“I’m happy to have this all over with,” she said quietly.
“You might be, but I’ve still relatives to impress. Speaking of, perhaps we should gather them up and go see about your grandfather.”
She started to agree, then realized there were three people coming toward them. Acair heaved himself to his feet, then held down his hand for her. She rose, then looked at the siblings she’d thought had perished. She wasn’t entirely sure what to say to them, but realized there was no need.
Her sister walked up to her and put her arms around her. She felt her brother’s arms go around them both. She would have wept, but she was out of tears and too exhausted to go look for any more. It was enough to know she wasn’t alone any longer—
Only she hadn’t been anyway.
She stepped away and looked at the man who had changed that. She reached for his hand and pulled him over to stand with them.
“Acair, this is my sister, Iseabail. Iseabail, you perhaps know Acair of Ceangail?”
Acair made her a low bow that almost left him on the ground in front of them all. Léirsinn caught him and moved past that before anyone said anything untoward.
“Acair, my brother, Taisdealach. You might call him—”
“Or he might not,” Tais said. He looked at Acair coolly. “I’ve heard tales.”
“They’re likely all true,” she said cheerfully. “But I love him and he’s kept me safe, so be good to him or face my fury.”
Acair was apparently accustomed to that sort of reception, which she’d already known. He simply inclined his head at her brother and smiled politely.
“A pleasure,” he said cordially.
Her brother scowled, but he didn’t resort to any slurs so perhaps there was hope. She smiled at Acair.
“Where now? To Briàghde?”
“I think that might be best,” he agreed. “Let’s go fetch our gear.”
“I’ll meet you there,” Tais said briskly. “Don’t dawdle.”
She watched her brother step back and simply disappear. She blinked, then gaped at her sister. “He hasmagic?”
“All of it,” Iseabail said.
“How do you know? Did you know each other all this time? Did you know I was alive?”
She found her sister’s arms suddenly around her. “Let’s finish what we must, then we’ll talk. And nay, I didn’t know anything until a few weeks ago, but you can blame Soilléir for that.”
Léirsinn looked at her as she stepped away. “But you have magic as well?”
Iseabail shrugged. “I have a bit. Well, I have a great deal, I just never know if it’s going to do what I want it to.” She looked at Soilléir and held out her hand toward him. “Will you help me shapechange?”
He took her hand and smiled. “With pleasure, my dear.”
They disappeared without fuss.
Léirsinn stared at the spot where they had stood but a moment before, then looked at Acair.
“What did I just witness?”
“Something I wish I could unsee,” he said with feeling.
“He’s far too old for her.”
“She’s far too good for him. If it makes either of us feel better, he calls everyonemy dear.”
