The House Of Gaian

Huntress.” Ashk forced herself to smile. “And I admit to being curious about her other form.”
    “Shadow hound,” Aiden whispered. “She’s a shadow hound.”
    Ashk’s smile faded. Being one herself, she knew better than the rest of them how dangerous that form could be. “Then let’s hope the Lightbringer and the Huntress don’t cross paths anytime soon. We can’t afford to have Lucian do something that would turn the Huntress against the Fae.” She gently pulled her hand out of Aiden’s and stood up. “We should retire now. I want to get an early start in the morning. I’d like to reach Willowsbrook before the full moon, which means we have a lot of traveling to do. Bard, I’ll have one of my men inform the bards of your direction. It will make it easier to find you if there are other messages.”
    Aiden nodded, getting to his feet slowly.

    Ashk led them into the Clan house and saw them all to their rooms before slipping into Morag’s room to check on her. Satisfied that Morag would get a good night’s rest, she went to her own room and stared out the window for a long time.
    A Daughter of the House of Gaian as the Lady of the Moon. A shadow hound as the Huntress.
    Great Mother, let me hear from Gwynith soon. She’ll tell me more of what I need to know than all the bards put together. Because Selena will either be a very good friend for the battles ahead... or a very dangerous enemy.

 

     
     

Chapter 15

 

     
     

     
    waxing moon
     
    Jenny stood at the bow of the small ship and watched Selkie Island grow larger. Perhaps she was being foolish to come here. Cordell had told her the Lord of the Selkies and his people on the island were keeping a sharp eye on any ships sailing north to the western coast of Sylvalan. But as each day passed without word from Mihail, she became more fearful. Was he waiting at sea somewhere, hoping other ships that belonged to the family made it to open water? Had he tried to go back to Durham for any family members who were unable to find a way out of the city?
    What about the ones who were going overland to Willowsbrook? Had they arrived safely? Were they still safe?
    “Not as fine a harbor as we’ve got at Sealand,” the ship’s captain said as he came to stand beside her. “
    But it suits them here.”
    She heard pride, and a touch of apprehension, in his voice. Being a selkie himself, he didn’t want to speak ill of the man who ruled the Fae with his particular gift, but he’d made enough comments on the journey for her to understand he was hoping Lord Murtagh’s virility wouldn’t sway her into remaining on Selkie Island.
    At another time, she might have been amused by the verbal tug-of-war the captain was engaged in—
    approving of the way Murtagh ruled the selkies and dealt with the human gentry in one breath and in the next giving warning hints that many a young lady had been lured into a lover’s arms by moonlight and the sea, and while a lover could stir the blood, his appeal could fade with the turning of the moon while love rooted in family was forever.
    Since she doubted anything she said would reassure the man, she just smiled and turned her attention to the sea.
    As they got closer to the island, she saw six small fishing boats—and she saw a man from each boat dive into the water.
    When she heard the captain order the mainsail lowered, she stared at him in surprise.

    He shrugged. “Best to go easy in these waters. Take a look.” He pointed down.
    Jenny caught the flash of a sleek brown head before it disappeared under the water again.
    Two selkies surfaced near the bow of the ship. Four others surfaced a little farther out.
    “Merry meet!” the captain called. “I’m bringing Lady Jennyfer to the island to meet with Lord Murtagh!”
    The selkies bobbed their heads, then raced away. Jenny watched two of them head for the harbor while the other four swam back to the fishing boats.
    “You can bet a bag of gold coins that there’s an archer in each of those boats,” the captain said quietly. “
    Now that they know why we’re coming to the island, they won’t fire on us.”
    “I thought they were out fishing.” Jenny narrowed her eyes a little to study the boats more carefully.
    “Oh, they are. But the Fae have always been protective of these waters, and these days ... well.” He pointed at the sky. “There’s plenty of them who aren’t looking for fish.”
    “Sea hawks?”
    The captain didn’t answer, and Jenny