The Kingdom

21

They traveled for almost a week. A long hard way back to Avon but once again Cahill was able to bring back home all men and horses safely. They arrived late in the night but the noise of the horses was enough to wake up the entire village. All women and children came outside to receive them and Cahill could witness how his sudden decision had made most of the village happy. There were smiley faces everywhere, happy to see their sons, husbands, husbands to be coming back home.

"You didn't find her." Cathleen said. That had been the hardest point. To see the disappointment in her eyes.

"She is nowhere." He shook his head. "I did my best..."

"How far did you go?"

"Almost until Leeds. We were a few days from there." He explained.

"But she could be there." Cathleen argued.

"It's too cold to camp. The horses are extremely tired and the men are missing their families. It was of high risk to continue. I'm sorry..." He whispered in the end. Cathleen's eyes hit the ground. His heart ached for not bring her sister back.

"I thought you'd bring her." She whispered. Cahill approached her and cupped her face between his hands, looking in her eyes.

"I came back because of you. I cannot stay away. Not when your father is planning to arrange a new husband for you." She looked up.

"Oh!" Cathleen exclaimed.

"I must resolve things here first and then I promise I will search for her."

"So, it wasn't because of the men or the horses." She stated. Cahill nodded.

"It was a bit of everything. Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions and this was one of them. I'm sorry if I am disappointing you, Cathleen."

"My love..." She whispered with her glittering eyes. "I could never be disappointed in you."

"I must rest. Tomorrow I will talk to your father."

"Tomorrow?" Cathleen asked surprised. Cahill held her hands in his.

"He is thinking of someone to marry you. This thought was killing me while I was away. I must let him know of our intentions and our feelings. You want to be my wife don't you?" Cathleen nodded.

"You know I do. I am just afraid of his reaction, that's all."

"How is he? He didn't come to receive us."

"He's still in bed, Cahill. He's still weak to stand up. He tried but came back to bed the next day. Zlata says it's better if he rests but I fear..." She choked and didn't say no more. Her shoulders shook a little and Cahill pulled her to him.

"He is going to be alright." He whispered pampering her hair while she cried.

"I'm afraid he dies and Keira is not here. I know she would never forgive herself for it and father doesn't want to die without seeing her again."

"In her absence you are the heiress." He said.

"I don't want to be queen!" She exclaimed much to his surprise. "I saw what Keira was put through and I don't want that for me. I don't want that responsibility. It's her place and her duty."

"Nothing will happen to the king." Cahill said again. "Now, we should rest."

Cathleen nodded and he took the chance to kiss her. With a few more pecks the couple separated and Cahill went to his chamber. When he lied down on his bed he thought he'd pass out right away but it didn't happen. Instead, his eyes remained wide open while he stared at the ceiling seeing nothing in the dark. He wondered for hours where Keira could be. He traced routs which she might have taken but concluded she had to have help. Keira wouldn't know where to hide so well or would have traveled that fast alone. Their clue was right, Keira was with a man.