The dèanamh-chàraid
Chapter 2 - Part 3 Law & Order
Previously, Balgair met with the Iron Guard, Parcival, and Gaurd Lieutenant Harper. They briefed him on the massacres and where the bandits were headed. While Balgair was being briefed, Heather and Delilah were left to their own devices.
Delilah and Heather shared a look as they waited for Darvin to apply the brakes and drop the steps for them.
By the time they arrived in the office, the new Sheriff had grabbed Tackett and pulled him into his office for a strategy session.
“If you need me, I’ll be around,” Heather whispered to Delilah as she looked around for the archer or the ranger.
Delilah nodded, hearing Balgair call her name out.
Once free of Delilah, Heather quickly went from office to office, searching for Ben and Methak. When she found them in a smaller office with Farank and Arien, she hissed to catch their attention and beckoned for them to enter the hallway. The men traded a glance, then excused themselves from the conversation so they could follow the blonde outside.
“Heather,” Ben greeted her. What can we do for you?” He examined her closely, noting her relaxed posture.
“Hey, beautiful,” Methak said, joining the ranger in the hallway. “What’s up?” He took a few minutes to watch her. She seemed much more relaxed and happier, and he could tell that being with Balgair suited her.
For a moment, Heather blushed at the old nickname, “Good morrow, gentlemen,” she whispered, trying to still the flush she felt on her face, and tried to remember if she ever thanked them for helping save her from the witch. She covered her cheeks with her hands, wondering why she was turning red. Both men had always been more like big brothers to her. She took several deep breaths as she tried to calm her racing blood. When she felt she had control, she slowly raised her head and looked at the two before caressing their cheeks. “Umm,” she prevaricated, “If I haven’t done so already, thank you both for helping Balgair rescue me.” She couldn’t believe that she was having so much trouble talking to her oldest friends.
“Breathe,” Ben suggested as the blonde umhail began to hyperventilate.
Acting faster than the ranger, Methak grabbed her shoulders and held her steady. “You’ve already thanked us, beautiful.” One hand moved to rest on her forehead. “Are you okay? You look faint.”
Heather looked into the archer’s eyes when she finally remembered to breathe. “Why is this so hard? I’ve known you two forever.” She exhaled, disgusted by her inability to talk to the men who had once been her closest friends.
“It must be something important,” Ben said, taking her hand. “You’ve never had this much trouble telling us anything, including when we were both trying to woo the same woman.”
Heather laughed softly, “You two kept trying to outdo each other. I’m sorry it didn’t work out. She was a good woman.” The fact that her murderer still walked free irked Heather. Balgair would have to take care of it if Yarsmith returned to town.
“We’re not,” Methak replied. “She understood why we had to stop, and she turned out to be a better friend than we ever thought we’d have.”
Ben nodded, “Yeah, and both of us bonding with her would have never worked.” He smiled as he fondly recalled the stunning brunette that had balanced out their little group. At that moment, he swore that if he ever saw Yarsmith again, he’d gut the assassin. He was torn from his reverie when Heather sighed in exasperation. “What is it?”
“If I were to …” She froze again, panicking at how hard it was to discuss what she had in mind. “Damn, I had this grand idea of trying to set the two of you up to meet women.” She softly admitted, looking up at her friends.
“Oh?” Methak couldn’t believe his ears. “Who were you going to introduce us to?”
Heather fought the urge to slink away. “Delilah and Aelwyn,” she whimpered, closing her eyes and cringing.
“Delilah?” Ben lifted a brow as he placed the name. “Balgair’s scribe? That Delilah?”
When Heather nodded mutely, Methak placed the other name. “Aelwyn. Oh, I know who you’re talking about. You’re talking about Dafyd’s second bond, right?”
“Yes, sir,” Heather hesitantly replied, still half-expecting one of them to be mad.
“Heather,” Methak fondly tapped her forehead, “stop cringing. We aren’t going to hit you.” When she slowly relaxed, he gazed down at her. “Why are you trying to set us up with those two?”
Heather brushed a lock of blonde hair behind her ear and linked her index fingers. “Oh, you know, she sent me.”
“She?” Ben asked, seeing the links. “What have you become, Our Lady’s ban-sagairt?”
“Good Goddess, no!” Heather exclaimed. “If I can’t talk to the two of you about women, do you think I’d do any better standing at a podium and lecturing about Our Lady of Chains?” She cursed silently as she blushed again. “I’m her dèanamh-chàraid.”
Ben chuckled at her title. “How will you match people when you can’t even talk to us without blushing?” When she stamped her foot in mock anger, the two men exchanged glances and then looked at her. “Can you show us what this Aelwyn looks like?” Ben inquired. “I know the name but can’t place the face.”
Looking at the mirror behind the Ranger, Heather nodded and walked over. “Seall dhomh Aelwyn, an ceangal a bh’ aig an Sheriff roimhe.”
Both men watched as the mirror fogged, then cleared to show the raven-haired bondswoman looking back at them. For a moment, they wondered if she could see them. When she appeared to be watching herself in a mirror, they watched her brush her long black tresses, occasionally reaching up to brush unfallen tears from her eyes. “Dafyd, I miss you so much.” She blinked her brown eyes before continuing, “He’s promised he’d take care of us, but I’d feel so guilty if he did. He’s got his own bhanna to take care of.” She pursed her lips and sighed again, turning her head to show her profile.
The two men watched her until her face faded from the mirror, and then they shared an unspoken conversation. “Is this the will of our lady of chains?”
“It is,” Heather admitted. " She wants them happy, as she wants Balgair to be happy.”
“It has been so long since I’ve thought about another woman,” the ranger admitted.
“I know,” Methak agreed. “Lena wouldn’t want us to be alone forever. You know she’d be the first to tell us to give it a shot.”
“I know,” Ben admitted, running his fingers through his hair. “Which one do you think she’d push you into?”
The Archer thought it over. “You know her. She’d find some way to make me talk to the raven-haired one.”
“Her name is Aelwyn,” Heather offered. She’s a good person, and I think you’d like her.”
“If you talk to this Aelwyn, then I suppose I’ll talk to Delilah and see how it goes,” Ben commented after thinking it over. “How do you go about it? Do we need to talk to Balgair first?”
“Noooo,” Heather voiced. “You can talk to Delilah here, at work,” she looked at Ben. “And I’ll find some way to get Aelwyn into town tomorrow so you can run into her.”
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