Page 18 of Shaw

Why should she offer me her aid? Duxor asked.

She wishes slay the MacMar clan. All of them, and their vassals. She smiled, showing her human teeth now. If you bargain with her, she will provide you with more like me. But once you show her the way to the island, she will have no more use for you.

He knew she was speaking the truth, and trying to prevent him from making a mistake, but he wasn’t sure why. What happened after the hunt? Why didnae you return at once?

I boarded the vessel my sisters sail to search for the MacMar, Fiacail said, her gaze growing distant. That marked chieftain changed into a demon and slew many of them with a single passing blow. If you could transform and command him, no’ even Derdrui could stop you.

Very well. You may go and convince your former sisters that their sovereign should meet your master. He decided to give her the reward he’d been saving. Take these two with you.

Fiacail dove down into the water to greet the two he’d summoned, only to shriek with surprise as soon as she saw them. Master, what did you?

Do you imagine you do anything that I dinnae ken? I remained out of sight during your failure to secure the diver. He smiled as she cringed. ’Tis well you ever tell me truth, Fiacail. The first time you lie, I shall end you myself.

Chapter Five

At the evening meal Connal asked Julianne if she would agree to meet with the king of the Selseus, as Merrick had sent word that he wanted to make a formal offer to her. Valerie then explained that if she didn’t want to join the aquatics that she would have to in turn officially refuse. Although she noticed Shaw going rigid with disapproval, Julianne had no reason to dodge the meet and greet. She did have some questions, however, that she should probably get answered first.

“I’ve been told that they only look like human beings, is that right?” When the laird’s wife nodded she took a sip of the pear juice she was drinking with her meal before she said, “If they’re from another world, then how did they learn to talk with the MacMar?”

“When my sire first encountered them here, the Finfolk had no speech,” the laird told her. “They took mortal females as they wished from vessels that strayed across their boundaries. Prince Mar offered to help them learn language, as long as they ceased abducting women against their will. He wished the island provide a safe living place for the clan’s female vassals.”

Valerie frowned at her husband. “Your father taught them how to speak human language?” One of the pitchers suddenly tipped over, and she reached out to grab and right it, giving Lark a sharp look. “Ah, you never told me that.“

“He did thus with his magic, first so he might parlay with Merrick’s sire and create the mist barrier,” Connal said. “’Twas needed as ’twas the time Derdrui came hunting him and the clan.”

“This Derdrui is that evil Fae shifter chick who killed your dad’s wife, right?” Julianne asked, and got a nod from him. “Why did she do that? Did she hate the prince’s missus a lot?”

Connal nodded. “My sire first wed the Princess Eilonwy, a woodland elemental, and they abided with great happiness in Elphyne, the Fae otherworld. Derdrui wished Mar instead marry her, and out of jealousy slew the princess. My sire fled to the mortal realm, and here took many mortal females as his wives. Yet the enchantress pursued him again, and vowed she’d slay every woman he’d loved and the sons he’d sired with them. ’Twas necessary for him beg aid from the Fae king, so he might remove her from this realm and imprison her in the Fae otherworld, only in time Derdrui escaped. Now she hunts us again.”

“She’s terribly vindictive,” his wife said.

“For real.” Julianne thought of the awful hatred she’d seen in her ex’s eyes, all the terrible things he’d done, and what he’d said outside the courthouse. You have no idea what I can do to you, you stupid bitch. “By the way, shouldn’t you do something about the gaps in that magical barrier before the evil enchant-chick sails by here and spots the castle?”

“Gaps?” Valerie echoed with a blank look.

“You haven’t seen the three huge holes in the wall of mist out there? I spotted them this morning from the window in my room.” Julianne pointed toward the stairs to the watch tower. “If you hurry up, you can get a good look at them before the sun sets.”

“Please come and show us, Mistress,” the laird asked.

A short time later Julianne stood with Shaw and the couple at the very top of the watch tower. To keep Connal from having a bout of vertigo Valerie explained that she had to hold his hand, but even before they went to the battlements the three gaps in the barrier appeared plainly, showing large slices of sky in the middle of the mist walls.

“Mar’s blood,” the laird murmured, his eyes wide.

“I don’t think anyone can see them from the bay shore or where the Selseus have their settlement,” Julianne told the laird. “The way the mist curves and bulges out at the bottom hides them. But if you swim out to the middle of the bay like I did when I thought I was saving those Finfolk boys, they’re right in your face.” She glanced at his wife. “You didn’t see these open up? Seriously?”

“We tend to take the barrier for granted,” Valerie admitted, giving Shaw a sharp look.

“Why didnae you tell me our sire’s enchantment, ’twas failing?” Connal suddenly demanded of his brother. “You saw the breaks in the mist on the night of the storm, didnae you?”

The chieftain’s hands fisted, but his expression remained composed as he looked directly at the laird. “I was off my head, my lord. Indeed, in such a state had I encountered that Therion witch herself, I wouldnae ken her.”

“None of you noticed the problem, either,” Julianne pointed out. “So don’t jump on my man Shaw for being too busy with his issues to see it.”

Connal looked for a moment as if he might snap at her, and then a flicker of shame passed over his face. “Truth. My apologies, Chieftain. I should speak with Nyall so he may alert the Finfolk commander, and seek how we may restore my sire’s enchantment. We shall meet on the morrow at the walking labyrinth, Mistress Scott. Come, Wife.”

Julianne waited until they left before she regarded the chieftain. “Lying to your bro now? Seriously?”

Shaw didn’t look at her. “How could you ken such?”