Page 70 of The Shadow Path
Naida leaned forward. “You wonder about your parents?”
“I know my father was Brightkin because Dafydd is here. But what about my mother?”
“What about her?” Naida narrowed her eyes. “Nothing is born here but by magic, Carys Morgan. Shadowkin cannot bear children, not even if they travel to the Brightlands.”
“Are you sure of that?”
Naida shrugged. “Are we ever truly sure of anything?”
“I’m sure that Orla is plotting something with Cian,” Carys said. “Something about the old fae gates here in Anglia.”
Naida reared back, resting her head against the yew. “Is she?”
This was a risk. Cadell wasn’t convinced the ellyllon wouldn’t align with the high fae in Éire. But Carys thought it was worth taking a chance. And if Naida ended up spilling Carys’s secrets to Orla, would it be anything the Éiren queen didn’t already know?
“The ellyllon keep their own company,” Carys continued. “You are known to be solitary. Nonpolitical.”
Naida looked up into the trees. “We don’t like politics and we tend to the wild. That puts us at odds with our brethren sometimes. What are you asking of me? I do not speak for anyone but myself.”
“I wouldn’t ask you to.” Carys scooted toward Naida. “You know who came after me in Alba, right?”
Naida’s blue eyes were as bright and swift as a jay’s. “I know what really happened to your Shadowkin.” She lowered her voice. “Whoreallykilled her.”
“Aisling might have poisoned Seren, but it was Regan pulling the strings. And Orla’s plans didn’t die with her daughter.”
Naida looked at the roots of the yew tree that cradled her. Then she pushed herself to her feet and began to move away. “Walk with me.”
Carys stood and caught up with Naida, passed out from the shadows of the trees and into the grazing land on the edge of Dafydd’s property.
“The trees listen and gossip like the elders they are.” Naida looked at Carys. “What are you asking me?”
“Orla and Cian are planning something, and the Crow Mother is involved somehow. Either way, Dafydd and Harold are convinced that Orla is willing to break the Queens’ Pact. They want more power.”
“That sounds terrible.” Naida was speaking the truth. Her expression was grim. “Truly, that would be… terrible. Cian is powerful enough.”
“So help us try to stop them.”
“And what would you give me in return?”
Carys sighed. “I don’t know.”
Naida stared at the forest. “Tell me, who isus?”
“A company of seven—magical and human—who value peace.” Carys held out her hand. “I think you value peace too. We have humans, dragons, wolves. But no fae. And I think that’s a mistake.”
She smiled. “You think I can be trusted?”
“You’re ellyllon.”
“Ah.” Naida smiled, and her dimples popped out. “We’re little wild fae, aren’t we? Sweet and harmless. Not a threat to anyone. Notambitiouslike the others.”
“I don’t think you’re harmless in the least,” Carys clarified. “But I do think you love peace. Am I right?”
Naida looked into the distance. “All wild fae value peace. We just want to live our lives and take care of the land.”
“So help us. And I will owe you a favor.”
“That is very vague, Carys Morgan.”
