“Aye.”
“Are you not worried I will try to use your gift as Donal did?”
She shook her head, laughter bubbling up within her. Joy spilled out, and she kissed him lightly on each cheek. “You could not do such a thing, Symon. You are too soft-hearted, and you love me too much.”
“But what of others? Are you not worried that so many know of your gift now?”
“I know I am safe with you. I know our clans together will insure this gift is used as it was meant to be, to help those in need, not to advance any one person, or cause pain in any other.”
“Then you are sure.”
“Never have I been so sure of anything before, my love.”
There, before warriors of their combined clans, Elena and Symon exchanged their vows of love and commitment in the auld way, in the place of the ancients.
“And that other lie?” Symon asked quietly.
“What?”
“The bairn?”
“Oh, well, we’ll know soon enough. If ’twas a lie, we’ll just have to try a bit harder to make it the truth.”
Symon chuckled as he scooped his bride into his arms and strode out of the circle that had been the start of so many ills in his life, and so many blessings.