this, would you, Mairi?”
“All I want is for you to be safe from Deirdre. I would never endanger you.”
Reaghan’s heart fell. Mairi hadn’t answered her question, and that in itself was all the response Reaghan needed. The higher the sun rose the more sadness crept over her. Because she realized that something about her past, something about the pain in her head, was being kept from her.
It made Reaghan begin to analyze everything Mairi had ever told her. She knew the elder cared for her, of that there was no doubt. But why did Mairi persist in keeping things about her past hidden?
Reaghan continued to keep her distance from Galen, since she wasn’t yet ready to talk to him. She suspected he had seen she was in pain and would want to know why. Even if he hadn’t seen her this morning, he would know something was wrong now. Though she longed to confide in someone, Galen had enough to worry about with getting all of them to MacLeod Castle.
After their first rest, Reaghan positioned herself near Odara. The elder was having a difficult time of it, her small frame barely able to keep up. Reaghan gave her a drink from the water skin and wrapped an arm around her.
“You are good to me,” Odara said.
Reaghan smiled. “Why wouldn’t I be? You’ve always been kind to me.”
“Mairi tells me you had another headache this morning.”
“Aye.” Reaghan looked into the kindly green eyes. “Why do I feel as though Mairi knows more about my past than she is telling me? Why do I feel as though she knows what is happening to me, but refuses to help?”
Odara sighed, her wrinkles becoming more pronounced as she frowned. “Mairi just wants what’s best for you. We all do, sweetling.”
“I want an honest answer. Why can’t anyone tell me what I want to know?”
“Sometimes not knowing is for the best.”
“Only those with that knowledge would dare to speak those words.”
Odara narrowed her gaze at Reaghan. “You think I enjoy keeping secrets? It kills the soul slowly and surely every day those secrets are kept.”
“Then tell me. Tell me why my past is such a secret,” Reaghan pleaded.
“If only it were that simple.” Odara released a pent-up breath. “Reaghan, all I will tell you is that your past is better left forgotten.”
Her words made a thread of fear wind around Reaghan’s spine. “And the headaches? You know what is causing them, don’t you?”
“Not exactly. I would love to take the pain from you, but I haven’t that kind of magic. The headaches will end soon.”
*
Brenna pulled back her magic and dropped her head in her hands as the fatigue pulled at her. She sat surrounded by the Druids of her village, their hands linked, murmuring ancient words to give her magic added strength.
“Well, daughter?”
Brenna lifted her head and looked into her father’s dark eyes. “The peregrine is still willing to allow me to use her vision and hearing. I’ve seen the Warriors once again. They are taking the Druids to MacLeod Castle.”
Her father, Kerwyn, was head of their village. He walked around her slowly as if digesting her words. He always took his time formulating things in his mind. Her father was never hasty about anything.
Until it came to asking her to use her magic to connect with a falcon and spy for him. It had begun as a favor to fellow Druids to ensure that a man once considered their ally no longer leaked their whereabouts.
But once her father learned just how great her power was, and how long she could stay connected to the falcon, he had bid her use the bird to observe the goings-on at MacLeod Castle.
Brenna, like most in her village, wasn’t sure if the rumors about the MacLeods being at their castle once more were true. One look, though, and she had not only seen the MacLeods but many other Warriors.
And Druids.
When the two Warriors had set out on a journey, Brenna had bid the peregrine follow them. Thankfully, the bird had done as she asked.
Brenna wasn’t sure how much longer she would be able to use the falcon. Not only was the peregrine eager to return to her home, but the Warriors had noticed the bird and were becoming suspicious.
“When can you connect with the falcon again?” her father asked.
“Give the child time to recover,” Daghda, one of the elders, stated.
Brenna met Daghda’s eyes and gave the woman a nod of thanks. Brenna could have connected with the peregrine again, but with rest she could keep the connection far longer.
Kerwyn stared at Brenna for several moments before he turned and walked out of the circle. Brenna was glad to know that she had been given a respite, but she was certain her father would return soon.
His need to know about the Warriors was more than interesting. From all Brenna had seen of the Warriors they were protecting the Druids.
It hadn’t taken the rumors long to reach the Isle of Skye about Warriors attacking Cairn Toul and Deirdre. Brenna hadn’t believed a word of it. Until she had listened to a conversation between the Warriors Logan and Galen.
It appeared they had not only attacked, but had succeeded in killing Deirdre. Except Deirdre wasn’t dead after all. She was just without a body.
“Brenna?” Daghda said as she knelt in front of her. Her gray hair was kept away from her face by intricate braids that joined together at the back of her neck to form one thick braid. “Are you well?”
Brenna smiled and patted the hand atop hers. “Aye. Just tired.”
“Kerwyn asks too much of you.”
“It is my obligation to help our village any way I can.”
Daghda snorted. “Not at the price of your life, child. You should tell your father you need your rest. If not, he will continue to push you until you are drained of all your magic.”
Brenna licked her lips as she rose to her feet. She helped Daghda to stand and together they walked out of the circle. “Why is my father so concerned with the MacLeods?”
“Ah,” Daghda said with a frown, her intelligent green eyes seeing much. “He doesn’t believe the MacLeods fight Deirdre. He fears they are there to draw Druids to them in a false plan to keep them from Deirdre, only to eventually turn all the Druids over to her.”
“Do you believe that as well?”
Daghda let out a long breath. “Child, at my age, I’ve learned not to jump to conclusions. Of all of us, you’ve seen the MacLeods and the Warriors at their castle the most. What do you think?”
“I’m not sure,” Gwynn murmured.
“Don’t think to lie to me.”
Brenna’s head jerked to the elder. The tone had been sharp, and Daghda’s eyes were soft as they stared at her. “I’m not sure anyone wants to hear my opinion.”
“I do,” Daghda said. “Now tell me.”
Brenna swallowed and glanced around to make sure no one was near as she walked Daghda to her cottage. “I believe the Warriors are fighting Deirdre. I watched as the two Warriors at Loch Awe battled the wyrran. If they were working with Deirdre, why not just let the wyrran take the Druids?”
“Good question. One I think you should pose to your father.”
But Brenna knew better than to question her father. On anything.
SIXTEEN
