The House Of Gaian

easing back the tension on the bowstring before giving Falco a look that would make a man break out in a cold sweat.
    Liam watched the Fae. Falco’s familiarity with a witch didn’t reassure them. If anything, it made them more nervous and fearful. But why?
    “Can he fly?” Breanna asked.
    “No, Varden is a wolf in his other form,” Falco replied.
    “Then he won’t like getting tossed up to the treetops if he’s mean to you, will he?”
    “I wouldn’t like getting tossed up to the treetops, and I can fly,” Falco muttered.
    “May we speak?” Varden asked.
    “I’d like to hear what he has to say,” Liam said quietly.
    Varden gave him an assessing look before dismounting and taking a few steps toward them. “We’ve come to help.”
    “Why?” Liam asked. “You’ve never shown any concern for the people I rule or the Mother’s Daughters who live here. You shunned Lord Falco because he did want to help. Why have you come now? Won’t your Lightbringer be displeased?”
    “Things have changed.” Varden gave Breanna a nervous glance. “And it hardly matters if Lucian’s displeased since he’s afraid—” He stopped, hesitated, then focused on Falco. “Perhaps you’ve heard there’s a new Lady of the Moon, a new Huntress.”
    Falco shook his head. “I’ve heard nothing about the Clans since I left Tir Alainn. So, Dianna was challenged and lost.”
    Varden nodded. “The new Huntress is not only a Lady of the Moon, she is a Daughter of the House of Gaian. From the Mother’s Hills. She has said that if the Fae do not help the humans defend Sylvalan, she will close the shining roads in a way that will not destroy Tir Alainn but also will not allow us to come down to the human world. Forever.”
    Breanna’s arm went limp. The bow and arrow dropped to the ground.

    “Mother’s mercy!” Gwenn pushed her way through the men. She and Breanna stared at each other, then turned to stare at the Fae. “So you’re what got Selena so riled up.”
    Varden flinched. “Not our Clan.” His eyes flicked toward them, then away. “You know the Huntress?”
    “Not well,” Gwenn said. “But well enough to know Selena will do what she says she’ll do.”
    “Since you don’t want to be a part of the world, why is this so important to you?” Liam asked.
    Falco made a disparaging sound. “Because the game that fills the tables in Tir Alainn comes from the human world. Because we keep few animals except our horses and the shadow hounds. Some chickens for eggs, a few cows for milk. But not enough, if that’s all there was. Perhaps enough to survive, but not live easily ... or well. So it comes down to the Fae once again looking out for themselves.”
    “To someone else’s benefit as well,“ Varden said angrily.
    “Have you—any of you—seen what the Inquisitors do to witches?” Liam asked softly.
    Varden hesitated, then shook his head.
    “I have. Some nights, what I saw in those Old Places comes back in dreams that are almost more than I can stand. So I don’t care why you’re here, Fae Lord. I’ll take the help. I’ll take whatever skills your people have that will help us stop the pain and the slaughter and drive the Inquisitors out of our land.
    Saving our world is the only way you’ll save your own.”
    Varden said nothing. Then, “There’s a rumor that the Hunter has reappeared and is heading east... with the Gatherer. If that rumor is true, I tell you this, gentry Lord. I would rather face these Black Coats than the Hunter.” He hesitated before adding, “With your permission—and yours, Lady—we will ride out now to become more familiar with the land.”
    Since Breanna still seemed stunned by the news that a witch could actually do what she’d bluffed the Lightbringer into believing a witch could do, Liam nodded his assent.
    After the Fae rode off, Donovan whistled softly. “Mother be merciful, Liam. Even if we only get help from a few of the Clans, we stand a better chance than we did an hour ago.”
    “I know.” Now that the Fae were gone, he noticed how pale Falco looked. Couldn’t blame the man. He hadn’t been sleeping easy after learning there were witches out there more powerful than Breanna and Gwenn, who he thought were quite powerful enough. Since Falco would have to work through his own feelings, Liam rested a hand on Breanna’s shoulder. “Are you all right?”
    She just blinked at him, as if she were trying to get the world back into focus. Then she blew