Chapter Thirty-Two
Ailith
They returned to their cottage, speaking little along the way. Dyna, riding between them, broke the silence. “Edan, I know you feel betrayed, but Ailith searched for your daughter first. She looked as far as she dared and found Milo near the beginning of the line of cages.”
“How could you know that?” Edan asked, confusion clouding his face. Ailith knew how hard this was for him, but it was excruciatingly painful for her as well. He couldn’t possibly know what had gone through her mind just before she found Milo.
Her thoughts had spiraled back to that awful cellar where she’d once been held captive.
Memories of cold stone, the scuttling of bugs and tiny feet around her, the disgusting water and hard bread crusts she’d been forced to chew.
And the man himself, her very own neighbor, a disgusting man who had kept her locked like a criminal.
It had only ended when her sire flew inside, taking the man by the throat and nearly killing him.
What would have happened if her father hadn’t found her? She shuddered at the thought of the repercussions.
Dyna continued, “Because I saw her, Edan. I’m a seer, though you still don’t believe me.
I saw her running down the path looking for a wee lass who wasn’t there.
She fought, she threw a stone at the cage, she tried to lift it.
She did her best, and you need to accept that.
Lia warned us it might take two or three trips inside to gain all the bairns back.
Just because we didn’t find her doesn’t mean we are giving up.
” They neared their cottage, and Dyna rode ahead.
“I’m leaving you two to work this out before you return to our cottage. ”
Ailith couldn’t disagree.
She waited, patting her horse, who sensed the stable was near. Edan turned his horse to face her. “Forgive me, Ailith. I know you tried your best, and I’m insensitive, but all I could think of was my lassie when you returned with Milo. I wish you’d had both of them, but I know it’s not your fault.”
That’s where he was wrong. His initial instinct had been correct.
“It is my fault. I see it that way too. I wish I had found her first. I cannot stop thinking about the entire episode, going over it and over it in my mind. Why couldn’t I find her?
John kept telling me about the warrior he fought, whose blade would disappear and then reappear just before it was to slice into him.
It was as if it were magical. Perhaps her cage disappeared too.
I know they did not want us in there. I think Gruin thought he would frighten us, and we would run back out, but we didn’t. ”
“Nay, you didn’t. You stayed and fought for our bairns, and I am grateful.
It’s not that I blame you, but I blame myself.
I feel as though I failed her. I felt helpless waiting outside, believing I should have been the one inside, fighting the warrior.
To think you and John had to venture into that strange, unknown land while I did absolutely nothing.
You have no idea how hard it was to restrain my impulses.
This was my sire’s fault. He made the deal and backed out of it to save me.
Therefore, I should be the one risking life and limb, not you and John. I’m angry, but surely not at you.”
“It’s not your fault, Edan. Your sire’s, mayhap a bit.
But it’s the fault of the Unseelie, whichever ones.
And I think they used trickery on us inside too.
Mayhap her cage disappeared whenever I approached.
I forgot to mention this, but once I got Milo out of his cage, multiple warrior cages released, sending about five or six more mercenaries straight for John.
And there were more still in cages. That’s why we left, he couldn’t fight that many on his own.
He’d been fighting for a long time while the new warriors were fresh.
We had no choice but to run. I’m just glad I was close enough to get away from his men.
They were awful. I don’t know how to fight this unknown force. ”
Edan moved his horse closer and reached for her hand.
“My family, and I most of all, are eternally grateful for all you and your clan have done to help us. I wish I could be of more use. A few days ago, we had no idea where they were. Now we know that much, but there must be something I can do. That’s why I’m here: to be useful.
You have been wonderful. I thought I knew what life was all about, a quiet duty.
But I’ve met you, your family, your clan, and I see so much more.
With you, I see hope for a brighter life, but yet at the same time, it all terrifies me.
” He hung his head, then caught her gaze again.
“I’m not verra good with words, Ailith, but I hope when this is all over that I can ask your sire for permission to court you.
It would please me verra much to get to know you better. ”
While his words pleased her, and the thought of getting to know him better was especially appealing, she couldn’t discount how he would feel when this was all over.
But for now, she had to focus on getting all the bairns out of that ghoulish place.
“I’m glad you came along. I think with all our minds together, we can uncover the secret.
Let’s move on. And if my father says nay, then ask me. I won’t refuse you.”
That made Edan smile, a sight she didn’t see often. He had a beautiful smile and was a handsome man. She could well imagine how difficult it must have been for him to stand outside the faery hill while she and John were inside.
He turned his horse around and tugged on her reins. “Let’s join your clan. I’m anxious for this entire event to be over.”
They headed out, traveling along the edge of the loch, just as a group emerged from the cottage. Boisterous laughter and loud discussions emanated from them, mostly from the men who loved to compete. She heard various boasts—best fisherman, best swordsman, best rider.
They caught up with Dyna, who said, “Glad to see you both smiling. We’ll get through this.”
They led their horses to the small stable behind the cottage, and Edan helped her dismount, allowing her close to his warmth, a sensation she savored. This was a new experience, being seen differently by a man, and she found herself liking it.
Her father sat with a group around a fire behind the cottage. “Join us, Ailith. We were just about to see if we could find a better way to fight the bastards, and it would be best if you explained what you saw. Uncle Connor is quite curious.”
Sylvi and Derric joined Dyna. Her sire was there with Morgan and Magni. Her mother, meanwhile, had to be inside with Maeve and Daran.
“Tora is sleeping and Daran is with his mother and Maeve, but the rest of us are here,” Derric said to the newcomers.
She found a log to sit on while Edan stood behind her, not far from her father and Morgan.
Uncle Connor began, “Two things. First, we need to find a way to help John fight off the shadow sword, as he refers to it. Apparently, their warriors wielded an odd sword that transferred to whichever warrior was closest. Next, we want to help Ailith figure out how she freed Milo. John, you first. Any suggestions?”
“I’d like to hear my sister’s thoughts first. She was the only other witness to what happened. Ailith, what say you about the sword?”
Unsure how to explain exactly what she had seen, she paused, then began, “The sword was difficult to see sometimes. I wasn’t sure if it was due to the darkness of the Dark Hollow or the knight who emerged from the cage.
Did he disappear and reappear, John? Or was it just the sword that disappeared at times? ”
“Nay, he never disappeared,” John replied.
“I don’t think he was a shadow knight, but he did have a shadow sword.
It disappeared until it was ready to slice my skin.
It was horrifying. Had I had time to think, which I certainly did not, I might have run from it.
When I thought I’d beaten one warrior, he would melt back into a cage, and a fresh one would emerge to attack me.
When they began to emerge simultaneously, we had to stop.
But there was only one shadow weapon. It was passed on to whichever warrior fought me. ”
Alasdair turned to the wee faery. “Have you heard of such a weapon, Lia?”
“I’m afraid I’ve heard and seen a shadow sword and a shadow knight. It sounds like you only encountered a shadow sword.”
“Is there a special way to fight it?”
“Only with a special blade, known as a changeling blade. One exists, but I don’t know how to find it,” she said. “I’ll ask Erena.”
“I think you should have more warriors with you, John,” Uncle Connor said.
“Aye, if you please, I’d take at least four with me: Da, Morgan, Magni, Sandor. Maitland and Grant could come along if I need them. Whoever wishes to go with me, I’ll accept.”
Uncle Connor nodded his agreement. “That can be decided later. Ailith, tell us everything you recall about the cages. John’s version didn’t have enough detail.”
Lia said, “Those cages are new. I have no idea how to free someone from such a prison. Did the bairns move at all, Ailith?”
“Nay. I could see their chests moving, so I knew they were alive, but when I stood in front of Milo, his gaze never shifted. I could hear what was in his mind, but nothing more. I moved closer to his cage than any other.”
“No catch, no latch, no opening or seam to be seen?” Uncle Connor asked.
“Nay, nothing. I tried everything I could think of. I punched it, threw a boulder at it, I even tried to lift it, but it was impossible. I ran my fingers over every surface on multiple cages and found nothing, nor could I feel his heart beating when I brought my hand up to his chest.”
“Then what happened?”
Ailith thought hard, as the next few moments passed so quickly. “I had a vision of Milo with a fish. Edan gave it to him.”