Blue Keltic Moon (Children of the Keltic Triad) (27 page)

Nightshade nodded. “The games of children are pretty much the same no matter where or when you go, honey.”

She leveled her gaze on him. “I know. But this was different. I don’t remember words, but I’m almost positive my adoptive grandmother hummed the tune when she put me to bed. Then... then I took a couple of minutes to glance through the book after I copied the drawing and found this.” She slipped a second sheet from the waterproof carrier and unrolled the page, laying it over the drawing.

Nightshade angled the page to read in the dim, early evening light. The day had been long, and their discussions fruitless. He’d sent Jayse and Lucidea off to rest an hour ago. He snorted softly to himself. At least he hoped they were resting.

He read the short poem twice, then letting his questions show in his expression, glanced up at Tori. She’d grabbed a snack from the chest inside the workroom door and joined him at the table. She pointed with a tiny wedge of cheese. “Those words, that’s the song the children sang while they played.”

“Once from water, once in air, again for land, challenge and dare. Dance to sing. Sing to close. Forever bind, forever hold.” The words triggered his own memories. Of being tossed back and forth while trying to escape the circle of his brother and cousins. “Air and land, deep water too, now we sing this dance for you.”

After swallowing her bite of cheese, Tori nodded. “I looked out the window to watch. There were four children. Three held hands and circled around the fourth who tried to break through their circle. Nightshade, I think this is what we’ve been looking for. I think this is how we keep Brandr Ur contained while the rest get home.”

“A game?” Even as he said the words, he knew she was right. A heavy shadow surrounded his heart. There was no turning back now, whatever decisions he’d made in his life had brought him to this point in time. To this family and their quests. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

“Is something wrong, Nightshade?”

“No, honey. Nightshade’s fine.”

“Hmm, I don’t think so. You didn’t rest today, did you?”

He swung his arm in an expansive gesture and tried for a flippant grin. “Who needs rest when there’s a puzzle to solve?”

“Doesn’t work with me, honey.”

“Tori...” He leaned forward and pressed his hands flat over the papers. “Do you think you could contact our travelers during a dreamwalk?”

Her eyes widened at his request and she sat back with a soft release of breath. “Not what I expected,” she muttered.

Satisfied he’d thrown her off his case, at least for a short while, Nightshade continued. “If I remember correctly, and of course Nightshade always remembers, when Morghan first disappeared he was able to communicate with Lucidea and Coralie as long as he could find water. They assumed that when he no longer visited their dreams, he could find no water. Coralie packed extra bottles of loch water with her in hopes of communicating with us should a need arise.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“You didn’t take a look at her bulging pack, did you?” Nightshade chuckled. “But even though they could hear Morghan, Coralie doesn’t believe he could ever hear them. So it was only a one way conversation. Maybe if we initiate the contact here—”

“Great idea. And in a dreamwalk, I’ll have more control. Maybe the drumming will get their attention faster.”

“So I’m hoping. When will be the best time for you to try?”

“At moonrise. What am I going to tell them?”

He held the silence for a long moment before speaking. “That instead of reciting the spell three times, we believe three voices are needed to simultaneously create the magic to keep the elemental contained.”

“If you’re going to try something like that...” came a soft voice from the doorway. Nightshade turned to face Lucidea and she continued. “I think the best place to try is at the water wall in the cave below the manor.”

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“C
hance, I would like to speak with you.” Leaving the others arguing over whether Breanna had the strength to heal the wound on Morghan’s arm, Gowthaman followed the young man a short distance from the campfire.

Chance’s shoulders stiffened, then with a deep breath he rolled one then the other, looked back over his shoulder and said, “Sure. Let’s wander this way just a bit further, okay?”

Holding back a smile at the young man’s nervousness, Gowthaman nodded. He watched Chance’s back as they moved away, noticing the rapid shifts from tense to relaxed. Something bothered Breanna’s brother. Perhaps if given the opportunity, he would confide. Realizing he would accept and relish the fact someone could again confide in him, Gowthaman paused.

Chance stopped in the shadows of a tall rock and looked out over the distant plain. He gave a satisfied nod then motioned Gowthaman nearer and leaned against the stone. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

Matching the casual pose, Gowthaman considered the cold stone at his back. No sun shone in the gray world to heat the stone, but the heavy, arid air burned his nostrils. This was a place of sameness, with many contradictions.

His first visit had taken him to a place of mist, gray and impenetrable. A place of judgment, yet the Watchers who resided there had not judged him. He had judged himself, allowing himself to exist in a world he knew, yet had allowed to become as colorless as the landscape surrounding them. Just as Breanna brought color to the world between worlds, she had gifted him with the colors of their soulfire. Now there were as many contradictions in him as in the world between worlds. There would be much for him to remember, much to study when he returned home. If he returned.

Ruthlessly shoving away his concerns, he bent one knee to plant his foot flat against the stone behind him. “I am impressed with your deductions and solution to the song and diagram.”

Chance gave a start, then chuckled. “Thanks. I really thought you were testing me. I can’t believe any of you, especially you, didn’t figure that out a long time ago.”

“Sometimes the simplest answers are the most difficult to find.”

“I guess so.”

“You have a sharp mind—”

“That I don’t use often enough, as my sister likes to remind me. I’m really glad you two finally got together. Teasing aside, Gowthaman, it’s about time.”

“Yes, it is. I was too proud.”

“Hey man, I understand. At least you finally came to your senses. I got tired of her moping around over you.”

“Moping?”

“Yeah, you know...” Chance slouched to one side, opened his eyes wide and stared at the sky. He heaved a huge, noisy sigh. Then he grinned and stood straight. “Like that.”

“She did not.”

“Not when you would see, no. But when she was alone, when she didn’t think anyone was around.” His grin faded. “I hated seeing her like that... loving you when you didn’t seem to care. Or simply even notice her. If your idiocy would have gone on much longer I was considering forcing a man to man talk with you.” He dropped his gaze to his clenched fist. “She would have kicked my ass if I did, though.”

“I do not doubt she would, and done a thorough job. I thank you now for your concern, for the love you bear your sister.”

“Hell, Gowthaman. I like you. You’re the best man for Bree, no question about it. Just took you long enough.”

No response needed, they fell silent. How he’d earned the right to be a part of such a family, Gowthaman was unsure. Days ago he would have denied the existence of that right. Today he was the luckiest of all Faerie, for Breanna loved him. Him... despite his failings and denials. She loved him. Here in this loveless, colorless place he had found love and acceptance. Miracles.

Chance fidgeted, scraping his foot in the dirt. He squirmed, rubbing his back against the stone creating a dry, rasping that set Gowthaman’s teeth on edge. “Gowthaman, I lied.”

“I know.”

“Not about you and Bree, about when I was scouting.”

“Yes, I know. As does your sister. I am sure she will corner you and wish to discuss it with you later.”

“Can you talk to her for me?” He sounded as young as he was, pleading for a champion. But his eyes shone with age and hidden wisdom. Like the world between worlds that held them, Chance was full of contradictions.

“Tell me your lie.” Gowthaman wouldn’t make a promise without knowing the stakes. Standing between Breanna and her brother would not be wise.

“I went to see Brandr Ur.”

“You what?”

Chance made hushing motions with his hands then peered around Gowthaman to see if the others had heard the outburst. Gowthaman stared at him, unable to believe the seriousness—the foolishness—the utter... “Chance, explain.”

“It’s kind of a long story.”

“We have time.” He straightened to block Chance’s view of the others—and his escape. Folding his arms over his chest, Gowthaman waited.

“Hey, for a librarian you’re pretty formidable when you want to be.”

“No stalling. Explain.”

Chance lifted his hands in surrender then sank back against the stone. His face settled into serious lines. “Even before anyone talked about this being the time to rescue Morghan, there was this voice in my head. Whispering just beyond what I could hear most of the time, but there. It reminded me of my bio dad, of how Fiedhlim repeatedly tried to invade my mind when I was a baby. Before Jayse killed him. Eventually, I did some research.”

Gowthaman arched his eyebrows.

“Okay, so maybe it was more like snooping. Anyway, I heard about how the elemental had invaded minds when he tried before to escape. Then I knew what was in my head. Like that was a key I started hearing and understanding what he had to say.”

“What—”

“I don’t want to get into that now. Let it suffice to say it wasn’t pretty. Oh, he offers a good deal, but I’m not stupid enough to believe him. That’s why I wanted to come along. Had to come here. That’s why I went off on my own today. To confront him.”

“You were successful in your confrontation?”

A half-smile lightened Chance’s expression. “Yeah. I was. I forced him from my mind. I don’t think he was happy about it. I challenged him, too, but he said he’d made a promise to the prince—I guess he means Morghan—not to fight until tomorrow night.”

“You believe him to be a creature of his word?”

“Yeah, strangely enough, I do. What I need to tell you is that when I encountered him, he had a stick and was drawing in the dirt. Like Morghan. And, Gowthaman, he’d drawn the same bar and circles.”

“You are positive the drawing was the same?”

“Essentially, yeah, but the elemental’s looked more like random doodling than Morghan’s precise drawing. And once he started taunting me, he scuffed it over like it wasn’t anything but scratches in the dirt. I don’t think he knows the significance.”

“But it is significant he drew the same diagram.”

“So you gonna tell the others?”

Gowthaman studied Chance and the young man met his gaze solidly. He clasped Chance’s shoulder. “Not as of yet. I must think on this. I shall keep your secret until it proves necessary to expose your activities.” He gestured toward the campfire with a cant of his head. “Come, it sounds as if our meal is prepared. I shall attempt to keep your sister occupied so she has little time to question you.”

“I’m sure you can think of something.” With a waggle of his eyebrows, Chance straightened from his slouch and nodded. “I’m ready.”

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P
ale gray embers glowed in the banked campfire; the occasional spark danced into the air with a soft snap. Breanna sighed, imagining color and sparkle instead of gray. The slightly duller shadows of night had come to the world between worlds and once again, nothing had been solved.

Not true, she told herself. After an evening’s discussion they believed they knew how to prevent the elemental from escaping with them through the open veil. Chance’s insight proved the turning point in their thoughts.

Now Chance curled under a blanket on the other side of the fire. His soft snores testified to the young man’s ability to sleep anywhere, despite the lingering concerns and the dangers of tomorrow.

Restless, she shifted but Gowthaman followed, snuggling her close to his body. Maybe they should have wandered away like Morghan and Coralie, and returned to the privacy of the small grotto. Maybe she should follow the desires curling through her body and forget her worries for a short while. One night to savor and share with Gowthaman.

Instead she had opted to remain here, fighting her thoughts and still discovering no way to win. If what they believed was true, it was impossible—

“
Sundarii
,” Gowthaman whispered close to her ear. “You must rest.”

She shook her head.

“There is little we can do this night. Perhaps when it is again day we shall discover a new possibility.”

Rolling to her back, she stared up at him. “I don’t... it’s impos—”

His kiss was gentle, tender, demanding nothing but her silence, her acquiescence. Willingly, she accepted the comfort and love he offered, returning passion in the press of her lips, the dance of her tongue. Yet while her responses grew more heated, his kisses remained soft and teasing.

Then he touched her. He slid his hand under her shirt, warming a path over her abdomen. A gasp passed between them when he cupped her breast and traced his thumb over her nipple. His kisses teased her lips, her cheek, the tender spot beneath her ear. His hand roamed, soothing, delighting and she arched into his palm.

He paused with his lips against her cheek and she felt him smile. She drew breath but before she could speak, he’d captured her mouth and stole her thoughts with the slow thrust and retreat of his tongue. When she stroked her hands over his back he stopped his caresses and rose on his elbow, touching her mouth with a fingertip.

“Shh.” The sound ended in a sigh before he took her hands and draped her fingers over his shoulders. “Touch me there only. No more.”

Bree frowned, but nodded and after a moment of holding her captured in his dark gaze, Gowthaman returned to his slow seduction. He didn’t need to go slow. She was seduced, and wanting. Though she squirmed, tightened her hands on his shoulders, begged with her body, he continued his slow, torturous pace.