Chapter 34
C omgall couldn’t seem to control his body. His jaw hung slack and his head pounded as he tried to think his way through the shock. What was going on? It made no sense. Behind him, Bethany gasped, then rushed into the bedroom, disappearing behind the door. Of course, Matthew was in there.
“Tomás, what is happening?” Comgall asked, staring at his brother. Surely this couldn’t be - Tomás wouldn’t - would he?
“Remember that I have an equal right to the kingship, brother,” Tomás said coolly. “The law does not differentiate between older and younger son.”
“You’ve always supported my claim,” Comgall pointed out, his head pounding. Tomás had never wanted to be king. Had he?
Tomás rolled his eyes.
“It’s been a long time to keep pretending,” he said. “I’ve finally had enough. The time has come to stop acting in secret.”
Comgall’s mind began to catch up with events as he slowly put the pieces together.
Tomás had been there when Donall died. Donall, who had an even stronger claim to the throne. Donall, who he thought they had both loved and mourned.
“Were you involved in Donall’s death?” he asked.
Tomás’s eyes narrowed. He lowered the sword a little, but Comgall knew he could raise it again in a heartbeat.
“It’s taken you this long to figure it out?” his brother asked. “God, you are naive. Yes, Donall was in between me and the crown. Frankly, if I thought you’d had a chance at the kingship, I would have killed you a long time ago. But I didn’t really think you’d be elected. At least I’ve been able to work things out. You still haven’t been properly made king, so this is the perfect time to get rid of you.”
He took a step closer.
Surely, Ciaran and the other guards were not far away. They would see the open door and realise something was wrong. Comgall just needed to buy time.
“What about you?” he croaked, nodding at Eithne. She smiled triumphantly.
“I’ve been working with your brother all along,” she said, her eyes bright with mad pleasure. “Tomás killed my first husband for me. I owe him a lot.”
Tomás laughed.
“Did you never wonder where I vanished to that summer, brother? I was in Ireland, collecting favours. Eithne was going to poison you for me after the wedding, if I didn’t find an opportunity to get rid of you first.”
“They’ll never elect a murderer,” Comgall said, grasping at straws.
Tomás rolled his eys again.
“We’ll blame it on Eithne. Scorned woman, and so on. You know everyone will want to blame the Irishwoman.”
“I’ll be halfway home before anyone finds your body,” Eithne said with a wicked grin.
“Tomás, don’t do this,” Comgall said, still struggling to process what was going on. Tomás had always been his friend, his closest supporter. His brother.
Tomás took a step closer, then another. He raised the sword, his eyes cold as steel.
“It’s time to end this, brother,” he said. “Enough talking.”
Comgall braced himself. Could he reach his sword? There was no way he’d die without a fight.
And then Bethany came running out of the bedroom, screaming like a banshee. She hit Tomás hard with the poker from the hearth. He stumbled, dropping the sword. Comgall moved faster than he ever had before, grasping the hilt in his own hand. Eithne screamed and ran, disappearing through the still-open door. Tomás caught his balance and staggered after her.
Comgall stared after them for a second while his brain caught up with his body. Then he started off after them.
“Guards! Catch them!” he screamed.
He raced through the hillfort, his lungs screaming as he pushed his body harder. Tomás was in fighting condition, but surely Eithne could not outrun him?
She was smart, though. She dodged everyone who reached for her, constantly putting an obstacle between herself and Comgall. He was still a few paces behind her when she reached the sea gate.
“Stop her!” Comgall shouted. But the guards at the gate were not prepared for the sight of a princess running towards them at full pelt, her red hair blowing in the wind. She raced on through, Comgall only just behind her. He stumbled on the rocky path, and that was it. The chase was over. By the time Comgall reached the bottom of the path, Tomás had already cast off. Eithne leapt the last distance to the boat, just as the wind caught the sail. Comgall could have called for his own ships to be readied, but there was no point. They were gone.