Page 52 of The Refuge

The queen’s chest heaved and her brow furrowed. Catrìona exchanged a worried glance with Audra. They were both concerned.

“I will be fine,” said the queen. “I prefer to go to the cave where no sounds distract. Fear for the king grows more insistent within me. He rides into danger this day, I am certain.”

“You should eat, My Lady,” Audra urged.

Catrìona remembered when the queen and her ladies had broken their fast that morning, Margaret had eaten nothing.

“I will,” Margaret assured Audra, “as soon as I have prayed. Now, help me up so that we may reach our destination. Time is short.”

Catrìona did not ask the queen how she came by the knowledge the king was in danger and time was short. Mayhap God had called her to pray for her husband. “Yea, My Lady,” was all she said as she wrapped one arm around the queen’s waist and, together with Audra, lifted her to stand. Catrìona did not let go, but steadied the queen as they continued on their way.

Shortly, the path dipped and finally ended in a small clearing in front of the opening to a cave. Margaret did not hesitate but entered the wide dark cleft, Catrìona beside her.

Once inside, Audra lit a candle. The cave was long and narrow. Margaret seemed steadier on her feet now and stepped away from Catrìona. The air was cool. Mayhap it revived her.

Margaret managed to kneel at the makeshift altar of stone. Catrìona and Audra on each side of her joined the queen in prayer.

Whatever Margaret feared for her husband must have been very real because her whispered prayers had an urgent, pleading tone.

The ground was cold and hard beneath Catrìona’s knees as she, too, prayed for the king, reciting the Latin prayers she had come to know. Then she prayed for Niall. When she finished praying for her younger brother, she had a sudden urge to pray for Steinar. If the king were in danger, so might be the scribe, for he now rode with the king’s guard. With a fervor brought on by her own fears, she bent her head to pray once again, this time for the man who held her riband and mayhap her heart.

It was a long time before the queen lifted her head and Catrìona and Audra helped her to rise.

“It is done,” said Margaret, her expression no longer clouded with fear. “The king is in God’s hands.”