I massaged the diamond on my necklace and gripped it tight, accepting its offering. Then I thought again of Sean. I raised my face and stared at the sun, hoping that we shared the same rays. “Maeia, come here,” I told her, waving my arm.
Reluctantly, she wandered back to me. I dug in the grass, found a soft root, and offered it to her before riding back to the stable.
~ O ~
Father was home. He and mother were arguing near the fireplace when I walked through the back door. I knew it was about me, and had never liked hearing them yell, so I whisked past them, hoping to avoid trapping myself in their conversation. It didn’t work.
“Rhiannon,” said Father. “His voice was firm, but sad.
I stopped at the foot of the stairs and turned. “Yes, Father?” I knew better than to stand there. I returned to the dining room. “What is it?”
Mother offered me a kiss on the cheek before retreating into the kitchen.
Father removed a pipe from his pocket and twisted it in his hands. “The Elders met this morning.”
“I know.” I tried to sound braver than I felt. “What did you discover?”
“Sit down.”
I hesitated, suddenly fearing his answer, but chose a seat on the bench. My hands trembled.
“We met with the Elders of Morgan. They say they know nothing about the attack.”
I held my hands tight and shifted on my seat. “Has anyone else come forth with information?” I asked.
Father shook his head.
My lips quivered. “What did the Elders of Morgan say?”
“Nothing.” Father replaced the pipe in his pocket. “They don’t know where Sean was taken. They don’t know who attacked his family.”
“But Cael said it was Morgan,” I said, wiping my eyes defiantly. “He was there. That’s who attacked them. He saw their markings.”
Father pulled back his chair, sat in it, and then leaned forward toward me. “I understand that,” told me. “But Morgan denies involvement.”
“Their Elders are wrong,” I said. “Maybe it wasn’t at their orders. Maybe it was someone who wanted to cause trouble, or maybe—” I paused. “Maybe their Elders don’t want us to know they took him.”
“Rhiannon, stop!” Father glared at me. “We don’t know that.”
I wiped my face. “What are you going to do?”
“We’re organizing a search,” he said. “Some of the younger men will travel over the mountain. It’s possible that Sean may have run into trouble while on his quest for Maeia.”
I nodded, partially accepting his answer. “Will anyone look across the lake?” I asked.
Father shook his head. “No. We risk war if we seek him there.”
“Oh.” My mouth was dry.
Mother returned and placed both hands on my shoulders. “They’ll find him, dear,” she said. “Trust the—”
Someone pounded on the door. Father rubbed his beard and stood, but Ethan’s voice from upstairs stopped him.
“I’ll get the door,” Ethan yelled, thundering down the steps.
I held my breath while the door heaved open.
“Rhiannon!” Ethan yelled. “There’s a messenger to greet you.”
I leapt from the bench.
“Let the lad in,” yelled Father. “Don’t make him wait outside.”
My heart pounded its anticipation while I waited for the messenger. The air seemed to lift. Even the smoke felt thinner. The front door banged closed. Ethan wandered into the dining room, followed by Gavin Tully.
“Hello,” I said, eagerly. “Who sent a message?”
Mother inhaled, as if she wanted to speak, and then walked to the kitchen. Ethan scampered under the table and chose a seat on the bench in front of the window.
Gavin smiled. “Owen Dorsey requests that you visit his home today. Cael Bauer needs your help.”
I moaned, ineffectively hiding my disappointment. “Okay, thank you.” My head felt heavy again. “Is that the whole message?”
“Yes,” said Gavin.
Mother handed him a goblet. “Here, young man. Have some cider.” She wiped her eyes as she returned to the kitchen.
“Thank you,” said Gavin, taking a large sip.
“What does Cael need?” Father patted the boy on the shoulders.
Gavin shrugged.
“He probably realized that I was right about his cuts.” I squeezed my hands together, wrenching my frustration. “I’ll prepare my things.”
I sighed and wandered into the kitchen. I opened the small cupboard near the window. Mother helped me remove several small flasks while Gavin, Ethan, and Father chatted in the dining room.
“You should make some liquid night,” she said, placing a jar carefully on the counter. “I’ll wager he could use the energy.”
“It needs most of the day to simmer,” I told her. I found the flask of whittle leaves I was looking for and set it aside. “I’ll make him some winter tea. That will do fine.”
We replaced the other flasks in the cupboard as Leila came downstairs. Her hair was dripping onto her shoulders and the back of her dress.
“Are you going somewhere?” she asked. She noticed the messenger. “Hello, Gavin.” She turned back to me, surprised. “Were you summoned?”
Mother walked Leila into the dining room. “Rhiannon is leaving to care for Sean’s brother. You may help me prepare the evening meal.”
Leila grunted a protest, but a loud warning from Father ended her argument. I wrapped the two flasks in soft linen and tucked them into one of the small satchels hanging on the kitchen wall. After Gavin offered his goodbyes and thanks for the cider, Ethan led him to the front door.
“I’ll walk with you to the Dorsey home if you want,” said Father, searching the cupboards.
I retrieved his goblet from above the plates. “I’ll be okay,” I said, handing him his cup. “I’ll ride Maeia across the meadow.
Father nodded. “That’s a good idea. No trouble can find you that way.”
~ O ~
Maeia stood in the same spot near the stable where I had left her. I dressed her again and soon we were speeding across the open field. This time, I ducked behind her neck as she ran—shadows from drifting clouds made the air cooler than earlier.
When we arrived at the eastern edge of the field, I leapt from Maeia, offered a brief thanks, and climbed under the fence. “Wait for me, girl.” I said to her, before ducking under the low branch covering Nia’s hidden trail; from there, it would be a quick walk through the forest to her home. I hustled through the brush and swept past the iron gates guarding Nia’s home.
“Our message found you.” Nia smiled as she opened the door. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” I said, offering a smile to indicate my truth. “Where’s Owen?”
“He’s at the dock, working with the men,” she said, closing the large door behind me. “Cael is in here.”
Down the hall, I could see Sean’s brother pacing near the fireplace. His eyes lit up when he saw me. I smiled back. It was good to see him feeling better.
“So, you’ve decided to let me fix you correctly,” I said as I walked into the large living room. “I hope you’re ready for more pain.”
“Oh, no,” he said, waving his hand and shielding himself behind one of the couches. “You’re not touching me with that stuff again.”
I stopped smiling. “The message said that you needed my attention.” I removed the satchel from over my shoulder. “I’ve brought my things.”
Cael slid around the couch and flopped onto it.
“It’s obvious, you’re feeling better,” I told him. “Let me see your ear. It looks swollen.”
“Come and sit,” he told me, motioning to the empty space on the cushion next to him. “I need your help with something.” He touched his ear and tried to hide his wince by turning. “I’ll be fine.”
Nia shrugged as I questioned her with my eyes. She followed me toward Cael. He was too friendly,
too buoyant. I watched him cautiously and chose a seat on the plush chair next to the couch. Nia stood next to me.
“It’s okay,” he said, “I’m feeling better—thanks to you.”
“Did he have any of your father’s wine?” I whispered to Nia.
She shook her head.
“No, I’m not drunk,” said Cael.
I looked down, embarrassed that he had heard me. “I’m happy to see that you’re feeling better,” I said. “Has Owen given you updates about Sean?”
Cael’s face tightened. “Yes, he told me about the council.”
I looked at Cael, wanting to ask what he thought, but feared his answer. As I took a deep breath of courage, he spoke again.
“You think it’s a bad idea,” he said. “You don’t believe the Elders are doing enough to find Sean.”
“I didn’t say that,” I retorted, annoyed at his accuracy.
Cael leaned forward. “You wanted to say that. I could tell by your eyes. Hey,” he said, “it’s okay to doubt them. You’re not perfect.”
This wasn’t the conversation I had wanted.
“Cael, why did you ask my father to send a messenger?” asked Nia, sternly. “What do you need?”
“Some friends have told me things,” he said. “I have more information.”
Nia and I glanced at each other in surprise.
“What is it?” I asked. “What did they tell you?”
“They made me swear to secrecy,” he said. “I took an oath not to share it with anyone.”
The tiny spark of hope that he had just created disappeared. The promising word of a man in Aisling was his entire worth; if he broke it, he was nothing. I lowered my head to the palm of my hand and groaned.
“I know this is important to you, Rhiannon. You want to find Sean as much as I do.” Cael leaned forward again and whispered. “That’s why I want to tell you.”
“You can’t break an oath,” said Nia. “If you’ve given your word, you must keep it.”
Cael nodded. “I know. But my brother’s life is at risk, and his future bride is in pain.” He pointed at his ear. “I’m willing to do what it takes to avenge this.” Cael pointed at Nia. “If you don’t want to hear it, then you can leave.” He turned to me. “If you wish to know, I’ll tell you.”
Nia looked at me, shaking her head. “No, Rhiannon.”
“I’ll need your help,” Cael said. “That’s why I asked you to come.”
I took a deep breath. “But if you’ve promised not to say, why do you risk telling me?”
Cael paused, interminably, then covered his face with his hands.
“Cael?” I asked. “Are you okay?”
He nodded. “I’ll be fine.” When he looked up, his eyes were red. “I need your help to save Sean,” he said. “I understand that you’re trying to protect me, but this is more important than honor.”
“Honor is everything,” I said, shifting in the chair. “I won’t ask you to break an oath.”
“Then don’t ask.” He leaned forward. “But if something happens to us—myself and Sean, I need you to know what happened.”
Questions swirled dizzily in my mind. I looked down and closed my eyes to fight back another wave of tears. Cael was right; I needed to know what he had to say.
“Rhiannon, don’t,” whispered Nia. She rested her hand on my shoulder. Nia must have known I was wavering.
I shuddered. I needed his answer. “What do you know?” I asked, lifting my head. “Will it help Sean?”
Cael nodded. “I think so.”
“Nia,” I said, “I’m going to relax here and warm myself by the fire for a moment before returning home.”
“I’m taking a walk,” she said, flashing a glare back at me. She turned to Cael and pointed. “You shouldn’t do this.”
“I’m trying to save my family,” he said, “and there’s no one else I can trust.”
“Trust your friends,” she said defiantly, while walking toward the hall. “If they know something, they should tell the Elders.”
“They don’t believe in the Elders,” Cael said.
Behind me, I heard the door closing. Nia was gone. I stood and walked toward the fire, welcoming its warmth. Cael shifted on the couch, making the leather stretch loudly. I watched the thin flames and focused on the crackling of the wood, trying to forget the darkness of the moment.
“I haven’t lived a privileged life like you and Nia,” Cael told me. “My friends aren’t always honest. They deal with a breed of men most villagers will try to avoid.” He paused. “But they are my friends—and I depend on them.”
I pulled my cloak tighter and selected a small log from the base of the wall. I placed it carefully in the flames, and kept listening.
“I know where Sean is.”
I spun around. Cael was peering at me over the top of the couch.
“He is in Morgan.”
“Tell the Elders,” I said. “Tell them what you know.”
“I can’t tell the Elders. They’ll kill him if I do.”
“What?” I felt the blood drain from my face.
“You know that Owen trades with Morgan,” said Cael. “Today, one of their traders gave my friend Rance a message.”
“Rance?” I asked.
“Yes, do you know him?”
I nodded. “He’s Cecilia’s youngest brother,” I said. “I didn’t know that he worked for Owen.”
Cael’s face was stoic.
“What was the message?” I asked. “Is Sean safe?”
“His captors won’t release him,” he said, shifting again on the couch. “I don’t know if he’s okay.”
I left the fire and sat on the couch next to Cael. “What else did they say? Why can’t you tell the Elders?”
Cael shook his head. “They want a ransom. They said they won’t let him leave until I get them what they were looking for.”
I leaned closer. “What is it?
“The Fae Scrolls.”
The pain that had twisted my stomach released its grip and flooded my body with numb despair. There was no hope now, no chance of seeing Sean again.
“He’s lost to me then,” I said, covering my face and shaking my head. “He’s lost. Why did you bring me here to tell me that?” I was sobbing. “Why didn’t you tell Owen?”
“I’m sorry,” said Cael. “They made Rance take an oath. If we tell the Elders, they’ll kill him and start a war.”
“Are you certain they want the scrolls?” I looked up. “They’re sacred to us, not to Morgan. The scrolls mean nothing to them.”
“That’s what they demanded,” said Cael, leaning close enough that I could smell the remnant trace of Aurelia leaves on his neck. “Please don’t say that Sean is lost—he’s not. I’m going to get him back.”
“How?” I asked, lifting my face. “Are you going to tell Owen?”
“I’m going to give them the Fae Scrolls.”
“No!”
“If getting them will keep my brother alive, then I’m going to do it,” said Cael, defiantly. “Do you want him to die?”
“You dare ask me that?” I shouted, leaping from the couch. “I want Sean to live. I want him here, in this room, right now.” My fear for Sean, my fury at the injustice came to a breaking point. I blindly stumbled across the room to collapse on the couch against the far wall. “I want him safe.” I buried my face in my arms and wept at life’s cruelty.
I wasn’t aware of Cael until he sat on the edge of the couch next to me.
“I want him to be safe, too,” he said, whispering. He touched my back tentatively.
I shuddered.
“That’s why I’m going to get the Scrolls. I’m going to save Sean.”
I turned over to face him. “The Fae won’t give them to you,” I said.
“I don’t plan on asking.”
I shook my head. “You’ll never find them. They’re hidden.”
Cael chuckled wryly. “You faeries think that everything you do is s
ecret. I know they’re in the temple.”
“I can’t let you take them,” I said.
“What should I do?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
Then, something that I never imagined or wanted happened. Cael leaned close and kissed me.
Raisa Bannon
Questions took turns scrambling my mind while I wandered back through the shadowed forest. I wiped my face. It felt dirty. When I reached the meadow fence, I rested my forehead on the top rail. My hope was gone, and anguish buried any thought of peaceful days with Sean.
Maeia came toward me and nuzzled her warm nose against me. I leaned low to climb between the fence rails and reached to my hip to secure the satchel. It wasn’t there; I had left it at Nia’s home. I released a frustrated groan and climbed through the fence. I refused to go back and instead, pulled myself onto Maeia’s saddle. As she carried me across the field, I leaned close to her neck and absorbed the comfort that she offered me. It was a silent journey, and I thanked her with a quiet hug as I left her at the stable.
“How was your visit, dear?” asked Mother, as I entered the house. Everyone was already eating. “Is Cael feeling better?”
I nodded and closed the door behind me. My knot in my stomach was back. “I’m not hungry,” I said, wincing at the greasy smell of bacon gravy. “I need to rest.”
“Is everything okay?” asked Mother, sliding her chair back.
I hugged her around the neck from behind; her hair smelled like sunflower soap. “I’ll be okay,” I told her. “It’s been a tough day.”
“I understand.”
I wondered if she could. It was doubtful. Mother didn’t know everything.
“Would you like to talk, later?”
I shook my head and kissed her on the cheek. “I need a night of dreams,” I said, “to clear my mind.”
“Madeline came to visit this afternoon. You would be polite to return her call tomorrow.”
On Fallen Wings Page 18