Chapter 27
"Bring him in."
Magnus didn't look up from the map spread across his desk, his finger tracing the network of wells that supplied Barra's villages. It was three days since the attack on Ada. Three days of doubling patrols, questioning servants, and finding nothing.
Until now.
The door to his study opened and two guards dragged a man inside—bound, filthy, his clothes soaked and reeking of something acrid. The prisoner's face was bruised, one eye swollen shut, blood crusting at his temple.
Magnus finally looked up. "What am I lookin' at?"
"Found him at the southern well, me laird," the first guard said. "The new one we dug after closin' the poisoned one. He was pourin' somethin' into the water. We caught him before he could finish."
The second guard held up a clay jug, careful not to let any of the contents spill. "This is what he was usin'. Smells like the same stuff from before."
Magnus stood slowly, his movements controlled despite the rage building in his chest. He moved around the desk, stopped directly in front of the prisoner.
"Who sent ye?"
The man spat blood onto the floor. Said nothing.
"I asked ye a question." Magnus's voice remained level. Calm. The kind of calm that made seasoned warriors take a step back. "Who. Sent. Ye."
"Go tae hell."
Magnus's hand shot out, grabbed the man by the throat. Not hard enough to choke, but firm enough to make breathing difficult. "I've already been to hell. It wasnae nearly as unpleasant as what I'm about tae dae tae ye if ye dinnae start talkin'."
The prisoner's one good eye widened, but he kept his mouth shut. Stubborn. Or terrified of whoever had sent him.
Magnus released him with a shove that sent the man stumbling backward into the guards' grip. "How many others are there? How many of ye are workin' inside me walls?"
Silence.
"Are ye workin' alone, or is there someone else givin' ye orders?" Magnus moved closer again, his voice dropping dangerously low. "Because if there are more of ye, I will find them. And every moment ye waste with yer silence is another moment they have tae hurt innocent people."
The prisoner's jaw clenched. He stared at the floor, refusing to meet Magnus's gaze.
Magnus tried a different approach. "The poisoned wells. The fire. The attack on Lady Ada. Were ye part of all of it?"
Nothing. Not even a flicker of recognition.
"Fine. Take him tae the dungeons." Magnus turned back to his desk, his shoulders rigid with barely contained fury. "Give him water but nay food. Let him think about how much worse it's goin' tae get come morning."
"Aye, me laird." The guards began dragging the prisoner toward the door.
"Wait." Magnus stopped them with a raised hand. He moved closer again, studied the man's face. Something about him seemed familiar, but Magnus couldn't place where he'd seen him before. "Dae I ken ye?"
The prisoner's expression remained blank. No answer. No acknowledgment.
Magnus felt frustration build in his chest. This man knew something, had to know something. But getting it out of him would take time. Time they might not have.
"Get him out of me sight," Magnus said finally.
The guards hauled the prisoner away, his boots scraping across the floor.
When the door closed, Magnus stood alone in his study. His hands were shaking, from rage or fear or both, he couldn't tell. Another attack. Another attempt to hurt his people, to hurt Ada.
And this man refused to say who was behind it all.
The door opened again. Torvald slipped inside, his expression grim. "I heard. They caught one of them."
"Aye. Caught him poisonin' the southern well." Magnus moved to pour himself a drink, his movements jerky with tension. "But he willnae talk and say who sent him or if there are others."
"Did he give ye anythin'? Anythin' at all?"
"Nae a word. Just stared at me like he'd rather die than speak." Magnus downed the whisky in one swallow, felt it burn all the way down. "Tomorrow mornin', I want ye there when I question him. Bring whatever tools ye need tae make him understand we're serious."
Torvald was quiet for a moment. "Magnus... torture daesnae always work. Some men would rather die than betray who they're loyal tae."
"Then he'll die. But he'll tell us what we need tae ken first." Magnus set down the cup with enough force that it cracked. "I'm done playin' games, Torvald. I'm done reactin' tae attacks instead of preventin' them. This ends. Now."
"And if he really daesnae ken anythin'? If he's just a soldier followin' orders?"
"Then he'll tell us that too. And we'll find whoever gave those orders." Magnus's jaw clenched. "I willnae let them hurt her again. I cannae."
Torvald studied his face. "Ye love her."
It wasn't a question.
Magnus wanted to deny it. Wanted to say it was just duty, just protectiveness, just the natural instinct of a husband to guard his wife.
But after finally opening himself to Ada completely, and letting her see the broken parts of him and discovering she didn't flinch away—there was no point in lying anymore.
"Aye," he said quietly. "I love her."
"Daes she ken?"
"Maybe. I havenae said the words." Magnus moved to the window, stared out at the courtyard where guards patrolled with weapons drawn. "I'm nae sure I ken how tae say them. Every time I try, I remember Freydis."
"Ada's nae Freydis."
"I ken that. In me head, I ken that." Magnus pressed his palm against the cold stone. "But me heart? Me heart is still afraid. Still waitin' fer her tae prove that trustin' her was a mistake."
"Then maybe it's time tae stop waitin'." Torvald moved to stand beside him. "That lass has proven herself over and over. She's loyal, she's brave, she cares about yer people. What more daes she need tae dae before ye believe she's nae goin' to betray ye?"
"I dinnae ken. Maybe naethin'. Maybe it's nae about what she daes, but about what I'm capable of believin'." Magnus's voice turned rough. "What if I cannae dae it, Torvald? What if I'm too broken tae give her what she deserves?"
"Then ye'll regret it fer the rest of yer life. And she'll spend hers wonderin' why she wasnae enough." Torvald gripped his shoulder briefly. "Get some rest. Tomorrow's goin' tae be a long day."
He left, closing the door quietly behind him.
Magnus stood at the window until the sun began its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and crimson.
His mind kept circling back to Ada, to the way she'd looked at him yesterday in the garden, to the way she'd given herself completely despite knowing he was damaged.
To the way she'd whispered his name like a prayer.
He knew he should go to her. Should tell her about the captured prisoner, warn her that the threat was still active. Should probably lock her in their chamber again for her own safety.
But the thought of seeing that trust in her eyes—that absolute certainty that he'd protect her—when he felt so close to failing was almost unbearable.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Enter."
Ada slipped inside, closing the door softly behind her. Her noted her expression, concern mixed with determination.
"Ye've been in here all day," she said without preamble. "Isla says ye havenae eaten. Torvald says ye're broodin'. And the guards are whisperin' that somethin's happened."
Magnus tried to smile. Failed. "I'm fine."
"Ye're nae fine. Ye look exhausted." Ada moved closer, her gaze searching his face. "What's wrong? What happened?"
He could lie and tell her it was nothing, just keep business. But after promising himself he'd try to trust her, the lies felt heavier than the truth.
"They caught someone," Magnus said. "A man poisonin' one of the wells."
Ada's face went pale. "When?"
"This afternoon. The guards brought him straight tae me." Magnus gestured to where the prisoner had stood. "He willnae talk. Willnae say who sent him or if there are others workin' with him."
"Did he—" Ada's voice caught. "Did he say anythin' at all?"
"Nae a word. Just stared at me like he'd rather die than speak." Magnus's jaw tightened. "But someone's still out there, plannin' more attacks."
"What are ye goin' tae dae?"
"Question him. Tomorrow mornin'. Until he tells me what I need tae ken." Magnus's voice was flat. "I willnae be gentle about it."
"I wouldnae expect ye tae be." Ada moved closer, caught his hands in hers. "But right now, ye need tae stop thinkin' about it. Stop lettin' it consume ye."
"How can I stop? Every moment I'm nae workin' on this is a moment someone could be plannin' the next attack."
"Magnus." Ada's voice was firm. "Ye've been workin' on this all day. Ye're exhausted. Ye need rest."
"I need tae keep ye safe."
"I am safe. I'm right here with ye." Ada pulled her hands free, cupped his face. "And right now, what I need is for ye tae take a breath. Tae step away from this fer just a few hours. Please."
Magnus stared down at her, saw the worry in her hazel-green eyes. The fear not for herself, but for him. For what this constant vigilance was doing to him.
"I dinnae ken how tae stop," he admitted quietly. "I dinnae ken how tae just... let go."
"Then let me help ye." Ada's thumb brushed across his cheekbone. "Come ridin' with me. Just fer an hour. Show me more of the island. Let yer mind rest."
"It's almost sunset."
"Which makes it the perfect time. The light's beautiful right now, and the air's cool." Ada smiled slightly. "And if ye say nay, I'm goin' tae start naggin' ye about eatin', and I promise ye'll find that much more annoyin' than a simple ride."
Despite everything, Magnus felt his mouth twitch. "Ye wouldnae dare."
"Try me." Ada's smile widened. "I ken at least a dozen ways tae make a stubborn man dae what's good fer him."
"That sounds like a threat."
"It's a promise." Ada took his hand again, tugged gently. "Come on. Before ye think of another excuse."
Magnus looked at her—at this woman who'd somehow wormed her way past every wall he'd built, who saw him at his worst and still chose to stay.
Maybe Torvald was right. Maybe it was time to stop waitin' for disaster and start believin' that good things could last.
"All right," Magnus said. "But just an hour. And we stay close tae the keep."
"Deal." Ada was already pulling him toward the door. "And ye're bringin' that smile I just saw. I like it when ye smile."
"I didnae smile."
"Ye just did. I saw it. Dinnae try tae deny it now."
Magnus found himself almost laughing as they made their way down to the stables.
Ada kept up a steady stream of chatter—about Mairi's latest attempt to teach her about obscure herbs, about the kitchen cat who'd somehow gotten into the solar, about absolutely anything except poisoned wells and captured prisoners.
And slowly, incrementally, Magnus felt the tension in his shoulders begin to ease.
The stables were quiet at that hour, most of the horses already settled for the evening. Magnus saddled his stallion while Ada prepared her mare—the same gentle horse she'd ridden before, her leg fully healed now.
"Where are we goin'?" Ada asked as they led the horses into the courtyard.
"There's another place I want tae show ye. A spring beyond the eastern ridge." Magnus swung into his saddle. "It's hidden, quiet."
"Sounds perfect." Ada mounted gracefully, settling into her seat with the confidence of someone who'd been riding since childhood. "Lead the way, husband."
The word sent warmth through Magnus's chest. Husband. He was getting used to hearing it from her lips. Getting used to the way she said it—not with resignation or duty, but with something that sounded almost like affection.
They rode out through the eastern gate, the guards nodding respectfully as they passed. The path wound through rocky terrain, climbing gradually toward the ridge that overlooked the sea. The sun hung low on the horizon, painting everything in shades of gold and amber.
Ada rode beside him in comfortable silence, her face turned toward the fading light. She looked peaceful. Content. And watching her, Magnus felt some of his earlier fear begin to fade.
Maybe he couldn't protect her from every threat. Maybe the world would always be dangerous, always uncertain.
But right now, in that precise moment, she was there. She was safe. She was his.