It didn’t take long for the door to part a little.
Kai started to push the door with both hands to help her sister.But Aodh did it first, with one hand.
“Why so early, Kai?”a yawning Morlie asked.
Aodh may have had a point about Morlie being a young woman, but watching her rub her eyes, she reminded Kai of the innocent little girl Morlie had been before their parents’ death.
“I should have come by sooner and told you to get dressed.You could have eaten with us.”
“Why?”Morlie shoved a hand through her short curls as she leaned into the doorjamb, looking like she’d rather be back in bed.
Kai wondered how long the young people had stayed downstairs dancing.She felt a little guilty about abandoning her sister.
“Aodh wants to show us around today.If you’re up for it.”Kai assessed her younger sister, looking for signs that Morlie’s active night had set her back health-wise.She couldn’t see anything besides her sister being tired.Exhaustion made sense.Morlie had been sick for quite some time.
Aodh stood back, allowing them space to discuss.
“Not now.”Morlie glanced over her shoulder toward the window.“At whatever god-awful time it is.”
“Well, we can probably come back for you.”Kai glanced over at Aodh.“If it is not an inconvenience.”
“Not at all.If later is better, I can send Yeongi to get her in a few hours,” Aodh declared.
Morlie straightened up.“Actually.I don’t need anyone to come back for me.Eilidh invited me along with her and her friends later.After they finish their training or observation.”
“She did?”Kai was shocked.
Kai liked the thought of the young people going through training.She wondered if there was a way, once Morlie was better, for Aodh to let her sister learn a job here.She glanced from Morlie to Aodh, who was frowning, and then back to Morlie.“To do what?”
Her sister shrugged.“To hang out.Whatever young people do.”
Something Morlie had no experience with.
“Um.”Kai focused her attention back on Aodh.“Is it safe?”
Aodh nodded.“Eilidh will watch out for her.She knows to stay within the boundary of the territory.”
“Well then.Okay.”When her sister clutched the door with two hands and started to push, Kai called out, “But I want to see you at the evening meal.”
“Got it, sissy.”Morlie yawned again as the door moved slowly.
Aodh reached out, grabbed the door handle, and pulled it shut.He escorted her down the stairs.
“I’m not sure how I feel about Morlie running around without me close by.”
His hand rested on her lower back, right at the curve of her ass, as they walked out of the building.“Trust me, no one in my territory will harm your sister.”
“I trust you.”Kai hoped Aodh understood that protecting Morlie was of the highest importance to her, after that, her parents’ rings.
Kai knew she’d worry until she could speak with Tana and get the jewelry back.
~YH~
“Again!”
Kai gasped and clutched at Aodh’s arm.“Who is she, and why is she making your brother hurt those boys.”
She squinted a little but could not stop watching as Liekki stood in the center of a large grass arena with a big sword similar to the crossed pair on the wall of Aodh’s suite.Every time one of the boys got to their feet and charged at him from any direction, Liekki merely shifted his step, avoiding the blow, and swung on them, his strike quick.A vibrant strip of blood would appear as, time after time, the young men tumbled to the ground.Only to have the tall, muscular woman with skin as rich as Middle Earth, garbed in a loose fighting dress with splits on each side that reached her hips, circle the perimeter of the sparing men.
