The Pillars Of The World

The women in my family chose trinkets of affection. But I want Ari to have the richer jewels of love.”
    Morag stood up. “When she’s gone, I’ll come back and show you the road to the Shadowed Veil.”
    “When she’s gone, I, too, will be ready to go.”
    Morag walked over to the point where the hill sloped downward. Then she turned back. “What is your name?”
    “I am Astra.”
    Nodding to acknowledge that she’d heard, Morag walked down the hill to where the dark horse waited.
    “What do you think of her?” Ahern asked, resting his arms against the top rail of the paddock.
    Neall grinned as he brought the dark mare to a halt and dismounted. “She’s light on her feet, responsive to commands, and smart enough to compensate for the most inept rider. She’s a beauty, Ahern.” He stroked the mare’s neck. “I hope you won’t have to let her go to someone who won’t appreciate her.”
    “The dark horses go where I will,” Ahern replied. He paused, then added, “She’s for Ari.”
    Neall’s hand froze on the mare’s neck as he stared at Ahern. “For— For Ari?”

    “As you said, the mare can take care of a green rider. You’ll need another horse for the journey, so I’ll see that Ari’s mounted as it suits me.”
    “But—”
    “You have some objection?”
    One look at Ahern’s stern face had Neall turning his attention back to the mare. He needs to do this because he cares about her. He’s watched her from a distance all her life, and when we leave, he won’t have even that. But every day he’ll think of Ari and the mare and take some comfort in it .
    “No, sir,” Neall said. “It’s a very generous gift— and a welcome one.”
    “That’s settled then.” Ahern opened the paddock gate. “Get her settled in her stall before you head over to—”
    The clip-clop of a horse’s hooves, immediately followed by silence, made them turn.
    A chill went down Neall’s spine when he saw the woman on the dark horse riding toward them. A Fae woman on a Fae stallion. The dark horse had deliberately made that sound to alert them to its presence.
    The woman dismounted and joined them at the paddock. Neall wished she’d just go away. Something about her unnerved him.
    “You are Ahern?” When Ahern nodded, she said, “I am Morag.” Then she looked at Neall and her interest sharpened.
    “Blessings of the day to you, Mistress,” Neall said.
    She smiled warmly, and whatever it was about her that unnerved him vanished in that warmth. “You must be Neall.”
    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the way Ahern tensed. Fear spiked through him, although he couldn’
    t have said why. The woman certainly hadn’t done anything to cause it. “How did you know?”
    “I’m staying with Ari, and your name has come up a time or two.” The way she said it made it plain that it had been more than “a time or two.” He felt his cheeks heat with pleasure. He hadn’t been certain that Ari was pleased with her decision, but if she was actually talking about him—about them —surely that was a good sign.
    “And I’ve heard that you’re a fine young man who rides a dark horse,” Morag added, looking at the mare. “So it wasn’t difficult to figure out.”
    Ahern opened the paddock gate wider. “Take care of the mare,” he said gruffly.
    The abrupt dismissal surprised Neall. Ahern could be blunt to the point of rudeness, but, somehow, while the bluntness had been directed at him, the rudeness had been aimed at the woman.
    He doesn’t want me around her , Neall realized as he led the mare to the stable. No. He doesn’t want her around me. Why ?
    He stopped just inside the stable, where he wouldn’t be easily seen. As he turned to study the two Fae, he heard Ahern say, “Now what brings the Gatherer to Brightwood?”

    “Horses,” Morag said. Before she could say anything more, Neall and the dark mare burst out of the stables, galloping toward Brightwood. “Is something wrong?”
    “I imagine he’s going to see if his heart is still at Brightwood,” Ahern replied. “Is she?”
    “Ari? I imagine so. I haven’t seen her since early this morning, so where else—” Morag’s heart leaped.
    She clutched the paddock railing for balance. “She wouldn’t go into the village by herself, would she?
    She wouldn’t go alone.‘
    Ahern’s frown turned to puzzlement. “She might. She’s been doing just that since her mother died.
    Although lately—”
    “She mustn’t go by