Page 60 of The Stag & The Owl
“Is that why you chose them to run away?”
Alina met Roark's somber gaze, and knew hewas thinking of Artur.“It is,” she lied.
“Would you like to meet my yearling colt,Damon?”Cullen asked her.“My parents gave him to me for mybirthday last spring when he was a newborn.Kirk, the stablemaster,is going to help me train him this summer.I have my old gelding,Godfrey, too.He’s a good old horse, but Damon’s going to grow upto be a stallion.”
Alina laughed lightly, feeling an instantkinship with this boy.“I’d love to meet both horses,” shesaid.
“I can take you tonight,” he offered.
“You can take her tomorrow after breakfast,”his father told him with an indulgent grin.“Alina and Roark and Ihave some things to discuss tonight.”
“Yes, Father.”
“I look forward to tomorrow,” Alina told thelad.She leaned in close and whispered.“Maybe we can take thehorses a special treat?”
Cullen grinned.“I’ll ask cook for somecarrots,” he whispered back.“They’re Damon’s favorites.”
“Etain’s too,” Alina said with aconspiratorial wink.
***
Roark sat beside Alina in the laird’s privatemeeting chambers, putting him in mind of their meeting with Rogerand Leif the day they’d arrived at North Shore Keep.But whereRoger had sat behind his big, imposing table looking down on them,Owen sat on a couch beside his wife with his sister andbrother-in-law sitting on another couch together, Roark and Alinaon yet another so they all sat facing each other.Niels and anotherman-at-arms, a burly Green Isler with deep-set brown eyes, curlybrown hair, and forearms the size of oak branches, took two chairsto complete the circle.A maidservant carried in a tray laden withcups and two pitchers, set it down on the small, round table aroundwhich the couches were arranged, and then left.
Owen poured his own cup of what looked like adark gold ale and one of wine that he handed to his wife, and thenGavin did the same for himself and Agnes.Yet another differencebetween the lairds.Roger would never have poured his own drink infront of others.
Taking his cue from Owen and Gavin, Roarkasked Alina what she’d like to drink.
“Half a cup of wine, thank you.”
He poured her wine and a cup of the goldenale for himself, and took a hearty swallow, choking on the bitterspirits.“What,” he sputtered, his eyes watering, “is this?”
Owen and the other men in the room chuckledas Roark swiped at his eyes.
“It’s called whisky,” Owen said.“The waterof life.”
“Whisky,” Roark repeated.He sniffed at thedrink in his cup and took a small sip, letting the dark gold liquidsit on his tongue for a moment, then letting it slide down histhroat, savoring the strong, oaken aftertaste.“It’s quite tasty,”he said.“In small sips.”
The men laughed out right, though notunkindly.
“Which is how it’s meant to be drank,” Oweninformed him after having had his chuckle.
He lifted his cup to Roark, as did Gavin andNiels and the brown-haired oak.Roark lifted his to Owen in return,and they all took a sip and set their cups down while the womensipped their wine with amused grins on their faces.
“Now, down to business,” Owen said.“Gavinand I know your real story,” he told Roark and Alina.“As do Nielsand Grant.So, we can all speak freely.”
“Good,” Roark said.He’d been living with andamongst lies for too many years now and he was heartily sick ofthem, though he understood they’d still have to maintain severalonce they left this room.At least until Alina was safely away.
“We’ve decided to help you two,” Owendeclared, and Roark and Alina let their breaths out in unison.
“Thank you,” Roark said.
“So much,” Alina added.
Owen nodded graciously.“Tomorrow, Niels andGrant will ride into the port towns and find out what they canabout your situation, as well as search out a ship for Alina tosail home on.”He met Roark’s gaze and answered his unspokenquestion.“We’ll find a ship.This Roger’s arms aren’t as long ashe thinks, he doesn’t have as much sway here as at his homeport.”
Alina pulled the pearl from her bodice,unclasped the necklace, and laid it on the table.“This should bepayment enough for my passage,” she said.She turned to Roark witha tremulous smile.“You did it.”
“We did it,” he said.So why did he feel likehis heart had been ripped out of his chest, leaving him an empty,hollowed-out husk?“I’m so glad,” he told her.“And so damnedsad.”
