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kill the new life within her the way she had all the others before – with the exception of Kerrin.
    But the new Bridgit was trying to fight back, saying that things would be different this time. During the day, when she was surrounded by children’s laughter, the new Bridgit was able to win. But at times like this, in the dark and still, the old Bridgit was unstoppable.
    She could see it all happening in her mind’s eye. She would lose the baby, lose her life and never get to see Kerrin again. Worse, the children she was protecting would also be lost.
    She tried to fight back, tried to tell herself that she could still rescue them and get back home, to where Sister Rosaleen could save the pregnancy, but she didn’t believe herself. She wrapped her arms around her middle and prayed to Aroaril to keep the baby safe this time.
    It had not worked before and she doubted it would work this time.
    She wrapped herself in a sheet and murmured Kerrin’s and Fallon’s names. That was the one hope she clung to at times like this. That Fallon would come and rescue her.
    “Where are you?” she whispered into the darkness.

CHAPTER 5
    Fallon woke up slowly, his left arm and shoulder aching from where Kerrin was resting on him. Both his son and his dog were still sleeping so he rolled out of bed and massaged some feeling back into his arm. His head felt thick after just a couple of glasses of wine and he ruefully remembered why he did not drink much. He splashed a little water on his face but could not look in the bronze mirror. He was scared what he might see in the eyes looking back at him.
    The knowledge of yesterday sat in his stomach like the heavy weights the fishermen used on their lines. It only started to lift when he remembered the decision he’d had made the previous night.
    The more he thought about it, the more he was sure it was not a dream but a message from Aroaril. It had seemed so vivid and was so clear in his memory. His own death was the only thing that could wipe out the crime of murdering Prince Cavan.
    “Hey, Dad, is there anything to eat?”
    He forced his dark thoughts away and turned, contorting his face into something close to a smile. “Why don’t we go and see?” he suggested.
    He doubted there would be anything – there was no more Prince Cavan to give the orders. But they discovered everyone else enjoying fresh bread, cheese, cold meat and fruit.
    “It arrived with a note from that chamberlain Regan. As far as the kitchens are concerned, Prince Cavan is still here, so they are sending everything up as usual,” Devlin explained.
    Kerrin filled his plate high, tossing chunks of meat to Caley, but Fallon just took a hunk of bread and a cup of water. He had to talk to Padraig and explain things to him. He was tempted to tell to his friends his plan but they might try and talk him out of it. That must not happen.
    Kerrin reached out and grabbed his arm. “Dad, I have told Caley she has to stay with you now,” he said softly. “You need her.”
    He shook his head but the dog stood by his side, even when Kerrin rushed off to find Padraig. He looked down at her as she stared up at him, her tail swishing from side to side. “You wouldn’t look like that if you knew what I had done,” he told her.
    “Fallon!” Gallagher said sharply.
    He looked up from Caley, trying to make his face look normal.
    “Regan is here.”
    Fallon was on his feet before he knew it and hurrying down to the main door into their rooms, Caley at his heels. It was open, Regan standing at the threshold, being watched by Devlin and Brendan. As Fallon had suspected, there was now a locking bar on the outside, although the guards were far away down the corridor.
    Fallon clenched his fists at that. They were so sure he was beaten that the chamberlain had walked into the heart of their company without so much as a dagger. Then he opened his hands. That was good. Just let him get near Swane and Aidan and he would show them how