Page 49 of The Darkest Knight

Chapter Sixteen

Padriag appeared near the caves. Argo looked up as he neared, the shifter’s expression harsher than usual.

“Did anyone get hurt?” Padriag asked him.

“Two of our guardsmen are injured, one badly. They’ve been taken back to Atlandia. We are about to head there ourselves.” Argo looked away toward the woods. “The villagers of Middlesex cannot survive without protection. The Princesses have decreed that they all relocate closer to the castle. At least until their numbers increase, then they can request permission to reestablish the village.”

“Are we going to help them?”

Argo shook his head. “Half of the guard left early this morning. They are probably arriving at the castle soon.”

Padriag hesitated before asking, hoping his friend was not one of the injured. “Is Liam here?”

“Yes. He just returned shortly.” Argo motioned to the caves. “He’s packing.”

Returned? “Thank you, I’ll go retrieve my belongings as well.” Padriag ran up the hill.

The guardsmen were mounting and preparing to leave, and head back to Atlandia.

“Where the hell have you been?” Padriag yelled storming into the tent.

Liam tightened the strap on the bundle he kneeled next to and looked up. “Where the hell have you been?” he asked in return, emphasizing the word ‘you.’ He went back to picking up the remaining items. “I thought I would end up taking the three horses back to the castle myself. Where’s Niall?”

“He’s still back in the other realm.” Padriag began to pick up his belongings. “How will he know where to find us? Maybe I should take the horses, and you go and tell him to return to the castle.”

The sounds of hooves interrupted their conversation. Liam headed towards the tent entrance. “Come on, we still have to saddle the horses and catch up.”

Snow wasn’t falling, but the air remained frigid. Padriag let out a puff of air as he went after Liam. The ugliness of the frozen land mirrored his mood. “Liam wait,” he called after the Brit, who’d reached one of the horses. “You never answered my question.”

A slow coloring, followed by a wide smile told more than Liam’s words. “I went to Edinburgh. Popped in to visit John.”

“Oh, well shit. That’s great,” Padriag replied truthfully. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d lost interest, you haven’t seen him in a long time.”

Padriag tied his bag and bedroll onto Niall’s horse’s saddle. “It’s nice to know that you, Gavin, and Tristan found happiness.”

Liam walked over and stood directly in front of him. “Something is wrong. Why are you saying only the three of us?”

Not sure he wanted to have the conversation, Padriag shrugged. “My time is over, nothing happened. Three lives were rescued. Niall, Erin and Tammie. I don’t know about hearts restored. Maybe that’s you and John. No one died, which is a good thing.”

“The moons are in the sky,” Liam pointed out. “It is not over yet.” The Brit went to his horse. “If we don’t hurry, we’ll never catch up with the guard.”

They mounted and began the trek back toward the castle riding side-by-side, with Niall’s horse following behind.

Padriag looked at Liam. “You should go now. It’s time to allow yourself time with John, time to be happy. To be free of all this. Niall and I will find our destiny whether it’s here or in the other realm.”

“Why the sudden pessimism?” Liam frowned at him. “I gave my word. I will remain and help you.”

Humbled at Liam’s nobility, Padriag tried to think of the words needed to allow Liam to leave without it seeming as if he’d given up on them. It shamed him to think that of all the men he’d spent the last three hundred plus years with, Liam was the one he’d never been close to. Liam always maintained a distance. Possibly his upbringing in the English aristocracy caused him to seem like that. Either way, he should have gotten to know the man who obviously cared very much for him and Niall.

“I’m sorry Liam.” Padriag started and had to clear his throat. “I’m sorry that I didn’t take time to get to know you better.”

Liam raised an eyebrow giving him a puzzled look.

“So,” Padriag continued. “I mean, yeah I know a lot about you. We lived together for centuries. But I don’t think you and I ever hung out and talked. You know about deep things.”

The curl of his upper lip joined the Brit’s raised eyebrow. “Deep things?” Liam’s voice laced with impatience. “Seriously, Padriag, what the fuck are you talking about? We’ve spent many times talking. What can be deeper than the time we were tied together and dragged through the woods naked.”

“Ugh,” Padriag exclaimed. “I forgot about that. I had to dig rocks out of my ass cheeks after that.”