“I’m not sure,” Chloe murmured. “The forest appeared more vibrant for a moment, the air seemed to pulse, and I just knew. They're as alive as the trees around them.”
“I felt the same,” Aidan added. “Though I didnae see any pulse.”
“’Tis true,” Cray confirmed, returning in no time. “The rogue warriors are alive and heading back in the direction they came.” He shook his head. “I sense they have no recollection of what happened. They seem aloof. Even a wee bit disoriented.”
Tiernan sighed. “’Twill be baffling indeed when their commander confronts them, aye?”
“What’s Donald going to do to them?” Chloe frowned. “Shouldn’t we explain what happened to them, so they don’t get in trouble?” Her eyes widened. “What does that mean in this day and age, anyway? Will they be tortured? Put to death?”
“Och, nay.” Aidan sat beside her and rested his hand over hers to calm her. “Fighting men are too valuable nowadays. Especially those who fight for Scotland’s rightful king. They will likely have to see to less favorable chores en route for the offense of attacking us without having been given the order first.”
She frowned. “It doesn’t matter that one tried to kidnap a woman?”
“Unfortunately, not as much as it should,” he replied. “But then the one who took you has been slain. Something Donald didnae seem as upset about as he might have been.”
Though he doubted such was because he had taken a woman. No, his crime had been leading the offense in the first place.
She sighed. “It’s hard to remember not everyone here is as noble as you and your family.”
“Right,” Julie echoed, looking at Chloe with compassion. “I know it’s hard, but you’ve got to keep in mind the day and age and the state of this poor country. It's been the underdog for a long time, fighting the English to maintain freedom. Where most struggle through, some come out worse for wear.”
Chloe nodded, casting the men a sympathetic look. “It’s one thing to read about it, another to see it firsthand...to actually live it.”
“Aye, but ‘tis not all bad,” Aidan said softly. “Despite the hardships our country has faced, there are more good people about than bad. Courageous people who have seen the worst humanity has to offer and have risen above it.” He shook his head. “People who have not given up. Willnevergive in.”
“Alba gu bràth!” Cray and Tiernan said at the same time.
“Aye.” Aidan nodded in agreement, vowing his allegiance. “Scotland forever.”
Silence settled as they contemplated the state of their beloved country and headed for their horses.
“What do you make of Chloe and Aidan sensing the warrior's before they reappeared?” Tiernan eventually asked Julie. “It must have to do with Chloe’s Fae magic, aye?”
“Definitely,” Julie confirmed. “Of course, once she sensed it, Aidan would too.”
Chloe glanced at Aidan but said nothing to that. She didn’t need to, though. He knew she wondered what he made of such a possibility. Something that so undisputedly connected them.
Julie appeared to mull things over. “I think it's also safe to say Étaín was more directly involved in what happened at the Irish Stonehenge long ago than we might have originally thought.”
“I agree,” Chloe said, recapping. “So now we have an ancient Irish brotherhood of monk-like warriors who can possess at random. Evil men who feel they were denied something, hence them being affiliated with the current disinherited nobles traveling with Balliol. We also have a mysterious ritual performed by Julie’s Guardian Witch ancestors to protect Adlin’s creation in his former life. Then another far more troubling but equally mysterious ritual performed by the brotherhood at some point along the line.”
Chloe ticked things off on her fingers that were helping them along their journey. “Six Stonehenges, five original Claddagh rings, then another ring given to Julie via her ancestors, a sacrificed unicorn, and the Stone of Destiny. And now we have a Celtic goddess involved who can seemingly make possessed warriors vanish then reappear.” She perked a brow at Julie. “Did I cover everything?”
“Give or take,” Julie conceded. “Sounds about right.”
“All but one part,” Aidan murmured, sensing something. He stopped short and looked at Chloe in wonder, positive he was right. “It wasnae Étaín who made the warriors vanish but you, Chloe.”
She stopped. “Me?”
Everyone else stopped, as well.
“Aye, you.” He looked at her curiously. “’Twas clear enough you were worried about the rogue warriors. Did you feel anything specific when they first fled?”
“I did.” Surprise lit her eyes. “Curiosity about where they would go with so many pursuing them. What their fate would be.” She shook her head. “I didn’t think they deserved to die. They hadn't done anything wrong because they were likely possessed...” She trailed off, clearly chasing the sensation her words invoked before a peaceful expression softened her features. “You’re right, Aidan. Ididmake them vanish in hopes that whatever possessed them would release them before they were killed.”
“And it,they, did, giving the men a chance to redeem themselves for attacking without orders,” Julie said, impressed. “I think that sort of gift will come in handy.”
“’Twill certainly save lives,” Tiernan said.
