Chapter 18
T his time, Bethany would not get it wrong. With the wedding due to be held tomorrow, she had no more time. If she did not escape tonight, everything would fall apart. That was not to say she had built such a wonderful life for herself here that she could not imagine giving it up. But there would surely be no mercy once she was found to be an imposter. She could not take that chance.
This time, she prepared with great care. She wore her leggings and sweatshirt, which she’d kept hidden under the bed. Matthew solemnly promised that he would stay very, very quiet, and then the two of them set off.
Most of Dunadd’s population would be eating or serving dinner right now. Bethany had got out of it by claiming a headache. With any luck, the excuse would not raise suspicion. It was more than natural for her to feel nervous the night before her wedding.
The two of them crept into the stables, which were located close to the wall. Best of all, they had the closest Bethany had found to a secret entrance - a small gate in the palisade, just big enough for a single horse and rider. If she timed it right, she could slip through without anyone noticing. Or so she hoped.
A few stable hands wandered out of the long, low building. Bethany shrank back into the shadows, clutching Matthew’s hand tightly. The young men walked past without noticing her. She seized the opportunity and slipped through the stable door before it fully closed. Inside, there was quiet except for the soft noises of contented horses.
“They’re big,” Matthew breathed, his eyes wide as he looked all around him.
Bethany put a finger to her lips, but she smiled all the same. He’d been forced to stay quiet here, in the past, and it wasn’t good for an already withdrawn little boy. Soon, she would encourage him to talk all the time. Soon.
She chose a horse that seemed calm enough as it gazed placidly over its stall door. Best of all, it was a nondescript shade of brown. Perfect for staying anonymous. Bethany sidled into the stall, keeping close against the wall. The horse eyed her a little uneasily, and shifted its weight from side to side, but it didn’t make any noise.
Now, how to saddle it? Bethany looked around, but she didn’t see anything that looked like a saddle. She wasn’t even entirely sure what people here used as a saddle. She tried to think back to her initial ride up to Dunadd, but her memory was fuzzy. Well, the horse was wearing some kind of blanket tied around its middle, and a loose halter collar. That would have to do. They could get far enough with that.
Moving slowly and carefully, Bethany lifted Matthew up and sat him astride the horse’s shoulders, where he clung tightly to the mane .
“Don’t let go,” Bethany instructed him. His little knuckles were already white, and his eyes were wide. This was probably another one of her terrible ideas, another failure in her judgement. But desperate people made desperate choices. If they tried to leave on foot, Matthew would barely make it three miles from Dunadd. They would have to risk riding the horse.
On the other side of the stall, she spotted a solid wooden bucket. That might do as a mounting block - there was no way she could swing her leg over the horse’s back from ground level. But she’d better get the animal outside first. The gate looked narrow and there was no knowing if she could ride through it without some kind of accident.
Bucket in one hand, she took the horse’s lead rein in the other. One step at a time, she moved towards the gate. She winced each time the horse’s hooves sounded on the hard floor of the stable. Thank goodness there were no stable hands about to hear the noise. She really had timed this well.
And then someone jumped out of the shadows. Bethany gasped, just as the horse reared up. She didn’t move fast enough and Matthew tumbled backwards - only to land in Comgall’s arms. Bethany stumbled back, away from the frightened horse. Comgall shifted Matthew onto his hip, easily balancing the boy using just one arm. With his other hand, he reached out to the horse, which calmed rapidly. It must have known him, for it did not protest at all when he took its lead rein.
“This is twice now,” Comgall snapped, his eyes blazing. “Twice that I’ve had to save your son’s life because of your stupid, foolhardy escape attempts. Can’t you just tell me what’s going on?”
Bethany lent back against the rough wood of the stall door, staring at him. And then, to her utter shame, she burst into tears. Not gentle sobs, but full body heaves that shook her to her core. Of course, Matthew started crying as well. Even through her tears, Bethany could see the look of horror on Comgall’s face. It made her smile a little, and helped her come back to herself. She wiped her eyes and stood up straight, drawing in a deep breath as she did so. Comgall was still staring at her in shock.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just - well. Let’s get this horse back home shall we, boy?”
He turned all his attention to Matthew, who brightened up almost immediately.
Bethany shuffled out of the way and let Comgall lead the horse back into its stall. She watched as he brushed it down with smooth, gentle strokes, calming it and neatening it all at once. He even let Matthew try, lifting the boy up to the parts he was too short to reach. The boy calmed down at almost the same speed as the horse. Even Bethany felt the tension easing from her body as she watched the sure, steady movements. What was it, this talent that Comgall had? He could lighten the atmosphere in any room.
“I’ll walk you back to your room,” Comgall said quietly. To Bethany’s relief, he did not add any sarcastic comments or crow over her failure. If anything, he seemed sad.
True to his word, he walked them all the way back to their door. He hovered in the doorway for a moment as Bethany tucked the exhausted Matthew into bed.
“Can I come in?” he asked softly.
Bethany bit her lip. This was the last person she should be spending time with.
“Come in for a moment,” she said reluctantly.
He slipped inside and sat down beside her on the bed. He looked endearingly awkward and out of place as he perched on the very edge of the mattress. If Bethany had thought him a little angry and threatening before, she could not remember it.
“Please, Eithne,” Comgall said, facing her with earnest brightness in his eyes. “Just tell me the truth about what’s going on. I want to help you.”
His fingers reached out to tangle with hers. Bethany gazed down at their hands, his strong fingers laid over her own.
“I can’t tell you,” she whispered. “But you have to understand that I cannot marry you.”
Comgall’s face faded into a slow frown.
“This alliance is too important to risk for nothing,” he said. “I don’t want to force you into anything, but I need to know your reasons. There are too many people relying on both of us.”
“My reasons must remain my own,” Bethany whispered, still gazing down.
Comgall pulled his hands away.
“I won’t tear this alliance apart,” he said tightly. “You should have thought about this more before you came to Dal Riada.”
“Everything has been out of my control,” Bethany insisted. “I never meant for any of this to happen, I swear.”
Comgall got to his feet.
“Now that, I don’t believe,” he said. “You make all your own decisions, even if you don’t see it.”
Bethany’s eyes once again welled up with tears.
“They’re always the wrong decisions,” she whispered. “Please, Comgall, don’t make me go through with this. Let me go.”
Comgall gazed down at her. Something strange shifted in his eyes.
“I still want to marry you,” he said. “Despite everything, I think you would make a wonderful wife and queen. And if you would only trust me, I would take care of you.”
Then he left.