- You're not going anywhere!
- Keilan, let me go!
- No! - He said firm. - I know what you're capable of when you put something in your hollow little head and act on impulse. I won't let you do anything stupid. Nor as your superior, much less as a friend.
I took a deep breath releasing my arm and squeezed the letter hard.
- Why did Brice have to give up right now? - ...I've stirred up. - I know that's common, but we're at war. Alistair should be here and not getting married to run a kingdom.
- Brice is dying! - Keilan fired.
- What's that? What's that? - I choked. - He looks so healthy, even though he's an old man.
- He doesn't like to talk about it, but he confided in my father the last time we were in Dunhill. - Keilan said sitting on the stool and drinking more whiskey. - He suffers from something like the flu and fears that he will die at any moment, since no doctor can diagnose a treatment.
- Flu? Is that any reason to believe you're dying?
- Looks that way!
- This old man is crazy, that's what he is! - I fired. - And Alistair goes the same way. If he hurts my sister anyway, I swear I'll kill him. Whether I'm a prince or not, I'll kill him.
Keilan laughed and then nodded. He knew I was serious. I took a deep breath before I turned the rest of the liquid in my mouth. Now all I could do was trust the prince and pray that he would take care of my sister.
- Changing the subject... - said putting the glass on the table and unbuckling the belt sheath. - You said you came to help me.
- Yes. - He sighed. - Alistair had said in the letter he had sent to me, and I think he sent to you too, that Brice is sending Alec to join the front.
I turned around in amazement.
- Does he intend to lead?
- No, I'd just watch and learn. - Keilan said reluctant.
- But he's a fool! - ...I squealed against it. - Alec has never been in front of a battle and I doubt he'll pay attention to anything. He doesn't have any sense as a strategist. A 12-year-old can beat him at chess in 20 minutes.
That was a real observation. I knew Alec MacCalister well enough to know how stupid he could be. As a child, I was a spoiled, selfish boy. He was slender and always whining when they didn't do his will. The last time I saw him, he had changed a lot, because he had grown up and was no longer spoiled, but he had acquired a superb and very arrogant air. I caught him trying to seduce at least three of our maids. A sudden concern suddenly crossed my mind.
- Oh, God! Oh, God! If he recognizes me? - ...I fired an astonished shot resting my hands on the table...
- Calm down, woman! You worry too much! - said Keilan reassuring me. - If not even Alistair, who is very observant, recognised her, Alec, the fool, will not go!
I had a laugh.
- Yeah, you're right! - told me to come back and face him. - Besides, I won't have to go near him or him to me. I'll be a man like any other.
- Yeah, I doubt that very much!
- Why do you say that?
- Because your fame has already spread between the MacCalisters and Alistair has asked you to help Alec with the battalion. - I widened my eyes and he shrugged. - In other words, it will be the prince's right and left arm. Besides, you don't look anything like a man.
- What's that? What's that? - I fired. - That's an understatement! I've got a lot more to do than drool for that asshole!
Keilan approached the exit from the tent.
- Those are the orders, Bree! There's nothing I can do to change them, except help her with the burden. - he stopped before he left. - I'll let you rest and refresh that pretty little head of yours that's probably smoking. Alec should be here in a month or two, so be gentle.
He winked at me before he left and left me alone. I grunted kicking the stool and then jumped over one of the legs because of the pain I felt. Unfortunately my cinnamon hit the wood instead of my foot. I took a deep breath counting to ten. Being a warrior had its bad moments that I hadn't gotten used to yet. Helping Alec to be a good leader was not in my plans, let alone having to live so close to him, but the fear I felt for my sister was even worse than that of being discovered. To have Ravenna following me again was not a very good thought. On the other hand, when the news of Alistair's marriage to my sister reached Roy's ears, he would set fire through his mouth like a rabid dragon. Fearing for Aideen's life, I closed my eyes and fell to my knees in the center of the tent, joining my hands in a prayer circle.
- Lord, protect my sister from any evil! - I whispered. - Don't let her suffer more than she's ever suffered. I ask the Lord to enlighten her and take care of her as I could not.
I barely slept that night. Nightmares about Aideen being attacked
