Chapter 18 #3
“Thank you,” Aidan told him. “I’m off to speak with a messenger who is heading back.
I want my father to know everything that is happening.
” He sighed. “Then, we are dividing the enemy injured between Cillian’s home and the ard-rí’s—the guard is being determined, though I don’t imagine any would want to go home.
They’d just be killed there. And we’ve seen that those that come here might become a part of the land if they so wish. ”
He clapped Kylin on the shoulder.
“Oh, by and by, you have my blessing as well!” Aidan told him.
“Your blessing?” Kylin said, frowning.
Aidan laughed. “My friend, I’ve never met a man I’d rather call brother.
Oh, wait, indeed, I am able to do so when I wed your sister.
How strange that this may happen, but when you wed my sister .
. . you’re ‘doubly’ my brother? Whatever shall be!
You have my hand in eternal friendship and you have my most heartfelt blessing.
Along with that of my father, of course. ”
“Aidan, we didn’t tell others because we didn’t know the identity of the traitor, but we all know that the announcement was a ruse,” Kylin reminded him.
“Right,” Aidan said. He shook his head. “And it was Berach. Berach of Linns. I had thought all this time that, well, I’ve seen Berach be nothing but polite and decent, while I’ve seen Angus headstrong and arrogant, and I must admit, I thought, as I believe Deidre did, that it would prove to be Angus.
But I suppose we never saw that Berach didn’t feel he was receiving the proper respect among his peers, or .
. . I don’t know!” He paused, as if giving himself a mental shake.
“Anyway, Cillian and Declan have said that we must head home at first light—we will all be keeling over by nightfall again.”
“We will ride by morning’s light,” Kylin said.
“Morning’s light,” Aidan said with a nod and a wave as he left him.
Deidre was still bandaging the injured. Kylin headed over to help others from around the island move the men who had been tended to.
The night was long.
The scent of burning flesh was heavy in the air. But it would not do to leave the dead littering the field.
Those who were injured were given all care.
Litters were created so that the men might be carried back by their fellows to their homes, while those who had been among the enemy who had surrendered would be taken to be healed—and carefully watched, perhaps allowed to settle in the land they had tried to take and perhaps, if they proved disloyal, they’d be sent home.
Where they would most likely become victims of their own kind for surrendering.
The decision as to whether they might stay was one that would be made by the ard-rí, possibly in council with others.
Kylin worked with the others. By morning’s light, they had cleared the field.
The wounded had all been gathered—just as the dead had.
And when the sun touched the sky, it was time to return home.
He found that he was riding ahead with his father as they started back. Sigurd was serious and a bit grim—there was no way to leave that kind of a battle without a heavy feeling in one’s heart, even as the victor.
But he talked to Kylin, telling him that he was honored that the ard-rí and Eamon had determined that he must bear a title himself—and pass it on to his son.
“It is an honor. But . . .”
Sigurd managed to laugh. “But as we live under Eamon, it seems to make little difference?”
“Aye, Father, and that’s true.”
“And our houses will be joined,” Sigurd said.
“Father, you know that—”
“I am referring to your sister and Aidan. The rest . . . well, that’s up to you and Deidre.”
“Father—”
“Again, that’s up to you and Deidre,” Sigurd said. He sighed softly. “Eamon and Declan are men who are much alike. They are careful, yet they still look for the best in their fellow men. That is something I truly admire.”
“Of course.”
“And it’s proven—this go-round—to be a great thing. You, my son, the child of a Northman, saved the life of the ard-rí,” Sigurd said proudly.
“Well, he’s the ard-rí, but I like him, too, as a man. And as I said earlier, I happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
“That is richly appreciated!”
“And I am grateful as well,” Kylin assured him. “And . . .”
“Yes?”
Kylin laughed. “It just struck me that I am exhausted!”
“We all are, son.”
“Aye, that I know. It will be nearly nightfall when we return. We travel now with the injured and those who are our captives”
“But a night in which a man may truly sleep, at last!” Sigurd said, grinning.
He looked at Kylin. “It’s truly amazing how this fell into place.
If we hadn’t known, if we hadn’t gathered all our people behind the wall, if Aidan hadn’t had all his brilliant maneuvers to withstand and fight back against a siege and if—”
Sigurd looked at him curiously.
“—if you and Deidre hadn’t known all that you knew.”
“And if you and Eamon and Aidan hadn’t given us your faith.”
“But all ended the best that it might. And we may sleep again,” Sigurd said.
“Messages have gone through the villagers. They’ve surely received the news that we’ve been triumphant.
When we return, Eamon has arranged that you and I stay at his castle tonight.
There’s business we must attend to in the morning.
And, of course, we’ll have a celebration of thanks at the church tomorrow.
All will be well. Oh, and I know you. Eamon says that Deidre is the same.
They will have arranged for you to have a wonderful hot bath in your room. ”
“Um, that’s very nice, Father. But my sisters—”
“Are grateful that you, me, Deidre, Aidan and Eion have survived,” Sigurd assured him.
“Son, for once, just accept hospitality and comfort. Trust in the walls, and those who stayed to guard the walls, who have slept and are ready to watch over us. Be at ease, Kylin. You have done what you set out to do. Take a moment to breathe. To love the land and the people you have helped to survive and maintain a home.”
Kylin nodded. He just wasn’t sure that he was completely . . .
Welcome. He didn’t know if he might honestly be appreciated as a man completely in love with Eamon’s daughter.
Deidre would welcome him. But would they be uncomfortable in one another’s company now?
Will I spend the rest of my life remembering the dream?
“Kylin?” Sigurd asked worriedly.
“I’m sorry, Father. I will breathe and accept Rí Eamon’s hospitality with all graciousness, I promise. I will rest, relax . . .”
“And live!” his father reminded softly. He shrugged. “Only you may know what the future will bring.”
He rode with his father, then Aidan, and finally with Eion, who was accompanying them all the way; he and Kylin’s sister would announce their betrothal, some more good news to add to their victory.
The sun had fallen when they reached the walled castle, but people were about everywhere, hailing them all as heroes with a joyful celebration in the expanse just behind the wall as they returned.
It was great to be among them all, to accept all their words of gratitude. And it was wonderful to finally be in the castle.
When at last he was next to Deidre, he was afraid he would be awkward. The threat was over: the pretense no longer needed.
But he smiled at her and whispered, “We did it!”
“We all did it!”
“Of course, but . . .”
She laughed. “We did all that we set out to do.”
He nodded. Maybe it was going to be okay. They were talking, acting fairly normal.
“Ah, but I shall be careful in the future,” she told him.
“Why is that?”
“I’d not have you reading my mind at all times!”
He laughed. “Hmm. I’d not thought of that. And you read mine too easily as well.”
She smiled and nodded. “Well . . . I’m off! They’ve promised me a wonderful bath filled with hot water and perhaps flower petals, and I do need it so desperately!”
“Me, too! I get a bath as well,” he said.
“I know. My father told me. And you’re staying. Right down the hall. All right, then. I’m heading out!”
“See you in the morning,” he said softly.
She turned and smiled at him.
And he began to hope and pray that dreams could come true.