Chapter Twenty-One
Ailith
The Grantham group returned to Magni’s cottage, sullen and exhausted.
They surrounded the table in the gathering room, while those who had remained behind looked on, utterly confused by their demeanor.
Ailith, Sylvi, and Tora retired to their chamber abovestairs, though Ailith intended to listen to everything that was said in the main room from the balcony.
Dyna pulled her hair out of its plait and redid it, securing it high on her head. “Edan said he’d be here in two hours. He wants to talk with his siblings, then promised to come plan with us. Alasdair, much as you wish to ignore him, he is a major part of this.”
“I’ll not argue with you, Dyna. We are trying to rescue his daughter. I just don’t like the way he approaches my daughter.”
Dyna smirked. “You might not like the man, but Ailith does, and I say let the lass make up her own mind.”
Alasdair snarled at her. “I’ll see if I can catch a few more fish.”
Ailith wished she could call out from the balcony, telling her father to stop controlling her, but she decided to leave it alone. Perhaps he would listen to Dyna.
Connor chuckled, watching Alasdair, then paced briefly before holding his arms out.
“Here’s my suggestion. When Ailith, Sylvi, and Tora return from their chamber, I want you to take the four of you to the water, into the forest, wherever you think it best to help you tap into your seer abilities and figure this out.
I was told by many that Islay is verra conducive to faery movement.
It’s a thin veil between their world and ours, which they take advantage of.
We need to know more about what’s taking place on this isle, and I suggest you do it before Edan returns.
“Magni will be back shortly, and the other two will return within an hour or so. Emmalin, Maeve, and I will see to the stew Maeve started earlier. Maitland and Derric, take the lads out to the loch with you. Some can help Alasdair catch fish, while others can search for berries or gather more firewood. Let them swim. Then we’ll eat within an hour or two. ”
Dyna ran over and stood on her tiptoes to kiss her father on the cheek. “I know I brought you along for a reason, Da. Oh, and when Edan gets here, keep Daran away from him.”
“Why?” Connor asked.
Dyna lowered her voice. “Because Lia said to.”
Maitland barked, “Grant, John, Daran, Sandor, move along. We have things to do outdoors. We’ll check with Alasdair first, then go look for wood and cut what we can.” The boys nearly knocked each other over at the door, fighting to get out first.
Derric shook his head. “I think we better split them up.”
“Uncle Connor!” Daran whirled around after the others left. “They pushed me out of the way. I’m always last.”
Maitland drawled, “The king is always last, lad. Go see what your sire has caught.”
“Uncle Maitland said I’m the king. That’s why I’m last!” He raced out the door, letting it bang behind him.
Ailith came down the staircase, laughing at the boys and thinking how fortunate they were to have them close by instead of sleeping inside a faery hill.
Dyna whistled as she made her way to the door. “Lads are on the loch, lasses will go toward the forest.”
“Take your bow, lass. In case you see a deer. I’ve seen signs of them everywhere.”
“Aye, Da. I’ll get you some meat by the morrow.” She grabbed her bow and quiver and followed the three lasses out the door. To her surprise, Lia sat on a boulder not far away.
“Greetings, all.”
“Why are you here, Lia?” Dyna asked, leading the group to a forest clearing and tossing a few plaids on the ground for them to sit on. “You always have a purpose.”
“I’m here for three reasons. First, to make sure we plan the visit to the banshee correctly. And second, I need to greet Magni. I know he’s been expecting me.”
“After all these years, he still thinks of you as his sister, Lia.”
“I know. I thought of coming back as an adult, but I’m not sure Magni could handle that yet.”
“And the third reason?” Dyna asked, tipping her head.
“You can guess. I’m here to apologize for my behavior.
I’m not usually affected so, but you need to remember that I’ve been around for a long time, just like Erena.
There are things about that hill that I recognized.
I’m not going to discuss it now, but you’ll learn eventually.
Let’s focus on the banshee and the three hairs for now.
” She tucked her golden tresses behind her ear and looked away.
“So, I should stay this age until Magni sees me?”
Ailith was quite sure Lia deliberately dropped the subject of the faery hill. She wasn’t sure she was prepared to hear everything about it yet.
But Dyna didn’t let it pass. “You’ll tell us when you can?”
Lia gave her a subtle nod. “Let’s move ahead. We have much to discuss. Magni first.”
“We all like you in your green gown, the green faery maiden,” Sylvi said. “Sandor doesn’t remember you at all.”
Lia glanced at Tora, who whispered, “A wee bit? I have a few fond memories of you, Lia.”
Dyna said, “I remember you with the fondest memories of all. Now where shall we start, wee lassie?”
“I’m glad the four of you are here. I suggest you hold hands and try to see what you can on the isle.
In my opinion, you have three things to uncover.
First, you need to find out exactly where the banshee is, as she moves about.
Second, we must figure out how to handle her.
Many who have gone to her have never returned, and we cannot risk that.
For this reason, not everyone should approach the banshee directly. ”
Tora asked, “Why can’t we go as archers, have our best warriors go too and demand the three hairs? She’ll give them to us.”
“Because those who confront the banshee with violence are usually unsuccessful.”
“What exactly does she do? Kill them?” Sylvi’s shoulders hunched up, and Ailith knew they shared the same thoughts. This was not going to be a pleasant visit.
“She might, but she has other ways. Have you never learned about the banshee’s scream?”
“Not really,” Ailith said, glancing at her cousins for confirmation.
“Her scream, at its most potent, will steal a person’s hearing.
They’ll never hear another sound. It happens in an instant, reaching long distances, so running away doesn’t work.
Or she can kill if she wishes. She also has ravens in the trees that can wield their own weapons.
Typically, talons into the eyes of the evil ones. ”
Sylvi cringed. “I don’t want to go, Mama.”
“Me neither,” Tora whispered, looking at her mother expectantly as she grabbed her sister’s hand. That surprised Ailith because Tora was usually a bit bolder than her sister.
“You don’t have to.” Dyna gave both girls a swift hug.
“So, that makes one more decision you have to make: who is going.”
“And the third thing? You missed it.” Ailith settled a plaid on the ground and sat down, hugging her knees as she looked at the faery sitting on the tree stump.
“What is Edan? There’s something different about him.
I can’t get near him, and I don’t think Gruin could either.
And his presence seems to amplify your headaches or maybe your visions, Ailith.
Sometimes it doesn’t bother you at all, but other times, especially when you were near the hill, it caused serious problems. Is that how you experienced it? ”
“Aye, it’s strange. But the headaches were definitely worse near the hill.
I don’t think it was Edan, or else I couldn’t have ridden abreast of him.
He has something unusual in his blood, or so the old healer thinks.
But I can be near him most of the time. As soon as I neared the hill, the visions started, and I couldn’t control them until Maitland took me away.
I don’t understand any of it,” Ailith said.
Lia’s hands waved above her head and then settled back on her lap with a sigh. “That explains it. Edan amplifies your visions. His power is something we don’t understand yet, but hopefully we will come to.”
“Do you think Edan knows why Gruin ran from him?” Lia asked.
“Nay, I doubt it,” Dyna said. “He would have used it earlier if he knew he had some power. We have to help him find out what that is.”
Lia said, “Why don’t you gather in your circle, close your eyes, and I’ll chant?”
The group settled, and a few moments later, Tora was the first to speak. “I can see something odd, nothing I’ve seen before. It might be the banshee or it could be anyone. Long white or golden hair, waving about as if she’s crying.”
Sylvi fell back, keeping her hands in her lap, but her eyes stared at the sky. “Oh, Mama. This is so painful. I don’t like being able to feel for others.”
“Sylvi, forget your mother and tell us what you’re feeling.”
“She lost her bairn at a young age. Her heart aches and she withdraws from everyone else, moaning. She spends all her time seeking comfort. And she sobs uncontrollably, wailing so loud.”
Lia’s voice was as calm and quiet as ever. “Ailith, tell me everything you see. We need to learn more about her past. Look around her.”
“Stones. Standing stones, a few of them. A man stands before her, begging her to free his son. He’s been missing for a few moons. The man thinks she’s hiding him.”
“What is the banshee doing?” Lia strolled a path behind the circle, speaking as she moved.
“She’s getting mad, but so is he.”
Sylvi said, “I don’t see or sense anything different. Sadness, desperation.”
“Ailith?”
“Many stand before her. They call the place the standing stones.”
“What does she look like to you, Ailith?”
“She’s dressed in blue, tall, white-haired, with a long, sad face. She holds her own bairn, a dead bairn, and cries. A lassie with fine golden hair. She’s cried so many tears that the bairn’s garment is drenched.”
“Please tell me that’s not Heilyn,” Dyna burst out.