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one for herself. Now, it was either save her brother or follow her mother’s path to heartbreak.
    Despair filled her as she watched Godrod bring the boat to shore.
    “How do you fare, lady?” Godrod asked as he jumped over the side into the shallow waters and held the boat steady for her. “I have not seen such a look on your face since the day your brother was taken.”
    Katla pushed her hair away from her face and climbed into the boat that would take her to her unwanted fate. “I fear I have failed, Godrod, and my brother will pay with his life.”
    The old man smiled sadly as he helped her over the side of the small curragh. “You cannot be responsible for others, lady. Your father asked too much of you.”
    Tears threatened then; her throat grew tight and painful as she felt them run down her cheeks. Turning away so he and the others could not see the extent of her weakness, she watched in silence as Godrod pushed the boat free of the sand and climbed over the side to take the empty pair of oars.
    Godrod and the others did not speak as they rowed away from shore and then raised the sail. It would take most of the day to sail across the straights to Orkney and then to reach Birsay on the northwestern coast of the main isle, where Harald lived on the earl’s estate. Soon, though, the men began to talk among themselves, accepting that Katla wanted none of it. Only when their talk turned to the Truthsayer was she interested.
    “Has he returned to Birsay, Godrod?” she asked.
    “Aye, lady. The earl sent word of a dispute that needed settling and called the Truthsayer to Birsay for the full moon.”
    How stupid she’d been! To forget about the timing of his power and the link to the full moon of the month. Katla had always been known as a logical and organized woman, skilled at keeping her father’s household running efficiently; yet in this moment, she felt like a lackwit.
    “Godrod,” she said, feeling a measure of hope once more. “Do not sail to Birsay. Land on the coast a few miles away and I’ll make my way there on foot.”
    “But, lady,” Godrod began. “Harald is expecting you back.”
    “He gave me a month, Godrod, and it is not over yet. I cannot forsake my brother until I have exhausted all possibilities.”
    She watched as Godrod debated obeying her command, clearly not at peace with this change to her plans. But he’d sworn to her father to be her protector, and she depended on that oath to assure his agreement.
    If Gavin the Truthsayer was going to proclaim a truth, she wanted to be there to see it. She needed to watch and discover how his power, his gift, worked. Finally, Katla released her held-in breath as Godrod nodded.
    She smiled then, nodding back, and then she turned her thoughts to how she might best observe the Truthsayer without being identified. He would be taken to the earl’s home and feted until the ceremony. The moon would reach its fullness in three days, so he would stay there in seclusion, she’d been told, until he was taken to the hall for the truth speaking.
    If she could find a way to see him before he was taken to the ceremony…. If she could find a way to ask his help…. If she could make him believe she had something to offer in exchange for his help, then mayhap she could save Kali’s life and her own future as well. For if Kali was proven innocent and inherited all that was their father’s, then he would be a wealthy and powerful chieftain among the earl’s men and she would once again be a prize to be bestowed upon an ally or friend.
    In saving Kali she would save herself, too.
    By the time they reached the shore some miles south of Birsay, Katla had the beginnings of a plan to get into the earl’s home and see Gavin. This time she would speak plainly to him and surely he would see fit to help her.
    Surely he would.

Chapter Three
    N ot even the sun glinting off the dark turquoise waters eased his spirits or the pain in his head. But it was beautiful out