He drew her in as she drew him, and kissed her long, slow, deep, in the barn that smelled of hay and oil and burning peat.
“I want to wed in the spring. I don’t want to start my life with you in the dark of winter, but in the promise of spring.”
“I can wait.” He kissed her again.
* * *
While his brother attained his heart’s desire, Keegan went to the waterfall, the Far West, then flew south.
The air warmed, the skies cleared, and the frigid cold of the north seemed like a hard dream.
It pleased him to see not a single stone from the Prayer House remained on the hill. In its place craftspeople worked on erecting a pillar of white granite. They would polish it and carve the banner of Talamh at its center. At its base would be a pool of fire and water, a flame that would never be extinguished. And above it, in the old language:
IN THE LIGHT LIVE THE BRAVE.
And all who looked on it, he promised himself, would know, would remember, would honor.
As he circled, Mahon flew up to join him. “It’s a fine thing, a strong thing. It’s the right thing.”
“Aye. And the portal?”
“The coven swears the locks and seal hold. No breaches, and no attempts.”
“There will be, if they get through in the east. I see repairs are moving quickly.”
“Thatchers, carpenters, masons. They’re swarming. It’s a good potion after the battle to mend and build. In truth, Keegan, I think there’s a cloud lifted here with no more shadow of the Prayer House. After the baby comes, I think Aisling and I will bring the children here. I want them to see the memorial, and I want them to build castles in the sand and run in the surf.”
“Well, for tonight, you can fly as far as your cottage with me.”
“Work here to be done still.”
“And you can be back at it tomorrow. Did you send for the elf?”
“I did. I’ve brought her in from patrol, and she’s down there working with the masons. She’s a good hand with stone, is Nila.”
“Then I’ll speak with her. Choose who you want to take charge until morning. She’ll say aye or nay, so this won’t take long.”
He landed Cróga on the beach, much to the delight of a group of children playing in the shallows.
And as he walked toward the shops and cottages, he thought Mahon right. A cloud lifted.
He found the elf rebuilding a wall. Spotting him, she got quickly to her feet.
“Taoiseach.”
“That’s good work. Mahon said you had a hand for it.”
“I like to build things. And watch them built. The memorial is already such a strong symbol.”
“Would you walk with me?”
“Of course.”
“I want to thank you for your words in the Judgment.”
“They were truth, and my duty. And, I don’t worry to say, a pleasure as well.”
He nodded. Young, he thought, a pretty young elf with a warrior’s braid who’d already seen battles and blood.
“I wonder if you would take up another duty.”
“I serve Talamh.”
He nodded as they walked away from the village toward the trees. “You would have heard of Shana, and her crimes, her flight, her choice to join Odran.”
“I have, aye.” Nila’s face went hard as the stones she’d laid. “Do you wish me to go through and find her?”
Keegan glanced down. “And finding her?”
“To bring her back for judgment. That is the law.”
The right answer, he thought, the true answer, and given without hesitation.
“That is the law. But no, I send no one to Odran’s world for this, for her. Her time will come when it comes. Her father was on the council, now he isn’t. I’d ask you to take his place at the council table.”
She stopped short, stared at him. “I don’t understand. Taoiseach, I’m not a politician or a scholar.”
“You’re loyal, brave, you have my trust. You know the law and honor it, Nila. I want that at my council table. Your home’s in the south, and you’d have to make a new one in the Capital. It’s no small thing I ask.”
“I’d make my home where I’m needed, and so my family would want. But I have no experience.”
“Neither did I when I took the sword from the lake—and younger than you. It’s a choice, Nila, and there’s no dishonor in choosing no.”
He looked around. Some of the trees bore battle scars, others stood as no more than scorched husks.
And still there was beauty here. And from it, more would bloom.