Rebel Fay

Chapter Twenty-Two

Magiere ran beside Leesil, and a part of her still doubted such sudden good fortune. Their journey into her own past in Droevinka had uncovered horrific circumstances surrounding her birth. Their passage through the warlands and Leesil's past in Venjetz had only led to anguish and murder.

She'd hoped the journey into the elvenTerritories would be different, and now it seemed Leesil would have what he wanted. The outcome was better than she had dreamed possible. Nein'a had been released with no bloodshed, and they were all promised safe passage out of the elves' lands to any destination they chose.

All they had left was the issue of Welstiel's artifact, though Magiere had little idea where to begin. Then they could go home.

Brot'an and Chap led the way, with Wynn in the center. Leesil and Magiere brought up the rear. Magiere wasn't certain how she felt about Nein'a's company, but she pushed the doubt away. Only Nein'a's freedom mattered now-or rather Leesil's relief from his long years of guilt.

"Do you know where you are going?" Wynn called to Chap and Brot'an.

Chap yipped once and tossed his head without slowing. Magiere saw a flash of white in the brush to her right, and then two more of silver-gray among the trees.

"How long have they been with us?" she called out.

No one answered, and they jogged onward at a pace meant for Wynn's short legs.

"How do you think she'll take it?" Leesil asked. "Finally being free?"

"What?"

"My mother.She's been trapped here so long… I wonder if she'll even believe it at first."

"Leesil-" Magiere began.

A hissing in the air broke her attention as Brot'an turned and started to duck.

A darting pale shaft struck the back of his head. He pitched forward and crashed limply to the earth.

Magiere dodged the other way, as Leesil grabbed Wynn's cloak and pulled her behind a tree. Magiere peered back the way they had come. Leesil jerked out one winged blade as she pulled her falchion.

Chap had vanished, but Magiere knew he'd be close by. She watched for movement but saw nothing in the forest.

"He's been shot," Wynn whispered, and started to crawl toward Brot'an's prone form.

Leesil pulled her back.

Magiere couldn't see Brot'an's face, but he wasn't moving. Beside him lay an arrow on the ground. It hadn't sunk in on impact-good fortune perhaps, but that didn't seem likely.

She hesitated at letting her hunger rise, but she did it. As her night sight widened, she focused upon the fallen arrow.

In place of a narrow pointed head was a blunt gray ball of metal. Whoever had fired it wanted Brot'an left alive.

"Is he breathing?" Magiere whispered.

Wynn craned her head. "Yes."

"Aruin'nas?" Magiere asked, and looked back down the path.

"I don't see anyone," Leesil answered.

A soft thud.Magiere whirled back.

A figure clad in gray-green stood between her and Brot'an, with a stiletto in each hand. Amber eyes fixed upon Magiere. Even with the wrap across the figure's face, Magiere recognized those eyes.

Freth charged straight for Leesil before Magiere could move.

Leesil was forced to duck into the open to get clear of the tree, and Freth lashed out a booted foot into Wynn's head.

Magiere heard a snapping sound at the impact. "No!"

As Wynn twisted and fell into the brush, Chap leaped through the leaves above her and closed on Freth.

In the corner of Magiere's vision, someone dropped from above behind Leesil.

En’nish crouched with her overlong stilettos in hand.

Magiere halted in hesitation over whom to go after.

Good fortune was nothing but a fool's faith. If it wasn't the undead, it was the Anmaglahk coming at them from the dark.

Leesil sucked in a sharp breath as Freth's foot collided with Wynn's jaw. The little sage topped into the brush. He heard either the crossbow or the quarrel case on her back crackle under her weight. Then Chap lunged out over the top of her, charging at Freth as Magiere skidded to a halt, looking in his direction.

A glint of bright metal flickered in the corner of Leesil's vision. He whirled to see En’nish coming at him from him behind.

Leesil twisted away.

Her long stiletto pierced the shoulder of his cloak. She turned sharply, her body like the handle of a twin whip. The movement drove her lead arm onward as the other came under and up. The first blade tore free of his cloak, passing his head. The second arced upward for his throat.

Leesil swept his winged blade upward, catching En’nish’s rising stiletto on its top edge. As he brushed her thrust up and away, she seemed to ride his momentum into the air.

Her foot touched a tree trunk, and she pushed off. Leesil spun around as she came down behind him, his blade on guard. En’nish’s long, narrow stiletto screeched along the wing of his punching blade.

She was sweating. Her face was twisted with rage, and the suffering in her eyes was too familiar.

He'd seen it before, as he crouched upon the frozen ground outside of Venjetz, clinging to the skulls of his father and what he'd first believed was his mother. Only the face he saw then was Hedi Progae, who sought vengeance for her father, Leesil's first kill for Darmouth.

He was tired of killing. He didn't want to be anyone's weapon anymore.

En’nish rushed him, twisting like a cat to get inside his blade's reach and strike for his chest or throat.

Leesil spun with her, letting her lower blade skid over his hauberk as he parried the upper one. He slammed his empty hand into the side of her ribs.

En’nish tottered off balance as she swept past, but she pivoted with a scissoring slash of both stilettos to fend him off.

Behind her, Leesil saw Chap raging and snarling after Freth.

"No!" Magiere shouted."Guard Wynn!"

Her voice was thick, her words awkward, and Leesil caught the black disks of her irises expanding. But he feared she might not best Freth even in a full dhampir state.

And En’nish stood in his way.

Leesil swallowed fear into cold dispassion, as his mother had taught him. He had to put En’nish down to get to Magiere-and killing was what he'd been made for.

Hunger rose in Magiere's throat and rushed through her body. This time, she welcomed the ache spreading through her jaws.

Her eyes burned as her sight widened, and the night lit up before her. She swung the falchion with all the speed and force she had. Not an effective attack, unless Freth was stupid enough to think she could block it.

Freth quickly slid back out of the sword's arc and further from Wynn and Brot'an.That was all Magiere wanted from her first strike.

Before Freth could come behind the falchion's swing, Magiere reversed, bringing its dull backside straight around.

Freth winced as it smashed into her shoulder. She bent and turned with the impact, but the falchion's tip tore through her tunic.

They both froze, eyes locked on each other.

All Magiere saw was another murdering anmaglahk with a bloody tear across her tunic's shoulder.

Freth flinched once at the sight of Magiere, and then her gaze fixed with determination.

"Dead thing," she hissed. "You belong in the dirt, buried and forgotten."

"You… don't know," Magiere grunted out, "how to deal with un-dead… and I'm much more."

Freth darted sideways, heading for the nearest tree.

Magiere had seen Brot'an use the same move on a column in Darmouth's crypt, stepping up to spring over her head, and drop behind her.

She chopped downward as Freth lifted a foot.

Freth jerked her foot back in midleap, and the falchion hit the tree's trunk. Bark and wood slivers sprayed off it. Freth extended her foot again, but it landed too high. All she could do was push off and roll back across open ground.

Magiere whirled, blade up, facing off with Freth.

Chap charged from the other side but stopped short, planting himself between Freth and Wynn. He had fought at Magieres side enough to know when to attack and when to stay out of her way.

She feinted low and left, shifted right, and turned the falchion in an upward slash for Freth's midsection. The stroke missed, but Freth failed to get within arm's reach. They spun away from each other again.

Freth was far enough away this time that Chap tried to close in.

Wynn groaned, and Magiere couldn't help but look. The sage rolled weakly in the brush, but the crossbow on her back caught on something.

"No!" Magiere shouted to Chap. "Guard Wynn."

The instant cost her. When her eyes shifted back, Freth was gone.

Blinding pain shot through her side.

Chap dashed toward Wynn thrashing feebly in the brush. Blood ran from her mouth and spread through her teeth. She could not get free of the crossbow tangled in the bush. He bit into its strap, tearing at it until it snapped.

Wynn rolled onto her face, trying to push up to her hands and knees.

Load and fire ! Chap shouted into her mind.

He was about to turn and pick an attack of his own, when Wynn faltered and fell to the ground again. Her olive face twisted in pain.

Chap dipped into her mind, calling up her memories of contented moments.Quiet nights sleeping by campfires or in the quilt-covered bed of an inn.Two kittens purring in her lap. Hot mint tea and spiced lentil stew.The smell of fresh parchment and the feel of a quill in her hand. Her fingers curled in his fur.

Wynn lifted her head, clutching at the crossbow.

Chap pulled an unbroken quarrel from the quiver with his teeth and dropped it beside her. She rolled onto her knees, heaving the crossbow's string back with both hands. With the string locked in place and the lever cocked, she grasped and set the quarrel.

Wynn looked up and hesitated, gaze shifting between the two conflicts.

Chap turned about.

Leesil fended off En’nish as she slashed madly at him. He did not fight with the same quick instinct and brutality that Chap had seen in the past.

Then Magiere stumbled as Freth stabbed her from behind. They were too close together now for Wynn's questionable aim.

Chap panicked, shouting into Wynn's thoughts: En’nish!

He heard the crack of a quarrel leaving Wynn's crossbow as he charged at Freth's exposed back.

Magiere felt Freth's arm wrap around her neck and jerk tight. Then the blade slipped out of her side.

Hunger ate away the pain. She rammed her elbow back, but it never connected.

A bloodied stiletto came over her shoulder for her throat.

Magiere wouldn't release her sword. Unable to whip it back, she tried to grab Freth's wrist before the stiletto touched her skin.

Fear should have taken Magiere as she struggled for air. Instead, rage whipped hunger into fury. She would not let Freth win… or she would make her pay dearly for it.

Freth's weight increased sharply as if her whole body lurched and slammed inward upon Magiere. The arm around Magiere's throat loosened as she toppled forward under the sound of snarls.

Magiere hit the ground face-first. Freth's weight rolled off with an angry scream. Her voice was quickly drowned in growls and tearing cloth. Magiere spun on her hip, pulling her legs under as she twisted to a crouch.

Chap darted away from Freth's wild slash, his teeth parted in a shuddering growl and fur bristling on his neck and shoulders. Freth scrambled to regain her footing. The back of her cowl was shredded, and she ripped it off, sidestepping to keep her two opponents in sight.

Magiere rose up, her mind hazy with the heat welling in her body.Hunger fed on the tingling shiver the forest pressed upon her.

Instinct drove her to attack… to stop at nothing until Freth was dead. This one had come at her and those she cherished, time and again, and now brought En’nish, who served only one purpose-to kill all of them where no one would see.

Magiere held her place. A little reason remained and stirred inside her.

Each time she swung, Freth came in behind the falchion's passing. The woman closed to advantage for her shorter blades and hampered Magiere's use of the longer and heavier weapon.

Magiere didn't need a weapon.

She could mangle this bitch with her bare hands. All she needed-wanted-was for Freth to come in one more time. Magiere made the barest feint with the falchion's tip and then loosened her grip, ready to drop it.

Freth's attention remained on Magiere, but she didn't come. Her left hand whipped to the side-and flung a stiletto straight at Chap.

The shudder in Magiere's body sharpened. Her grip clenched tight on the falchion. She lunged as Freth took her first charging step.

Magiere caught Freth's other stiletto in her free hand. She felt nothing as she wrenched the blade aside and rammed her falchion straight in. The sword didn't even jump in her hand as its tip sank into Freth's gut.

It happened too quickly. Freth's eyes didn't even widen until Magiere clamped her bloody hand around the woman's neck.

She squeezed until she felt Freth choke, and then shoved hard.

Freth's body arched backward, sliding off the falchion as Magiere jerked it loose, and Freth hit the earth, writhing on her back.

Magiere raised the falchion to finish her.

A shout vibrated through her bones."Stop!"

En’nish lurched and stumbled before Leesil. A quarrel seemed to sprout suddenly from the back of her right shoulder. She didn't cry out, and only dropped one stiletto as her right arm went limp.

Leesil spotted Wynn kneeling in a flattened bush with the crossbow still against her shoulder. The little sage dropped the weapon and crumpled.

En’nish lunged at him with her remaining blade.

Leesil slipped aside, again and again, staying beyond reach. Then he saw Freth fling a blade at Chap, and the dog tried to duck away.

The blade missed his face and the handle clipped his ear as the weapon tumbled across his back. He snarled sharply.

The next thing Leesil saw was Freth on the ground, holding her belly. A dark stain was spreading quickly through her tunic and between her fingers.

Magiere raised her falchion.

En’nish lunged at Leesil again, throwing her whole weight to take him while distracted. He tried to deflect and brought up the punching blade on instinct.

Its edge sliced the back of En’nish’s hand and down her forearm, splitting her sleeve open. She cried out, jerking away, and tried to swing again.

Sgaile appeared, folding her tightly in his arms from behind and pinning her.

Sgaile ran hard toward the sounds of screeching steel and voices.

Brot'an'duive was on the ground, attempting to push himself up. A bludgeoning arrow lay near him. Blood dripped from Wynn's mouth down her chin. En’nish, with a quarrel in her shoulder, still kept at Leesil.

And Magiere ran Freth through with her sword.

Sgaile didn't hesitate. He folded his arms tightly around En’nish from behind, pinning her up against his chest, and shouted at Magiere."Stop!"

She wavered.

"Leshil, do not let her take Frethfare's life."

Leshil was already running around Magiere to stand in her way. He spoke too softly for Sgaile to hear. Magiere slowly lowered her sword.

Gleanneohkan'thva caught up, trying to get his breath. He faltered at the sight before him.

"Grandfather, see to Frethfare first," Sgaile blurted out.

En’nish still struggled in his arms. He thrust his knee into the back of hers. When her leg buckled, he threw his weight on her. She dropped, and he held her down.

"Enough!" he barked, pressing hard on her until she finally lay still. "What is this? What have you done?"

"Most Aged Father ordered us to dispatch them," En’nish snarled. "And you interfere in our purpose! They deserve to die!"

"And Brot'an as well?" Sgaile snapped. "No! Father would never…"

He looked at Frethfare, blood-stained and curled upon the earth. He did not believe En’nish.

Sgaile had seen the way Frethfare went after Brot'an'duive before the council, all for a challenge of truth as Most Aged Father's advocate. But the patriarch of his caste would not violate his word. No, this had to be Freth-fare's doing-and hers alone. Why else would she bring only En’nish, in the woman's anguished state, in coming after so many with Brot'an'duive?

He went cold inside.

"Sgailsheilleache!" his grandfather snapped, untying Freth's cloak. "Question En’nish later. Frethfare's wound is severe, and the others need attendance. Assist me-now!"

"I can see the bottom," Chane said.

Welstiel trembled but did not answer. After two decades and more of preparation and searching, the end was close. Never would there be another night of hunger, feeding upon the wretched and filthy masses. Only eternity filled with peace and contemplation, with the orb in his possession.

Welstiel gave silent thanks to the patron of his dreams.

He might not be able to enter the castle without Magiere. But still his patron guided his steps. He would find a way to bring Magiere to serve his need.

Welstiel was in control once more.

"Careful," Chane rasped. "These lower steps are much worn, and do not look solid."

Welstiel set his palms firmly against the gorge wall. He was still eager to lay eyes on the six-towered castle of his dreams-to see arched metal gates, the black ravens, and every detail that was engraved upon his mind.

Chane slid down the last few steps and trotted out onto the gorge's bottom filled with rough boulders and stones coated in snow. Welstiel hurried down and strode past when he reached solid footing.

At first there was nothing to see, and he scrambled recklessly over the gorge's floor, until coming upon a cleared path coated in light snow. He heard Chane behind him, but he could not wait and raced on, slipping more than once. The path turned, closing again toward the right face.

Welstiel looked about in the dark. He saw nothing but snow gathered on the craggy bottom of the gorge's expanse. He lifted his gaze, searching.

Switchbacks were carved into the gorge's more gradually sloping face, and the path led upward part of the way.

"No," he whispered, stumbling two more steps.

Chane's harsh whisper filled his ears amid the slow-falling snowflakes.

"What is wrong?"

Welstiel gazed up, unable to answer.

He looked upon a small construction chiseled out of the gorge's rock face.

A glowing torch or lantern, mounted upon a pole before its small single door, lit up wood-shuttered windows. The building seated deep into the rock face, no higher than two floors tall, was some kind of ancient and forgotten barracks or a long-lost stronghold in the middle of nowhere.

There was no castle. There were no gates. No ravens. No courtyard. No magnificent ice-fringed spires.

"No," he whispered again.

Cold numbness melted under sorrow and began to burn away in outrage. Welstiel spun around, raising his face to the dark sky.

"For this?" he shouted.

All the nights of trudging hopefully through snow and rocks and cliffs, dragging half-dead horses, and pushing Chane onward. Was his patron amused? Did it sleep, laughing, waiting for him to return to hollow dreams?

He had fallen under his own father to wake from death in a vile existence. And for more than two decades he had searched for release with only his patron's teasing whispers in his slumber. More than once he had grown weary of it, and turned to potions and arcane drugs to keep him from dormancy. But in the end, he had always relented and gone back to the scaled patron of his dreams.

This was the end of it.

He would dream no more… listenno more.

"Do you hear?" Welstiel called out to the stars.

They shone down upon him, distant and unconcerned.So much like an unseen light glinting upon the scales of massive coils turning in the dark.

Chane stared at him. "Who are you talking to?"

Welstiel barely heard him.

"No more!" he cried out to the sky, and grew more spiteful at the anguish in his own voice. "I am finished with you! Go back to where you hide. Find another toy… to cheat!"

Somewhere in the still night he heard a scrape of footsteps echo softly through the gorge.

Another small flicker of light wormed up the last switchback before the stone structure with its decrepit wood shutters. Welstiel's anger broke his self-control, and hunger widened his sight.

A figure stepped out the structure's narrow door. Dressed in a pale blue tabard over a dark robe with a full cowl, it lifted a torch high, as if calling the other light rising up the path.

That other light reached the narrow level shelf before the structure, and below it came two more figures wearing similar attire. The two met the one, and all three figures went inside.

Welstiel could not remember where he had seen such clothing before.A monastery, perhaps? It did not matter. Here was opportunity for his outrage.

How many years had he listened to his patron's mocking words?

The sister of the dead will lead you.

Very well then.But he no longer put faith in such things. She might lead, but he would not need her in the end. There would be others to serve him.

"Lock them in…" he whispered. "All of them."

Chane stepped around into his sight, glancing up to the stronghold before looking into Welstiel's face. He cocked his head as if not certain of what he had heard.

"Lock them all in," Welstiel repeated. "Feed if you must, but leave them alive… for now."

Chane's eyes glinted in anticipation.

Welstiel just stood there.

The sister of the dead will lead you.

Yes, she would still do that. But he would not be alone when he came after her-the puppet of his deceiver.

Leesil reluctantly assisted Sgaile in holding En’nish down. Gleann severed the quarrel's shaft and pushed the remainder through.

Freth was more fortunate than she deserved. Magiere's falchion had not damaged any vital organs, but Most Aged Father's pet anmaglahk would be weakened for a long while. Maybe for life, unless Gleann had tricks and skills beyond what Leesil hadseen.

Magiere had taken a stiletto through the side, but Gleann claimed it wasn't serious. He scowled suspiciously at the wound, which had already stopped bleeding.

He dressed everyone's wounds with leaves and a strange lemon-yellow moss, and he hummed softly with eyes half-closed as he traced fingertips around Freth's bandaged injury.

Wynn's jaw wasn't broken, but the inside of her mouth was cut and her gums still seeped blood. She grimaced each time she flushed her mouth with cold water, and made a sour face when Gleann forced her to chew some of the moss. She hoped that the abrasion of Freth's boot wouldn't leave scars on her face.

Brot'an complained of dizziness and bore a large lump at the base of his skull.

Leesil waited until he was certain his own companions were well cared for, but then all he could think of was pressing onward. His mother still waited. Magiere got up, dark eyes full of understanding.

"We'll get there," she said quietly.

Leesil looked to Brot'an. "Can you still lead? If not, Chap can take us."

"No," Sgaile said. "Brot'an'duive and my grandfather will make a litter for Frethfare. Her wound must be sewn. They will take her and En’nish back to Crijheaiche. I will take you to Cuirin'nen'a." He turned and looked down at Freth. "Speak of this to no one outside our caste. There will be no more discord among us, and you will be dealt with accordingly, Covarleasa!"

Brot'an rose and nodded to Leesil. "Return soon. I wait to seeCuirin'nen'a as well."

Sgaile bowed slightly, and Brot'an headed off to find makings for Freth's stretcher.

It seemed Leesil's return to his mother was finally under way again when Gleann began walking north after Sgaile.

Sgaile halted. "Grandfather, you should return with the wounded."

"There are others who can tend them upon their return," Gleann answered. "As much as it may slow him, Brot'an'duive is hulkish enough to drag Frethfare's litter by himself. And En’nish can do no more than follow in her present state. I am coming with you."

Sensing an argument brewing, Leesil cut in. "Magiere and Wynn may still need him, as it will take us a lot longer to return."

Gleann smiled at Wynn. "Come, child. And do not remove that moss from your mouth until I tell you."

To Leesil's relief, Sgaile just grunted. They headed north once again at a slower pace.

Leesil wasn't certain of the distance, but the journey would likely take the rest of the night. They continued until the forest began to lighten with the dawn and they emerged in a shattered clearing of broken branches, torn flowers, and one large uprooted birch.

Chap stopped in sudden weariness, glanced up at Wynn, and took a few steps into the clearing. The sage joined him, placing her hand on his back. Leesil was about to call them back when Chap turned away with Wynn at his side. The dog stalked on through the trees with his head hanging.

They all moved on, and Leesil saw the edge of the barrier woods.

He wanted to run but held back, not wishing to leave Magiere or the others behind as they entered the woods' passage. When he broke through the ferns at the far end, Leesil emerged in the familiar glade.

"Mother?"

He didn't see her at first. She came around from behind her domicile elm and stopped.

"Leshil?"

The hem of her ivory wrap dragged across the grass as she walked closer. Her silken hair spilled down her shoulders and disappeared behind.

Leesil looked at her for a long moment, the sight of her washing through him.

"You're free," he said bluntly. "You're leaving with me."

He reached back for Magiere-who had stood by him and fought for him, even against his own destructive obsession. She clasped his hand.

Favoring her swollen lip, Wynn smiled as Chap trotted up to Nein'a.

Sgaile and Gleann politely remained by the ferns, but Sgaile confirmed Leesil's words.

"You have been released. Most Aged Father told me this himself."

Leesil didn't know what to expect as his mother stared at him with anxious doubt. She glanced about the clearing's border trees. For an instant Leesil saw a viciousglower spread across her elegant features.

"Free," she whispered.

Leesil wanted to take hold of his mother, but he simply stood near her. "Yes… finally."

"What will I do?" she asked.

There was a strange loss in her voice, as if doubt would never fade completely.

Nein'a had been a skilled assassin and spy, a wife then widow, a mother and a daughter… and Anmaglahk. She had also been trapped alone in this glade for eight years. Leesil reached out slowly to take her fingers.

"Come with Magiere and me."

Anxiety grew in her large eyes.

"Into the human world again?" She shook her head. "No… too long, too many years there."

Leesil felt as if he'd been dropped over a precipice. Then his thoughts traced backward through what life he'd had with her.

She had been ordered to Venjetz and lived there for over twenty years, had birthed and cared for him, trained him, and all the while held Most Aged Father's bloodlust at bay.Then imprisoned and alone, without Gavril. How long had it been since she'd lived as she wanted? As much as it hurt, Leesil tried to understand.

But what else could she do? She had no home here-only enemies. Leesil looked at Magiere in deep concern. The two of them could not stay.

Gleann stepped cautiously forward. "Cuirinnena, do you remember me… Sgailsheilleache's grandfather? I have a granddaughter who is… not unlike your Leshil. I fear she grows tired of being the only woman of the house. Our settlement is small and simple, but there is always room for one more."

Nein'a looked at him."Gleanneohkan'thva? Yes, I remember you."

Her words came evenly, and Leesil thought he caught something more than passing recognition within them. When he glanced at Gleann, he remembered how quickly the old man had arrived for Magiere's trial before the gathering, and how familiar he'd been with Brot'an.

Brot'an and his mother-both dissidents among the Anmaglahk, both acquainted with Gleann. Had Sgaile ever noticed this?

"Do us this honor," Gleann said to Nein'a and then turned his owlish gaze upon Leesil."If that is agreeable to both you and Leshil."

Nein'a's serious and exquisite face twisted in pain.

It was clear to Leesil that she wanted to accept Gleann's offer of a small quiet place in her own world where she might find some normal life of her choosing. Yet a part of Leesil grew anxious at the thought of leaving her among those who'd imprisoned her… and perhaps others who'd plotted with her over so many years. But if he trusted anyone among those he had met in this land to help her, it would be Gleann.

Nein'a gripped Leesil's fingers, and Magiere moved up, still grasping his other hand. He stood there caught between the two women of his world.

When Leesil looked at Magiere, he thought of the wedding to come… someday. He would swear fealty to her before their friends and, he hoped, her aunt Bieja. Shouldn'this own mother be present as well?

"You must continue," Nein'a said. "The ancestors will guide you. Do not let anything sway you when the path becomes clear."

It never occurred to Leesil before how much she was like her people, down to their fanatical superstitions. He'd seen the ghosts at the naked tree beyond the serpent and heard them call him by a name he didn't want. But he'd seen a ghost or two in his own life. Most were somewhere between an annoyance and a threat to be banished. They weren't worth this kind of blind faith.

Leesil saw how much Gleann's offer meant to her. Perhaps she would be safe and could come back to herself-to the woman he preferred her to be, his mother.

"All right," he said. "Come back to Crijheaiche with us, and we'll talk."

"Crijheaiche?" she repeated.

"Be at ease," Gleann said. "You will not see anyone you do not wish to."

Sgaile stepped forward, stripping off his cloak. "Put this on and over your head."

Of all the things Sgaile had done, for this Leesil felt most grateful.

"Do you have things to gather?" Wynn asked in her sensible way. "Anything here you wish to bring?"

Nein'a looked about the clearing, and her eyes sparked with the smoldering anger Leesil remembered so well.

"Only what once belonged to me," she said, and turned away into the tree.

When she reemerged, she held the bundled cloth with the skulls of Gavril and Eillean.

Leesil breathed in with difficulty, as Nein'a took her first faltering steps toward the ferns. He walked beside Magiere, not knowing what more to say. She linked her arm with his as they began the journey back.