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“I hope we’re able to find something, somewhere,” Paige muttered.
Taran noticed a little desperation had crept back into Paige’s voice. How could he blame her? She had to know this ‘search’ was a fool’s errand. It wasnae like Austin would have left a sign that said ‘I washere. Now I’m goingthere’.
“I wanted tae ask ye about that,” Taran began. “I know Harris said Austin had a fascination with the Fairy Glen, but what do ye ken that means? What do ye hope tae discover there?”
“I honestly don’t know,” she admitted. “Some sign that I’ll recognize when I see it, I guess. Or maybe I’ll see or feel the same things that called to him? Some clue that might lead us to the next step?”
“Mayhap. I hope so, for yer sake. But even if he’d been in the Glen or the caves, with so many people moving around in such popular and public places, if he’d left some kind of clue behind, ’twould likely be destroyed by now.”
She shrugged and walked in silence for a few minutes, clearly lost in thought. Suddenly, she turned and put a hand on his arm to stop him. “Look, Taran,” her voice was soft, hesitant. “I know you must think this is an incredible waste of time. And sadly, you’re probably right. But it’s just something I have to do. I guess because it’s…all I can do.” She glanced up at him with shimmering eyes. “Does that make sense?”
Regretting that he’d upset her, he gave her a gentle nod and his most reassuring smile. “Aye, lass. Perfect sense.”
“Thank you,” she said in the barest whisper. “And no matter what we find, or don’t, I want you to know Iamgrateful you’re here with me.”
He dinnae ken what to say. That nothing or no one he might have stumbled on in his quest to see the world could have touched him as quickly or deeply as she had? Or that—no matter what they found, or dinnae—he was loath to leave her? That he wished to be so much more than her guardian-guide?
Nae. He wouldnae say any of those things. ’Twas no need. Their only purpose together was to find her brother. Austin was heronlyfocus, and that’s how it should be. So, the faster they found him, the sooner Taran could be released from the agony of wanting what he couldnae have. He needed to remember this journey was hers, alone. He had no place in the outcome.
“Maybe it would help if we talked to more of the locals,” Paige continued, pulling him from his thoughts. “Those at the pub didn’t seem to remember Austin at all, but he had to talk to someone at some point. Don’t you think?” she queried, watching him. “Taran? Did you hear anything I just said?”
“Aye, lass. We should speak with the locals.”
She gave him a curious look. “Are you okay?”
“O’ course.” He mustered a smile, regretting that he’d spoiled her lighthearted mood from earlier. She’d had few happy moments in the short time he’d known her, and now he’d cheated her out of even that. “Just wondering if ye still have that apple tucked away, from earlier. When we enter the Glen, I dinnae want my grumblin’ stomach tae offend the ‘guid folk’.”
“The good folk?” she asked, handing him the apple.
“Aye. The fairies. We’ll want tae stay on their good side, if we wish them tae help us with our search of their glen.”
She grinned and pretended to grab for the apple. “Well, I’m certainly not above a bribe. Perhaps we should give the apple tothem.”
* * *
Takingthe footpath that led from the carpark into the dense, emerald world of the Fairy Glen, Paige followed Taran into a magical realm. Though the heavy growth of trees wasn’t excessively tall, they were shrouded at their base with giant ferns, undergrowth, and leafy vegetation so green and abundant, it almost hurt her eyes. She could easily imagine fairies peeking between the fronds or flitting along the edge of the wooden boardwalk that followed the stream.
She smiled as shade and shadow played tag with the beams of sunlight daring to pierce their way past the canopy of green. And despite her reason for coming, Paige swore her entire body released a huge sigh, as if it could cast off its cloak of worries.
No wonder Austin loved it here.
Pointing to the stream rippling over a bed of stones, Taran leaned close to whisper. “ ’Tis said the fairies inhabiting the Glen keep the water fresh and clean for the villagers.”
“I believe it,” she replied. “In fact, it’s easy to imagine everything here is enchanted.”
“There’s a wee waterfall up ahead, and a larger one above that, if I remember correctly. And somewhere a pond, I believe.”
Paige studied the thick undergrowth. Could Austin have made his way through such dense foliage? And for what purpose? She couldn’t imagine him destroying the beauty by crashing and tramping through it without a compelling reason.
She and Taran left the wooden footpath and continued along a dirt trail, crossed a bridge spanning the gurgling water, and eventually, circled around and past the pond. Other than a tiny, grassy clearing here and there, the Glen remained as thick, magical, and mysterious as ever.
She could hear the echo of voices ahead, and even some behind them, making her doubt the Glen was ever without visitors. So, if Austin was here and left the path for any reason, surely someone would have seen him, or noticed the trail he’d have left through the undergrowth. The farther they moved into the Glen, the less she believed Austin had vanished here.
Taran had suggested that very thing, earlier, but she guessed she’d needed to see for herself. Now that she had, or part of it at least, she felt better about letting go of the hope of finding any clues here.
“Are ye okay, lass?” Waiting just ahead, Taran watched her closely, concern wrinkling his brow. “The waterfalls are still ahead, if ye wish tae continue. But we can go back if ye prefer. What are ye thinking?”
She didn’t bother to hide her disappointment as she looked up at him. “You were right all along. The chances of Austin disappearing here, are very slim. I do feel the allure he must have experienced, though. I can see why he’d return again and again.” She looked around at the stunning beauty and felt the peace it emanated. “This is a healing place. But I don’t think this is where he’d have lingered for more than a few hours. Or a day, at most. Especially if his true goal was to explore the local caves.”
