Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Six Months Later
Wraith Tower
Scotland’s Ninth Realm
Even though they each still used their staffs to lean upon as they walked through the forests near Wraith Tower, Mathison had never been happier or more content.
Otto bounced along ahead of them, snuffling through the colorful leaves that had fluttered to the woodland floor in preparation for winter. The dog loved their daily outings.
“I miss the triplets,” Calia said with a wistful sigh as they strolled along. “But Bresag insisted they return for their lessons since they’re getting so big now.”
The trio of young dragons had been visiting the Tower for the past month and nearly burned it down twice.
Both had been accidents, of course, but still, the damage had not been minimal.
It had taken every ounce of control Mathison possessed to keep from roaring at the troublesome trio of winged lizards and sending them home to their parents with orders to never come back.
“They are good-hearted, but Duni, Draygar, and Denligan need to learn more control,” he said. “Surely, ye canna deny that.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Will the west wing be rebuilt by winter?”
“It is my hope.” He caught hold of her hand and gently tugged her to a stop. “Are ye happy, my own? Truly?”
She pulled in a deep breath and resettled her grip on the tall, twisted walking stick of blessed elder that Noirgarth had presented to her as soon as she’d become strong enough to use it. It matched Mathison’s staff of magical rowan.
“I am happy.” But her voice echoed with unmistakable doubt, and the faintest stench of an untruth floated in the air.
“Dinna lie to me, woman. Ye know I can smell it.”
She locked eyes with him. Her once hazel eyes were now the shimmering gold of a dragon’s, a result of her closeness with the hatchlings and her embracing their ability to battle with fiery fury while in the Dreaming.
That power had stayed with her—an apparent gift from the goddesses.
“I’m forty now, you know. Last month was my birthday. ”
“Ye’re a mere lass.” He wasn’t certain what was worrying her, but he saw something in her expression—a definite sadness.
She looked away, seeming unable to meet his gaze any longer. “You need an heir…or heirs, and my biological clock might not necessarily cooperate on that front. It’s winding down and getting ready to shut down production.”
“What are ye saying, Calia?” Whenever she spoke with terms from her time, it confused the devil out of him.
Her eyes glistened with a sudden sheen of tears.
“We may never have babies. The older I get, the more difficult it is to conceive, and even then, the odds of not miscarrying and having a healthy baby are not in our favor.” She twitched a disheartened shrug.
“I don’t know that I can ever give you an heir. ”
“Ye have given me the other half of my soul.” He pulled her closer, tipping her face up to his. “I love ye, my own, and as long as I have ye by my side, I am completely at peace and more content than I have ever been in over three hundred years.”
“Then who will protect the Ninth Realm after we are gone?” Her voice had fallen to a whisper, and the concern in her eyes pulled at his heart. “The clans are finally at peace. Most of them, anyway. Will it fall to Noirgarth and Bresag to keep everyone behaving?”
He brushed a kiss across the sweet seam of her lips and breathed her in as he pulled her closer.
“We are not going anywhere for a long, long while, my love. Stop yer worrying, aye? ’Tis a terrible habit ye brought from yer world that is better off forgotten.
” He kissed her again, deeper this time, then raised his head and looked her in the eyes.
“Would yer Gillian not advise ye to walk the path destiny laid out for ye and allow fate to play itself out?”
She touched his face with a tenderness that almost made him groan, then gave him a faint smile.
“That, she would. I can almost hear her saying it.” She hugged closer and rested her head on his chest. “I am happy,” she said ever so softly.
“Happier than I ever thought possible, and it is all because of you. Thank you for not giving up on me.”
“Ye saved me, love. ’Tis I who am grateful for yer steadfastness.” Then he remembered something that should brighten her day even more. “Have ye been to the stables today?”
She lifted her head and eyed him. “No…why?”
“Otto brought something home yesterday that might interest ye.” He looped her arm through his and turned them in that direction while whistling for the dog. “Tanpip made me aware of it last evening.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“I dinna ken if ominous is the word I’d use.” Excitement and anticipation filled him. She would be enthralled. He knew it in his heart, and it most definitely meant something for Wraith Tower. Such things only happened as a sign of greater things to come. It was most definitely a good omen.
Otto led the way, prancing along as if he knew they were about to reveal his surprise to Calia. The dog was proud of his find, as he should be. Mathison was proud that the animal had treated his discovery with such gentle kindness.
As they neared the stables, he held her back. “Close yer eyes. I shall guide ye.”
She arched a brow at him. “You know Litress will warn me if necessary. Just because my eyes are closed doesn’t mean she won’t peek.”
“Dubh assured me he’d sworn her to secrecy—and she only agreed because she knew ye would like it.”
“Ganging up on me, huh?” She poked him in the chest. “That’s not fair.”
He caught hold of her finger before she could poke him again and kissed the tip of it. “Only when it comes to good things. I swear.”
“Well, show me then.”
“Close yer eyes,” he reminded her while holding her so she couldn’t turn and see inside the stables.
First, she rolled them, then she closed them. “Ready.”
“’Tis just a short way inside.” He turned her and walked her down the center aisle of the sprawling stable that housed some of the finest horses in Scotland’s Ninth Realm.
Otto waited for them in front of the particular stall she needed to see.
The dog pranced back and forth in front of the gate, unable to remain still in his excitement and yipping for them to hurry.
“Is it kittens?” she asked. “Hedgehogs?”
“Neither,” he said, without adding that he was thankful that it wasn’t either of those wee beasties. He turned her to face the stall and propped her hands on top of the gate. “Open yer eyes, mo chridhe.”
As soon as she opened her eyes, her mouth fell open. She stood frozen as if afraid to breathe.
“Well?” he asked, unable to contain his excitement. “They followed him home yesterday evening, and seem quite content to stay.”
“Are they real?” she whispered. “Really real?”
“Of course, they’re real. This is Scotland. Unicorns thrive here.”
“The only place they thrived in my Scotland was in books, statues for tourist attractions, and stuffed animals.” She propped her chin on top of the gate. “They’re smaller than I thought. Are they babies?”
“Aye, this pair is probably only a little over a year old. Ye can tell their age by the shorter length of their horns that are just now getting good and started, and their coats still have the slightly golden hue they were born with, rather than the silvery white coloring of the adults. Tanpip alerted the Owl Clan to search for their herd, but as yet, none of the herds in the Realm has reported any missing yearlings.”
The slightly larger of the pair came closer, curious about the new visitors. When Otto stuck his head through the wooden slats of the stall, the unicorn nuzzled the dog and happily whinnied, pleased to see its friend again.
“They’re amazing.” Calia held out her hand, a mixture of joy and awe setting her face aglow. “So amazing,” she whispered as the young unicorn snuffled her palm, then allowed her to pet it as if they were old friends.
“We shall offer them shelter and protection as long as they need it. After all, unicorns are sacred.” Delight at her happiness swelled within Mathison.
This was such a wondrous thing to share with her.
There was something pure and peaceful about the creatures.
They created an air that all would be well and right. He hoped Calia felt it too.
She leaned back against him and pulled his arms around her. “Everything is going to be fine, isn’t it?”
“Aye, love. As long as we’re together, everything is perfect.”