The Pillars Of The World

gather someone’s life strength and give it to another. That Dianna wanted her to relinquish her body so that Ari’s spirit could inhabit it wasn’t surprising either. Astra had been right: the Fae were very good at expecting someone else to shoulder the burden for them.
    What had surprised her was how close Lucian had come to accepting her bargain. Perhaps he had cared more deeply than she’d suspected. But still not enough, may the Mother be thanked. If he had accepted the bargain, she would have fulfilled her part of it. She would have gone after Ari and brought the girl back to Brightwood, no matter what Neall thought or said. Now they were both safe, and, hopefully, no word of them would ever reach Lucian or Dianna.
    “Blessings of the day to you,” a male voice said softly.
    Morag turned toward the voice, not sure what to think when Aiden stepped inside the stables. “Blessings of the day to you.”
    “Dianna’s very upset,” Aiden said, slowly walking toward her. “And Lucian as well. Understandably so.”
    He hesitated. “Was there nothing you could have done, Morag? Did we have to lose another Daughter from the House of Gaian?”
    Morag studied him. He was a clever man with words, and that made her wary.
    “Did you tell Dianna and Lucian about the Pillars of the World?”
    Aiden nodded.
    “If they had known before now who the witches were—and are—do you think they still would have expected Ari to oblige them, living a sterile life for their convenience and pleasure?”

    He didn’t answer for a long time. “They would have expected that whatever they offered would be enough, regardless of whether or not it truly was. And they would have resented her as much as they would have needed her to maintain Tir Alainn once she was old enough to no longer bend to their wishes.
    ”
    Morag finished filling the grain sack and tied the opening securely. “Then things have worked out for the best.”
    “Not for Ari.”
    She heard the grief in his voice—and realized he wasn’t grieving for a lost piece of Tir Alainn. But he was a clever man with words. “She’s gone, Aiden.”
    “So you told Dianna. And the young man, the one who loved her, is gone, too.”
    “Yes.”
    Aiden rubbed the back of his neck. “You took them to the Shadowed Veil yourself?”
    “Yesterday I took a man and a woman to the Shadowed Veil. I saw them cross through it and go on to the Summerland. Together.”
    He started to nod, then he frowned. “What happened to Ahern’s spirit? You didn’t leave him here, did you?”
    She didn’t ask how he’d heard about Ahern. The Bard was sometimes capable of hearing far too many things. “I took him and Astra to the Shadowed Veil.”
    “Astra? Who is—” He stopped. “You took Ahern and Astra to the Shadowed Veil.”
    “Yes.”
    “And Ari . . .”
    “Is gone.”
    Aiden sifted through the words. Morag knew the moment when he understood what she was saying.
    “The bargain you asked Lucian to make wasn’t a fair one, Morag,” he said, looking extremely uncomfortable. “No man would have agreed to it while you were standing in front of him.”
    “One man did.” She paused, and then added, “I didn’t need to take what was willingly offered, but it was offered, Aiden, not asked for.”
    His eyes widened. Then he said, more to himself than to her, “So she did go with a man who could give her love’s jewels.”
    Morag frowned at him. He just smiled and shook his head.
    As he turned to leave, Morag said, “What will you tell Lucian and Dianna?”
    “What can I tell them that is different from what you’ve already said? Ari is gone.” He raised his hand in farewell. “May you find firm roads and soft beds on your travels. And may the House of Gaian prosper,”
    he added softly, “wherever it may be.”

    By the time Morag left the stables with the grain sacks, Aiden was already gone. Morphia was outside, trying to find the best way to tie food sacks to the saddles.
    She looked at Morag, then shrugged. “They look clumsy now, but they’ll empty quick enough.” She fiddled with the saddle, not actually doing anything to it. “If you don’t mind, I’ll ride with you for a while.”
    “What about your Lord of the Woods? Isn’t he waiting for you to return?”
    A long pause. Then Morphia said, “I’ll ride with you for a while.”
    Morag didn’t ask any more questions. She walked back into the stables, opened one of the stall doors, and picked up Merle.