Chapter 22
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Riona fought her captors every inch of the way as they dragged her to the pyre. She screamed in anger and kicked Bowden in the face. Kicking the Elder was satisfying, but it was all for nothing because she was soon being tied to the wooden stake. The rough ropes constricting her body tore at her skin as the villagers pulled the rope tighter. Wood splintered into her back as she was pressed against the stake. Fear washed over her as she tried to move, but she was held fast by many hands. Bowden smirked at her through bloodied teeth as he tied the knot.
At the foot of the pyre, Broc let out a bellow and sent a few of their jailors flying, but Kendrick cruelly brought a cudgel down on the blacksmith’s back, sending him falling to the ground. Broc raised his head and tried to rise but fell back to cold earth with a groan of defeat as Kendrick struck him again.
“Riona MacGowan, for your crimes against Loch-Gaar, including deceiving our patron and causing him to cast a blight on our village with your lies, you have been found guilty. Do you have any last words, Fae blood?” Dolan asked. He held a flaming torch inches from the pyre. The heat scalded Riona’s feet. She stared out at the crowd. Her eyes fell on people she’d known since she was a child. Many couldn’t meet her gaze, and their eyes slid away. Betrayal and hurt threatened to bring tears to Riona’s eyes, but she wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.
“I do,” Riona called out. The crowd stopped jeering, and silence slowly settled over them. They were all curious about what her last words would be. Riona took a deep breath and then began to sing. She frantically pushed her magic into the song and prayed to any god that would hear her that their gift would work as well as it needed to over the humans.
She and Aiden had spent hours training, but she’d never been able to sway him. Their theory was that humans were more susceptible to her song. As each word escaped Riona’s mouth, she watched the crowd closely.
They shifted and stared at each other in confusion. Enid scowled at her and started toward the pyre. The villagers were packed together so tightly, the Elders’ movements were hampered by the crowd. Then Rada appeared beside her, and Enid’s malevolent stare changed to surprise as she fell. Riona’s friend gave her a short nod and then disappeared into the sea of faces. Enid struggled to rise, but no one helped her. They were all focused on Riona.
It’s working! Thank whichever god was listening.
Riona glanced at where Kendrick stood, worried the man would put a stop to her singing, but he was too busy trying to subdue Broc with Bowden and Dolan’s help. Broc nodded at her and then sent Kendrick flying through the air. No one in the crowd reacted, and then slowly Dolan and Bowden shifted their focus from Broc to Riona. They were both slack-jawed and stared at her in helpless surprise.
Riona renewed her efforts and sang with even more fervor. Her words wove their spell over the crowd. Their scowls and frowns were replaced with open mouths, and their eyes glazed over.
Little by little, her fear ebbed away. Her voice grew stronger with each word. The air was thick with her magic.
Broc raised his head, and she was relieved to see that he was clear-eyed. His body was taut, waiting for Riona’s song to fully beguile the crowd. While in their cell, they came up with this plan but they’d been worried that she might sway him because he was only half-Fae, but he was completely unaffected by her song. His defenses had held.
Riona sang on until her voice became hoarse, and when her voice could go on no longer, she ended the song and waited. Her heart skipped as she looked out at the villagers. The people who she’d once considered her people. Now they were just strangers. Cruel and sad strangers who had called for her death for no reason, but they needed to blame someone other than themselves.
She didn’t hate them. No. She was surprised to find that she didn’t feel anything for them except pity. They would never think outside of their foolish beliefs and prejudices. Their future was a failure. Loch-Gaar would never prosper, and they only had themselves to blame. Someday, this village will be gone, and the people with it. Perhaps that was for the best. Maybe if Loch-Gaar died, something new would rise from the ashes. Something better.
All of the villagers stood silent and glassy eyed as if they were in a dream. She wasn’t sure how long the effect would last. Hopefully there would be enough time to escape. Broc lifted himself off the ground and climbed up the pyre. He quickly untied her, and they descended.
“It worked,” he said quietly. Kendrick stirred beside them, and they both froze. Broc held the cudgel the Elder had dropped tightly, and Riona opened her mouth, ready to sing another verse. The seconds that ticked by seemed like an eternity. Finally Kendrick settled. His eyes never left the pyre.
Riona held her finger to her lips. Broc nodded. It seemed their voices could break the spell. Neither wanted that. They carefully wound through the crowd. Fear dogged Riona’s every step and judging by how Broc’s violet eyes darted at every small noise, he was just as scared as she was. Her heart almost stopped as her foot brushed against Enid, but the woman didn’t react to the contact.
Mercifully, the crowd began to thin. When they reached the edge, Riona’s heart slowed a bit. But they weren’t free yet. Not yet. They weaved through the people at the fringes more quickly but still very carefully. Riona gasped in relief as they passed the last villager. Beside her, she saw Broc’s chest heave in relief.
Their eyes locked, and then they rushed across the square to the gate as quickly as their feet would carry them. Riona stumbled, and Broc lifted her under one arm like a sack of grain. Broc heaved the gate open, and then they passed through. He deposited her on the ground. They both leaned against the gate in relief. Riona let out a small cry of happiness and then covered her mouth. Broc smiled at her.
We actually made it.
Broc slid the cudgel through the gate. It would buy them some time if the mob came after them. But Loch-Gaar remained silent. Her magic had been more effective against humans than she’d anticipated.
“We did it, or more accurately, you did it,” Broc said. He smiled at her.
“I’ve never been so scared in my life,” Riona breathed. She slid down the gate. Her knees gave out from the loss of adrenaline that had been fueling her since she and Broc had been taken from their cell.
“You were right to wait until they brought us out, but I was sure I was about to watch you die.” Broc shuddered.
“I know it was a risk, but we had to wait until we were in front of the crowd. I needed to beguile everyone. We wouldn’t have been able to escape if I’d just turned our guard. There were too many bystanders if we’d tried to escape from our cells. The plan was risky, but it was the best option. Too many other variables and things that could go wrong if we tried the other way.”
“It was still very risky.”
“What’s life without taking a few risks?” Riona said, trying for levity but failing. Broc shook his head. Broc held out his hand to help Riona up from the ground, and she took it gratefully, still not fully trusting her legs.
“So to Ciar then?” Broc asked.
“Lead the way,” Riona said. They both looked at each other and laughed incredulously. Maybe they were both slightly in shock. They’d just survived a terrible situation. After their laughter died out, they both watched the gate and listened for any signs of movement, but there was nothing.
A freedom she’d never felt before settled inside of her. She could go anywhere. Do anything. The possibilities were endless.
She ignored the hurt that still lingered in her heart. Every time she realized that she would never see Aiden again, her heart ached a little. She still missed him so much. But it was for the best that they had parted. He couldn’t give her what she needed. She ignored how much of a loss she felt at having to leave her mother’s lute behind in Loch-Gaar. It had been seized when she’d been taken.
There will be other lovers, other lutes. Time to focus on the future. Time to make new memories that didn’t involve a golden-eyed pooka. A better future. She almost believed it. Almost.
As for her future, spending a little time in Ciar would be a good temporary stop. She could see Meg and Connal. She could finally figure out what she wanted to do with her life. Her choices were her own, and no one else had any power over them. From here on out, she made her own fate. Not others. Never others.
Loch-Gaar was no longer her home. There was no longer a tether pulling her to the village. She didn’t have to worry about holding herself to their standard anymore. It had been a foolish and unattainable goal for her because she would always be different in their eyes. Always the enemy. No matter how hard she tried. She was done trying, and it felt so good.
She wasn’t hurt by their choice. She wasn’t hurt by what they’d try to do to her. How they tried to blame her for their own poor choices. They were small-minded people. Foolish people. Maybe someday they would learn from their poor choices. Hopefully.
She was free of them. Her battered lips stretched into a smile when she turned her back on Loch-Gaar for the last time.
Her smile faltered when she glanced out over the blighted fields and noticed a lone figure walking across the barren earth toward them. His steps were hurried and almost frantic instead of their usual swagger. Beside her, Broc shifted uneasily.
“Do you know him?” Broc asked.
“Yes. Yes, I know him,” Riona said. She couldn’t help herself. Her feet began to move of their own volition toward the man now running across the fields. Hope swelled in her chest. His long strides carried him closer until he was standing in front of her. His chest heaved, and there was a haunted look in his golden eyes she’d never seen before.
“Riona,” Aiden breathed her name like it was the most beautiful word in the world.
If she wanted to, she could reach out and touch him. She could hug him. Kiss him. Tell him she loved him. Instead, she just stood there, her arms hanging by her sides.
Waiting. Afraid. Hopeful. Unsure. Happy.
She didn’t know how to feel. She only knew he was here. Standing in front of her, looking so very vulnerable.
“I’m so sorry about what I said. I was so wrong. And scared. It’s been a long time since I felt anything for anyone, and when I thought you were leaving me, I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t lose anyone else. I was such a fool.” Aiden fell to his knees. “Please, Riona, I’m so sorry. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I’ll spend the rest of our very long lives making it up to you. I’ll make sure you never regret your choice. You’ll never have doubts again. I’ll let you inside and never shut you out.” He looked up at her. His golden eyes were full of pain and remorse.
“You love me,” she whispered. Riona ran a hand across his cheek and swept the wayward lock of hair behind his ear. He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch, letting out a shaky breath.
“I love you more than anything.” He took her hands in his own and kissed her fingers. “More than anything.”
“I love you too.” Riona went down to her knees beside him. “And I forgive you.” He smiled and pulled her close, kissing her lips.
He broke the kiss. His golden eyes danced in the fading sunlight. “Thank you... Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for loving me. You have given me the most precious gift. I don’t deserve you. I will never hurt you again.”
Riona kissed him again. She pulled away and looked him in the eye. “I love you, Aiden. How can I not forgive you? But don’t think that just because I forgave you once means I’ll do it again.”
“Never.” Aiden rested his forehead on hers. “Never. I’ll spend the rest of my days making you happy.”
A noise sounded behind them, and Riona’s head shot up. Aiden followed her gaze to the village gate. Then he looked at her critically. “What happened to you?”
Riona sighed. The villagers were trying to open the gate. Her spell had finally worn off. She looked around quickly for Broc, but he was gone.
“What are you looking for?” Aiden asked.
“Broc. He seems to be missing.” Riona looked around, but she didn’t see any signs of him. He must have left during her reunion with Aiden. Odd. Then again, Aiden was part of Siobhan’s court. Maybe the other man recognized Aiden and left before things got complicated. She didn’t blame Broc for leaving. It had been clear she was safe with Aiden.
“Broc?” Aiden asked.
The villagers were pounding on the gate, now trying to open it.
“We need to go now. Before the villagers get that gate open.”
“What’s going on here?” Aiden stood and narrowed his eyes at Loch-Gaar. His eyes glittered menacingly.
“We’re in danger. Let’s go before they get out.”
“You’re not in danger as long as I draw breath. Now tell me what’s going on.” Flames appeared on Aiden’s fingertips, and Riona’s eyes widened in surprise. She’d rarely seen him use his fire magic. He confessed to her he usually had a hard time bringing it out. But he didn’t now. Flames licked up his arms, and his eyes glittered with anger.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m about to burn that godforsaken village to the ground. You’re clearly afraid, and I have a pretty good idea why.” The flames grew. Riona stepped back from the heat.
“When I came back to help, the villagers may have placed some of the blame on me for the blight. There’s no need for retribution. I wasn’t hurt. We can leave this place behind.” She’d left out the pyre and her brush with death. The gate was bowing under the amount of force pushing it. They were going to break it open soon.
“They need to pay.” His eyes homed in on the marks on her wrists from the rope, and he frowned. He wasn’t fooled by her attempt at downplaying what had happened. Aiden started to stalk toward the village, but Riona stood in front of him.
“Let them be, Aiden. They are small people living in their small, sad little world. Let them be. Their lives are a punishment in themselves.”
“They hurt you.”
“They aren’t worth it.”
Aiden scowled at the people rushing out of the now-broken gate. They all stopped short when they saw Aiden bathed in flames. Cries of terror rang out. The people of Loch-Gaar fell to their knees in supplication. Their patron had returned like an avenging god.
“Let’s go home.” Riona stepped closer to Aiden, ignoring the heat radiating from him.
The flames snaking around Aiden’s arms died.
“Let’s go home,” Riona repeated, and Aiden nodded. The villagers had all swarmed out in front of Loch-Gaar and were staring at Aiden and Riona, but the pair only had eyes for each other.
Aiden picked Riona up in his arms, and they took to the sky, leaving Loch-Gaar and its people far behind. They passed over the forest. Riona spotted the glade where she and Aiden first met long ago.
“Your gift wasn’t a curse,” she said. She’d thought her words had gotten lost in the howl of the wind until he replied.
“My gift was never meant to be a curse. I saw a sad and lonely girl who was so much more than she appeared. I tried to help and failed miserably. It was meant to be a new beginning for you. A happy one.”
“You didn’t fail. It just took time. I found my way, and I have a feeling this new beginning is going to be happier for me than you could have imagined. And it isn’t just mine. It will be yours too. Both of ours together.”
“I’ll be by your side forever,” Aiden kissed the top of her head.
“To a new beginning,” she murmured against his shoulder.