Page 67 of Broken Veil
Please, Cadell? Just go, take them, then meet us at Duncan’s forge. This is the most efficient way.
“So Cadell is going to fly Lachlan and Naida to this fae lord,” Laura said, “and we can walk?”
“It’s a half hour at most,” Duncan said. “And after we leave these woods, there are no other forests. We should be safe.”
“Cool.” Laura nodded. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
Carys stood and started walking, ignoring the hissing remnants of fire behind her in the forest.
Nêrys—Cadell was still protesting—my duty is to you.
She turned and looked at the dark forest.We’re going to have to go back through that gate to get back, right?
The dragon was slow to answer.Yes.
We need it to be safe. Getting this fae lord to stop pouting and control the gate is going to help everyone, including me.
The dragon had no response to that, but Carys could feel how dissatisfied he was.
Carys was trying to be practical. The line of Cadell’s fire was precise and devastating. Though the forest was green and the fire had not spread, the edge of the woods was a black gash on the landscape.
There were no imps that flew after her when she started walking along the path, and she didn’t see a single redcap lurking in the shadows. That didn’t mean they were not there. She was positive they were.
She turned to Lachlan and Naida. “Cadell will fly you to Lord What’s His Name. Duncan, Laura, and I will meet you at the forge.”
Naida was already tending to Lachlan’s face wounds. “Tell Cadell we are both grateful.”
The dragon was grumbling in her mind, but she knew he could recognize the practicality of her plan.
Carys walked over and gave Naida a quick hug. “Thank you,” she said with meaning. Then she pulled away and looked pointedly at Lachlan. “We will see you both soon.”
Carys was walkingbetween Duncan and Laura, and it was nice to feel surrounded by humans. “I’m hoping Angus really can help me, because mostly I’m feeling lost and really, really guilty.”
Duncan was shaking his head. “I realize a demigoddess told you that Angus was the key to resolving this, but I honestly don’t know how that old bastard can help. Or even that he will help. He’s not the generous type.”
Laura frowned. “Why guilty?”
“Because this is all my fault.” She stuffed her hands in her pockets. “I’m the one who traded passage to the Brightlands when Epona’s daughters have been keeping the Morrígan contained for years.”
“You’re not the first human to be deceived by a goddess,” Laura said. “From what I remember from all those lectures about mythology, you’re actually in good company.”
Carys shrugged. “It still doesn’t feel good.”
“I’ll not try to blow smoke up your arsehole,” Duncan said. “You are responsible for it, but Laura’s right too. The Morrígan is a tricky one. She played the fae sorceress well. You’re hardly the only one who was fooled.”
“And if she was fae, she’d have very little power in the Brightlands, so it was a calculated risk,” Laura said. “But not a stupid one.”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes,” they both answered at once.
They walked up and over a rise, and when they crested the hill, Carys paused to take it all in.
The Shadowlands spread out before her, Sgain Castle in the distance with Sgain Town reaching out from it, crawling along the gentle hills.
The main road met them, bordered by hedgerows and towering birch trees whose green leaves fluttered in the wind.
“Come, my lady.” Duncan held out his arm. “Only a little more ways to go.”
