by Mia Pride
Both men stood and straightened their backs. “You erred. You risked everything. You should have done many things differently, including not abducting two women and a child.” Tuathal paced once more and ran his hands through his hair. “However… you did not die. You are here. The news has been delivered and their ship has been destroyed. Furthermore, you saved an innocent lass from enslavement. You know I cannot abide the misuse of women,” he growled. “As for the rest, there is naught else we can do. I can only pray Caleb does not seek justice, for if he does, I have no choice but to give it. I cannot harbor a man’s wife and child.”
“I understand.” Brennain knew Caleb would not come looking for them. He did not care enough for them to do so. But he was still steaming mad at himself for putting her above his rational thought. Never had he allowed his emotions to affect his work. He considered this his ultimate failure.
“Is there anything else?” Tuathal snapped.
“Aye.” Reaghan dumped his satchel open and all their gold spilled out onto the earthen floor. “We did not think the gold should go down with the ship.”
“Rómánach gold coins. I have seen some in my travels, but this is a bloody treasure.”
“We thought we could melt them down and use them to make jewelry or clasps for cloaks,” Reaghan suggested.
“We can do better than that. We will keep them as coins. We may have nay use for them now, but if we lose this battle and the Rómánach steal our land, we will be in need of these coins.” Brennain nodded. Once again, he had never thought of failure as an option. He had always been on the winning side of battles, but the Rómánach were a formidable foe who had successfully taken much land over several years. There was a fair chance Ériu would lose. That thought made Brennain’s stomach sink, as if he had swallowed a boulder. His mind had been so focused on a woman and in his arrogance, he never thought losing was a reality. It was always a reality.
“I vow I will not allow my thoughts to be clouded further. I was wrong.” Brennain looked at Tuathal but was surprised to see a smile slide across his king’s face.
“Och… women have that effect on men. The moment I first laid eyes on your cousin just before I went into battle, I knew I would make her mine.” He laughed and had a faraway look on his face as he remembered the day. “I think I scared your Uncle Liam by being so determined to marry his daughter. He threatened to kill me if I took her innocence before I married her. That only made me rush her to the druid as soon as she would allow me.” He chuckled, then his face grew serious once more. “The difference, Brennain, is that when it came time to do my duty, I was focused. I did not allow my lust for Leannan to cloud my judgment. There is, however, one more significant difference.”
Brennain listened intently, knowing his king was right as usual and vowed once again to get his mind off Morna and focus on the looming battle. “What difference is that, my king?”
“I was not yet in love with Leannan. I simply wanted her in my bed. You are so lost in your love for Morna, you cannot think straight. Whatever you need to do to clear your mind… do it. Because your work is not done.”
His heart jolted like thunder in his chest and his stomach flipped over, almost knocking him on his knees. Was he that obvious? He supposed a man would not go through all he had for a woman if he was not in love… if only she could see that. His king was right… he needed to clear his mind.
“We need to gather our allies and fast. We need to alert as much of Ériu as possible, friends or foe, that we must come together as one to defeat those who would threaten our freedom. Moreover, do not forget we are in possession of not only all this gold but the ancient treasure of the Tuatha de Danann, given to your family just before the last war.”
Brennain remembered that day as if it was yesterday. His cousin Aislin had been sneaking off to a cave for years to talk with an old faery named Aldwin who she had befriended. Just before the war to help Tuathal gain the throne, a druid contacted the Sisters of Danu and tasked them with finding the long-lost relics of the ancient god-like people of Ériu, the Tuatha de Danann. The Spear of Lugh, the Sword of Light, and the Cauldron of Dagda. His family had been informed that the treasure would be essential to their victory, yet it had been missing for a thousand years. The task had seemed impossible until Aislin’s faery friend confided that he had spent a lifetime seeking the relics and had them in his possession. He offered them in trade, and Brennain’s family had become the keepers of the most ancient, valuable treasure in all Ériu. It was a heavy burden to be tasked with, but the Sisters of Danu and their family had many burdens, it seemed.
“Aye. Shall we use the treasure to aid us in this battle as we did last time? The cauldron will create unlimited food, feeding our army and you know the spear and sword never miss their mark,” Brennain said. Reaghan stood beside him with his mouth agape, clearly never knowing that the renowned relics resided right under his nose at Ráth Mór. “Close your mouth, Reaghan,” Brennain said, as he rolled his eyes. His friend complied but his eyes stayed wide.
“Not this time,” Tuathal said with a shake of his head. “If Mal or the Rómánach get their hands on that treasure, Ériu is done for. Those relics have the power of the gods in them and we would face the wrath of Danu, Lugh, and many other gods if their precious and ancient treasures fell into the hands of the enemy. We must hide them… far, far away. We cannot chance it. This is the end. I will kill Mal, or he will kill me. It must end. And these treasures must be safe. I will win or lose without them.”
A heaviness fell over Brennain. So much was at stake. “What do you need of me and Reaghan? I vow we will not stray from any task.” Reaghan nodded and straightened his back.
“We always knew we were going to be the guardians of the relics for only a short while. They served their purpose. Now it is time for us to give them back to the gods. I need you to seek out the caves of Keshcorran. Have you heard of them?”
“Aye, but only in tales. They are said to be an entrance into the Otherworld and a place of worship to Lugh,” Brennain replied, wondering why he needed to travel so far when surely there were closer caves. “Why that location?”
“There are many things I am burdened with, Brennain. Druids come through here in their travels and fill my ears with demands from the gods. I was told upon my victory over Elim Mac Conrach that someday, on the eve of a battle that would determine the fate of Ériu, we would need to give the relics back to the earth, to a place where the gods can protect it and hide it until, once more, Ériu’s freedom is threatened. A descendant of the Sisters of Danu must be the one to bury it, and it will be a descendant who will one day recover it. I was told to seek these caves, where Lugh is most honored. You are to look for the caves in the sky. It is the will of the gods, Brennain, and you are the descendant I am choosing for this task.”
A feeling of pride washed over Brennain as he finally realized he had a greater role to play in all of this, and that despite his flaws, his king still trusted him with such an immense task. Nodding, he whispered. “I will not let you down.”
Tuathal walked up and put a hand on Brennain’s shoulder. “I know you shall not. We are men, and therefore fallible. But Brennain, the blood of gods and faeries and the Danann runs through your veins. You should never bow to me, as I have told the rest of your family. I am here because of you all and your connection to Ériu is just as strong, if not stronger, than mine. I never forget that. You should not either. One day, your descendant will find this treasure and use it to further our cause. I fear that even if we win this war, there will be many more in Ériu’s future. We are but a small piece of land in an expansive world. But if we keep heart, faith in our gods, and pride in our traditions, we can continue to rebuff our enemies.”
Brennain was so overcome with emotion that he choked back a tear. He truly loved this land and sometimes forgot how powerfully he was connected to it, how powerful his family was. And indeed, as King Tuathal said, with power comes many burdens, including the bur
den to keep his people safe. If this was the task given to him, he would do it and he would succeed. “Aye, I will leave on the morrow for the caves of Keshcorran.” He felt like a bastard having to leave Morna right away, but he shook it off. He had to stay focused and see this through before he could commit himself to her. Hopefully, she would understand. They had made good progress in their bond during their travels and he hoped that would sustain them until he returned.
“Reaghan will come with you. It will take the two of you to properly do this. Go. Soon the celebration of your safe return will begin, and it may be the last celebration we have for a while. Enjoy it. You have earned it. On the morrow, you will head west toward the caves of Keshcorran, which will take you several days to get there and back. Meanwhile, I will have my men travel to spread word that the enemy arrives. Your quick thinking to burn their ship and supplies likely stalled their plans, but probably not by much. Be as swift as possible, for you may come home to war.”
Those were never words Brennain wished to hear, but he knew it was the truth. Never had he felt so weighed down. How was he supposed to enjoy himself tonight when he knew he had likely dragged Morna, Elsbeth, and Glennis into a war, and that he would be gone all the days leading up to it?
Chapter Twelve
Awakening to laughter and loud voices, Morna’s eyes popped open, remembering that she was in Brennain’s home with his family. How long had she slept? Sitting up, she stretched her back and arms, yawning as she tried to prepare to stand. She still felt stiff and sore from days of traveling, but she had at least rested well… too well it seemed. She heard male voices and wondered how long all the men had been over, and whether Brennain was back from visiting Tuathal.
Standing, she pulled the leather curtains back to exit the small private chamber but was immediately face-to-face with Brennain. She squealed and put a hand on her chest to steady her heart.
“I apologize, love. I did not mean to frighten you. I was coming to check on you.”
“Nay, ‘tis all right. I too was coming to see if you were back. I have nay idea how long I have been asleep.”
“Three hours,” he grinned and raised a brow. “You must have been exhausted.”
“Aye, I was. I am sorry I left Glennis with your mother for so long. I hope she was not put out.”
Brennain grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back slightly so she was forced to walk back into the room with him. He made a snorting sound and rolled his eyes. “Are you serious? I have never seen her happier. That woman has been wanting grandchildren for ages. Maggie will fulfill that need in a few moons, but Glennis’s arrival has been most welcome. She is being completely smothered in love, I assure you. And Leannan has fed her.”
Happiness and gratitude soared in Morna’s heart. She had only met his family for a few moments before falling asleep and already they had taken such great care of her child. She had never belonged to a group of people… not really. As the only child of her mother and father, and with her father having died while she was so young, they had mostly kept to themselves. Morna never quite fit in with other lassies, never vying for the attention of men. Sure, she had interest in men, especially Jeoffrey at one time, but never the strong, uncontrollable feeling she had for Brennain. Being here with him and meeting his family had truly made her believe they could have a future together.
A tear trickled down her cheek and Brennain frowned, guiding her toward the bed. He sat down and placed her on his lap where she felt so safe and cherished, which was quite new to her. “Why do you cry?” he asked, dragging his knuckles over her cheek to wipe away the tear.
“They are happy tears, I assure you. For Glennis to be so loved by your family and accepted so quickly. Not even her own father had ever shown her such regard.” She sniffled and buried her face in his clean, crisp tunic. He must have changed at some point and smelled so fresh, yet once again like pine and cloves. “Mmm, you smell so good,” she murmured.
He chuckled and held her to him, his heart beating against her ear. “My mother specializes in making the finest scented soaps. Being that her power over the element of earth allows her to grow anything with ease, she has nay limit to what she can produce, making her skills in high demand.”
Morna wiped her eyes and looked up at him. “I never thought to ask about your mother’s powers. I was so tired I fell asleep. She can truly control earth?” The thought seemed impossible but if she was truly a Sister of Danu, Morna supposed each of them could control an element.
“Aye. Wind and plants mostly, also soil. My Auntie Gwynneth controls water and Ceara controls fire. They are truly amazing, though I suppose I have grown accustomed to it.” He chuckled and shook his head. “You should see how Ceara affects a fire when she is angry at my Uncle Garreth. She has almost burned her house down more than once.”
Morna gaped, wondering how he could be so casual about his family’s greatness. “I would love to see your mother’s herb garden sometime. As a healer, I am quite intrigued. I assume Maggie benefits from it, as well.”
“Och, aye. Ráth Mór is the best place to be for many reasons, but my mother’s herbs are so thorough and foreign to most of Ériu. Our healers, Maggie and Elwynna, have access to almost anything they require. I shall make certain she shows you on the morrow. For now, everyone has gathered for a large meal before we go to the gathering hall. Jeoffrey and Clarice are here as well, as are Elwynna and Àdhamh.”
Her heart lifted, and she smiled with excitement. How she longed to see some more familiar faces. She missed Jeoffrey and Clarice. She also remembered Àdhamh from the trials. He was a warrior in Caledonii, where Clarice had been accused of murder. Not only was Àdhamh Maggie’s brother, but he had been great friends with Clarice and came to her defense, helping to clear her innocent name.
“Oh! I cannot wait to see them all!” She squirmed in his lap and he groaned lowly in his chest.
“You cannot move like that on my lap, lass, unless you want me to take you this very moment.” Before she could even think, Brennain had flipped her over and her back hit the bed just as his lips crashed down on hers. He tasted like mint, and the warmth of his body embraced hers. She felt as if she may catch on fire as his tongue wrapped desperately around hers. She groaned into his mouth and laced her fingers through his soft dark hair, feeling his hardness press against her thigh.
More laughter drifted down the corridor and she pushed him away reluctantly, just as his hand found its way up her dress, gliding eagerly up her thigh. “Brennain…” she groaned. “We cannot do this now. Everyone is out there waiting for us.”
He pulled away, heeding her words. She felt disappointment at the loss of his touch but still throbbed with anticipation. She hoped that tonight she could finally feel him against her, inside her, and mayhap even discuss marriage once again. She knew two years ago she wished to marry him, but now being here with his family and only briefly meeting them, she longed to be a part of it all and knew tonight she would get to know them even better. “We can… continue this later?” she whispered shyly, and nervously looked up at him through veiled lashes, chewing on her bottom lip.
The look of desire deep within his green eyes was answer enough for her. Then, his smile slipped, and her heart sank. “First, I have some things to discuss with you and if you still wish to have me, I would want nothing more. Until then, let us go out to see everyone.”
She nodded and allowed him to help her from the bed. “I find it humorous that my mother put you in this bed,” he chuckled, as he adjusted the tempting and impressive bulge in his trousers.
“Why is that?” Morna smoothed her hair and tried to make it look as if she had not just been panting in Brennain’s arms.
“Because this is my bed.” He winked. “Clearly my mother wants us to be together. She is not very subtle.”
Embarrassment flooded Morna’s cheeks. “She will think the worst of me.”
A hearty laugh escaped Brennain’s throat and it was so deep and rich it ma
de her want to pull him back down on the bed with her. “You will see. My mother and father are not at all worried about that. I was conceived well before my parents married. They were not even betrothed. She was his foster sister! Believe me, they understand love when they see it. She would never have put you in my bed if she did not know you would be my wife.” He grabbed her hips and pulled her closer.
His tongue slid along the seam of her lips and she opened to him once more. He was like an addiction that her body never wanted to give up, nor did her heart. Now that her anger at being stolen away had subsided, she could not want anything more than to be by his side for the rest of her life, watching him raise Glennis and hopefully more children. His words rang in her ears. They know love when they see it. Her stomach fluttered at the thought. Was that his way of saying he loved her? She knew it was true. No man would go through all he had for a woman if he did not love her. She had finally accepted that. Still, to actually hear the words from his lips would mean so much to her, but she could not force them, nor did she wish to say them first.
“Come, if we stay in here any longer I will lose all control.” He pulled the curtains away abruptly and dragged her out as if the chamber was on fire. She giggled and allowed him to guide her away as the laughter grew louder. It sounded as if a companionable argument ensued.
“Absolutely not. Aislin is much better with a bow than Freyne. Nay offense, mate.” She recognized the voice of Alastar, Jeoffrey’s best friend who had married Brennain’s cousin, Aislin, and she smiled. She missed his easy smile and wit.
“What? Freyne is an elite warrior for the faery army, Alastar!” As they came into view, Morna saw his cousin Alyson with her hands on her hips, a very tall black-haired man with a muscular, but slender build standing behind her with an amused look on his face.
Brennain bent and whispered in her ear. “That is Freyne, Alyson’s husband. As she said, he is a faery warrior. This is an old argument. Alyson and Alastar love to argue over whose spouse is better with a bow. Truth is, nobody ever wins, nor do Aislin and Freyne care to battle for the title.”