Her smile disappeared. "Ye mean to go back."
"Aye."
"When?"
"At first light."
She nodded slowly, as if she'd expected this. "I'm coming with ye."
"Not for all the world!"
"Yer permission is irrelevant."
Flanders realized that with this woman, he would have to pick his words carefully. “See reason. I cannot do what I must do if I must also see to yer protection. Need I remind ye that ye nearly died there once already?"
"And yet, here I stand." She lifted her chin defiantly. "I mean to avenge my sister.”
“And I mean to do that avenging for ye. If ye’ll but stay where I ken ye are safe?—"
"Safe?" She scoffed. “If my death is at hand, if my vision was truly for both Bella and me, it matters not where I go. My death will come. Besides,” she smiled to one side, “my magic might prove useful."
"Magic won't stop a sword."
"No, but it might prevent the need for one."
He studied her face, saw the determination there, and knew he was fighting a losing battle. "Ye're a stubborn woman, are ye?”
Pain flared in her eyes. "Aye. A family trait, I’m afraid.”
Flanders understood what he must do, but he feigned surrender. "Very well. But ye stay behind me at all times. And if I say run, ye run. No arguments."
She nodded. "Agreed."
"Sleep," he said, and stepped back, though he dearly wanted to linger. “Tomorrow will come soon enough."
"Flanders." Her voice stopped him. When he turned, she was standing in the center of the room, suddenly looking small and vulnerable. "Will ye stay? Just for a wee while?"
“Nay, lass. When the two of us make our memories, I’ll have no others standin’ in the way. But I’ll sit outside yer door for a mite, until ye sleep.”
She nodded. "But tell me, what will ye do when ye face Stephan and Heslington?"
Flanders had been asking himself the same. "What needs to be done," he answered. "No more, no less."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
She studied his eyes as if searching his soul, his heart. "Ye're not a cruel man, Flanders Leesborn. Don't become one to answer their cruelty."
He managed a simple nod and took his leave.
While he sat outside her door he wondered if she'd had a glimpse of tomorrow and knew what he might be compelled to do. And if so, he hoped it was only a glimpse, lest she see all he was capable of.
16
SHOULDN’T ‘A DONE THAT
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