An East Wind Blowing by Mel keegan

Author:Mel keegan [Keegan, Mel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-01-11T16:00:00+00:00

***

But every day for the week of their duty, Bryn sat on the wall and gazed out across the common land at the ruined town, and if Ronan allowed it, he would brood. With the tedium of a week's duty behind them, they were to be relieved the next morning. Ronan knew, if Bryn were to make his move any night, it must be this last one at Dubgall. He had not spoken to Kyn, and no one save Ronan knew he was so restless, so fretted.

It was fully dark when Bryn said quietly, "I have to go. Look for me at dawn."

"Don't," Ronan warned. "Bryn, please."

"I must," Bryn hissed. They were standing at the wall where they often lounged to watch the sun set, or made love in this little privacy. "If I don't, Ronan, I shall never sleep easily again as long as I live."

"Then don't go alone." Ronan checked his own weapons. He carried sword, dirk, the hunter's throwing knife in the sheath at his back, as well as the pigsticker in his right boot.

But Bryn took his arm firmly. "One can pass silently, two would be heard."

"In that case, stay back yourself and let me go, since I was the hunter, not you! And suppose you're seen, and jumped?"

"Then I shall need someone on the outside, who knows where I've gone and cares enough to raise the alarm for me."

"Kyn would never sanction a raiding party to fetch you out," Ronan said sharply. "I would have to go in after you alone! It makes better sense if I go with you in the first place." Bryn opened his mouth to protest but Ronan silenced him with his hand. "No, Bryn. Either we both go, or neither. I'll not farewell you here, and mourn you when you're gone,"

"And supposing we're both seen and jumped?" Bryn demanded. "Someone must know where we went!"

Ronan took a breath. "I shall tell Kyn, and ask him to keep faith with us. If we come back alive we can make our explanations to Gareth tomorrow. If we are caught or killed, it was our own decision to risk our lives. Wait here for me, Bryn." He moved away to run back to the barracks but hesitated a moment longer. "I mean it. Wait for me. If you go ahead without me, I'll come after you and the risk will be double!"

"I'll wait." Bryn groaned. "You have my word, for what it's worth these days."

Darkness swallowed Ronan in a dozen paces, and he jogged quickly toward the barracks hut. "Idiot," he breathed, angry, because he felt the sharp tug of guilt. Bryn was right to go, but Gareth was also right to warn against it. Yes, they should have made the foray a week before--but it was folly, too.

Derventio had been his home also. If his friends had lived, he had wished upon them an unnecessary week of bondage. Guilt prickled sharply as he ran back along the wall, which girdled the south side of the common land.

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