Chapter 24
T he sudden laugh that rumbled from beneath Calder’s hood was in such contrast to his earlier demeanor that it was borderline maniacal. The somber Calder that Emer had entered the village with was someone he did not intend to share with anyone other than her.
“Detainment? Is that any way to welcome me home, sister?”
Lina tilted her head, proving that menace was a family trait.
“Let’s not pretend you weren’t going to sneak off into the night as if you were never here,” she challenged.
It was not the warm homecoming one would hope for, nor was it even the reunion of siblings. The two that now faced off amidst the storm were orphans who only had each other, regardless of their anger.
Lina’s gaze finally trailed to Emer before snapping back to Calder.
“You’re all dismissed,” Lina commanded, and the men who had stood guard nodded before dispersing into the shadows once more.
One of the guards clapped Calder on the shoulder and began apologizing but quickly corrected himself at the sight of Calder’s disdain directed toward the unwelcome limb on his person.
Lina stepped toward her brother and gave him a soft smile right before she punched him in the stomach. Bracing a hand on his knee, he chased the breath she had knocked from him.
“Welcome home, Cal,” she offered.
“Missed you too,” he rasped.
When he was upright again, she raised her brow with an unspoken question. One Calder answered by looking back to Emer, rain cascading down his face and shining in the sparse moonlight.
Closing the distance he said quietly, “It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.”
Unsure if his words were motivated by apology or regret Emer answered, “Yet, here we are.”
He gave her an approving squeeze and led her forward. Once in front of Lina, he slid his hand up Emer’s back to the base of her hood. Gripping the fabric, he tugged it down. Emer straightened as she felt the heat of his hand return to the back of her neck. His grip was light, and the contact of his skin against hers provided a welcomed anchor.
Emer had been many things—the damsel, the enemy, the shadow—but she was uncertain what exactly her role was here. As his thumb continued to brush slow strokes across her skin, she raised her chin, knowing whatever she was would not be hidden.
“Lina, I would like you to meet Emer,” he said, sliding his hand down, applying pressure to her lower back, and urging her forward. “She saved my life, and she needs our help.”
The following silence was interrupted by the sound of shutters tentatively opening and doors creaking. Proving the only thing swifter in this village than the guards was its gossip.
Lina nodded briefly before saying, “Let’s take this conversation somewhere warmer, shall we?”
Emer and Calder followed Lina up the path she had come from and passed more and more village members. Each new face played the same scene—surprise, elation, and confusion.
The cottage was a welcomed respite from both the rain and the stares. As was true of Lina, there was little pretense to the home. A roaring fire cast long shadows from the humble furniture present in the room. It contained several chairs, a table on the adjacent wall near the window, a plush rug, and three doors to adjoining rooms.
“As the Elders would have it, I had drawn some water for a bath. I imagine you would appreciate it far more than I,” Lina offered, motioning Emer to follow her across the room.
Warm, damp air met them as they entered the dim space. A lantern hooked to the wall revealed a round tub in the corner and tendrils of luxurious steam rising from it.
“You look like you’ve fallen in love,” Lina observed thoughtfully.
Emer’s brow furrowed as she turned her attention to Lina, who wore a large grin.
“With the bath, I mean,” she explained, walking over to a shelf and selecting a jar whose contents she then poured into the water.
A floral and woody aroma infused the steam.
“Heather. It will help you sleep,” she mused.
“I wish I had more to offer than words of thanks,” Emer replied.
“I suspect you are the only reason my brother is here, and while I may be furious with the bastard, I am thankful for you.” Lina sighed as she left the room, closing the door behind her.
Having already filled a cup with ale, Calder sat with his elbows on his knees, staring into dark liquid as if it had the words his sister needed to hear.
Lina took the chair opposite to him and sat quietly for a moment, studying him like he were an ancient text that she knew the language of but was so out of practice that she had to pause for a moment before she could begin.
“You didn’t drown her, right?” he asked .
Lina scoffed.
“The girl is safe. You, on the other hand…” she let her words trail off.
“I know you are angry—” he began to say.
“I’m a Morvran, Cal. When are we not angry?” she challenged.
Silence fell between them once more. It was weighted with resentment and grief.
“Would you have ever come home if it wasn’t for her?” Lina asked flatly.
The ale in Calder’s mouth turned to ash as he considered the answer he wanted to give her versus the truth: that their father had told him not to return until he found justice for his mother, saddling Calder with an impossible task simply because he did not want to face his failure. They both looked at their parents’ love through the lens of a fairytale.
Lina saw an epic love story.
Calder saw the dragon who stole away the maiden.
If protecting Lina's version of the story meant also preserving the peace she had found to cope with their loss, Calder would continue to be the villain.
“Was it mom?” Lina asked softly.
“I found her unconscious on the shore by the keep in Obanes,” he explained, and Lina let out a soft chuckle.
Rising to her feet, she went over to the almost depleted barrel of ale and drew herself a mug. “So, yes…” she answered, taking a drink.
Calder nodded, and when Lina returned to her chair, she dropped into it with a new heaviness.
“Well, fuck…” she breathed, shaking her head.
“Yeah,” Calder confirmed, swallowing his ale hard.
“Cheers to Mamaí,” Lina remarked quietly.
Including only the necessary details, Calder explained Emer’s situation. When he concluded, Lina very gently sat down her ale, rose from her chair, and left the room without explanation. She returned with a bundle of clothes in her hands a short time later.
“I refuse to let poor Emer subject herself to the rags you dressed her in. Elders know she has been through enough,” she explained, taking the clothes towards the bathing chambers. She paused, watching her brother over her shoulder. “There are other things we need to talk about, Cal. We’ll have a nice long chat when you come back down the mountain. Deal?”
Making a deal with Lina was like doing so with a Fae, but despite his unease, Calder nodded.
Emer made her way out of the water, the cold air tensing her muscles and threatening to erase the relief they had found.
Assessing the clothes Lina provided, she held up the thin cotton dress and panicked at the thought of wearing nothing but that in front of her present company. She let the garment fall and instead searched for the sodden clothes she had been wearing, only to find they were no longer there.
Emer wrung out as much water from her hair as possible, leaving the long strands flowing down her back, and then, in nothing but the flimsy dress and woolen socks, re-entered the living area.
Taking a drink of ale as he turned, Calder looked at Emer only to turn away sharply, his body jerking in time with a faint choking sound. Composing himself, he gestured for her to take the vacant chair.
Emer shifted on her feet, acutely aware of how bare she was beneath the loose fabric, before reluctantly accepting the seat.
“I’m sorry, Lina, but my clothes?” Emer started, but Lina waved her away.
“Burned. And even that was too good of an end for them. I’ll have new ones brought to you in the morning,” she stated authoritatively.
Calder’s head snapped to the hearth, where he could still make out the remnants of the clothes. Given that Emer would likely die of illness or mortification if she attempted to ride dressed as she was, it was clear Lina was not going to make their departure easy.
“So, my brother tells me you are family now,” Lina commented, and it took a moment for Emer to interpret her words.
Family is who you are willing to shed blood for.
Her induction to the family had been the moment Dempsey disappeared from the cliff. The memory caused her to shiver slightly, but she forced a small smile as her fingers absentmindedly tapped her palms.
“You’re okay,” Calder soothed in a low voice.
He leaned forward, gifting Emer his mug of ale.
“Drink.”
Although the word was presented as a command, his tone was comforting, and Emer took the drink before handing it back and offering a nod of gratitude.
Lina watched the exchange and spared Calder a single mischievous glance before setting her sights on Emer.
“I don’t know, brother,” Lina said wistfully as her eyes narrowed and she leaned closer. “She is quite a beauty… she may be Selkie after all. I bet hearts break all over the Isle of Rest with you gone.”
Surprised by the comment, Emer swallowed her ale hard and shifted nervously before answering, “Not one.”
“Well, if no one at home has your favor, I am sure the men here would be delighted to earn it,” Lina said, motioning to the village beyond the cottage walls.
“Lina,” Calder cautioned.
“Point taken, brother. I am sure the men and women would be delighted to… ”
“Lina!” Calder barked, and she burst out laughing.
His glare lingered on her before he turned to Emer, waiting for her to remark on his sister’s offer.
“With the exception of my brother, there are no hearts to break back home,” she continued, and Lina seemed to immediately understand her meaning while Calder searched her expression.
“In that case, bones break just as well,” Lina offered. “To women who look like flowers but draw blood like daggers,” Lina toasted, frowning into her empty cup.
“Well, the ale is gone, and the rain has stopped… perhaps we call it a night. Calder, I’ve had wood and blankets brought to your cabin. Wouldn’t want the Cold One to catch a chill.”
“Cold One?” Emer echoed.
Lina grinned, “A story for the morning, I suspect.”
“We will not have time to linger tomorrow, Li,” Calder advised, drawing a sardonic smile from his sister.
“Of course,” she replied coldly.