I cringed. If the language of the Otherworld was anything like the Irish language, then I could relate. I got it into my head during high school that it might be fun to learn Gaelic, since I was so obsessed with all things Celtic, but that was a short-lived dream. I’d done a little research online, but without a proper instructor and all the materials, it would have been hopeless.
I sat down and picked up the book, flipping through the pages. Yup. Looked a lot like Irish Gaelic. I replaced the book and asked, “What’s Cade reading?”
Meghan glanced over at her husband. Devlin had taken a chair next to him and was now holding a piece of the leaflet in his hand.
“It’s a periodical that Kellston prints out every now and then.” Meghan waved her hand. “Wedding, death and birth announcements, harvest and planting times, local news and stories, that sort of thing.”
I lifted my eyebrows. “There are printing presses in the Otherworld?”
My friend shook her head. “We’re not quite there yet. Someone writes the stories and articles out, and then they use glamour to make copies. It takes a couple of months to get it all done, so the periodical only comes out every two months.”
Now, that was interesting. One day, I wouldn’t mind watching this process take place.
The door leading out of the dining room swung open, and Birgit and her brother walked in carrying a tray and a basket.
Meghan beamed and stood up, accepting the tray from the young woman.
“Just set the basket on the table, Niall.”
He did as she asked and then followed his sister out the door, but not before casting me a curious glance. Something in his bright brown eyes told me he was dying to ask questions, most likely about my brush with death, but I had a feeling his sister had made it clear he wasn’t to prod me about it.
“We thought warm scones and tea would be a good breakfast before you left,” Meghan said.
I smiled and nodded. They smelled wonderful. Soon, the four of us were sipping our tea, a strong breakfast blend, and enjoying hot scones with lemon curd, clotted cream and fresh jam. Ahhh, bliss. I would miss this when we left. I had a feeling we wouldn’t be eating fresh baked goods on the road to the Amsihr Mountains.
Devlin and I didn’t linger after breakfast. We had a long way to go, and we knew we should take advantage of the calm weather while we could. When we all stepped out onto the courtyard to say our goodbyes, two horses were waiting for us. Spiora and Adhair, both saddled and sporting a collection of saddle bags.
“Cade, Meghan,” Devlin said, his voice serious, “we cannot take two horses from your stables.”
Cade shook his head. “Spiora insisted on traveling with you, and Adhair did as well. Now, Adhair won’t be able to move as fast as Spiora, but they’ll still travel faster than you would have on foot. And, it would be good for you to have some companions along the way.”
I could tell Devlin wanted to argue, but I interrupted. “Thank you Meghan, Cade. Now, we have an excuse to come visit again after we leave the mountains.”
I smiled at Devlin, and his stern look softened.
“Very well. We thank you for your generosity.”
We mounted, Devlin much more gracefully than I. Leaving Luathara was going to be harder than I thought, but we couldn’t stay forever. I needed to find my family and figure out if I truly was Taeriehl like everyone suspected. And what that might mean for my future in Eile.
Meghan approached me and handed up a basket covered in a cloth.
“What’s this?” I asked, taking it from her.
“Food for the road. Some of the scones from this morning and dried fruit from the last harvest. Some cheese and dried meat as well.”
“Meghan! We can’t take all this!”
She crossed her arms and glared at me. Yikes. She really wasn’t that shy high school girl anymore.
I set the basket in my lap and held up my hands. “Okay, okay. You win!”
“Thank you Cade, Meghan, for welcoming us into your home,” Devlin said, as Adhair tried to reach around and lip at his pant leg. “I hope we can return soon from our journey.”
Cade nodded. “Next time, we’ll have a grand celebration upon your arrival.” He smiled at me. “Maybe I can even get my foster father to attend.”
I shot a questioning glance at Meghan. Her face was serene, but laughter danced behind her eyes. “The Dagda,” she said.
That little bit of information nearly knocked me off of Spiora’s back.
“The Dagda is your foster father?!” I hissed at Cade.
He laughed out loud. “Meghan had the same exact reaction when she found out. Wait until you discover who my real father was.”
He winked at me, and I shot Meghan another look. She simply held up her hands and took several steps back, walking right into the arm Cade held out for her.
“That information was far more difficult to come by, in my case. I think it only fair it should be the same for you,” my friend said.
Now, Devlin was laughing. I glared at him. “Something you want to share with me, darling?”
He shook his head. “Maybe later, if you’re nice to me.”
Oh, there was way too much innuendo in those words, and that look, to be considered decent. And, to think? He’d displayed it in front of other people.
Cade was laughing again, both his arms wrapped around Meghan, as he rocked her gently back and forth. “I think you two had better get on the road. But before you go, might I make a recommendation for a place to camp your first night out?”
-Chapter Sixteen-
Caelihn
The campsite Cade suggested was quite a challenge to locate. After traveling for most of the day, we found the landmarks he had said to look for. A gnarled old oak, split in half and charred from some lightning storm long ago, but both halves still very much alive. An ancient ring of standing stones with swirls carved all over their surfaces. A perfect circle of birch trees growing in the center of a wide field. When we reached an old stone cabin, now nothing but a ruin, we were instructed to find the hidden stream and follow it back into a secluded canyon. We had no idea what Cade had meant by a hidden stream, at least not until we discovered the crumbled walls of the cabin.
“There,” Devlin pointed out.
I glanced in the direction his finger indicated. A flash of flowing water suggested a stream, but it simply appeared and then disappeared again. As we drew closer, I understood why. Someone, long ago apparently, had built a primitive water channel from stone, then covered it over with stone slabs. Over time, the earth and greenery had covered it up, hiding it from the world. I smiled.
We followed the creek, well, at least the parts we could see from where the stones had caved in, and eventually, came upon a small canyon with steep walls and a wide base. Oak, beech and other broadleaf trees grew thick here, and a beautiful, almost pristine stone fortress, small but sturdy, sat upon a ledge atop the canyon wall. Narrow towers, complete with spired tops, occupied three corners of the small castle, and a staircase of weathered stone led up from the base of the canyon. The building couldn’t contain more than a few rooms, but something about it made me catch my breath. It simply pulsed with magic, and as we drew the horses nearer, a sign at the bottom of the steps read: For Travelers and Lovers and Those with Good Intentions, May you Find your Rest Here.
I glanced back at Devlin, and he shrugged. “I don’t think Cade or Meghan would send us into danger. We’ll just have to explore it carefully before letting our guard down.”
Nodding, I took a moment to study our surroundings some more. We weren’t quite on the very bottom of the canyon, but rather a narrow path that pressed into the canyon wall about twenty feet up. A steeper set of stone stairs broke away from the main one and climbed down the rest of the wall where they met up with a flagstone patio that wrapped around a pool of pale water. Intrigued, I climbed off of Spiora and moved closer.
“Robyn, be careful,” Devlin said, his voice serious.
He dismounted Adhair, dodging the horse’s attempt to lick him, and followed me.
I carefully descended the stairs and made my way toward the wide pool. It was about the size of an average backyard swimming pool, but more circular in shape. Steam rose in gentle puffs above the surface, creating a misty fog in the glen. I reached the edge of the patio and stretched out a finger.
“Robyn!”
Devlin’s voice was low but urgent.
Ignoring him, I dipped my finger into the water, then pulled it out in surprise. Devlin cursed behind me, but I turned and looked at him, my eyes wide.
He knelt down beside me and took my hand. “Are you hurt? What happened?”
I grinned. “Nothing! The water is really warm. It’s a natural hot spring!”
Once Devlin was convinced the water was just hot and not harboring some nasty Otherworldly beastie, or playing Petri dish to a flesh-eating virus, we gathered the horses and explored the rest of the place. A small stable of sorts was attached to the other side of the minute castle. Clean hay and fresh oats were waiting for the horses, as if a phantom host had readied the place for our arrival. It was the same inside: lanterns stood along the walls, the flame on the wicks low enough to flood the great room with light, but not so high they risked a fire.
The first floor of the building was composed of the large room just inside the main door, a kitchen, a dining nook and a small library. Upstairs, there was one large room and a bathroom in the style of the Otherworld. Everything looked pristine. The linens and towels were clean and smelled like fresh lavender, the furniture was dusted and the floors recently scrubbed. A small patio sat off to the side of the bedroom, the floor to ceiling doors thrown open, so that the gentle breeze outside made the gossamer curtains dance.
Intrigued, I stepped out onto the patio and glanced down. Below, the hot spring rested like an emerald and turquoise gem atop a green velvet blanket, the steam from the water making the air heavy and humid. To my right, a stone staircase traveled down the castle wall and met up with the path that led to the pool.
A rustling sound behind me tore my attention away from my inspection. Devlin stood by the enormous bed, reading a piece of paper he found there.
“What is it?” I asked.
He held it up, his eyes wide with surprise. I walked over and took the paper from him.
Dear Traveler,
Welcome to Croi Ceile, one of Eile’s many hidden wonders. Although this castle appears to be nothing but a ruined building from the outside, inside you will discover true beauty. Whatever the Traveler most needs, Croi Ceile will provide. Enjoy your stay!
I finished reading and blinked up at Devlin. He was smiling.
“It’s an enchanted castle,” he murmured. “We can stay here for as long as we wish, and no one would ever be able to find us.”
He plucked the paper from my hand and set it on one of the bedside tables, then took my hand in his and drew me forward. I gave no resistance and came to rest against his chest. I closed my eyes and sighed.
“This is a gift,” he whispered against my hair.
I took a deep breath through my nose, inhaling his scent, grateful for everything that had happened to me in the past few months. Sure, being hunted by the Daramorr, having my heart almost cut out and getting struck by Otherworldly lightning had really sucked, but I would go through it all again if it meant I’d end up in Eile with Devlin and all my friends, old and new, who lived here.
“Tomorrow, we head for the Amsihr Mountains,” he reminded me.
“And find out if I have any family left in Eile,” I finished, then added, “and discover if I’m really Taeriehl.”
Devlin began to sway, rocking me gently at first, then turning his movements into a slow dance. I let him lead me.
“Yes, we will,” he agreed. “But, tonight is ours.”
* * *
As twilight descended upon the land, I made my way out to the patio and down the stairs. I’d grabbed a towel, but I had no bathing suit. Perhaps that was something I could return to the Central Coast for, once Devlin and I were done with the Amsihria. There were so many streams and ponds and lakes in Eile, and once the days grew warmer, I was certain I’d want to go swimming at some point in time.
I took a deep breath, drawing in the moist, warm air. It wasn’t like the humid air of the mortal world, heavy with the scent of mildew and soil. This air was sweeter, more delicate. Once I cleared the last step and landed on the stone patio encircling the spring, I blinked and glanced around. Ferns of every size and variety decorated the canyon walls like moss green lace. An assortment of flowers resembling orchids, bleeding hearts and fairy bells bowed their heads softly beneath the oaks, beech, sycamore and dogwood trees that stood watch over the hidden vale.
As I approached the inviting water, I caught sight of something winking in and out of focus within the ferns. I narrowed my eyes, trying to see it better, then gasped. A soft blue light blinked brightly, then faded out on a decrescendo of glittering sparks. Before I could regain my composure, another light followed, this one pale pink, then another in an arc of golden yellow. Soon, the entire glen was filled with pale, multi-colored lights, starting out as a soft glow only to end on that same burst of glittering sparks. Lavender, turquoise, mint green, tangerine, magenta ... Every color imaginable. I was surrounded by an Otherworldly fireworks display, and it took my breath away.
“They’re called coimacrea,” Devlin said.
I jumped, not expecting to hear his voice. He was on the opposite end of the spring, reclining like a lion against the wall of the pool, only his bare chest, arms and head visible above the water line.
“But, most people just refer to them as sparklins. They are only one of many types of litterbugs.”
I arched an eyebrow and set my towel down on a stone bench.
“Litterbugs?”
He nodded. “Because normally, when they aren’t flying around in the evening, they reside in the leaf litter.”
Ah. That made sense.
“So, they’re sort of like fireflies,” I said.
Devlin gave me a curious look, so I described fireflies to him and he nodded.
I moved to shrug off my shirt, then my pants. My bra and panties would have to do as a bathing suit tonight. I wasn’t about to strip down completely. According to Meghan and Cade, there was still plenty of dark glamour floating around out there somewhere, more than ready to send some nasty beasties in our direction. The last thing I wanted to do was flee or fight for my life in the nude. True, a bra and underwear would do little to impede sharp teeth or claws, but at least I’d be able to retain some of my dignity. If it were up to me, we wouldn’t be ambushed at all, but one must always be prepared.
I folded my clothes and set them next to the towel and touched a toe to the water. It was hot, too hot to just jump in, but I knew that once I acclimated, it would be pure bliss. I sat down on the cold stones and let my legs dangle in the water for a while. From what I could tell, the patio was built far enough into the water that, should I step in and touch the bottom with my feet, the water would come up to my midsection.
“The bottom is tile,” Devlin said for my benefit. “I’m guessing someone discovered this hot spring and did a little renovating, digging out the earth and building a pool out of stones. Over time, the hot water seeped back in.”
So, most likely safe from creepy crawly things. At least, I hoped. I smiled and took the plunge, dropping into the steamy water. I gasped when the hot liquid washed over me.
Devlin beckoned me forward. “There is a ledge over here for sitting.”
Nodding, I stood up, the surface of the water reaching my ribs, and made my way over. The sparklins had increased in number by the time I was finally sitting next to Devlin, their brilliant rainbow lights filling the air. Somewhere in the distance, a chorus of crickets began chirping. At least, I thought they were crickets. Their song was more beautiful than the crickets I’d always listened to growing up.
“I wouldn’t mind that at all, caelihn,” he answered, moving his own arm so that he held me against him.
I pulled away momentarily to look him in the eye. “You know, I’ve been meaning to ask why you keep calling me that. What does it mean?”
He grinned and leaned down to kiss me. “It means ‘little bird’,” he whispered into my ear, his fingers caressing the skin on the back of my shoulder.
I furrowed my brow for a moment until I realized his fingers were playing over the image of the small robin tattooed above my shoulder blade. I smiled and gave into his embrace.
“Ah,” was all I could say.
For a few blissful minutes I simply sat there, soaking in the heat of the water, watching the sparklins dance through the mist as the crickets sang their spring song. Once again, I thought about everything the two of us had been through and wondered what fate would throw our way next. Eventually, I took a deep breath and asked Devlin something else I had been wondering about.
“Devlin?” I said, my voice barely above a whisper, “When did you decide I wasn’t just some mortal getting in the way of your job?”
He shifted beneath me, sending a flurry of ripples across the water. “What do you mean?”
I bit my lip. “I mean, when did you decide to pursue me as, well, as something more than a friend?”
He smiled. I couldn’t see it from my current position, but I could hear it in his voice when he spoke once again. “The truth?”
I nodded. Well, duh.
Instead of answering right away, he shifted and turned me, so I no longer sat nestled up against him, but stood in front of him instead. The look on his face was one I had never remembered seeing before, and it made my stomach clench with anxiety. Really, Robyn? You and Devlin have been together for a few months now. Yes, that’s not a long time, but it’s past the point that you should be nervous around the guy.
He ran his fingers through my wet hair, tilting my head back in the process, and brought his lips to brush against mine.
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