Page 34 of Highland Guard
Naomi was even more determined to escape the stupid brutes.
***
KIERAN WOKE TO THEsound of someone crying. He sat up and realised it was Naomi. She was asleep, but the deep, mournful sounds she was making and the pained expression on her face almost undid him. Whatever had happened to her father, he knew she grieved him still. Kieran experienced an overwhelming need to comfort her. That need took over all sense of reason and before he knew it, he was crossing the distance and sharing her pallet.
“Stop! Papa, please come back, please come back,” Naomi shouted into the night as she thrashed about on her pallet. Tears streamed down her cheeks. It was the following evening; they were sheltering in the woods just outside of the village ofPittmiddleand Naomi was in the throes of a nightmare.
Then something broke through the haze. She felt muscular arms envelop her and a deep, soothing voice whisper, “Naomi, hush, lass. Tis just a dream.”
She opened her eyes and rasped, “Kieran?”
“Aye, I’m here. You were having a bad dream.”
Naomi realized Kieran was holding her close. Her head rested against his chest. She was not sure how or when, but he had moved from his pallet to hers.
“What ... what are you doing here?”
“You were thrashing about, lass. I did not want you to hurt yourself.”
“I am sorry if I woke you.”
“Tis all right.”
She stared up at him, not wanting to move away but knowing she should. Yet she stilled as he gazed down at her in the fire’s light. Concern marring his features. Kieran gently brushed away her tear drops with his touch.
Naomi shuddered again at the despair she felt in the dream. It was so real; she saw her father smiling in the distance. She tried to join him, but there was a great divide. Then he turned to leave. It was as if Naomi was losing him all over again. It was unbearable to relive that sense of separation. Naomi quietly wept.
Dermid remained on watch but nodded to Kieran as if to say,“You see to her.”
Kieran gently soothed her once more. He leant in and kissed her forehead. Then wiped away more tears.
“What happened to your da?” he asked. He felt her stiffening before she relaxed and told him the story of that night many years ago.
Kieran felt her pain acutely, as if it were his own. He knew the grief of losing a parent and he could empathise. Even so, her story left him more disturbed than ever.Why was her da killed? Why were the soldiers after him?
Kieran knew the answer had something to do with the duty Naomi was to perform at the nunnery. Having shared her grief, Naomi nodded off to sleep, oblivious to the fact she was clutching Kieran closely. Kieran preferred it that way and followed her into slumber, knowing that come morning, he would have to work hard to forge a distance between them. The lass was making himfeel, and Kieran could not afford to be distracted by emotions she evoked within. It could get them all killed.
***
FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS, battle lines were drawn. The warmth with which Kieran had treated her during her nightmare was gone. Instead, replaced by a distant version. Kieran remained vigilant and rarely engaged Naomi in conversation.
She knew it was because she had humiliated herself with her nightmares. Naomi was embarrassed by her weakness and now things were awkward between them. She felt maybe Kieran viewed her display of vulnerability as another mark against her character.
Equally distressing was Naomi’s sixth sense that something terrible was coming their way. It was an odd sensation, but she had learned in her life to trust her instinct. It had saved her life several times in the past. She knew theBrotherhooddid not give up easily. Her chief concerns were Kieran and Dermid. Whilst they dismissed her as being a fragile woman, she knew far more than she let on. She did not want two good men to die because they were involved in a situation for which they were ill prepared. Naomi did not want to, but she knew she would have to trick them. It was better if she traveled alone. Having to watch her back and theirs was too much work.
***
“HERE, KIERAN. TIS GETTINGcold. Come, warm yourself by the fire and enjoy some mulled wine. We may not get along, but it does not mean that I do not care what happens to you.” Naomi handed Kieran the cup and gave him a warm smile.
“Aye, I need something to quench my thirst. But I am wary why you are suddenly acting almost friendly towards me,” Kieran replied.
“Well, I thought about how you comforted during my nightmares, and it would be very un-Christian of me to not repay the kindness. Abbess Murdina always said we should be charitable, even to those whom we may not like.”
Kieran raised a brow. “Aye, it would be un-Christian indeed. Well, there is no point wasting a drink when offered.” He took the cup and let it warm his hands as he sat by the fire.
Naomi remained quiet and stared at the sky. Kieran sipped his drink as he talked. Soon Kieran yawned. Then his eyes drooped, and he slumped backwards onto the ground, asleep. Naomi quickly got to her feet and double checked to make sure he really was asleep when Kieran began snoring.
Naomi hurried, grabbed her belongings, and added more wood to the fire. She crouched over him and said, “Tis sorry I am to do this. But you really need to stop trusting people. It could get you killed.” She stood to walk away, then paused. Naomi found a blanket and gently covered him with it. She grabbed her quarterstaff and sprinted into the woods, determined to put as much distance between them. She knew it was a matter of time before Dermid returned from scouting the road ahead. He could not leave Kieran drugged and vulnerable so he would remain, and that meant Naomi had at least a two-hour head start.
