Claiming Her

Bran lifted his head and yes, indeed, his eyes were red. “Always, sir,” he said gruffly.

“And you, lady.” Ré turned to Katarina. “You showed me what a woman might be. I will have some ways to go to find someone who can approach your heights.”

“Stop.” She put her arms around his shoulders and as she was hugging him, murmured in his ear. “You were right to mistrust me, and you have always been Aodh’s closest, dearest friend. I am sorry you must leave him, and while I understand, you must know, you are ripping his heart out.”

“Then you must mend it, lady,” he murmured, and backed away.

She took the step with him, unable to let go. Aodh put a hand on her arm. “Where will you go?”

Ré shrugged. “I have not seen my mother for many years. I will visit. They live not far from here. And the queen, she remains enamored of adventurers, does she not?” A smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “Mayhap I will be the one to make it to the New World after all, Aodh, aye?”

Aodh began to grin. “You will be.”

Katarina squeezed his arm. “We shall invest.”

Ré smiled. “Then how can I lose?”

“If you’re going, go already,” Cormac muttered, still looking out to sea. Ré grinned and turned away.

“You will come visit?” she called.

He swung up on his horse. “If you will have me.”

“Come tomorrow.”

He reined around, leading Bran’s horse behind. Then lifting his hand into the air, without looking back, much as the queen had done, he cantered up the curving path, away through the high, salty green grasses.

Aodh watched until he was out of sight, and the grasses were once again disturbed only by sea breezes, as if no one had ever been there at all.

He heard a little sound beside him and looked down to find Katarina staring after Ré, a hand at her mouth. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.

“Do you think he will be happy?” she asked uncertainly. “Find a home? A wife?”

“He will find whatever he seeks, and he will make a home, aye, as we will do.”

She tipped her face up. “And you? Will you be happy? After all you have done and seen, to leave everything behind and settle down to a remote Irish castle?”

He pulled her to stand in front of him.

“You still don

’t understand. Everything I ever did was for Rardove, and you. You fear I am leaving things behind. I say I am going to the things that matter most. Home. And you. Stop being afraid. Our life is just beginning.”

She went up on her toes. Her warm, curving body pressed to his and wisps of her russet brown hair blew around them as she kissed him. “I fear only that I cannot love you enough.”

He kissed her back, a slightly deeper kiss, one that made her body curve a little more. Then he lifted his head. “Seeing as that’s a fear of yours, we’ll have to allay it. You can prove it to me every night. And some afternoons. And mornings,” he added, kissing her nose as he released her. “Mornings are an exceptionally good time to prove your love.”

Her cheeks were pink as he tossed her into the boat. Bran handed her an extra cloak and Aodh climbed onboard.

“Are we ready then?” Cormac said, heaving to his feet.

Aodh nodded, already looking across the sea to Ireland. “Let’s go home.”

Epilogue

Six years later

KATARINA SAW AODH coming from almost a mile away. His grey horse crested the rise of the valley at a comfortable pace. Around him rode twenty men and squires, the contingent that had gone to Dublin and Waterford on matters of government.