Tully woke in the early morning hours, determined to find out the truth about Aiobhell. He rose and stretched. The cold night had seeped into his room and his body was stiff.
Donning a woolen cloak, he slipped silently into the frigid outside air. Vapor from his breath floated in front of him. As he turned to head toward Aiobhell's chambers, he spotted someone approaching him from the Sanctuary's entrance. As the figure drew closer, he recognized it as Aiobhell. She stopped a short distance away and huddled in the folds of her cloak. "Tully..." she said in a calm, quiet voice.
"Aiobhell, where were you?" He hated be so accusatory, but he had to know the truth.
"I was just out walking," was her simple reply.
There was a thick silence between them. For some strange reason, Tully couldn't bring himself to question her any further. For the second time in as many days, he changed the subject. "Fergus and I will be leading a scouting party later today. Would you like to join us?"
"I would like that," she smiled. Without another word she walked by him, touching him gently on the shoulder and disappeared into the wakening village.
Catlin woke as the first light danced on the horizon. Her mind reeled from the events of the evening before. She desperately wanted to talk to Conor. How had they come to share the same dream? What had all of it meant? She now knew why Conor's dreams had been so vivid and hard to shake. In her sleep she could smell the smoldering fire in the building. She could feel the sharp pain of being thrown into the wall. Her scalp stung from where Longinus had pulled her by her hair to her feet. How had all of this happened?
There would be no answers today. If she was going to leave, she had to do it now. As much as she wanted to talk to Conor, she knew if she did she wouldn't leave. Quickly and resolutely, she gathered her belongings and headed out into the sharp cold morning and headed to the stable.
"Catlin?" It was Aisling. The girl was walking through the small square by the stable when she caught sight of Catlin tying her pack to her horse.
"Good morning Aisling," she smiled back at her. In a swift moment, she pulled herself into the saddle.
"Where are you going?" Aisling's brow was slightly furrowed.
"I'm going back."
"No," the girl sighed disappointedly. "Why?"
"It's better that I go. The council is uncomfortable with me being here. I can't afford to endanger the Confederation."
Aisling's eyes darkened. "I hate the council," she spoke in a quiet voice. "To them I'm no better than a sow. I'm just a thing for them to barter and trade. I have no rights and no respect... Just because I'm a woman."
Catlin looked at her with a small smile. "Does Ian know how you feel?"
"My brother sees me as nothing but his weak little sister."
"Tell him. He might surprise you." Catlin turned her horse and started off towards the village gate.
"Safe journey," Aisling called after her. Catlin stopped and turned back to face the dark-haired Princess.
"Things can change, Aisling. Don't give up hope."
In a moment she had disappeared into the misty morning. Aisling watched her leave and with a heavy sigh she walked back to her room, hoping that what Catlin said was true.
When Conor woke, he smiled. He was now sure that the dreams had stopped. He thought back to the strange being from the dream. There was someone out there watching over them. But how had he and Catlin shared the same nightmare? Surely she had not experienced the other dreams. Maybe this was a message. Maybe he was meant to share with her what had happened in his sleep. Futilely he tried to wrap his mind around the puzzle. He gave up without an answer.
The cold morning air filled his lungs as he rushed out to talk to her. It was as if a burden had been lifted from his heart. She was safe. While he still did not want her to leave, he realized it was for the best. The impact this tribe could make if united with them was great. What Conor wanted now was to apologize; to explain what had happened; to repair their broken friendship before it was too late. As he made his way to Catlin's chambers, he saw Ian standing in the doorway.
"She's already gone, Conor," the leader said with obvious disappointment. "When?"
"Aisling saw her leave at dawn."
Conor disguised his immediate emotion with a flippant remark. "Well, I'll just go over things with her when I get back..."
"Yes, I suppose so." Ian stared at him. There was a slight pause. "I would like for you to address a few members of the council informally today... Would you be willing to do that?"
"Of course."
"It's not going to be an easy task, unification. We need to convince the council that they will not be expected to fight. They need to know that we are joining this alliance for peace, not for war."
"I understand."
"Good."As Ian walked off, Conor couldn't help but remember the look in Ian's eyes when he spoke of Catlin. Conor hoped that he hadn't sent her away to satisfy his own jealous heart.
The scouting party left the Sanctuary mid-morning. Fergus, Tully and Aiobhell walked in front of the others.
"Did you sleep well, lass?" Fergus asked casually.
"Yes. Very well..." Aiobhell ran her hands over her arms. "It's getting colder, isn't it?" she said with a sly smile.
"Ah, nonsense. The cold air is good you!" Fergus said pounding his chest and breathing deeply through his nose.
"Well, I don't like it," Tully said moodily.
"Lad, you don't like anything this morning. What's the matter with you?"
"Nothing, Fergus... nothing."
"Nothing, eh? Sounds like something to me."
"Fergus, please..." Tully sighed waving him off with his hand and walking faster to get ahead of the other two.
The warrior waited until the younger man walked out of earshot. He turned to his attention to the girl at his side. "Does this have something to do with you?" He questioned.
"It might..." she sighed. "I don't think he trusts me."
"To tell you the truth, lass. I'm not sure I do either." Aiobhell stopped and turned to face Fergus.
"Then why..."
"Because if you were a Roman spy, I'd have figured you would've given us away by now... And if you are a Roman spy, I'd rather keep track of you."
"Oh." Perplexed, she opened her mouth, then shut it without another word.
"But, your late night excursions to who knows where are going to end. At least until you offer a suitable explanation... And I will have to keep a guard on you at all times." Fergus' tone was even and diplomatic. There was no sign of anger or tension. Perhaps he would make a better leader than he thought. Aiobhell smiled at him and clasped his arm.
"Thank you for being fair, Fergus."
"Think nothing of it," he winked.The day's journey was long and lonely. The biting wind had not relented and Catlin was starting to worry that it might snow. She looked heavenward with growing unease at the impending clouds.
She would hunt and eat shortly, because she was not sure the weather would hold off much longer. Her horse neighed as if to reprimand her for bringing the beast out into such cold weather. Patting the animal on the neck, she was beginning to wonder why she had agreed to leave at all.
Conor met with four of the council elders. They sat in the meeting room during their midday meal. Colin was among them. His narrow stare told Conor that this was not going to be an easy argument. Ian stood up from the table and addressed the men.
"Elders, by now you know of the invitation Conor has given for us to join the Confederation. I am not asking you to decide, I am just asking you to listen with open minds. I'm sure that Conor will answer any questions you have about this decision... You all know my feelings, and I do not want anyone to feel pressure to support or avoid this alliance based on my vote. Therefore, I will leave you all to talk to Conor and learn about what this alliance has to offer our tribe."
Ian left the room and Conor began a battle that was more difficult than defeating a legion of Romans: a battle of politics and persuasion.
"My Queen?" The voice of Antonius sounded small outside the heavy door.
"You may enter," she called to her guard. Antonius entered the room with another soldier.
"And who is this?" she said with curiosity.
"My Queen, this is Marcus. He has seen Longinus' informer," Antonius said proudly, like a hunter displaying his kill. Diana's eyes opened wide. She walked over to where the two soldiers stood and crossed her arms in front of her.
"You have seen this spy?"
"Yes, my Queen," Marcus answered nervously.
"Well then. Who is she? What does she look like?"
"I don't know her name... but she is one of the natives. She's a young woman. Beautiful. I don't know the color of her hair, it was under the hood of her cloak."
"Did you speak to her?"
"Yes, my Queen."
Diana raised her eyebrows and lowered her chin. She spoke deliberately and slowly. "Well... what she say?"
"She gave me a sealed letter, with the directions to take it to Longinus at once."
"I see. Did you see which direction she went in?"
"No, my Queen."
Sighing, Diana walked over to the pillows by the fire. She flopped into them and waved at the soldiers with her hand.
"Leave me."
Antonius, who was slightly deflated by her response spoke up. "I thought this information would make you happy, my Queen."
Diana turned her face back to the men and scoffed.
"Don't think, Antonius. It's not your strong suit... Now LEAVE." She ordered.
The guards did as ordered. Diana stood up and walked to the window. The spy was out there, somewhere, and the fact that she knew more of Longinus' plans made her more than just angry. It made her jealous. Through the windowpane she heard the wind howling. Snow began to fall in ever-faster waves.
"Sir?"
Ian looked up. One of the hunting party stood in his doorway with a worried expression on his face.
"What is it?"
"There were Roman troops moving through the woods just south of us."
"Just south, you say?" The troops were heading straight along Catlin's path.
"Yes, sir. They were looking for someone. Or something."
Ian walked past the villager and out into the snow. It had deepened greatly in the hour since he had been in his room.
"Sir, where are you going?"
"Someone needs help. Let the council know I'm gone but I'll be back by midday tomorrow." Ian strode toward the stables in a fast gait.
"Sir, shall I come with you?" The worried man asked, hoping his leader would respond in the negative.
"No. I'll be fine alone."
Catlin sat shivering by the small fire. There was no way she was going to survive the night out in the cold. Snow had been blanketing the ground for hours and showed no sign of stopping. There was no shelter and the light was fading fast. She went to her pack and pulled out her sleeping blankets. She spread them over her horse and came to an uneasy decision. She would have to turn back. It was nearly two days further journey to the Sanctuary, but if she turned back to Ian's village, she would be there sometime in the middle of the night.
Quickly she doused the fire and got back on her horse. The animal whinnied.
"I know, I know. You were right," she said as she rubbed the horse's neck. She turned back and followed the hoof marks they had just made in the fresh snow.