Shadows and Light

side of the bed so he could get a better look.
    Arranged stones filled the center of the bowl. Water rose up between them, spilling down over the stones
    ’ edges.
    A brook in a bowl , Aiden thought, smiling. But how was it done?
    Curiosity got him out of bed when nothing else would have at that moment.
    He found clothing on a chair. The belt and the boots were his, but the shirt and trousers had belonged to someone else. Still, he put them on, grateful for the loan—and tried not to curse too loudly when his bandaged hands and side made the task of getting dressed a fumbling challenge.
    A comb and brush had been left on the dressing table beneath a small mirror. He picked up the brush, looked in the mirror—and froze.
    His true face, his Fae face, stared back at him.
    He and Lyrra had forgotten to use the glamour when they’d returned to the human world.
    Breanna had seen his true face, so she’d probably told the others he and Lyrra were Fae. That’s why they hadn’t seemed surprised. Or maybe they were too intent on helping him to really notice the shape of his ears and the feral quality of his face.
    Unsure if that made him feel relieved or uneasy, he brushed his hair and left the room.
    He wandered back to the kitchen, since it was the only part of the house he was familiar with. Glynis escorted him to a parlor, where Nuala sat near an open window, doing some needlework.
    She rose when he crossed the room, placed one hand lightly on the side of his face, and studied him for a long moment.
    “You look better,” Nuala said.
    I look Fae. But he wasn’t comfortable pointing that out to her, so he asked a question. “The ... fountain
    ... in the bedroom. How did you do that?”
    Her woodland eyes twinkled with amusement before a soft smile curved her lips. “Water is my strongest branch of the Mother, and I have a connection with earth and fire, as well. So it’s not so difficult to ask water and stone to dance together to soothe a weary heart.”
    He’d been dazed when she and Keely had led him into the kitchen and sat him down at one end of a worktable. But he remembered how Nuala had quietly murmured while she ran her fingers over his hands and Keely poured water over them. He remembered seeing bits of dirt and stone rise up out of his flesh to be washed into the bowl on the table.

    “You called the earth out of my hands,” he said.
    “It didn’t belong there.” Her fingers trailed down his cheek before she lowered her hand. “It’s almost time for the evening meal. Why don’t you sit and rest a bit?”
    Aiden took a step back, shook his head regretfully. “As much as we enjoy your hospitality, Nuala, we have a long journey and can’t delay.”
    She gave him a stern look that made him want to scuff his toes against the carpet. “Do you have a grandmother?”
    “Yes.” Although I doubt she ‘d be willing to acknowledge me now .
    Nuala nodded, as if he’d given her the answer she expected. “I am old enough to be your grandmother, and since yours isn’t here, I will stand for her this evening. You, young man, will stay here tonight to rest and gather your strength for the journey ahead. As soon as Breanna and Lyrra join us, we will discuss your plans to see what can be done to ease the journey.”
    “But—”
    She pointed to a small sofa that faced the windows. “Sit.”
    He sat. And he wondered how different the Fae might have been if the grandmothers in the Clans had perfected that tone of voice.
    Nuala returned to her chair and picked up her needlework.
    After a few minutes, he relaxed. Under different circumstances, he could see himself sitting in this room for an hour, idly playing his harp, perhaps even picking out a new tune while she quietly worked on her embroidery. There was so much peace and strength in this room, in this house.
    “Why are there no men here?” he asked, a question more for himself than directed to her.
    Nuala didn’t even glance up. “No men? Then Edgar and Clay are... ?”
    Aiden shrugged, winced a little when the movement pulled the scabs forming on his right side. “I meant...
    companions.” Lovers, actually, but he wasn’t going to say that.
    “My husband died when Keely was still a child. Because of what happened to her, she will never think of a man in that way. And Breanna hasn’t yet found the man who touches her heart. As for other kinds of companions...” Nuala’s lips twitched. “That, grandson, is none of your business.”
    Aiden