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“What?” Freya dared to whisper into the quiet of the room.
She stared at him, wide-eyed, unable to believe that this was happening. Was he really doing this?
Steel whispered against leather as his sword came out of its scabbard, long and bright in the afternoon light.
Freya’s hand tightened on the doll until her knuckles ached. Her mind cleared, the way it had behind the stables eleven years ago. She did not freeze. She would not freeze.
“And what do ye think ye’ll do with that?” she asked. “Even if I die, they’ll kill ye. Every man in this castle. Do ye think that Evander is going to let ye walk away?”
“I hope he tries.” Callum’s eyes lit up with something she’d never seen in them before. Something feverish. “I hope I see at least something of the Wolf I trusted and followed. He’s become tame. He has a wife, and he plays the faither, but that isnae him. He’s the mightiest warrior there is. And ye all are standing in the way of his destiny.”
Freya’s jaw dropped. She almost couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. He sounded mad. How could he say such a thing about a man whom he had once claimed was his good friend? This was Evander’s man-in-arms.
“Ye cannae believe that.”
“But I do.” He took a step forward. “I never thought he’d betray us, his comrades for over a decade, for a lass who doesnae want him and two bairns that arenae even his. He’s lost his mind, me Lady, and I need to bring him back.”
Freya took a step back, and her heel struck the cradle. There was nowhere else for her to go.
Callum lifted his sword. She clutched the doll and thought, absurdly, that she had never told Evander she loved him.
“Evander!”
Her scream rang off the stone walls and down the narrow stairs.
She couldn’t believe this was happening. She and Evander didn’t even have a chance to repair what she felt was broken.
“Yer husband isnae coming,” Callum taunted. “Nae in time, at least. No one is going to save ye, me Lady. And when he finds yer body, he’ll go back to doin’ what he does best.”
“That isnae true. He wants peace,” Freya retorted. “He’s sought peace and safety for his people since I’ve ken him.”
“Aye, and I’ve ken him longer. Ye’ve softened him, tamed him. To think, ye could have avoided all of this if ye had just left. I did give ye a chance.”
“Oh, how gracious of ye,” Freya spat, unable to look away from the sword.
36
Evander tried to go back to what he was doing, but something told him to go inside and check on his wife.
He sheathed his sword and crossed the yard in long strides. Callum’s absence gnawed at him the entire way. He had barely stepped into the Great Hall when he nearly collided with Brigid. She had both twins with her.
She stopped short. “Me Laird.”
“Brigid, where are ye taking them?”
“To the kitchens, me Laird. Cook’s made honey cakes, and these two have been begging for them since dawn.” Her mouth thinned. “Unless ye object.”
“Nay, I daenae.” He glanced past her toward the stairs. “Where’s me wife?”
“In the nursery.”
“Alone?”
Brigid’s eyebrows rose. “Aye, she was searching for some of the toys the twins left, but I think she wanted a bit of quiet. She hasnae had much of it lately. Nae that it’s any concern of yers.”
Evander decided to let that slide. He did deserve it. “Ye’ve nae left her side in weeks. Why now?”
“Because she asked me to go, and I daenae think she will be at risk being alone for an hour or less. Besides, Callum’s standing guard outside her door.”
