Page 25 of Rebellion's Fire

Eua raised one eyebrow. “I doubt it was your face she was looking at. What happened to your famous observation, that you didn’t see or even hear us coming?”

Adam didn’t answer. In fact, he had seen them, although he hadn’t let their presence change his mind about the right time to come out of the water. Besides, some unamiable part of him had wanted to shock the superior lady who’d said,“MacHeth”on their first meeting as she might have said,“Pig shit.”And there were the dreams.

Over Eua’s shoulder, he saw Cairistiona emerge from the church. When she smiled, her upper lip seemed to have a double curve that was curiously endearing, adding to the mystery caused by the mask.

Eua muttered, “I’d better go. And you should stay away from the men. Trust me, they’ll remember you. Even if you do look more like a lord than before.”

For the moment, Adam elected for discretion. The bishop would not be pleased by a brawl in his churchyard. As Eua walked back to meet the lady, Adam backed up behind a willow’s branches and paced the perimeter of the cathedral grounds until he found the unguarded side door to the church.

The boys from the song school almost knocked him over by bursting out just as he entered. He stood in the shadows and watched them go before closing the door behind them and walking into the main body of the church.

The bishop stood in front of the altar, quite still and alone. He often stood so, gazing inward, deep in thought of one kind or another while his eyes seemed to be fixed on the carved crucifix before him. Adam felt a smile flicker across his lips. Symeon didn’t move as he approached and rested his hip on the corner of the altar table. So, Adam let his gaze wander over the priest’s familiar face, gauging his mood and his health and happiness.

“Whatever possessed you to abduct a woman, a girl, like that?” Symeon inquired. He’d never needed to raise his voice to make his hearer aware of disapproval or anger. He didn’t even look at Adam as he spoke.

“Political advantage,” Adam said.

“Quickly nullified,” Symeon pointed out. At last, he turned his head, his clear blue eyes piercing straight into Adam’s brown ones. “Did you hurt her, Adam mac Malcolm?”

“No. I never touched her. Well,” he amended, “I made her ride with me.”

“Well, considering the other ruffians who follow you, I suppose that was a kindness. Why did you give her Tirebeck? To make amends?”

“No,” Adam said again, and when Symeon frowned at him, he added, “Tirebeck is hers.”

A moment longer, the all-seeing blue eyes that had caught out nearly every mischief he or Donald had ever perpetrated seemed to dig into his brain to his soul. Then the bishop’s face softened.

“You still don’t lie, do you, Adam?”

Adam smiled faintly and bent to take Symeon’s hand. The bishop forestalled him, embracing him instead. “I’m glad you’re home. Your mother misses you, and so do I, God help me. But you haven’t given up this wild road you and your brother have set out on.”

“No.” Since they were on uncomfortable ground, Adam changed the subject, leaning back on the altar table. “Did she tell you off for your heresy?”

“Your Lady of Tirebeck? No, although I’m sure she’d reform me if she could. She wants to build a church in Tirebeck, though she can’t yet pay for it.”

Adam shrugged. “If they build it, we’ll endow it. Can you supply a priest?”

Symeon blinked. “Has she spoken to you about this already?”

Adam raised his eyebrows. “No. She doesn’t speak to me about anything. I’m an outlaw to her, not the son of a great lord.”

“She has troubles to bear.”

“Then you’ll be a friend to her?” Adam wasn’t quite sure why that should be so important, and judging by the bishop’s shrewd glance, neither was Symeon.

“I will, of course. She and her people will stay with me tonight. If you’re good, I’ll invite you to dinner.”

Adam looked at his old teacher. He wasn’t sure why the offer was made. He just knew he wanted to accept too much. He shook his head. “I wouldn’t add to her comfort.”

“Maybe you should. Her position in Ross is…impossible.”

“Maybe,” Adam said noncommittally. He stirred. “How is your lady?”

*

In the cathedralchurch, Christian had confessed her sins, with the emphasis on pride, and received absolution. After mass, she felt both cleansed and ready for the next fight—or at least for her first serious conversation with the very odd but charming Bishop of Ross.

“We’ll talk more over dinner,” he said. “I can take you to my wife now if you’d like, or perhaps you have things to buy at the market?”

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