“I think that’s enough for a first lesson. Would you like to learn more tomorrow?”
Despite her exhaustion, she grinned. She needed to learn this, more than anything in the world. This one lesson had left her both energized and tired at the same time but craving more.
“Then we must formalize our arrangement. Are you willing now to make a pact with me?” She stood to face him and he took both her hands. “I, Adhna of the Court of Queen Áine, do take Clíodhna to be my student, to teach her to wield her power with strength, wisdom, and heart. In return, Clíodhna, do you agree to abide by my teaching until our lessons are complete?”
Clíodhna hesitated. “How long will that take? What if I can’t make it here because of my children? I don’t want them to suffer for my absence.”
“It will take as long as it takes. If you decide you need to halt the progress to care for your family, such a delay is acceptable. However, completing the lessons is important. Half-trained is all dangerous.”
After Oisinne had left, she’d been lonely and bereft of purpose, even with her family to raise. This offer may just be what her soul craved, something to strive for, and something to occupy her active mind. With a nervous swallow, she gave him a weak smile. “Then I do so vow.”
A shimmer spread out from them in a wide circle, somehow both changing the land and leaving it the same. She shivered, wondering if she had just made a horrible mistake.
Chapter Two
That afternoon, when she went to retrieve her children, she basked in the remnants of power that tickled her muscles. They left little fluttering sparks every time she moved, almost like the intense pleasure lovemaking invoked.
Odhrán greeted her at the garden entrance. “You look radiant, Clíodhna. That rest must have been recuperative.”
“I’m much better, thank you. I haven’t been able to rest much since I birthed Aileran.”
“Well, he’s been a positive delight. Etromma chaffed at first, but now she’s become fascinated with the herb breads. Donn has learned well and may just have a knack for carving wood, though he likes the more decorative aspect rather than the constructive parts. Still, a good woodworking skill is valuable. Today has turned out well.”
Grateful for the positive news, Clíodhna grinned. “Does that mean I can bring them again some time?”
“How about tomorrow? A regular course would be most beneficial to their learning. Unless you need them at home for farm work?”
Perhaps her children wouldn’t thank her for this decision, but it would be to their benefit as well as her own. “They can do the farm work in the mornings and evenings. They’re old enough to do both, I think.”
“I agree. Our order believes that hard work can help benefit a soul, and that idle hands breed mischief.”
Clíodhna thought back to her own childhood. She’d bred plenty of mischief despite all the work she did, but perhaps she had a special talent for it. The memory made her smile.
Odhrán let out a deep sigh. “Clíodhna, your smile brightens my day. Your children aren’t yet finished with today’s lesson. Will you sit and chat with me while we wait?”
“I would be happy to join you.”
The simple wooden bench faced the ornamental portion of the garden. A few crocuses had poked up through the remains of snow, and a daffodil bulb showed its head. Soon, the island would be in the full throes of spring, thrumming with life and growth.
Spring is when Clíodhna became most alive herself. Her body marched with the seasons, and with her husband gone, she must find someone else to enjoy the fertile time with. Adhna might be a candidate, but should she be so intimate with a fae? A teacher and a student must also be prudent with their relationships. Odhrán, on the other hand, might be a possibility. So far, his conversation kept her interest. He didn’t seem to mind her company, and, despite the odd tonsure, was pleasant to look upon.
Their thighs touched as they sat on the bench. After a few minutes, his skin warmth radiated through several layers of cloth, despite the chilly wind which gusted through the garden.
Odhrán turned his head to regard her. “So, have you lived in this village all your life? Or have you moved here from elsewhere?”
“I moved here when I married. My husband is… was from here. His family has lived in this area for several generations. I grew up near the seashore.”
“Do you miss it? I lived near the sea not far from Rome. I used to love watching the waves come in during a storm.”
Clíodhna closed her eyes and took a deep breath, putting her hands on her knees. “Oh, yes. Watching a storm over the ocean is my favorite thing. The sharp smell of lightning, the churning of the whitecaps, the violence of the wind. Frightening but fascinating. I never got enough of it, even when my mother made me come in out of the rain.”
“I can see you loved it. Your face lit up when you spoke.”
She opened her eyes to discover he’d leaned forward and met her gaze. Startled, she asked the first thing which came into her head. “What was your home like in Rome? You said it was near the sea?”
The edge of his mouth quirked up. “On a cliff near the mouth of a river. The weather is much milder than here in the summer, let me tell you. Still, some lovely storms would come across the water during the dark season. I thrilled at their power.”
Clíodhna grinned. “I lived near the ocean as well, and I played
