“A feast!”
Blair chuckled, an unusual sound. “You clearly don’t know Maggie well,” she said gently with a twinkle in her eye. “She’ll eat three quarters of that quick as blinking. I thought enough to share might be a good idea.”
“Thanks, Blair,” Helen said firmly, resisting the urge to hug the woman. “I’m sure she’ll love it.”
“And thank you for your help around here,” Blair said, inclining her head in an oddly formal gesture. Was the woman suggesting that they no longer owed each other favors? Maybe there was more to the Fae rumor than she thought, Helen reflected as she headed out of the kitchen.
She stowed the shortbread safely in her room, then spent the mid-morning watching the fishermen on the docks. They were in good spirits — there was a lot more companionable laughter and banter than there had been just a few days ago, and she smiled, realizing that the discovery of the Kelpie’s corpse really had helped everybody to feel better about the threat that was facing them. From what she could pick up from idle chatter, there had been a big bonfire in the village the night of the Kelpie’s delivery. It had served two functions — both to get rid of the Kelpie’s body safely, and also to bring the people of the village together to celebrate the creature’s death. That Father Caleb knew what he was doing, she thought with a smile, reflecting on the way the man had adroitly maneuvered that little event into occurring.
By lunch time, she was itching to get to Maggie’s cottage. She, Eamon and Niall headed up to the dining hall together, the basket of shortbread tucked safely under her arm (and peered at with great curiosity by Eamon, who had the nose of a bloodhound when it came to treats.) He knew they were going on a trip that afternoon, and that he’d meet some new friends — he was clearly looking forward to it, distracted and wiggly throughout lunch. She knew how he felt — she was itching to make some concrete plans about how to get rid of the Kelpies once and for all. It felt like they were the last obstacle between her and Niall being able to really get to grips with what their relationship meant. They exchanged occasional glances, thoughtful and longing — but she knew they’d have to wait until after this visit to have a proper conversation about it.
Kay met them at the stables as planned, and it wasn’t long before they were riding for Maggie’s cottage. The day was still overcast, but thankfully it wasn’t raining, so it was a pleasant enough ride. Kay complimented Helen’s riding, saying she’d come very far for a beginner — she grinned, delighted by the compliment, though she couldn’t help but admire and envy Kay’s easy grace in the saddle, the way she barely seemed to touch the reins before her horse fell in with whatever she was trying to do. Helen felt like she was steering a tugboat — her horse obeyed her, but reluctantly, it felt like, as though it was aware of what an amateur rider it had been saddled with.
Maggie was on the porch when they arrived, and she waved enthusiastically in greeting as they slid off their horses, Niall carefully lifting Eamon down. He peered up at Maggie as she trundled down from the porch to inspect her visitors, and his usually brave face was thoughtful and a little wary as he peered up at her.
“We come with presents, Maggie,” Kay said brightly, reaching into the satchel she was carrying to withdraw a tall, rather beautiful glass bottle with a golden liquid sloshing about inside it. “Norse mead, like I promised.”
“And a batch of Blair’s famous shortbread,” Helen added, lifting the little basket she’d carefully carried all the way here on horseback. “She sends her love.”
“Aye, she’s a good egg, that Blair,” Maggie said brightly, peering back and forth. “What a visit. And who’s this little creature?”
“I’m not a creature,” Eamon said stridently. “I’m a boy. I’m Eamon.”
“Nice to meet you, Eamon. You can call me Maggie,” she said, leaning down. “Now, do you like shortbread?”
He nodded mutely, his expression still wary.
“What do you say to a piece of shortbread, then? There’s a catch,” she added, waggling a finger. He looked curious. “The catch is that you have to meet my friend Darter. He’s a very special friend.”
Eamon tilted his head, his curiosity clearly winning out over his apprehension at this strange woman. “Special?”
“Aye, very special indeed. Darter?”
The cottage door creaked open, and the little goblin presented himself, looking almost as wary as Eamon did. The little boy surveyed the goblin for a long moment, his eyes as big as saucers.
“You’re a goblin!”
“I am,” Darter said softly, his ears twitching.
“You’re blue and gray,” Eamon said, rushing forward to get a closer look as a broad grin split Maggie’s face. “Why are you like that? Can you swim?”
“Good eye,” Darter said happily. “I’m a water goblin.”
“No such thing.”
“Are too,” Darter challenged him. Then they were off, talking up a storm, Eamon challenging the goblin on every point and Darter challenging him right back. Maggie shook her head, chuckling.
“I had a feeling that those two would get on,” she said softly. “Now let’s us four go inside while they entertain each other. I’ve got shortbread to eat,” she said with a smug sense of satisfaction as Darter led Eamon to the back garden where he wouldn’t have to worry about being seen by any travelers.
Helen couldn’t help but chuckle as they headed inside. Was the furniture configuration different in here? She had a feeling she’d never seen that chair before… and was the couch a different color? Somehow, she didn’t feel like questioning it. Especially not when Maggie opened up the shortbread to share, and even poured each of them a generous glass of the mead that Kay had brought.
“I heard some interesting things from the village this morning,” Maggie said thoughtfully, raising an eyebrow at them all. “Something about a horse carcass that wasn’t a horse.”
“Aye,” Niall said with a grin. “It was your Monster, actually, who brought us that particular gift. She dumped a corpse on our docks in the wee hours of yesterday morning. A dead Kelpie, sure as anything.”
Maggie leaned forward, a piece of half-eaten shortbread in one of her gnarled hands. “Truly? She brought you a Kelpie? Clever girl,” she said approvingly. “Hope you offered her a boon in kind. She’d have been giving up a good meal with that.”
“Oh, every fisherman split their catch with her and then some,” Niall chuckled, “I don’t doubt she got twice the kelpie’s bodyweight in fresh fish for her trouble.”
“Excellent. She’s a dear old thing,” Maggie said softly. “And this Kelpie carcass — did it do what you’d hoped in convincing the villagers what they’re up against?”
“Most of them,” Helen said quickly. She could tell from the stormy expression on Niall’s face that he was about to set in about Perry MacCullen, and she wanted to get the good news in first. “Father Caleb and the majority of the villagers are on our side.”
“Aye, and we’re distributing iron weapons and spare torches to keep them safe,” Niall said. “The ones that want them, anyway.”
“And the ones that don’t?”
“Perry MacCullen and a few idiots,” he sighed. “Nothing we can’t handle, but…”
“Aye, I’ve known that lad all his life. Head harder than two bricks lashed together. You’ll have no luck there, I’m afraid. Some men are just born with a death wish.” Maggie sipped her mead, eyes twinkling in a way that was a little unnerving. “So what’s the plan?”
“For dealing with the Kelpies?”
“Aye. I see the guards traipsing up and down the Loch’s shore every night, keeping close together like scared little rabbits… good practice,” she said softly. “But do ye plan on just adapting to these creatures, or will you be banishing them for good?”
“Well, we wanted your advice on that,” Helen said, leaning forward to take another piece of shortbread. To her surprise, the platter was half depleted already. Strange — she’d barely seen Mag
gie take a single piece. Clearly picking up on what she was thinking, Maggie gave her a twinkly-eyed grin, and she gave up on wondering how the old woman had pulled off the heist. She was just glad that Blair had known enough to send so much along with them. “Have you remembered anything else about Kelpies? Anything that might help us?”
“I don’t know,” Maggie said, turning a beady eye onto Kay. “What do you think? You’re an expert on creatures.”
“I know plenty about horses,” Kay shrugged, “but when it comes to the Fae, I’m next to useless.”
“Now, that’s no attitude to go into these things with,” Maggie chided her. “Tell me about horses. Maybe we’ll find some ground in common.”
“Well, I did notice that these Kelpies travel in herds — that’s what Liam’s been saying, anyway. If the herds function the same way that horses do, there’d be a lead stallion, with a handful of mares and younger colts and fillies who travel with him. But that’s an herbivore structure,” she added with a shrug. “Predator social dynamics are very different. And these are nothing if not predators.”
“Predators, aye, but they do love to blend in,” Maggie said thoughtfully. “I do recall tales of Kelpies following a leader. I’d not be surprised if there was a lead creature among them — whether that’s a stallion or a mare, I couldn’t say. There!” she added, startling Kay, who jumped a little, nearly spilling her mead. “You know plenty! That’s more information than we had before.”
“So they have a leader,” Helen said thoughtfully. “Does that mean we ought to target the leader? Presumably if we take him out, the rest will… what? Appoint a new leader, if they’re intelligent?”
“More likely to scatter, which is much more intelligent than continuing to follow a leader who is only leader because the old one died,” Maggie cackled.
“Scatter?” Niall asked. “Into the countryside, or back through the Burgh?”
“I doubt they’d stay out here on their own,” Maggie said. “Especially not with their leader tamed or killed.”
“Then — we have our plan,” Niall said brightly, turning to Helen with excitement writ clear across his face. “We identify the leader, and we kill it.”
Chapter 43
“Oh, as easy as that,” Maggie chortled, helping herself to more shortbread. “You barely needed me.”
“Don’t be absurd, Maggie,” Niall said, pinning her with a meaningful look. “Your assistance is invaluable to everyone around here, and it always will be.”
“Well, you can repay the favor by keeping the dear Monster safe,” Maggie said firmly, her eyes going to the window, through which the waters of the Loch were just visible. “I don’t like the sound of those men plotting against her. She’s a dear soul who’d never harm a fly, but if a man comes at her with iron… well, they won’t be long for this world. And I don’t have to tell you what awaits humankind if they allow harm to come to a Seelie Fae,” she added meaningfully. “Speaking of… has that young firecracker exhausted my apprentice yet?”
They all ambled out onto the back porch in the late afternoon sun. There were Darter and Eamon — they were sitting cross-legged in the grass, deep in conversation about something or other, Eamon clearly fascinated by the little goblin. As they watched, the little boy reached out with surprising gentleness to stroke Darter’s ears — Niall started forward as if to stop him, but Helen reached out to hold him back. The little goblin closed his eyes, clearly enjoying the stroking, and a wondering smile broke out across Niall’s face.
“I think Eamon’s made a friend,” he said softly.
Maggie, beside him, chortled. “Aye, children do get on better with the Fair Folk than most,” she said, grinning. “Better watch out, or you’ll have a Changeling on your hands.”
“You can keep him here for as long as you like.” Niall chuckled. “I can’t imagine the Sidhe knowing what to do with a handful like Eamon.”
The little boy rose to his feet and came toddling over, alerted to the presence of the adults — and clearly keen for the shortbread he’d been promised. Obligingly, Maggie pulled a piece out and handed it to him, her eyes twinkling as he accepted it. Then, to Niall and Helen’s surprise, he broke it in half and ran back to Darter, handing the little goblin an equal share of the shortbread before he set about eating it.
“My word,” Niall said softly, shooting Helen a meaningful glance. “He’s — I’ve never seen him do that before.”
“A good lad,” Maggie said firmly. “He’d fit in well among the Seelie Fae. If he ever cares for an apprenticeship over there… well, I know people, leave it at that.”
Helen couldn’t help but wonder at what an ‘apprenticeship’ in the Fae world would look like. If anyone could do it, she thought with amusement, looking down at little Eamon chatting happily with Darter in the grass, it was the indomitable child before her. She was surprised to realize how much she liked Eamon, how much she admired him — even in the short time she’d known him, he’d grown so much, developed so much, become so much more complex than she’d ever believed possible… was this parenthood? Watching these incredible little people taking shape before your eyes?
They stayed a while longer, sitting on the porch and watching Darter and Eamon play until the sun was low in the sky. Maggie settled in her old rocking chair, Kay perching on a rickety chair beside it — Niall and Helen sat together on the steps. At some point, lazily, his hand found its way into hers, and she blushed to the roots of her hair, not daring to look at him as they held hands. If Maggie or Kay noticed, neither of them said anything. There was a pleasant afterglow to the mead they’d shared, and it was an enjoyable afternoon… but when the shadows got longer and longer, Niall cleared his throat, getting reluctantly to his feet.
“We’d best be home before nightfall,” he said, ignoring the wail of protest that Eamon sent up. “Maggie, our thanks for your hospitality and your wisdom, as always.”
“Oh, my pleasure,” Maggie said brightly. “You’re welcome any time, especially if you’ve got shortbread and mead to share. And Eamon? You can come visit Darter any time you like.”
“I’d like that,” Darter said brightly. He meant it, too, Helen realized with a smile — she’d been worried the goblin was only humoring the inquisitive Eamon, but he seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed their time together as much as Eamon had.
“Okay,” Eamon said solemnly. “As soon as Da says it’s okay, I’ll come back!”
That was surprisingly mature of him, Helen thought to herself as she saddled up her horse for the ride back to the castle. Perhaps Darter was a good influence on him. Or maybe he’d just appreciated getting out of the castle for a change, a little alteration to his daily routine. After all, a change was as good as a holiday.
Eamon remained in good cheer as they rode homeward. It wasn’t long before he was nodding off, leaning back against his father where he was sitting in front of him on the horse — Niall chuckled, carefully rousing the boy to keep him awake as long as it took to get back to the castle. Kay disappeared quickly, saying something about needing to see Liam about something — but Helen could tell that she just wanted to give Helen and Niall some alone time. They headed inside for a quick dinner — the shortbread had definitely taken the edge off both of their appetites, that was for sure — then as night gathered, they made the short walk back down to the quarters they shared.
She took a seat at the dining table as Niall took Eamon into his room to put him to bed — then was surprised when, a minute later, Niall reappeared in the doorway, his hand outstretched.
“What’s wrong?”
“He wants you to come and say goodnight too,” Niall said, a smile dancing across his handsome face. “If that’s alright.”
“More than alright,” she said softly, taken aback — and oddly touched — that Eamon wanted her to be a part of his bedtime ritual with his father, too. She rose to her feet and padded quietly into the room, where the little boy was tucked up safe and sound in his little bed. He
peered up at her, those bright, intelligent eyes crinkling in a smile as he saw her.
“Night, night, Helen,” he said formally.
“Goodnight, Eamon. Sweet dreams.”
The boy smiled sleepily, his eyes sliding shut — then Niall stepped in to tuck the blankets in around his chin, stooping to press a kiss to his forehead. It was such a tender moment, and she felt oddly honored to be part of it — to have been explicitly invited here, to watch the little boy drift off to sleep. Niall hovered in the doorway for a few moments, looking over his shoulder at the rise and fall of Eamon’s little chest in the bed, making sure he was comfortably asleep before he slipped out of the room and gently closed the door behind him. She gazed up at him, not quite sure what to say, simply delighted to have been invited to share in this beautiful little moment — to form an odd little family with these two.
Smiling, they sat down together at the dining table. It was becoming a nightly ritual, these conversations at the table, though she’d be lying if she said she didn’t feel a certain new electricity to the air this time, a tension between them that hadn’t been anywhere near as strong before Niall had kissed her the night before. She found herself wishing he’d do it again — and, at the same time, feeling mildly puzzled that he hadn’t. What was holding him back? Eamon was asleep, they were alone together…
“So, how are you finding Scotland?” he asked suddenly, making her blink with the randomness of the question.
“Um, it’s alright,” she said, blinking a little as she tried to catch up. How was she finding Scotland? Did he want to know if she was happy here? Of course she was happy here. Then it clicked — he wasn’t asking about Scotland. He was asking about him and Eamon. “It’s wonderful,” she said, more firmly — and the light that came into his eyes confirmed that her suspicions were correct. “Truly, I love it here. It’s such a beautiful place… and I feel so welcome.”
Needed By The Highlander: A Scottish Time Travel Romance (Highlander Forever Book 5) Page 26