He searched her face for only a moment before he slowly nodded. “Aye. Braden rushed to the hall and told Logan. Sonya and Isla eased you.”
“Something is wrong with Mairi and Odara.” She swallowed, remembering the viciousness of Mairi’s words. “Mairi was saying such hateful things, things she has never before uttered. And Odara isn’t standing up to her as she usually does. They aren’t the women I knew.”
Galen shrugged and looked away. His dark blue eyes were troubled. “If you want, I can read her mind.”
Tears sprang to Reaghan’s eyes at his offer. As much as he hated to touch others, as much as it pained him to see and feel their thoughts and emotions, he was offering his power to help her.
“Nay,” she whispered. “I would not put you through such a thing.”
“For you, I would do it.”
“Why me? Is it because you cannot read my thoughts?” She prayed he spoke the truth, because she couldn’t handle another lie, not when she was so close to breaking down.
Galen gave her a half-smile. “The first time I saw you I was struck by your beauty. I’ve never been so tempted by a woman, and then when I gave in and kissed you and didn’t see into your mind, I had to have you.”
There was no lie in his eyes, of which she was grateful.
“So it was only because my memories are blocked,” she said, not bothering to hide the sadness in her voice.
“In the beginning, I think that was part of it, and though I am thankful I can touch you and kiss you without worrying about my power, it’s you, Reaghan, that I’m drawn to. Your smile, your kindness, your search for yourself.”
She could see the truth of his words shining in his eyes. Reaghan let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding and walked into his arms. “Thank you for not lying. I am so tired of the lies.”
His large hands rubbed up and down her back, offering her comfort and his strength for as long as she needed it. “Tell me what Mairi did.”
“I’m so angry at her I could toss her out of the castle myself.” She pulled out of the safe haven of Galen’s arms and climbed onto the bed. She was starving, and the food smelled delicious.
Galen grunted as he joined her on the bed. “Sounds like it didn’t go well at all.”
Reaghan tore off a chunk of bread and gave the larger portion to Galen. “She summoned me to say they had taken a vote and were leaving.”
“What?” Galen’s face was a mask of confusion and irritation. His lips were parted, the bread halfway to his mouth. “Are you jesting?”
“Unfortunately, I’m not. I don’t know who was involved in the vote, but I wasn’t. On the way to Mairi’s, Braden said he and Fiona wished to stay, so I told Mairi. She wasn’t happy, but it was when I told her I wasn’t going that she really grew furious.”
“I’m sorry.”
She pulled apart some of the smoked fish and put it in her mouth. “The worst was when Isla brought Mairi a tray of food, and Mairi dismissed her as she would a servant. She was so hateful to Isla, telling her that she belonged in Hell with the other
Galen grimaced as he used a dagger to cut the venison into smaller portions. “She’s lucky Hayden wasn’t there.”
“He was. He threatened to take Mairi to Deirdre himself if she continued. That’s when Mairi told me about my headache. As if she wanted me to believe everyone was keeping it from me.”
“I did want to keep it from you,” Galen confessed. “I know how worried you are about them.”
Reaghan placed her hand atop his forearm. “I appreciate it, but I’d much prefer the truth, as difficult as that truth may be to bear.”
THIRTY
Galen didn’t want to let Reaghan know how Mairi’s change in behavior worried him. He knew Reaghan wanted the truth about anything that occurred, but he decided to keep his worries to himself for the time being.
“I told Isla not to bring any more food to them,” Reaghan went on, unaware of Galen’s turmoil. “If they’re hungry, they can get their own meals.” He chuckled. “Good for you.”
“Mairi called you and the other Warriors animals,” she said softly.
“I’ve been called much worse. Doona let it trouble you.”
Reaghan shook her head, her lovely auburn curls falling over her shoulders. “That’s not like Mairi. Odara was in the chamber. She didn’t say a word, Galen. That’s not like her either. She’s always spoken her mind.” “They’ve left the only place they’ve ever known. It can be more than some people can grasp.”
“I may need your help in keeping Braden and Fiona here. I don’t think Mairi intends to allow them to stay.” Galen snorted as he raised the goblet to his lips and drank the dark wine within. “Mairi cannot make them go with her. The others and I will ensure that.” “Thank you.”
Charon stared at the remaining occupants of the tavern. He’d known better than to return to the village, but he’d been unable to help himself.
When he’d been here as a lad, the tavern had seemed a grand, forbidden place where all men gathered. Now, as he looked at it through a man’s eyes, he saw it was nothing special. Just a rundown building in need of repair.
It had been well over two hundred years since Charon had seen the tavern and the village, but not much had changed. The village had grown to a large size at one time, but now many of the buildings and shops showed neglect from abandonment.
The people, however, hadn’t changed at all. Oh, their clothes had altered, but they were still the poor, undignified, uneducated people they had been before.
There had only been one man who had stood out among this ragged lot, and that had been his father.
He’d been a great warrior, his father. His father would have handled the god inside him better than Charon. His father would have been able to stand against Deirdre. But more importantly, his father wouldn’t have broken under Deirdre’s torture.
“Ye want another ale?”
Charon looked up at the woman. She was pretty, if not a little haggard. She’d had a hard life, which showed in the lines about her face and the dark shadows under her eyes. She was still relatively young, which made him wonder why she was working in the tavern instead of tending to a husband.
“Aye,” he answered. “What is your name?”
“Evanna. Why do ye care?”
Charon shrugged. “Just curious. Have you lived here your entire life?”
She looked away, but not before he saw the wistfulness in her eyes. “Aye. I wanted to leave once, but life doesn’t always go as planned.” “No truer words have been spoken. Bring me another ale.”
As she sauntered off, a new swing to her hips, Charon leaned back in his chair. Their conversation had gained the interest of the two men nearest him.
“Ye passin’ through?” one of the men asked.
Charon glanced at the man’s kilt, the same red with green pattern he had worn with such pride. The same kilt Deirdre had taken from him in Cairn Toul. The colors he wore now were from a kilt he had stolen. It meant nothing to him. “Mayhap.” The second man smiled, showing several missing teeth. “Ye doona carry a blade.”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
“Where is it then?”
