She felt relief, like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulder, but she also felt pain. She’d lost it all because of this curse. How could she live when she’d known a love so deep that she ached at the memory? How could she ever willingly live on, knowing all she’d lost as the daughter of truth?
Her mother’s love, her father’s love, Darach’s love… she’d lost the reason for all that. She was no longer a daughter of truth. She lived in this moment, reaching for everything she’d lost and wanted most.
“Shh, please dinnae cry, Jane. Ye’re going home. We dinnae have much time, and I’ve come tae say goodbye.”
Her words penetrated the heavy grief surrounding her heart. She stared up at Lorna, afraid to believe what she’d heard, that she had finally been given the leeway to leave the keep.
“I can leave?”
Lorna nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. “A horse awaits ye in the courtyard. I will help ye pack up yer things.”
“Ihavetae leave?”
Lorna stepped away from the bed and began moving around the room, gathering the few belongings Jane had without responding. Lorna leaned towards her, clutching her shoulders as she stared at her face, and they were ready in what felt like a split second.
“Listen tae me, Jane.” She wrapped her arms around her again and held her tightly against her chest. “I trust ye, and I need ye tae trust me.”
Hoping nothing was amiss, Jane nodded as they both moved toward the door and cracked it open. When they stepped out, Lorna looked keenly into the darkness before dragging her along.
“Lorna? Is something amiss?”
She held a finger to her lips before leaning forward. “Ye’d have tae leave under this cover of darkness. Darach dinnae ken I came tae ye, so we must part ways now.”
Jane swallowed. “Alone?”
“This was the instruction he gave. A horse awaits ye.”
Jane frowned. It was impossible to believe that Darach would send her on the dangerous journey to her landalone. It seemed very unlike him, and she would not have believed the words if they weren’t coming from Lorna.
“Does he acknowledge that if anyone were tae see me, they might abduct me again?”
“Aye, I believe he does. I said it nae just once,” Lorna said quietly. “I apologize. My brother isnae thinking well at the moment, but I am in nae place tae put my word on his.”
“I ken it.” Jane bit her lips and started the trek down the stairs. Lorna hovered protectively as they exited the keep and walked toward the lake in darkness.
Lorna stopped when they were about to enter the small grove of trees that came out by the shore of the waters, where several boulders jutted outward from the banks. Jane’s heart pounded with fear about going into the thick darkness alone, but she tried to push the feeling down.
“Thank ye, Lorna, for everything,” she said as she stepped forward. “I’ll be going through the trees,” she said gently, turning nervously to the lass. It felt as though it had been forever since they’d known each other. She reached for her hands and grasped them gently in hers. “I am glad I have seen ye this night, one more time before I leave yer keep. When Darach is ready tae listen, tell him I’d never betray him or yer clan, and hemustlistentae me.”
Tears shimmered in Lorna’s eyes. “Aye, I ken it.”
She raised Jane’s hands to her lips and pressed them to her trembling mouth. “I want ye tae ken that I will miss ye, Jane. I want ye tae find happiness. I have tae leave now so the guards dinnae catch us. They have orders tae let ye go.”
Tears ran unchecked down her cheeks.
“Thank ye, Lorna. Ye are a brave woman. One day ye’ll find the fulfillment ye seek; I am sure of it.” Jane pulled her into her arms once last time and held her tightly, her head resting atop the lass.
“I’ll do anything ye ask of me, Jane.”
“Then be happy,” she whispered. “Remember me with fondness. I’ll never forget our time together. I’ll hold it tae my heart always. Ye are a wonderful woman and a wonderful sister. The Robertson clan and yer brothers are so lucky tae have ye.”
Jane slowly pulled away, and she knew that the time had come to go. Her chest hurt so badly that each breath was agony. She steeled herself, determined she’d be brave and would bear the parting with dignity and grace. The girl deserved that much.
“Tell him that I wished things were different.”
“I will,” Lorna caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. When she pulled her arm back, it came away damp with her tears. It was more than she could bear, the thought of the girl grieving for her and what was not to be. She turned and walked briskly toward the woods.
“Jane,” she called softly. “I trust ye,” she said as she stepped away from the shadows.