Page 86 of Wind and Water
“We came back with Aaran and Harper.” She touches my cheek. “This is my husband, Bert. Bert Donaldson, my brother, Liam.”
Bert’s handshake is firm, and he looks me in the eyes. “It’s good to meet you. We’ve been praying you’d make it back.”
“Nice to meet you.” I’m still bewildered.
Father clears his throat. “I know there’s a lot of catching up to do, but perhaps we’d better start with your journey, son.”
“You’re right, Father. Nainsi and I will have time to get reacquainted. The tale Wren and I need to share isn’t pretty, but we did learn some things. Most of them don’t bode well for elvenkind.”
“You brought us the centaurs, Liam. That is a fascinating and favorable alliance.” My mother’s eyes shine with pride, and I’m honest enough with myself to accept that I covet that from her.
Wren takes my hand as I sit next to her. “Before we tell the story, has anyone seen Adhar?”
“Who is that?” Father looks to Birdie for clarification.
“The raven.” Sitting on Wren’s other side, Birdie pats her knee. “She left us as soon as you were taken. She flew north, and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of her since.”
I’ll have to ask about that phrase later.
Wren sips her wine, then puts it on the low table. “I suppose she’ll return if she’s needed.”
I wish there was something I could do to comfort her. “Wren was separated from the rest of us by the crows and the wolves. The portal opened, and she fell through. I dove in after her,” I begin the story, letting Wren take over when she wishes.
When we reach the part where I was turned into a shadow demon, my mother and father both inhale sharply.
Nainsi clutches my shoulder.
They all relax a degree at the realization that Wren saved me from a fate much worse than death.
Wren keeps her voice level as she describes the scene in Venora’s chamber and the torture she endured.
I have to force my breathing to remain steady and hold my rage deep inside. I never should have allowed her to be harmed in any way, let alone tortured for information.
Birdie weeps quietly.
“When they returned her to the cell, Wren was hurting, and I told her about the fairy glen a day’s ride from here. I used my mind to show her the place. She opened the portal. I lifted her and walked through. There was no pain or sensation of spinning. One moment we were in the cell in Coire, and the next we stood in the glen with the moons and stars shining down on us. Wren closed the portal. We healed and would have stayed another day before daring the walk home, had Niamh not come for us.”
“Liam healed my broken ribs.” Wren chimes in as I skipped that part as well as our lovemaking.
No one speaks or sips their wine. They barely breathe as they stare at us in stunned silence.
Harper dashes away a tear, and Aaran wraps an arm around her. She takes a deep breath. “I know the pain you endured fromthe black lightning. I’m so sorry, Wren. If the dark magic in the pool was worse, I can’t imagine what you have suffered.”
Mother stands and turns away for a long moment. “My sons and their mates have endured much at Venora’s hands, and I am to blame. I should have known what she was capable of many years ago and stopped her. I let the memory of our friendship blind me, and you have all paid the price. Even Birdie suffered because of my failings.” She faces us. “You have my deepest apologies. I promise that I will do better, and you will always have my support and allegiance.”
The fact that Mother accepted Wren as my mate means more to me than the fealty. It shouldn’t, but it does.
“Thank you,” Wren says. “I will do what I can to help save this world. I’d like to see it as it should be, rather than how the witch queen has altered it.”
Mother’s eyes shine with emotion. “We don’t deserve you humans.”
Nodding, Father squeezes her shoulder.
“Something has just occurred to me.” Niamh’s wings flutter faster. “The pool where the witch queen healed herself, you say it harmed you. That is probably because human magic is neither light nor dark, the way elven and fairy magic is. She must have known or at least suspected this, and your torture was to confirm that there is more than what we know. Human magic, from what we know, is neutral, and it can be used for good or evil.”
“Perhaps she was trying to turn Wren to darkness so that she could recruit her.” Father crosses his arms, a stance he always takes when contemplating or protecting.
Niamh rocks her head from side to side, and her eyes remain unfocused while she thinks about the idea. “It’s possible. It’s equally possible that the substance in the pool is a living source of magic, and if that’s the case, it may have learned something about humans.”
