“Some more bread, Benoic?”

“Hmm? No, no thank you.”

It still felt strange to be called that name. He always seemed to wear the mantle of chief so well, she still felt smaller. Less impressive, less intimidating, but no less lonely. 

He once told her he hadn’t the head or the time for romance, unfair to ask someone to share in the burdens that come with leading the clan. But now, now she wondered if it had been to protect them all, an outsider so close to the beating tartan heart of it all. A lovers quarrel gone wrong could topple everything Cormacc himself built from the ground up.

No word from Irial yet. 

No word from anyone who hadn’t been touched. 

Can’t unexpectedly turn up on the Umrada’s doorstep and bother him into jäger if he disintegrated in the Command Tent. 

Finn and Brynn still had a haunted look to them after what Del showed them of their fates in Red. Best to let them have their time together. 

Del was still quiet after what happened at the fort. He would come back in his own time. 

Arghaste McFergus wasn’t an unwelcome last resort, but they’d split paths on her way to DunCormacc and he to whichever rock McFerguses kip under in the winter. 

She wanted to call out to him but there was an edge of fear. He was unknown to her in Blue, his new Champion in Green and in Red - she didn’t really want to think about that. Sometimes she still felt the phantom pain in her bones. Not the best odds to be facing. 

It was getting gloomy outside now, mists rolling in over the hills and valleys. Lugh’s kiss gone from the air. Sun soon to be speared from the sky by a hooded hunter. 

Still, everyone was where they were supposed to be. Finn and Babé given use of the keep in Ulster, she quietly hoped they would find the Great Forest of Erin just as romantic and she and Irial once did. A verdant and lush place for love to grow. Garruk and Bess in a whole different country from Enid. Hazel and Floraidh would meet at DunCormacc soon after fetching Hazel’s family who’s remained home. Hopefully any cousins she’d not seen recently were okay.

Gods she just wanted to see them again.

A knock at the door.

“The Cadvroc Na Manx, Champion Na Manx, the Laird of Eileen and Caderyn MacCormacc are here, Benoic.”

Oh thank fuck.

“Thank you, I’ll meet the-“

“Morgan, you arse!”

The door burst open with Aggie, she found she couldn’t keep the smile from her face if she’d wanted to. 

“You can’t mope in your castle all winter, pack up, we’re going to the Tadzik mountains.”

Lorcan, Garruk and Cad followed Aggro in, the smile made her cheeks hurt.

“The what?”

“Some place in the Steppe Lands, it’s full of something called blood pigs. We’re going to kill them all. The pigs, not The Steppe.” 

“Oh-“

“We enjoyed it last time.” Garruk supplied. Lorcan nodded, he looked somewhat like he was missing a limb without his lady’s blade on his shoulder.

Ah yes, they’d told her all about their trip to the banquet the year prior. A lot about hags, powerful spirits and a general fun time all round.

“You don’t have to persuade me, if anything you just bought me a gift.”

“Yeah, what’s that?” 

“You’ve bought me a hunt.”