“I hope so.”
“’Tis true.”
He had initially wanted a bonfire lit in celebration of her arrival, but now it served more as a means to commune with the gods and say goodbye to their loved ones. Therefore, there was much drinking, crying, dancing, and laughing. Toasts to warriors who dined with their deities now.
“Your people have an interesting way of mourning the dead.”
“Ourpeople.” He understood how it might look strange to her. “Whilst those lost to us are mourned, their time amongst us must also be celebrated. Their bravery in battle. How they protected their families.”
“That’s nice in its own way.”
She was about to say more when her raven spoke.
“How are you, my friend?”
It was clear her magic was progressing quickly when she was able to respond to Oran telepathically.
“Good.”The smile in her internal voice was unmistakable.“How about you? Making out okay with Aisling?”
“I try to steer clear of her,” he grunted.“She is a troublesome fairy.”
“No more than ye are a nuisance of a bird.”There was no mistaking Aisling’s distrust.“If ye really are a bird, that is.”
“Raven,”he corrected tightly.“What else would I be but that?”
“The gods only know.”
Madison smiled and eyed Oran curiously when he landed on her shoulder.“Why would she think you’re anything else?”
“Because she’s misguided.”
“Or because familiars oftentimes come in various forms,”Aisling divulged from beyond the front gates for fear of being around too many people. “And something about Oran does not feel quite bird-ish.”
Cian agreed but knew better than to say so quite yet. This was for Madison to work out.
“Raven or not, he’s a good friend.”To be expected, Madison caught many an eye with Oran on her shoulder.“One I hope you’ll get along with eventually, Aisling.”She glanced from Cian to the wood line, understanding his fairy’s absence.“But then you’re only doing what comes naturally, looking out for Cian.”
“Ta.” Aisling seemed pleased she understood.“’Tis good ye see that so well, Unnamed One.”
It didn’t surprise him that Aisling already knew what Madison was. If not via his thoughts, then the blade at Madison’s waist, whether she could see it or not.
“How do things look outside the castle?”Cian asked Aisling.“Have you heard anything via your Fae kin?”
She would never wander far from him, so traveling to Declán’s border without him was out of the question. As to her fellow Fae, while they rarely involved themselves in wizardly business or the ever-feuding kingdoms, they might have heard something.
“All is quiet, m’Lord,”Aisling reported.
“Too quiet,”Oran added.“I have flown the southern skies of your enemy, and nothing stirs.”There was no missing the frown in his voice.“I do not trust that. It feels...off.”
“What do ye know of unrest in these parts?”Aisling scoffed.“Ye have no idea what to look for when dealing with wizardly kings.”
“But at least I look,”he returned.“I brave the realms of men and wizards alike rather than cower in fear beyond the gates as you do now.”
“You dare when—”
“Enough, you two,”Madison said firmly.“You shouldn’t have traveled that far, Oran.”Unrest stirred in her eyes.“Don’t do that again, please. It’s...more dangerous than you think.”
“’Tis!”Aisling agreed.
