Luathara - Book Three of the Otherworld Trilogy (10 page)

By mid-morning we had packed up our sleeping bags and taken
down the tent.  Before leaving for home
, I wandered down to the lakeshore and just stood there, staring out over the water as the breeze tugged at the loose strands of my hair.  I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply through my nose, my thoughts wandering off into the Otherworld.

“You know, I always thought there was something special about you Meghan Elam.”

I jumped, then turned to look at Tully.  She was smiling, but her eyes were sad.

“Oh Tully,” I said quietly, lowering my head and returning my gaze to the lake.  “I can’t believe you still want to be my friend after the way I’ve treated you
these last few
years.”

Tully didn’t say a word.  She merely stepped forward, bent down to pick up a flat rock, and threw it out across the lake.  We watched it skip four times before it dove below the surface.  Eventually she shrugged.

“Sometimes the measure of a good friend is knowing when to simply be there in case you’re needed.”

“Tully,” I said, my voice harsh, “I practically ignored you for the last year and a half!  What kind of a friend does that?”

She reached out and
pulled
me
into
a hug.  I couldn’t return it because my arms were crossed, but I let my chin rest on her head.

“You didn’t ignore me Meghan,” Tully murmured.  “You just didn’t know how to tell me what was wrong, and I knew that.”

She released me and stepped back.  “I’ll miss you,” she said, sniffling a little, “but I’ll just pretend you’ve gone away for college.  Promise you’ll come back and visit?”

I took a deep breath and placed my hands on Tully’s shoulders.  “I promise.”

We both turned back to watch the small waves ripple across the lake once more.

“So,” Tully said, all traces of sadness gone from her tone.
“Cade.  Was he your reason for being such an emotional wreck last year?”

And just like that, we were teenage girls once again, talking nonsense and giggling with reckless abandon.  Soon I would be facing down the worst
Eile
had to offer, but at that moment I just wanted to be young and carefree one last time.

-Six-

Luathara

Cade and I left for
Eile
the next morning.  I tried to hold it together as I packed what I could carry into the Otherworld with me.  Most of my stuff would be left behind, and Mom had told me it was because I would need somewhere to stay when I came to visit.  Every weekend.  I had
smil
ed at that.  I would try to come back as often as possible, but I was sure that getting settled in to my new life would take a while.  After all, I had to learn how to use my magic, somehow make peace with my birth mother, and avoid the Morrigan all at the same time.

I sighed, gave my room one more remorseful glance, and headed upstairs.  Cade was in the living room, standing at attention with my family gathered around.  I gulped.  It felt like I was going to my execution.

“I guess this is it,” my mom said with a trembling lip.

No Meghan, you will not cry . . .

And then Aiden ran up and gave me a fierce hug, followed by the rest of my brothers.  It took me a long time to compose myself enough to speak.

“It’s just like if I was going off to college,” I assured them as I sniffed.  "As soon as I've got my life in order in Eile
,
I'll come back for a visit.  I promise."

“Cade, a word if you don’t mind,” Dad said, opening the door and gesturing for Cade to follow.

My mouth went dry and my stomach plummeted. 
Oh no.

Cade gave me a calm look and used
shil-sciar
to speak to me. 
It will be alright Meghan.

I took a deep breath.  I had to believe him.  H
e was the son of a goddess and could turn
into a faelah-killing superhero on a whim, but I feared for his safety when he was alone with my dad.

They were gone for twenty minutes, twenty agonizing minutes.  While we waited, I helped Mom and the boys make some cookies, one last family activity before I left.  When Dad and Cade finally returned, we all stopped our laughter and chatter.  Dad’s eyes had a misty quality to them and Cade looked the same way he had before he left.  I bit my lip to keep the tears from coming.

Before Cade and I started
down the horse path, my brothers handed me a picture album my family had put together for me.  The photos depicted scenes from my life.  My mortal life.  I hugged everyone for a long time, crying silently as I hung on to them one last time.  I would miss them, but I would come back to visit.  They were still my family.

Cade whistled for Fergus, who had been keeping a low profile in the bushes, and I called out to Meridian.  She swooped down from the treetops to settle on my shoulder, nibbling me affectionately to try and cheer me up.

Sorrow?
she sent.

Yes
, I answered,
but it will get better.

I smiled.  Mind-speaking with Meridian seemed less colorful, less complicated than the
shil-sciar
method with Cade, but her words were comforting nonetheless.

We reached the dolmarehn fifteen minutes later.  I took a deep breath and tried to will my tears to stop falling.  Cade looked at me and I was tempted to ask him what my dad had said to him.  Tempted but currently too afraid. 
Maybe someday I’ll get the nerve to ask him
, I thought to myself.

“Are you ready, my love?” he asked gently, stepping up once again to take my face in his hands, my heart singing at his term of endearment.  He wiped away the tears with his thumbs, a gesture that I was quickly becoming addicted to.

I nodded and he leaned in to give me a gentle kiss.  He dropped his hands and reached one out to me.  I took it and he carefully led me into the small cave.  Fergus had run ahead of us and I could feel Meridian’s talons digging into my shoulder as she hunkered down.

We moved slowly through the dark and my mind kept itself busy by thinking about where my life was headed.  I had left my family behind and I was going home, to the world where I belonged.  I was terrified and depressed, but I was also filled with excitement and wonder.  I’d learn how to use my glamour properly, now that it was fully awake, and I would have Cade by my side.  I allowed myself to
smile
through the tears, but before I could contemplate another thought, that familiar tug of Otherworldly magic latched onto me and we were pulled into the deep darkness of
Eile
.

* * *

The Otherworld was the same breathtaking sweep of green rolling hills and ancient forest I had grown used to, welcoming me in that cool rush of ancient magic that could never be found on Earth.  We quickly made our way towards Cade’s castle, and once there I gaped at the difference.  The ruined fortress was alive with activity.  Men worked at replacing old crumbled stones and broken windows.  Women and children were interspersed
throughout
the fields,
tending to
what looked like a combination of potatoes, carrots, onions and several grains.  As we took our time walking up the dirt road, I got a full view of the side of the castle facing us.  The stone wall that surrounded it was being patched up, but a
narrow
gap that still needed attention gave me a glimpse of a small kitchen garden that I hadn't noticed the last time we'd visited the castle.

I looked up at Cade and he merely smiled down at me.

“I wanted to make Luathar
a ready for you, so you'd have
a place to stay in case you didn't want to live at the castle in Erintara,” he said.

I shivered at the idea of staying with my mother, under her suppressive rules.  I didn't think she'd allow Cade to visit me even if I asked nicely.  No, I wasn't ready to jumpstart a working relationship with my birth mother
, the high queen of Eile
.  Best get my bearings in my new world first.

I sighed and let my eyes sweep the castle once more, then I remembered what Cade had said.  I blinked up at him.  “You did this all for me?”

Cade nodded.

I regarded the old castle, the one that had somehow worked its way into my dreams
those many months
ago. 
Luathara
Cade had
called it.  I liked that name.

“The construction isn’t quite complete, so after tonight we'll be staying with the Dagda for a while.”

My face split in a huge smile.  I loved Cade’s foster father and I couldn’t wait to see him again.  The Dagda was an overwhelming presence, but he had shown me nothing but cheer and acceptance since the moment I'd met him.

"Unless, of course, you'd rather go to Erintara," Cade added with a smirk.

I punched his arm.  "No, I wouldn't.  I mean, yes, I eventually want to go see my mother again, try to make peace with her, but I'd much rather stay with the Dagda for now."

As we passed through the castle gates and stepped into the noisy courtyard, we were welcomed by a man Cade introduced as Briant, his steward.  He was a kind looking man, tall, middle-aged with brown hair and intelligent eyes.  Like all Faelorehn, he had a handsome quality to his looks.

“So this is the young Miss Elam.  Welcome, my lady.”

I blushed, as usual, but took his hand and allowed him to escort me deeper into the courtyard.  All around, people in work clothes were bustling about.  Men and women both hauled stones in wheelbarrows while those who were younger carried baskets full of berries and fruits to be prepared and stored for later.  My head swiveled on my shoulders as I tried to take it all in and Briant laughed, a hearty, strong chuckle that reminded me of the Dagda.  Cade strolled leisurely by my side, and when I glanced up at him I realized he
was
watching me with a soft smile
on his face
.  I recognized that look.  It was a look of pure bliss.  I returned the
smile
, unable to help myself.

At the large door leading into the castle’s main hall, a tall woman with strawberry blond hair, snapping blue eyes and perfect posture greeted us.  She came off as stern at first, and when Briant caught her glance he dropped my arm and handed me off to Cade.

“Melvina!” he exclaimed.  “Cade has come back with the Lady Meghan!”

The woman lost a little of her sternness and her rigid face melted into a brilliant smile.  The
result
was enchanting.

My distraction at the change in the woman standing before us was short lived when the steward spoke next.

“High Queen Danua’s daughter.  The princess.”

I flinched so hard
Cade felt it
.  He glanced at me, one eyebrow arched and a look of amusement painted across his face.  I glowered at him.

Melvina’s bright eyes widened and she descended into a graceful
curtsy
that would do my birth mother proud.

I gritted my teeth.  When I managed to find my voice I said, “Please, I’m the furthest thing from a princess.”

Cade detected my distress and stepped in closer to me, the cloak he had thrown on that morning sweeping his sides and partially blocking me from those who had been close enough to hear Briant’s loud announcement.

He pulled my head close, pressing his lips
to my hair
,
and whispered, “Technically, you are a princess.”

I reached out and grabbed the loose fabric of Cade’s shirt with my hands and drew him closer.

“A princess is someone who grows up in a palace, wears expensive clothes, has nannies to raise her and servants at her beck and
call.  You saw where I grew up,
”
I hissed.

You are the daughter of Eile’s high queen, Meghan.  I know you don’t like it, and I understand why the title grates at you, but it doesn’t matter where you grew up.  Danua’s blood runs in your veins and you are her daughter.

The silent words were soothing, and I understood
Cade's point
.  Didn’t mean I had to like it.  I released a deep breath and pulled away, glancing up at him.

Fine,
I returned,
b
ut please, could you ask them not to call me ‘princess’?  Just because I’m the daughter of a queen doesn’t mean I want to be treated
differently than
anyone else.

Cade grinned and kissed the top of my head
again
.

“Briant, Melvina,” he turned to both of them.  “Meghan would be eternally grateful if you would forget who her mother is while she’s at Luathara.”

They both widened their eyes in horror, but Cade stiffened his jaw and gave them both a stern look.

“What will we call her then?” Melvina asked, her voice warm and welcoming.  The very tone made me relax.