Realization hit her like a slap to the face as she rose from where she lay.
Skuld had indeed shared with her something of great importance. And though she had no idea what the things she’d seen meant, she knew she had to find Chase as soon as possible to share what she’d learned. She had to convince him not to take any chances before she again traveled Skuld’s world, even if that meant confessing her own responsibility for his being here.
OceanofPDF.com
Twenty-eight
THAT WENT WELLenough.” Chase glanced over his shoulder to where the Tinklers scurried around like busy ants, packing their wagons in preparation to move on at first light.
“We’ve their agreement to help, if that’s what you mean, however reluctantly it might have been given. Your people are ever difficult to pin down.”
His people.Hall might be more than a little surprised to learn who his people really were. One day, when he had time to kick back and pick Hall’s brain, he’d have to find out what it was about him that made his friend so sure he was related to the Tinklers.
“Tinklers have long been the favored peoples of the Fae. Surely you know that.”
That hit a little too close to home for comfort, forcing Chase to seek a way to deflect the conversation.
“Except that it wasn’t me that convinced them. It was you. I could almost believe that you came straight here from kissing the Blarney Stone. You’ve got the gift of gab, Hall.”
“I’ve not heard of this blarney stone of yours, but I do not harbor any doubt that those people agreed to my request only because you were there. They would have rejected me.”
Chase found that hard to believe, though the leader’s wife, Editha, had acted pretty strange around him.
“And now that you’ve brought up the subject of gifts”—Halldor grinned at him—“there’s something of great importance that I’ve meant to discuss with you since the day of Mistress Christiana’s accident. It’s the naming you did. I’m owed a ceremony, little brother, and a gift to make the naming official.”
“Naming? What are you talking about?”
His companion snorted as if he doubted Chase’s seriousness. “You bestowed the name of Hall upon me as we faced the challenge of saving your lady. Where I come from, this practice requires a ceremony and the presentation of a naming gift.”
Chase slowed to a stop as they entered the inner bailey, searching his friend’s face for any sign the big man was joking.
He found none.
“You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”
“I am. My people take the gifting of names quite seriously. A child is not part of the family until he is name-gifted and presented for Thor’s blessing.”
“Okay.” Thor. At least the accent made more sense. “If that’s what you want.”
“It is. The tradition is important to seal our relationship.We’ve not the time for a formal ceremony, but there must be a name gift given.”
“In that case, you absolutely get a naming gift. In fact, here.” Chase pulled the carving of the goat he’d been given by Orabilis from under his shirt. Lifting the twine over his head, he handed it to Hall. It felt almost a relief to get the weight of the thing off his neck.
Hall turned it over in his hands, inspecting it from all sides.
“It’s a goat. How did you know of my fondness for goats? And carved from the flesh of a rowan tree, favored among all the woods,” the big man said thoughtfully. “A fine gift indeed, fit for the likes of Thor himself. The name change is official, little brother. I am well pleased with your gift.”
“Good. Now maybe we can—”
“Your woman approaches,” Hall interrupted, dipping his head in the direction of a cloaked figure hurrying toward them.
Definitely female, but with her face hidden in the great hood of her cloak, Chase had no way of knowing who it was until she drew close enough for him to see her face.
“I must speak with you.” Christiana glanced to Hall before dipping her eyes to the ground in front of her. “Alone, if you please.”
Hall slapped Chase on the back before he turned away. “No worries, little brother. For my own part, I’d best go to share word of our arrangements with the hellion occupying your lady’s tower.”
Chase moved closer to Christiana. “We do need to talk.” He wanted to tell her that Torquil would be sending him to the Sinclairs’ so that she wouldn’t worry when she found him gone. “But not here in the middle of the bailey. I don’t suppose you know of someplace more private where we can have this conversation?”
