The House Of Gaian (32 page)

Ashk and Aiden slowly rode out of the trees, heading toward the manor house at the other end of the big sweep of lawn. Two of the midland barons rode behind them, having insisted on coming. The rest of her companions, her men, and the combined Fae and human army were waiting in the woods. She still wasn’

t sure if it was because it was reasonable or because Aiden’s gift as the Bard had influenced her decision, but she couldn’t deny his genuine concern that Breanna’s hostility toward the Fae might cause her to shoot first and ask questions later, and it would be easier to persuade her to see them as allies if the Old Place wasn’t suddenly flooded with humans and Fae.

Of course, that was before they’d met up with several pairs of Fae from different Clans patrolling the woods, all of whom informed her quickly, and with wary relief, that men from their Clans had set up camps in meadows and pastures in the Old Place. They told her Varden, the Willowsbrook Clan’s Lord of the Woods, was working with Barons Liam and Donovan as well as Lord Falco and Lady Breanna on a way to meet the enemy while protecting the Old Place and the human village. And they told her, with a hint of fear in their eyes, that the Huntress rode among them.

So she’d held to her decision and rode ahead with the Bard and two barons—not because the witches who lived at Willows-brook might still feel hostile toward the Fae but because she wanted to take the measure of the Huntress before exposing her men.

As she rode toward the manor house, she noticed the small black dog sound asleep under a tree. She noticed the large hawk who watched them from its perch on a pole that supported lines of pegged clothes. She noticed the men around the stables, who put down grooming brushes and picked up pitchforks and crossbows. And she noticed the dark-haired woman who strode out of the house and headed right toward them, followed by a man and woman.

She reined in. Aiden stopped alongside her, and the barons swung their horses to either side to flank them.

Aiden raised his hand. “Blessings of the day, Breanna.”

Breanna’s eyes flicked from Aiden to Ashk, and Ashk saw a question in those woodland eyes that a man would never notice and any woman would understand.

“I am Ashk, the Hunter,” she said. “My husband guested with your family a few weeks ago and asked me to send you his regards.”

“Husband?” Breanna studied Ashk. “You mean Padrick?”

Ashk nodded.

“He was a sensible man,” Breanna said, her voice turning sour. “Even if he is gentry ... and Fae.”

Oh, dear. It didn’t sound like the barons were going to be warmly welcomed, either. And there was still doubt in Breanna’s eyes.

“Lyrra will be pleased to see you,” Aiden said with a smile, proving that he had understood the question in Breanna’s eyes as well. “She’s waiting with some of our companions. We didn’t want to impose on you until...” He trailed off, now looking uncertain.

“Until you were sure I wouldn’t shoot you?” She threw up her hands, a gesture of sheer exasperation. “

Didn’t I promise Falco and Varden I wouldn’t threaten to shoot any Fae just for riding into the Old Place? They said it made the Fae nervous.”

“That’s because they’ve seen you shoot,” the man who had followed her said.

Breanna twisted around to look at him. “I’m a good shot!”

“Exactly.” He looked at the two barons. “Good day, gentlemen.”

“Good day, Baron Donovan,” one of the barons replied. “I’m surprised, but pleased, to see you here.”

“The fight is here,” Donovan said grimly. “And the Master Inquisitor is heading for Willowsbrook, so we win or lose here.”

“We must talk with Baron Liam as soon as possible,” the other baron said.

Donovan rubbed the back of his neck. “Liam is involved in a rather... delicate ... discussion at the moment.”

Breanna snorted. “What Donovan is trying to say is my featherheaded jackass of a brother is having a bang-up argument with the Huntress over something that is none of his business.” She paused, then added, “It isn’t any of Selena’s business, either, but since she’s on my side, she can say what she pleases.”

The other woman snickered.

“Gwenn,” Donovan warned.

The muscles in Ashk’s back tightened painfully. “The Baron of Willowsbrook is having an argument with the Huntress?”

“You’d think he’d have better things to do, wouldn’t you?” Breanna said sourly.

She would have hoped a baron would have more sense. Perhaps he didn’t realize the kind of power the Huntress wielded— in which case, someone should tell him. Fast.

Before she could phrase a request that someone inform the Huntress that the Hunter had arrived, a soft wind blew out of the woods, riffling the grass and dancing past the leaves on the big tree.

Breanna snapped to attention. “Gwenn?”

“Yes,” Gwenn replied softly. “I think so.”

Her patience worn thin, Ashk dismounted, prepared to insist that they discuss where the army waiting for orders could make camp.

Then she saw the black-haired woman race around the side of the manor house and come to an abrupt stop, her attention focused on the woods. Joy lit her face, and her resemblance to Rhyann was strong enough for Ashk to guess her identity. When her attention shifted to the newcomers and the joy faded, there was no doubt in Ashk’s mind that this was the woman who had shaken the Fae enough to come down from Tir Alainn. There was no doubt that the woman now walking toward them was Selena,
the
Lady of the Moon ... and the Huntress.

Ashk walked forward to meet her, aware of the tension starting to fill the people behind her. They stopped at the same time, close enough that one leap in their other forms would have them at each other’

s throats.

“I am Ashk, the Hunter,” Ashk said.

Selena studied Ashk, her eyes searching for something. “Shadow hound.”

“Yes.”

They studied each other, searching, measuring—and finally smiling in approval of what each saw in the other.

“Are you being bossy again?” a voice asked.

Ashk clenched her teeth. It had been too much to hope that Rhyann would follow orders—and seeing the temper flash in Selena’s eyes made her wish she could change into her other form and give Rhyann a sharp nip.

“Some people wouldn’t have to be bossy if other people did what they were told,” Selena snapped.

Here, here
, Ashk thought, turning enough to see Rhyann walking toward them, followed by Breanna and the others.

“And some people just like being bossy,” Rhyann replied with a sweetness designed to spike another woman’s temper. “I kept my promise to Father. I came to this side of the hills with an entire army as an escort. Who came with you?”

Selena made an indescribable sound.

“There’s an army?” Breanna asked.

“Yes,” Rhyann replied. “Fae, human, and Sons and Daughters of the House of Gaian.” She gave Selena an annoyingly sweet smile. “Why don‘t you and the Hunter go discuss whatever you need to discuss, and I’ll help—” She looked inquiringly at Breanna.

“Breanna,” Breanna said.

“I’ll help Breanna sort things out here.”

Mother’s mercy
, Ashk thought, wondering how much longer it would be before Selena simply exploded.

But the Huntress gave Ashk a look that could sear flesh and snarled, “I’ll saddle my horse and meet you at the arch near the stables.”

Watching Selena stride toward the stables and the arch, Ashk grabbed Aiden’s arm, pulled him aside, and said in a low voice, “Use your gift, Bard, and smooth things over as best you can here.”

Aiden gave her a weak smile. “I’ll ask Lyrra to join us. She and Breanna deal well together.”

“Do what you think best.” She saw a dark-haired man come round the corner of the house, check his stride when he noticed the new arrivals, and continue toward them slowly.

“Do you have any advice about dealing with featherheaded older brothers?” Ashk heard Breanna ask.

“Of course,” Rhyann replied cheerfully. “I’m very good at being a younger sister. I’ve been practicing all my life.”

Aiden grabbed Ashk’s arm, his blue eyes filled with alarm. Ashk just patted his hand and pulled away. “

Do what you can, Bard.”

As she hurried back to her horse, she knew with absolute certainty that, no matter what mood the Huntress was in, by leaving Aiden to deal with annoyed barons and younger sisters, she was getting the better side of the bargain.

Aiden wondered how he was supposed to smooth things over and get a message to Lyrra that he needed her. Then he remembered file letter in his saddlebags—and the hawk.

Hurrying back to Minstrel, he made a “come here” gesture to the hawk. His stride faltered when he saw the hawk flutter to the ground and change into a man.

What had Falco been up to here that he felt comfortable enough to change form where outsiders could see him?

“Merry meet, Aiden,” Falco said, smiling but a bit wary, as if he anticipated criticism from someone he considered a friend.

“Merry meet, Falco,” Aiden replied. “I see you’ve become acquainted with the ladies here.”

Falco stiffened. “You’re not the only one who has a heart, Aiden. Breanna’s brother has no reason—yet

—to believe in a Fae Lord’s ability to be loyal to a lover, but I thought you would understand since you and Lyrra—” He stopped. Looked away. “But it is different because you’re both Fae.”

Falco and Breanna? Aiden wisely hid the grin of delight that might be mistaken for mockery. “I take it her brother disapproves?”

“I can’t blame him,” Falco said quietly. “Not after—” He closed his eyes for a moment before looking at Aiden. “Do you know where the Black Coats got their Inquisitor’s Gift of persuasion? Do you know where they got the power to draw magic from the land and twist it to create those nighthunter creatures?”

A chill went through Aiden as he shook his head.

“From us. They’re children we abandoned in the human world because they weren’t pure Fae. We enjoyed the women, both human and witches, and ignored the children we sired.”

“You don’t know that,” Aiden protested.

“Yes, I do. Varden’s men caught a Black Coat when Baron Liam’s home was attacked a few days ago.

We’ve kept it among ourselves—so far—but we
know
, Aiden.”

Staggered, Aiden rubbed his hands over his face. “The Inquisitors came from Wolfram.”

“Which only means it wasn’t the Sylvalan Clans who had ignored
those
men when they were young.

What about the children here? There are some. You know there are. Mother’s mercy, Aiden, the
Huntress
is one of them. So I don’t blame Liam for being reluctant to accept that I’m staying.”

Aiden stumbled as he reached Minstrel. Leaning against the horse, he noticed how his hands shook while he tried to open the saddlebag. “We’ll talk more about it later, Falco. Right now, I need you to go into the woods and fetch Lyrra.”

He waited until Falco changed form again and flew off toward the trees before he pulled the letter out of the saddlebag. After he closed the saddlebag’s flap, he leaned over and rested his forehead against the leather.

As soon as she got back from her ride with Selena, he would have to tell Ashk what he’d learned about the Inquisitors. She needed to know about every weapon the enemy could bring to the fight—including their ability to control people through persuasion. But, right now, he had to do his best to smooth things over between men and women, brothers and sisters, gentries’ sensibilities and witches’ feelings. And he was gambling that the piece of wax-sealed paper would help him do that.

As he walked back to the others, he noticed they’d split into two groups. Breanna and Gwenn were talking with Rhyann while the barons stood a few feet away, probably making plans for the army. He also noticed that the dark-haired man he assumed was the Baron of Willowsbrook—and Breanna’s brother

—kept glancing her way, as if to keep an eye on her.

“Breanna?” Aiden held out the folded paper. “This is for you.”

Looking puzzled, Breanna studied the blob of sealing wax, then looked at him. “What is it? A song?”

“I don’t think so. We met up with a messenger heading east. Since I was coming to Willowsbrook anyway, he entrusted me to deliver this to you in exchange for taking messages back to the west.”

Still puzzled, she turned the paper over—and stared at the writing.

“Mother’s mercy.” She broke the wax seal, opened the paper, and started to read. Her eyes filled with tears. Then she laughed. “Jenny. It’s from my cousin Jenny. She and Mihail have found safe harbor somewhere in the west. And Tremaine’s sons are with them. They got out. They escaped.”

As Gwenn slid a comforting arm around Breanna, Aiden saw her brother break away from the other men.

“Breanna?” he enquired, his voice sharp with concern, his eyes fixed on Aiden with suspicion.

Laughing and crying, Breanna shook her head. “They found safe harbor. I have to tell Fiona and Gran.