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“You’ve not got the right picture here, sir,” says Sion in the tone of a lion tamer who dropped his whip and dearly hopes not to become dinner.
“I don’t care to hear any more from you.” Olk spits out you in a condescending and hateful way. My temperature rises. How dare he? This you dedicates his existence to a cause outside Jeremy Olk’s realm of mortal comprehension. As fast as my stress level rose to nervous meltdown at the prospect of facing Jeremy, it now drops to cold disdain for his rudeness to Sion.
I hold up my hands. “Let’s all take a breath here. There’s been a misunderstanding.”
Sion can’t leave. There are a handful of days before Beltane. Without easy proximity, what will happen to our partnership and the soulfall? By his own admission, Sion has failed and failed again. Little Harriet and Alaina Kennedy can’t be our only successes.
A warning pings in my head. Sion said this was his last chance to save the souls, but he hasn’t told me why. I burn with the need to know. Is his forever in peril? What is the consequence of a Veil guide’s ultimate failure?
Colleen looks from me to Olk to Sion and for once doesn’t step into the center of a maelstrom. It’s me alone who holds any hope of preventing Sion’s banishment.
I step away from Jeremy. “There’s no problem here.”
The four stare at me.
“I asked Sion to show me the wood.” I face Olk and lift my ring finger. “You speak Irish, right? See Teacht orm.”
His eyes focus on the ring. “Find me?”
“It was my grandmother’s ring. I came on the trip because I believe she wanted me to find her Ireland. The one where beauty grows easily from this earth.” I reach to pluck a handful of grass and raise my palm. Blades fly in the pre-storm breeze. “The one where trees, like the ones in that wood, are sacred.” I nod to Sion. “I asked him to take me to the trees. I didn’t want to go alone. Since he lives nearby, I figured he’d be the best person to show me.”
Colleen chews on her lip. “It’s true Eala has no sense of direction.”
I’m a little thrown by her support. I thought she’d heave Sion under the bus and encourage me back in Jeremy’s direction.
My new colleague frowns while scratching his morning stubble.
“It’s my enthusiasm to share the place that kept Eala from letting you know we were going off,” says Sion, playing the contrite card. “I truly meant to have her back by the time the lot of you woke.”
I jump in before Jeremy unleashes any more you comments. “Sion, you don’t need to cover for me. I’m the one who rushed us deeper into the forest.” Deeper is right. I’m neck deep in potentially losing a good recommendation from Jeremy.
I don’t know Olk at all. Is he so pissed because he has a thing for me? Is he petty enough to down talk me to the powers that be at Kennard Park if he thinks I took up with Sion instead of him?
The good professor takes a few steps away from us and stares off into the distance. His shoulders rise and fall in measured rhythm like he’s prepping for one of the Tai Chi routines I’ve watched groups do in Central Park. The energy pouring off him is anything but centered. The longer he stays silent, the tighter my muscles lock.
Colleen looks back and forth between Sion and me. She raises her eyebrows in an are you going to tell Jeremy about the two of you question. I shake my head. I’m not prepared for this to come down to a choice between Sion and the tour. I need to help him with the souls, but I also can’t wipe the university from my future.
I want to curl against one of the standing stones and hide my head under Máthair’s brandied melon scarf to think. New realities. Old realities. Where is my place in the world? I catch Sion’s eye. He gives me an encouraging nod as one corner of his lip rises. In that moment, I know I’m not alone no matter which way the Olk wind blows.
“Fine.” Jeremy Olk’s voice cracks the delicate veneer of morning. “Please note that news of a missing colleague is not my preferred wake up call.”
Sion’s fingers twitch at his side, and for a terrible moment, I’m afraid he’s going to throw a mock salute. “Apologies.”
Olk turns to me without acknowledging Sion. “Eala,” he says, gesturing for me to walk next to him as we head toward the fake stone circle. “You must excuse my passion.” He brushes a hand across my lower back. “I take my trip lead responsibilities quite seriously.” Lowering his voice, he leans closer. “Let’s chat about your pending position at Kennard Park.”
He knows something. Yesterday, I would have been excited. Today, I’m nervous where this chat might be headed. What does he know?
Jeremy’s demeanor shifts to friendly. “I happen to own a copy of your book.”
My eyes widen in surprise. I did publish my dissertation to up my ante as an academician, but I’ve never had anyone tell me they’d actually bought it.
He casts his gaze down, a tiny smile playing on his mouth as if he’s enjoying a private joke. “Your fascination and appreciation of Celtic folklore reminds me—” He pulls off his glasses and waves them in my direction. “Of me.”
In a blink, my safe little tomorrow, in a college town, with a small life, welcomes me back. Will fate and the Veil allow me to return to that dream? Maybe my attraction to Sionnach is a biproduct of our shared responsibility to the souls? Are these feelings born of a moment in time and nothing more?
Jeremy skips over the top of a sunken boulder. “Have you ever thought of teaching a summer session at Trinity College while spending more time doing further research in this glorious land? I’m happy to introduce you to my connections.”
A summer? Does that mean he believes I’ll be ensconced in the tenure-track position at Kennard Park U. for the regular school year alongside him?
