focused, and the authoritative tone Lucan had always hated as a lad was back in Fallon’s voice. It didn’t bother Lucan now, however.
“I agree,” Lucan said. “Do you have something in mind?”
Fallon’s gaze met his. “I do. We know this castle. I say we use it to our advantage.”
Lucan inhaled deeply, ready for battle. “Excellent idea.”
Just like the Fallon of old. Lucan glanced at Quinn to see him watching their older brother with interest. Lucan gave a lift of his goblet to Quinn.
“We might not be able to kill them, but we can set traps,” Fallon said. “It will keep both the Warriors and the wyrran occupied until they can get out.”
“Meanwhile you can attack others that get past,” Cara said. “There are many areas you can set traps not just inside the castle but outside.”
Lucan grinned at Cara. “Good suggestion.”
While Fallon, Quinn, and Galen talked about the traps, Lucan brought Cara’s face around to him. She blinked and tried to smile, but he saw through her attempt.
“I’ll get you the information you need on being a Druid. We’ll get through this.”
She lifted his hand between her own. “If my mother had lived, she would have shown me the
“You don’t know that. Speculating on how the future could have been will only cause your head to ache.”
“And you want to fix everything.”
He shrugged. “I suppose I do. I’m good at it.”
A real smile pulled at her lips. “You’re not conceited, are you?”
“Not in the least.” To his joy, he heard her chuckle, but it was short-lived. The smile disappeared and she lowered her gaze from his.
“I need to clean up.”
Lucan stopped her from rising. “Cara.”
“I’m all right,” she said, and put her hand on his cheek. “You talk with the others while I tidy the kitchen.”
He let her gather the now empty trenchers and watched her walk from the hall. When he turned back around, three pairs of eyes were on him.
“How is she?” Fallon asked. “She seems better now that you’re here.”
Quinn shook his head. “She was pale as death when she saw the plant dying. Nothing we could say would calm her, and then she just got quiet and stared at her hands.”
“I didna like feeling that helpless,” Fallon admitted. “It was awful.”
Cara had become part of their family whether she wanted to or not. Lucan was glad his brothers had taken to her so easily. His feelings for Cara grew by the day, and he wanted her in his life. Always.
“She’s frightened,” Lucan said. “As any of us would be in her position. We know nothing of Druids, but with Galen here maybe he can alleviate some of her fears.”
Galen shrugged. “I’ll tell her all that I know, but words won’t help her learn what magic she has.”
“Are you sure the only way she can turn
“Aye. It is done on a full moon in the Druid’s eighteenth year. The ceremony is normally a grand affair, but with Deirdre hunting them, I’ve been told the rituals are kept secret, with few knowing of them.”
“Do you know any
Galen gave a small nod. “I met several in Deirdre’s dungeons, but as far as I know, none of them escaped.”
“Druids aren’t practicing as they used to,” Quinn said. “If anyone knew of them, they would be burned at the stake. Wherever the Druids are, they’re hiding, and not just from Deirdre.”
“I agree,” Galen said. “The Druid tradition is ingrained in them. Just like Cara’s magic. She cannot rid herself of it even if she wants to. It’s a part of her.”
Lucan glanced at the kitchen doorway. “Just like our gods are a part of us.”
“Aye,” Fallon mumbled.
Lucan flexed his hands. Cara needed a Druid, someone who could show her the ancient ways and help her learn her magic. The problem was they didn’t have time to go looking for a Druid.
“I don’t know,” Galen said.
Lucan looked at him and frowned. “You don’t know what?”
“If I can find a Druid in time.”
Lucan raised a brow. “How did you know what I was thinking?”
Galen shrugged. “It doesn’t take a mind reader to know. One look at you and I could see you were thinking of Cara. Since Cara is upset over her magic, the next logical conclusion would be that you were thinking of finding a Druid to bring here.”
Quinn snorted. Fallon shook his head and raised the wine to his lips. Lucan didn’t know whether to believe Galen or wonder if part of his ability was being able to decipher what someone was thinking.
Lucan let it go for now. “You do know where some Druids are, don’t you?”
“I did,” Galen admitted. “That was a decade or so ago. They’ve most likely moved on. If we survive Deirdre’s attack, I’ll take you and Cara to them.”
Lucan wasn’t sure Cara could wait that long. “In the meantime, tell Cara, and us, all you know of the Druids.”
“Both the
Galen gave a small nod of his head. “I’ll see it done.”
Lucan leaned forward. “You know a lot about us, Shaw. Maybe it’s time you told us about you.”
Galen grinned, no anger in his gaze. “I’m no different from you.”
“I beg to differ,” Quinn said.
“What god is inside you?” Lucan asked. “When we fought, you turned a dark green. It would have been easy for you to blend in with the surrounding forest.”
Galen nodded. “Which is one reason I make it my home.”
“Your god,” Fallon urged.
Galen’s gaze shifted to the table. “Ycewold. The trickster god.”
Lucan scratched his jaw. A trickster god.
“I left.”
Just two words, but Lucan heard the anger, the frustration, in Galen’s voice.
“Has Deirdre wiped out other clans besides ours?” Quinn asked.
Galen shook his head. “Not that I know of. Mine was untouched. I was taken when I went hunting.”
“You returned to them.” Fallon stared at his bottle, his fingers wrapped around the neck.
Galen squeezed his eyes closed before he opened them. “Aye. I wanted to make sure they were unharmed. Once I saw my mother and father were all right, I left.”
“From what I saw, you can control your god,” Lucan said.
“It took me a long time to learn how. I kept to the forest, hidden in the trees.”
Quinn rose and strode to the fire. He squatted in front of it and stoked the flames higher. “We stayed in the mountains for a time.”
“At least you had each other.”
Lucan nodded. Aye, at least they’d had each other. He couldn’t imagine going through it alone. He looked at Galen with more respect than before. Lucan still didn’t trust him completely but couldn’t deny that Galen had his admiration. And despite his worry, Lucan found he liked Galen.
Out of the corner of Lucan’s eye he spotted Cara walking from the kitchens to the stairs. She kept her head down and moved quickly. She didn’t want to be seen. He started to go after her but thought she might need some time alone. There would be no more running for her. She knew the safest place for her was with him.
* * *
Cara let out a breath as she made it up the stairs without Lucan or one of the others stopping her. She
