Page 308 of The Daughters of Avalon
And yet, he’d shared everything with Marcella…
The realization made her burn with envy—envy she ought not be feeling, considering the circumstances.
Nothing was as it seemed, and now, with her sweet sisters still in danger, what Cael did or did not share with a woman of his past shouldn’t concern her… and still it did.
They were all silent a while, waiting for Jack, mulling over the things Cael had already revealed.
Eventually, the silence grew too heavy to bear. They returned to their stratagem, drawing out maps on the ground.
Considering the distance between Cannock and Macclesfield, Cael and Marcella discussed taking a new route. It was agreed that they should rest till eventide, and then, when night fell, they would set out across the moorland.
Morwen’s birds could see well enough by night, but by then, they might be roosting. Her mother would use them wisely, positioning them at intervals to watch where they emerged from the woods. That would be their most vulnerable point, but everything would depend wholly upon how intent Morwen was to push those birds to their limits. Already, they had determined she would not. Her birds meant more to her than did any of her daughters. She would not dispatch them when they were at their most vulnerable. She would use them when they were at their best and rest them otherwise.
On the other hand, she would and could send Mordecai to scout these woods. It was entirely possible he was already in pursuit. Lamentably, no one knew what he was capable of.
Her sister Rosalynde had witnessed his transformation in that woodlot south of Whittlewood and Salcey, but what he was, precisely, nobody but Morwen knew.
His form had been that of a dragon-like creature, with a beak and speared tail. Rhiannon had never in her life even imagined such a creature existed, and all she had known to do was warn her sister to run. In the end, the Goddess had intervened, offering Rosalynde words to bind its mortal form, and yet, despite this fact, Mordecai had somehow returned.
“He can’t change at will,” said Cael. “He’ll come as a man, with all a man’s weaknesses.”
“And you know this how?” ventured Rhiannon, annoyed yet again, though she knew her ire wasn’t entirely rational.
Cael had yet to embrace her, and what should she expect? That he would rush into her arms and beg forgiveness?
Nay.
He wasn’t that sort of man.
And yet… he hadn’t bothered to answer her question, and the simple fact that he and Marcella were still so familiar didn’t set well with her. Instead, he and Marcella continued their discourse. Therefore, once Jack returned with his kindling, Rhiannon did to the kindling what she longed to do to both Marcella and Cael.
The fire blazed to life even before Jack could fully retrieve his hand from the pit, and he gave her a beleaguered glance.
Oblivious to their exchange, Cael and Marcella continued to talk.
Jack sat down beside Rhiannon, and said, “I’m sorry.” Perhaps he’d mistaken the reason for her self-indulgence. “I didn’t intend to harm you with the knife.” He cast a surreptitiousglance at the lord of Blackwood. “Rather, I only meant forhimto think I might.”
“I’m not angry, Jack, don’t worry.”
“You sound angry,” he said.
Rhiannon cast him a pointed glance. “Did you find dinner?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Nay. But I tell you true, iftheywant something other than what’s in our saddle bags, they’ll have to go get it themselves. I’m weary of being everyone’s errand boy.”
Rhiannon knew precisely how he felt, although she didn’t wish to confess it.
“Alas, I’d like to say I know how you feel,” said Jack, leaning close. “But I don’t. In fact, I can’t say much about your husband’s debt to your mother, but?—”
Rhiannon shot him a furious glance. “Because you are sworn to secrecy, or because you do not know?”
Sweet fates.Did everyone but her know about her husband’s debt to her mother?
“Well… I do know his life depends on her good graces,” he finished.
Didn’t everyone’s?
It wasn’t enough of an explanation—and neither had it come from the right person. Incensed beyond measure, Rhiannon tossed a pebble into the flames.
