The Pillars Of The World

puppy down. “Dianna gave him to me. I was going to name him Fleetfoot.”
    The puppy spotted a butterfly and gave chase until he tripped over his feet and went rolling.
    “Then I thought of calling him Hunter.”
    The puppy found his tail and chased that, too.
    “So what did you decide to name him?” Neall asked solemnly.
    “Merle.”
    Neall nodded. “A good choice. At least it’s a name he can live up to.”
    They looked at each other and laughed.
    Dianna cursed silently as she watched Lyrra and Aiden stride toward her, probably coming to find out what had happened at the cottage today—which was something she didn’t want to discuss with them yet.
    Falco would reach her first, but there wouldn’t be enough time to talk before they had unwelcome company.
    She gave Aiden a cool stare, knowing it was pointless to give a subtle command to Lyrra. She was, after all, another woman—and the Muse thrown into the bargain. She would see it, understand it, and ignore it if she chose.
    Aiden, however, slowed his steps and caught Lyrra’s arm, forcing her to match his pace.
    “Well?” Dianna asked Falco. She’d been worried about him, although she’d never admit it, and it made her sharply impatient.
    Falco shifted restlessly. “She gave me a hind leg.”
    Dianna wanted to shake her head vigorously to clear up whatever was wrong with her hearing. “She what?”
    “From the rabbit. When she took the rabbit into the cottage, she cut off a hind leg and brought it back out to me since I had done the work of catching it.”

    Dianna’s narrowed eyes snapped with temper.
    “Why were you still there? I told you to leave the rabbit and go.”
    He blushed. “I wanted to see a witch. I’d seen her before, of course, but I hadn’t known at the time she was one of them . So . . .” He hunched his shoulders. “She knew I was Fae.”
    Dianna sucked in a breath. “How could she know? You didn’t reveal yourself, did you?”
    “No!” he said quickly—and too loudly. He looked around to see if anyone had noticed, then lowered his voice. “One of the Small Folk was with her, and they always recognize us, no matter what form we wear.”
    What she muttered under her breath made Falco flinch. “What was one of those mischief-makers doing there?” If the Small Folk started causing trouble, would Ari feel any warmth for any other folk who were magic?
    “She wasn’t troubled by his being there. And—” He looked puzzled. “She seemed afraid of me. If these wiccanfae are so powerful, why was she afraid of me! What could the Lord of the Hawks do to her?”
    “Maybe not all of them are powerful,‘” Dianna said thoughtfully. “Maybe they’re like us in that way, and there are stronger and weaker among them.” If that were true, Ari might not have enough power to harm them, but she still might be able to help them understand what was happening to Tir Alainn. Noticing that Aiden and Lyrra were now only a few steps away, she smiled at Falco. “Thank you. You did well.”
    He studied her carefully. “One rabbit won’t last very long, especially with a growing pup to feed. I could bring another in a day or two.”
    “I’ll consider it.”
    Falco greeted Aiden and Lyrra, bid Dianna farewell, and left them.
    “What was Falco up to today?” Lyrra demanded as soon as Falco was out of earshot.
    “Nothing foolish, I hope,” Aiden said.
    “He was performing a small service for me,” Dianna replied. “Aiden, you will play your harp for us tonight, won’t you?”
    Lyrra looked mutinous at the change of subject, but when Aiden unexpectedly yielded, the Muse considered him for a moment and didn’t argue.
    Dianna knew she shouldn’t push them aside. They were both too aware of the dangers to Tir Alainn, and since she couldn’t talk to Lucian right now without admitting that she’d been visiting Ari, these two were her best allies.
    But she couldn’t talk to them tonight. Not just yet. In a couple of days, she would go back to Brightwood and find out if the puppy was pleasing enough that she would be forgiven for not respecting privacy.
    Then hopefully, she would have something to tell them.
     
    Lucian stood at the edge of the terrace and watched the windows of the Clan house fill with lamplight, one by one, as the daylight gave way to dusk. Inside there was food and company. He wanted both and could stomach neither.
    He missed her. He tried to believe that it was her body and her bed that he wanted, but the