“Lupine. They bloom but once a year. Our timing is perfect.”
She nodded, listening to the birds. One in particular caught her ear. It would sing the same song four times then switch to a different tune. “What is that?” Ally asked after at least five different calls.
“That is an Ardana. There is one in that spruce.”
She looked at the small bird and, when it finished its chirping, it changed from blue to purple and began to sing again.
At her shocked expression, Liam explained, “He changes color each time he finishes a pattern. He knows seven songs, one for each color of the flowers you see.”
“You’re kidding.”
“This is the meadow of Patalena, and it is full of magic. If you follow a butterfly, it will lead you here. Once the lupine is passed, the daisies are in bloom, followed by the sunflowers. We need to cross this to get where we are going.”
“This isn’t what you wanted to show me?”
“I thought you wanted to wash your clothes. There is no place to do that here.”
“I did—I do. I forgot. We have to cross through this? I don’t want to kill anything. It’s too pretty. Couldn’t we just go around?”
He smiled and looked out upon the meadow. “Voida me viettaa!”
What was he doing? And then, the flowers began to part.
“No way.”
He motioned for her to go ahead. “After you.”
Halfway across, she looked over her shoulder. Behind her the path had disappeared, as if it had never been there at all. “What did you say back there?”
“I asked Patalena if we might pass. Her answer was obvious.”
“What if she said no? It’s not like we couldn’t do it anyway. It’s only a field of flowers.”
“Then you would not want to attempt it.”
“Why? What would happen?” The lupine brushed against her leg and she began to get the willies.
“I have never witnessed it, but my mother told me those who cross the meadow without permission will do so with great difficulty. These flowers can change into long branches full of sharp thorns. It would be painful for even horses to ride through against her will.”
“How does Patalena know what your intentions are?”
He shrugged. “She just does.”
“Where to now?” she asked when they reached the other side.
“We need to travel into the forest again for a short distance, and then we are there.”
She didn’t think anything could top what she’d just seen. She was mistaken.
Chapter 18
They rode out of the forest and up a small incline. Liam was in the lead and stopped when he reached the crest. She joined him and stared into the field below.
The deep-green landscape was dotted with wildflowers and long timothy grass. A lake, surrounded by enormous weeping willows, shimmered in the sunlight. But there was one thing in this meadow that was not in the last... something that made it more beautiful. Half a dozen children, dressed in white, ran barefoot through the grass, pulling kites shaped like butterflies. Their long blonde hair wafted behind them.
“I have not been here since my mother died,” Liam said softly. “I had forgotten how beautiful it is.”
Ally hid her shock. He hadn’t been here since his mother died? The pain of coming back must have outweighed the pain in staying away… until today.
The wind carried an erotic fragrance. “What do I smell?” she asked.
“Jasmine.”
Her body began to tingle and the sound of laughter brought back memories of her own childhood… the fun, the freedom. It seemed like forever since she felt that way.
Liam wiped his eyes with his right hand. “We have been spotted.”
The children pointed at them and, one by one, their kites drifted to the ground.
She and Liam rode down into the meadow and when they reached its edge, he got off Pollux. One girl broke from the group and ran to him.
“Liam!” she cried. “It is about time.”
He lifted her off the ground. “You have grown since I last saw you, Laurel,” he said.
The rest of the children surrounded him.
“Where have you been?”
“Why have you not visited?”
“Where is Meg?”
“Looks like they missed you,” Ally said.
“Yes, it has been too long. This is my friend, Ally.”
These children were beautiful. Their skin was the color of whipped cream and their cheeks were a shade she’d never seen without the help of makeup. They ran to her and took turns to say, “I am Casidy.”
“Christian.”
“Kaytlin.”
“Patrick.”
“Fiona.”
“Laurel.”
She might forget their names, but she’d never forget their faces… or their eyes. They were all the same shade, a deep blue-green.
“Play with us, Liam,” Laurel said and picked up a kite.
He grinned. “I will if Ally will.”
“Okay, just let me take these off first.” She removed her boots and socks and wiggled her toes in the grass. Patrick handed her a spool of string.
Ally began to run, letting the line unravel a little at a time. She looked over her shoulder. The kite caught the breeze and tugged at the string as it tried to break free. She glanced to her right. Liam’s kite played in the air as he laughed and ran beside her. Her heart swelled, and she struggled to keep it where it belonged. She had never dreamed she could feel this happy again.
Why?
Because dreams can be dangerous. What if you imagined your life traveling a different path, only to find that place was out of reach?
But what if you never try?
She picked up the pace and cut to the right. Liam did the same but stopped when a woman stepped from the willows. His spool fell to the ground and he walked and then ran toward her. They threw their arms around each other and Ally’s feet came to a standstill. She began to wind the string, not wanting to stare but found she couldn’t help herself. Liam pointed to Ally and they walked in her direction, arm in arm.
“Ally,” Liam said, “I would like you to meet my Aunt Neala.”
Aunt?
“Ally, how wonderful to meet you. I am overjoyed you brought Liam to see us.”
“I can’t take the credit for that. He brought me here,” she said, and handed Laurel the kite.
“Oh, I suspect you had something to do with it. Come.” She put her arm around Ally’s shoulders. “We are family.”
“We are in need of using the lake to wash Ally’s clothes,” Liam said.
Neala smiled. “Ah, the nature of your visit is not strictly social, then.”
Liam jogged to where Pollux and Chestnut were grazing and returned with their bags.
“We have missed you, Liam,” Neala said. “Why have you stayed away so long?”
Liam took a breath. “I was unsure of how this would affect me—of how I would deal with the memories this place would awaken.”
“Do not be reluctant to remember something wonderful, for those are reminders of what we need to keep close. The important thing is you are here.” Neala squeezed his shoulder. “You have become quite a young man. Your mother is proud of you.”
His face stilled. “Do you not mean ‘would have been proud’?”
“No. Look around you, Liam. She is here, and is always with you.”
He looked at the ground, silent. “Meg was right. My head has not been in the right place for a while.”
“Ah.” Neala laughed. “How is dear little Meg…?”
* * *
Caleb was entwined in the horse’s tail but leaped to the ground before they joined the children flying those silly papers. He waited in the high grass above the meadow while they made fools of themselves. Their laughing would be over soon enough. He did not understand how they could be having so much fun. It was meaningless child’s play but still he watched, unable t
o turn away.
***
The lake was an incredible shade of aqua and the sun created brilliant diamonds on its surface. The smell of jasmine was strong here, and Ally began to feel giddy. She squinted against the glare of the sun at the blue-green surface and saw a beautiful girl walking from the water toward the shore.
Her dress and long blonde hair were dry. How could that be? She looked to be the same age as Ally but this girl was in better shape. Much better. Taut muscles defined her arms and legs. In Ally’s world, the girl might be accused of using steroids, but here?
“Cousin, I thought that was you,” the girl said and hurried to Liam.
Liam smiled. “Deidre, it is great to see you.”
“I am surprised you can remember my name after so much time.” She gave him a hug, looked at Ally, and raised her eyebrows. “I see you brought a guest.”
“Yes, this is a friend of mine. Ally, this is my cousin Deidre.”
“Hi,” Ally said.
They shook hands but Deidre didn’t immediately let go. Instead, she gripped Ally’s hand tight, her eyes widening with surprise.
“What is it?” Liam asked.
“How did you two meet?”
“I should have known you would see,” Liam said and shook his head. “Corm and I came upon her in the woods a few days ago. Apparently, she is a long way from home. Lost, you could say.”
Deidre folded her arms. “A long way from home? Yes. Lost? I am not so sure. I felt something when I touched her.” She began to smile. “Someone from the other side, finally! I must know everything!”
“Deidre,” Neala said, “it has been too long since we have seen Liam and, while I am curious about that as well, now is not the time. Let them enjoy the day. Liam, I suggest Rooster Rock. It will allow you to reacquaint yourself. And please see me before you leave.”
The silver sand of the beach was like fine powder, warm between Ally’s toes. “How did they know?” she asked once they’d left the others behind.
Liam rolled up his pants and walked along the water’s edge. The waves gently lapped the shore. “Deidre and my aunt can see things through their touch. It is a trait I did not inherit.”
“Well, I’m glad about that,” she said and smiled nervously. “Hey, is it okay if I put my feet in?”
He laughed. “Would I have brought you here if it was not? But, it might be unlike anything you have ever experienced.”
She hitched up her pants and stuck her toe in. It was warm. She stepped forward and bent down. The water trickled between her fingers and, she realized its color had nothing to do with the reflection of the sky. It really was blue-green. It felt oily but when she lifted her hands, they were dry. She looked at Liam, confused.
“Magic,” he whispered.
“Jasmine,” she replied and smelled her hand.
“Yes, but be careful, its powers can be quite… interesting.”
He carried her bag as they walked side by side—the beach in front of them stretched out forever. Perspiration glistened on his arms. The thin blond hairs stood out against his tan skin. Even his feet were perfect. Please, get a grip.
She forced herself to look forward and about a half-hour later, he dropped their things in the sand. “This is it.”
Rocks of all shapes and sizes littered the beach. One in particular had three jagged edges on top and one to the side.
“Rooster Rock?” she said.
“Aye.” He sat on a flat boulder and leaned back on his hands. “Well, you better get started.”
She threw him a sarcastic smile. “You know I have no idea what I’m supposed to do.”
“I believe you have enough information to figure it out.”
She thought about it and pointed at him. “Aha! Tell me, before I do this, if I’m wrong.” She began to walk into the water and looked over her shoulder. “Nothing’s gonna bite me, right?”
“Not unless you want it to.”
She glared at him.
“I am only teasing and, yes, you are doing it correctly.”
She walked until the water was chest-high. Its warmth felt good and she dropped down, onto her back. It was so dense it took no effort to stay afloat. She pinched her nose and went under and, when she stood, her hair and clothes above the waterline were dry. She laughed. “Gives drip-dry a new meaning, doesn’t it?”
He looked out at the lake.
Probably has no idea what I’m talking about, as usual. “Well, these are clean.” She sniffed his mother’s blouse and her arms. Aromatherapy was fantastic. “Where can I change?”
“You can easily wash the rest of your clothes without having to wear them.”
“Yes. It would be easier… but not nearly as much fun.”
He smiled and pointed behind him to a willow on the shore.
“Okay.” She stepped through the yellow cloak of branches that hung to the ground. Insects danced in the narrow shafts of light while she slipped out of his mother’s clothes and into her filthy jeans and t-shirt.
“Would you care for a sandwich?” Liam asked after she stepped from the lake a second time.
She nodded and sat on the beach beside him. He handed her a cloth napkin that held two thick slices of bread filled with ham and put two brown-glass bottles in the sand. “Beer?” she asked.
“Hardly. Cider.”
She took a bite and looked up the beach. “They’re different from us, aren’t they?”
“They are the Merrows and, in a way, I am one of them.”
“Merrows?”
“A unique people who assume a Neptunian form while in the water and a human form when on land. Thea is a Merrow. When my father stumbled upon this place, he met my mother and, although it was unusual, she left the water and married him. I was born two years later. She went into labor during a visit here, but there were complications. To save my life, and hers, she gave birth to me in the lake. The power of the Lake Lorwyn is truly amazing. They continued to frequent this spot as I grew, and I became close with Aunt Neala, Deidre, and her brother Luukas. I loved coming here. Meg was born four years later, at home.”
“That’s why your eyes are this color and Meg’s aren’t.”
He nodded. “Thea came to live with us twelve years ago, after my grandfather’s death. She began to experiment with medicines and potions. When the sickness came… none of the Merrow were affected. But my mother… there was nothing anyone could do.”
Ally tried to think of something positive to say but she had nothing. Her father’s death had taught her that grief was a private matter.
“My father never forgave himself,” Liam went on. “Had she not left the water to be with him, had the magic not left her blood, she might still be alive. I thought if I ignored this place, the pain would disappear. I was wrong.” He raised his eyes to hers. “Thank you for accompanying me. It is something I needed to do.”
She finished her cider and placed the bottle in the sand beside her. “I wish I could’ve met your mom. Being here, hearing you talk about her, I know how special she was.” She got to her feet. “One more to go. I’ll be right back.”
Ally put on the last of her dirty clothes… the skirt and blouse her mom had bought for the interview. Homesickness threatened to consume her and she ran into the water, swimming hard, trying to stay ahead of it, when something brushed against her leg.
She put her feet under her as a large fish swam past. It turned around and started back. Liam was getting something out of his bag and she was about to scream when Deidre’s head appeared beside her.
Ally heaved a sigh of relief. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
Deidre spit a mouthful of water at her and smiled. “Care to go for a ride?”
“What are you talking about?”
Deidre motioned behind her. Under the water, her body was that of a fish nearly six feet in length. “Get on.”
Lost Boy Ride.
“Okay.” Ally lifted her skirt, put her leg over Deidre’s body, an
d wrapped both arms around her neck.
They began to swim toward the middle of the lake. It gave riding with the dolphins a new meaning… and it was a blast!
A fish swam alongside them and leaped from the water. As he arched through the air, he was in his human form and then, he disappeared into the lake.
“Can we do that?” Ally asked and pointed as he rose into the air again.
“I was hoping you would ask,” Deidre shouted. “Hang on!”
Ally held her breath. They went under and up. As they traveled through the air, she was straddling a girl. They reentered the lake but, before she could close her mouth, some water slipped down her throat. It tasted sweet and, once it settled in her stomach, it made her feel… strong. Her thighs gripped Deidre tighter as they headed for the far end. When they reached the other side, a fish swam up from behind.
“Luukas, I thought you would never get here,” Deidre said.
The boy smiled. Long blond curls framed a handsome, slender face that reminded her of Liam. “You were lucky,” he said.
“I am carrying a passenger—luck has nothing to do with it. I am stronger than you. Admit it.”
“I will admit nothing of the sort.” He looked at Ally. “Hi, I am Luukas.”
“I’m Ally.”
“Would you like another chance to prove it?” Deidre asked.
Again, they reached the shore well ahead of Luukas. Ally climbed from Deidre’s back and stood in the water.
“Luukas, you will never learn,” Liam called out and shook his head.
“Aye, you are correct on that account, cousin,” Luukas replied.
“You had good instinct upon my back,” Deidre said, and then a bit louder, “almost as good as Liam.”
“Thanks,” Ally said, “and thanks for the ride.” She walked from the water and sat on the sand. Liam was leaning over a piece of paper on the flat rock in front of him, drawing. She sighed and laid back. This day was like a fairy tale.
When she opened her eyes and sat up, the sun was no longer overhead. Her throat was dry and, with effort, she got up and walked to the water’s edge.
“I would not do that,” Liam said, as she scooped up a handful and put it to her lips.
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