Page 49
Issa reached eagerly for Edan, but when Cataline stiffened, my sister immediately stopped.
“I only wanted to hold him,” Issa explained gently. “I gave birth a few months ago, and my bairn is napping now. But ye dinnae have to give him to anyone until ye’re ready.”
Something in Cataline’s face eased. “Thank you.”
Ewan remained beside me, still quieter than usual. Jean offered him a small piece of honey cake she’d apparently acquired somewhere between the road and my cottage, and his eyes widened.
“For me?” Ewan asked.
“For brave lads who carry their brothers for miles.”
He took it carefully. “Thank you.”
Then he immediately leaned against my leg while he ate it, and I rested my hand on his head.
“I can show ye the training field later,” I offered quietly.
His face brightened.
“And the boats,” I added.
His grin went wider still.
“And the weapons,” I promised.
“No,” Cataline said firmly from the bed, proving mothers have semi-mystical hearing.
I winked at Ewan—not contradicting his mother, but judging from the eager way he nodded as he nibbled at the honey cake, he must have thought so.
Matthias began his examination and I gave him the quick version of the last week while he worked: our race to the stones, Cataline’s labor beginning in camp, Edan arriving before any of us had expected, and the slow journey afterward because I’d refused to let her exhaust herself further.
Cataline corrected my version twice, mostly concerning how much help she had required, and I corrected hers three times because she was stubborn.
When Matthias asked what she’d eaten that morning, I answered for her.
Cataline frowned at me. “I can speak for myself.”
“I ken. Ye’ve been doing it constantly since we met.”
Rowena choked on a laugh, although I hadn’t intended it as a joke. The corner of Cataline’s mouth twitched, and I was pleased I hadn’t offended her.
I had just decided I liked having all of them here—even if my Kteer remained irritated every time someone else touched a blanket, moved a pillow or offered Cataline food—when Vrogul entered and the cottage quieted.
My brother’s expression had changed. He was still pleased, still astonished by the existence of his new nephew, but there was something of the chief in him now.
Something Cataline noticed too, because she straightened against her pillows.
“Cataline,” Vrogul addressed her. “I ken my brother, so I ken Maardok has promised to protect ye.”
“Aye,” Cataline whispered.
“That promise is his own. This one is mine.” Vrogul’s tone was serious. “We fought this year for the right to be our own clan. We burned warriors lost for that right.”
His jaw tightened, and I thought, as I always did, of my friends we’d said goodbye to.
“We fought because we wouldnae allow another chief to decide which of our people mattered, or who was worth protecting.”
His gaze moved from Cataline to Ewan, then to Edan.
