And when she opened herself, she felt the life beating in them. The fox and the bear, sparrow and hawk, deer and rabbit, elf and Were.
They came to a river, brown as tea, and the bridge spanning it. To the north, high mountains speared through clouds so their peaks seemed to float over them.
“The Giant’s Steps,” one of the outriders told her. “And the highest there to the west is Dragon’s Nest. The peaks will go white soon, and remain covered in the snow until Lammas.”
Breen knew his face—young, ruddy, handsome—from the ceilidh, but struggled to find the name.
Marco had no problem. “Do you ever get snow down here, Hugh?”
“A sweep perhaps, frost for certain in the higher lands. But the sort a man sinks into past his boots? Only once I know of in my life span in the foothills of the Giant’s Steps. I was born there.”
“You know Brian Kelly?”
“Sure and I know Brian. We came up together, we did, as my mother and his are cousins. Northmen of Talamh we are.”
“You miss it.” Breen could feel it, that yearning. “The north.”
“I do, aye. And when peace covers all of Talamh again, home I’ll go. I’ve a wife waiting, and a son not yet two. After we honor those we lost in the south, I’m for home until called again.”
On the other side of the bridge, they walked the horses toward the trees and the lively stream that weaved through them.
Breen dismounted, then handed the reins to Marco before she rushed to where Cróga landed. Bollocks scrambled down as happily as he had scrambled up.
“Look at you, dragon-rider dog. We’ll write about that in the next one.” She gave him long strokes before letting him race to the stream for a quick splash and a drink.
As she started back, Keegan walked toward her.
Hours on horseback, and that following a night of brutal combat, didn’t appear to wear him down. He looked as ridiculously romantic now as he had when he’d ridden the black stallion out of the morning mists.
Smarter, she reminded herself, not to think about how he looked, but about what needed to be done.
“You were right. About Bollocks. I’ve lost any track of time, so I don’t know how much longer we have to ride.”
He pointed up. “Do you see the sun?”
“Yes, I see the sun.” That came in and out of the clouds that washed over it, streamed by it.
“It’s traveled three hours since we left the valley, so we’ve traveled three hours. Two and a bit more left, as we’ve made good time. We take time here for the horses, for the riders to eat. You have food in your saddlebag—my mother saw to it.”
“Oh. That was nice of her.”
“The dog…” Frowning, he trailed off. “Why do you do that? Is something wrong with your leg?”
“What?” She’d brought her left leg behind her, pulling her heel to her butt to stretch her quadriceps. “No. I’m just stretching.” She tapped a hand on her thigh as she did the same with the right. “These muscles.”
“Hm. Well then, the dog should ride with Cróga until we near the Capital. Then he should go with you. And you should ride in the front with my mother and me.”
“Why would I ride up front?”
“You are granddaughter to Mairghread, daughter of Eian. Both were taoiseach. You are … who you are. They’ll know you by your hair, by your eyes. They will expect it. Ride where you like until then. I’ll send someone for you when it’s time.”
“What do I do? Give me a break, will you? I’ve never done any of this before.”
Keegan shoved his fingers through his hair. “People will be out, or come out. They’ll know about the battle, and our victory. That brings pride. They’ll know about our dead, and those brought back to families who’ll grieve for them. This brings sorrow. Keep your back straight, and your head up. Meet eyes that need yours to see them. And it would be best if you came to the ceremony for the fallen.”
He gestured for her to follow him, then pointed at her saddlebag. “Eat.”
“What did you do with the Pious you captured? And the man—the spy—from the valley?”
“They’re secured and guarded. Those with powers, those powers have been bound, and will remain bound until the Judgment.”
She found bread and cheese wrapped in her saddlebags, along with an apple. “When is the Judgment?”
“Tomorrow. Two days if two days are needed.”
“Am I allowed to be there?”