Goblin Moon (34 page)

Kathy raised her eyes to the ceiling. “Please, help those who lost loved ones tonight. I know what they're feeling, and they'll never stop hurting. These people may call you by other names, but I know they're praying to the same god. Be with us all now, I beg you.” With her rendition of a prayer finished, she slid to her knees and wept.

"Tearach, darling. You need to wake up,” Kathy said, touching his face.

Tearach took a deep breath, forced his eyes open and found himself in his own room, propped comfortably against soft pillows. “How did I get here?"

"I thought you might recuperate better if you were home. And I'm sure you wanted to see Tearyn."

A slow smile spread across his face. He tried to lift his arm, but he did it too quickly. A sharp pain came from deep within his chest. “What in the bloody damn did I do to myself?"

"You've a nice set of broken ribs and a broken leg to go along with them. That means you're going to be around the cottage for a very long time."

"That won't do. I have to be up and working with the other men. I can't just lie about."

"Well, you don't have a choice, my love. You're going to stay put until you're better, and that's the Sorceress’ direct command."

"I don't think you understand what's happened, Kathy. Everything was in that building. All our tools, the goods we were going to sell this year."

"Not to mention nine people who didn't get out,” Kathy sadly informed him.

Tearach's heart dropped. “Nine didn't..."

She nodded and waited for him to take in the information. “Their families have already set up altars to mourn them. I saw one in the woods yesterday. It was heartwrenching."

His throat ached. “I thought ... after we got the workers outside, we made our way to the far end of the building and checked. We thought everyone was gone. By then, the fire was on us and we had to find a window to ... Herne, help us! I didn't know others were still there."

"You're misunderstanding, darling. They were lost when the kiln blew up. They were already gone when you got there. Didn't you know about it?"

Tears filled his eyes. “I was just told about Gawain and the six others."

She stroked his hair and then his cheek with one hand. “I know how their families feel, though I wish I didn't. It's a pain that will never go away. In time, it'll be bearable, but only just."

He swallowed the lump in his throat while remembering Kathy's loss of her father and her intended husband in a fire. How horrible it must have been for her and for the families of those who never came out. They'd stood by and watched, unable to do anything. His heart felt like lead.

Kathy took a deep breath. “If the list of dead had included you, I couldn't have stood it. Especially because I never told you..."

He tilted his head and gazed at her. “Never told me what, sweetheart?"

She scooted closer and wrapped her arms about his shoulders. “I love you, Tearach. I should have said it so long ago. Please, forgive me. I think I have a head as hard as yours."

He buried his face in her clean, flower-scented hair and held on. “I love you too, Kathy. I should have learned a vital lesson at Exmoor, but it seems I'm still being taught."

She pulled back far enough to look into his black eyes. “What lesson?"

"That you should never wait to tell someone you love them. They should hear it every day of their lives."

"I guess we thought we had all the time in the world,” she whispered.

"I wanted things to be perfect. On Imbolc, I was going to find some quiet place and ask you to handfast with me.” He put his hands on either side of her face and kissed her. “Now, I won't even be able to walk to the ceremony with you. And it will be a time of grief, not happiness. Not after losing so many.” He sighed and hung his head in sorrow.

She kissed his forehead. “I already consider myself your mate, Tearach, and there'll always be Spring Equinox. We can be handfasted then. After the pain of all the loss isn't so new."

For a long time, he clung to her. Then he asked, “Does anyone know exactly what happened? Has there been time figure it out?"

Kathy shook her head. “I don't know. Shayla will stop by tonight. We can ask her then. I'm just so glad you and Rome got out safely.” She nuzzled her cheek against his and murmured endearments to him for a very long time.

He thankfully remembered Rome's escape with him and Gawain, but not much else. He also remembered that Kathy couldn't have seen it because he was at the back of the building. She needed his comfort and he needed hers. “My heart will always be with yours, Kathy. No matter what happens, you need to know that,” he consoled and held her as close as his injuries would allow. Finally, he gently pushed her away. “How long have I been home?"

"Two days. But you were pretty heavily sedated. I don't think Owen wants you moving about too much."

"As much as I'd love to stay right here with you and never leave, I need to get back to work and help."

She caressed his shoulders. “Tearach, even if you could, the building is still hot. Wood there will be burning for days until the rain and the cold can get through all that rubble. And you're not going anywhere,” she firmly reiterated.

"Is Rome up and about? Was he injured badly?” He waved a hand, in frustration, at the cast on his leg.

"Yes, he's just as hurt. And Cairna is having a hard time getting him to stay put. He's just as hardheaded as you."

"All those people dead,” he murmured, and turned his head away so she wouldn't try to bear his pain as well as her own.

Kathy pulled him into her embrace again and held on.

For a long, quiet time, they clung to each other. A steady tattoo of rain and sleet gently pelted the window pains. Tearach wanted to bury himself into her embrace and never come out. She stroked his back and whispered soft words of love and comfort. Then she drew slightly away and placed a hand on one of his cheeks. Her thumb caressed his lips. “I'll bring Tearyn in for you in a minute. First, I'd better tell you the rest."

Tearach took one look at her sorrow-filled eyes and wondered what other horrible news he'd hear. Something deep inside made him wish he was in another place.

"Gawain will live. You and Rome saved his life. But Owen had to take his right hand."

He took a deep shaky breath and felt his mouth go dry. “How did he respond?"

"He doesn't know yet. I assisted during the operation. Owen will keep him sedated to let his internal injuries heal. A piece of wood, from the explosion, embedded itself in his abdomen. He'll recover fine, but I don't know how he'll deal with his missing hand. You know the man better than I."

For several minutes, Tearach didn't speak. “He's a warrior. Gawain will fight, but it might take him time."

"I want you to rest, Tearach. There'll be time enough to sort all this out.” She paused. “Just know that I love you with all my heart, and we'll get through this,” she reminded, wanting to say it as many times now as she could.

"Yes. So long as we're together.” He paused and stared at her. “I now know why Cairna chose you to be my mate, Kathy. I understand why she picked your file out of all those the Sorceress offered."

"I've sometimes wondered about that. What was so special about me?"

"She knew, even by looking at your photo and your file, that I could never want another but you. I needed a strong, beautiful enchantress. A woman of intelligence and grace who had love enough to see us both through my stubbornness and heartache. Without you, my life is nothing. I'll carry your love with me everywhere I am, in whatever corner of the forest I'm working and into whatever future we share."

"Oh, Tearach,” she sobbed and tried to wipe away the tears. But he took her hands in his and kissed them away instead.

"It's all right, my heart. Cry if you want to, and I'll hold you until it's over."

His warm arms wrapped around her and Kathy knew it was the only place in the world she'd ever feel so safe and happy. “You know,” she sniffed, “that damned file the Sorceress had on me didn't tell you everything."

"It didn't?” he breathed.

"It never said that my favorite color in the whole world is green."

Tearach smiled through the tears in his own eyes. If he'd listened to his heart sooner, it would have told him so.

Many weeks later, Tearach's cast was removed, and he was almost back to his old self. He worked in the mines for part of the day, and then he helped clean the rubble from the burned remains of the Loft. He saw Gawain each day and, as Kathy told him might be the case, the man wasn't taking the loss of his arm or his co-workers easily. He blamed himself for not checking the equipment better, though everyone told him it wasn't his fault. Tearach feared Gawain would never turn out another piece of stunning artwork. He refused to touch his tools and spent a great deal of time alone. But the Sorceress was working with him, and Tearach knew if anyone could alter a person's outlook or change their destiny, Shayla was the one to do it.

Each evening, he held the baby in his arms and sat by the fire. They waited for Kathy to come upstairs with the evening meal. Having their meals in their room, where it was cozier, became a habit when Rome and Cairna decided to finish their own cottage. They stayed away a great deal, but the arrangements would only be temporary. The younger couple was also planning their handfasting which, like so many others, had been postponed until
Oestre
or the Spring Equinox. Luckier than most, they had a house full of beautiful, well-made furniture that Kathy had given them. Cairna had joked that Kathy just wanted them out of their cottage sooner so the new babies would have more room. And he knew there would be new ones one day.

When he heard Kathy approach, Tearach put the baby in her crib, amazed at the rate she was growing. Time seemed to move so quickly. One day soon, Cairna and Rome would have babies of their own. The Sorceress had been right about so many things. He smiled thinking of how she'd had to make him dig septic tanks so he'd see sense. If he'd trusted her all along, the anguish he'd put himself and his people through would have been unnecessary. But Kathy was right about his head being hard. Connemara marble would be soft in comparison.

"What are you smiling about?” Kathy asked, grinning as she placed their evening meal on a small table.

"How time has a way of changing people's minds. Of opening them, I should say."

She offered him a glass of wine. “This has been the strangest year of my life. But I wouldn't change a moment."

One eyebrow raised in surprise. “Nothing?"

"All right, maybe just a few things. Like how you felt when you found out I was pregnant, and the time when you got punished. Then there was that time I ran away, and the time you got caught in the fire and almost died."

He took a deep breath and lifted his glass. “Here's to not changing a thing."

She raised hers in return. “But I still love you, the baby, Cairna, Rome and the people in this wonderful, magic place."

He lifted a length of hair off her shoulder and studied it for a moment. “You know, we could save that roast chicken for later.” He gave her his most seductive stare and hoped she would respond accordingly.

Kathy glanced at the chicken and then back at Tearach. “Well, I love cold chicken."

They drank their wine, put the glasses down and moved toward one another. It looked as though another hot night of experimental lovemaking was about to be under way. But Tearyn had other plans. She let out a loud, playful laugh.

Kathy's eyes widened in surprise. Tearach sent her an equally shocked look. The baby had never been quite so loud or forceful. Kathy walked toward the crib. “Now, then little Miss Bruce. What is so important that you'd ... Tearach, get the Sorceress."

The hypnotized expression on Kathy's face immediately alerted him. “What's wrong, love?"

"Just get the Sorceress. Quickly!"

He watched as she picked up the baby, blanket and all. Tearyn was still gurgling happily, so there couldn't be too much wrong. So, why was his heart beating so hard? Why was Kathy's expression so galvanizing?

Tearach ran to a window, threw it open and yelled for the nearest guards. Voices in the treetops responded when he called for the Sorceress’ presence. He turned back to Kathy. “She'll be here soon, love. Now ... what's wrong with the baby?” He held out his hands and Kathy handed the swaddled the infant to him. When he looked down, a white little girl with blue eyes looked up at him. Her pointed ears were gone and her dark hair had lightened to a soft, medium brown.

"Tearyn!” he shouted and almost dropped her. Kathy ran forward and reinforced his grip. The baby looked up at them both and laughed as though the world was one big playground and she was the only child in line for the swing.

"Whatever this is ... w-whatever is happening ... she doesn't seem to be in any pain. S-she isn't frightened,” Kathy stammered.

"Goblin children can't change this young. Most don't do it until they're shown how,” Tearach insisted.

"Well, she didn't come with a rule book pasted to her rump, Tearach. No one told her. Besides, you keep forgetting. She's half human."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to sound that way. It's just that, well, look at her.” He raised helpless eyes to Kathy.

She took a deep breath. “Okay. Let's get a grip here. Tearyn is just a little early at this. At least we know she has the power to change now. Maybe she was provoked into it somehow. Maybe I did something while trying to play with her earlier today.” Kathy thought for a moment. “She seemed interested in that stuffed bear Cairna gave her."

Tearach stared at her. “Stuffed bears don't cause us to change form."

"Well, I'm pretty new to this, Tearach. I'm just trying to find a reason why she'd do this now. Why she'd do it at all."

He began to calm down. “She doesn't seem to mind."

"No, she doesn't."

He studied her for a moment. Tearyn smiled up at him and he felt a sense of complete joy. “She's all right. Why do I get this impression of ... It's like she's playing."