Page 29 of The Rightful Highland King (The Last Celtic King #4)

"Go," Cailean said. "And thank ye for talkin' tae me. It means a lot, even when we disagree."

Neala nodded and squeezed his hand before passing and moving to Nessa's side. The two girls walked away, and only when they had left Cailean out of earshot did Neala speak.

"Thank ye," she said. "Ye didnae need tae intervene in me defense. I've hardly earned it from ye, the way I've acted."

Nessa nodded stiffly. "As I'd hardly earned yer trust at first. We should put our differences in the past where they belong. Breana says she suspects we could even be friends."

Smiling slightly, Neala said, "One step at a time. But perhaps one day."

Nessa smiled back. They entered the castle again and both took a minute to shake the snow and damp from their clothing. As they did, Nessa hesitated then leaned close. "Ye're right, ye ken. About Ansel, I mean. He's nae a monster."

Neala's heart stuttered. She looked around them, making sure they were alone.

Finally, at long last, she could know the truth—but now that it was here, she wasn't sure she wanted it.

"Were… were ye courtin', before yer engagement?

" she asked. Hastily, she added, "Ye neednae tell me, of course. I just?—"

"I met Ansel Ashkirk when I was a bairn, but he never showed interest in me, nor in either of my sisters," Nessa interrupted. "Apart from official dinners with the king—the False King—we only properly met again the day that our betrothal was announced."

Neala's throat burned, and her eyes itched. She didn't know if she wanted to cry with pain or with relief. "And in the month ye were together…"

"We barely spoke." Nessa gave her a curious look. She looked around her carefully, then took a step closer to Neala, lowering her tone until she was nearly whispering. "Why are ye askin' these things? What do ye hope tae hear?"

"I…" Neala stammered, cursing herself for getting so caught up in the moment. "I…"

Nessa held up a hand, stepping back. "Nay.

Dinnae tell me. I dinnae think I should know.

" She paused then added, "But… for what it's worth, Neala, there comes a day we all need tae decide where our allegiances lay.

I've finally found mine, unbelievably, here amongst Cailean's people.

What will ye do when it's time tae choose yers? "

When they entered the room that had been granted to Ann for her recovery, Neala was horrified to realize that they had stepped directly into the middle of a serious conversation.

Ann was fast asleep in the bed, as she often was these days, while Darren and Ferda were exchanging heated whispers near the door.

"...sure about this?" Darren asked. He didn't sound angry, but his tone was definitely stressed. "Ye've nae idea how hard it's gonnae be for ye."

"We've been through hardship. We grew up movin' from rebel camp tae rebel camp. We lost our family. I've kent difficulty since I was born. This is nothin' compared tae that," Ferda replied. "I've made me decision."

Nessa gently pushed past Neala and moved to Darren's side. Neala noticed how natural it seemed as Nessa took Darren's arm. "What's wrong?" Nessa asked. "What's happenin'? I thought Ann wanted Neala tae help her write a note tae the Sparrows."

"She fell asleep," Ferda said. She glanced at the sleeping woman in the bed, and her whole expression changed to something soft. "She still sleeps a lot. It's been months, and she's gettin' better every day, but…"

Neala shivered lightly. Ann's condition had been so bad that she had slipped into a long sleep for weeks after arriving at McNair Castle.

Most of the healers had written her off as about to die, but Ferda had sat next to her bed day and night, ensuring she got water and sustenance, mopping her brow, doing whatever she could.

Ann had eventually woken, but she'd left something of herself behind.

Even now, three months after her arrival, her legs would not move at all.

Neala had heard the healers whisper that she would never be able to walk again.

"I'm sorry," Neala said. "We're interruptin'. We'll come back later."

"Nay," Ferda said. "Nay. Darren is just bein' protective, but I've already made up me mind.

When this is all over—when we've won—I will take Ann across the sea tae Spain or even Italy.

I've heard there are remarkable healers there, men of learnin' who can work wonders.

Even if she never walks again, they may be able to help her live well. "

"Who kens how long that will take?" Darren asked anxiously. "I care about Ann as well, deeply, but what ye're proposin' is goin' tae be difficult enough for a woman on her own, never mind one with an invalid who cannae walk. Who kens if it'll even work?"

Ferda shook her head. "It doesnae matter.

I'll stay by her side if it takes me whole life.

Ye ken that, Darren. Even if it doesnae work, even if we return home with nothin', I'll carry her if I need tae.

I'll go where she goes. I'll be what she needs me tae be.

Just as she'd do for me if things were the other way around, and ye ken it. "

Neala and Nessa exchanged glances, but neither of them spoke.

Neala was not as surprised as Nessa seemed to be; she'd heard of such relationships amongst some of the other female Sparrows, though she'd never desired such a thing herself.

Still, she had not realized that such a bond existed between Ann and Ferda.

It seemed so strange to see it here in this world outside of the woman-focused Sparrows, and Neala's stomach churned in a secondhand nervousness as she thought about what it might mean for Ferda and Ann's futures.

Darren touched his cousin's arm. "I'll go with ye, then. When this is over, I'll go with ye. Dirk will come as well, I'm sure. If ye insist on doin' this, if it's this important tae ye and if there's a chance we can help her—then we'll be will ye all the way."

For once, Ferda looked lost for words. Nessa was staring at Darren with an incomprehensible expression on her face.

Darren kept talking. "But Ferda, I just want ye tae be sure. If ye do this—if this is the path ye truly choose—then it means ye'll lose things. Ye'll never marry. Ye'll never have bairns of yer own. Ye'll never be recognized by the world as a woman who has fulfilled her role."

Ferda's lip quivered as though she might cry, but then she sighed and gave a small smile.

"I understand all that, cousin, and I love ye for carin' for me in it.

" She looked at Ann once more. "I understand that choosin' tae remain with her isnae the way things are supposed tae go.

I understand that I'll have tae make sacrifices tae do it.

But, Darren, sometimes things are worth the risk—even if that means goin' against everythin' ye've ever learned.

Sometimes, just one person is worth the whole world.

I ken that one day ye'll understand that, too. "

Nessa let go of Darren's arm and stepped back.

As she did, Neala noticed how Darren's eyes flicked to Nessa upon Ferda's last words.

Before she could consider what that might mean, the cousins were embracing, and Nessa was back at Neala's side.

She took her hand and led her out into the hall, closing the door behind them.

"Let's wait out here," Nessa said. "Darren doesnae like showin' off that he has emotions in front of people."

Neala smiled politely at the little joke, but her mind and heart were racing over what she had just seen. The feeling of devotion in that room was still clinging to her, worming its way through her armor and into her heart.

I need ye tae understand that he's the enemy.

Some things are worth the risk—even if that means goin' against everythin' ye've ever learned.

Neala's soul shivered. She turned, grabbing Nessa by the arms in her sudden nervous excitement. "Did ye mean it?" she asked urgently. "When ye said ye wished tae be friends—is that somethin' ye truly want?"

Nessa stepped back in alarm, shaking off Neala's hands, but nodded. "I did. I do," she said. "What are ye doin'? Are ye all right?"

"Nay," Neala said. "Aye. I dinnae ken. Nessa, I need yer help. There's somethin' I have tae do."

"What kind of somethin'?" Nessa asked warily. "What are ye plannin'?"

Neala grinned, the manic excitement flooding her. "Somethin' foolish."