Before Lia could answer, there was a rumble of protest from her nephew, which she ignored. “You didn’t know him, Laef, or Shelah at seventeen. Then Tye and Seth arrived here in Samhayne as they were going back with Brashaen to study for their Lifeguard testing after the Wintertide Tournament. I don’t know how many mornings I woke up to three different women, Southron, shiel, and otherwise, at the breakfast table. That, of course, doesn’t count the mornings they would come sneaking in just after sunup.” A glance over Gwynn’s shoulder caught both Shae and Tye intently studying the ceiling, although both had an unusual flush in their faces.
“None of them were Laef’s guests, and neither one of us ever came sneaking in after dawn,” Shelah said smugly.
“You were hardly perfect yourself,” Lia snorted.
“What about the orphan foal that you and Seth spirited into the kitchen, because you two had decided his stall wasn’t 311
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warm enough? On the very evening we were receiving the Shiel?” Shelah’s cheeks took on the same hue of her brother Lifeguards.
“I think we are going to get along well,” Vaethen chuckled. “It’s not often I get to learn about the youthful indiscretions of my Lifeguards.”
They followed Lia upstairs and down a short hallway.
She opened a door and led them into a large sitting room.
Tall bookcases lined the walls on either side of it, and thick woven rugs covered the floors. A fireplace was on the eastern wal , and across from the fireplace was an alcove with a writing desk and a small table with an inlaid chess board.
On either side of the fireplace were two doors that opened onto the porch looking over the harbor. Through partially open doors on either side of the room, Gwynn glimpsed massive heavily carved four poster beds draped with embroidered hangings.
“Come along, little one,” Shae instructed, “I think you’ll like this.” He shouldered open the door of the last room on the left. “You’ll have to put up with cover stealing if you want the view.” He pulled the curtains back and Gwynn gasped with delight. The covered balcony continued from the east side of the house and down the back, so this room had a view of the harbor on the north too.
Shelah pointed to the door of the room across from the one Shae had entered. “Take that one, Vaethen. Tye, take your pick of the other two south rooms. Seth can have what’s left when he gets here with Cara and Laef. I’m going to claim the rooms next to Shae and Gwynn. Those two have a door between them, so we will put Cara in one of them.
Laef would not like having to come out through the sitting room to reach her should she need him. I’ll take the risk with you, Vaethen. After the last year, I know you could take care 312
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of yourself long enough for me to open two doors and cross a room.”
“Thanks for the compliment.” He let out a whistle of appreciation when he drew back the curtains at the far side of his room. “Talk about a magnificent view!”
“Enjoy it as long as you can. Once your mother arrives, all of us will probably have to move back into the royal household.”
“Don’t remind me. I like this private citizen thing.”
Gwynn had barely glanced at the room Shae picked for them, instead, rushing outside to look at the harbor. The view was indeed magnificent, and although it was a summer afternoon, the cool sea breeze was blowing strongly.
“Come along,” Lia called from the sitting room,
“lunch is waiting. I will send up one of the girls to do the unpacking for the four of you.”
Glancing at the two huge wardrobes in the room, Gwynn thought that her meager supply of clothing would probably look ridiculous in one, but at least, whomever put her things away would not have long to work at it.
After they had eaten, she ran to wash the road dust from her face and hands, put on her best blue doublet, and charged back into the sitting room where the others were discussing plans for the next few days. “Please Shae, I can’t wait any longer! Can we go now?” she begged frantically.
“Of course, kitten,” Shae laughed at her indulgently.
“Kaleb has the horses waiting.”
Once mounted, Gwynn sought the portion of upper Samhayne that housed the stately homes of the shiel. She was pleased that her new memory didn’t fail her, and she arrived unerringly at the home of the shiel Asheri. She was further delighted when the porter at the gate remembered her.
“Mistress Gwynn!” he exclaimed, “You have come back at last!”
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“Gavius! How are you? How about my father?
Asheri? Dylan?” Gwynn’s words came out in one long breathless rush.
“Well, well, well, and well,” the man chuckled while he opened the gate. “I would think you will find them in the garden this time of day, but Naideen will know better than I.”
Gwynn paid no attention to the handsome courtyard bedecked with roses climbing over the walls they entered, but Shae took in the front of a splendid home of white granite with soaring pillars. It was impossible to tell how old it was; the masons in Samhayne still followed the styles of stonework made popular during the days of the Empire. A groom took their horses, and he followed his charge up the long flight of steps to the front door. After a moment’s hesitation, Gwynn knocked on the door. It was opened almost immediately by a woman with white hair who swept her into an embrace. “Child, what a wonderful surprise. You have been gone from us too long. Welcome back to Samhayne!”
“It’s so good to see you again, Naideen,” Gwynn bubbled, remembering with sudden affection the housekeeper, who always made sure she had snow mint tea in the mornings while she had lived with her father. “Where are Asheri and my father?”
“I just took them some refreshment in the garden.
Master Dylan should be up from his nap shortly too, so he will be joining them,” Naideen said.
While they were led through a foyer tiled in honey colored marble, Gwynn realized that she had forgotten something. “Naideen, forgive me. This is Shae, Brashaen’s son, my Lifeguard.”
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“A Lifeguard? Haven’t you come up in the world? I know Mistress Gwynn; I will wager she leads you a merry dance,” Naideen told Shae.
“That she does,” he chuckled.
At the back of the entry hall, double doors opened into a perfectly manicured and well-shaded garden. Gwynn could see her father seated on a bench under a huge oak tree with his arm around the shoulders of an achingly beautiful woman with rich, dark hair, and her memories told her she was the shiel Asheri. Gryffyn had his feet up on an empty bench across from them, and their heads were close together while they looked at a book Asheri held. Naideen started to open the doors to announce them, but Gwynn stopped her.
“No, don’t, I—I want to surprise them.”
"Very well. I’ll see if Master Dylan has woken up from his nap, then.”
After she left, Gwynn stood staring through the doors with her hand on the latch. “Go on, kitten,” Shae urged gently, seeing her hesitation. “Is this not what you risked so much for? To see your father happy and in his rightful place?”
“It is, I suppose. I just want to make sure I’m not dreaming it. He looks older than when I saw him last.
There’s the smallest touch of gray at his temples,” she whispered.
“He is older, little one. He has lived seven more years of his life since then,” he reminded.
“You are right,” Gwynn breathed. “How could I forget that?”
“Probably, because it has been only a few seven nights for us.” Shae squeezed Gwynn’s shoulders. “Now go; there’s no need to wait any longer.”
She took a deep breath, threw the doors open, and ran into the garden, calling out to her father in their own 315
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language. “Da! Afalin, a enet starai! ” Shae followed more slowly, letting Gwynn a moment with her father.
At the sound of his daughter’s voice, Gryffyn had jumped to his feet, but Gwynn was moving so quickly, he had taken only a few steps forward when she launched herself into her father’s outstretched arms. “Gwynn!” The joy in Gryffyn’s rich tenor was unmistakable. “I had no idea you were coming to Samhayne!” He kissed her on the forehead, saying, “Do you know how much I have missed you, sweetheart? How much we have all missed you?”
Gwynn struggled to answer, hearing her father’s voice and seeing him look at her with recognition had overwhelmed her. “I know how much I have missed you,”
she choked past tears she could not control, “and that is enough.”
“Sweetheart,
don’t
cry,”
Gryffyn
begged,
“homecomings are a time for joy.”
“I know,” Gwynn sniffed, “but I’ve missed you more than you will ever know, I can’t help it.” She lifted her head and smiled wanly at him, “I will stop now, I promise.” She turned to Asheri and drew her into the embrace. “You are more radiant than ever, and I am so glad to see you! Please come; there is someone you both must meet.” Gwynn took both of their hands and led them to the foot of the stairs where Shae waited. “Shae, this is my father Gryffyn ap Daffyd and his lady, Asheri of Samhayne. Da, this is Shae, Brashaen’s son. For some reason, I will probably never understand, he has given me the honor of becoming my Lifeguard, but more importantly, he is my best friend.”
“It is a pleasure,” Gryffyn said, offering Shae his hand. “I have often worried over Gwynn, knowing the way the road sang to her. I am grateful to know that someone is willing to look after her.”
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Shae’s words were directed at Gryffyn, but they were really for his friend. “Gwynn’s love for you has been in every word she spoke of you. I am glad to finally meet the man she has told me so much about.”
“Please, come and sit with us. I’m certain you have had a long journey, which you must tell us about,” Asheri urged them after greeting Shae. “A shiel should be a better hostess.” She waved a graceful hand at one of the maids hovering near the porch. “Bring us something for our guests.”
Shae and Gwynn had just taken their seats when a child’s laugh pealed out like a bell. A boy with black hair and shimmering gray eyes came running across the grass, and Gwynn’s sharp nails dug into Shae’s arm when she recognized him. He leaped into Gryffyn’s lap, saying,
“Naideen told me someone special has come to visit. Who is special?”
Gryffyn turned his son around to face his guests.
“What else would you call your sister?”
“Gwynnie!” Dylan shrieked with delight, wriggled out of his father’s arms and ran to her. “You came home!”
Gwynn slid off the bench onto her knees and opened her arms, shocked at Dylan’s words while she held her brother for the first time, other than in a memory. “How can you remember me?”
“I see you in Da’s songs all the time.” Dylan raised his hand to her cheek. “You aren’t crying in them though. Aren’t you glad to see me?”
“More than you will ever know, dearest,” Gwynn said, struggling to control her voice. “But it seems that sisters sometimes do silly things, like cry when they should laugh.”
“Oh.” Dylan nodded, seeming to think that was a good reason for Gwynn’s tears.
“What am I doing in those songs Da sings for you?”
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“Sometimes, we ride with Da, or you sing to me, but mostly, you tell me how much you love me.” Dylan’s eyes grew serious. “You do love me; don’t you?”
“Of course, I do!” Gwynn drew him closer, raising her eyes to Shae, her voice whispering through his heart.
Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for your help and conviction that I could do the things that have brought me home to everyone that I love.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deonne lives on the sandbar known as Florida. She is happily married to Rory and blissfully owned by a stunning mare named Kay Kay and a demanding over-familiar tuxedo cat named Ritz.
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