Just then Gwen spotted Ellie. Their eyes locked, and Gwen’s heart broke at the desperation and pain in Ellie’s gaze. She held out her palm slightly in invitation. Can you come? she mouthed. Ellie shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. Gwen let her hand drop. I’ll come back. I promise, she mouthed again. A hand pressed against the small of her back.
“Better hurry, young one.” The Breenan who had warned them a minute ago pushed her and Aidan, cackling. She gripped Aidan’s arm and they marched toward the door, Gwen giving Ellie one last pained look. They merged into the group behind three girls a little younger than Gwen, who were laughing and marching arm in arm together. Gwen avoided eye contact.
They stepped across the threshold, Gwen blinking in the daylight. The line of visitors stretched from the door into the forest to disappear between trees. The atmosphere of the visiting group was cheerful and festival-like. Small groups of visitors chatted happily together, all moving quickly down the path. Gwen noticed that most of the visitors were young, in their late teens. A few were middle-aged, smiling indulgently at the young people or walking gravely on their own. Gwen turned to Aidan.
“What is this? Are we on some kind of school trip? Would that even be a thing here?” She kept her voice down, careful to avoid being overheard by the chattering girls ahead.
“No idea. But I don’t know how we’re going to escape undetected.” He pointed discreetly to the side of the path. Blending into the trees like a shadow, a Breenan stood watching the line. In her hand she held a bow loosely cocked with an arrow. Thirty paces down the path Gwen spotted a man dressed in green, half-hidden by a thick bush. There was another, thirty paces beyond him. Gwen gulped.
“So that Breenan was right about guests overstaying their welcome.”
“Yeah. So much for a friendly alliance between kingdoms.” Aidan snorted.
“I’m worried that this is considered friendly here. I’m not looking forward to unfriendly.” Gwen shuddered. “They can’t have guards forever. Maybe we can escape soon.”
“I hope so.” Aidan sounded unconvinced.
***
Afternoon sun filtered through silver-leaved trees surrounding a meadow and danced on a small burbling stream winding through grass and hummocks of moss, illuminating the sleeping forms of a crowd of Breenan. They were draped over grassy mounds and tangled in loose piles of limbs as they slumbered in the lazy stillness.
Loniel remained watchful. He leaned into the hollow between two large roots at the base of a spreading oak. His eyes gazed at his sleeping revelers as he stroked the curls of a woman whose head rested on his chest.
Loniel turned his head sharply, his body tensed like a wild animal sensing its prey. The sleeping Breenan did not stir, but Loniel waited, eyes fixed on the forest to his right. He remained in place.
A few moments later, a Breenan man noiselessly entered the meadow. His elaborate dress appeared out of place beside the rustic garments of the revelers. He looked around until he spotted Loniel in the shadows and swiftly skirted the sleeping Breenan to reach the oak tree.
“Finegal.” Loniel greeted the newcomer. “Welcome.” The man bowed in reply and sat within the shade of the oak. Loniel continued to stroke the woman’s hair.
Finegal looked around at the sleeping forms dotting the meadow.
“It was a wild night last night,” he stated, looking to Loniel for confirmation.
“As always,” Loniel said calmly. “We had some fun teasing a human. I eventually put him out of his misery. The amusement I gain from humans leaves a bitter aftertaste when I can’t send them back to their homeland. Of course we wouldn’t have this problem if the queen behaved herself.” He leaned his head back against the tree trunk and looked at Finegal through half-closed eyes. “Did you do as I asked?”
Finegal nodded. “Indeed. The two lost children are on their way to the sacred mountain as we speak. I doubt they will escape Prince Crevan’s group. The queen has far too tight a grip on the forest for that. She doesn’t trust Faolan at all, despite being allies.” Finegal laughed briefly. “I think I gave your young couple quite a scare. I mentioned something about the queen torturing by toenail extraction, I believe. They were more than eager to leave the castle after that.”
Loniel smiled widely, and then sobered.
“It’s hardly out of character for her.”
“Well, she wouldn’t do that to a Breenan, but they didn’t seem to know that.” Finegal looked curiously at Loniel. “May I ask, what is your interest in these two? Why the determination to get them to the sacred mountain?”
Loniel did not immediately reply. He bent down and kissed the woman’s forehead. She blinked herself awake.
“Wake the others, my love,” he said quietly. “It is time to prepare for another night.”
She smiled sleepily and moved away to the nearest group, her brown curls swaying gently. Loniel watched her go, and said, “They are more important than they know. They must fix what I cannot. But first, they must know themselves better.” Loniel smiled at Finegal’s confusion. “Just make sure they don’t return to the castle until they’ve been marked.”
***
Gwen and Aidan walked in silence, Gwen checking for guards in the trees. She noted with a heavy heart their continued presence and thought miserably of Ellie.
Aidan finally broke the silence between them.
“I’m sorry, Gwen.” He sounded very forlorn.
Gwen turned to him in surprise.
“What on Earth for?”
“We wouldn’t be traveling to who-knows-where away from the castle if it weren’t for me.” Aidan kept his eyes forward, his jaw tight.
Gwen was taken aback.
“It’s not your fault they think you’re one of them. And anyway, you really think I would just sneak off, rescue Ellie, and waltz back home without you? I’m not leaving you here on your own. We’re only getting through this if we stick together.” She touched his arm briefly. Aidan caught her eye and smiled wryly.
“Oh, I don’t know. It’s not so bad here. At home I’m a dreaded ginger. Here it seems I’ve got my own tribe.”
Gwen laughed. They continued walking companionably, following the chattering girls.
A hand on her shoulder broke her reverie. She tensed, ready for an intruder, but when she turned to look at Aidan a different face greeted her with a beaming smile. The arms of the intruder draped across their shoulders in a friendly fashion.
“Hello. I don’t know you yet, which makes you more interesting than most of these idiots already.” The boy was thin and wiry, with the now-usual shocking red hair and high cheekbones. He went on. “Names? Where did you spring from?”
Gwen and Aidan glanced at each other, Gwen nominating Aidan to speak with a widening of her eyes. Aidan took the hint and said, “I’m Aidan and this is Gwen. We joined the group late.” The half-truth rolled off his tongue easily. Gwen looked at the boy closely to gauge his reaction.
The boy seemed unconcerned.
“I’m Bran. I’m bored of the lot I came with, so I’m going to be annoying and stay with you a while.” He laughed easily. Gwen looked at Aidan in desperation, and he returned her glance with a tiny resigned shrug. Bran let go of their shoulders and darted off to the side of the path.
Aidan whispered, “When life gives you lemons…”
Bran returned with a daisy-like yellow flower which he tucked behind Gwen’s ear with a flourish. She smiled uncertainly.
“So, Bran,” Aidan said, “Do you know how far the sacred mountain is?”
“Oh, we’ll be there in the wink of an eye, but we’ll go much further than we’ve ever gone before,” Bran said cryptically, walking backward to face them.
Gwen gave a tiny sigh. Loniel had been evasive and riddling too. It was supremely unhelpful. She tried a different question.
“Our parents didn’t tell us much about where we’re going or what we’re doing. We—we live very isolated lives, far from everyone else here.”
It was not a lie, but definitely misleading. Aidan gave a slight nod of approval.
“We’re going to get our marks, of course. You know, the tattoos you get when you become an adult? They show your tribe affiliations and your parentage.” Gwen’s heart started beating too fast. Was this the detail that would give them away? He noticed the blank looks on their faces. “Come on, you must have seen them on elders before.”
“Oh yes, of course,” Gwen said automatically, but then recalled the strange green tattoo peeking out of the collar of Loniel’s shirt. “I was just never told much about them.”
“Are your parents hermits or something?” Without waiting for an answer Bran went on, “I can’t wait to finally get my elder mark. My older brothers won’t stop teasing me.”
“That’s not very nice,” Gwen said consolingly. Trying to be offhand she said, “What do your brothers’ marks look like?”
“The usual leaves and vines,” Bran said dismissively. “I can read them, though. As can most people.” He looked curiously at them. “If you didn’t even know what the marks are, does that mean you can’t read them either? I’ve never met someone illiterate.” He dropped back and walked forward again, this time on the other side of Gwen. Gwen cast around for something to say.
Aidan beat her to it, obviously wanting to distract Bran from their inability to read marks.
“This thing at the mountain, where we get our marks. What exactly happens?”
“Dunno,” Bran replied. “It’s all hush hush until you actually go. I think there’s some kind of ceremony, then we climb the mountain. There’s a stone circle on top where we get our marks.”
“Does it hurt, getting a mark?” Gwen imagined a team of tattoo artists perched on stones, waiting for them. It was a bizarre thought, but it seemed that in this world anything was possible.
“Worse than you can imagine, apparently. But it’s totally worth it. People finally take you seriously. I’m so done being a child.” He whistled for a moment then jumped in front of them again, walking backward. Gwen had never met someone with so much energy. Bran asked, “So are you two related? Because you don’t look it.”
Gwen shook her head.
“Are you two an item?”
Gwen’s cheeks reddened slightly and Aidan’s eyes looked away in confusion.
Bran laughed heartily.
“Ah ha! A confused uncouple-couple! How precious. Has he kissed you yet?” This was to Gwen, who looked down to avoid Bran’s eyes. He put a finger under her chin and lifted her head up. “A quick test of his feelings,” he whispered to her, and quick as a bird he pressed his lips to hers.
Gwen raised her eyebrows in shock.
“What the hell are you doing?” Aidan pushed at Bran’s chest with the flat of his palm, causing Bran to stumble back.
Bran merely laughed loudly, a broad grin on his face and mischievous eyes twinkling.
“He passed the test,” he said to Gwen. “Later, hermits!” He turned and trotted up the line, where he disappeared around a bend in the path.
Chapter 11
They stopped in the middle of the path when Bran kissed Gwen. Aidan’s face was stormy as his eyes followed Bran’s retreating back. Gwen tried to keep her face emotionless, a difficult task. Her cheeks were burning with embarrassment and agitation, but those emotions were warring with a small warm core of pleasure at Aidan’s reaction. She wondered whether he was being protective of her because they were stuck together in this strange land, or whether there was a part of him that was jealous, as Bran seemed to be implying. She busied herself with adjusting her ridiculous sleeves, trying to keep calm.
A trio of boys parted to walk past them. Aidan shook himself out of his preoccupation and Gwen started walking again.
“Are you all right?” Aidan said as they followed the boys.
“Oh yeah, no harm done,” she said brightly. She chewed the inside of her cheek briefly, trying to disentangle herself from the awkwardness of Bran’s actions. It seemed the perpetrator was the only one immune to their effects, and Gwen could well believe Bran had very much enjoyed putting them on the spot. She said, “So what about this ceremony? What on Earth do they do to get these super painful tattoos?”
“What I’m wondering is what they’re going to do to us when we get in that stone circle and don’t sprout a brand new tattoo.” Aidan glanced to the side. “Hey, do you want to try escaping? I don’t see the guards anymore.”
Gwen’s heart beat a little faster.
“Sure. Pretend to tie your shoe or something.” They moved to the side of the path and Aidan bent down. Gwen looked around, trying to affect an air of nonchalance. The last few dregs of walkers passed them by, glancing curiously or disinterestedly or not at all. Finally the last walker arrived. She was a tall, haughty-looking woman, aging but gracefully so. She wore a long overdress of soft brown leather, and an expression of suspicion.
“Move along, you two.” She made a waving motion with her hand. “If we’re caught in the queen’s forest after dark, it won’t go well for us.”
“What will happen?” Gwen couldn’t help asking as Aidan unfolded his length from the shoe he’d been tying and untying.
“I have no doubt you’d be run through with an arrow, or perhaps animals in the forest would be sent after you. The treaties are very clear.” She sniffed, pursing her lips. “Now, move!”
They moved without further delay, walking quickly to catch up to the others and to put some distance between themselves and the lady.
“Dammit,” Gwen said when they were out of earshot of the lady. “How are we supposed to get back to the castle?”
“I guess we wait until we’re out of the forest, then we ditch this lot,” Aidan said, settling into a walking rhythm a short distance away from the last group. The forest was still and calm, and Gwen resigned herself to walking for the last part of the afternoon.
Gwen supposed her face had grown somewhat serene because Aidan said, “I’m glad to see you’re enjoying yourself.” He grinned. “It’s not like we’re taking a forced march through an enchanted forest in a magical land where a wrong step could end in our doom.”
Gwen stuck her tongue out at him.
“You were the one telling me to make lemonade.”
Still smiling, Aidan looked forward up the path. Gwen watched his expression change into tense wariness. He said, “Bran’s coming back.”
Gwen looked quickly forward. Bran loped back to them, occasionally stopping to exchange words with others on the path. He paused to conjure a large spider out of nowhere on the shoulder of a pretty red-headed Breenan girl, whose screams echoed loudly in the still air.
Gwen shook her head.
“I wonder if this ceremony gives them more than just a tattoo to show their adulthood. Bran is such a child.” She grabbed Aidan’s arm. “Let’s find out more about the queen and castle from him.”
“Tread carefully,” Aidan warned as Bran took a great leap and landed in front of them. His hair was wild and his eyes bright with excitement and activity.
“We’re almost there, hermits!” He fell into step with Gwen and Aidan, inserting himself in the small gap between them. They made room for him, Aidan with less than good grace.
“Hi Bran,” Gwen said, trying to sound welcoming. “Is everyone else as excited as you are?”
“Of course they are! I might be a little more enthusiastic than most,” he conceded with a wink at Gwen. He turned to Aidan. “You’re not still sore at me, are you? I promise I won’t steal Gwen away from you. Not unless she wants me to.” He glanced impishly at Gwen. She rolled her eyes at him with a smile, trying to keep him in a good mood.
Aidan said awkwardly, “It’s fine. Hey, we, uh, came late to the castle. Did you have a good time there?”
“Oh, it was fine. Tons of dancing mostly. The queen can’t get enough, apparently. Me, I prefer hunting.” Gwen thought of the tapestry in the castle depicting a hunt for humans, and decided not to ask him what he hunted
. Bran continued, “She’s constantly on the lookout for new ideas. You know the humans are the creative ones, always making new things and thinking new thoughts. Most of us are content to do what we’ve always done. It works, and we’ve had plenty of innovation in the past from humans long ago. I don’t really see why she wants more. But anyway, she somehow sneaks into the human world and steals away humans. She uses them to make up new dance choreography, paint pictures for her, play new tunes in her orchestra, tell her new stories. You must have seen that monstrosity of a castle. She’s had at least three human builders working on it, and so had her mother and her mother before her. The whole line is batty like that.”
“So why are humans the creative ones?” Aidan frowned in interest.
“Who knows? It’s always been like that. We’ve got magic—they’ve got creativity.” Bran shrugged. “That’s how we’re made. Honestly, I think we got the better end of the bargain. I don’t know why the queen is so enthusiastic about new things.”
Gwen cut in while Bran took a breath.
“So the humans that are taken, can they go back? Are they forced to be here?”
“Oh, I expect they die eventually. The queen works them hard, and humans don’t have the greatest endurance.” Bran spoke matter-of-factly, and Gwen tried to hide the distress on her face. Aidan took over for distraction.
“So they’re trapped in the castle?”
“Some kind of containment enchantment, by the looks of it, so they can’t leave the castle proper.” Bran lifted his hand and gave a flashy flick of his wrist. A bright green apple appeared in his palm.
“Apple?” He offered it to Gwen.
“No, thanks.” She couldn’t stomach eating. Her stomach roiled at the thought of Ellie’s fate. Aidan also refused the apple. Bran bit into it with a crunch.
“So, in your land,” Aidan said, “you don’t bring in humans for anything?”
Breenan Series Box Set Page 10