Chapter 17
Eoin jolted awake, grasping for his sword. Where was he? He tried to move, but agony shot through his chest, and he writhed in place, struggling against what felt like a binding around him. Where was Breana? What had happened?
A soft hand caught his, squeezing gently. "Eoin. Calm down. Ye're safe. I'm here."
He stilled, then turned his head to the side and saw her.
Her voice was a soothing breeze, and the sight of her face, whole and vibrant and alive, was almost too much to bear.
He grasped her hand desperately, barely able to believe that they were safe, wondering if perhaps he had already died and this was a dream.
"Breana," he breathed. Speaking caused that pain in his chest again, but he ignored it, though it made it hard to get the words out. "What happened? Where are we? The last I remember… the False King's men found us…"
She smiled, though there were tears in her eyes. She held on to his hand with her left one, while her right hand moved to stroke his hair. He closed his eyes at the touch, the comfort of the gesture stilling the panic in his heart.
"Ye saved me," she told him. "And I saved ye right back. Do ye remember?"
The memories came flooding back. Seeing Breana fall. The knife in his chest. The desperate race upon horseback. He had thought that last part a dream.
His eyes opened again, and he looked into her eyes, seeing the sheer relief on her face. "Ye saved me."
She sniffed, her tears now running down her cheeks, but her voice still strong. "Well, I cheated. The women here at the convent are the ones who truly saved ye. All I did was ride fast enough."
The convent. Eoin blinked, looking around him, fully taking in his surroundings for the first time.
He was in a bed, a soft, comfortable one, and what he had initially thought were restraints was actually a warm blanket.
His chest was tightly bound by bandages.
He tried to sit up, but Breana gently forced him back down.
"Ye found it," Eoin whispered, scarcely able to believe it. "Not only did ye save me life, but ye found it."
The creak of a door opening interrupted him, and another voice spoke. "Awake, are ye? Good."
"He is. Thank ye. So much," Breana said. "Thank ye all."
Eoin turned his head and saw an older woman approaching, followed by four other women, three of whom seemed very young.
Immediately, he recognized the embroidery on the dress of the women—the little white sparrow that he had first encountered when his friend Ann had shown him that there was more to life than being Kyle Darach's son.
He had never met the leaders, though he had encountered several of the Sparrows themselves both before and after he had joined the rebellion.
In fact, now that he was focusing harder, he realized that he knew one of these women—a Sparrow named Donella who had often interacted with Ann back when she was serving as Maeve's maid, what seemed like a lifetime ago.
"Donella," he said. "So it's true. This is the White Sparrows' hideout."
"It's a refuge," the older woman corrected. "A place where we take war orphans, lassies who have naewhere else tae go, and protect them. And, it seems, ye." She approached and checked his bandages. "It seems our healers did good work. Be more careful next time."
"It's more than that," one of the younger girls burst out as though she couldn't contain her words.
"This is where they let those of us who want tae train and one day become Sparrows.
This is where we learn tae fight, tae spy—tae get revenge for those who we've lost and help overcome the evil in this world. "
The older woman shot a disapproving look behind her back, but did not object.
Breana cleared her throat. "It seems ye ken Donella, but allow me tae introduce ye." She indicated the girl who had spoken. "This is Catriona, and the others are Ciara and Iona. They are the ones who helped me save ye. They're… well, as Cat says, they're trainin' tae be Sparrows."
"Not all of us are," Iona said quietly. "Many of the lassies here just came for a home—for peace. Naebody is forced tae put themselves in danger. Those of us who become full Sparrows eventually leave and join Morag in the main base, where those like Donella usually live."
"Ye're all very talkative today," the older woman scolded, though she didn't sound too angry. She finished checking Eoin's bandages and retreated. "Ye'll need another day of bedrest. At least. Ye've already been here a day and a half; it's a wonder ye woke up at all."
Breana made a sound halfway between a laugh and a sigh. "And, Eoin, this is…"
"Laura," Eoin guessed. "If ye're nae Morag, then ye must be Laura, aye? I'm honored tae be in yer presence, me lady."
Laura snorted. "I'm nae lady. I'm a governess, then and now.
" Then her hard exterior softened a little.
"Ye've been a friend tae the Sparrows for a long time, Eoin Darach.
The honor is mine." Then she even smiled a little.
"Beside, yer woman there may have slain me where I stood had I turned ye away. "
Eoin looked back to Breana and saw a slight pretty blush appear on her cheeks. He smiled, warmth settling in his belly, and said, "She's nae mine nor anyone's. She's her own woman, through and through."
"That may be, but she made it quite clear ye're her man," Ciara commented, earning an elbow in the side from Donella.
"And besides, we owe her a debt. She's brought us news of Morag and Ann's capture and the fate of poor Dina.
We now ken we need tae get word tae Blackthorn Castle tae try tae locate them.
Honestly, we may try tae recruit Breana here as one of our own. "
Eoin decided to take mercy upon Breana, who was turning increasingly red. He looked back to Laura and said, "Well, thank ye. All of ye. For savin' me, for takin' us in… for everythin' ye do." He felt Breana's hand still in his and pressed his fingers reassuringly into her palm. "Is–is she here?"
"Nay," Breana said, answering instead of the others. "She was here. They explained it all tae me while ye were asleep. The princess, Neala, she is alive. She's been kept here a secret all these years."
Eoin let out a breath, closing his eyes as a rush of emotion overcame him.
He had no idea what Neala looked like, of course, but in his mind's eye he could only picture his own sister, Mary.
He felt a yearning tearing at his heart.
Mary was long dead, and there was no bringing her back.
But suddenly, they were close to at least giving Cailean the chance that Eoin never would have.
It was a sweet mix of pain and joy, of agony and hope.
He opened his eyes again. "Where is she? Is she well?"
"Neala was at the end of her trainin'. She's on a top secret mission," Cat explained eagerly.
Laura gave her a look, but then nodded. "I raised Neala as practically me own since birth. She's older than most are when they go out on the field for the first time, but I wanted tae make sure she was ready. But when this task came upon her… there was nae stoppin' her."
"Where is she?" Eoin asked again.
Once more, it was Breana who answered. "Blackthorn Castle," she replied in a solemn tone. "She took it upon herself tae serve as the king's own maid, tae spy upon his inner workin's."
Eoin sat up in alarm, ignoring the screeching agony that shot through his chest at the movement. "Blackthorn Castle! Are ye mad?" He addressed Laura directly. "How could ye risk her like this?"
Calmly, Laura met his eyes. "It was never me place tae stop her," the older woman replied. "It is dangerous, naebody is denyin' it. But her mission is also crucial. And she isnae alone. She's trained her whole life for this, and one of our finest agents is placed alongside her, watchin' over her."
"Aye, but—"
But Eoin's protests were cut off as the door swung open. Another girl came running in, panting, obviously having rushed here. She held a folded letter in her hand and wore a panicked look on her face.
"Laura, it's from Elspeth," the girl said, hurrying directly to the matriarch and holding out the letter.
Laura took it and dismissed the girl, unfolding the paper. While she read, Eoin turned to Breana.
"We need tae inform Cailean of Neala's whereabouts," he said.
"I ken," Breana replied. "As soon as ye're well enough, we'll—"
Laura swore. It was so harsh and unladylike, so unexpected, that the whole room seemed to take in a breath. Both Eoin and Breana stared at her and saw a deep sorrow and worry in the older woman's eyes.
"There's nae use in directin' the young king tae Blackthorn Castle," Laura said, a terrifying rumble of anger in her voice. "She isnae there."
"What?" Iona demanded. "Is she hurt?"
"It seems the king and his son have come up with a plan.
" Though she kept a straight face, Eoin noticed a slight shake to Laura's hands as she spoke.
"The rebels are currently marchin' upon McNair Castle.
It's a trap—the king has sent his most elite forces, includin' his son, tae await them.
Neala is with the prince, and the rebels are goin' tae walk right intae the ambush. "
Breana gasped, throwing her hands over her mouth. Alarmed, Eoin immediately got to his feet, staggering slightly as he did. "We have tae go," he said immediately. "We have tae reach Cailean before he—"
"Lie down!" Donella insisted. "Ye're naewhere near well enough tae ride anywhere, and…"
"Let them go," Laura commanded. "The two of them will be able tae reach Cailean quicker than any of us can. Go. Warn the rebels. Save me lassie."
Eoin met her eyes and saw something like fear hidden in their depths. He nodded.
Breana moved to his side. "What else?"
"What?"
Breana's keen eyes were examining Laura. "What else was in the letter? I can tell there's more."
Shakily, Laura started to reply. "They've—" Then she stopped and shook her head. "Nay. It isnae the time. Ye must focus on the rebels and Neala now."
"She's right. Whatever it is, we can help later. We need tae go now," Eoin insisted. "Where are the horses?"
Taking his arm, Breana said, "Let me go with one of the Sparrows. Ye're in nae condition for such a ride, and—"
But Eoin shook his head. "We ken the rebel plans better than the Sparrows do. And if ye think I'm ever leavin' yer side again tae let ye ride intae danger, ye're very wrong."
"Good," Laura said abruptly. "The lassies will show ye tae yer things and tae the horses. We will send a contingent tae Bruce Castle tae deal with the rest. Now go. Ye've nae a moment tae waste."
They redid Eoin's bandages one more time, then he and Breana were rushed out to the stables. Their faithful horses waited for them, and soon they were mounted and on their way, with a bag of supplies each amongst them.
As they rode away from the monastery, Breana said, "Eoin. Are ye sure we can make it?"
"It doesnae matter if we can," he replied. He leaned forward, spurring his horse to move faster, and heard Breana do the same just behind him. "Only that we must."
There was as long ride ahead of them to make it to McNair Castle in time, and the chances were that Cailean and Maeve would already be on the march. Eoin knew that they were taking a gamble against odds that were almost impossible.
But he also knew they had no other choice.