“I am glad to hear it.” Leland wiped away a few happy tears. “Did he speak of returning home?”
Ewan’s smile faded. “I’m afraid not. He had no memory of his past and went by the name, Brody. I recognized him after our escape, but Tristan did not take the news well. He left during the night and I never saw him again.”
“I see,” he replied and his heart sunk. To have so much hope of reuniting with Tristan and then having his hope dashed was difficult. “Do you have any idea what direction he may have gone?”
The king shook his head. “I have no way of knowing. However, I do know he worked on a fishing boat in the northern sea. If Tristan became accustomed to that way of life, I’ll wager he may have returned to it. I’m sorry for the discouraging news. I wish I had more information.”
Leland nodded and focused on the flames glowing in the hearth. “Thank you, Your Majesty. At least I know my cousin lives. Your story has brought hope back to my heart. Now I have a lead, when before I only had a feeling in my heart that couldn’t be confirmed.” He looked over at King Ewan and managed a smile. “Can I ask you one more favor, Your Majesty?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
“The council in Kiely is anxious to appoint a new king by the fall. They believe Tristan to be dead. However, if I had your signed account, saying you saw him alive, it may delay them long enough for me to locate my cousin and bring him home.”
“I would be happy to do that. ‘Tis the least I can do. I will have a signed and sealed document for you tomorrow.”
Leland thanked King Ewan and they shook hands before heading back to the celebration. Receiving word of his cousin’s well-being was bittersweet. He had survived, but suffered much and had no recollection of his previous life or family. Leland would have to pray even more fervently for his cousin in the coming months.
After a night of hardly any sleep, thinking of the unexpected events the day before, Fiona arose with the dawn. She dressed in a simple blush gown and light shawl. Then she headed outside to the harbor—her favorite place to think. The sun began to rise, lighting up the sky with an array of colors sparkling over the distant waves. She’d witnessed many sunrises over the ocean, but every one of them was unique. This morning it seemed as if God stroked his brush across the sky and painted it just for her. It served as a reminder of His deliverance from the clutches of King Malcolm when he held her family captive at the Dub Hach Fortress. God had been with them the entire time. He had never abandoned them.
Fiona closed her eyes for a moment as the breeze whipped through her loose hair and took in a breath of the salty air. She remained fearful of many things because of her late husband’s cruelty toward her, but felt God teaching her daily what it meant to trust again—what it felt like to live again. It would be a long journey, but she knew God would help her every step of the way.
“Fiona?” a voice said from behind.
She flinched and then turned toward the voice, relaxing when she saw it belonged to Leland. She had longed to speak with him the evening before, but there were so many people, Fiona had retired to her chambers. Now, with him standing so near, her heart fluttered in her chest. “Aye?” she whispered.
“Is everything all right? ‘Tis not safe for you beyond the fortress walls without guards, Your Majesty.”
She managed a shaky smile, appreciating his concern for her. “I simply came out to think. How is your shoulder faring?”
He adjusted his sling for a moment. “It is getting better. I should recover in a few days.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Listen, I know ‘twas foolish to come out alone, but sometimes it is easier to find peace when I am alone here by the harbor.”
Leland nodded and took a seat in the sand next to her, patting his wolfhound when he sat beside him. “Aye, that is something I understand well. I have a favorite cliff overlooking the mountains in Kiely where I like to go alone and talk to God.”
She continued gazing out over the waves. “It sounds lovely. Did you ever return to your homeland, Milord?”
“No, I’m afraid not. It would seem I am destined to forever be a nomad. However, by the fall my traveling days will be over. The council wishes to appoint a new king. I must be present to prevent them from making the wrong choice.”
Fiona glanced over at him, hearing the change in his voice from when they met in the same place two years before. “Do you no longer search for your cousin?”
Leland shook his head. “No, I’ll never stop, especially now that King Ewan saw him alive in prison.”
Fiona’s eyes widened with the new development. “‘Tis good news!”
He nodded, but his downcast expression remained. “Good and troubling at the same time, I’m afraid.” After her confused glance, he explained his cousin had no recollection of his past.
She gathered her skirts before sitting beside him on the sand and allowed silence to settle around them like a thick cloud for a while before speaking. “I’m sorry to hear of your cousin’s hardships. I cannot fathom what it would be like to not remember who you are. ‘Twould be terrible.”
He squinted while continuing to gaze at the distant horizon as the sun rose higher in the sky. “Aye, it would…and although I have grown weary of this search, I cannot afford to lose heart. My cousin needs me now more than ever. If only I knew where to start looking.” Leland paused and ran his hands through his dark brown hair before letting out a deep sigh.
Fiona watched him with an aching heart, never seeing him so distraught. He had been the one to encourage and protect her during one of the most difficult experiences in her life. Somehow, she had to think of a way to encourage him. Then she smiled to herself as a few gulls gathered on the beach, pecking at the sand for tiny fish trapped in the surf. “When I was twelve, my father gave me this.” She held up her pinky finger and showed him a silver ring shaped into a Celtic heart on the top. “‘Tis nothing of high value, but it belonged to my grandmother.”
He looked over and smiled. “It’s beautiful.”
She looked down at the ring and rotated it on her finger. “Thank you. ‘Tis one of my most treasured possessions. I lost it one summer. We went for a swim and when I came back to shore, it wasn’t on my finger.”
“You must have been devastated.”
“Aye.” She nodded with a light chuckle. “I searched the beach for the ring for days and fretted over it until almost making myself ill in the process.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “How did you find it?”
Fiona shrugged. “That is still a mystery. My father was concerned and made me stop searching. He told me to pray about it and leave my worries in God’s hands. So, I did and eventually I found peace and forgot about the ring altogether. It wasn’t until a year later, after my father’s death, I found it on my window sill. I cannot explain how it suddenly appeared, but it was there, wedged in a gap between the stone and mortar—the ring my father gave me. God allowed it to reappear when I needed encouragement the most.”
When Leland looked up again, tears had gathered in the corners of his eyes. “Are you saying I should abandon my search?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m simply suggesting, maybe it is time to step back for a time of prayer and reflection. Perhaps God will lead Tristan home when the timing is right.”
Leland finally offered her a genuine smile. “Aye, you may be right. Thank you for your wise advice, Your Majesty. It has encouraged me.”
“You’re welcome.” She replied, trying to breathe deeply to slow her pounding heart. Since her arranged marriage to Cadman, she hadn’t spoken to anyone so openly—even family. However, Leland had always been different. Similar to her grandmother’s ring, he had returned to her unexpectedly, too.
She closed her eyes again as the ocean breeze tousled her loose hair. Something is changing, God. I can sense it, but it scares me. What are you trying to tell me?
CHAPTER FOUR
The Calm
“Lee Lay!” Clare shouted joyful
ly as Leland appeared in the courtyard. He smiled at the little girl’s name for him and scooped her into his arms as she giggled. It had only been a fortnight since his arrival in Brannagh, but Fiona’s daughter acted as though she had known him her entire life. “Spin…spin!” she begged and Leland turned her around in a circle, causing more giggles to bubble out of her mouth.
Fiona offered him a bright smile while approaching. “She has you wrapped around her little finger already, Milord.”
He chuckled while putting Clare down, glad Fiona seemed more at ease since King Ewan and his family returned to Rhona, along with all the other guests who had come for the festivities. He watched Clare pet Artair who panted happily in return. “I really don’t mind. She reminds me of Isla at that age.”
Clare let go of the dog and toddled off with her nurse toward the flowerbeds of yellow buttercups and violets. While the dog bounded playfully after the little girl, Fiona turned back to him with curious eyes. “How is your sister? Did she return to Kiely?”
He shook his head, heart throbbing for a moment as they began strolling around the border of the courtyard. “No, when I did not return home, Isla decided to remain at the Daireann Court. She had made close friends there, including Airell’s sister, Princess Gwyneth. I have only seen her once in the past two years when I passed through Daireann, but we keep in touch through letters from time to time. That will change soon though, as she plans to return in the spring.”
She smiled while continuing to walk beside him. “I am glad to hear Isla is well after all she went through. She was so smart and brave to pose as a servant all that time.”
He clutched his hands behind his back as they reached a pair of apple trees beginning to grow fruit. “Aye, she was. I’m so thankful Queen Airell was there to help her. I dread thinking of what could have happened, but God was in control.”
“Me too. Please tell her I think of and pray for her often the next time you see her.”
He smiled, touched by her concern for his younger sister. “I will. Perhaps next time I travel this way I will invite her to come along.”
“That would be wonderful! I’d love to see her again.”
Leland paused for a moment, surprised he had already promised another visit without a second thought. “I’m certain she would be overjoyed to see you again as well.”
After walking the border of the courtyard, they came back to the place by the garden where Clare had stopped to play earlier. Artair had lain down in the grass with the little girl’s head resting on his stomach, half asleep with her chestnut curls splayed over his gray fur.
Leland chuckled at the sight. “She has spoiled him rotten. There will be no living with him after this.”
“Aye,” Fiona agreed. “They have become inseparable these past weeks.”
Leland nodded and his smile faded. “When we depart for Kiely, I’m not sure who will be more broken hearted…your daughter or Artair.”
They stood watching Clare sleep while resting against the dog for several minutes before dark clouds began to roll across the sky, muting the sunlight. Then Fiona lifted her daughter into her arms and bid him farewell before heading inside the shelter of the castle.
Leland knew he should probably follow suit, but his restless thoughts prevented him from doing so. Instead, he traveled through the courtyard with Artair and out the front gate. He didn’t stop until reaching the beach. The normally calm waters of the harbor now rolled and frothed before breaking on the shore. He watched the angry dark clouds rolling in and heard the low rumble of distant thunder. The turbulent weather seemed to match his thoughts. He’d never felt so torn, duty urging him to return to his kingdom, yet longing to remain in Brannagh, away from his troubles. He’d already stayed longer than intended.
Artair started to whine when the wind picked up and the rain started to pelt the sandy shore. He shielded his head with the hood on his cloak and followed the dog back up the path to the courtyard. He had almost reached the entrance when Artair started barking.
“What is it boy?”
The hackles on the dog’s back stood up and he let out a deep growl before dashing off into the shadows.
“Artair!” Leland shouted, running in the direction his dog had disappeared.
Leland journeyed around a nearby bush before catching a glimpse of a hooded figure moments before it disappeared behind the hedges. Still hearing Artair’s barks and growls in the distance, Leland backed up, trying not to draw attention. He journeyed down a path parallel to where he had seen the mysterious figure. The rain made it hard to see, but he crept along at a steady pace, listening for sounds on the other side of the hedges. When he reached a clearing, Leland turned slowly and peeked around the hedge.
A dark swish of fabric entered his vision and then blinding pain. Something hard jabbed his ribs and then his forehead. Leland fell to the muddy ground, gasping for a ragged breath as the rain continued to pelt his aching body.
When Tiernay reached the royal chambers, Airell was already in bed, reading by candlelight. She looked lovely with her golden hair loose and cascading over her shoulders. He smiled while removing his vest and preparing for bed himself. “You retired early tonight, my love. Are you still feeling downcast after Queen Reagan’s departure?”
“Aye, a little,” she admitted while setting her book aside and attempting a brave smile. “I must confess I have been missing my friend. Seeing her has also made me homesick for Daireann.”
He sat on the bed beside her with a concerned frown and cupped her cheek in his palm, wiping a stray tear. “Why did you not tell me this sooner? Please do not hide your feelings from me. I am always here for you, my queen.”
She nodded and he wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “I know.”
He kissed her forehead and then smiled. “You can travel to Daireann for a visit if you wish. I’m certain your mother and Gwyneth would be overjoyed by your visit.”
She wiped her moist cheeks. “No, I could not leave during a time like this. I will be fine, my love.”
Tiernay studied her rosy cheeks in the dim light as concern creased his brow. “What do you mean…at a time like this?”
She sighed and leaned her head against his chest. “‘Tis nothing to be concerned about this night. Now, let’s try and sleep. I am quite tired.”
He agreed, although still concerned and held Airell close to him until her breathing became slow and steady. Tiernay had barely closed his eyes when a muffled thump outside the royal chambers woke him. Trying not to disturb his sleeping wife, he moved her head from his chest to the pillow and slipped from under the covers as quietly as possible. He lit a candlestick on the nightstand and padded to the door. When he peered out, one of the royal guards had fallen to the floor next to another, unconscious. As the intruders looked up and saw him, he slammed the door and bolted it shut.
Airell startled awake at the noise and her cobalt eyes grew wide. “Tiernay, what is happening?”
He put his finger to his lips and wedged a heavy chair underneath the doorknob. “Intruders.” He grabbed his sword and dagger, pausing to hand her the smaller weapon. “You must hide. If something happens to me, use this to defend yourself.”
She arose from the bed and stood before him, trembling in the dim light from the hearth. “No, I’ll not leave you to fight alone.”
The door shook as a loud bang echoed through the room. Tiernay aimed a pleading glance at Airell. “The chair won’t keep them out for long. I cannot bear the thought of you in harm’s way. Please, do as I ask.”
She bit her lip and rushed into his arms. “I love you,” she whispered, choking back a sob before they shared a chaste kiss. Then he released her and she hid under the bed.
Tiernay reached for a pitcher of water on a nearby table and doused the fire in the hearth, clouding the air with thick smoke. Then he waited in the shadow of the doorway to his study.
A few moments later, two men burst through the bolted door, shattering the top of the wooden
chair. He waited and watched them in the dim light from the candle he had lit on the nightstand. They coughed on the smoke and growled after seeing the empty chambers.
“They couldn’t have gone far,” one of the men reasoned. “Look under the bed. I’ll check the other rooms.”
Tiernay gritted his teeth as the first man walked into the adjacent room and the other knelt near Airell’s hiding place. Before the intruder caught sight of his wife, Tiernay leapt from the shadows and bashed the kneeling man in the head with the hilt of his sword. The sound of his comrade falling to the stone floor caught the second man’s attention. He rushed out of the other room, sword drawn, but Tiernay held him off with his own weapon. His enemy was taller and stronger, but he managed to fend off the other man’s advances. When the intruder came at him with even greater ferocity, he twisted away, only to have his lower abdomen sliced by the other man’s sword in the process. He cried out and held one hand over the wound as blood seeped through his white shirt.
He gritted his teeth at the stabbing pain, but continued fighting. At one point, they ended up by the hearth and Tiernay dodged at the last moment, sending his enemy face first into the hot embers. However, it only slowed him down for a moment and when he stood, he was more enraged then before, swinging with all his might and knocking Tiernay’s weapon from his hand. He rubbed hot soot from his eyes and Tiernay rushed forward, knocking him off his feet. They rolled on the ground, grappling for one of the swords lying close by.
The man’s heavy weight came down on him full force, shooting pain through his abdomen. The shock of it was distraction enough for his enemy to reach the weapon, only inches away. He sneered from above him. “My king commanded I let you live so he could do the deed himself, but you have forced my hand.” He raised his sword until it was suspended above Tiernay’s chest. “Long live King Fergus!”
Lady Fiona's Refuge (Ladies of Ardena Book 3) Page 3
