Chapter Twenty-Four
“Abela transformed my life into a rainbow of mosaic colors. If she dies, I will follow into the abyss.”
~Chronicles of Liam MacGregor
His thoughts were scattered, and indecision battled inside Liam as he steadily made his way out of Conn’s chamber and into the garden. Anger, betrayal, jubilation, and many more emotions clouded him as he stood at the entrance and gazed out at the scene below. Conn’s secular garden retreat was always known to be vast, but Liam sensed the prince had expanded since he last visited a hundred years ago.
Approaching the woman slowly, he marveled at her beauty and more. There was an earthy quality about her, and he smiled. “My brother has married well,” he whispered.
An ache settled inside his heart, and he longed to speak more with Rory. Soon, he would return to his prison, and he yearned to hear about his journey in finding love.
He clasped his hands behind his back. “Greetings.”
The woman turned abruptly. She lifted her chin as if studying him.
“I am Liam MacGregor, Rory’s brother.”
“Aye, I ken who ye are,” she responded with a smile and pointed to his arm. “I noted your armband, similar to Rory’s.”
Unclasping his hand, Liam touched the silver family relic. “I was unaware my brother had found his. He claimed to have lost it many years ago.”
“Have ye not seen him?”
“Yes, but he was wearing clothing suitable for the century we were in. Furthermore, we had little time to discuss recent events.” Liam stepped forward and bowed slightly. “Welcome to the family, Lady…”
She laughed. “Sweet Goddess! Where are my manners? I am Erina.”
Liam took a hold of her hand and placed a kiss along her knuckles. “It is an honor. From what part of Scotland do you come from?”
“The village of Lindane,” she responded, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
“Ahh…Loch Etive on the west coast. I know the area well from my travels there.”
“Aye,” she beamed. “Rory has shared his stories with me.”
The wee lass toddled over to her mother and hid among the folds of her gossamer gown. Her raven hair was similar to Rory’s, and he marveled at how the butterflies hovered around her like a crown of jewels.
Liam knelt on one knee in front of her. “What is your name, child?”
She giggled. Reaching outward with her hand, she placed it center to his chest. Angelica
He blinked in fascination. “What a beautiful name.” Liam traced a path across her cheek with his finger. “A rare gift to speak so young within a Fae’s mind. I am your uncle.”
She let out another burst of laughter and glanced upward at her mother.
A few quiet moments passed before Erina nodded. “Yes, ye may go play with Sorcha. But please, no more flowers. I believe she has plenty around her.”
Liam watched as the lass skipped away from her mother. “She possesses a unique gift.”
“One of many,” affirmed Erina. “She is to be the next Master Apothecary.”
He brushed a hand down the back of his neck. “Part Fae and human. Our realm is indeed changing.”
“So Rory has explained. Even Sorcha is special.”
“Do tell,” he drawled, glancing at the wee Fae who resembled Conn.
“She will become the next High Seer, but only after her mother, Ivy.”
Liam snapped his attention to the woman and stared at her in disbelief. “Forgive my insensitive nature, but you’re both human. How can this be?”
Erina shrugged. “I was raised by my grandmother, whom ye ken as Aelish.” She gently touched his arm. “Mayhap, the Goddess has determined to set both Fae and human on a path joined together. Who are we to question the journey?”
“Or outcome,” added Liam, stunned by the declaration that Aelish had raised her. This is why the kingdom is divided. Fae allowing humans to enter the realm and marry would certainly cause friction.
“There you are,” stated Ivy, bringing forth a tray with food and drink onto the terrace. After setting it down, she made her way toward them. “I know you said you didn’t want anything, but you must be exhausted, and I would never forgive myself for not being a proper hostess to one of Conn’s dearest friends.”
“Seriously?” Liam barked out in laughter, the sound foreign to him. “I deem he has severed our friendship after finding out Abela is now my wife.”
Both women gaped at him.
Ivy was the first to recover her wits. “I think I need a dram of something more potent than the honeyed lemonade I brought.” She hurried back up the steps and disappeared inside.
“Aye, I will take one, too,” mumbled Erina.
“Make that three!” shouted Liam.
Ivy returned carrying a bottle under her arm and three glasses. Handing the bottle to Liam, she gave a glass to Erina and held onto the other two. “This calls for a celebration, and I don’t think Conn will mind, regardless of how he might feel about his sister marrying you.”
Liam snorted and held the bottle outward, studying the label. “Do you realize how old this rare bottle of whisky is, Princess Ivy? I appreciate the gesture, but will not partake.”
She frowned and tapped her foot in irritation. “Yes, I do. It comes from my home town of Glennamore in Ireland. It was found along with several rare bottles of wine in the ruins of Castle Lintel. In addition, I have asked that you call me Ivy. It’s beyond maddening that the rest of the kingdom bows or curtsies each time I wander away from the palace. I realize I am the princess of the realm, but among friends, I’d like to be just Ivy.” She held the glasses outward. “Would you be so kind as to do the honors?”
Liam acknowledged her with a kiss on the cheek. “Since you insist.” Retrieving his dirk from his belt, he removed the wax from the bottle. “Before I leave, you must share how you brought the great Conn MacRoich to the marriage pact.”
Ivy gestured outward with her hand. “Simple. We fell in love.”
Letting out a sigh, he poured a small amount of the amber liquid into all three glasses and then placed the bottle on the marble ledge. Love. How peculiar all three of them found the women they were destined to spend the rest of their lives with. Nonetheless, his was a somber contradiction. Liam’s relationship with Abela was forbidden, and her life now in grave danger.
Ivy handed him his glass, snapping him out of his grim thoughts.
“Let me be the first to congratulate you on your marriage to the priestess,” said Ivy.
“Aye,” agreed, Erina. “May it be a blessed union.”
How he yearned for the woman’s blessing to come true. Tossing back the whisky, he savored its intense peaty flavor. The heat seared a path throughout his body, but Liam’s mind battled against the inevitable, and a chill swept over him.
The possibility of a future without his beloved Abela.
“Aelish is one of our strongest healers,” reassured Ivy, smiling at him.
He fingered the rim of the glass. “I pray we are not too late.” He laughed bitterly. “I even used her blood to help transport us through the stones and the Veil of Ages. I suppose it did not help her current health situation.”
Ivy glanced at Erina and then returned her attention to him. “We are both learning the lore of the Fae realm. Yet, we are not privy to the knowledge of the Brotherhood.”
“Even the future seer must have some wisdom about the Fenian Warriors,” he professed dryly.
“Perhaps I have some insight into the warriors, but not about your laws.”
“Regardless, Abela is fading from this world as we speak.” Liam swept his gaze over the bucolic garden, trying to remain positive.
“If I may make a suggestion, I have prepared a room next to Abela’s, so you’ll be able to hear any news first.”
Liam nodded slowly. “Yes, I would like to wait there. Thank you both for your warm welcome and for sharing how you came into our world.” He placed his glass on the ledge and gestured for Ivy to move forward.
****
Liam stared at the starlight reflecting through the crystal ceiling. Unable to quiet his mind, he tried reaching out to Abela while resting on the divan. Not even a thread of acknowledgment made it back to him and worry infused his spirit. He placed his hands beneath his head and continued to survey the stars. How his beloved enjoyed sharing stories of all the dragons in the sky on their first days of courting. She knew all the ancient guardians’ names, and she often teased him on his fading recollection.
“Can you not tell me at least ten names?” she asked, poking his toe with her foot.
Liam leaned against the tree. “Why should I? Once they departed from our realm, they were known as the Guardians or Great Dragons.”
She took a step back and sadness swept over her delicate features. “You dishonor them by forgetting.”
He shook his head solemnly. “Their names are emblazed on my soul—forever. I have no need to recite them out loud. Yet, I am truly amazed at your knowledge.” Liam would never divulge his lack of memory to her. The names would always be within his spirit, but not mind.
Abela dipped a curtsy. “Why thank you for the compliment.” She gave him one of her alluring smiles and strolled along the bank of the river.
“Where are you going?” he asked, pushing away from the tree.
Lifting her hand up to the night sky, she responded, “To teach you at least ten of the names and where they are located in the cosmos. It will be your lesson for tonight.”
“Ahh…a challenge.” He approached and walked alongside her. “Will there be a reward for my test?”
“Of course,” she beamed. “I shall grant you one kiss.”
Liam reached for her hand, bringing them both to a halt. “Only one? Are there not ten names?”
“We…well…yes. But what—”
He drew her near him and leaned close to her ear. “For each name I can recite, I will demand a kiss. Therefore, if I can recall ten, I shall take that many kisses.”
Abela’s mouth opened on a sigh. “Let the test begin,” she whispered.
Liam rubbed a hand over his brow at the long-forgotten memory. “I can still remember their names, mo ghrá.” He sat and regarded all the ancient guardians, some gazing back down at him.
A crash resounded outside the chamber, and Liam jumped up from the divan. As he was about to exit the room, the door exploded into shards of wood. Swiftly withdrawing his sword, he started to move forward and then froze.
Liam dropped to one knee and placed his blade on the ground. “King Ansgar.”
“I should kill you now!” bellowed the king, his eyes flashing with outrage.
“I believe the prince stated the same.”
“Liam MacGregor, I charge you back to your prison to await your trial. Death will come soon thereafter. Guards remove his sword and escort this man to the Room of Reflection.”
Standing, Liam stared into the face of fury. He dared not speak another word, but it was within his rights. “Will you not hear my account?”
“When my daughter is dying in the next chamber? I think not! You have brought dishonor to the Brotherhood and your family.”
Liam staggered from the intensity of the king’s words. Yet he was only honor-bound to one in his heart. Turmoil fought with duty to the Fae king. Liam had no more to lose. He only prayed the king would not strike him dead with what he was about to pronounce. “I would appreciate if I am alerted of Abela’s condition.”
“How dare you!” The king glared at him with disdain. “She is a priestess!”
“And my wife.”
The blow of the king’s power lifted Liam, and he struggled for air. Lights flashed before his eyes. The king’s wrath swirled in a tempest around him, and the pressure built within his mind and body.
“I forbid you to utter her name. Furthermore, all power as a Fenian Warrior has been stripped from you,” uttered King Ansgar with deadly calm. He released his powerful hold and Liam collapsed to the floor.
“Remove this Fae to his prison,” demanded the king as he stormed away.
Liam fought for air as two of the guards approached. They gave him no time to stand, before whisking him away.
Once inside the Room of Reflection, they tossed him onto the floor and slammed the door. Liam sat and rubbed at his eyes vigorously, taking in deep calming breaths. Weakened from being stripped of his Fenian powers, he remained seated on the floor of his prison. As Liam glanced around his crystal enclosure, he sought out the corner where Abela had first approached him. His heart constricted, longing to see her once again step through the shadows.
He gazed upward at the night sky.
“My beloved, my life. Do not cross over to Tir na Og. Remember our love and fight. You are my warrior, my princess, my wife. There is no purpose without you. Do not leave me to a future that does not have you by my side.”
Placing his palms on the ground on either side of his body, Liam closed his eyes. “Do not forget your daughter, Mother Danu. Keep her from passing over. If she goes into the Summerland, your warrior shall follow.”