“I said that out of shock, for I am deeply shocked. Meraud has misused her gift to the detriment of your liberty. That is not what we stand for.”
The door creaked open and Naru enter the hall.
“There she is!” he said. “Branna, can I borrow Kaetha? I told her I’d go over the vows with her and explain—”
“She won’t be taking vows this evening, Naru.”
Kaetha didn’t know whether or not she should contradict Branna. She felt once again like driftwood, but this time frustrated at being tossed about in different directions, without clarity, certainty or control.
“But there is something you can do.” Branna told him what she believed Meraud to have done. Appearing to understand what she needed him to do, he placed his large hands softly on either side of Kaetha’s head.
“It’s going to be alright, Kaetha,” he said in his softly deep voice.
She blinked up at him, then closed her eyes. Warmth flowed into her with a comfortable familiarity, like slipping on her old boots. Then Naru released her and stepped back. She gazed at them all in silence and, before her thoughts had fully formed, she found that her hands had become fists.
“Where is she?” she yelled. “Meraud!” Her voice filled the great hall. “Meraud!”
Soon, a side door opened and, graceful as a swan, Meraud swept into the hall, followed by a line of silent ones.
Kaetha charged up to her, noticing the alarm in her eyes, seeing too how she held her ground, head held high, forbidding as an iceberg. But hands gripped Kaetha, holding back her arms. She struggled in Donnan’s grasp as Meraud edged backwards, raising her hands in supplication. Someone flew past her and the next thing she saw was Mairi pinning Meraud to the door.
“How dare you do that to my daughter! How dare you, witch!” Mairi slapped Meraud hard around the face and Meraud shoved her away. She staggered back, Naru catching her before she fell.
Meraud regained her composure. “I’d be more careful if I were you.” She looked Mairi over. Mairi’s face grew pale. Some understanding passed between the women which Kaetha couldn’t make out.
“Lock her up,” said Branna, her eyes like angry storm clouds, “whilst we discuss her punishment.” Silent ones moved in to restrain her but hesitated as Meraud glared at them.
“It was for your good, Kaetha,” said Meraud, standing tall and proud as if her plans had not just been defeated. “Destiny pulls you in its current. My way would have made your course much easier.”
Kaetha looked back at Donnan, touching his hand and he released her from his grasp. She came before Meraud. “You lied to me,” she said, softly. “Why do you just stare at me like that? Don’t you feel any shame? Don’t you feel anything?” Every muscle of her body tightened.
“Calm yourself, Kaetha,” said Naru.
“It was you who sent those thieves after me, wasn’t it?” she continued. “I’ll bet you were behind the rescue at Doocot, that it was all part of your plan to get me here, under your power.” Meraud’s face remained unreadable. Branna’s grew pale. “Why did you do this?” Anger boiled through Kaetha’s blood. “You deceived me,” she shouted.
“Kaetha, this is not the way,” said Branna.
“You lied!” she thundered and a blast of anger became a burst of fire. Flames licked Meraud’s robes and her hair. Her eyes were big, her nostrils flared as she shrieked.
Then, closing her eyes, she made herself calm and the flames gripping her died away. There she stood, her robes turned to sodden rags, her hair straggly and cropped. She was a mess but unhurt, staring at Kaetha before a wall of flame.
“The doors!” shouted Branna. “Meraud, the doors. Please.”
Meraud blinked slowly, staring at her, doing nothing to save the beautiful ancient carvings of the doors.
“What have you done, Kaetha?” Naru’s disappointed voice burned painfully in her ears.
Branna turned away from her. “It’s time you left, Kaetha.”
Meraud sent Kaetha a hint of a smile, before silent ones took her away.
TWENTY FIVE
Caught up in the Current
Smoke lingered in the air as Kaetha walked with Mairi and Donnan, following the torches of two Appointed ones who led them down a different path to the one they arrived by.
“Careful of the step,” said Deorsa.
“About what happened,” said Kaetha. “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
“Control yourself? No.” He exchanged a look with the bald silent one walking beside him.
Kaetha considered how her family hadn’t wanted her. The communities she’d lived in hadn’t wanted her. A bastard and a witch, she thought bitterly. But here, illegitimacy doesn’t matter and magic is valued. Yet they still rejected me. What does that say about me?
The tap of a falling stone made her turn. There was movement in the shadows of a distant path. A glimpse of long hair – the edge of a pale face – then swamped in shadow. A shiver crept over her like cold fingers. So Meraud escaped. Or was set free. She told herself that it didn’t matter where Meraud went. Surely the Order was best rid of her.
Hurried footsteps sounded behind them. “Wait!”
“Kahina? What are you doing here?” said Deorsa.
“You can speak now?” asked Kaetha when Kahina had caught up with them.
“As of this evening.”
“We’re trying to persuade her to replace Meraud and train those chosen by Water.”
“I’m pleased for you, Kahina. Naru must be very proud.”
Kahina’s bright smile glinted in the torchlight. “Here,” she put a leather purse into Kaetha’s hands, its coins weighing heavily. “And I’m so sorry. She shouldn’t have done what she did and I should have realised what was happening.”
“Don’t blame yourself.”
“And I’m sorry that Branna wanted you to leave so quickly, in the
