The House Of Gaian

hesitated, looking uncomfortable. “It is within your right to strip her of her gift. But, Lady, there is no witch in the Old Place that anchors our Clan’s piece of Tir Alainn. There hasn’t been since the Black Coats came and she was
    ... lost. We don’t know why it is so, but Dianna’s gift can anchor the Old Place’s magic and hold our piece of Tir Alainn. Without her gift . . .”
    They don’t know why it is so. Mother’s mercy . “I have no wish to harm your Clan. I will not take what your people need.”
    “We are grateful for your mercy, Huntress.” He started to turn away, then turned back. “Tonight was the first time Dianna acknowledged that witches were the House of Gaian. Up until tonight, she has denied there was any connection.”
    Selena stared at him, puzzled. “We have always been the House of Gaian. Why would she deny it?”
    He gave her an odd look, started to say something, then changed his mind and hurried back to the other men kneeling beside Dianna, who was still on the ground.
    She saw Gwynith approach her at the same time three men stepped up.
    “We”—one of the men gestured to the other two—“are bards from different Clans. We are here as witnesses ... and to send the news out to the rest of the Clans. May we ask, Lady Selena, what Clan you are from?”
    “That can wait,” Gwynith said firmly. “The Lady is wet and tired and needs dry clothes and warm food.
    Your questions can wait until we’re back in Tir Alainn and she has been looked after properly.”
    Gwynith sounded so much like Rhyann, Selena had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. “I think I have the strength to answer one question.” Before Gwynith could protest, Selena turned back to the bards. “I don’t come from a Clan.”
    The bards’ spokesman looked puzzled. “Then ... where do you come from?”
    “I come from the Mother’s Hills.”
    Instant silence as even Gwynith stared at her. She could hear the raindrops dripping from the leaves of the nearby trees.
    “Mother’s mercy,” the bard whispered.
    She didn’t want to terrify these people any more than she’d already done, but they needed to understand how much her presence among them, and her power over them, was going to change their lives. She said gently, “I think you will find, good bard, that if the wrath of the House of Gaian looks in your direction, the Mother will have no mercy.”
    All three men glanced up at the clear night sky and turned deathly pale.
    “Enough,” Gwynith said.
    “In a moment,” Selena said. “Now I have a question. Do you know the Bard?”
    The bards’ spokesman nodded warily.
    “Do you know where to find him?”
    The man looked even more wary. “Not at present, Lady. He is... traveling. But we could send a message through the Clans,” he added hurriedly.
    “Then tell the Bard that the new Lady of the Moon would like to speak with him, if he would so oblige me.”
    “We’ll send the message, Lady.” They moved away, hurrying toward their horses.
    Selena looked at Gwynith. “It is not that I don’t appreciate your assistance, but I’m wondering why you’
    re offering it so freely.”
    “Two reasons,“ Gwynith replied after a long pause. ”First, I have pledged my loyalty and service to you, and I think you are not familiar with Tir Alainn or riding the shining roads.“
    “I have no experience with either.”
    “You have no reason to trust any of us, but I swear to you I will do nothing that would harm you in any way. I—I can’t say with any certainty that will be true of the others here tonight... or other Fae who weren’t here tonight.”
    “Understood. Your second reason?”

    Gwynith hesitated, obviously struggling with how to say enough without saying too much. “Lady Ashk did not approve of Dianna and the way she was leading the Fae. But I think... I think Lady Ashk would approve of you.”
    And that’s very important to you, isn’t it ? “Who is Lady Ashk?”
    “She’s the Lady of the Woods at Bretonwood, a Clan in the west.”
    Lady of the Woods.
    A shiver went through Selena. The woods coming alive. Coming toward her. “What is her other form?”
    Gwynith gave her an odd, searching look. “She is like you, Huntress. She is a shadow hound.”
    Two shadow hound bitches racing through the woods, racing through the moonlight, united against a common enemy.
    “How far away is Bretonwood?” Selena asked, feeling lightheaded.
    “It’s— Well, she isn’t there