Treasa’s gaze narrowed. ‘Was it Alarr’s intent to take command of Clonagh? Is that why he wed you?’
He never wed me, she thought to herself, but sidestepped the question instead. ‘Of course not. Why would you think that?’ It was as if her mother believed Alarr intended to conquer their lands. ‘He wanted to protect me. And he has his own lands in Maerr.’
She spoke with confidence, but the truth was, she knew little about Alarr’s lands or even his family. They had hardly spoken about his life back in his homeland.
Treasa drew her hands together and sat down. ‘I do not know your Lochlannach well enough to understand his intentions. But you are my only child, Breanne. I love you, and I want to ensure that you have a home. I cannot let Clonagh remain part of Cerball’s kingdom.’
Though her mother’s words sounded sympathetic, something did not ring true. She understood her mother feeling responsible for the fate of her people, but Breanne was unwilling to become Treasa’s pawn. ‘Then ask Feann to help you take it back.’ She squared her shoulders and faced Treasa. ‘Clonagh is not mine.’ She had no memory of their lands, and Killcobar was the only home she’d known. She felt no obligation towards Treasa.
Her mother took a deep breath. ‘I am sorry, Breanne. I suppose I should not have put so many of my hopes on you. But... I think you should see Clonagh before you make your decision. It has been a long time since you’ve been there. I could make arrangements for your travel.’
‘No, thank you,’ she said. She saw no reason to create ties with her past. Clonagh had never been her home, and she doubted if it ever would be. The true question was where would she live now? Alarr had sworn that he would stay by her side; yet, they had never spoken about what they would do next. She knew he had planned to remain here for a short time and then go back to Killcobar to confront Feann. But after that? She didn’t know. Did he want to return to Maerr, after Feann paid the corp-dire for his father’s death? She decided to ask him when they were alone.
To her mother, she said, ‘I hope you find a way to win back Clonagh.’
‘So do I,’ Treasa answered.
There was a bitter tone to her voice, but Breanne refused to feel guilty about it. She would not sacrifice her life for strangers. She’d made her choice, and it was enough. She excused herself and walked outside.
She found Alarr among the men who had returned from fishing that morn. They had baskets filled with fish, and when he saw her, he set his own basket down.
‘You look pale,’ he said. ‘Are you well?’
‘I’m just restless,’ she said. ‘Will you walk with me a moment?’
He did, and she told him of her conversation with Treasa. ‘I refused to submit to my mother’s wishes,’ she admitted. ‘I see no reason to give myself up for land I’ve never seen and people I do not know.’
Alarr took her hand in his, leading her back to the privacy of their shelter. Inside, it was dark, with only a few rays of sunlight piercing through the crevices in the wood. ‘I would not have let you go to another man, Breanne. You know this.’
He leaned down to kiss her, and she felt the familiar ache of longing. When had this happened? The thought of being parted from this man was a physical pain, and it confused her. She had given herself as part of a bargain, but with each moment she spent at his side, she wanted more.
‘What will we do now?’ she asked.
He cupped her cheek, tilting it up to meet her gaze. ‘We have unfinished business with Feann.’
‘You swore an oath,’ she reminded him.
‘I swore not to kill him. That does not mean he will not face justice.’
‘You will do nothing to endanger yourself,’ she insisted. ‘We must consult the brehons. They will pass judgement, and Feann will accept their wisdom.’
‘Will he?’ He leaned down to kiss her throat, and she threaded her hands in his hair. ‘You seem convinced that all will go according to your plans.’
‘It will,’ she answered. She saw no choice but to believe it. She knew Feann would be angry with her for choosing Alarr, but she didn’t care. Her Lochlannach had captured more than her body—he had stolen her heart.
He kissed her deeply, his hands moving over her. He laid her back against one of the large piles of grain sacks, so that he would not have to lean down. She welcomed the familiar rush of need and the rise of desire. Somehow, he knew exactly how to touch her until she craved his lovemaking.
‘I will have my answers from Feann, Breanne.’
‘You will.’ She trembled as he caressed her, and whispered, ‘Then we will go back to your lands in Maerr.’
Though she was afraid of leaving Éireann, she realised that if she stayed, she would be pressured into obeying the commands of Feann or Treasa. Here, she had hardly any freedom. The idea of starting over was a welcome thought, to travel with Alarr to a place where no one would use her for their own gain. Her life would be her own again. And while she was afraid of the unknown, she knew she would be happier with him than if she were left behind.
He kept his eyes locked upon her. ‘You would give up your home for me?’
She lifted her hips to meet him, cupping his face between her hands. ‘I will go wherever you go.’ Her emotions grew heavy as he kissed her again, his tongue tangled with hers. She was starting to love this man. And though it made her vulnerable, she realised that she wanted a home with him and children.
Alarr murmured against her mouth, ‘We will travel back to Killcobar in a few more days. Then we will take our ship back from Styr and return to Maerr.’
A tremor caught her as he continued to stroke her with his fingers. She came apart, her breathing a sharp moan as her body embraced him. Liquid desire pulsed in a fierce eruption that made her shake, crying out as the pleasure climbed higher. His tenderness was her undoing, and she could hardly breathe from the sudden release.
‘You’ve bewitched me,’ he admitted, a lazy smile coming over his mouth. ‘I cannot stop touching you.’
‘I don’t want you to stop,’ she whispered, pulling his mouth to hers and kissing him deeply. He invaded her mouth, his tongue tangling with hers until she felt the delicious echo in her womb.
Alarr remained within her for a few more moments before he said, ‘While I would love to stay here with you, we need to rejoin the others.’
‘At least until tonight,’ she promised, stroking back his hair. She intended to give him the same pleasure he had given to her, until he could no longer bear it.
When they emerged from the shelter, she saw her mother staring at them. The look in Treasa’s eyes held regret, as if her plans had shattered apart. And though Breanne understood her mother’s desires, it was not her task to fulfil them. She had made the decision to leave her old life behind and begin anew.
And no one would stand in her way.
* * *
Alarr rode back towards Killcobar with Breanne and the six escorts sent by Iasan, the chief of Dún Bolg. Along the way, he thought of the older woman’s discontent and her last words to him. ‘Breanne is giving up her birthright and her kingdom for you. What kind of a life will she have in Maerr? Will she be queen there, as she would have been in Clonagh?’
‘I will provide everything she needs,’ he’d said. ‘It will be enough.’ But in truth, he didn’t know if he could keep that vow. After he and his brothers had been declared outlaws and sent away, he knew not if he had a home, much less if he would survive the fight with Feann. If he died in battle, Breanne would be forced to remain with her foster father. It bothered him, for she didn’t deserve a life where Feann would tell her who to marry. She was fighting for her freedom, and she deserved to choose her own path.
Were it possible, and if his life were different, he might have asked Breanne to marry him. The thought of waking beside her and watching her grow round with an unborn child was a welcome vision.
<
br /> You cannot wed her, a voice inside him warned. You don’t deserve happiness with her.
As one of the survivors of the massacre, he owed it to Gilla and Sigurd to seek vengeance. He could not set aside the past or even dream of a future until he had settled that promise.
Although he had decided to keep his vow to Breanne, he fully intended to wound Feann—even at the risk to his own life. He knew that the moment he struck down the king, the soldiers would attack. While they would not harm Breanne, Alarr knew better than to believe he could escape unscathed. And if Rurik was still there, his brother would face the same threat. More likely, his brother would fight at his side and die at the hands of their enemy.
He needed to send Rurik away. His brother would not stand by and let him face the battle alone. But Alarr didn’t want him to die because of the choices he’d made. Somehow, he had to convince Rurik to go, in order to protect him.
They would reach Killcobar in the early evening. Breanne had guided them there throughout the morning and afternoon, and as they neared the fortress, he saw the sudden worry in her eyes.
‘It’s going to be all right,’ she said quietly. ‘I will speak to my father and see what can be done. But keep your face hidden for now.’
Although he knew she wanted to try, he knew better than to believe that this confrontation would result in peace between himself and Feann. The Irish king would never admit to wrongdoing, and Alarr fully intended to seek restitution. He raised his hood in the hopes that no one would recognise him.
‘Wait here,’ she said, dismounting from her horse. She walked to the gates and spoke with the guards for a few moments. Then she returned and took the reins of her mount. ‘I told them that you are my escorts. Stay behind me when we go inside.’
The guards held their spears as Breanne led the way, allowing them to enter the fortress. She guided them towards the stables, and Alarr dismounted, ordering Iasan’s escorts to take the horses and remain apart from them. Breanne took his hand in hers, and said, ‘I could meet with Feann alone first, if you wish.’
‘No.’ He wanted her at his side at all times. ‘We remain together.’ Alarr glanced around and asked, ‘Do you think he’s here?’
‘I don’t know.’ She continued walking towards the largest dwelling. It was rectangular in structure, and the roof was made of thatch. Breanne pushed the door open and brought him inside. Several stone oil lamps were set out, providing a dim light. On the far end, he saw a dais with wooden chairs, but no one was seated in them.
‘Alarr!’ came a man’s voice.
He turned and saw his brother Rurik. He removed his hood and embraced his brother. ‘Are you well?’
Rurik nodded. ‘Come and join me. I have much to tell you.’
‘Where is Feann?’ he asked.
‘He has not yet returned, but he sent word that he will be back within a few days.’
‘So, you’ve not seen him yet.’
His brother shook his head. ‘But I learned a great deal about my mother from the men here.’ He beckoned for Alarr and Breanne to sit at a low table. They did, and Rurik poured them cups of mead. ‘She was Feann’s sister.’
His brother’s revelation was not entirely a surprise. Saorla had always carried herself like a noblewoman. Alarr barely remembered her, since she had died years ago, but he knew she’d been angry with Sigurd.
‘Sigurd led her to believe that they would be married. She went away with him when she learned she was with child, and he brought her to Maerr. Then she discovered that he already had a wife.’
Alarr eyed his brother and said, ‘So you and Danr are Feann’s nephews.’
‘We are. Though I doubt if it means anything to him.’ Rurik took a long drink of mead. ‘Feann travelled to Maerr after he learned of Saorla’s death. He intended to avenge her by killing Sigurd.’
‘And they did,’ Alarr said.
But Rurik surprised him by saying, ‘No. Sigurd was already dead before Feann could reach the longhouse. There were other enemies there.’ His blue eyes were serious when he said, ‘Feann was furious that he was unable to kill him. The men told me of his plans, but he was unable to achieve them.’
‘Who else was there?’
Rurik shrugged. ‘They didn’t know the men. But one was from Glannoventa in Northumbria. They heard his men call him Wilfrid.’
‘Why would Feann’s men tell you anything?’ He wouldn’t trust them at all. They were strangers with no reason to confess the truth.
‘I never told them who I was,’ Rurik said. ‘Remember, I speak the Irish tongue better than you. I asked questions, but I gave them no information about me.’
‘Will you tell Feann the truth about your mother?’ Alarr questioned whether it was wise to reveal it, since the king might not believe him.
His brother inclined his head. ‘If the moment is right.’ He paused a moment and said, ‘Alarr, we will have our answers. But Feann was not the cause of his death.’
‘He intended to kill Sigurd.’
‘But he didn’t. And neither did his men. We need to find out who our other enemies were. Feann may be able to help us with more information.’
A soft touch on his arm caught his attention, and Alarr turned back to Breanne. She ventured, ‘Let me talk with my foster father after he returns. He may trust me more than both of you.’
Rurik’s gaze fixed upon her and then he turned back to Alarr. From the knowing look in his eyes, it was clear that he was aware of their connection. ‘What happened after I left?’
Alarr knew exactly what his brother was asking, but he feigned ignorance. ‘We found Breanne’s mother. She was exiled after her husband turned traitor. She wanted Breanne to reclaim their lands at Clonagh by wedding a man loyal to King Cerball.’
His brother’s eyebrows raised, and he straightened. ‘And what does Breanne think of that?’ He turned to hear her answer.
She squared her shoulders. ‘I care not what Treasa or Feann think I should do. This is my life, and I intend to remain with Alarr.’
‘That wasn’t what you said a few days ago when your father’s men arrived to take you home.’ Rurik refilled their cups, and Alarr distracted himself by drinking.
‘Leave her alone, Rurik.’ He sent his brother a hard look, warning him not to question her further. For a long moment, they stared at one another. He knew that Rurik was only trying to protect him, but he wanted his brother to back down.
‘It’s all right,’ Breanne intervened. ‘He can ask me his questions. I will answer.’
At that, Rurik’s expression grew tense. ‘What agreement did you make with my brother?’
‘We made a bargain between us,’ Breanne answered. ‘He promised not to kill Feann.’ She kept her tone even, but Rurik was not fooled by it.
‘And what did you receive in return?’
Alarr did not want to dishonour Breanne by implying that she had traded herself. Instead, he said, ‘She swore that she would seek justice on our behalf.’
His brother did not appear convinced. He took a step closer and his gaze hardened. ‘If you betray my brother to Feann, you will answer to me.’
Before he could say a word, Breanne released his hand and stepped forward. ‘I will never betray Alarr. After everything I faced, he is the only man who ever fought for me.’ The iron in her voice was unyielding, and her fierce tone made his brother smile.
‘Good.’
Alarr moved to her side, resting his hand upon her waist. ‘Breanne will return to Maerr with us, after this is all over.’
Rurik hesitated and said, ‘I do not think Feann will allow her to go. It would be safer if you do not tell him your plans.’
‘You may be right,’ she agreed. ‘While I don’t think he will seek to harm Alarr, we should all be careful.’ To Rurik, she asked, ‘Who do the clansmen believe you are?’
/> ‘I told them I was from the Ó Callahan clan.’
At that, she smiled. ‘They think you are one of my kinsmen?’
Rurik shrugged. ‘It seemed like a good idea at the time.’
Breanne thought a moment and then said, ‘Do you think anyone will recognise you, Alarr?’
He wasn’t certain. ‘I don’t think so, since it was over a year ago. But it is likely that the king might remember me.’ As for himself, he could never forget the man who had caused his injuries. His legs would never be the same again because of it.
Breanne eyed them both and then said, ‘I do not wish to lie to Feann. But if he does not remember you, that might be for the best. I could tell him that Alarr rescued me and brought me home again.’
Alarr exchanged a look with his brother but said nothing to ruin her dreams. Feann would never believe such a thing. But he only squeezed her hand and silently warned his brother not to speak. ‘We will make that decision when the time comes.’
* * *
Breanne immersed herself in the familiar tasks of Killcobar. The activity filled her days, but she was aware that her people were wary of her friendliness with Alarr and Rurik. She and Alarr had decided not to avoid raising suspicions until Feann returned, and for the past week, she had not shared his bed. The strain was growing between them, and she knew he craved her body as much as she longed for him.
A few days ago, she had tried to send her mother’s escorts back to Dún Bolg, but all had refused. She couldn’t understand why. There was no need for them now, but each time she asked, they declined. She was beginning to believe that the men were spying on her with the intent of bringing back news to Treasa.
This morning, she had gone to meet with the captain of the guards. Darin had informed her about Feann’s imminent return and the talk of invasion.
‘Our men train each day,’ he said. ‘They are prepared for any battle or raid.’
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