The Pillars Of The World

trotted into the light, the talk and laughter around the bonfire faded.
    “You’re out late tonight,” Ahern said, stepping away from the fire to meet him.
    Neall swung out of the saddle. Feeling Darcy’s muscles bunch, he kept a firm grip on the reins. The last thing he needed was the gelding bolting for Brightwood.
    Ahern’s sharp eyes took in the bulging saddlebags, the bow and quiver, the winter coat tied behind the saddle. “You going on a journey?”
    “Soon. Not tonight.” Neall hesitated. That reckless feeling was pushing at him again. “The baron threw me out of his house tonight. I was wondering if I could stay here for a few days. I’ll work for my keep.”
    For the first time that Neall could remember, Ahern looked uncomfortable. “I can put you up tonight, but it would be best if you made other arrangements in the morning.”
    “Why?” Neall said quietly. “Because you’re Fae?”
    He was aware of the men moving toward him. He was aware that some of them were holding pieces of burning wood, and it wasn’t because they wanted more light. But he kept his eyes on Ahern’s face and wondered if he’d misjudged the man.
    “What makes you think I’m Fae?” Ahern finally asked.
    “Fae blood runs through me too. I can see through the glamour.”
    A long silence. Then Ahern said, “Get your gear. We’ll take it up to the house and then talk.”
    As soon as Neall let go of the reins to get the saddle bags, Darcy knocked him down and bolted.
    “You!” Ahern said sternly.
    Hooves clattered to a stop.
    “Come back here and behave yourself.”
    With obvious reluctance, Darcy returned and stood quietly while Neall got his gear.
    Ahern looked at two of his men. “Get him bedded down.” He watched while the men led the gelding into the stables. Shaking his head, he led Neall up to the house. “When he was a foal, she used to pet him whenever she stopped by. Got to the point where we had to lock him up to keep him from following her home. I thought he would have forgotten by now.”
    “She still pets him, so he’s not likely to forget,” Neall said dryly. “But it does explain why he gets so stubborn whenever we’re nearby and don’t stop at Brightwood.”
    “She never took to riding. I made sure she knew how to sit a horse, but she didn’t want one of her own.

    If she had, you’d never have gotten that one.”
    They said nothing more until Neall left his gear in a small guest room and they were back outside, walking toward one of the paddocks.
    Ahern rested his arms against the top rail of the paddock fence. “How long have you known?”
    “I’ve been seeing it ever since I met you,” Neall said. “But I just recently figured out what it was I was seeing.” He hesitated, then decided a question left unspoken was a question that would never be answered. “Which one are you?”
    Ahern made a sound that might have been a gruff laugh. “Can’t you guess?”
    “A Lord of the Horse,” Neall said. When Ahern just looked at him, he felt a little chill run down his spine. “ The Lord of the Horse.”
    Ahern nodded. “The Lord of the Horse. I command, they obey.”
    “Why are you living here? Why aren’t you in Tir Alainn like the rest of them, coming down here whenever you want to amuse yourself?”
    “There’s a large dose of bitterness in those words, young Neall.”
    “Maybe I have reason to feel bitter. Or, at least, worried. The Fae seem to be taking a lot of interest in Brightwood these days. And in Ari.”
    Ahern stared at the land. “You’re going to your mother’s land, aren’t you? That’s where you’re headed now that you’ve reached your majority and Felston doesn’t hold the reins in any way. And you’re taking Ari with you, aren’t you?”
    Neall just stared at him.
    “Well then,” Ahern continued, “it doesn’t really matter whether the Fae are interested or not, does it?”
    “How— How did you know about the land?”
    “Astra, Ari’s grandmother, told me about you.” He made another gruff, amused sound. “Obviously, there were a few things she didn’t mention. But she told me you would go back to your mother’s land when you came of age—and she told me not to stand in your way if you tried to persuade Ari to go with you.”
    Neall studied the older man, saw strong emotion ruthlessly controlled. “Why would it matter to you?”
    Ahern didn’t say anything for a long time. Then, “When I was a young man, I did exactly what you