Page 50 of A Celtic Vow
He could only hope as they made their way into Liam and Shannon’s courtyard a short time later. Word had already spread that they were en route, so people had gathered everywhere. All lowered to a knee and bowed their heads, not just in respect to Shannon but Constance.
“Rise, good people,” Liam called out. “So my dragon brethren and his Unnamed One, she who will soon become Queen of Ulster, can address ye.” He looked at Aodh. “Listen well to my brother’s words and know two things.” He met as many eyes as he could. “Not only have the King of Ulster and I settled our long strife, but he has my eternal thanks for saving not just my family and me but through us, ye.” He shook his head. “For my druidess and I are stronger together, and ye are stronger with us watching over ye.”
Many nodded in agreement, a thankful yet tentative look in their eyes as they took in Aodh. Yet several were still wary, and he didn’t blame them.
So he gave them the same honesty he had given his own people, beginning with a heartfelt apology. Not just for the long years he had let Siobhán come betwixt him and his brother but because he hadn’t been strong enough to stop not one enemy but two from possessing his dragon.
As Liam suggested, he then went on to describe what it had felt like being possessed. “’Twas as if both sides of me were caged.” He paused and frowned, grappling with the terrible memory. “Nothing could be more horrible. Not only because I no longer had control, but because I was forced to watch the destruction my inner beast was capable of.”
Reliving the anger he’d felt, he clenched his fists and went on. “Not just destruction to my own castle but King Declán’s castle in the Kingdom of Leinster.” He cleared his throat when a wave of emotion hit him. “’Twas indescribable torture attacking my brother’s castle. People I called friends.” He shook his head. “And I will have them know that when we travel there next. Have them know whilst my wrath was at the behest of Raghnall and Siobhán, the anger they witnessed was my inner beast’s at what they forced him to do.Meto do.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying not to see what his dragon had seen,feelwhat he had felt, but it was too late. Red hazed his vision when he opened his eyes, and his inner beast looked back at them. When murmurs of discontent rippled through the crowd, he made clear that there was no helping it because his dragon would have them see it apologize too.
See that it meant every word his human half said.
“I do not expect yer forgiveness,” he went on. “Only pray that ye do not extend any ill-will toward my warriors for my actions.” He shook his head again. “They are not at fault but victims themselves.”
“I would see the same,” Constance called out, invoking murmurs of awe when her dragon eyes emerged as well. When she nodded at him with reassurance, he realized she had done it on purpose. That, despite how nervous she’d been at everyone’s reaction to what she was, her dragon would stand by his.
She didn’t stop there, though.
Rather, she continued to tell them more about herself. How charity had always been a passion. How she looked forward to getting to know everyone in all four kingdoms as time went on. How she envisioned helping those in need and unifying Ireland into a country that would thrive well into the future. She said nothing of the future not including her and her sisters or the unknown kings in history books but spoke as though they would live on and protect their people always.
When she was finished speaking of herself, she talked about Aodh. What they had remembered so far of a forgotten childhood. She shared how much she’d loved it here and adored the people. Above all, though, how much she loved him because of his goodness. Because of the kindness that existed in both sides of him.
“You have my word,” she said in conclusion after she took his hand. “Before everything is said and done, Iwillfigure out how Siobhán possessed King Aodh, and Iwillsee her suffer for it. See her suffer for the harm she and King Raghnall did to all four kingdoms.”
Pride filled him at her support. At words that, when combined with his, invoked first one clap, then another, then even more before everyone was clapping, hooting, or hollering.
While they needed to keep moving, he, Liam, and Shannon couldn’t help but agree with Constance when she suggested they break their fast there. That they remained among Liam’s people for a few hours and address any concerns that might arise.
As it happened, they didn’t sit and eat. Instead, falling into a role that came naturally to Constance, she asked Liam and Shannon if she and Aodh might hand out spare food to the old and ill. Those in need. So it was, in little time, that she had her sister and two kings handing out food as she and Aodh chatted with Liam’s people. As they grew less and less wary of Aodh.
There were questions, though. One that stood out above all others.
“What if the evil queen possesses yer dragon again, King Aodh?” Liam’s second-in-command wondered. “What then?”
“Then my liege will have his queen and our Viking friend, Ulrik, to deal with.” Constance looked at Aodh with absolute confidence. “But I highly doubt it will come to pass because King Raghnall is gone.” She shook her head. “And without him, Siobhán no longer has the ability to take over King Aodh's inner beast.”
He could only hope she was right. Either way, she went on to make clear how she and Aodh only grew stronger the more they remembered one another. The closer they became.
By the time they departed, it was to rallying cheers and more than double the warriors they had arrived with. Men were left behind to defend the castle, but most were heading south to help end Siobhán once and for all. Again, Shannon moved them along quickly, and in little time they approached Declán’s border.
While he had seen Declán briefly after saving Liam from Siobhán’s clutches, they hadn’t spoken. So he was glad to see his brother and Riona awaiting them with few soldiers. Gladder still when Declán didn’t approach him with hostility but rode up beside him with more forgiveness than Aodh expected.
“Welcome, brother.Dragon.” He held out his hand. “Ye’ve my thanks for saving Liam and his kin. Thanks that yer dragon did right by us in the end.”
He clasped his hand, nodded, and fought back another wave of emotion. Grateful for forgiveness when he wasn’t sure he had earned it yet.
“May yer people forgive me as readily,” he said gruffly. “For they deserve their anger every bit as much as Liam’s people did.” He looked from brother to brother. “Once we’ve seen Siobhán fall and ‘tis safe enough for transport, both of yer kingdoms will see coin from my coffers for the families of the fallen plus repairs to Declán’s castle.”
They nodded with approval before Riona smiled at Aodh and Constance. “So I hear we’re hosting a wedding before we head for King’s Heart?”
“If you think your people wouldn’t mind.” Aodh looked between Riona and Declán. “Or is it too much considering—”
“’Tis not too much but anticipated,” Declán said, surprising them. He exchanged a warm look with his wife. “Given our people heard and saw everything you two did at Liam and Shannon’s castle.”
When Aodh and Constance looked at them in confusion, Riona explained.
