“Thank ye for bringing it, brother.I’m warmer already.”That was the truth.The heft of the wool kept the chill and the mud away, and she was grateful for the cape and its warmth.With any luck, her teeth might stop chattering soon.
“We are right here, lass.Try to get some sleep, and we will deal with the Grants on the morn.”
Then his head and Daniel’s disappeared from the grate.
Her chest hollowed again once they were removed from her sight, but she had something else to focus on now, something else to help keep her mind occupied and help her sleep.
If Eoghan had overemphasized or outright lied about Mairi’s involvement or opinion, perhaps he had done the same with William.
That bubble of hope grew and warmed her as much as the plaid.
With the heartening words of her brother and the warmth of the plaid cape(och, Mairi must be sorry!She sent her best plaid!), Ailith finally closed her eyes and drift into a jerking, tortured sleep.
And she dreamt again of dream-Eladon.In Ailith’s mind, she was surprised, but in her dream, young Eladon’s presence made complete sense.
This time, however, instead of swirls, her dream was in shades of blue and gray.And instead of a silhouette of Eladon in the distance, her face appeared right next to Ailith's, a dark complement to Ailith’s bright hair and skin.
But it wasn’t Eladon, and Ailith knew it never had been.
Ailith finally saw the woman up close.In addition to the dark, rich waves that cascaded over the woman’s shoulders, her eyes were darker and rounder than Eladon’s.While that might be attributed to a difference in age, the button nose could not be.The Romani witch from the future had boasted a sharp, pointed nose, while this woman’s pert, button nose bordered on adorable.And the gold dots Ailith had noted were threaded coins dangling from her scarves, one midnight blue scarf she had wrapped around her waist, and a second hunter green scarf tied around the crown of her head so the tail caressed her black-brown hair that fell halfway down her back.
The woman in her dream was stunning.
Help me,Ailith called in her dream.How do I fight this?
The dream woman smiled slightly, and her voice was as billowy as her loose peasant-style blouse.You don’t.You don’t fight.
Ailith didn’t understand and shook her head.She had been taught how to fight, trained in it, and now, when her life hung in the balance, she was supposed to sit idly and watch this nightmare unfold?
And what?Do nothing?
The woman turned to face Ailith directly, her skin dusky in the pale blue landscape.
Everyone knows you can fight, but some things take more than you in combat.You will lose even if you win in this fight.
Dream-Ailith shook her head again.That doesn’t make any sense.How can that be?
The Romani dream woman moved, walking in a circle around Ailith, her bejeweled scarves tinkling as she moved.
You can’t fight.It will only make you appear exactly as guilty as they accuse you.Wait, have patience, and stay your hand.The solution will appear before you.Everything for this will be answered.
Everything for this, meaning this bizarre accusation.But what of her other questions?What of William’s loyalty?
Who are ye?Ailith asked.Now that the woman was near enough to see, perhaps that meant she was physically nearby.Maybe she was coming to bail her out of his mess?Are ye the one who will help me?
Not in this.There are things in this world that are too filthy to speak of.They are ‘marime,’ the unspeakable, and the lies and presumptions about you are that.But you have a community here that will help you.Don’t fret.And in this accusation, don’t fight.If you fight, you will only give the marime what it wants.Don’t give the marime your time or thoughts.
The woman’s words were like the wind in her hair, present then gone so quickly, and Ailith struggled to understand them.
Then why are ye here?Why are ye reaching out?
The woman stopped circling and stood in front of her again.The night sky filled with stars reflected in the round orbs of her black eyes.
If you don’t fight, you will win.
It made no sense.How can ye know that?It was absurd to Ailith that fighting was the one thing she shouldn’t do, no matter what her dream woman said.
I know because I am touched.I can see what one should not and know what others cannot.
