Page 30 of A Constant Blaze

“Security and peace,” Halla repeated. She smiled. “Some hope. You won’t find those things with Adam either.”

“I never expected them,” Cairistiona admitted. “And yet Idohave them, momentarily at least.”

It was never Halla’s way to interfere. But if she didn’t yet love Cairistiona, she’d grown to like and admire her, and she recognized where Adam’s happiness lay. A happiness he so deserved.

She said, “You do know that you have his love as well? You always have.”

Cairistiona flushed, nodding wordlessly. A moment later, she glanced at Halla with a slightly anxious curiosity. Deliberately, Halla kept her face smooth and tranquil.

The next morning, Adam and Cairistiona left for Tirebeck, taking Findlaech and their men with them. Halla persuaded Donald he should go north and sort out some disputed land near the border with Sutherland. She even allowed Gormflaith to go with him, and sent one of her women to serve her. And when they’d gone, she bade Astrid, who had journeyed with her from the Isles all those years ago, to pack a few things for both of them.

They left Brecka Hall with only two men from the house guard. After all, travel within Ross was perfectly safe for the lady. She didn’t tell Sweyn or Astrid that they wouldn’t be staying in Ross.

The gates were opened, and Halla rode through. She suspected Malcolm had felt much like this as he’d ridden out of Roxburgh.

Another rider moved in front of her, facing her, and just for an instant, Halla felt threatened. Her hands tightened on the reins.

“Muiredach,” she said, hoping she hid her relief. A bedroll, and two bundles, one of which was distinctly harp-shaped, hung from his saddle. “Where are you going?”

“With you,” he said.

“I did not command you.”

“Adam mac Malcolm commanded me.”

Without a word, Halla rode forward, hiding the tears that stung her throat. She and Malcolm had at least made wonderful children.

It might have been for that reason she did not forbid Muiredach to come. Or it might have been she was secretly glad of the company.

*

It was Halla’splan to travel down the coast into Moray, where no one would know the Lady of Ross, and from there hire a ship to sail to the Isles. It would be a long journey, going around the northern coast of Caithness, but she was in no hurry, and her route was flexible. She might even call in at Orkney. It could be time to remind Earl Harald of her daughter’s existence.

However, they hadn’t yet left Ross before they encountered some of Adam’s men with a prisoner—or at least a stranger, a southern Scot by his dress and speech, whom they felt compelled to escort. Adam had trained his watchers well.

“Lady,” one of them said, coming to a halt with surprised recognition. They all bowed to her, including their prisoner, who was admittedly given little choice in the matter.

Halla inclined her head in response. “Who have you there?” she inquired in Gaelic.

“He says his name is John, and he has a message for Adam mac Malcolm.”

“My nameisJohn,” the man interrupted bullishly in the same language, “and Idohave a message for Adam mac Malcolm.”

She would have sent them on to Tirebeck, only something about the urgency of the stranger caught and held her attention. No longer young, he still had the body and manner of a soldier, and he was clearly determined to get to Adam. He was no spy, or, she was sure, king’s messenger.

“Who sent you?” she asked curiously.

“I will tell that to Adam mac Malcolm.”

One of the Ross men cuffed him on the back of the head. “Answer! This is the Lady of Ross herself, Adam’s mother.”

John flushed, jerking another, unforced bow in her direction. “Forgive me, I didn’t know.”

“How could you?” Halla agreed. She wasn’t exactly traveling in the style of a great lady, although Muiredach’s presence surely added to her consequence. “And so, your message is from…?”

“The Lady Mairead of Kingowan,” John said at once.

Halla schooled her face to impassivity. At least she sent to Adam and not his father. Even though it no longer mattered.

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