Authors: Jamie McHenry
“I don’t know.” Mother released my hands and stood. “You won’t know until your father returns from council.” She reached out her hand. “Why don’t you come downstairs and eat something.”
“I’m not hungry,” I said, shuddering again from the weather attacking my room from the window.
“You need to eat.”
I rolled to the floor and crawled to the closet. I grabbed my work dress. “I’ll come down in a moment.”
Mother took the dress from my hand. “Don’t worry about your chores. Leila and Ethan can manage. Take a long ride and clear your mind. It will do you, and us, some good.”
After a warm morning meal, that I hardly touched, I wandered to the stable. Leila and Ethan ignored me while they worked. Soon, I was free of their stares and riding alone on the back of Maeia. As we galloped in the direction she wished, I held her reins loose in my hands and leaned back, allowing the cold air to graze my face. The chill was a shock that broke me from my doldrums. It offered me a chance to feel again. When Maeia stopped running near a tiny grove of trees at the center of the field, my thoughts returned to Sean.
I slumped in the saddle and then let myself fall to the yellow, matted grass. There I sat, with my face in my hands, and allowed the tragedy to control my emotions. Maeia tried to console me by nudging me with her nose, which I rubbed affectionately, but her efforts were wasted; I was too far lost in my own misery to smile. I rolled to my stomach and tried to dream my fears away.
When I awoke, my face felt flat against the cold ground and my eyes were dry of any tears. I lifted my head and looked around. It was midday and I was alone. Even Maeia had left my side. She had wandered to the edge of the grove and was digging in the brush for greens. My head was heavy, but I felt better; I couldn’t remember having cried that much before. I shuddered as another breath of sorrow escaped me.
I massaged the diamond on my necklace and gripped it tight, accepting its offering. Then I thought again of Sean. I raised my face and stared at the sun, hoping that we shared the same rays. “Maeia, come here,” I told her, waving my arm.
Reluctantly, she wandered back to me. I dug in the grass, found a soft root, and offered it to her before riding back to the stable.
~ O ~
Father was home. He and mother were arguing near the fireplace when I walked through the back door. I knew it was about me, and had never liked hearing them yell, so I whisked past them, hoping to avoid trapping myself in their conversation. It didn’t work.
“Rhiannon,” said Father. “His voice was firm, but sad.
I stopped at the foot of the stairs and turned. “Yes, Father?” I knew better than to stand there. I returned to the dining room. “What is it?”
Mother offered me a kiss on the cheek before retreating into the kitchen.
Father removed a pipe from his pocket and twisted it in his hands. “The Elders met this morning.”
“I know.” I tried to sound braver than I felt. “What did you discover?”
“Sit down.”
I hesitated, suddenly fearing his answer, but chose a seat on the bench. My hands trembled.
“We met with the Elders of Morgan. They say they know nothing about the attack.”
I held my hands tight and shifted on my seat. “Has anyone else come forth with information?” I asked.
Father shook his head.
My lips quivered. “What did the Elders of Morgan say?”
“Nothing.” Father replaced the pipe in his pocket. “They don’t know where Sean was taken. They don’t know who attacked his family.”
“But Cael said it was Morgan,” I said, wiping my eyes defiantly. “He was there. That’s who attacked them. He saw their markings.”
Father pulled back his chair, sat in it, and then leaned forward toward me. “I understand that,” told me. “But Morgan denies involvement.”
“Their Elders are wrong,” I said. “Maybe it wasn’t at their orders. Maybe it was someone who wanted to cause trouble, or maybe—” I paused. “Maybe their Elders don’t want us to know they took him.”
“Rhiannon, stop!” Father glared at me. “We don’t know that.”
I wiped my face. “What are you going to do?”
“We’re organizing a search,” he said. “Some of the younger men will travel over the mountain. It’s possible that Sean may have run into trouble while on his quest for Maeia.”
I nodded, partially accepting his answer. “Will anyone look across the lake?” I asked.
Father shook his head. “No. We risk war if we seek him there.”
“Oh.” My mouth was dry.
Mother returned and placed both hands on my shoulders. “They’ll find him, dear,” she said. “Trust the—”
Someone pounded on the door. Father rubbed his beard and stood, but Ethan’s voice from upstairs stopped him.
“I’ll get the door,” Ethan yelled, thundering down the steps.
I held my breath while the door heaved open.
“Rhiannon!” Ethan yelled. “There’s a messenger to greet you.”
I leapt from the bench.
“Let the lad in,” yelled Father. “Don’t make him wait outside.”
My heart pounded its anticipation while I waited for the messenger. The air seemed to lift. Even the smoke felt thinner. The front door banged closed. Ethan wandered into the dining room, followed by Gavin Tully.
“Hello,” I said, eagerly. “Who sent a message?”
Mother inhaled, as if she wanted to speak, and then walked to the kitchen. Ethan scampered under the table and chose a seat on the bench in front of the window.
Gavin smiled. “Owen Dorsey requests that you visit his home today. Cael Bauer needs your help.”
I moaned, ineffectively hiding my disappointment. “Okay, thank you.” My head felt heavy again. “Is that the whole message?”
“Yes,” said Gavin.
Mother handed him a goblet. “Here, young man. Have some cider.” She wiped her eyes as she returned to the kitchen.
“Thank you,” said Gavin, taking a large sip.
“What does Cael need?” Father patted the boy on the shoulders.
Gavin shrugged.
“He probably realized that I was right about his cuts.” I squeezed my hands together, wrenching my frustration. “I’ll prepare my things.”
I sighed and wandered into the kitchen. I opened the small cupboard near the window. Mother helped me remove several small flasks while Gavin, Ethan, and Father chatted in the dining room.
“You should make some liquid night,” she said, placing a jar carefully on the counter. “I’ll wager he could use the energy.”
“It needs most of the day to simmer,” I told her. I found the flask of whittle leaves I was looking for and set it aside. “I’ll make him some winter tea. That will do fine.”
We replaced the other flasks in the cupboard as Leila came downstairs. Her hair was dripping onto her shoulders and the back of her dress.
“Are you going somewhere?” she asked. She noticed the messenger. “Hello, Gavin.” She turned back to me, surprised. “Were you summoned?”
Mother walked Leila into the dining room. “Rhiannon is leaving to care for Sean’s brother. You may help me prepare the evening meal.”
Leila grunted a protest, but a loud warning from Father ended her argument. I wrapped the two flasks in soft linen and tucked them into one of the small satchels hanging on the kitchen wall. After Gavin offered his goodbyes and thanks for the cider, Ethan led him to the front door.
“I’ll walk with you to the Dorsey home if you want,” said Father, searching the cupboards.
I retrieved his goblet from above the plates. “I’ll be okay,” I said, handing him his cup. “I’ll ride Maeia across the meadow.
Father nodded. “That’s a good idea. No trouble can find you that way.”
~ O ~
Maeia stood in the same spot near the stable where I had left her. I dressed her again and soon we were speeding across the open field. This time, I ducked behind her neck as she ran—shadows from drifting clouds made the air cooler than earlier.
When we arrived at the eastern edge of the field, I leapt from Maeia, offered a brief thanks, and climbed under the fence. “Wait for me, girl.” I said to her, before ducking under the low branch covering Nia’s hidden trail; from there, it would be a quick walk through the forest to her home. I hustled through the brush and swept past the iron gates guarding Nia’s home.
“Our message found you.” Nia smiled as she opened the door. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” I said, offering a smile to indicate my truth. “Where’s Owen?”
“He’s at the dock, working with the men,” she said, closing the large door behind me. “Cael is in here.”
Down the hall, I could see Sean’s brother pacing near the fireplace. His eyes lit up when he saw me. I smiled back. It was good to see him feeling better.
“So, you’ve decided to let me fix you correctly,” I said as I walked into the large living room. “I hope you’re ready for more pain.”
“Oh, no,” he said, waving his hand and shielding himself behind one of the couches. “You’re not touching me with that stuff again.”
I stopped smiling. “The message said that you needed my attention.” I removed the satchel from over my shoulder. “I’ve brought my things.”
Cael slid around the couch and flopped onto it.
“It’s obvious, you’re feeling better,” I told him. “Let me see your ear. It looks swollen.”
“Come and sit,” he told me, motioning to the empty space on the cushion next to him. “I need your help with something.” He touched his ear and tried to hide his wince by turning. “I’ll be fine.”
Nia shrugged as I questioned her with my eyes. She followed me toward Cael. He was too friendly, too buoyant. I watched him cautiously and chose a seat on the plush chair next to the couch. Nia stood next to me.
“It’s okay,” he said, “I’m feeling better—thanks to you.”
“Did he have any of your father’s wine?” I whispered to Nia.
She shook her head.
“No, I’m not drunk,” said Cael.
I looked down, embarrassed that he had heard me. “I’m happy to see that you’re feeling better,” I said. “Has Owen given you updates about Sean?”
Cael’s face tightened. “Yes, he told me about the council.”
I looked at Cael, wanting to ask what he thought, but feared his answer. As I took a deep breath of courage, he spoke again.
“You think it’s a bad idea,” he said. “You don’t believe the Elders are doing enough to find Sean.”
“I didn’t say that,” I retorted, annoyed at his accuracy.
Cael leaned forward. “You wanted to say that. I could tell by your eyes. Hey,” he said, “it’s okay to doubt them. You’re not perfect.”
This wasn’t the conversation I had wanted.
“Cael, why did you ask my father to send a messenger?” asked Nia, sternly. “What do you need?”
“Some friends have told me things,” he said. “I have more information.”
Nia and I glanced at each other in surprise.
“What is it?” I asked. “What did they tell you?”
“They made me swear to secrecy,” he said. “I took an oath not to share it with anyone.”
The tiny spark of hope that he had just created disappeared. The promising word of a man in Aisling was his entire worth; if he broke it, he was nothing. I lowered my head to the palm of my hand and groaned.
“I know this is important to you, Rhiannon. You want to find Sean as much as I do.” Cael leaned forward again and whispered. “That’s why I want to tell you.”
“You can’t break an oath,” said Nia. “If you’ve given your word, you must keep it.”
Cael nodded. “I know. But my brother’s life is at risk, and his future bride is in pain.” He pointed at his ear. “I’m willing to do what it takes to avenge this.” Cael pointed at Nia. “If you don’t want to hear it, then you can leave.” He turned to me. “If you wish to know, I’ll tell you.”
Nia looked at me, shaking her head. “No, Rhiannon.”
“I’ll need your help,” Cael said. “That’s why I asked you to come.”
I took a deep breath. “But if you’ve promised not to say, why do you risk telling me?”
Cael paused, interminably, then covered his face with his hands.
“Cael?” I asked. “Are you okay?”
He nodded. “I’ll be fine.” When he looked up, his eyes were red. “I need your help to save Sean,” he said. “I understand that you’re trying to protect me, but this is more important than honor.”
“Honor is everything,” I said, shifting in the chair. “I won’t ask you to break an oath.”
“Then don’t ask.” He leaned forward. “But if something happens to us—myself and Sean, I need you to know what happened.”
Questions swirled dizzily in my mind. I looked down and closed my eyes to fight back another wave of tears. Cael was right; I needed to know what he had to say.
“Rhiannon, don’t,” whispered Nia. She rested her hand on my shoulder. Nia must have known I was wavering.
I shuddered. I needed his answer. “What do you know?” I asked, lifting my head. “Will it help Sean?”