The Pillars Of The World

come from a shadow hound.
    “Yes, it is, but the breeder is very particular about coloring. So the pup has no worth for the breeder. But there’s nothing wrong with him, and I thought he would have a good home with you.”
    There was still hesitation there. Dianna choked back frustration. The girl obviously liked the puppy. Why couldn’t she just accept it?
    “I—I suppose he eats meat.”
    “He’s a dog. Of course he eats—” Dianna stopped, suddenly remembering that Ari hadn’t offered any meat with the meal she’d prepared the last time Dianna visited. “Don’t you eat meat?”
    “Yes, I do—when I can afford it.”
    Dianna looked away. With every turn, there was another obstacle.
    Ari caressed the puppy. “We’ll find a way.”
    Dianna narrowed her eyes as she looked at the forest. “Don’t you hunt?”
    Ari smiled ruefully. “Neall taught me how to shoot a bow, and I can hit the bulls-eye in a target, but I can
    ’t hit anything when it stands there and looks at me.”
    Neall again. Maybe this Neall could make himself useful and provide some meat.
    “Thank you, Dianna. The puppy will be a good friend.”
    Uncomfortable, despite the fact that Ari’s gratitude was exactly what she’d hoped to achieve when she’d brought the pup, Dianna turned away, then stopped when she noticed the bare cottage wall. “The flowers didn’t bloom?”
    “Bloom?” Ari laughed. “The seeds have all sprouted and the plants are growing well, but they don’t grow that quickly. They’ll have flowers by the Solstice.”
    Solstice? That long? In Tir Alainn, the plants would already be in full bloom. Diana studied the vegetable garden. Small green things covered the ground between the paths of flat stones, but there was nothing ready for the table. “How long do you have to wait?”
    “Harvest will begin in a couple of months.”
    Dianna didn’t know what to say. “Are you still planting?”
    “No, the planting is done. I was doing a bit of weeding and watering before the day got too warm.”
    “I’ll help you.” Catching Ari’s apprehensive look, she added with prickly arrogance, “I may not be able to plant, but surely I’m capable enough to pour water.”

    Ari tipped her head, her expression thoughtful. “Why do you want to help?”
    “Because I can’t work in a garden at home,” she replied without thinking.
    “You’re troubled, aren’t you?”
    About many things I cannot speak of. Not to you . “I have some concerns.”
    Ari nodded. “Working in the earth doesn’t provide solutions to problems, but it can ease the heart. The clothes you wore the last time are in the trunk in the dressing room.”
    Dianna smiled. “I’ll find them.”
    “I’ll look after the mare . . .” Ari’s eyes widened when she finally took a good look at the pale mare.
    Dianna tensed. Could Fae magic cloud a witch’s mind?
    “You should meet old Ahern someday,” Ari said. “He has beautiful horses, too.”
    “We’re acquainted,” Dianna said tersely.
    “Oh dear. Did he admire the mare too much or too little?” When Dianna didn’t answer, Ari added, “I just wondered because he has a gray stallion that he might have wanted to mate with your mare.”
    Dianna choked. No. The girl couldn’t know the gray stallion was the Lord of the Horse in his other form. Although . . . There were some unsavory legends that said such matings were how the Fae horses had been created in the first place.
    “I’ll change my clothes,” Dianna said. Leaving Ari to deal with puppy and mare, she hurried to the kitchen door.
    “Go in and be welcome,” Ari called.
    That constant welcoming must be a witch custom, Dianna decided. Did it have to be said every time a person visiting walked out of the cottage and wanted to go back in? It must be a tedious custom if that were true. She’d have to ask. It wouldn’t seem strange to ask since she knew Ari was a witch. And the Fae needed to know as much as they could.
    There was only one trunk in the dressing room, and the tunic and trousers, washed and neatly folded, were lying on top of the other garments. Taking the clothes, Dianna closed the trunk and looked around.
    One side of the room contained a wooden chest with drawers as well as two staggered rows of pegs that she suspected held all the clothes Ari owned. The other side of the room contained a small desk, a threadbare chair that, nonetheless, looked comfortable, and a table with an oil lamp. It also contained a