by Heidi Hanley
*
She awoke in a sweat, her heart pounding, tears sliding down her face. Fortunately, her restlessness hadn’t disturbed Brath. She allowed herself time under the cover of night to grieve what had never been and would not ever be.
Chapter Thirty-nine
E-U Summit
“Bri, wake up.”
“Grmmmp…” she mumbled, from under the covers.
“Come on beautiful, time to get up.” Brath peeled the blanket away from her face.
The sun was full up, shining through the windows across the bed. She opened one eye to see him kneeling beside their bed, and turned away in disgust. “Must you always look so perfect first thing in the morning?”
“Are you always so grumpy in the morning?”
Slowly the other eye opened, and she stared at this man who had taken her to the moon and back last night. He was ready for the day and regally handsome, but recalling how he’d looked during the night, eyes darkened by passion, hair made wild by her hands and lips reddened by her kisses, she thought she liked him better at night. Heat began to fill the space between her legs along with an unfamiliar ache. “Hey,” she said, “you called me Bri.”
He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “Do you mind?”
“My dad used to call me that,” she said, softly.
He pushed her over enough to stretch out beside her. “Maybe I should find another pet name. I don’t want you to confuse me with your father.”
Waking to a growing desire, she slid a hand across his lap, lightly stroking, and smiled at the result. “Why don’t you slide out of those trousers and under these covers and I’ll prove I don’t have you confused with Dad.”
He removed her hand and kissed its palm. “Trust me when I tell you there is nothing on Maker’s sweet earth I would rather do, but the faeries will be here soon, and they need their princess dressed and ready to negotiate.”
She sighed.
“I’ll make it up to you tonight.” He kissed her.
“Where’s Dara?”
“Fed and out with Jonathan.” Reluctantly, he started to rise.
“Not so fast, Your Majesty. Tell me what happened last night between you and Sigel.”
“You don’t miss a thing, do you?” He sat on the edge of the bed. “The Gray Military attacked Inis Fail yesterday. Most of the village was burned out and there are many dead.”
“Damn! You should have told me last night.”
“Sigel sent a detachment. We need to hold the faerie council as planned today, and leave tomorrow.”
The faerie council. Silas’ last day in Uisneach. She threw back the coverlet
She joined him at the table, already set for breakfast with covered dishes of leftover quiche and oat bread and butter
His eyes grew smoky again. “This is no way to start a marriage. We should be spending time alone together, not racing off to councils and battles. I’m so sorry.”
She shook her head. “Brath, you must stop apologizing for everything. We’re monarchs in the midst of war. We’ll find time later to be newlyweds.”
They were interrupted by a knock at the door. Sigel poked his head in. “Everyone decent?”
“And if we aren’t?” Briana replied.
“I’m coming in anyway, so you’d better be.”
“The king looks happy this morning,” Sigel said. He searched Briana’s face.
“The king is very happy this morning,” he confirmed, winking at his bride. “I’m a lucky man, Sigel.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty, you are. All Uisneach is lucky today.”
Briana and Brath exchanged a serious look. Well, not all Uisneach, she thought. Inis Fail is toast and Silas is leaving. Other than that, all is well.
“I hate to disturb all this marital bliss,” Sigel said, “but I bring more bad news.”
Brath instantly became king. “What?”
“We’re pushing the Gray Military back, but in the process, we’ve suffered a lot of casualties, even among the crows.”
“Damn it,” Brath swore. “Ready everyone to leave at daybreak tomorrow.” He looked meaningfully at Briana.
“Don’t say it,” she warned him. “We’ll be ready, but what will you do with Artanin?”
Sigel gave her a disgruntled look. “Good question. If I’d killed him when I had the chance…”
“We’ll bring him along,” said Brath. “He might be useful. We can’t spare any knights for guard duty, so you best assign a few strong men as his personal guards. It’s not a great plan, I know.”
Sigel nodded, still frowning.
The castle turned into a beehive of activity. Lady Isabella took charge of overseeing the household staff’s arrangements for the summit meeting and the imminent departure of the king, queen and army. Cailleach prepared medicinals and emergency treatments. Epona hustled to the barns to help Riordan with readying the horses. Silas went with Sigel to round up the knights, squires and Jonathan.
Briana and Brath had gone over the agenda for the conclave and now, three hours later, stood waiting at the portal for the faeries. Every person at Ard Darach was also in attendance, except Artanin, creating a wide arc around the gateway to Evalon.
The wind, which had blown stiff much of the day, suddenly went still. The sound of waves crashing against the cliffs became mere background noise, replaced by the haunting music of pipes and drums. Briana closed her eyes and tried to shake off the sense of déjà vu that assailed her. Focus returned as the carved stone door rolled away and music poured forth.
A troupe of faeries paraded out in their finest, adorned with shiny jewels of every color imaginable. Hundreds of them marched out with royal elegance, bowing to the King and Queen of Uisneach as they walked by. Forming a circle within the circle of Uisneachans, they waited for the last of the faeries to emerge, which happened to include the spritely Teaguen, looking glorious in an opal gown and a diamond tiara, riding a magnificent white horse that was decked out in a fine, jewel-studded bridle and saddle. The last faerie emerged, riding a matching white horse. He was the tallest of all the faeries and as shining as the sun. Briana lost her breath. His hair and beard were the same glimmering gold as his garments, his eyes as green as the fields of Ireland. A golden crown inlaid with rubies, emerald and topaz balanced atop his head. A gold mantle draped over his shoulders and fell down behind him and over his mount. At his side hung a gilded sword and a shield with the symbols of Evalon from the saddle. Briana knew immediately who this was. She curtsied as Brath bowed before Kailen, the faerie king.
“Your Majesty,” Briana greeted him. “It gives us the greatest of pleasure to welcome you and the faeries to Ard Darach.”
“Thank you, my granddaughter.”
Granddaughter? she wondered. Apparently, the faeries didn’t distinguish between the generations as humans did. She had a lot to learn about her newly discovered relatives.
He looked at Brath. “A visit long overdue.”
“Thank you for coming, King Kailen. I look forward to working with you and the faeries to rid the land of the terrible chaos being inflicted upon Uisneach by Lord Shamwa.”
The golden faerie king nodded. “Between us, we should be able to find a way to stop him.”
“We’re ready to have those discussions, but would first like to invite you to join us for refreshments. Please, follow me, Your Highness.” Brath and Kailen led the way to the castle, followed by Briana and Teaguen.
“You didn’t tell me he was still alive,” Briana chided her faerie friend.
“You knew we were immortal. I supposed you would know he still lived,” she twittered back. “Congratulations, my lady. You’re married! Is all well?”
“All is as well as it can be, given what I know is going to happen today, but Brath and I are fine.”
Following a brief party in the middle courtyard, modeled after the ones Briana saw in Evalon, they moved to the great hall. Brath called the gathering to order.
“King Kailen and es
teemed members of Evalon, we regret to inform you that we are actively at war. Last night the village of Inis Fail suffered an attack which took the lives of many of our people. Troops have been sent out and we will join them tomorrow.
“We also deeply regret to inform you that more faerie trees have been destroyed. Uisneach can only be saved by the combined efforts of all members of Uisneach society, including the faerie kingdom. Our purpose in inviting you here today is threefold.
“First, we want to create an advisory team of representatives from all five kingdoms, which would convene on a regular basis to strategize about the war and the ongoing restoration and renewal of Uisneach.
“Second, we seek military aid, both in faerie warriors and supporting magic.
“Third, we need your help in determining the best way to repopulate the faerie trees, with the seeds High Lady Briana was given when she visited Evalon. We hope to begin that process today, planting one of the seeds in the garden of Ard Darach.”
King Kailen nodded gravely. “You have prepared well for this historic convention and present a clear vision for the future. The order in which you present your plan is the sequence in which it must be accomplished. There is a fourth item I would add to the list, but I wish first to make a formal gesture to your queen, who happens also to be faerie royalty.”
Briana gulped.
Kneeling before her, Kailen pulled something out from a pouch around his neck. She gasped when she saw what lay in his hand, a stunning gold ring dotted with red and white stones, carved with ancient writing.
“It is in Evalonian. It says, ‘Queen of Faerie, Mother of Evalon, may the blessings of faerie magic pour from your heart and hands.’ As you bless us with your presence in Uisneach and Evalon, so we honor you with the symbol of your nobility.”
He slipped the brilliant gemstone on her right hand. “From this day forward, High Lady Briana, Tuathla of Evalon, you represent the interests of Evalon in this world. Any decisions that involve the faeries will require your consent, as well as mine. May Maker, who is the source of all life and magic, bless it so.”
Cheers went up and Briana shook her head, unable to take it all in. Royalty in two kingdoms! This is nuts, she thought. Seeing the joy in the faces all around her, she realized she must accept gracefully. “I am honored, Your Majesty. I humbly accept with a promise to do my best always for the good of Evalon as well as Uisneach.”
The faerie king bowed once more and resumed his place at the table. “Now that the tuathla of Evalon is formally in attendance, let me respond to your items.”
Teaguen was appointed to be the faerie emissary for what would henceforth be known as the Evalon–Uisneach Council, or EU Council. Her role as liaison would require her to travel back and forth between the realms with information. Brath and Briana would jointly represent Dromdara. Sir Thomas would speak for Tynan Ibor, and Cailleach for Appleduir. They would need to find a delegate from Cedarmara.
“As to warriors.” King Kailen looked around the room. “Everyone skilled with weaponry or magic will be expected to support this effort, as needed. Using Teaguen as liaison, we will help in whatever ways we can. One thousand faerie warriors will await you at Inis Fail, King Brath. If more are needed, we will send them.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Brath responded, pressing his hand over his heart. “My gratitude comes from generations of Taranians who were unable to bring this dream of a united Uisneach to fruition, but who nevertheless hoped for it and instilled the dream in me.”
A subcommittee chaired by Gomerein, a faerie Briana had met on her last crossing into Evalon, and Ayden Suleiman of Ard Darach, would work on the seeding and tending of faerie trees. King Kailen approved with a reminder. “We cannot begin this work until the land is secure enough to plant and tend without fear of retaliation by Lord Shamwa.”
“There was something else you wanted to discuss, Your Highness,” Brath prompted the faerie king.
He looked at Briana, then back to Brath. “These steps will ensure victory over the dark forces of Lord Shamwa and his minions. However, we will not be successful until the four treasures of Uisneach are brought to their rightful home in Uisneach. Two are here, the Tree of Uisneach where the dryad Nionon dwells, and the Sword of Uisneach, which High Lady Briana has in her possession. The Flaming Arrow is in Nionon’s safekeeping. The fourth treasure is the Evalon Runes.”
Brath reached under the table to squeeze Briana’s hand. She held her breath, dreading to hear the words she knew would come.
“You may have noticed a certain waning of your ability to perform magic over time,” he said, looking at Cailleach, who nodded. “When it seemed certain Evalon was at risk of losing all magic, my wife – your great-grandmother, Briana – and I agreed that she should escape through the tree with the runes. She hid them in the Hill of Uisneach, in a place called Ireland.
“The runes must be returned to complete the circle of magic in both the human and faerie worlds of Uisneach, to increase the power of those wielding magic.”
Wait a minute, thought Briana. This story isn’t adding up. “If you were separated from your wife, then how am I part faerie?” As soon as the words left her mouth, Briana blushed and desperately wished she could take them back. She’d just called the faerie king a cuckold in public!
King Kailen’s eyes hooded over. “Briana, you are my grand-daughter, in blood and name. My wife was pregnant when she left here. Sending Catriona and our unborn child through the tree was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. In addition to protecting the runes, we also believed that we needed to protect our bloodline to ensure the future of Uisneach. With our child not yet born, that meant Catriona had to go to your world. Trust me, if I could have spared her…” He let out a deep sigh. “Travelling through the tree is an uncertain venture. One never knows if they can get through until they do, and then there is no promise of return.”
Briana wanted to reach out to him when she saw his eyes water, but with a slight shake of his head, he discouraged the kindness. She bit her lip as more questions rose to the surface. He nodded, seeing them reflected in her eyes.
“Did you ever see her again?”
He shook his head. “She never found a way to come home, though she could send me messages through dreams. Catriona was not immortal. She died long ago.”
Her great-grandmother had also abandoned love and home to save a kingdom. Sacrifice was apparently built into her DNA. Briana grimaced, stealing a glance at Silas, who watched the king intently. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, turning back to the king.
She wanted to ask why he hadn’t taken another wife and had more children, but figured that she’d used up her get-out-of-jail card already. “Won’t you be king forever?”
“I could be, but even immortals get tired after a few thousand years, dear heart.” A twinkle in his eyes finally chased away the sorrow. “I might just decide to abdicate my position someday for a new generation of faerie.”
“Are there any other descendants in Ireland?” Brath asked
“Surely so, but I don’t know who they would be. I only know you because you arrived through the tree when the prophecy was meant to be fulfilled.”
Briana’s eyes widened. “There are other descendants. My mother’s parents live in Tullamore, which I believe is not that far from the Hill of Uisneach. This is just bizarre. I wonder if my grandmother knows where she came from? She must. I think she would be Catriona’s daughter. Surely she would know about the runes.”
“But not necessarily where they are,” King Kailen pointed out.
Cailleach stood. “It’s all there in the prophecy: ‘From hill to hill an ancient symbol taken. Two worlds collide in time, treasure lost is now to find.’ All we need is someone to go back through the tree and find the runes.”
“I’ll go,” Silas volunteered.
A collective gasp circled the room, followed by dead silence. Nausea washed over Briana in waves and when she opened her eyes, Silas was sta
ring at her, looking shocked at his own words.
Finally, King Kailen spoke up. “You make a brave offer, Silas of Cedarmara, to take this uncertain voyage.”
“I believe I can get through, and it would be a privilege to play some part in Uisneach’s healin’.”
“Silas, you can’t go,” a child called out. “Who will be our bard?”
Silas smiled kindly at the little girl, but turned back to Briana when he answered, “I have to go.”
You will break my heart.
He subtly clasped the warrior bone hearts he still wore around his neck. Bruise it perhaps, but it cannot be broken.
Several hours and flagons of wine later, King Kailen rose and turned to Brath, who had likewise stood. “On behalf of Evalon, I thank you, King Brath,” he said, “and Queen Briana, for your wisdom and courage in creating this council, and for your hospitality. It is time for us to return, but the agreements we’ve made are an assurance to the entire kingdom that Uisneach is in good hands. We look forward to working with you to destroy Lord Shamwa and restore Uisneach to her former glory.”
Turning to the bard, he said, “And to you, Silas of Cedarmara. You go with our blessing and hope that you find the runes. We wish you a safe journey. Peace to you, friend.”
Silas bowed to the king.
“King Kailen, there’s one final thing,” said Brath. “As a sign of unity and commitment between us, Queen Briana would like to plant one of the faerie tree seeds in the garden here at Ard Darach. Would you do us the honor of joining us in this ceremony?”
“It would be an honor to plant a tree with my granddaughter.”
Brath led the faeries to a plot Briana had prepared for the occasion, an area protected from the ocean wind by a semi-circle of small junipers that grew against the stone wall of the fortress. Around this were several circular stones that reminded her of Evalon, a large dish-shaped boulder that served as a perfect bird bath, and a longer, rectangular boulder for sitting.