Page 73 of Fallen
Mother Shona’s mouth pursed, her gaze narrowing. “Isn’t it? There’s a reason why men go to war and women keep the home fires burning. For years I fought against the natural order of things … I wanted to make ye all strong. Ye put yer trust in me, but I put yer futures all in jeopardy. I should never have taught ye all how to fight.”
Coira drew back. “Ye did a good thing.”
The abbess shook her head, her jaw tightening. “Father Camron wouldn’t have returned here to investigate me, if I’d run the abbey as I should have.”
Coira tensed. “That bigot? He—”
“Hush, Coira. I like the man no more than ye do, yet he’s an emissary of the Pope. For years I thought myself above following the rules. I can play games with my own life, but not with the lives of others.”
Coira heaved in a deep breath. The abbess seemed intent on shouldering the responsibility for Father Camron’s meddling. Although Coira didn’t share her view, she could see that there was little point arguing with her.
One thing she’d learned over the years was just how stubborn Mother Shona could be. The harder you pushed, the more she dug her heels in.
“So ye will go off to some forgotten isle and find yerself a hermit’s hut?” she asked finally.
Mother Shona snorted. “Perhaps.” She gave Coira a shrewd look then. “And what of ye, lass?”
Coira’s cheeks warmed at the question. Although she hadn’t minded standing with Craeg in front of his outlaws, being so bold with Mother Shona wasn’t as easy. Embarrassed, she lowered her gaze.
“There’s no need to look ashamed,” the abbess murmured, a note of chagrin in her voice. “Do ye think I’m in a position to pass judgement upon yer choices?”
Coira lifted her chin, aware that Craeg had stepped close, his hand taking hers. The warmth and strength of his fingers made the awkwardness ebb a little. Even so, it was difficult to meet Mother Shona’s eye.
“I took vows,” she replied softly. “And I have broken them.”
“Aye … but none of that matters now,” the abbess replied. Her expression turned wistful then. “Ye never belonged here, not really. Like Sisters Ella and Leanna, ye used these walls as a refuge. But like it or not, our past catches up with us eventually, just as mine has. The Lord has other plans for ye, as it had for yer friends.”
Mother Shona’s attention shifted to Craeg then, and a soft smile curved her mouth. “Plus, love is hard to fight. I once gave my heart to a man like ye, Craeg MacKinnon … I know how difficult ye are to resist.”
30
Ghosts
THE BULK OF Dunan appeared in the distance, lit up in red and gold by the setting sun.
The sight of it, rearing up against a backdrop of dark pine forest, made a host of unwelcome memories slam into Coira. The skin of her forearms prickled, and her breathing quickened.
This was going to be harder than she’d thought.
Glancing left, she saw that Craeg was staring at the fortress, his handsome face strained.
The pair of them walked at the front of the column of warriors, alongside the gurgling River An. However, when they were around four furlongs from the walls, Craeg halted and turned back to his men, his gaze sweeping over them. “Watch yer backs,” he called out, his voice carrying down the line. “They will be expecting Duncan MacKinnon to return to them. Not us.”
“He will have left a few of the Dunan Guard behind to guard the broch,” Gunn pointed out. The warrior had put Fenella on one of the wagons and ridden forward to join Craeg. “They might put up a fight.”
Craeg nodded. “Aye … draw yer weapons, but don’t use them unless I say so,” he ordered. “Enough blood has been spilled of late … but if we have to use force, we will.”
Coira’s gaze shifted over the faces of the outlaws before them. They were weary, their eyes hollowed with fatigue, yet their faces were set in determination.
The gates of Dunan would only hold them for so long.
The column moved on. They skirted the locked South Gate, taking the road to Dunan’s main entrance, the North Gate. On the way, Coira saw the blackened embers of what looked like funeral pyres.
A chill stole over her.
The sickness.
The gates were open, and the arable fields before them were empty, the rows of vegetables left untended.
