“If we leave now, we may get caught in the storm and be without shelter,” Artair advised.
“And if we stay, we may get stuck here longer than we’d like,” Alyce reminded. “It will only take us four days to get home.”
“More if we’re caught in a storm,” Artair said.
“My grandmother doesn’t believe the heaviest snowfall will arrive for at least two or three days,” Zia informed them. “And she’s usually accurate.”
“With only meeting Carissa, I can’t be certain, but she seems more a warrior than a woman,” Alyce said. “And as such I believe she determines her options, as we do, her wisest choice being to remain here in the village for the winter and make her escape just before spring.”
“I agree,” Artair said. “Where would she go, what shelter and food would she have? Here she is guaranteed both, plus she would be safe.”
“You’d be fools to believe that,” Ronan said, looking from one to the others. “She is cunning and far more skilled than any of you realize. You told me how you attacked the barbarian stronghold and captured her father, Mordrac. Tell me, how did she manage to avoid escape?”
“If I remember correctly,” Lachlan said, “she wasn’t there.”
Ronan shook his head. “No. She was there; her father would have made sure of that. She somehow managed to avoid capture.”
Lachlan looked to Cavan. “Do you recall seeing her when we took command of the barbarian stronghold?”
Cavan narrowed his eyes, as if trying to force the memory, then shook his head, annoyed. “No.”
“Make no mistake,” Ronan warned. “She successfully avoided you and made her escape. And she will do so again if we do not keep a sharp eye on her.” All their eyes followed his pointing finger to a cottage in the distance. “Do you know if she is still there?”
They all stared, but not one made a comment.
Cavan stepped forward, his determined strides and combined height and width causing the ground beneath him to tremble.
Ronan moved quickly to block his path, and the two brothers stood face-to-face, the younger almost matching his oldest brother’s height, surprising them both. For a moment nothing was said, but pain and uncertainty were evident in their eyes.
“I have watched throughout the night,” Ronan said. “She is still there.”
Cavan stepped forward as Bethane approached. “You assured me—”
“And has she not remained here?” Bethane asked, and walked over to the two men.
“Carissa cannot be trusted,” Ronan reiterated.
“Are you sure of that?” Bethane asked
“I witnessed it firsthand,” Cavan confirmed, “as I’m sure Ronan did.”
Ronan nodded. “I know well her cruelty.”
“I am sorry that you both believe—”
“Believe?” Cavan snapped sharply, and pounded his chest. “She laughed while I was whipped unmercifully, then she poured a liquid on my open wounds that caused me to pass out from the pain.”
Ronan raised his right hand, his middle and forefinger bent and crooked. “Thanks to her, these never healed correctly, and only because a slave cared enough to risk Carissa’s wrath was I tended to at all.”
“She is as evil as her father,” Cavan spat.
Bethane nodded. “Her father was truly evil.”
“And she will pay as he did,” Cavan said.
“So you remind everyone again and again.”
Cavan and Ronan swerved around to glare at Carissa.
“Bethane, may I speak with you?” she asked, and turned and walked away, dismissing the others as unimportant.
Bethane walked between the brothers, but Ronan took hold of her arm before she could go any farther. “You need not follow her command.”
“Carissa did not command,” Bethane said. “She asked to speak with me.” She placed her hand over Ronan’s. “If you would put your anger aside for a moment, perhaps you would see more clearly.”
Ronan expelled a breath, releasing tightness in his chest he hadn’t realized was there. And for a moment he felt at peace, until his glance landed on Carissa. She was smiling.
“I see only too clearly,” Ronan said, and jerked his hand away.
Bethane made hasty steps to Carissa and walked far enough away with the younger woman so that their conversation could not be overheard.
“I must leave,” Carissa whispered, while retaining a smile.
“Nonsense,” Bethane said. “You are safe here and can remain as long as you like.”
“As will the Sinclares.”
“Ronan is the only one who will remain. The others will take their leave shortly.”