Page 138 of Broken Veil
“Don’t be daft.” Duncan chuckled. “You’re nothing but a bit of thing, Carys Morgan.”
“She feels the weight of the Mothers’ blessing.” Angus hobbled out after Carys. “She’ll grow accustomed to it with time.”
“The tattoo?” Duncan peeked down her shirt. “It’s beautiful, but how does it look healed so quickly? I mean, I know they’re goddesses, but human skin is human skin.”
“Not a tattoo,” she managed to say. “Chain.”
“Aye, it’s beautiful.” He turned to Angus. “Where?”
“Follow me.”
Duncan carried her in his arms, climbing up a rocky trail between two fingers of land that jutted into the ocean. There was a rocky beach below them, and the sound of crashing waves echoed around her.
The world was a wash of gold and grey rock, vivid blue sky, and green brush that covered the tops of the hills. Everything moved in sacred rhythm.
Leaves caught by the wind.
Waves on rock.
The heart of the world breathing in and out.
In and out.
“Here.”
“Here?” Duncan ducked his head, and Carys was enveloped in darkness.
“Put her down.”
Carys smelled the pungent mineral scent of salt water on stone.
“She can barely move, Angus. I don’t know what they gave her, but?—”
“Put her down!” Angus barked. “And stay here. You’re not to go a step farther, do you understand me? No matter what you hear, you stay here, boy.”
“Why?” Duncan lowered Carys carefully to her feet, bracing her until she found her legs. “I don’t like any of this. They gave her something back at that shop, and she can barely walk. If she falls?—”
“I won’t.” She patted his shoulder, gripping it when she swayed. “I’ll be okay. But if you go farther…” Carys breathed deeply when she found her feet, inhaling the scent of cedar and iron that always clung to Duncan’s skin. “The hounds of Arawn would probably find you.” She pulled him down and pressed a kiss to his mouth. “I’m kind of out of it, so don’t make me fight off otherworldly dogs, okay?”
Duncan’s eyes met hers. “I don’t like any of this.”
“I know,” she whispered. “But I have to go.”
“Carys—”
“Love you so much.” She held out her hand and knew that Angus would take it. “Trust me. Trust Angus.”
“I trust you.” He glared at Angus. “I don’t know about this one.”
“Let me go.”
Duncan slowly released the grip he had around her waist, and Carys moved away from him. Her legs still felt heavy, but she was getting used to the sensation. It was a little like those heavy exercise weights people wrapped around their legs when training, only the sensation was all over. As if her own bones had been turned to lead.
“Are you with me, Carys Morgan?”
She walked through the damp cave, holding Angus’s hand. “I’m with you.”
“Not much farther now.”
