Page 100 of Fang & Fury

Around her, warriors reached for reins, tightened sword belts, and embraced loved ones one final time.

The army stirred.

And as it did, a strange excitement quickened under her ribs.

A few yards away, she spied the chief-enforcer barking orders at his warrior druids.

Likewise, Captain Tae was also attempting to marshal his warriors into some semblance of order.

And while this was all going on, figures appeared at the top of the steps to the broch.

Ailsa’s gaze alighted upon a small woman clad in green and brown, her auburn hair braided at the sides and drawn off her face. Lara. Alar stood next to her; as usual, he was clad entirely in black.

Each held a bairn, two wee lasses. One auburn-haired, like her mother, the other dark, like her father.

Twins.

Ailsa’s lips curved. Aye, she’d heard of the daughters the queen had given birth to three years earlier. The news had rippled throughout The Wolds, even reaching Braewall.

Lara’s face was strained as she and Alar gently set the twins down on the top step. Another woman with curly dark-brown hair stood with them now, a tall blond enforcer at her side.

They gently took the bairns’ hands, holding them fast.

Ailsa looked on with interest. She’d met both Mirren, the steward, and Torran, her husband, the protector of Duncrag. They’d look after the fort in Lara’s absence and watch over her children too.

One of the lasses began to weep then, and Lara knelt before her, wiping away her tears.

Ailsa’s gaze lingered on the mother and daughter. It was the dark-haired lass. She clung to Lara, sensing that she was about to leave her. Then Alar hunkered down too, murmuring something to his daughter. Ailsa had no idea what had passed between them, but the lass visibly relaxed. Lower lip trembling, she then gave a brave nod.

Moments later, the steward and the protector withdrew inside the broch, taking the princesses with them, leaving Lara and Alar to face the crowd.

Gil appeared then, a lanky figure with a gray cloak about his shoulders.

Ailsa watched him with interest. Ever since she’d learned that Bree and Gil had once been Shee, she looked at the archivist a little differently. Suddenly, little details she noticed when in his company—mannerisms and speech patterns especially—made sense.

He stepped close to Lara and murmured something to her. Jaw tightening, she nodded.

Ailsa frowned as she watched them talk.

Frustratingly, Gil hadn’t yet unraveled the riddle of the binding sigil.

Three days weren’t long enough, and now they were riding out without knowledge that might potentially help them.

A horn blew once more, the deep bellow slicing through the chaos.

The movement in the yard stilled.

31: HOLD FAST

ALL GAZES SWIVELED TO the High Queen.

Lara’s expression was uncharacteristically stern this morning. She was no warmonger, that was clear, but she’d see this through. Ailsa had no doubt about that. Lara had already proved herself to her people, but she was about to do so again.

“We ride out now.” Her voice carried across the now silent yard.

Somewhere, a raven croaked.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, and people exchanged glances.