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“You’ve a kind heart and good sense. I’ll do just that. The girl’s a treasure to me.”
Because her eyes filled with the words, Harken kissed her again. “And to us all, as you are.”
“I’ll go with you,” Breen began.
“Actually, you’re needed elsewhere. But I’m hoping we can ask Marco…” Looking over, Harken signaled to him, got a sheepish smile, a shrug. “Still wary of the dragons, is he? I’ll go to him then. Morena, you’ll help get the family settled, won’t you?”
“I will, of course. We’re after having a feast tonight,” she continued as she nudged Sinead along. “If Marco’s willing.”
Flynn came over to embrace Breen, with Seamus, Maura, the children with him. As she greeted them all, she noted Harken in what looked like deep consult with Marco.
And despite the dragons, Marco climbed over the low stone wall.
“We’re imposing on Marco to make one of his far-famed feasts.” Harken gave Marco a friendly punch on the shoulder. “Finola’s on her way to help, and you’ll have Sinead poking into it.”
“Cooking’s never an imposition for Marco.” But there was something. “What’s going on?”
“You’re needed elsewhere. Ah, and here’s my mother now.”
“A welcome sight you are, Breen Siobhan, and you, Marco. I’m told we can look forward to your kitchen brilliance tonight.”
Because she always dazzled him, Marco took her hand, kissed it. “You’re so beautiful.”
“Ah, sure I wish you’d come live at the castle so you could say the same to me every day. You and I will take some time later to spill the tea, but for now I’m needed elsewhere.”
“That’s really going around,” Breen murmured.
“So it is. Come now.” She gave Breen a pat on the back before giving the excited Bollocks a pet. “We’d best be on our way.”
“I’d really like to know what’s going on.”
“It’s time for magicks,” Tarryn told her as dragons took to the sky with a sweep of wings. “Light and bright. Your dream, darling girl. Marg and I have worked it out, all we need to counter Yseult.”
Breen glanced back to see Marco still standing, watching her go.
“You didn’t want Marco to go with me.”
“He’d be welcome, of course, as he is welcome anywhere in Talamh. But he’s of better use at the farm, keeping Sinead and the family occupied.”
“Morena knows,” Harken added. “But we felt bringing worry to the family solves nothing. Let them have a happy time without the worry for now.”
“Yes, all right, yes. And Noreen did look tired. What do you need me to do?”
“We’ll be seven,” Tarryn told her, and explained.
As they approached the turn to Marg’s cottage, Breen stopped. “You want to do both, one after the other? The immunity or shield or whatever it is for me, and the release and consecration at the old Pious Prayer House?”
Tarryn lifted an eyebrow—imperiously. “Do you think we can’t manage both?”
“It’s just—both major castings. The one for me could wait. I’m careful, and I beat her once already, so—”
“No, and I speak to you as the mother of the taoiseach, and as his hand. You were given the watching dream as a warning, and the warning must be heeded without delay. You risk all by accepting your duty and destiny, and we will protect you as much as we are able.
“I ask to do the second because we’ll be gathered, we’ll have called on the powers and hold them and only be stronger for it. I ask because what Yseult planned for Samhain she may push again at the solstice. My son will have his wedding, my daughter will have her child, and no dark hag will interfere. I won’t have it.”
Harken simply kissed the top of his mother’s head. “Best fall in line,deirfiúr. When she says she won’t have it, there’s the end of it.”
Breen fell in line.
