frown. “It’s the Seelie Fae more generally. Even the Sidhe might be upset we allowed their ally to come to harm… I’m not sure.”
Helen took a deep breath. “Whatever the case — we should go up to breakfast. We both need to eat something and figure out what we’re going to do about all this. And I’d imagine you’ll need to make a report to the Laird.”
“Oh, aye. I’m sure he’s heard forty versions of the story by now,” Niall said distractedly. “Given how these fishermen gossip…”
“We were lucky so many of them were there,” she said simply. “And that so many of them were on our side. Who knows how much harm Perry might’ve done to the creature if the fishermen hadn’t protected her?”
“I don’t feel especially lucky,” Niall admitted dourly. “But you’re right. It could have been a lot better… but it also could’ve been a lot worse.”
They fetched Eamon and headed up for breakfast. The castle, predictably, was abuzz with stories of what had happened that morning on the Loch. Niall headed for the high table to talk with Donal, who was already deep in conversation with Brendan and Malcolm and quickly beckoned the Niall over to join them, concern on his face when he saw Niall’s bandaged arm.
Helen considered joining them — but before she could, she found herself swarmed by worried servants, bursting with questions about what had happened. Was the Monster okay? Had Perry MacCullen really killed it with an iron spear? Touched by their clear affection for the creature, she grabbed some food for herself and Eamon as she told a quick version of the real story, over and over again — the Monster was wounded, but not fatally, and though Perry and a handful of his men had gotten away, the majority had been caught and imprisoned.
“Aye, they’re in the dungeons,” said one of the servants, a smug look on her face. “My brother’s a fisherman, he hauled one of them in himself.”
“That’s good. Serves them right to rot down there,” another servant snapped.
Eamon was wide-eyed, listening to these tales with clear fascination. At least he was entertained. By the time they’d finished their breakfast, Helen was feeling a little drained — telling the same story over and over again was exhausting.
Niall came over to them once they’d eaten, took a seat beside them and quickly squeezed Helen to his side in a comforting hug. It was a pleasant little reminder of the night they’d spent together — had it really only been last night? It felt like a thousand years had passed since then, with the Monster and the chaos on the docks.
“Donal has the full story now,” he told her, not waiting for her to ask — she appreciated being filled in so promptly. It made her feel like part of the team, not just an assistant. “He’d heard a hundred versions, as I expected, but we got it straightened out. The eight men who were on Perry’s side are in the dungeons now, awaiting trial or similar. Donal hasn’t decided what to do with them. I’ve got a few ideas,” Niall said dangerously, “but it would be best to wait until cooler heads prevail, I reckon.”
“Probably for the best,” she said gently with a smile. “Any word of Perry?”
“Donal’s put the word out in the castle and the village that he’s a wanted man,” Niall said firmly, a murderous look on his face. “The fishermen were able to identify his three henchmen, too — the ones who got away with him. It’ll only be a matter of time until someone turns them in.”
“That’s good.” Helen sighed. “We ought to have kept him in the dungeons when we had him…”
“Aye, I’ve been thinking the same thing myself,” Niall said with a scowl. “I was so eager to give him the benefit of the doubt, what with the loss of his brothers turning his head… but it’s clear he’s rotten to the core. Still, I hope… maybe it’s daft of me, but there’s still a chance he might see the light. He didn’t look thrilled, when he was looking at that poor creature thrashing about in the docks.”
“I don’t think that’s daft,” Helen said softly, reaching out to touch his hand, pleased by the new intimacy between them that allowed for little gestures like that. “I think it’s good, that you want to believe the best about your friend.” Still, thinking of the way the man had spoken to her those