Every sound, however minuscule, echoed like a drum inside Reaghan’s head. She winced at the call of a bird nearby that made her head feel as though it were cracking open. The soft crunch of a footstep nearly made her heart stop from the anguish.
She knew it was either Logan or Galen, and she prayed it wasn’t Galen. Another tear joined the first, and soon the pain became too much to bear. Reaghan fell into the blackness that surrounded her, the pain beating at her from all sides, drowning her in an abyss of misery and grief.
Galen studied Reaghan. Her body was too stiff as she lay on her side, her back to him. She was curled into herself, her legs drawn up close to her chest. If he didn’t know better, he would think she was in pain.
“What is it?” Logan whispered.
Galen thrust his chin out toward Reaghan. “Something is wrong.”
Logan watched her a long moment before he shook his head. “Maybe she’s just having a bad dream.”
“Nay. It’s more than that. It’s as if she’s in pain.”
“They are all likely sore this morn. She didna hurt herself yesterday, did she?”
“No’ that I saw,” Galen answered.
“Go to her then.”
Galen started to do just that when he recalled Mairi’s visit the night before. “Mairi said Reaghan wasna meant for me, but she wouldn’t tell me who Reaghan was meant for.”
Logan snorted. “From what I’ve seen, Reaghan is like a daughter to Mairi. Mairi wants to protect her, just as any mother would. The fact that Mairi doesna trust us just pushes her to protect Reaghan more. If you want Reaghan, let her decide for herself.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“Of course I am,” Logan said with a wide smile. “Now go see to her.”
Galen didn’t hesitate a second time. He walked softly, his boots making nary a sound as he wound his way through the sleeping Druids.
The sun was rising, though its light had yet to break through the darkness. On the horizon Galen could see clouds reflecting yellow and deep orange from the sun. It was time to rouse the Druids, but first, Galen wanted to check on Reaghan.
He didn’t go to her. Instead he made sure he was far enough away so he could see her face. She looked to be sleeping, but her eyes were squeezed shut and her hands were fisted tightly.
Was it a nightmare as Logan had speculated? Or was it something more?
Galen took a step toward her when something flew over him. He glanced up and saw a falcon. His gaze narrowed on the bird. It was odd to spot a peregrine similar to the ones at MacLeod Castle and Loch Awe.
Once the bird had disappeared over the trees, Galen lowered his gaze and found Logan staring after the falcon. In Galen’s life of Druids and magic, he had learned there was no such thing as coincidence.
Logan turned back to him, his eyes hard and his jaw set. Galen gave him a nod to track the bird and see what he could find. Hopefully it was nothing, but they couldn’t be too careful. Not with Druids in their care.
When Galen looked again at Reaghan she was leaning on her elbow and wiping her face with her other hand. Her hand shook, and she was pale as death.
She sat up and reached for a water skin from which she drank deeply before splashing some of the liquid on her face. The others were waking, leaving Galen no time to talk to Reaghan privately.
Oatcakes were soon passed around. Holding an oatcake between his teeth, Galen bent and covered the embers of their fire with dirt. As he stood, he took a bite of oatcake before turning when he heard Logan approach. “Anything?”
“Nothing. The bird went off to hunt.”
“What do you think?”
Logan shrugged and took an offered oatcake. “This wasn’t just a twist of fate. I still feel as if I’m being watched. Something is afoot here.”
“I agree. We’ll keep our eye to the skies.”
Once the Druids had eaten, Logan got them on their feet and ready to begin the day’s journey. Only Braden groaned aloud, but Galen could see the other’s faces, and they weren’t looking forward to it any more than wee Braden.
Logan once more took the lad and tossed him into the air. Braden laughed heartily, the sound brightening the mood in the camp. Only then did Logan lift Braden to his shoulders and set out.
Galen and Logan had both scouted ahead on their watches to look for places they could be ambushed or spots that were perfect for others to trap them.
Neither of them had slept, instead going over the safest routes they should take with the Druids. Some routes meant adding extra time, but they had little choice knowing Deirdre would be after them.
As Logan led the Druids off, Galen stayed to make sure no one left anything behind. He tried to catch Reaghan’s gaze to ask her to stay to the back of the group so he could speak with her, but Mairi linked arms with Reaghan and they set off together.
Galen sighed, his worry settling like a stone in his gut.
The worst of the pain had faded, but Reaghan’s body was shaky and weak. Mairi had known instantly what had occurred and gone to her. Reaghan wasn’t about to push aside her offer of assistance, not when she could barely walk on her own.
“How bad is it?” Mairi whispered.
“The worst has passed.”
“You are still in pain.”
It wasn’t a question. “Only a little.”
Mairi’s lips flattened in a tight line, her brow furrowed in concern. “You need to rest. Let me speak to the Warriors.”
“Nay,” Reaghan replied more forcefully than she intended. “Leave it, please. I will be all right.”
“As you wish,” Mairi said, but there was doubt in her tone.
Reaghan didn’t care that the elder disagreed with her. She would get past the headache without Galen knowing. It was foolish, she knew, but Reaghan wanted him to see her as strong and capable. Not weak and sickly.
She had known Galen wanted to speak with her. It took all her control not to turn her head to him and drink in the sight of his muscular form in the glow of the morning sun.
He had worn his dark blond hair loose ever since the battle with the wyrran. It fell in waves around his face, accentuating his square jaw and bringing out the bronze color of his skin. She itched to run her fingers through the thick strands again as his arms held her tightly against his chest.
Reaghan took a deep breath and tried to quell the desire that awoke in her body with just a thought of Galen. It warmed her blood and made her heart race until it settled between her legs in a pulsing ache.
The pain that had clouded her vision and weakened her began to abate. Reaghan let her arms drop from around Mairi, no longer needing to lean on the elder.
“When did the pain begin?” Mairi asked.
Reaghan shrugged. “It woke me from my slumber. I didn’t have any pain yesterday, so I thought it might be going away.”
“Nay, my child,” Mairi mumbled. “I’m afraid that isn’t so.”
Reaghan frowned and turned her head to Mairi. “How do you know this?”
“The headaches have been coming on for over a month now. I don’t think they would just go away so easily.”
Since Mairi had her head down Reaghan couldn’t see into her eyes and discern if she was lying. Reaghan wanted to believe the elder, but she wasn’t sure she could. Mairi’s reasoning was plausible, but there had been something in her voice that told Reaghan the elder knew more than she said.
Reaghan decided a direct approach would be her best strategy. “You wouldn’t keep anything from me about
