Page 146 of Broken Veil
“I see the mark of Dôn on this one.” Cyrus looked at Carys. “The old mother has given you a hero’s collar. Is war coming?”
“That’s what I’m trying to prevent,” Carys said. “The Morrígan is trying to gain power in the Brightlands. That’s why I need to get to the well.”
Cyrus nodded. “To give you a vision.”
“Something like that.
“Then follow me.” Cyrus looked at Cadell. “Brother Dragon, take your natural form and fly behind. I can see that you have a need to shift. Your ladies will be safe with us. I will vouch for the honor of these fae.”
Cadell looked at Carys. She gave him a nod of approval; then, in the space of a heartbeat, his human body disappeared and he was a beast again, spreading his wings and rising from the forest floor, taking to the predawn sky as Carys watched him fly overhead.
Nêrys!
You’re so relieved.
It feels like weeks, not days.
I know.
Laura was already speaking to the fae guards, one of whom led a horse from behind a copse of chestnut trees.
“I will stay here to guard the gate,” the fae said, “but you may borrow my mare. She is bred of Epona’s blood and as gentle as the moon.”
“I am grateful for the loan,” Laura said.
“Nêrys Ddraig, you must ride with me.” Cyrus transformed back into unicorn form and knelt down so Carys could mount him. It wasn’t the first time she had ridden a unicorn, but the height and power of the animals always gave her pause.
“Come on.” Laura urged her on. “It’s almost sunrise here, which means that the sun is setting in the Brightlands.”
They took off through the forest with the unicorn and the fae as Carys felt Cadell soaring overhead. He swept over the landscape of Saris Plain, narrating what he saw.
The scars of war have been completely healed. I see nothing from Dru and Cian’s battle save for some memorial mounds.
That was only a month ago.
Yes.
It feels so much longer.
Only a month for the Morrígan to set her plan in motion. But of course, it had been far more than a month. The goddess had probably been looking for an opportunity for centuries.
Carys had just given her one.
I am feeling your guilt again,Cadell said.Stop. You had no way of knowing what she was.
I should have been paying better attention.
Cadell ignored her.There is a large group of women wearing white gathered on top of a hill. I think they must be Epona’s daughters.
What are they doing?
They are in a circle. That is all I can see.
The unicorn slowed and then started walking when they came to a spring that flowed from a small rise of the earth before it tumbled over a pile of rocks and landed in a large round pool lined with cobblestones.
“Beyond those trees is Cley Hill.” The fae pointed to the right. “A giant named Hogg lives under that mound. A long time ago he grew angry that the humans feared him and fled from his territory, so he redirected a stream under the hill to feed the land.”
Carys dismounted from the unicorn, who immediately transformed.
