The House Of Gaian

sounded foolish, but being thought foolish wasn’t going to stop her from packing, rousing the inn’s landlord to provide whatever food could be hastily assembled, and riding out now .
    “What kind of dream?”
    Selena paused, then finished pulling her tunic over her head. “A bloody one.”
    Gwynith shot out of bed. “I’ll tell the men we’re leaving.” She was out the door and pounding on the door across the hall before Selena had time to reply.
    A murmured conversation. The other door closing with more haste than courtesy, loud enough to wake the rest of the inn’s guests.
    As Gwynith rushed back into their room to start her own frenzy of dressing and packing, Selena continued stuffing her belongings into the saddlebags.
    Another day of hard riding to reach the village where Skelly, the storyteller, lived. How long to reach Willowsbrook after that? Skelly would know. Wasn’t he kin to the Willowsbrook witches? Surely he’d know the fastest way from his village to that Old Place.
    So. Two days at the least. She couldn’t do it in less time. Fae horses had endurance far beyond ordinary horses, but even Mist-runner was wearing down after so many days of hard riding. Reaching Skelly’s village was as much as she could do today.
    She closed her eyes and thought of the willow tree in her dream, stained with blood.
    Two days.
    Would she get to Willowsbrook in time—or get there too late?

 

     
     

Chapter 25

 

     
     

     
    waxing moon
     
    Aiden hurried toward the Clan house, anxious to locate the Clan’s bard or minstrel and find out if there was any news or messages. Once the Fae here realized the Hunter had arrived in their piece of Tir Alainn, it would take hours to get a coherent sentence out of anyone who could provide information. The Clan house would be in an uproar while people scrambled to figure out how to feed and provide beds for Ashk, her companions, and the hundred men who now rode with her.
    Ashk’s ultimatum to the Fae had raced ahead of her, and the Clans had offered a wary welcome when she arrived in their territory to rest for a few hours before moving on again. Among the Clans who had already been staggered by the Huntress’s ultimatum, the Hunter was considered the lesser threat. At least Ashk was one of them, even if she did come from a western Clan. The new Lady of the Moon, a witch from the Mother’s Hills, was so far outside their experience they didn’t know what to do—except fear her and, out of fear, obey.
    So the ranks of Ashk’s fighting men had swelled as the Clans, anxious to prove their sincere intentions of helping drive the Black Coats out of Sylvalan, simply sent the required number of men with her. After all, the Huntress couldn’t fault the Clans if the men were in the Hunter’s company and obeying her orders.
    Privately, Aiden suspected the Fae were hoping a conflict between the Hunter and the Huntress would end with the death of one or both of them. Regardless of the outcome, the meeting of this Hunter and Huntress would be sung by every bard and minstrel for years to come.
    He couldn’t honestly say he was looking forward to witnessing it.
    Preoccupied with his thoughts, he hurried across a courtyard—then stopped abruptly as a door opened and the last person he wanted to meet walked toward him.
    “Lightbringer,” Aiden said uneasily.
    Lucian smiled. “Aiden! Well met!”
    Wary now, Aiden approached Lucian. “That’s not what you said the last time we guested at the same Clan house.”
    Lucian’s smile faded. “I know. That was not well done on my part. I was angry and—” He stiffened.
    Hearing the quiet scuff of feet on stone, Aiden knew who now claimed the Lightbringer’s attention.
    Turning toward him, Lucian said softly, hurriedly, “We need to talk privately before you leave here.”
    “I’m not sure—”
    “Please, Aiden.”
    There was an eloquent plea in Lucian’s gray eyes that Aiden couldn’t refuse. Despite their clashes over the past year, they were still kin on their fathers’ side. “All right. After the evening meal. Things should be settled down by then.” Or as settled as they are going to be , he added silently as he turned toward Ashk and the others. He noted Lyrra’s apprehension as she glanced from Morag to Lucian.
    Mother’s mercy. Morag, with her unpredictable moods of late, wasn’t someone he wanted near Lucian any longer than necessary.
    “Hunter,” Aiden said quickly, “may I present Lucian,