The House Of Gaian

he said, striding toward her. “What’s happened? What’s wrong?”
    She turned on him, her teeth bared, her hands curled like claws. “Stay away from me. Leave me be. I have to get away from here. Now.”
    Padrick raised his hands and stopped moving toward her, but he didn’t back away. “Why?”
    “ I have to leave !”
    “Why?”
    The whip-crack demand in his voice doused her with cold reason. She couldn’t kill him because he was in her way, and he wouldn’t get out of her way without an explanation.
    Raking her hands through her sleep-tangled hair, she tried to explain. “I’ve had dreams. On the journey east and all the way back here. Not always the same dream, but the same kind of dream.”
    “About what?”
    “Something is hunting here. Something evil. I can sense it, almost feel what it feels, know what it thinks.
    But I can’t find it, can’t stop it. It... kills Neall. And then hunts Ari and the babe. But this time, it was right in the cottage with them. I was standing right there, and it... still... killed them. I think it can find them through me. Somehow, it will find them through me. So I can’t stay here. If it’s following me, I have to lead it away. Once I’m gone, they’ll be safe.”
    “Ashk?”

    For a moment, she didn’t understand him. Then she let his voice, stripped of all emotion, all heart, sink in.
    She shook her head. “I’ve only dreamed of Ari, Neall, and the babe. Ashk...” She stopped, felt a swell of hope. “It wouldn’t go near the Hunter because Ashk could defeat it. She’s strong enough to win.”
    Padrick slowly lowered his hands. “Then you have to head back east and join Ashk as quickly as you can.”
    “Yes.” Morag sighed with relief before she turned to finish saddling the dark horse.
    “You’re not leaving tonight, Morag.”
    She gripped the saddle to keep from striking him as he stepped up behind her.
    “Morag. You’re exhausted. The horse is exhausted. How far do you think you’ll get before one or both of you ends up injured or crippled? Listen to me. There’s another way. It’s only a few hours until sunrise.
    Do you know Sealand?”
    She nodded warily. “I went there with Ashk.”
    “A day’s ride from here, even by carriage. The horse can follow behind.”
    “A day’s ride in the wrong direction.”
    “In the right direction,” Padrick countered. ‘To the sea. We’ll get a ship there that can take us all the way down to the bay near Selkie Island. Once we land, if you go up die closest shining road and ride through the Clan territories and cross between them on the bridges, you’re a day’s ride, a day and a half at most, from the Mother’s Hills. If you ask them, the House of Gaian will allow you to ride through their land.
    You’ll get to Willowsbrook just as fast, if not faster, and you’ll have the sea journey in which to rest.“
    He had a point, especially when she wasn’t sure she could finish saddling her horse by herself. “If I agree to this, will you promise not to call me a damn fool of a woman for trying to leave?”
    After a pause, he asked, “Can I think it?”
    Morag rested her forehead against the saddle. “I can’t stop you from thinking, Padrick.”
    “That’s settled, then. Take the saddle off the horse. We’ll all get a few hours sleep and be on our way at first light.”
    Morag debated for a moment, then decided the horse was worth more than her pride. “I don’t think I’m strong enough to lift it off him.”
    Padrick shouldered her out of the way. She chose not to hear what he muttered under his breath while he put the saddle on the nearest rack, made sure the dark horse had feed and water, and led her back to the house. He was still muttering when he pushed her into her room and closed the door with a firmness that was just short of unfriendly.
    Morag stared at the door for a long time before she changed her clothes and climbed into bed.
    Since Ashk often wore a pleased, lazy smile after spending time alone with Padrick, Morag suspected there were compensations for putting up with the man. But she also decided that every nip Ashk gave him was a nip well deserved.

 

     
     

Chapter 38

 

     
     

     
    waxing moon
     
    Jenny stood on the cliffs, staring out at the gentle sea. Fishing boats rode easy swells. She shuddered at the thought of what they might bring up in their nets.
    “I thought I would find you here.”
    She turned and watched Mihail walk toward her. “You