Leader Murchadha whispers something in his wife’s ear. She glances at me and Arland then whispers something back to her husband. He smiles. “We see the connection makes you stronger, but it does not explain why High Leader Maher kept the people in the dark. It also does not excuse you or your mother for parading around here like you had intentions of marrying Perth Dufaigh, and it also does not explain why Leader Dufaigh is imprisoned and looks like a tree.”
A snort makes its way above the crowd. It doesn’t take a genius to realize it belongs to Flanna; she’s probably thrilled with Leader Dufaigh’s current vegetative state, but Leader Murchadha goes on as though he never heard her.
Keeping a firm grip on Arland’s hand, I take a few steps closer to the Leaders, closer to loss of my love, closer to imprisonment, but I want to be close, want them to see I am not afraid. “High Leader Maher kept things from you because he had to. Because he had to keep me and Arland safe from Dufaigh—who has sought to destroy my family for power for years—and safe from the evil possessing this land.”
I should add just as you kept things from your people, but keep that to myself. Murchadha is trying to make this right … I hope.
The Leader of the Sea Dwellers looks to Maher. “Is this true?”
“It is.”
“Go on,” Murchadha says, tipping his head in my direction.
“You have to excuse me and my mother from parading around here as part of the lie, because if you choose not to, you will be forced to die with Darkness looming over you forever. And Leader Dufaigh looks like a tree because I asked the gods to gag him, and that is how they responded. Perth was in the middle of delivering a speech to his father, but I thought it best to have an audience for it. If you wish me to release him and the others, I want word from you and High Leader Maher on a number of things first.”
No one yells for me to be arrested. There are no whispers drifting through the crowd. There is nothing but silence. Most still have their faces pointed toward the sky.
Leader Murchadha considers my words for a moment then raises a brow. “And what is it you wish us to promise you, Mrs. Maher?”
Hearing my new name makes me smile. “I want you to promise me no matter what Dufaigh says, no matter what anyone desires, Arland and I will be free. I want you to promise me our love will be allowed and there will
never
be another arranged marriage in Encardia again.”
He rubs his chin between his thumb and index finger. “Is that all?”
I shake my head. “No, sir. I want Perth to replace his father as Leader of the Ground Dwellers, and I want councils to be elected by the people—”
Murchadha raises a bushy, white eyebrow. “You wish to have us force a resignation and redesign our political infrastructure?” he asks, disbelief flooding his voice.
“Yes, sir. When Perth is allowed to speak, you will see and understand why he must lead his people. And as far as the political structure, too much power rests in the hands of three Leaders. I know there are other Leaders across the world, but you three make the most important of decisions—and look at you. You have yourself buried underground, trying to punish a woman for being in love … a woman who wants to help. Your population is dwindling; your food sources are becoming difficult to procure because there are less and less children to grow produce. Face it; you are barely hanging on. You have two choices: stay here and die, or follow me for a chance to live.”
A look passes over both Murchadha and Maher, telling me I’ve overstepped my boundaries. Maher grabs Murchadha by the elbow and directs him to the side of my circle protected by magic. The two men confer over something while everyone else is left with nothing else to do but stare.
“
I do not know if talking through this will work. I believe my father will have very little influence now the truth is out about him keeping secrets. Murchadha is a friend, but we rely on the Ground Dwellers for our protections. Dufaigh will certainly call for my father’s head when he is freed, and Leader Murchadha’s if he agrees to your demands
.”
The two men return to the center of the circle. Leader Maher steps in front of Arland and me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Do you have any other requests?”
“I need the army we spoke of.”
Inching closer to Arland and me, Leader Maher nods. “You must find a way to convince Dufaigh and his people. Otherwise, if we send our soldiers with you, we will be outnumbered and vulnerable to an attack from within,” he whispers.
“So you are willing to send your soldiers to follow Kate?” Arland asks.
Leader Maher clamps his hands on Arland’s shoulders. “I always have been, son, but she still has quite a bit of convincing to do. Without Dufaigh’s approval, I fear you two will be alone.”
I draw in a ragged breath.
Arland and his father both glance at me.
Alone
. The word unsettles me to my very core, raises the hair on my neck, makes my palms hot.
Alone
. Why does it bother me so much?
Leader Maher gives me a thorough once over then looks back to Arland. “Murchadha has agreed to allow you to be free, but you understand I cannot send soldiers unless—”
“What was her last request, Leader Maher?” Murchadha breaks in.
Arland’s father turns to face Murchadha. “She desires an army.”
He smiles and looks around the crowd, arms raised at his sides. “An army? What does
she
need an army for?
We
already have one.”
Like I haven’t heard
that
one before.
Leader Maher drops his hands from Arland’s shoulders. “I am glad you two had your moment of happiness, and I pray for all our sakes it lasts into eternity.” High Leader turns to face Murchadha.
Arland takes my hand in his.
“She wishes to lead our people on the path of Light and seek out Darkness, Afton. The Seer who foretold of my son and his bhean chéile’s prophecies saw they would accomplish that goal, but only together and only with an army following Katriona.”
All pretense of anger drops from Murchadha’s face, making him appear as a child eager for a treat. “Did the Seer receive the message in the utmost clarity?”
Now they are playing the angry crowd.
“Afton, you know as well as I do things can change at any time. If someone decides to stray from the path of Light, or—there could be any number of things which make them fail. But one thing I do know, we will all rot if we continue to sit here pretending like nothing is going on.”
Leader Maher paces closer to Murchadha. “Look up.
Everyone
, look up. When was the last time you saw the night sky? Katriona already brings light to Encardia, and look what it took … their Binding. Do you deny the power between them?”
Murchadha shakes his head as he looks from me to Arland.
Walking before the onlookers, Leader Maher continues, “Will anyone else here deny the magic between them? See for yourself the glow”—he points at us—”Has anyone ever seen a Binding so strong? The bands have not faded, yet they are Bound.”
Lorne and Maura step forward, joining Leader Maher and Murchadha.
“Dufaigh will not allow any Ground Dweller to fight for
her
—she has deceived us. Nor will I allow my sons to fight,” Lorne says, jaw clenched. He flashes narrowed eyes in my direction.
“The girl imprisoned our Leader and has still not allowed him to speak for himself. I do not trust her. Our people will not fight for her. We would rather rot happily than die in a bloody war, serving a disgraced woman.” Maura’s words are lathered with animosity.
She’s never truly shown me kindness, but to choose death over life. To choose Darkness. What kind of person wants that? Perth was right about the Ground Dweller’s hatred being long ingrained, but I think the problem runs deeper than that. I think the spell they’re under binds hatred to their core.
Murchadha straightens his back. “Katriona, would you mind allowing Leader Dufaigh and the other Ground Dwellers to be free?”
My heart flutters in my chest. “Do we have your word on my requests?”
“You have my word, but I will not send anyone to fight for you who are unwilling. If you want an army, the army will choose you,” Murchadha says.
“I think that’s fair.”
“Now will you release them?” he asks, pointing to the tree which is Dufaigh.
“
No matter what happens, Kate, know that I love you. Know I will never stop fighting for you
.” Arland’s sadness weighs his soul down. Sweat slickens his palm. He’s hiding something from me, something he knows but doesn’t want me to.
Forgetting about everyone gathered around us, I turn to him, leaning against his tall, strong body. “
This feels like goodbye, Arland. What is it? What happens? Why won’t you tell me
?”
He shakes his head. “
Not a goodbye, just caution, Kate. Dufaigh is not as sensible as my father or Murchadha
.”
“
Arland
?”
Standing straight, I take in the twisted expression on his face begging me not to ask anything else. There is no hint of smile in his eyes, no spark of youth I saw under the willow, no Arland.
I remove my gaze from him then set my sights on Dufaigh. This is my fight, this is my problem yet everyone still knows things I don’t. Everyone continues to withhold information from me when they know I’ll do what I must no matter what.
Arland has never been one of them.
He has his reasons—they all do—but it does nothing to ease the hurt.
I focus on the burning in my heart and the confused thoughts in my head, let them build inside me until they boil over, then channel them into my intent gaze on Dufaigh’s face.
He
is my problem. He is
everyone’s
problem.
I know you’re already with us tonight, but we need more. Release the Dufaighs and the guards. Bring peace to Perth for the decision he is making, bring peace upon everyone. Let them see through the anger of the man who would rather have power than life
.
Protect Arland
.
Protect all I love
.
The longest request I’ve ever sent up sits in my chest like a boulder on paper. I’m flattened, hopeless, lost. I’ve gone from being the happiest I’ve ever been to being baffled.
When Dufaigh wanted to take Arland away, I thought I’d deliver my uniting speech Mom told me about then. When it wasn’t, I thought for sure I’d deliver when everyone came out here.
I’ve failed already.
I cannot unite these people.
Murchadha and Maher have promised Arland to me … alone—and as much as being alone with him both thrills and terrifies me, I doubt when Dufaigh is freed he will allow it. No, I fear I have just started another war within the Draíochtans.
Or secured one of my visions.
I
will be sent alone into Darkness.
The Willow, the water, the stars, the guards—why must I always realize what my warnings mean too late?
I don’t want to be without Arland, without love. I want us in the Meadow with the children from my dreams. I want life. I don’t care about this war, don’t care about power … I care about my heart and freedom.
Why should I have to lie about who I love to earn an army to fight Darkness? Why should we hide in underground facilities, parading around in fancy dresses with braided hair, eating food we can barely maintain supplies for? Why should Perth have to live in fear of his father just to prove to his people they should do good?
Perth doesn’t want to marry me; he wants real love, he wants freedom just like I do. Like everyone does. These people need to learn to use old magic and learn to trust in the gods again. They need to fight.
My breaths come at a rapid pace; air refuses to fill my lungs. I’m hyperventilating and can do nothing to stop it.
I’ve lost control.
My legs tremble beneath me as though my body is too heavy for them to hold. The grip I have on Arland’s hand dissolves, and before I know it, I’m on my knees.
My will to get up … shattered.
Black fills my sight; there is no world in front of me. Blood boils in my veins and travels throughout my body, singeing every nerve ending. The magic in me rages.
I am Katriona Maher and I have fire—
these people do not.
They need me yet are unwilling to follow me, unwilling to believe anything I say because of what? Desire for power? For wealth?
The nightmares I had for years, the visions I’ve experienced in Encardia and the visits from the gods play through my mind. I search my memories for clues, for a way to explain to these people they have to fight, and fight for me, but no clues present themselves.
Logh orthu! For they know not their ignorance, Griandor. Forgive them for their desire to punish for love. Forgive them for their weakness, for their unwillingness to fight
.
Forgive them
,
because here they will die
.
Slow breaths in and out through my nose revive my lungs and remove the painful constriction from the lack of air, but do little to calm my shaking body. I’m cocooned in flames, in mind-numbing rage. My temples throb with it. If I don’t regain control, Dufaigh will remain trapped, and I will remain alone.
Stand up, Kate. You can do this
. I ball my fists, nails digging into my palms. Fighting with every muscle, every ounce of magic erupting from my soul, I get up, open my eyes and face the cruel reality of my life.
What I see before me is nothing I could have expected. Dufaigh no longer looks like a tree—the sprites surrounding him have disappeared into the protective blue circle around us—and he stands by Murchadha and Maher. The guard’s arms no longer hold an empty space where Arland stood before I took over. Perth is positioned on my left, wide eyes a deeper green than ever. He’s smiling, mouth closed, but relaxed.
I get the feeling I’ve done something right; his face screams pride, but … .
Turning, I see Arland wears the same expression.
Everyone wears the same expression.
What did I do
? An urge to run, to hide, to just be out of here, creeps into my thoughts and takes over my muscles. I’m on my toes, ready to grab Arland by the hand again and go—