‘There is another option,’ Roisin said, slowly sitting straighter, looking at Edana from under heavy-lidded eyes. ‘I could hand you to Rhin. A gift, in return for Lorcan’s safety.’
She has teeth yet, the snake, Camlin thought, feeling a tension settle upon all in the room.
‘That would be foolish,’ Edana said, smiling tiredly. Of all of them she appeared the calmest. ‘You cannot trust Rhin, whatever promises she makes. Lorcan is still a threat, no matter what gift he gives her. And she has placed Conall on the throne of Domhain – he will not suffer Lorcan to live. Surely you know that.’ She stared straight at Roisin, holding her gaze. The older woman glared back, fierce and proud. Then, abruptly, like a sail with its wind taken from it, she slumped.
‘I know you speak the truth,’ she whispered.
‘I will offer you a new deal,’ Edana said. ‘We have a common enemy, one that wishes us both dead and our supporters destroyed. Join me – see me safe to Ardan, help me in the fight to reclaim my home, and when it is done, I shall do the same for you. I vow on the cairns of my murdered parents, by the blood that runs in my veins and with every ounce of strength I possess: I shall see Lorcan back upon the throne of Domhain.’ She stood suddenly, drawing a knife from within her cloak. Roisin tensed; her shieldmen took a step.
Edana drew the blade across the palm of her hand, blood welling, dripping, and offered her knife to Roisin.
The older woman sat and stared a moment, then stood and took the knife. She cut her palm and gripped Edana’s hand tightly, their blood mingling.
‘I vow to see you safe to Ardan, and to do all I can to help you reclaim your throne,’ Roisin said.
More like you know where you and Lorcan are best protected, thought Camlin. Not that sticking close to us is anything like safe, but if Rhin is going to be hunting us, the more swords about everyone the better.
Roisin sighed, sitting back in her chair as Cian moved to her side.
‘But Lorcan will be disappointed that you are not to be handbound,’ she said. ‘I think he is a little infatuated with you. Perhaps you could not tell him for a while, let him down gently.’
Just then the door burst open, Lorcan striding in, a warrior shadowing him. He was slim, dark-haired, fine featured, almost pretty like his mother. ‘Ah, my two favourite ladies,’ he said with a smile. ‘My mother and my future wife.’
Edana rolled her eyes and Camlin suppressed a laugh.
CHAPTER SIX
RAFE
Rafe splashed up to his waist into the surf and grabbed the body floating in the waves. A black shaft sprouted from its chest. That’d be more of Camlin’s handiwork. Rafe had seen the huntsman on the quay, shooting arrow after arrow into Conall’s men. Half a dozen other corpses were laid out on the beach with matching arrows sticking from some part or other of their bodies. He looked out to sea, but the ship Camlin, Vonn and his companions had escaped on was long gone, not even a dot on the horizon now.