Page 75 of The Violet Raven

“A bit of fresh air might actually do Shadow some good. Every time Aisling has made the tiniest sound today, he’s started neighing like his heart’s broken. Real mournful sound, it is.” Eamon says.

I glance up at him with a crooked smile. “D’ye speak the language of a horse now?”

Eamon rolls his eyes. “Take this serious for just a beat. Something’s wrong.”

He’s right, something is wrong.

“All right,” I say, standing and placing a hand on his shoulder. “If the stubborn auld man’ll let me, we’ll head out now. Let’s get him ready to leave.”

Triona

I watch with peaked interest as Eamon pulls Shadow from the stables. It’s not unusual for him to do this.

What’s odd is that he’s donned in his endurance saddle.

“Oi,” Saoirse says from the doorway of my open chamber.

“Gods, Saoirse!” I jolt, a hand flying to my chest. “You gave me a fright!”

She chuckles. “Yer door was open.”

“Aye, guess I’m a wee bit jumpy. But if you’ll excuse me, I have to go see why Eamon is saddling Shadow.”

“That’s what I’m up here for. He told me to tell ya that Aisling is too sick to ride today.”

“Oh, poor girl. I bet Shadow is beside himself…”

“It’s funny ya mention that. It’s the first thing Eamon said he’d been bothered by.”

She continues, “Apparently, he’s been up carin’ for her since before the sun had even come up, which is strange ‘cause he’s not usually up that early. Anyway—” she pauses for a breath. “Finn has to take Shadow if they’re gonna have all the help they need at the still today.”

“Wait, what? What’s going on at the still?” I ask.

Saoirse pauses as if trying to remember pieces of a conversation she had only half-heard.

Typical.

“Eamon said something about a bad batch in Edinburgh.”

“The ride home!” I shout. “I knew it! Something was wrong.” Then the second part of her statement hits me. “You said Finn is taking him?”

“Aye—I mean, we all know he’s the only other person Shadow allows to ride him.”

I nod absentmindedly.

“What’s wrong?” Saoirse asks, her gaze sharpening.

“How do you know something is wrong?”

Saoirse rolls her eyes. “Because I know ya, Triona. Now tell me.”

“I really messed up. I said something incredibly cruel to Finn. I was embarrassed about last night, and I just lashed out at him. I pushed him until he broke. Even after he asked me to let it rest.”

Saoirse grips my shoulders. “Gods, Triona, ye’re ramblin’. Breathe.” I take a shaky breath, but the knot in my chest barely loosens.

Her expression is one of understanding. “Triona, I know it might not feel like it, but they all just want the best for ya.”

“I’m tired of everyone thinking they know what’s best for me. I don’t even know what’s best for me, so how is them telling me supposed to make me feel?”