Chapter Fifteen
Two days after the fire, Alannah paced before the hearth at the heart of the feasting hall as Emer swept the stone floor, the swish of her broom at odds with Alannah’s footfalls.
“Why has no one come?” she asked aloud. “Why hasn’t the king sent someone to investigate the fire?”
It made no sense. The king had gone to such effort to have it built over the past months—why would he not come to defend it?
Ath Luain was a modestly sized town, if indeed the term ‘town’ could reasonably be applied. It was more a smattering of farms surrounding a marketplace near the river. Even with its growth over her lifetime, Alannah knew it was almost an afterthought of a settlement.
Aside from the ford, which made it a frequent thoroughfare for travelers and a logical stopping place for merchants, there wasn’t much reason to visit.
It saw its fair share of trade, but couldn’t hold a candle to the hubs like Dyflin and Luimneach.
The farming was fair, but, again, nothing compared with the lush fields in Midhe to the east.
All of this, combined with the town’s proximity to the kingdom’s capital at Cruachan Aí, meant that it fell directly into the jurisdiction of the king himself.
He visited Ath Luain frequently, hosting other kings and generally using it as a meeting place.
There was no petty king ruling here—only Cahill. So why did he not come?
“You’ll wear a track in the floor,” Emer called, hanging up the broom. She joined Alannah by the hearth, but instead of pacing she sat on one of the wooden stools and stoked the crackling flames.
“He needs to do something.” Alannah sat on a stool beside her sister.
“I’m certain he has a perfectly good reason for delaying.” Emer prodded a glowing coal back to life. “Perhaps there was an attack we don’t know of, or he was called away and hasn’t heard yet.”
Alannah perked up, her sister’s words rolling around in her mind. “Has anyone sent a runner to him?”
Emer laughed. “How should I know? I’m not in charge.”
Her thoughts ignited like the flames Emer stoked, flickering from one to the next. She shot to her feet once more. “It didn’t burn very long,” she thought aloud. “We put it out almost as soon as the smoke rose high enough to be seen at Cruachan Aí. Perhaps no one saw it at all.”
Though Alannah would wager her year’s earnings that Oran was behind the fire, the king still needed to know about it. And it would be far easier to get that bastard his comeuppance if the king, too, learned of his treachery.
“That’s very possible,” Emer agreed. “And if no one from Ath Luain went there to tell the king, then he’d have no way of knowing.”
“Precisely!” She turned to regard her sister, rising to move onto her next task.
They were alike in that one way—neither could sit still when there was work to be done.
Their mother and aunts had been the same, and it was a trait that served them well in managing their hostelry. “Which is why I’m going to do it.”
Emer’s chestnut eyes swung to her. “That’s a long trip to take on your own.”
“It’s only two days’ walk. We’ve gone there before.”
“Aye.” Emer’s hands went to her hips, and Alannah knew she was in for it.
“We’ve gone there with a group of twenty or more for the fair, or with family to trade.
No matter how much you train with those bards, you’d still be a woman walking there on her own.
There’s brigands and boars and wolves and—”
“I get it,” Alannah interrupted her. “No need to continue.”
“You can do anything, Alannah.” Emer walked over, taking her hands. “But you shouldn’t do this alone.”
“Speaking of ‘alone,’ I don’t know how I feel about you being here all by yourself for four days or more.” Alannah had been so concerned over the attack on the bridge, she hadn’t considered how her absence might impact her sister. “Oran will realize I’m not here, and—”
“And that’s why we’ll ask those nice gentlemen to keep an eye on things while you’re gone. They’re very sweet,” Emer smiled. “I’m sure they’ll help. In fact, Conan might be a good one to ask to travel with you.”
The thought of a several day journey alongside Conan set Alannah’s pulse racing. “You’re trying awfully hard to push me into him, you know that?”
Emer laughed, walking to the kitchen and pulling several onions out of storage. “Someone has to look out for you. Lord knows you won’t do it yourself.”
Alannah rolled her eyes, watching her sister set to chopping for the evening meal. “I’ll go speak with them, and I’ll plan to leave in the morn.”
“I’ll pack you something tasty.” Emer’s round face lit like a lantern.
Alannah headed out the front doors, stopping to plant a quick kiss on her kindhearted sister’s cheek.
She didn’t know what she’d do without Emer.
She knew that after their training in the morning, the men bathed and then were gone until dinner time.
Sometimes they stayed in their cottage. Other times she hadn’t a clue where they were, and it honestly wasn’t any of her business.
She stopped by their cottage first, but there was no sign of the men so she headed down the path towards Ath Luain. She hadn’t walked for two minutes before she heard them chattering down the way.
Conan noticed her first, his slate grey eyes pinning her in place. A smoldering half-smile curved one side of his very tasty lips. She couldn’t stop herself from imagining what it would feel like to have them on her skin again.
“I was hoping to speak with you,” she called, ignoring the way her stomach fluttered when Conan hurried to walk beside her.
“I’m always hoping to speak with you,” he grinned.
Behind them, one of the men snorted, clearly suppressing a laugh.
“I need to travel to Cruachan Aí, and Emer thought it would be safer if I didn’t go alone.”
Conan’s dark brow creased. “Emer is correct,” he agreed. “Why do you need to go?”
“I don’t think anyone has told the king that the bridge was burned, and we need him to send men to look into it. If it wasn’t an accident, we need to find and stop whoever’s responsible.”
A flicker of something crossed his face, gone as soon as it came. “Perhaps he’s already looked into it and deemed it an accident.”
Alannah shook her head. “I asked Glasny today, and he said he’s not seen any of the king’s men come by. He also didn’t know of anyone going to tell him what happened, and Glasny knows most of the goings-on in Ath Luain.”
“I’m afraid we can’t go with you,” Illadan answered from behind them. “We have business in Ath Luain to see to.”
“I know,” she ventured slowly, “that Conan has no desire to be seen by the king. He could stay outside the rath, if that would help.”
Illadan’s face softened, but his resolve did not. “He must stay here, Alannah. Regardless of his past with the king.”
Conan frowned, biting his lower lip. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I wish I could help.”
Alannah felt as though someone had laid an iron cloak over her, smothering her kindled hopes. “You still can. While I’m gone, someone needs to make sure Oran stays away from Emer.”
“And Eoghan,” Conan added darkly. “Your sister seems to attract trouble.”
“Honey attracts all manner of creatures, even the less desirable.”
“True enough,” Conan chuckled. “We will keep her safe in your absence, but who will protect you?”
Alannah patted the sword her brothers had made for her. “I’ve got all the protection I need right here. I was simply trying to assuage my sister’s worries.”
“The road can be dangerous, even for those who are paid for their skill in combat.”
“I’ll be fine.” She flashed him her best smile, hoping to pacify his concerns as well. “I’ve been there many times. I know the way well.”
Conan didn’t argue, but the muscles worked along his sharp jaw. And it wasn’t as though Alannah was happy about it, either. Of course she’d prefer the pleasure of his company to four days of travelling alone. But Illadan was clearly in charge, and he’d just as clearly opposed the idea.
At least Emer wouldn’t be left unprotected. With her sister guarded by this band of giants, Alannah could at least travel with some peace of mind.