Chapter 27

Idalia was once again standing outside the council room door, eavesdropping on the conversation inside. This time, however, she was angry because they were deliberating. She could not understand what there was to deliberate about while Bran was in the hands of August Raymond.

It took everything in her not to march into the room and scream at the top of her lungs for them to get moving. They were wasting valuable time when so much could be happening to him.

Idalia wished she could go off alone to look for him but then they would be worried about her on top of it. Besides, after the consequences of her last escape, she had realized that doing it on her own was not such a good idea. Except now, the circumstances required it.

Somehow, although the current situation was pushing her to break her vow to her sister not to ever do that again, Idalia stood still, impatiently waiting for the men to finish their discussions. There was no way she would be able to help Bran by running off alone to save him. Instead, she knew she would be putting herself in danger and him at even greater risk.

After they had realized what had happened, Dunn had questioned her, wanting to know how to proceed. Although Idalia was shy about telling him, and it felt like she was about to diminish the memory of all that had happened, she had quickly shared everything, only leaving out the details she did not think mattered to him.

Dunn had done all he could to comfort Idalia and reassure her they would get Bran back as soon as they possibly could. That was why she could not fathom what they could possibly be deliberating in the council room.

Do they have no sense of urgency whatsoever?

August Raymond was a volatile man, prone to angry outbursts that could lead to death, or worse. Time was of the utmost importance in handling a man like him.

Her hands weighed heavily by her side as she struggled to abstain from hitting the offending door that kept her from the men. But she knew it would yield nothing. She did not want to seem hysterical and, therefore, unable to join them in their search for Bran. Not that they could go without her as she was the only one who had any idea of where August Raymond might be hiding.

With her approval and permission, Dunn had gone to announce to the council that the wedding had been called off, and also to explain to them how Bran had been taken. Since the whole point of the wedding was to make sure that August Raymond could not take her, and now he had chosen to go after Bran instead of her, there was no longer any reason to be married to Andrew. They would rescue Bran from August Raymond and end the vile man once and for all, so he would not be a threat to anyone else.

Idalia wore her hatred for him like a robe, but she knew any rash decisions with such feelings in her heart could likely lead to Bran's death.

We are coming for you, my love. Idalia could only hope that August Raymond would choose to taunt Bran first instead of actually causing him physical harm, thus making it possible for them to save him.

Idalia had been so distracted by her worry for Bran, she did not realize when the meeting ended, and the doors began to open. She saw Dunn and a mixture of stern faces, mostly elders coming out.

Idalia looked up at Dunn impatiently as she waited for him to tell her all that had been decided.

"The wedding has been called off, and ye nae longer have any commitment tae Andrew. And now we will be off tae look for Bran." Dunn made to walk past her, but she grabbed him by the elbow.

"I'm coming with you. I am the only one who has an idea of where August's lair is, so I will lead you there." Dunn opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, she held up her hands.

"I know you are probably about to tell me I cannot go, but if you have any hope of getting there before August Raymond can cause any harm to Bran, then you will need my help. And do not tell me it is too dangerous," she finished, breathing hard as she stubbornly waited for him to speak, her jaw set, ready to argue with him if he said no.

"Fine," he said, shocking her. She had not been expecting him to agree so easily. He looked at her in amusement when she stood stupefied and unable to speak for a moment.

"Ye are right in saying ye are the only one who kens the location of August Raymond's camp. While I hope ye will be careful, I also ken that we will nae locate him fast enough without ye as ye have said, so ye shall go with us."

Idalia nodded. "Thank you." She had seldom felt more relieved. She waited for him to move so they could begin on their way, but he simply stared at her in silence for a minute.

"Dae ye love him, Idalia?" he asked her suddenly, and she was so stunned by the question, she was unable to stop the single tear drop that trickled down her cheek. She rubbed at her eyes, glad the others had left them alone to talk. It would have been embarrassing to have cried in front of all of the men at the council.

"Yes," she said. "I love him."

Idalia tensed when Dunn pulled her to him and wrapped her in his embrace. But she quickly relaxed in his arms and allowed herself to let go of the tension and fear she had been carrying with her all morning.

"We will get him back. Nothing will happen tae Bran."

But Idalia could no longer control her tears, and she let them fall freely down her face.

"Thank you," she cried as he comforted her in a brotherly embrace. Idalia had always liked Dunn, but in that moment, she appreciated even further the fact that her sister had ended up with him.

She pulled away from him and dried her eyes. She had allowed herself to let go of all the pain and fear, and now it was time to be strong. Now it was time to make sure they got her man back, because that was who he was. He was hers, and August Raymond would pay for taking him away from her.

Dunn tapped her on the shoulder and walked away to go and speak with the armed men, to brief them on the plan.

As Idalia waited for them to get ready to leave, she saw Andrew come out of the meeting room. She had known he was at the council meeting. But when she had not seen him she had assumed he had stayed back or left while she was distracted.

With everything that had happened, Idalia had not had time to think much about them, but seeing him now, she knew she had to speak to him.

"Andrew." He turned around to face her, and Idalia took in a deep breath before she spoke. He had been nothing but nice to her, and she felt terrible that she had chosen to humiliate him this way, on the day of their wedding.

"I am so sorry, Andrew. I know that—" Andrew held up his hands before she could continue, and Idalia grimaced as she awaited his scalding response.

"Ye have nae reason tae be sorry, Idalia." He patted her shoulder and smiled his gentle smile at her. "This has always been the plan, has it nae? Ye were always meant tae be my sister rather than my wife, and I am glad ye will get whom ye have always wanted. I kenned from the beginning that ye loved my brother and only him, so it would make nae sense for me tae be angry, dae ye nae think?" he asked her.

Idalia nodded, glad she had someone like him on her side.

"Thank you, Andrew. You have been so wonderful to me in all of this, and I am honoured to know you."

"I will make sure to protect ye while we are at the battlefield so that nothing happens to ye," he smiled at her. "However, I need ye tae promise me one thing. I need ye tae promise tae stay close tae me at all times."

Idalia nodded her head, her eyes brimming once more with unshed tears as she listened to his words. He might not have been the one for her, but he really was a good man, a perfect man even.

"I promise," she said finally.

"Good. Ye should go prepare for the road as the soldiers are." Andrew smiled at her one more time before hurrying off to join the soldiers and listen to the briefings Dunn was giving to them.

Idalia stayed where she was and watched him for a moment before turning on her heels and going to do as he bid. Her sisters and Adamina still remained in her rooms, waiting patiently for her and more news. She sighed as she closed the door behind her and rested on it for a moment, trying to sort out her thoughts.

"You do know that this is extremely reckless?" her sisters asked her after she had filled them in on everything. Idalia nodded.

"I know, but I have to do this. I am going to save the man I love."

"Well, it is good that you have finally admitted he is the man that you love," Katarina said to her and smiled, and Idalia nodded once again.

"Yes, I have."

"Good. Now go and show August Raymond what a gypsy lass can do." They wrapped themselves around her in a group embrace, and Idalia closed her eyes as she drew strength from their warmth and love.

She knew well that if she did not come back home with Bran, she would not be returning at all.