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“When this is done, the woods here will be cleansed and consecrated. The Tree of Snakes destroyed.”
“I don’t think you’ll have to destroy it. I… it blooms again, Keegan. When the light takes the dark, it blooms again. It bears fruit.Réalta milis.”
He stopped to stare at her. “Where did you learn ofréalta milis?”
“I have no idea. It’s very sweet? Is that right? Blue like the sky, pear shaped with a white star on its base when ripe. Is it real?”
“I thought not before this. Something in myth, a fruit for the gods. No tree like this exists in Talamh.”
“Maybe it will.”
“Maybe. I know this: When it’s done, I pray to all the gods I never again have the duty to send anyone to the Dark World. For now, if there is Judgment that demands it, it will hold.”
He rubbed her hands to warm them. “It cost you, and I’m sorry for it. But you’ve given me more to take to the council. I’ll postpone the meeting until later in the day.”
“Don’t. I’m all right. Really. If you’re going to do all you’re planning, you need to start.”
When they stepped out of the woods, she looked down at the training field. “The young ones, Keegan. The children.”
“Will be defended. But if lines break, Breen, I want the young ones to have the means to defend themselves. Look here, look here now.”
Deliberately, he turned her so she faced the village below.
“Here you see life—too much of it for my taste, all crowded together in one place. But here people do no harm. Ah, petty squabbling to be sure, but no harm. They create things, build things, grow things, including that one there, growing another life inside her, as one she already made clings to her hand while they walk to market.
“You see wagons ready for trade, stalls and shops opening up for the same. The colors of sweaters, scarves, things as simple as warm socks or as fine as a crystal bowl. Pubs offering a hot meal for the traveler. And there, smoke from the chimney of the schoolhouse, where those who teach warm it for the children who’ll soon trudge their way there wishing it was a holiday instead of one for sitting and learning. And there, by the well, drawing gossip and water both, more life.”
She saw, as he did, and knew—however he spoke of its being too crowded—he loved, and he honored.
He tipped her head up, pointed. “Dragons and their riders in a sky open to all and any who fly. This is yours as it’s mine, Breen, as it’s theirs. And there’s too much of it for Odran to take. We will not lose this.”
“You make me believe it.”
“As you should. You’re the key, the bridge, but as much as that, and it may be more than that, you’re Fey.”
His eyes held hers, intense, and greener than the hills around them.
“This life is yours. Beyond the power in you and the duty with it, it’s a walk along the river, a gossip at the well, a ride on a good horse. It’s a life well lived. Whatever comes, it’s all of that.”
Loving him, knowing all he’d said was only one of the reasons why she loved, she took his face in her hands. “Chosen and choosing well, Taoiseach. Go to your meeting. We’ve got a world to save and a life to live.”
“I’ll find you when I’m done, though it may be some time. I hope by all the gods we’re for home tomorrow.”
When he left her, she wandered, let herself feel that life. She watched Bollocks swim in the river, then with him crossed the bridge into the village.
It did teem, she supposed, by Keegan’s standards. As always she found it charming, colorful, enjoyed the mix of voices. And when she saw Kiara with a baby on her hip and a market basket on her arm, she waved and changed direction.
“And who is this pretty girl?”
“Ah, this is Fi, Katie’s young one. I said as I was going back to help with the very littles, I’d take Fi along. Are you after some shopping, as I could take awhile longer and go with you.”
“Actually… I wonder if I can ask you a favor.”
“You can, of course.”
“Could Bollocks go with you, play with the kids and other dogs for an hour?”
“We’d love to have him. Where are you off to then?”
