Page 67 of The Scald Crow

“Taken, child. Swept away, by Himself.” She pushed her glasses onto the bridge of her nose. “It broke Dermot’s heart. Took to tipping the bottle, but who could blame him?”

“Then what happened?” I closed my fingers into fists.

“It was long ago. People forget.” She pushed herself to her feet.

I watched her walk across the room and straighten a painting hanging on the wall—white sails billowed from the mast of a tall ship, the prow cutting through crashing waves.

“What about Ériu’s friends? Her people? Did they not look for her?” Colm’s brows creased.

The cat butted his head against my chin.

“Ériu was from away. Not one of us.” She looked away, tears filling her eyes. “People forget what they don’t want to see.”

“I see.” I did not see anything at all.

“Nine months later, a man came knocking at my door. Said his wife needed help with delivery. I thought nothing of it at first until I saw what he was driving—a black carriage drawn by four black horses. I didn’t know at the time who the gentleman was—dressed fine and all the like. Such a way about him. He said his wife asked specifically for me. We traveled for hours, and I found myself dosing off. When I woke, we were in a dark forest. A footman dressed in the finest of garb led the carriage away. I still remember the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves. He took me to a palace, the like I’d never seen, sparkling with silver and gold. I was terrified until I saw it was her, my Ériu. So full of pregnancy and in such pain, the wee thing was.”

“Finvarra came for you?” Colm’s face turned bedsheet white.

“It was Him, the King of the Faeries himself.” She nodded at Colm, twisting her fingers together.

“Ériu was pregnant?” My vision from the stone shieling rolled over me, Finvarra’s laughter filling my mind. I squeezed my eyes shut, but the truth shocked me.

“Aye. It was a difficult birth. The wee thing was frail. Too frail. I knew right off Ériu wouldn’t make it. She knew it, too.” Her gaze held mine. “She gave birth to three beautiful girls.”

“Three? Three girls?” My heart beat faster.

“Aye. She called them ‘the three’ as if each would serve a purpose. She held you to her breast, luv. I remember the moment like it was yesterday. Your eyes were silver then. Shiny, like stars in the night sky. You grasped her finger so tight. I could hardly break your wee grip. Ériu named you Rioghain. She called you the dark one.” Orlaith poured more tea.

“The dark one?” I rubbed my forehead.

“Aye, named after the Morrigan herself.” Her gaze softened, and she placed her hand on my knee.

“I have sisters.” I sat back on the sofa, my thoughts racing, and for a moment, I couldn’t catch up.

“Why did he come for you, Orlaith?” Colm prodded.

“Ach. Well, you see, I was a midwife back then. Birthed most of the babes in this parish.” Her eyes beamed with pride.

“How did Calla get away from the Faerie palace?” He glanced at me and then at her. He seemed to realize that I had lost my words.

“Ériu was powerful in her own right. She had a way about her. She did. I think that’s what attracted Himself to her in the first place. She looked into your wee silver eyes and then called you Rioghain, the others Nemain, and Macha. Heartbroken, she was, and so weak. She kissed your wee cheek, and then she made me promise. I was to keep you safe, Rioghain. May I call you Rioghain? Ériu would like that.”

“Safe? Safe from what, Orlaith?” I shut my eyes and saw what I didn’t want to see—a flash of light and Finvarra’s face.

“Why would Ériu worry about Calla?” Colm interjected.

“She said they would use your dark heart against you. She made me swear I would take ye with me. And to send ye away. Away from this place.” Orlaith looked far away as if the memory caused her pain.

“And you took Calla to Dermot Sweet?” Colm’s eyes gleamed, awed by her part in the puzzle.

“Aye, that I did. It broke Dermot’s heart to give ye up. You were part of his Ériu. She was all that mattered to him.” She relived the memory, her voice haunted.

“You knew who I was all this time.” My ears rang. It was a constant buzz that wouldn’t let go of my mind.

“I knew when ye said Dermot’s name.” She removed her glasses and set them on the table.

I gazed into her soft eyes, taken aback by the emotions welling there.

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