by Anne Bishop
She shook off the mood before it had a chance to take root. “A long ramble, then I’ll start preparing our feast. And after that, a long, deep bath.” She laughed as Merle backed away. The puppy was having trouble learning what “no” meant, but, apparently, he’d learned “bath” quick enough. “For me. You’ve already had your bath. I don’t know what you rolled in this morning, but you certainly smell better now.”
Merle sneezed.
Laughing, Ari set off, with Merle bumbling along beside her, to walk the land and listen to whatever messages were there.
“Are we ready?” Dianna asked quietly.
“If the horses’ hind legs don’t sink into the ground from the weight of these saddlebags, then we’re ready,” Aiden teased. “I wouldn’t be surprised to learn we didn’t leave anything for the Clan feast.”
“We aren’t bringing that much,” Dianna muttered.
“That’s easy for you to say.” Lyrra said it in a grumble, but her eyes danced with amusement. “You weren’t the one who kept taking bits and pieces of the feast—or the jars to put them in. And you weren’t the one who requested a plainly roasted chicken.” She widened her eyes and shuddered. “Plain chicken?” she said in horror, her voice a high, scratchy, perfect imitation of the Lady of the Hearth, who ruled the kitchens that produced the meals for the Clan. “The Huntress can’t be wanting plain chicken.”
Dianna stared at Lyrra, not sure if she should laugh or run. “Did we get a plain chicken?”
Lyrra, continuing her imitation, sniffed haughtily. “It’ll be basted with honey butter. That will be plain enough. Imagine. Plain chicken, No stuffings. No sauces.” Sniff. “So, yes,” Lyrra said in her own voice, “we got a plainly roasted chicken, and I’m sure between requesting that and snitching the rest I’ll never get another morsel out of the kitchens no matter how many amusing stories I tell.”
“Oh,” Dianna said. She was very glad she hadn’t braved the kitchens. The Lady of the Hearth would have been doubly offended if she’d asked for the chicken directly. At least with Lyrra, such a request, while unusual, wasn’t too shocking. The Muse was known for moments of whimsy.
“Are you sure we can’t bring a packhorse?” Aiden asked plaintively.
“That would be too obvious,” Dianna said tartly. Then she looked at Aiden’s harp and caught her lower lip between her teeth. “Unless you need one.”
He smiled at her, and she knew she’d swallowed the bait and never saw the hook.
“I’m bringing my smallest harp,” Aiden said. “It doesn’t have as much range as the other, but it will do well enough for this evening. And Lyrra can manage her drum. It’s not that long a ride.”
“Then let’s go while everyone else is preoccupied with dressing for the evening feast and festivities.”
Except everyone wasn’t preoccupied. Falco met them before they reached the stables.
“Take me with you,” he said.
“This is a private celebration,” Dianna said, giving him her best Huntress stare.
“You’re going to the cottage, aren’t you? That’s what you’ve been whispering about these past few days, isn’t it?”
“This is none of your concern,” Dianna said sharply.
“You’re taking Aiden and Lyrra, and they’ve never even been there before.” He gave her a sly look. “I’ve been there several times.”
“And you wouldn’t be able to keep that to yourself,” Dianna snapped. “She knows the hawk is a Fae Lord, but she doesn’t know I’m Fae, and she’s not going to. Not yet. But you’d give out so many hints about rabbits and hawks she’d have to be deaf and blind not to realize you’re the hawk. And if you’re with us, it would make her wonder about us.”
Falco looked sulky. “If I can’t go with you, I’ll just have to spend the evening with Lucian.”
Dianna’s breath caught at the audacity of that threat. Lucian would find out about this evening sooner or later, but she’d prefer that it be later. Much later.
“If wanting to go is making him stupid enough to utter a statement like that, we’d better take him with us,” Aiden said coolly. “At least that way we’ll know what he’s up to. But the Lord of Hawks would do well to remember just how sharply the Bard can hone words into a weapon.”
“Especially when he has the Muse to inspire him,” Lyrra added.
Falco looked nervous but didn’t back down. “I’ll behave. I just want to see how witches celebrate the Solstice.”
Don’t we all, Dianna thought, wondering just what they would find when they reached Brightwood.
Ari put on the long, sleeveless sea-blue vest, then looked down at herself. Her own brown skirt would stand for the earth. The ivory lawn tunic, which had belonged to her grandmother, would stand for air. Her mother’s vest would stand for water.
“I doubt anyone would mistake me for a lady of fashion, but at least, in some way, the three of us will stand together for this celebration. Besides, no one but Merle is going to see me, and he won’t care how I’m dressed. And I don’t care what anyone would think about the way I’m dressed anyway. Well, perhaps Neall.” She paused, then added softly, “But he would understand that the three of us together had held the four branches of the Mother, and this is the only way I can do that—and this is only a gesture to water and air at best. But I still need something for fire.”
Opening a drawer in her dressing table, she took out her grandmother’s jewelry box. “Gran used to wear a garnet pin to stand for fire. That would—” She opened the box, frowned at the contents. Lucian’s gifts were on top of the bits of jewelry the women in her family had collected over generations.
She took out a ruby pendant, held it up to the light.
“On this day, we give thanks to the Lightbringer, the Lord of the Sun, for the season of light and the warmth of that makes all things grow.”
She didn’t think she would be able to say those words this time. It had been different when he’d been nameless, faceless. When it had seemed that he did, indeed, hold the power of the sun in his grasp. When she’d thought he was a little different from the rest of the Fae, who seemed to use their gifts only when there was something in it for them. But he really wasn’t different from the rest of them. In fact, he had much in common with the gentry men of her own world—except that he could turn into a horse.
No, it was the Mother who changed the seasons and made things grow. The Lightbringer might be one of Her most powerful servants, but he was no less a servant than the rest of them—and he didn’t even acknowledge that much.
Do you ever give anything you value, Lucian? Do you ever give when the giving would inconvenience you?
It didn’t matter what he did or didn’t do. The pledge she’d made to him had been fulfilled. And there was Neall to think about now, Neall who was patiently waiting for an answer. But there was one way she could honor the Lightbringer and what he stood for.
She put on the ruby pendant. It nestled above the pentagram as if it belonged there.
It was the first time she had worn any of the jewelry he had given her. Since he was who he was, the pendant was a fitting choice to stand for fire.
Dianna wasn’t sure if it was shock or just surprise that filled Ari’s face when she looked out the open half of the kitchen door and saw them all standing there.
“I didn’t want you celebrating the Solstice alone, so I decided to join you.” Dianna hesitated, no longer certain this was a good idea since Ari looked so uncomfortable. “And I brought some friends,” she finished lamely.
“Blessings of the day to you,” Ari said.
Oh dear, Dianna thought when Ari didn’t open the other half of the door and welcome them in. Maybe she isn’t alone. Maybe that Neall is with her, and that’s why she isn’t eager to have us here. If that’s the case, that’s all the more reason to stay. I’d like to get another look at Lucian’s rival. “This is Aiden, Lyrra, and Falco. Aiden is a minstrel, and Lyrra sometimes accompanies him.”
&nb
sp; “I’m his inspiration,” Lyrra said, giving Ari a smile.
Aiden slanted a look at Lyrra and said nothing.
Looking more resigned than pleased, Ari opened the kitchen door. “Come in and be welcome.”
It was the first time Dianna had seen Ari openly wear the pentagram. It was also the first time she’d seen Ari wear any jewelry that had come from Lucian. Oh, yes, she recognized that pendant and began to wonder—and worry—about why Ari chose to wear it tonight.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Falco’s grimace as he made a quick appraisal of Ari’s costume. And she saw the way Ari blushed and looked increasingly uncomfortable.
Before she could decide what to say, or how to move close enough to Falco to stomp on his foot without it being obvious, Lyrra stepped forward. Her expression was equally appraising.
“Is that a traditional Solstice costume?” Lyrra asked. “It reminds me of places where land and water meet.” She laughed quietly. “Never mind me. Everyone says I can be a bit fanciful at times.”
“Actually, you’re right,” Ari said. “I chose these clothes to stand for earth, water, air, and fire—the four branches of the Mother.”
Dianna suppressed a sigh. Had Ari given any thought at all to Lucian when she decided to wear that pendant or was the ruby being a red stone the sole reason for the decision?
“We didn’t come empty-handed,” Dianna said brightly.
Ari still hesitated. “Dianna, may I speak with you for a moment?” She turned and walked into the cottage’s main room.
Glancing uneasily at her companions, Dianna followed.
“I appreciate your thoughtfulness,” Ari said hurriedly, keeping her voice low so she wouldn’t be overheard. “But the Solstice—Do they know what I am?”
“Yes, they know,” Dianna replied.
“And they can accept that?”
“They wouldn’t have come with me if they couldn’t.” Dianna waited. “Is there something you need to do this evening that can’t be done while others are here?”
“There is something that needs to be done,” Ari agreed slowly, “but it can be observed by others.”
“I just wanted to bring you a little company and music. If that doesn’t give pleasure, we can go.”
“No,” Ari said quickly. She finally gave Dianna a warm smile. “No, don’t go. It would give me pleasure to celebrate with you.”
“In that case, let’s unpack the feast.”
As she turned back toward the kitchen, she heard a soft whimper.
“Merle?” Ari said, walking over to the rocking chair in front of the hearth. She knelt beside it, frowning at the cowering puppy. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, Merle. These are friends.”
Not his friends, Dianna thought as she stared at the puppy. And he knows it.
Ari rose. “I guess he’s intimidated by having so many people here. He’s not used to it.”
That explanation would serve well enough.
Not giving Ari any more time to wonder about the puppy’s behavior, Dianna linked her arm through Ari’s and led the girl back to the kitchen.
Lyrra was emptying the saddlebags Aiden and Falco had brought in. A variety of pots and jars filled the worktable beside the sink. Apparently, they’d had no doubts about her ability to convince Ari to let them stay.
“Hold the saddlebag,” Lyrra muttered at Aiden. “This one’s stuck.” When she finally tugged the covered dish out of the saddlebag, everyone stared at the bright-colored ribbons that were tied around it.
“Were you expecting it to fly away?” Aiden asked blandly.
“I didn’t want the cover to fall off,” Lyrra grumbled. A minute later, as the knots refused to yield, the grumbling turned to growls. “Do you have a knife?”
The Mother only knew what Ari was thinking while she sliced through the ribbons. Dianna wasn’t sure what to think either. At least Aiden was deft enough about opening and pouring the wine, and Falco managed to put a sufficient number of plates and pieces of cutlery on the table for them, even if it looked like they’d been tossed on the table rather than deliberately set.
When everything was on the table, Falco carved the chicken while Aiden carved the beef roast. Ari put a small bowl with pieces of beef and chicken in front of the rocking chair for Merle. She looked sad when even that wasn’t sufficient to entice the frightened pup.
They had just taken their seats when someone knocked on the kitchen door.
“Excuse me,” Ari said, hurrying to answer.
Dianna watched her go. No one pretended to fill their plates. They were all too busy trying to catch the conversation, especially since the voice responding to Ari was pitched low enough to belong to a man.
That Neall. Who else would be showing up this evening? And he certainly hadn’t been in her plans.
Except it wasn’t Neall.
A few moments later, Ari returned, looking nervous.
Lucian didn’t look nervous, and what burned in the back of his eyes wasn’t surprise. But there was nothing he could do without distressing Ari—at least, Dianna hoped he would take that into consideration.
“What a pleasant surprise,” Lucian said mildly.
“Blessings of the day to you,” Lyrra said, smiling. Her smile faded when Dianna and Lucian just stared at her. “I’m sorry. Isn’t that the proper greeting?”
“It is in this house,” Ari replied. She made the introductions, then said, “I’ll fetch a chair for you, Lucian.”
“I’ll get the chair,” Aiden said. “Ari, you sit next to your guest. Falco, move over and sit beside Dianna.”
While Ari hurried to get another place setting, Falco moved his chair and Aiden found another.
At first, Dianna wished she’d been the first to offer to move since sitting beside Lucian throughout the meal wasn’t going to be comfortable. When Aiden set his chair at the other end of the table and sat down, she was glad she hadn’t been the first to offer. At least she wouldn’t be the one who would have to keep meeting the anger in Lucian’s eyes—and if anyone could stand equal to the Lightbringer in a battle of wills, it was the Bard.
“We are well met,” Dianna said, raising her glass.
“We are well met,” Lucian echoed, following her example.
“May friendship warm us all the days of our lives,” Ari added, smiling.
There was nothing to add to that, and, somehow, for Dianna, those words made her deception over the past few weeks a difficult meal to swallow.
Deception might be a hard meal to swallow, but, Dianna reasoned, honesty would have been harder, and a little more deception wouldn’t hurt at this point. She pulled Ari aside as soon as she could after the meal ended, and whispered, “Is he the one?”
“Yes,” Ari whispered back.
“He’s certainly handsome.”
“Yes, he is.” Then Ari added with a touch of annoyance, “But he’s usually more polite.”
Dianna gave Ari a woman-to-woman smile. “I expect he was hoping to spend time with you alone.”
Ari grabbed Dianna’s hand, squeezed lightly, then let go. “I’m glad you came tonight,” she said abruptly. Pushing up her sleeves, she pumped water into the basin to wash the dishes.
Not sure what to make of that statement, but certain that it didn’t bode well, Dianna hurried back into the main room to help Lyrra finish clearing the table.
“We scraped through dinner all right,” Lyrra said quietly. “Aiden can hold his own with Lucian, but Falco looks like he’s going to try to change shape and fly away at any moment.”
“Why don’t you go outside with the men and try to keep things calm?”
“I’d rather stay inside and help Ari with these chores. Why don’t you go out there?”
“I met her first. I get to stay inside. Besides, Lucian isn’t angry with you.”
“Oh, I think Lucian is angry enough right now for it to spill over on all of us. But nothing will happen until we get back to Tir Alainn.” Lyrra picke
d up the wineglasses. “I must admit, tonight I don’t look forward to going home.”
Neither do I, Dianna thought, unless Lucian stays here tonight. And I don’t think he will.
“How about a little music?” Aiden asked, taking his harp out of its case.
“Dance music,” Dianna said brightly. “We have two fine gentlemen here who will sacrifice their toes in the spirit of a pleasant entertainment.” To avoid seeing what Lucian might think of this, she turned to Ari. “Come on, Ari.”
“Oh, I—I don’t know how to dance,” Ari said quickly.
“You don’t dance?” Lyrra sounded scandalized.
“Not that kind of dance.”
Dianna could feel curiosity swell the air around them, but none of them felt quite brazen enough to ask what kind of dances witches did know. “Well then, it’s time you learned. Just a simple country dance. The steps aren’t difficult. I’ll show you.” She grabbed Ari’s arm and pulled until the girl was standing beside her. Then she looked expectantly at Lucian and Falco.
Falco gave Ari one hopeful look before wisely taking his place facing Dianna. Lucian took his place more slowly, his eyes watchful.
“It truly isn’t difficult,” Lucian said softly.
Lyrra set the beat with her drum.
Good, Dianna thought as Aiden and Lyrra began to sing. The dance had simple, repetitive steps. Even so, Ari was too self-conscious to relax into the music and follow its rhythm. Or maybe too conscious of Lucian. He did look wonderful when he danced. If only that was the reason Ari kept missing the cues in the music of what to do next.
The next dance was a little better, even if it wasn’t a dance any of them knew.