Page 43 of For an Exile’s Heart (Ancient Songs #2)

B radana never knew what alerted her. Some wild instinct, perhaps, or a rustled whisper from the trees overhead.

She ached too badly and harbored too much fear to sleep, though the men around her did. When they stopped, Mican had dumped her on the ground and growled at her that she should not move. His men had built a fire but made no offer to her of food or water.

She cared little for the former, but would have killed for a cool drink.

She had remained where Mican dumped her as the men conversed, mounted a guard, and eventually lay down around her. Mican lay not far away—within arm’s reach. Two men stood on watch pacing the perimeter of the camp. Until the fire died, she could see them clearly. After, not so much, but she knew they would see her if she tried to rise. If she made an attempt to get away.

Mican—arrogant man that he was—had failed to bind her hands or feet. He did not think much of her as an opponent.

If she ran, they would pursue her. She knew not what lay out there in the dark. But she sensed…

Something. Someone.

Aid me , she told the land beneath her, the trees above her, the very air around her.

And then she heard the whine. And she knew who it was that lurked out there in the dark.

Wen had found her. He had.

She lifted her head and tried to see. Impossible.

Please , she begged of Alba, and looked from one guard to the other.

If only one of them would step off into the trees to relieve himself. She could make a run for it. With Wen there to defend her…

But had she learned nothing? Would she want her hound to spend his life for her? Had she not sacrificed herself to keep those she loved alive?

She should just stay where she was. Continue on to Mican’s stronghold. Take whatever punishment he wanted to hand out.

One of the guards disappeared. It occurred so swiftly and so silently, Bradana did not see it happen. One moment the fellow pacing the perimeter of the camp was there, the next he was not. She blinked and strained her eyes.

Gone.

She did not understand. If Wen had leaped upon the man and taken him down, she would have heard.

Her eyes moved to the second guard. Had he seen? He stood perfectly motionless and might be sleeping on his feet.

Then suddenly, before she could blink again, he disappeared also.

Bradana sat up, sure her eyes must be deceiving her, or that she slept and dreamed.

Aye, that must be it, for she saw Wen approaching, picking his way across the camp on his big, silent feet, stepping around and at one point over the sleeping men.

Bradana scrambled to her feet. Dream or not, she was following her hound.

But she did not breathe as she crept past the sleeping figures. Mican first, who stirred and snorted, making her heart falter in her chest. Two others.

At the edge of the trees, arms enfolded her and gripped her hard. She knew him at once, and her poor heart bounded, but she did not say a word.

Hand in hand, they moved off. Past the guard who lay sprawled on the ground. Led by Wen, who still moved silently and looked like a figure from an ancient tale.

Neither of them spoke, but strength came to Bradana through Adair’s fingers. She wanted to ask him a hundred questions, but she already had the answers.

I will find you always.

They walked on and on through endless trees, following the hound and not seeking any other direction. Listening hard for someone to wake behind them. To leap up and begin a pursuit.

No sound came.

Alba closed her arms around them. Bradana could describe it no other way. The trees shielded them. The very earth guided their footsteps. Just the three of them alone.

At last Bradana faltered, and they paused. Her body still hurt, and the effects of her ordeal had her in a fierce grip.

Adair ran his hands up and down her arms, imparting reassurance, and unfastened something from his belt. A flask.

Bradana drank the water greedily. Wen pressed against her side and whined. She dug her fingers into his fur.

“Come,” Adair breathed in her ear.

“Which way?”

“I do not know. I am trusting Wen.”

But when she would have moved off, Adair seized her, trapped her face between his hands, and kissed her.

All his love lay in that kiss. His fear and his relief. When it ended she clung to him, drawing on his presence.

The trees rustled overhead as a dawn wind rose. It would be light soon. An advantage, and a disadvantage.

Bradana could no longer hear whether anyone came after them. But Wen, who had lain down beside them, looked calm.

She gazed into Adair’s eyes. “What now? If we go home they will follow us and may still attack Grandfather. I do no’ wish to bring harm to him.”

“Bradana.” Adair brushed her cheek with tender fingers. So much emotion brimmed in his eyes, it fair shook her. “If we do no’ go back, even if we send word by his men that I have found ye, that old man will worry himself to death over ye. He will no’ rest till he sees ye with his own eyes. Alanna , ye must learn to let others love ye.”

“I—” She had no words in reply to that.

Gently, he went on, “Why did ye do as ye did—turn yourself over to Mican back there?”

“Because…” Her eyes brimmed with tears. She saw him through a haze. But she did not have to see him, for she could feel him, the better part of her soul. “I could no’ bear the thought of harm coming to ye. Better anything he might do to me than that.”

“Och, lass. Did ye have so little faith in me that ye thought I would not fight like fury itself to protect ye?”

“I thought—I thought ye might fight to the death for me. How could I bear that, Adair? Tell me how.”

All at once she was weeping, crying out her terror and relief.

“There, now. There, now,” he crooned.

“’Tis just because I do ha’ faith in ye that I thought ye would spend your life for my sake.”

“Aye, so. We are bent, so it seems, on sacrificing ourselves for each other.”

“When all we want is to be together. I care no’ where, Adair. In a chief’s hall, in a hovel. Wi’ no roof over our heads at all.”

“Aye. And have I not promised ye it will be? Trust my promise.”

“I do. I trust ye, but then the fear comes.” She dabbed at her eyes. Wen had risen to his feet and looked concerned.

Bradana dropped down and embraced her hound. “Thank ye for helping to save me.”

The big hound nuzzled her. When she got to her feet, she had her answer.

“Ye be right, Adair. We must go home. Reassure Grandfather and Mistress MacFee. After that, we will think again.”