“You will find it one day. There will be no question about it. You will know.” Fiona tugged at her to follow. “Now let us get you packed and ready to go. At least you will be close by home and you will have family to help you through the ordeal of the next six months.”
Aliss let her sister lead, yet felt the need to escape her good intentions. She had created this mess on her own and she should clean up the mess on her own. She had to settle this matter not only in her mind but also in her heart and only she could do that.
Chapter 21
Laughter, chatter, and squeals of excitement filled the air. The village people and the children were thrilled to be moving to a new home and Aliss could not blame them. The land in this area could be difficult to farm, game was not always prevalent, and the winters were harsh and long.
What she knew of the Isle of Non would surely prove to be paradise to them: lush meadows and fields, woods teeming with game, rivers plentiful with fish. It also had once been a home.
Aliss wondered now what clan had occupied the isle and why it had been deserted, its few cottages and keep left to decay. What was Rogan’s interest in it? Did he want a good, permanent home for his clan and saw no other way to achieve it? Or did his motive go deeper?
She was curious about this patch of land that had caused so much dissension and now was about to bring joy to a clan who much needed a home that could sustain them.
Aliss walked with unhurried steps on purpose. She was returning to the cottage, where Tarr and Fiona would be supping with her and Rogan, after being summoned by Daniel’s mother. She had assumed something was wrong with Daniel, but it had been Tara’s concern that her son’s injury would worsen with travel. After calming the young mother and assuring her Daniel would do more than well, that he would actually thrive on the adventure, she had taken her leave, but now she hesitated to return home.
It was not a meal she looked forward to and yet it would not be right to leave her husband to face her family alone. That would be a coward’s choice, and she was no coward. Her time here with the Wolf clan had taught her that and more.
She had discovered not only her strengths but also her weaknesses and had found the courage to battle them all, though victories were yet to be won. The next six months would be her true battlefield.
Could there be a victor in this encounter or would only losses prevail?
A heavy sigh was extinguished before she entered the house and joined her family, who sat in silence at the table. She slid beside Rogan on the bench.
“Daniel is all right?” he asked.
“He is fine. Tara was concerned about him traveling.”
“I had forgotten about his injury. Is he fit to travel or shall we postpone the move until he is well enough?”
“He can travel,” Aliss said abruptly. That Rogan should delay the move for a small lad only proved that he was a good man. Did it not?
“That is good,” Rogan said, and handed her a piece of meat and bread.
“Aliss does not eat that much,” Fiona said, though it sounded as if she scolded him.
“I know my wife’s needs,” Rogan retaliated.
Aliss took the offered food, not certain how to quell the animosity between the pair and not understanding why she felt the need to. If they disliked each other, what could she do about it? Besides, Rogan would be gone in six months.
The thought made her stomach churn and she could only take a small bite of the food.
To her relief, Tarr managed to direct the conversation to safer territory.
“Raynor says he misses you and hopes to visit with you soon. He had wanted to join us but a few skirmishes on the outskirts of Hellewyk land needed his attention.”
“How are Mother and Father?” Aliss asked.
Fiona answered. “They do well and they miss you.”
Aliss relaxed as the conversation turned to family and friends and all the news she had missed during her absence.
By the time the meal was finished, Aliss was relieved that it had gone relatively well under the circumstances. Fiona, however, looked to be killing Rogan with her glaring green stares.
That she disliked the man was obvious and Aliss understood that she was protecting her as she had done since they were young, but they were not young girls anymore. They were young women with lives of their own to live. How did she make her sister understand that? How did she even understand it herself?
They were twins and had relied on each other for so long that it was a given. Aliss had not even considered a life on her own and yet she had been living one. While she had missed her sister, she had enjoyed her freedom of sorts.
“See, I told you,” Fiona accused. “Too much food, she cannot eat it.”
Rogan did not glance at the food; he focused on Fiona. “Your sister’s thoughts are heavy. That is why she has not eaten.”