The Pillars Of The World

alone?”
     
    “Why have you never kissed me, Neall?”
    “Because I was afraid I would want too much more, and you wouldn’t want the same.”
    “And now?” She saw his hesitation, saw the nerves.
    “Is this a test?” he demanded. “Does my future depend on how well I kiss?”
    “No.”
    “Then will you at least tell me if this kiss is an ending or a beginning?”
    Kindness, courtesy, respect, loyalty. Love. What were Lucian’s trinkets compared to jewels like that?
    She’d thought about it last night. If she never saw Lucian again, she would remember him fondly and have no regrets. If she never saw Neall again . . .
    “It’s a beginning,” she said. Then she smiled. “We’ll build a good life together, Neall.”
    His face lit with joy. He put his arms around her, and he kissed her.
    There was honesty in his kiss. And there was heart. It didn’t burn through her until she couldn’t think. But it created a warmth deep inside her that swelled until it filled her. This wouldn’t burn hot and fast, swiftly turning to ashes. With Neall, the fire would burn long and slow and sweet.
    He broke the kiss, buried his face in her hair. “How long will it take you to pack what you want to take with you? I’m sure Ahern will loan us a wagon. He might even be willing to have a couple of his men ride with us so that they can bring the wagon back.”
    “Will Ahern let you stay with him until the harvest?”
    His head shot up. “Harvest?” he said in a strangled voice.
    “Be sensible, Neall. When we get to your land, there won’t be time to plant a crop to see us through the winter. There won’t be any seeds for next spring. If we wait until the harvest, I’ll be able to can as much as possible from the garden here for us to take with us.”
    “But . . . Harvest?”
    He sounded so plaintive, she fought not to smile. “Not everything has to wait until the harvest.”
    Desire filled his eyes. Then he shook his head. “We’ll wait. If you end up with child, you might feel too poorly to enjoy the journey.”
    She almost told him that this was a safe time and that she knew how to prevent creating a babe. But, in a flash of insight, she realized he didn’t want to be with her in the same bed that Lucian had claimed for a little while. He didn’t want to be in a bed where she might compare lovers and find him wanting.
    “All right.” Now she smiled. “Come on. We both have work to do.”
    “What does that mean?” Dianna asked, looking from Aiden to Lyrra, then back to Aiden. “How can a pillar forget?”
     
    “I can only tell you what I was told,” Aiden said. He raked his fingers through his hair. “But she knows more than she said. I’m sure of that.”
    “The Pillars of the World have been forgotten,” Lyrra said quietly. “Pillars of the World. Branches of the Mother.”
    Aiden nodded. “That’s what I was thinking.”
    “What?” Dianna said impatiently.
    Lyrra sighed. “What if those two things are somehow connected? What if it’s the witches’ magic that anchors the road through the Veil to the human world, even if they’re not aware of it?”
    Dianna jumped up, too edgy to sit anymore. “Why should it? The Fae created Tir Alainn.”
    “All the roads through the Veil are anchored to the Old Places,” Aiden said. “We’ve never thought to look, but it wouldn’t be difficult to find out if there are witches living at each one. And if they are living in the Old Places and that’s what keeps the roads from closing, they might not be destroying Tir Alainn deliberately.”
    “All they would have to do is leave the Old Place. As their magic fades from the land—”
    “The road would close,” Dianna said softly. “If that’s true, we’ll just have to make sure the witches don’t leave the Old Places.”
    “Blessings of the day to you, Ahern,” Ari said. “Are you looking for your old gray stallion again?”
    Ahern snorted. “No. And I’m not looking for that pony stud of yours either.” When Ari looked puzzled, he smiled. “The boy said he’d work to earn his keep, so I put him to work.”
    Ari felt her cheeks heat. “He told you then.”
    “He told me. Well, he didn’t say anything, but he was grinning like a fool when he came back.” He turned toward the sound of a whimper. His face became grim. “When did you get the pup?”
    “A few days ago.” Ari stared at the puppy cowering under the bench, then at Ahern as he crouched in front of the bench and held