I did not know why she was crying as I walked away, and neither did I care, but I left her on the turnpike stairs as I ran to sharpen my swords and ensure I had a spare lance strapped to the back of my horse. I turned back as I reached the foot of the stairs.
“Seonaid!” I shouted and she took a hopeful step toward me.
“Fergus?”
“Do not call me that name again. I am Ill Will now. If you call me Fergus I will withdraw my protection from you and leave you to whatever my comrades decide to do.” That should keep her under control, I thought, as I made my final preparations for the journey. All the same, I was aware of her eyes fixed on my back until I was out of sight, but I shrugged away the thought. Who did she think she was, anyway? She was only the wife of some dead man.
“Alistair is se
