“This war is a deadly one. It takes lives, Ella.” He caught her shoulders. “Your voice is naught but a whisper right now and Gavin is a devious man. He’ll take full advantage of that, and let’s no’ forget that this is my battle and no’ yours.”
“I wasnae asking for your permission to remain on the hunt for Gavin.” She mounted her steed and nudged it up the trail in the wake of the other horses.
“I have forty men at my disposal and I can scour the land and seas with far more ability than you can.” He bounded onto his saddle and directed his horse up the trail after her. “Gavin will pay for his destruction, something which only I can truly ensure.”
“Oh, I’m sure that would be your preference, but it isnae mine.” At the top of the cliff, she halted and waited as he joined her. She searched his gaze, the absolute determination flickering across his immoveable. Clearly she’d need to work her fae ability on him a little more, and she could only do that once her compelling tone had returned. For now, it might be best if she kept him close until that moment arrived. Her voice gained a little more in strength with each day that passed, which meant she shouldn’t have to remain with him for too long. Aye, that’s what she’d do. She also wished to delve deeper into these strange feelings he’d brought forth within her. “I have a request.”
“And that is?”
“What if we join together in our hunt for Gavin?”
“You wish to sail with me?”
“I do, provided you can accept a compeller on board your vessel.”
“If I agree to your request, then I expect your full obedience to my orders.”
“Aye, aye, Captain.” Unable to help herself, she saluted him. “Let it also be known though that I expect you to obey my orders as well.”
“I follow no lass’s orders, and ’tis no wonder I find you so annoying, whether you’ve compelled that of me or no’.” He nudged his horse and moved ahead along the trail.
“’Tis good to see we’ve finally reached an agreement that suits us both.” She cleared her raspy throat and set out after him. The moment she got the full use of her compelling tone back, she’d make him pay for each and every insolent remark he’d just made. The man certainly needed to be brought down a peg or two, and lucky for him, she was completely up for the task.
Up ahead, the horses all trotted in single file and she followed through the forest. When they finally emerged on the hilly rise surrounding the village, she stopped, sat higher in her saddle and surveyed the longhouses lying nestled below within the bay’s basin. Some of the villagers still carried the odd pail toward the few tendrils of remaining smoke curling into the air from the burnt homes, although thankfully there appeared to be only severe damage to two of them.
“The fires have been contained.” Duncan halted atop his mount beside her.
“I pray no lives were lost.”
“As do I.” He reached across the small gap between them, caught her hand and squeezed it. “I need to leave this night. Any further delay will only allow Gavin to sail that much farther from my reach. Can you be ready to leave upon our return?”
“Aye, and he sails farther from my reach too.”
“How ill have you been?” He lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed the tips before frowning and dropping her hand. “My apologies. I dinnae know what just came over me.”
“Think naught of it.” Aye, there was more brewing between them than she’d first realized. Knees to her horse’s flanks, she guided her mount down the pathway lined with thick grass toward the stables. Ahead, the stable lad swung the gate wide and steered the horses they’d returned with back into the corral. She halted near the high-beamed posts as Duncan trotted in beside her.
“Wait there.” He dismounted, gently slapped his horse on the rump and the animal trotted into the corral with the others. He strode around to her, gripped her waist and swung her down beside him. With a nudge, he sent her palfrey along into the corral too. “You didnae answer my question. How ill have you been?”
“I’ve had a pesky chest illness is all.”
“Did you sail your skiff to Raasay?”
“Aye, ’tis beached along the shore no’ far from your galley.” She pointed to the far rocky end of the shoreline where she’d pulled her boat up onto the sand and secured it to one of the dozen boulders mounded close together.
“I’ll have it roped to my galley.”
“Thank you.” Finding her brother was imperative, and now it appeared she’d be doing so with Duncan leading the venture, or at least until she could compel him as needed then be on her way. Hopefully that would give her enough time to delve deeper into whatever it was that had bloomed between them.
“Ella.” He clenched his hands at his sides then growled under his breath and snagged her hand again.
“Is something wrong?”
“An unusual feeling assails me.”
“As in…” She touched one finger to his pursed lips squeezed so tightly together.