by Heidi Hanley
“Briana, you’ve done wonders with this garden in a remarkably short time,” Brath whispered to her. “I’m impressed.”
“I had lots of help,” she replied, nodding towards the head gardener. Moving that boulder had required him, several men, and a horse. She couldn’t guess how many hours he’d spent polishing the stones.
Everyone circled around Briana. She reached into her pocket to pull out the packet of seeds. Brath took a wooden shovel and scooped out a hole.
Briana and Kailen stepped forward. He reached for her hand, the one holding the seed. Clasping it in both his hands, and uttering Gaelic-sounding words she didn’t understand, he offered what she assumed was a blessing.
Following the consecration, he explained the meaning of his words. “May this tiny seed grow full and ripe with magic. May it be for all a symbol of peace between the kingdoms of Uisneach. Let it grow taller and stronger with each advancement toward a reign of harmony. Let it be known that when the faerie tree blooms, it is once more safe for magic to flourish in Uisneach.”
Stepping back, he nodded for Briana to set the seed. Seeing the purple pod nestled into the moist, dark dirt, Briana silently offered her own prayers for its successful germination and growth. Brath then covered the seed with soil before standing back with the others.
It seemed right to stand by a moment and consider the action they’d just taken, the sound of wind and crashing waves nature’s benediction. Briana noticed a gleam in the faerie king’s eye. He caught her glance and winked.
The soil above the newly planted seed trembled and cracked. The tiniest sliver of green plant emerged and reached for the sun.
“Oh, my Maker!” Brath exclaimed.
Briana let out her own sound of shock.
“Well, unfortunately, we do not have years to wait for the normal growth process. It needs a little magical encouragement,” said King Kailen, with a chuckle.
Within minutes a small sapling stood in front of them, its tiny purple leaves already unfurling. When the process seemed to have stopped, Briana smiled warmly at her grandfather. “You are bloody amazing.”
The king shrugged and grinned. “Just a usual day for a faerie king. I’m certain you’ll have the same power one day. Now, just tend this young tree as you would any other. I believe it will be fully mature within a few months, though the blooming will not come until Lord Shamwa is deposed and Uisneach is free of his evil.”
Brath turned and led the faeries back to the portal. He and Kailen exchanged a few words before the faerie king stepped close to Briana. “You and I will meet again, granddaughter. I could not be more proud to see the beauty of my legacy. There is a light in your eye for the work you do for Uisneach, which I am happy to see, since I know it came at a cost.”
“There is no cost too great for Uisneach and Evalon,” she replied, with a sincere smile.
The faeries departed to the mournful sounds of the Uilleann pipes and drumming.
Brath turned back to those remaining. “There’s much to do before we leave in the morning. You’re all excused to finish your preparations. Silas, I would ask you to stay behind.”
When only Brath, Briana and Silas remained, the king turned to his bard. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“I believe this is me quest to complete.”
Brath turned to Briana. “Do you agree he should go?”
She blinked back tears. “If Silas is willing to go through the tree for the runes, I would send him…” she swallowed past the lump in her throat, “with all the help he needs and the warm wishes of a grateful king and queen.”
“Briana, you need to spend some time providing whatever information you can to help him on the other side. Then we need to figure out who is going to be our bard in his absence. I have things I need to do with the knights, so, I suggest the two of you get busy.”
Briana looked at Brath with surprise.
He put an arm around her waist and hugged her. “Your work doesn’t involve me. I’ll see you both later. Silas, I’m worried for you. I won’t pretend otherwise. But it’s a vital task, and I deeply appreciate the sacrifice you make.”
Silas knelt on one knee before them. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve our kingdom. I’ll do me best to find the missin’ runes and return them to Uisneach.”
“I accept your pledge, Silas of Cedarmara,” Brath said. He kissed his wife on the cheek before heading for the stables, leaving Briana to walk wordlessly with Silas back to the great hall. O’Brien was busy replacing candles when they entered.
“Please bring us ale, Mary. Better yet, whiskey.”
“And tea?” the housemaid asked.
“No. Tea won’t quite cut it at the moment.”
When O’Brien was out of the room, Silas and Briana stared at each other.
“You weren’t surprised.”
“No. Teaguen told me it would happen when I went to Evalon this last time.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You needed to choose to go on your own. And quite frankly, I hoped you wouldn’t.”
“You know I have to go, Briana.”
She stared at her hands and nodded, wiping away a solitary tear. “I’m so sorry, Silas. Now our choices have put you in danger. I’m not sure it’s worth it.”
“I know now I can’t spend the rest of me life watchin’ the two of you fall in love. And you can’t be worried every second that I’m goin’ to see somethin’ that hurts me.”
She didn’t respond.
“So, tell me everythin’ I need to know,” he said, clapping his hands to his knees.
Voice failing her, she switched to telepathy. Find my mother. She’ll help. She’ll get you to my grandparents in Ireland and they might also help. Tell her I love her, I miss her terribly and… She paused, studying every inch of Silas’ face, wanting to commit every laugh line and every blue pixel in his eyes to memory. Tell her she’s looking at the man who holds my heart in his hands.
His eyes welled up. I’ll tell her you’re well, happy and a wonderful queen. And I’ll tell her I love you more than all the ale in Uisneach.
She laughed, then they smiled at each other and got down to the business of preparing him for life in the world she came from.
Over the weeks of their journey, she’d told him many things about her world. Now she focused on things to make his transition easier. She told him about money and the basics of good manners. Mundane details about taking a shower, taking out the trash, operating a microwave and the toilet seemed odd, but they were little things that would help him. At one point she went quiet.
“What’s wrong?”
Sadness sprung up like a fountain in her chest. “If you find someone you care about…” she had to pause and choke back the mental picture, “and you decide to become intimate with her and aren’t ready to have children…” After several attempts, she explained birth control.
His eyes practically bugged out. “Really? That’s bloody amazin’, but,” he said, not likely to happen. My heart’s already taken.
Well, I don’t want you to be lonely. Part of me hopes you do find someone to love.
And the other part?
Would rip her face off.
“I believe you would.” He asked, “What about the tree, Briana? Is there anythin’ I need to know?”
“I’ve told you what happened to me, but I have no idea if you can even get in, much less what your experience would be.”
They hadn’t realized how much time had passed until Brath entered the room, lit a candle and sat down beside her, across from Silas. “Did you come up with an idea for a temporary bard?”
“Based on what Briana’s said, Ripparivendar is the obvious person, but gettin’ him here will be tricky,” Silas said.
“There’s no one to train him,” Briana pointed out.
“Yes, there is,” Silas said, smiling at her. “You.”
“Me? Are you crazy? I can’t train him to be a bard.”
“So you do plan on coming back?”
“I hope to. I need to bring the runes back, aye?”
Servants began to arrive with food. Soon the room filled with hungry men and women. Discomforting quiet filled the hall as people ate, trying not to think of the coming changes.
Silas broke the pall with a cheerful offer. “How about a song for the road?”
He received mixed responses, but continued as he did every other night, moving to the center of the room and said, “Tomorrow, men and ladies, we leave for Inis Fail. You’d do well to remember what and who you battle for.” Banging out a few licks on the drum, he began Uisneach’s fighting song.
“Across the veil a sign appears,
A hero’s call to arms.
A crown to save and nation free,
Release from evil charms.
Will you come?”
“Yes, we will!” they shouted, of one accord.
Come, a mhuirnin, sing with me this last time.
She hesitated only a moment then decided if she was going to step into the role of bard, if only temporarily, they might as well get used to it. She rose and moved to stand beside him, putting on her warrior-queen persona.
“Crossroads coming, make a choice,
Remain and die, or fight.
Your hearth to leave, the future calls,
Hide no more – your battle cry.
Between the tree and standing stones,
Your destiny awaits you.
To save the ways of older days,
For Uisneach’s sake, we’ll try or die!”
Voices rang out, ready for the campaign. For a few moments, most of them forgot that their beloved bard would be going on a different journey. Briana and Silas did not forget, but did their best to keep everyone’s spirit up, including their own.
The evening ended on a high note. Back in their room, Briana and Brath sat in silence, listening to the crackle of the fire, until Briana said, almost to herself, “Mother never told me there would be days like this.”
“My mother did,” he reflected back. “I didn’t believe her.”
“Brath…”
“Briana…” he said, at the same time, and smiled.
“You first,” he said.
“Thank you for giving Silas and me the time to say good bye.”
“I can’t pretend to be so gracious. You needed to prepare him and to say your good byes, but I won’t say I wasn’t anxious about it the entire afternoon.”
“Why?”
He walked over to the table and poured two glasses of whiskey. He handed a glass to her, then sat down. “I worried that you’d rethink your decision and go with him.”
Sipping the fiery liquid gave her a moment to consider her response.
“I won’t lie to you. I care deeply for him, but he and I have always known our feelings for one another were one fiber of a much bigger tapestry.”
“I suppose I’m another fiber, and the tapestry is Uisneach.” At her nod he continued. “I’m a patient man, Bri, but I’m not sure I can live forever knowing you love another man.”
“Brath, we came into this relationship with no love for each other. I’d say we’ve come some distance from that point. Can’t you allow that we are a work-in-progress and let our shared vision and affection guide us forward?”
He sipped his drink and studied her. Setting the drink down, he put a hand to her cheek. “I love you, Briana. If time is what you need to let your love for me grow, I’ll give you that.”
She leaned into his palm. “Thank you. And now, Your Majesty, it’s been a long day, with a big day ahead of us. Do you think we might go to bed?”
They settled behind the canopy curtains, keeping a hair’s breadth between them, neither saying anything. Briana turned to her husband. “You probably don’t feel much like making love after today, but would you be willing to just hold me? I need to be close to you.”
He pulled into his arms and laid one hand on her belly, making little circles with his fingers. “I have no reservations about loving you, Briana. I thought you might be too tired or sore. If you want…”
Putting her lips to his effectively moved them from thinking to feeling. While one part of her heart was breaking, another had opened and was hopeful that the dream of Uisneach would come true.
Loving came gently, and when they spiraled up together in ecstasy, she called out his name. He brought her back to earth with feather-light caresses. Calm and certainty stole over her.
She leaned up on one elbow and put a hand on his face. “My timing may be off, but I want you to know something.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m beginning to understand why you were in my dreams. I didn’t expect to, but every day, every moment, I find one more reason to fall in love with you.”
“Your timing is perfect, Bri.” When he pulled her against him, she let her head rest against his strong and steady heartbeat, finding a new place of comfort and peace.
Chapter Forty
Farewells
Horses snorted, men shouted, dogs barked, children ran about yelling with excitement, and women cried softly as husbands left with quiet reassurances that they would return.
But we might not, Briana thought, anxiously. Wearing her warrior tunic and breeches with Nua strapped on, and with her baldric and shield hooked to the saddle, she sat astride a calm and ready Banrion. Jonathan sat beside her on Andromeda, his eyes wide with anticipation for his first official assignment as Protector of the Queen. Pride dripped from every inch of his boyish frame. Dara stood quiet and alert beside them. She looked around at the group. Cailleach looked odd sitting on a horse, unnatural in breeches and tunic, though both were more practical for her journey with Silas back to Appleduir and the magical oak tree. After Silas volunteered, she’d convinced the king that Briana was healer enough to serve the troops, and she’d do more good by using her magic to help Silas get through the tree.
Sir Thomas, Lady Isabella and Epona were returning to Winge Mansion, though Sir Thomas promised to join the troops later if needed. Sigel trotted up and down the line of men, checking and double-checking everything.
Brath gave final orders before mounting Ruark, whose pre-battle energy was the exact opposite of Banrion’s. Men took formation and Briana sought Silas once more, hoping against hope he would change his mind.
He stared at her with a strange, faraway look in his eyes.
What is it? Her heart skipped a beat.
Nothin’.
“Bri– are you ready?” Brath moved Ruark up beside her, every line in his face taut.
“Are you nervous?” she asked, suddenly realizing they had barely talked of what was to come.
“Only about taking you with me. I wish you’d stay.”
She shook her head. “Not happening.”
“I know.”
Sigel cleared his throat. “Shall we get on with it?”
“Ready, men?” Brath asked, facing his army. A roar rose up in response. “Silas of Cedarmara, present yourself!”
Silas, seated on Aldebaran, his shield and bow secured to his back, moved to the front, and the drums began to boom. Silas, and the king moved forward as Uilleann pipes joined the tattoo. The bard’s voice rang out:
“Voices are calling.
Drums are beating.
Pipers are playing.
The time is now, the time is here.
Come men of Uisneach,
King and Queen,
Noble steeds and hounds.
We ride today and raise the fear.
We ride as one, we ride for you.
Shamwa, beware our mighty force,
Our battle cry, your deathly declaration.”
He continued with a f
ew more stanzas about their mission, the king and queen and the brave men of Uisneach, to which Briana and Epona shouted, “And brave women!”
Silas smiled and repeated, “And a brave woman, the beloved Mouse of Prophecy and Queen of Uisneach!”
As the men proclaimed their loyalty, Silas moved to the back of the line.
The Taranian army walked under the portcullis, across the drawbridge and toward the ridge that surrounded Ard Darach. Briana’s heart pounded as they neared the crossroads that would take Silas in one direction, possibly forever, and her in another, at the side of the king.
She nearly ran into Ruark when Brath stopped at the boulder and dismounted. Silas, Cailleach and the Winges followed suite.
“I’ve said my good byes,” Sigel grunted, and led the company ahead.
Briana slid off Banrion onto shaky legs. Sir Thomas and Lady Isabella both hugged her.
“When things settle down, you must come for a visit.”
“We will,” she replied. “If things ever settle down.”
“I don’t think I can do this,” Epona said, misty-eyed, as she squeezed her friend tightly. “Take care.”
Cailleach embraced Brath, then wrapped Briana in her arms.
“Make sure he gets through safely,” Briana whispered in the witch’s ear.
“I’ll do what I can. It’s mostly up to the tree, aye?”
Cailleach mounted her horse and turned in behind the Winges.
Brath reached out a hand to the bard. “Thank you, Silas of Cedarmara. You go with our prayers. We look forward to the day your sunny smile brightens Ard Darach once more.”
Briana knew he was sincere. They were like brothers, and she regretted being a wedge between them. It took every ounce of strength in her body not to weep.
Taking her hand, Silas kissed her ring. “I will not fail you or Uisneach. The runes will be returned.”
The peculiar turn of phrase jolted her. You’re not coming back, are you?
After a moment’s hesitation, he said, I hope to, Your Majesty.