The House Of Gaian

the garden far too long, and the bard delivering the message seemed too agitated for the news to be a simple announcement.
    Aiden would bring the news to them when he was ready. Since there was nothing she could do except wait, she turned her thoughts to her biggest concern—to the woman standing a few feet away from her, watching Aiden with dark, troubled eyes.
    With every day they traveled, Morag became edgier, moodier, more unpredictable and volatile. That’s why Ashk had stopped arguing with the Clans about sending fighters down to the human world. The last
    “discussion” had become heated, and when an arrogant Fae Lord had insisted that witches were the Fae’
    s servants, Morag had turned on him and would have ripped out his soul if Ashk and Morphia hadn’t intervened.
    Morag understood death so well. That was why she revered life so much. For her to strike out with her gift... Mother’s mercy. She could ride through a Clan or a human village and leave nothing but corpses in her wake.
    “Morag?” Ashk asked quietly. She waited until Morag looked at her. “Why don’t you sit down and rest?
    I think Aiden will be a while yet.”
    Morag hesitated, then sat on the stone bench near Ashk, twisting around to continue watching Aiden.
    “What’s wrong, Morag?” Ashk said.
    “Nothing,” Morag said flatly.
    Ashk suppressed a spark of temper. “How can anyone help if you won’t confide in anyone?”

    “There’s nothing to confide.”
    Ashk let her breath out in a huff. “Then at least accept Morphia’s offer to help you get a decent night’s sleep.”
    “No.“
    She might have given up if she’d hadn’t heard a quiver of fear beneath the sharp denial. “I thought we were friends.”
    “And you’d do anything for a friend?”
    “Yes, I would.”
    Morag looked at her. Really looked at her. Then turned away again to watch Aiden. But after several moments’ silence, she said very softly, “I’ve had dreams. Terrible dreams.”
    “Will you tell me what they’re about?” Uneasy about what kind of dreams could have affected Morag so much, Ashk worked to keep her voice low and soothing.
    “Insatiable hunger,” Morag whispered, shuddering. Then, “Shadows and light. Isn’t that what all dreams are about in the end?”
    Shadows and light. Death and life. Why would those be terrible for the Gatherer of Souls?
    “I’ll let Morphia give me a dreamless night if you’ll make a promise to me,” Morag said abruptly.
    “What is the promise?”
    “If I can’t stop this ... If I fail... Promise me, Hunter, that you will do what needs to be done.”
    Ashk stared at Morag.
    Hunter. Morag wasn’t asking for a promise from her friend Ashk. The Gatherer was asking the Hunter.
    Considering who they both were, Ashk understood quite well what might be asked of her.
    She held out her hand. “I will do what needs to be done. This I promise.”
    Morag hesitated, then took Ashk’s hand.
    “Come along, now.” Ashk stood up, tugged Morag’s hand until Morag stood beside her.
    “But... Aiden ...”
    “He’ll tell you everything in the morning. Now you need to rest.” Ashk looked over at Morphia, who was standing with Sheridan and Lyrra at the other end of the terrace. When she nodded, Morphia hurried over to meet them as Ashk and Morag walked into the Clan house.
    Despite Morphia being the Lady of Dreams and Ashk’s continued assurances that she would do what needed to be done, it was an hour before Morag finally sank into a deep, peaceful sleep.
    I will do what needs to be done , Ashk thought as she and Morphia returned to the terrace. Shadows and light. Morag ... what have I promised you ?
    There wasn’t time to think about that because Aiden was sitting on one of the benches with Lyrra.
    Sheridan stood nearby.

    When Lyrra saw them, she gestured impatiently. “Aiden’s been waiting for you.”
    “If you’d wanted the news sooner, you could have joined the others in the common room to hear the bard’s announcement,” Aiden said testily.
    Not good. The Bard and the Muse rarely snapped at each other. Ashk understood Lyrra’s impatience—
    they’d all been waiting for some word about what had happened among the Ladies of the Moon—but she wished Lyrra would pay more attention to the distress in Aiden’s eyes.
    “I’m here now,” Ashk said calmly, coming to stand before Aiden. “What is the news, Bard?”
    “Where’s Morag?” Aiden asked, looking from her to Morphia.
    “Sleeping.