Son of the Shadows (63 page)

"Why have you come here?"

My men at arms had dismounted, and were listening.

"I have news for you, Eamonn. Very important news, which must be passed on in private. And I need to see Aisling. Perhaps you might provide my men with some ale, and me with a quiet place to do what is needed for the child. Then, when it is convenient, I'd like to speak with you alone."

As he turned to give orders and to clear the small crowd that had gathered, I saw that he did indeed move somewhat warily, like a man not quite recovered from a serious injury, such as a knife thrust. A

serving woman came to usher me indoors and find me a quiet corner to change and feed my son.

Food and drink were brought on a tray. There was no sign of Aisling, and I did not ask.

Time passed. Johnny had his meal, and was quiet, and the sun moved overhead outside the narrow windows. The serving woman returned with two others, clucking and admiring the child and offering to take him for a while, so I could rest.

"I'd like to see Aisling," I said. "Is she here?"

"My lady's not well. I shouldn't think she'll see anyone," said the oldest of the women, who was holding

Johnny in her arms.

"Maybe I could help," I ventured. "I have skills in healing. What seems to be the trouble?"

"Best ask Lord Eamonn."

"But—"

"Best ask him."

Reluctantly, I let them bear Johnny away to the kitchens, for he seemed content in their company, and I

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was indeed weary and at something of a loss. Fiacha flew after them, much to the women's alarm. With such a guard, I reasoned my son would be safe enough for now. I looked out of the window, down into the courtyard, straining for a sight of anything unusual, anything to suggest there were indeed some very special prisoners in this fortress. But apart from the presence of so many armed men, all seemed quite unremarkable.

At last Eamonn sent for me. He was in the hall, seated on his oak chair, and once the servant was dismissed, we were alone.

"Well, Liadan, please take a seat. A cup of wine, perhaps? This comes all the way from Armorica. It's rather fine. I did not expect such a visit. This is not a good time."

"Such news has no good time. My Uncle Liam is dead, slain by the Britons on the way to his meeting with the Ui Neill. Someone betrayed us, and the alliance is much weakened. Sean bid me bring you these tidings myself, and ask if I might take Aisling back with me, for he needs her support. And he wants to speak with you urgently."

"I see." His look of shocked concern seemed entirely genuine. "This is grave indeed. When did this happen?"

"A few days ago. Sean wants it kept quiet, for obvious reasons. We sent word to your grandfather, and I

have come to tell you. Beyond that, it is not known. But once Northwoods chooses to make his coup public, then the enemies of the alliance may seek to move against us."

He raised his brows. "I did not think you so knowledgeable in strategies and dealings, Liadan."

"I'm learning fast," I said.

"Aisling cannot go to Sevenwaters. She is—indisposed."

"May I see her? If she is ill, I can help."

"Not this time. I'm afraid you will not be able to see her, and she most •

certainly cannot travel."

"Then she must be gravely ill. I'm a healer, Eamonn. You should let me tend to her. Aisling is my friend, and my brother's betrothed. You should let me help her, if I can."

"You will not remain here long enough to help. I can have no guests in the house. Aisling will recover well enough without your assistance. She has simply been—obstinate—and has made herself ill. You cannot see her."

I did not reply. The conversation was like some sort of game. A small risk here; a small gain there. It was hard to make strategic moves when one did not know the rules.

"Tell Sean that Aisling is unable to make the journey," he said. "Convey my sympathy to him for his loss."

He rose as if to leave, and there was another awkward silence. "You will need a night's rest, I suppose, before riding home. I am surprised you brought your child with you all this way, Liadan. Still, he appears

to have weathered it well enough."

"You'll find that gutter scum have a surprising inner strength," I said quietly. "A capacity for endurance beyond the ordinary."

He took a moment to react. "What did you say?"

"I'm here to trade with you, Eamonn. I have come to buy your prisoners."

I had thought him pale, but this turned his face white as a dead man's mask.

"I—see," he said carefully. "Does your brother know of this escapade?"

"Sean is not aware of my intentions," I said, my heart beginning to thump. "But he knows I am here, and expects me home promptly, with or without Aisling."

"And just exactly what prisoners did you have in mind?"

"There's no need to play games with me, Eamonn. I mean the Painted Man, and another of his band whom you hold captive. I am here to deal with you for their release into my hands and our safe passage out of Sidhe Dubh."

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"Deal? How, deal?"

"A bargain. I'm sure you have made many before."

He rose and began to pace to and fro, to and fro.

"You amaze me, Liadan. Even after what has happened, even after all that has passed between us, I still believed you capable of some sound judgment. That man is evil, a scourge. He should never be let loose again. And he will not be. Now tell me," and he stopped right before me and put his hands on my shoulders, and I breathed deep, willing myself not to flinch away, "how could you know he was here?

How could you discover such a thing? Nobody knew."

"At least you do not pretend that he is not your captive. I suppose your sense of pride prevents that. The source of my information is confidential.

But at least one other of the family of Sevenwaters knows what I know and will reveal it if harm comes to me."

"Harm? Why should I harm you? You are no threat to me and besides— no, let me avoid sentimentality.

I'll put it to you plainly, Liadan. Nobody cares if this man lives or dies. You could tell the world I held him prisoner, tortured and beat him, intended to execute him. There's not a single soul would raise a finger to help him. He is an outcast, beyond hope."

"You're wrong," I said softly. "You are so wrong. Such a man can command great loyalty, as you will discover to your cost."

"Huh! The loyalty of other wretches like himself, and misguided girls who find a perverse excitement in the arms of a monster of depravity. I cannot believe you gave yourself to him when you could have—"

"When I could have had you? I'm sorry you cannot believe that, Eamonn, for it has filled your whole mind with bitterness until you cannot rightly see what you are doing, or why. This hatred is eating you up, so that you injure your family and friends, and set a dark curse on your own future. It is not too late for you to retreat. Not quite."

"If you had accepted me, my path would have been different," he said bleakly. "If you find you dislike what I have become, you have only yourself to blame."

"Your actions are your own," I said, holding back my anger. "Your choices are your own. Each of us carries a burden of guilt for decisions made or not made." I saw a little image of my Uncle Liam, lying on the track with an arrow in his chest. "You can let that rule your whole life, or you can put it behind you and move on. Only a madman lets jealousy determine the course of his existence. Only a weak man blames others for his own errors. Now, will you deal with me?"

"I cannot imagine what you think you can offer me," he said stiffly. "But I suppose a woman always has one service she can provide for a man. And there was a time, not long ago, when I might have paid much to possess your body. I would have paid with my pride, and my reputation, and everything I own. But not now. Not now that I have him in my grasp. Watching him suffer is worth infinitely more to me than a night in your bed. Though it would be interesting doing it just to make him squirm. Unfortunately, he's past that now."

"What do you mean?" I could not prevent my voice from shaking, and I thought he was aware of my alarm.

"Did you know your outlaw hero is afraid of the dark? Did you know he turns to jelly if he's shut in too long? I found that out. It took me a lot of digging to discover it. He keeps his secrets well.

You'll find him not quite as you left him, I fear. As for the other one, he's looking quite untidy."

Breathe, Liadan

. "I think you misunderstand what I mean when I say bargain," I told him, taking a sip of my wine, just so my hands had something to do, to still their shaking. "It is not so much a matter of what I

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can offer in return for their freedom. It is more a case of what you are prepared to give in order to buy my silence."

"Silence? What silence? What do you mean?"

"I have information that could be very damaging to you, Eamonn. Information that, should it reach the ears of my brother, or of Seamus, would cut you from the alliance and cause you to be looking over your shoulder for a man with a knife for the rest of your days. Information that, should it become known to the

Ui Neill, would ensure you never sat at a council table with them again. And your lands are awkwardly placed. Right in the path of traffic out of Tirconnell. You should listen to me."

"I don't believe what I'm hearing." He sat down again, staring at me. "How could you possibly have any information that your brother does not already know? A girl, at home with a child, shut away in the heart of the forest? This is nothing but a bluff."

"A bluff. All right, let's try some detail. And do not forget, the band of the Painted man is privy to many secrets and has an ear in many camps. My sources of news may be different from Sean's, but they are every bit as accurate."

"Go on," he said in a frozen voice. At that point, a man entered with a tray on which he bore another flask of wine and a platter with bread and cheese and sliced meats. He set this on a table, and Eamonn dismissed him with a jerk of the head. When the man was gone, he went to the door and slid the bolts closed.

"All right," he said. "What information?"

The sun slanted in the windows. It was past midday; two whole days since I had seen that vision of Bran being dragged from this hall, since I had heard Eamonn saying, Put the mongrel in the dark

. Now was

the moment when I must hazard all on a guess, must hope that Finbar and I had stumbled on the truth.

"I know the price you paid Northwoods," I said with hard-won steadiness. "I know it was the information you gave our enemy that caused my uncle's death. You betrayed the alliance, Eamonn. You sacrificed Liam for the sake of your own twisted desire for vengeance, because of jealous rage. And I

will tell Sean, and Seamus, unless you give me what I want."

"This is outrageous!" His voice shook with shocked fury. "You can have no proof of this. I cannot imagine how you might have concocted such a tale, or who would believe you if you told it."

"I have proof. A witness of great credibility, who knows the exact purpose of my visit here. If you refuse me, your secret will soon be known, whether I return home safely or not. You'll be finished, Eamonn."

He was silent for a while. "What guarantee can you give me that this information will not become public, even if I agree to your ridiculous request?" he asked, and a small flame of hope began to burn inside me.

"You might get what you want and still tell. What undertaking can you give that others will remain silent?"

"You know me better than that," I said. "Once, not so long ago, you told me I was the only woman you would ever take for your wife, or words to that effect. I think you meant it at the time. Now, I see you have lost any respect you ever had for me. But once we were friends. If I give you my word, I'll keep it. I

will ensure the silence of others. But I will not put my brother at risk. I will remain silent only as long as you honor our agreement."

"I can't believe this. It is as if you have turned into some—some monster, like the man you
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protect. You'd better tell me your terms."

Ah, no

, I thought.

It is you who are become a monster; a man who will betray, and torture, and murder, for no reason more than jealous obsession. You, whom I might once have wed

. "Very well," I said. "You will respect the alliance. You will honor your commitment to my brother in future and be honest with him and share your defenses as you did with Liam."

"And?"

"That's the long-term agreement. The instant you break it, I tell them."

"And what about the short-term?"

"First, you fetch Aisling here. My men at arms will take her back to Sevenwaters, now, this afternoon.

She will remain there until spring, until she and Sean are married. She will not return here. You will attend the wedding, and smile, and give them your blessing."

"Aisling is unwell. She cannot travel."

"I'll be the judge of that. I think she will go. My men know how to convey a lady across country and look after her."

"You speak as if you do not intend to accompany her. What is the rest of this demonic bargain, Liadan?"

"I will remain here until Aisling is safely away from Sidhe Dubh. It should not take long. Then you will release these two prisoners. You will provide the three of us, and my son, with safe conduct to your borders."

He gave a hollow laugh. "You must indeed think me weak."

"I think you have enough common sense left to know when you are backed into a corner," I said carefully. "Will you do as I ask?"

"You give me very little choice. But I am not entirely without pride, though you seek to humiliate me at every turn. I will let Aisling go. I would be a fool not to agree or to refuse the first part of the bargain. I

wonder if you will tire of watching me, year by year, to see if I stumble? That could grow tedious."

"I am the daughter of Sevenwaters. My brother deserves my loyalty and my support, and he will have them. Our family understands the importance of this, if yours does not."