‘Fionn has a flare for the dramatic,’ Iomhar interjected with a rumbling chuckle. His smile fell away as he absorbed Fionn’s listlessness. He handed the knife back to Lachlan. ‘We thank you for the use of your symbol. We must be on our way.’
‘That’s it? You dragged us all the way out here just for that?’ Meredith sounded upset. Fionn listened distantly, disconnected from the world around him.
‘Beautiful Meredith, I would tarry in your presence for hours more if I could,’ Iomhar said smoothly. ‘But I must get the prince home. And you must get to yours.’
‘Will he be all right?’ That was Lachlan, speaking low and wary. Fionn swayed on the spot.
‘I shall make sure of it.’ Iomhar’s hand clasped Fionn’s shoulder. ‘Farewell. Give our regards to the Witch.’
Fionn walked with Iomhar into the waves. He swam instinctually, mind blank, relying on muscle memory to get him through the journey.
Iomhar kept a tight formation with him but didn’t hurry his progress. He seemed reluctant to speak, though eventually broke the silence. ‘I was not on patrol when I spied you bolting for the beach.’
Fionn inclined his head to show that he was listening.
‘I was sent to find you. For tonight is the night.’
‘What night?’
‘The wedding, Fionn. The Redfolk ambassadors have arrived ahead of their king. We must return to the palace.’
‘Oh.’
The news barely registered in Fionn’s heart-broken daze. What did it matter, any more?
They swam a while longer. Iomhar left Fionn some space before approaching him again. ‘I heard you were spotted near the palace with a strange companion yesterday. Human, though I couldn’t believe my ears at the time.’
‘Yes.’
‘And then I find you aiming for the land-Witch’s meeting point. I wondered if you had some plan to spoil your betrothal.’
‘No.’ The meaning of this sunk in. Fionn’s limbs stalled, sending him drifting. ‘Why didn’t you intercept me earlier? I might have ruined everything.’
‘I might have helped you.’
Fionn felt like he’d been slapped awake. His previous mistrust of Iomhar bumped up against this strange revelation. The old warrior was an exemplar of living for one’s duty in service to the throne. Fionn would never have conceived of him helping to actively thwart the marriage bargain.
Fionn’s incredulity rang through his song. ‘You are always lecturing me on the importance of my duty, old man. You wouldn’t have helped me dodge it.’
‘I have never considered there might be a way to do so. It is very like you to prove me wrong.’ Iomhar’s heavy brows knit together. ‘No one wishes this fate upon you, Fionn.Not even your father.’
Fionn spun away. He couldn’t handle pity at this moment. ‘Why didn’t you say anything at the beach?’
‘It was your decision to make.’ Iomhar watched him carefully. ‘You did not wish to tell me what happened between you and your human. But I sensed the weight of this choice on you, and I would not dare impose my own intentions on it. I, too, once made such a choice, after all.’
‘Was it the right one?’ Fionn asked thickly. ‘Did you make the right choice?’
‘I…’ Iomhar closed his weary eyes. ‘Yes. I made the right choice at the time.’ He reached out to Fionn, catching him in a half-hug. ‘The question that you must be able to live with, little sprat, is: did you?’
What was the right choice? Right for Rory. Right for his kingdom. Fionn’s chin lifted a little. ‘Yes. And now I shall do my duty, and I shall not let anybody else down.’
Chapter Twenty-Six
In the middle of the street, Rory’s legs gave way. He collapsed in a gasping heap and clutched at his chest.
‘What the fuck… What the fuck just happened?’
He struggled to breathe around the pain in his chest. It was like his heart had been ripped right out of him.
