the man dead.
Sabrine was with her, her own acute distaste for the deceased more than apparent on her beautiful features. She received several looks askance, but seemed unperturbed by them.
“You do not obey well.”
“So you noted once already.”
“No, I said you did not listen well before. I had given you the benefit of the doubt and assumed you had not heard me aright about staying in my room.”
“My hearing is excellent.”
“No doubt.” He fingered her plaid. “’Tis a bit short on you, do you not think?”
“Longer skirts would have gotten in my way.”
“Doing what? Flaunting my authority?”
“Saving your second. Circin would not have made it in time, though the culprit insists he did not intend to kill—only wound.”
“You have weapons.”
“I do.”
“They are too small to be made for a man.”
“For a man of your size, certainly.”
He paused. That was true. There were some smaller men among the clans, and even the Chrechte were not always tall. “I believe they were made for a woman.”
“I cannot help what you believe.”
“And you will not answer my question.”
“You have not asked one.”
“Were I a less patient man, you would infuriate me.”
“Were you a less patient man, Rowland would have been dead long before today.”
He could not argue with that sentiment. “You and Verica have much in common.”
“You think her infuriating?”
“I think you share a Chrechte nature.”
Chapter 11
Barr did not mention the raven now; too many of the clan were close by and no howls sounded to mask their discussion as they had when he and Earc had spoken earlier.
Rowland had clearly taken issue with the raven among the Chrechte. His friends might well feel the same and Barr would not expose Verica to possible danger.
He had to dispose of the entire serpent first.
The quiet stillness in the woman beside him could bode shock, anger, worry . . . anything. She was not allowing even a hint of her emotions near enough to the surface for his wolf to identify.
“We will discuss it later,” he told her.
She did not answer. Unlike this morning, when he’d had the distinct feeling she intended to try to avoid the conversation he wanted, he could sense right now she was eager for it.
Interesting. This woman, dressed in a man’s plaid, would never bore him, of that he was sure.
“A new day has dawned for the Donegal Chrechte,” Verica said as the flames shot high into the sky.
“The new dawning happened the day I arrived; you all merely didna realize it.”
Earc nodded, his mien serious. “Aye.”
Verica shook her head, but a spark of a smile showed in her eyes before they returned to watching the rapidly burning pyre.
Naught but ashes would be left before midday was reached.
The trip back to the keep was a silent one and Sabrine made no effort to speak herself. No doubt Barr knew he would face the man whom Rowland had convinced to help him. He was an honorable laird. He would not relish killing another clan member so close to the old laird.
And she could not let him. Though she had yet to figure out how best to stop him.
Connor was guilty of treason by almost any definition. The fact he had been coerced would carry little consequence with most leaders, the Éan Council of Three included.
Circin waited in the hall with Connor and the man’s human father. His Chrechte mother had been at the challenge and had waited to watch her cousin’s body burn.
She rushed to her son’s side, a keening wail coming from her throat. “No . . .”
Sabrine watched as Barr met the father’s gaze. Sabrine could not miss the resignation and determination there. It tugged at her just as his son’s determination to protect his father had done.
She stepped forward so she stood beside Barr, not sure why she did so, but it felt right.
The human Donegal man’s eyes widened, his solemn mask cracking in surprise.
Sabrine remembered then that the clan women never wore men’s kilts. Perhaps she should have changed before coming into the hall, but she needed to be here to keep her promise to Connor.
Barr looked down at her. “This is the man you stopped from shooting his bow at my second?”
“He did not want to do it.”
Barr checked, clearly surprised by the defense. “No?”
“You know what a despicable bitch’s son that foul wolf was.” She’d only been exposed briefly to the other man and she could not miss it. Barr had lived in the same clan with him for more than a month. “He threatened