They arrived on the outskirts of Broch One’s valley in the early hours of the morning. Lossio was on sentry duty there, and Tal approached his tree once Lossio whistled to let Tal know he’d seen him.

"What news?" asked Lossio.

"I proposed the alliance. They had imprisoned their druids. We helped them escape, and then the druids emptied out the Gaels’ underground treasury—"

Lossio whistled a long drawn out note. "So I'm guessing there won't be any alliance."

Tal raised a hand to refute this.

"I thought not as well, but then they got word that one of the Gaelic ports was being raided by Romans and went off to help their captors. So it's anyone's guess what will happen."

Lossio made a funny face for just a bare moment and then changed the subject as if it hadn’t interested him.

"Oh. Edarnan and Ide finally got together..."

* * *

Tal was anxious to get to Breth with his news about the alliance, but when Deirdre veered off on the path toward the sacred grove instead of the one that led to the broch, he went along. It didn't hurt that she gleefully took his hand and ran with him again, but all the way he wondered why he was going with her. Had she made him do so by magic? If she had, then he hated her — and he found the idea of hating her unbearable.

But just as it had the whole way home, running with her hand in his exhilarated him, made him feel more alive than he ever had before. Not even at the forge or in battle.

What was he going to do?

"Alasdair," Deirdre called out as they neared the grove. "Alasdair, we got everything out! It’s stacked in the hallway just like you asked. Alasdair? Alasdair, are you here?”

It was Boann who greeted them with a hug for Tal and a pat on the back for Deirdre.

"I'm sure he'll be along soon." She turned to Tal. "Please tell us: any news about the alliance?"

"I had hoped to tell Breth first..."

Boann was old enough to be best friends with his mother, so when she put out her lower lip and pouted, it made Tal laugh, as she undoubtedly meant it to.

Deoord and Ia walked out of the shelter of the trees where they slept, smiling at Tal in welcome and raising their eyebrows in curiosity at what the news might be.

Oh well. Breth would understand.

"I presented the idea of the alliance, but they had locked up their druids! We rescued them and then they robbed the treasury. I feared that was the end of the alliance, but then the druids went back when they heard the Romans were raiding the Gael port. So now it's anyone's guess what's going to happen. If the Romans overrun the Gaels…”

"I’ve apprised Breth of the situation," said Deoord solemnly. "He thinks we should go aide the Gaels, but I told him to hold off until Boann finds out if the battle still rages. It's already been two days, and it would take us two more to run there."

Tal raised one eyebrow at Deoord.

"How will she know in fewer than two days, and how do you know what Breth is thinking?"

Deirdre squeezed his hand and answered.

"He can't tell you, but I will."

For some reason, she shook a little at that, shuddered as if she'd been struck by lightning, then spoke stiffly, as if through locked jaws.

"Druids of sufficient training and strength can communicate in our minds with anyone we’ve touched. We usually keep this within our own numbers, both to hide the secret and to save the time it takes for others to get over their surprise and awe."

Tal’s shoulders slumped, and he looked over at Boann, but she was gazing off into nowhere, deep in thought.

“So Breth already knew about this, or his surprise and awe would have held up your answer."

Deoord put his arm around Tal as he had often done when Tal was younger.

Tal’s first instinct was to shrug him off, but he knew he needed the druids on his side if something ever did make him take over for his brother, the land forbid.

"We were going to tell you soon anyway,” Deoord said softly, "I see now that we waited too long. Will you accept my apology?"

Tal looked Deoord sternly in the eye. "This one time, I will. But if you’re keeping any other big secrets from me, now's the time."

Just then, Boann raised her head and broke out of her trance.

"The Gaels have triumphed!" she said, "and they come to assist us!"