Sorcha. A man of Rowland’s lack of honor should never have led this clan and never will again.”

She nodded.

He shifted so he faced Verica.

“Fetch Muin and Brigit’s cousins, then join the other women in my room.”

“I am Chrechte, I should witness the challenge.”

“You are Earc’s mate now. Rowland, or those loyal to him, may find a way to use you against him. That is not acceptable. He will be safer with you here, out of harm’s way in the keep.”

Verica opened her mouth, looking as if she was ready to argue again with her laird.

Agree, Sabrine commanded her through mindspeak.

The other woman’s eyes widened and she stared at Sabrine with a mouth dropped open.

Close your mouth. Barr is unaware of the powers of the Éan. Were these clan women truly not taught anything of self-defense, not even how to hide their emotions?

Can you hear me? Verica responded via the mental link Sabrine had created between them.

If I choose to, yes.

But...

I will explain further later. “Do as your laird bids,” Sabrine said, speaking the last sentence aloud.

With no further discussion, spoken or otherwise, Verica turned and left, her confusion following her like a cloud.

“What just happened?” Barr asked with amusement.

Sabrine’s heart stopped and then resumed at a faster beat.

He frowned. “Do not get upset. I’m shocked she listened to you over me, but I am not angry.” He still looked bemused. “’Tis a woman thing I suppose.”

More like a raven thing, but Sabrine nodded anyway. Revealing the secrets of the Éan was not something she was willing to do, not today, or ever. Not even to this man to whom she was rapidly losing the heart she’d thought long turned to stone.

Verica arrived in Barr’s sleeping quarters only moments after Sabrine and the others. Verica’s nose wrinkled and her brow furrowed as she looked around the room, her gaze finally setting on the bed. Stunned disbelief showed in her blue eyes as she met Sabrine’s gaze.

“You mated our laird?” she blurted out.

Sabrine frowned. “That is not important right now. Barr is no doubt sending Muin and the human soldiers to guard this room.”

“Yes, I think so.”

We must leave before they get here then, Sabrine sent over the mind link.

But we can’t leave Sorcha and Brigit unprotected. It was good to see the Chrechte woman recognize she was some measure of protection for the human and her child, even if she didn’t hide the fact she was speaking with her mind any better than a child might.

Sorcha was too preoccupied with her own worries to notice, but Brigit was giving her mentor in the healing arts a strange look.

Sabrine straightened the plaid on the bed, her attention apparently on no one else in the room. We will not leave the keep until the men arrive.

Though Sabrine doubted Rowland would bother with the human woman right now. He would be too focused on finding a way to dispose of Earc before the challenge, and most likely Barr as well.

That Sabrine would not allow. She might not be able to stay among the Donegals, but she would not allow the man she had given her body, and part of her soul, to die. Not while she could protect him.

We can hide ourselves in the alcove between my room and Circin’s. We can watch the laird’s door from there.

Sabrine went to stand in front of the terrified human woman. “Listen to me, Verica and I must leave you here. You will be safe. Guards will arrive momentarily to watch over you. Do not inform them of our absence, please.”

“What do you think to do?” This from Brigit, not her still-stunned mother.

“Save the laird and his second-in-command.”

Sorcha jerked, proving she’d been listening, even in her shocked state. “But you are women.”

Sabrine didn’t give that foolish sentiment an answer. “You will hide our departure from them?”

Sorcha nodded.

Brigit grinned. “You are a warrior, aren’t you?”

“I am a descendant of the royal line of my people. I have bested men in battle and I will again.” She didn’t mind bragging a little if it would put the child’s mind at rest.

Sorcha stared at her as if Sabrine spoke gibberish, but Brigit’s grin grew until it split her face. “And you will teach us to fight?”

“I will, but right now I must go.”

Brigit nodded while her mother looked on in clear horror, but the human woman did nothing to stop them. Sabrine only hoped she would not alert