NEWS OF THE fierce winter storm blanketing the midlands spoiled Hendry’s plan to attack the last of the villages nearest the McAra stronghold. Yet as he listened to Aon’s description of the dire conditions, he realized that the Gods had delivered a boon he’d never expected.

“Once the blizzard passes, the Skaraven shall come at once to the aid of their mortal allies,” he said as he walked with the famhair toward the settlement. “All confined within the castle, as they’d have to be in such dreadful weather, along with our ally.”

“We shall need another day to take power from the sun, else we falter in snows.” Aon stopped and peered ahead. “Your lady approaches.”

Hendry smiled until he saw Dha following Murdina, and what he carried balanced on his shoulder. “I should have destroyed that.”

“Permit her have her hope, Wood Dream,” the giant said. “’Tis her only tether.”

Hendry nodded, and walked up to where Murdina stood directing Dha to place the wooden body in the center of a mound of herbs. His pleasure turned to dismay when he realized she had emptied every pouch and container from the cottage into a heap to make a bed for her poppet.

“Stand back, my love,” Murdina said, holding out her hand. “You mustnae disturb the offering, or Ochd shall reject it. Tri, come and join hands with me over our brother, that we may beseech him return to us.”

Ochd had fled as soon as Hendry had lifted the wards he’d used to imprison the famhair’s disembodied spirit. He had no doubt the sulking giant had sunken himself into a tree in the midst of a vast forest where he might never be discovered. Yet it would do no harm to permit his druidess to indulge her addled reckoning.

“Forgive me, beauty mine.” He stopped at a respectful distance from the ridiculous assemblage. “If you have finished with Dha, Aon and I must gather our caraidean to speak on matters of import.”

“Go to him,” Murdina said to the giant before she knelt at the side of the wooden body. Tri did the same across from her, and she seized his hands. Tilting her head back, she began to murmur under her breath.

Aon released a small cloud of volatiles, and Dha and the rest of the famhairean followed him and Hendry a short distance away.

Quickly relating the new scheme, Hendry then emphasized the importance of discretion. “No mortal remains must be left outside the stronghold or the upper levels within,” he told the famhairean. “The Skaraven must be made to believe the McAra and the rest of the mortals have barricaded themselves in the dungeons. Only when the entire clan moves inside do you close the trap.”

Aon crouched and used his hand to draw a crude outline of the keepe in the snow. As he marked the different thresholds, Hendry glanced back at Murdina. She now stood scolding Tri, who hung his head before trudging over to join the other famhairean.

“Lady no want Tri,” the damaged giant told Aon. “Go, burn mortals.”

Since he had wrongly destroyed Tri in a fit of rage Hendry had taken pains to be gentle with the giant. “All the mortals have been burned this day. On the morrow I must leave the settlement to find more herbs for Murdina. I would ask you remain to guard my lady from harm.”

Tri’s divided face creaked as he grinned. “Tri guard lady. Smash invaders.” He frowned and touched the scar that would never leave him no matter how many new forms he embodied. “Invaders smash Tri, kill lady.”

“They never shall again.”

Murdina made a shrill sound, drawing Hendry’s attention away to where she capered and danced around the upright body. He felt stunned when the form began to move and change.

“By the gods,” he muttered.

He hurried over with the famhairean to surround the embodied giant, whose features now made it plain who had returned to them.

“Wood Dream.” Stiffly Ochd turned his head to regard Hendry. “I’ve returned.”

Here was the second chance he thought he’d never have with the one giant he’d counted on above all the others.

“Ochd, Murdina revealed to me the truth of what happened at the McAra’s.” As he had with Aon, Hendry went down on his knees. “’Twas anger that drove me to my fury, anger I shouldnae have felt toward you. I beg you forgive me, Brother, for the pain I’ve caused you.”

The giant looked down on him for a long moment. “You shall permit me to stay, and do as I’ve sworn?”

Hendry nodded, and then smiled with relief as the famhair helped him to his feet. “Your brothers shall welcome your aid, Ochd. Now you must take in as much power as you may from the sun. Tomorrow dawn we go to end the two clans, and send the Skaraven back to their graves.”