Page 81 of Wind and Water
From the strained expression on Niamh’s face, I don’t think this Dierdre will agree.
The way Liam’s back is stiff and the tick in his jaw is confirmation.
I hold my breath. There’s no going back. “I’m sure it’s going to be fine.” My voice isn’t even convincing to me.You might have mentioned this woman.
She’s not important. You are the only woman, besides my mother, who has ever been important to me. However, I begin to wonder if Dierdre is unstable.
That’s comforting.Even inside our heads, my thoughts drip with sarcasm.
We walk through the portal.
We arrive at a gate with a white city behind it. It looks like Italian marble gleaming in the midday sun. The walls holding the gate are gray stone extending out of sight in both directions. Flags fly on the ramparts, but the elf at the gate has my full attention. His gaze locks with Niamh, and he relaxes as if he were onlymoments away from sending out a search party and had no intention of waiting until nightfall.
When he manages to pull his attention from her, he sees Liam and his lips tick up in what might have been a smile, but I’m guessing that is a rare thing for this soldier in his blue uniform with gold trim. It’s similar to the one Liam wore the first time I saw him. “I’m glad the reports of your death were exaggerated.”
“Do you have Mark Twain here?” It pops out of my mouth before I can stop it.
The two men salute by coming to attention, then a brief nod. Then they hug, and I can see that the fairy was correct in calling them brothers.
Liam pounds the other man’s back and breaks the embrace. “Good to see you, Rían. I have met your lovely mate. I never would have believed you would succumb to love.”
“I think there is no real choice when it finds you,” Captain Redmond says and pulls Niamh into his arms, careful not to damage her wings, as if he’s practiced at how to hold her.
“I look forward to that story, my friend.” Liam takes my hand. “This is Wren Martin. She has agreed to help us fight the witch queen and has suffered much on our behalf.” His eyes fill with love as he gazes down at me. “She is mine as I am hers.”
The captain’s eyes widen momentarily before he bows low to me. “You have my gratitude, Wren, daughter of Birdie, and my allegiance, as the mate of one I consider my brother.”
With no idea what the protocol is, I nod. “It’s nice to meet you, Captain.”
“We must go to the residence. Your parents will be overjoyed, and Aaran has been worried.” Rían turns with Niamh’s hand in his.
“Aaran is here? He’s alive?” Excitement and relief fuel Liam’s tone.
Stopping, Rían cocks his head. “He is well and also succeeded in his quest.”
The joy of hearing that Venora had lied rushes through Liam and our connection. I’ll never get used to how much he holds inside.
Niamh’s feet don’t touch the ground as she flies alongside Rían on the walk up the road, talking quickly about how she found us, but not mentioning that Liam was naked.
Rían is brown skinned and devastatingly handsome, whereas she is cute and fair as a daisy petal. Their love shines like a beacon for anyone to see.
I wonder if that’s what others see when they look at Liam and me.
Liam stares at the two of them, looking bewildered. “Fairies in an elven city. A fairy who will speak to elves and love one, and the fairy king, conferring with my mother. I don’t know if I can take many more surprises in one day.”
“I feel like a squirrel cornered by a herd of cats. If I can take it, you can.”
He laughs and squeezes my hand before lifting it to his lips and kissing my knuckles. “I’ll be with you the entire time. Even when I’m not, you know you can find me.” He touches the side of his head.
Of course, he’s right, I will be fine. I’ve met important people before. Corell and Farress are the leaders of their herd. I met the mayor of our small town once when he came to a craft fair. I’ll be fine. I don’t know who I think I’m kidding.
The main road is built of stone, and it curves upward. When we round the bend, the castle gleams at the top of a wide, terraced hill carved from marble. The castle features three white towers, with the largest one rising from the center of an enormous building.
We begin climbing stairs that seem never to end. Every twenty or so, there’s a stretch of flat marble followed by more steps.
Elves begin to come out of their homes and crowd the side of the stairs. They whisper his name, and the noise grows louder until their voices rise in a cheer as they collectively realize Liam has come home.
The last set of steps is steeper and twice as high. The front of the castle is pure white, and the three towers jutting from its roof resemble a crown. Carved below the towers and above the doors are scenes of battle and triumph. Beneath are six pillars, and at the center, an enormous arched door with three diamonds carved over the top.
