CHAPTER 66: MAGDALA’S REQUEST
Magdala followedme into the kitchen. “I want to thank you. You’ve helped us in ways we didn’t expect. I know you need to be going soon, and I’ll have Aisling show you the entrance to the underground caverns. But there’s one more thing.”
“What’s that?” I asked, patting her on the arm. “And I’m glad we met.”
“I wanted to wait to tell you this, but I can show you to the Mountain Waypoint. It’s not far from here. I know you’ve talked about your Frazzle Cat, so I thought you might want to pop home to see her.” Magdala smiled wearily at me.
My heart leapt. “The Waypoint? Oh, thank heavens. I didn’t think we’d be able to find this one. I’m so grateful I can’t even express how happy I am.” I wanted to clap, but I was also all too aware of how stressed Magda was, and how worried she was about Rupert. I didn’t want to make her feel bad, or make her think I didn’t care about her son.
She let out a sigh. “I wanted to talk to you about something, and I’m not sure how to approach the subject.”
I knew immediately what she was talking about. “Brynn and Aisling?”
She nodded. “So you’ve noticed too?”
“I’ve noticed,” I said.
“Tell me about Brynn. Is she spoken for?”
I hesitated. How was I going to answer her? Brynn was an adult, and though I thought she might be making a mistake, I couldn’t very well play her mother’s role.
“You’re hesitating,” Magda said.
“I am,” I said. “We come from a long distance. You know,” I suddenly said, “I’m not comfortable speaking for her. You need to ask her about it. I will tell you, she’s a good-hearted person, and she’s smart and savvy.”
“I suppose I should trust Aisling. But you know, I’m his mother, and now with Rupert hurt…Also, there’s the fact that Brynn isn’t one of the lycanthroids. If Aisling were to marry a woman who’s of a different…type…the children would not carry the lycanthroid strain. Our people aren’t numerous; we tend to marry within our own to keep the lycanthroid line alive.” She looked terribly uncomfortable.
“I see…And if Rupert is laid up for a long time…”
“If Rupert does end up dying—or if he’s incapacitated regarding children, given the beam landed over his hips and legs, then it’s up to Aisling to keep our family line alive. Alina is bound to Sean’s family, and eventually, they’ll move to his family’s stead.”
I understood what she was saying. Brynn couldn’t provide lycanthroid children. “I’ll talk to her if you like. It might be better coming from me.”
Magdala smiled, a grateful light in her eyes. “Thank you so much.”
I headed back into the living room and motioned to Brynn. “Come with me,” I said, heading up to our room.
Brynn looked puzzled but followed me. Once we were in our room, I shut the door and stretched out on the bed. Brynn sat down beside me.
“What’s up?” she asked.
I sighed, already tired. The past couple of days had been exhausting, and I was grateful we were going to head through the tunnels. And that we were going to activate the waypoint.
“All right,” I said, sitting up. “Magdala talked to me about Aisling.”
Brynn blushed. “Oh. What did she say?”
“First, she asked if you were single. I told her to ask you that. But then she told me that she’s worried. If Rupert doesn’t heal up, if he dies, or if his…if his fertility was damaged by the beam, then Aisling has to carry on the family line. And lycanthroids can’t interbreed with others.” This was the last thing I felt like talking about. I actually wished that they’d butted heads instead.
Brynn paled. “I really like him.”
“I know, but what about your boyfriend? I understand that you feel you might not make it home—I feel the same way. But there’s also…if Aisling needs to have children who are lycanthroids, then you can’t provide that.” I didn’t add that we needed her. I wasn’t going to put that on her shoulders.
Brynn worried her lip. “I guess…I just wanted to feel like things were normal. Aisling’s smart, and he reminds me so much of my boyfriend. We weren’t engaged, but I miss him. I miss my home. I miss my life and my job.” She hung her head. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t going to abandon you. I wanted Aisling to come with us.”
“He can’t,” I said. “His family needs him.” I paused, then asked, “Have you already asked him to come with us?”
She let out a sigh. “No, I didn’t. And I won’t. With Rupert down, Magdala will need him around. So…I’ll back away.” Brynn sniffled, and I handed her a handkerchief. “I know you’re right,” she said. “I understand.”
