Tir Alainn - The House Of Gaian - Tir Alainn - The House of Gaian Part 57
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Tir Alainn - The House of Gaian Part 57

The man with a face that wasn't human just stared at him.

Curse these Fae, Ubel thought. "We need water. The wounded need tending."

"When we reach the harbor, we'll turn you over to the barons who rule that

part of the coast. If they want to give you water and tend the wounded, that's their choice." The Fae Lord turned away.

"Have you no mercy?" Ubel cried.

The Fae turned back and smiled at him. "No more than you, Black Coat. If you want mercy, ask one of the Mother's Daughters. They're the ones who believe in doing no harm."

Ask one of those evil bitches for mercy? Ubel shuddered. No. Never. He would conserve his strength, let these creatures bring him to the shore. Once he was dealing with the barons, his Inquisitor's Gift of persuasion would convince them to give him food and water-and a horse. He would need only a few hours head start to stay far enough ahead of the enemy to reach the arm of the Inquisitors' army that was crushing the southern end of the Mother's Hills.

Jenny wept silently as she stood on the dock and watched the battered Sweet Selkie limp into the harbor. Murtagh had taken a ship and gone out to meet her brother, and it was Murtagh she saw standing in the bow. But there was no sign of Mihail.

She saw Fae piloting the ship to the dock instead of Mihail's crew. She saw Fae securing the lines and lowering the gangplank.

Her heart broke. She wrapped her arms around herself. Had she done this?

Then she saw Murtagh motion her to come aboard. She ran up the gangplank and would have fallen when she reached the deck if he hadn't reached out to steady her.

"He's in the bow," Murtagh said, guiding her. "He collapsed shortly after I got on board and convinced him we weren't the enemy."

"He's wounded?" Jenny asked, feeling breathless.

"He's been hurt, but it's exhaustion and lack of food and water that finally pulled his feet out from under him. They ran out and couldn't stop to take on supplies."

When she saw Mihail, she rushed forward and sank to her knees. "Mihail. Mihail." She brushed a shaking hand over his hair. He looked so pale, so worn. "Mihail."

He opened his eyes and stared at her. Finally he said in a hoarse voice, "Jenny?"

She choked back a sob. "Yes, Mihail. It's Jenny."

"Safe harbor, Jenny?"

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she gently pressed her lips to his dry,

cracked ones. "Yes, Mihail. Safe harbor."Mihail closed his eyes. His body relaxed.Panicked, Jenny pressed a hand against his chest, trying to feel his heart.Murtagh placed a hand just above Mihail's nose. "It's all right, Jenny. He needs to rest."

Sobs ripped out of her. Tears of grief. Tears of joy.

"It will be all right, sweet Jenny," Murtagh said, putting his arms around her

to offer warmth and comfort. "It will be all right."

Chapter 36.

waxing moon Ashk and Aiden slowly rode out of the trees, heading toward the manor house at the other end of the big sweep of lawn. Two of the midland barons rode behind them, having insisted on coming. The rest of her companions, her men, and the combined Fae and human army were waiting in the woods. She still wasn't sure if it was because it was reasonable or because Aiden's gift as the Bard had influenced her decision, but she couldn't deny his genuine concern that Breanna's hostility toward the Fae might cause her to shoot first and ask questions later, and it would be easier to persuade her to see them as allies if the Old Place wasn't suddenly flooded with humans and Fae.

Of course, that was before they'd met up with several pairs of Fae from different Clans patrolling the woods, all of whom informed her quickly, and with wary relief, that men from their Clans had set up camps in meadows and pastures in the Old Place. They told her Varden, the Willowsbrook Clan's Lord of the Woods, was working with Barons Liam and Donovan as well as Lord Falco and Lady Breanna on a way to meet the enemy while protecting the Old Place and the human village. And they told her, with a hint of fear in their eyes, that the Huntress rode among them.

So she'd held to her decision and rode ahead with the Bard and two barons-not because the witches who lived at Willows-brook might still feel hostile toward the Fae but because she wanted to take the measure of the Huntress before exposing her men.

As she rode toward the manor house, she noticed the small black dog sound asleep under a tree. She noticed the large hawk who watched them from its perch on a pole that supported lines of pegged clothes. She noticed the men around the stables, who put down grooming brushes and picked up pitchforks and crossbows. And she noticed the dark-haired woman who strode out of the house and headed right toward them, followed by a man and woman.

She reined in. Aiden stopped alongside her, and the barons swung their horses to either side to flank them.

Aiden raised his hand. "Blessings of the day, Breanna."

Breanna's eyes flicked from Aiden to Ashk, and Ashk saw a question in those woodland eyes that a man would never notice and any woman would understand.

"I am Ashk, the Hunter," she said. "My husband guested with your family a few weeks ago and asked me to send you his regards."

"Husband?" Breanna studied Ashk. "You mean Padrick?"

Ashk nodded.

"He was a sensible man," Breanna said, her voice turning sour. "Even if he is gentry ... and Fae."

Oh, dear. It didn't sound like the barons were going to be warmly welcomed,

either. And there was still doubt in Breanna's eyes."Lyrra will be pleased to see you," Aiden said with a smile, proving that he had understood the question in Breanna's eyes as well. "She's waiting with some of our companions. We didn't want to impose on you until..." He trailed off, now looking uncertain.

"Until you were sure I wouldn't shoot you?" She threw up her hands, a gesture of sheer exasperation. "Didn't I promise Falco and Varden I wouldn't threaten to shoot any Fae just for riding into the Old Place? They

said it made the Fae nervous."

"That's because they've seen you shoot," the man who had followed her said.

Breanna twisted around to look at him. "I'm a good shot!"

"Exactly." He looked at the two barons. "Good day, gentlemen."

"Good day, Baron Donovan," one of the barons replied. "I'm surprised, but

pleased, to see you here."

"The fight is here," Donovan said grimly. "And the Master Inquisitor is heading for Willowsbrook, so we win or lose here."

"We must talk with Baron Liam as soon as possible," the other baron said.

Donovan rubbed the back of his neck. "Liam is involved in a rather...

delicate ... discussion at the moment."

Breanna snorted. "What Donovan is trying to say is my featherheaded jackass of a brother is having a bang-up argument with the Huntress over something that is none of his business." She paused, then added, "It isn't any

of Selena's business, either, but since she's on my side, she can say what she pleases."

The other woman snickered.

"Gwenn," Donovan warned.

The muscles in Ashk's back tightened painfully. "The Baron of

Willowsbrook is having an argument with the Huntress?"

"You'd think he'd have better things to do, wouldn't you?" Breanna said sourly.

She would have hoped a baron would have more sense. Perhaps he didn't

realize the kind of power the Huntress wielded- in which case, someone

should tell him. Fast.

Before she could phrase a request that someone inform the Huntress that the Hunter had arrived, a soft wind blew out of the woods, riffling the grass and dancing past the leaves on the big tree.

Breanna snapped to attention. "Gwenn?"

"Yes," Gwenn replied softly. "I think so."

Her patience worn thin, Ashk dismounted, prepared to insist that they

discuss where the army waiting for orders could make camp.

Then she saw the black-haired woman race around the side of the manor house and come to an abrupt stop, her attention focused on the woods. Joy lit