CHAPTER 7
Hold the slingshot like this,” Jack instructed Frae. They stood in one of the croft’s paddocks, in the crook of the river. The air was cool with evening and smelled of the nearby Aithwood—sweet sap and sharp pine and damp oak. The wind was tranquil, the hillside spotted with wild orchids.
Adaira should be arriving soon.
“Like this?” Frae asked.
“Yes, that’s right. Take up a river stone and place it in the pocket.” He watched as Frae found her stone and pulled back on the pouch, aiming for the target he had built out of the byre’s old wood. It seemed to take her forever to let it go, and the rock sailed past the target, to her disappointment.
“I missed,” she mumbled.
“I missed in the beginning too,” Jack reassured her. “If you practice every day, you’ll soon hit the target.”
Frae took up a rock and shot again. It was another miss, but Jack only encouraged her to try it once more, to shoot until all of the river rocks they had gathered were gone, lost in the long grass of the paddock. As they walked to retrieve them, Jack studied the river. It flowed through the western portion of Mirin’s property, wide but shallow, melodious and brimming with perfect slingshot rocks.
“Mum has probably already said this to you,” he began. “But you know that you should never draw water from this river, don’t you?”
Frae watched its currents, seemingly harmless as it reflected the hues of sunset. “Yes.”
“Do you know why, Frae?”
“Because it flows from the Breccans’ land. But I can gather rocks from it, right? For your slingshot?”
He met her gaze and nodded. “Yes. Just the rocks.”
“Have the Breccans ever poisoned it before, Jack?” Frae asked, bending to pick up the stones. “The river, I mean.”
He hesitated until she looked up at him. Her eyes were mirrors of his—wide set and dark as new moons. Only hers still shone with innocence, and he wished more than anything she could remain that way. Full of hope and wonder and goodness. That she would never know the sharp, jaded ways of the world.
“No,” he replied. “But there’s always the chance that they might.”
“Why would they want to do that, Jack?”
He was quiet, rolling his lips together as he gathered his thoughts. “It’s hard to understand, I know, sister. But the Breccans don’t like us, and we don’t like the Breccans. We’ve been at odds with them for centuries now.”
“I wish it could be different,” Frae said with a sigh. “Mum says the Breccans are hungry when winter comes. Can’t we just share our food with them?”
Her words brought Jack to a stop as he imagined an isle that was united. He could hardly fathom it.
Frae paused, looking up at him. She held the slingshot in one hand and rocks in the other. A few wilted flowers were tucked into her hair.
“I wish it could be different too,” he said. “Perhaps one day it will be, Frae.”
“I hope so.”
They walked back to their starting point to have another practice round. He wanted Frae to have a weapon and to know how to use it. He wanted her to carry this slingshot with her everywhere.
She aimed and fired, hitting the corner of the target.
“I did it!” she cried, and Jack was clapping when another voice spoke.
“Excellent shot, Frae.”
Jack and Frae both turned to see Adaira standing a few paces away, watching with a smile. She was dressed in a dark red gown, an umber cloak shielding her back. Her hair was loose and brushed into silk, the long waves reaching her waist.
Jack almost didn’t recognize her. She looked otherworldly at first glance as the sun continued to set, limning her in gold.
“Heiress,” Frae said in an awed tone. “I can’t believe you’re here! I thought Jack was teasing me.”
Adaira laughed. “No teasing. I’m honored to spend the evening with you, Frae.”
“Would you like to shoot the slingshot?” Frae asked. She sounded nervous, and Jack’s heart warmed.
“I would love to.” Adaira stepped forward.
Frae handed her the weapon and picked out the perfect stone for her. “It’s actually Jack’s. He’s letting me use it for now.”
“Oh, I recognize it,” Adaira said, glancing at him.
Indeed, he thought, holding her gaze for a beat. He had been a terror with his slingshot in the old days.
Adaira’s attention returned to Frae. “Can you show me how to use it?”