Pagan Fire (24 page)

“Ordering you about?” Maere interrupted.

He smiled. “Yes. But neither are you the young woman who left the convent. You’ve been born anew, as has this branch.” He handed it to her.

Maere twirled the branch between her fingers and inhaled deeply of the pine scent. “Knowing what I now do, I don’t believe I can claim the Christian faith any longer.” She shook her head ruefully. “They would beat me now in hopes of driving the devil’s magic from me.”

“Is that what you think?” Dylan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “What you have is from the devil?”

She smiled. “Nay, old friend. ‘Tis truly a blessing.”

“Tell me what happened.”

Maere quietly related the story of her capture by the Vikings, and her first days in the camp. “And then, at the funeral, they spilled a young girl’s blood in sacrifice. It spoke to me from the earth, prodding me to remember another time when blood flowed.” She stared off into the distance. “The pyre was lit and flames burned high and bright, touching the sky.” Maere focused on Dylan. “I never knew why I was afraid of fire – could never remember – until this moment. It was then my mind returned to me, as if a trap door had been thrown open.” She shook her head. “A miracle, it was. Everything rushed back to me. And once I remembered who I was – what I was – I had no choice. I had to save them.”

“Save who?”

Maere shifted, restless under the intensity of his gaze. “Jorvik’s father. And the young girl, Anna. The fire would’ve destroyed their bodies. I brought them back.”

Dylan swallowed hard. “You returned them from death?”

Maere turned her face toward the small fire and nodded. “Jorvik released me in gratitude.” She gestured. “And gave me this mare to ride.” Her eyes filled with tears. “No one should lose a mother or father, or a child, to the fire. No one.”

Dylan moved closer and placed his arm around her. “It’s all right, girl. It’s why you were blessed with the gift.” He gave her a light squeeze. “Do you recall the story of the night you were born?”

“Parts of it,” she whispered. ‘Tell me Dylan. Tell me of our people.”

“You are of the Keltoi tribe, the Dumnonii. On the night you were born, three signs appeared and showed us you’d be someone very special. The water goddess appeared in the stream. A white foal was birthed at the same moment as you. And when you were brought out to your father, a hawk flew overhead.” He smiled. “You were a pretty bairn, your hair as red as the sunset.”

She dropped her head onto his shoulder and he pulled her against him. “It was that very night I promised your father I’d always look after you.” He gently brushed his lips against her forehead. “You’re safe now, Maere. I won’t let any harm come to you.”

“Nor I you,” she whispered. Her eyes slowly closed until her breathing was even and she was asleep.

In the silence of the early morning, Dylan quietly scolded himself. He had believed he was cold enough to use Maere as bait to draw out Eugis, that he himself could take her if need be. But she stirred in him feelings he had long forgotten, long suppressed. By the moon herself, he loved this woman. Yes, the woman, not only the girl he had once known. He could see into her soul the same as he could the heart of a tree. The strength and goodness she possessed were a soothing balm and he longed to wrap himself up in it, wrap himself up in her.

Before he could think of nothing but revenge, now he could think of nothing but getting her as far away as possible from Eugis. To keep her safe from harm, even if it meant keeping her away from himself as well. And he would do this, soon. But there was one thing nagging his conscience.

He would have to tell Maere of Seelie’s fate.

Chapter Thirty

“Do you believe you can hide from me?” The low deep voice circled her dreams, hovering about the edge, faceless. “You will be mine. It is fated.”

The black figure moved fully into view, the mist of the night swirling around his feet. He stretched out his hand: The blood dripping from his fingers formed a pool on the ground. From the bloody earth sprang forth another hand. It twisted and grabbed at the air. “Do you remember this?” Maere looked closer at the hand. It bore her father’s ring, the double raven crest of cu Llwyr.

She crouched down.
Papa?
She leaned closer and the hand grabbed her arm. She screamed and struggled against its grasp, fighting to pull away. A woman sprang from the pool of blood, still gripping her.
Morrigu!
Wearing her father’s ring!

No!
Maere clenched the wrist with her right hand. She raised her left hand toward the man in black, the man she now realized was her uncle.
You will not have me!

Eugis laughed loud and long. The goddess released her as the dream faded.

Maere awoke covered in sweat, her breath uneven and ragged. She lay still for a moment and stared at the sky, forcing herself to calm down. The remnants of the dream danced in front of her eyes, the haunting laughter filling her ears.
How long must I run from him? Will I ever be free?

Dylan, sensing her movement, rose up on one elbow and turned toward Maere.

“He’s coming,” she whispered.

He didn’t need to ask of whom she spoke. He already knew.

* * * *

Jorvik remained quiet, hidden by the dense underbrush, and listened. He shifted, watching Maere now, the same as he had since he’d released her.

She’d argued at the time she left him that she needed no help, no protection. He thought better of arguing with her and sent her on her way. He’d already made the decision to follow her himself and see to her safety.

Dylan was talking now and, from the looks of it, Maere was none too pleased. He moved forward to listen.

“What do you mean Eugis has Seelie? How can that be?” Maere rubbed her eyes roughly, smearing angry tears across her cheeks. “We left her at the chapel. How did she find you in first place?”

Dylan’s expression was grim. “Morrigu led her to the grotto. When I awakened, she insisted on coming with me to find you.”

Maere turned on him. “You shouldn’t have let her!”

“As if I had any choice in the matter.” He snorted. “The woman is as stubborn as you.”

Maere sank to the ground and pulled her knees against her chest. “We have to find her.”

“Agreed. But first, I would get you to Tintagel where you’ll be safe.” Dylan rolled his blanket and tied a strip of leather around the middle. “I won’t endanger you any longer.”

“Endanger?” Maere’s head shot up. “It’s
my
choice to be here, not yours.”

Dylan reached for her hands and pulled her to her feet. His eyes never left hers. “You are in more danger than you realize. Not just from Eugis, but from me as well.” Maere searched his eyes but he looked away. “My intentions have not been true.” Hard as the truth was to tell, he had to tell it anyway. “At the beginning of my journey, I sought you out more to be used as bait than to lay claim to our betrothal.”

“Bait? What in heaven’s name are you talking about?”

“You say you remember your past.” Dylan was frustrated and angry, more with himself than with her. “Do you not remember the part about your powers being transferred to whomever you first bed? Have you no ken of that piece of history?”

“You make no sense, man.” Maere jerked her hands free.

“I make perfect sense. And this is the truth of it. The first man you take to your bed will share in your powers, maybe even take them entirely from you. It’s uncertain exactly what will happen,” Dylan explained.

“I care about none of this.” She crossed her arms and tapped her foot angrily. “Why are we even speaking of it? Finding Seelie is our concern now.”

“Haven’t you figured it out? This is why Eugis captured Seelie, mistaking her for you. This is why he murdered our parents and took you away. It’s why he’s tried to kill me. He wants you for himself.”

Maere closed her eyes. The man who had haunted her dreams for as long as she could remember teetered on the edge of her internal vision. The evil one she had seen had never been Dylan. It had been her uncle all along. But was he so intent he’d take his own niece to bed? Oh, of course he would. He’d already murdered his own kin so what was incest to one such as him?

Maere stared hard at the man before her, his body nearly quaking with emotion. “So, tell me Dylan mac Connall, what part of this demon plan is yours? Where do you fit in?”

He swallowed, forcing the guilt back to the recesses of his conscience. “At first, I thought to use you to catch Eugis. You were coming of age, so I knew he’d come for you. Or I thought I might simply take you to bed and the powers would be mine. His plan would fail either way. He’d be dead or you’d be no use to him.”

Dear Mother.
He was as evil as Eugis in his scheming. She didn’t know this man after all, not like she had started to believe she did. He could not be the Dylan she had grown up with. “And what is your plan now, sir?”

Dylan relaxed a little. “Only to see you to safety. Then to rescue Seelie and return with her to Tintagel where you’ll be.”

“And why have you changed your mind?” Maere circled him. “Surely you could take me anytime? I am no match for your strength.” She stood before him, hands on her hips, defiant. “Do it now, man.” She raised her chin, saw the challenge she placed before him, the anger, reflected in his expression. “If you dare.”

Dylan yanked her by the arm and pulled her tight against him. One hand cupped the back of her head, the other held her hands together behind her. His lips met hers, rough, punishing, filled with all the longing and hate and love he’d bottled up inside himself these many years.

Maere pulled away and sneered. “Your father would be so proud of you, Dylan.”

She saw her words hit him like a blow to his gut. He dropped his arms and pushed her away. “Get your things. I’m taking you to Tintagel.” He eyed her. “No arguments.”

Jorvik smiled to himself. He’d tried the same and had no doubt the maid’s tongue could cut a man as surely as her power did. The woman Seelie seemed important to Maere. Knowing Eugis, she would most likely not live long enough for Dylan to take Maere to Tintagel and return.

As long as Maere was with this Dylan, and they kept to the less-used trails, they’d be safe. They wouldn’t need his protection to make their way home. He still owed Maere for returning his father to him.

He stood and stretched, then walked silently back to his horse. He’d find this friend of the girl’s and return her to Maere. Alive.

Chapter Thirty-One

Dylan struggled to concentrate on the path before him, but the woman who clung to him made it damn near impossible. He shifted a little on the horse, trying to move forward so Maere’s soft breasts wouldn’t be pushing against his back.
By the gods, it did no good!
Her well-formed body continued to sway and bounce in unison with his as she slept.

He cursed silently. All his plans for Eugis’s retribution had practically flown away when he’d laid eyes on Maere.

He’d been fearful of what he’d find when he entered the convent walls, worried she’d be a shell of her former spirited self from living amongst the sisters. Instead, he found her a vision in the glow of Magrethe’s candles, beautiful and rounded, and as headstrong as when she was a child. The woman Maere had become took his breath away. Suddenly he was alive with desire such as he’d never known, even with Morrigu.

Dylan squirmed again, glancing down at the legs hugging his. Spots of creamy skin showed through the tears in her woolen stockings. His hand moved, hovering, ready to touch, to caress. He knew in his heart and soul she’d be warm and as soft as down. His body roused and Dylan cursed out loud this time, dropping his hand back to the reins.

Behind him, Maere stirred. “Did you say something?” she asked sleepily.

He felt her yawn and rub her eyes. “Talking to myself,” he grumbled. The motions of her arms made her breasts move against his back that much more. Even through the layers of clothing, he believed he could detect her nipples growing firm and hard.

Dylan took a deep breath.
Steady yourself, man. You’ll never make it to Tintagel with your sanity intact if your thoughts keep wandering in this direction.
Maere moved again, sliding against him as she righted herself in the saddle. His entire body stiffened.

“What’s the matter with you?” She pushed at his back with both hands. “You’re sitting strangely and it’s not at all comfortable.”

“Well, I’d hate for the lady to be discomfited,” he growled. “Shall we stop for the night so you might rest yourself from such a grueling ride?”

A sharp retort hovered on the edge of her tongue. No doubt the sour mood the man had woken up in was still upon him. She supposed it didn’t make any sense to bait him, except that it might make her feel better. “Who do you think you are to speak to me so?” she demanded. “Try as you might, you do not intimidate me, Dylan mac Connall. Keep your evil temper to yourself!”

Dylan pulled the horse to a halt and jumped down. He turned to reach for Maere but she was already sliding off the opposite side. Their eyes locked for a moment, then her feet touched the ground and she was hidden behind the mount. “Do I need to remind you again what gives me the right?!” In two strides he was around the horse. She ducked out of his reach and scurried to the front of the mare, hugging its thick neck. Maybe she should have kept her thoughts to herself after all.

“You will stay away from me, sir.”

“It’s time you understood I’m not the boy you ordered about.” He gave a disgusted snort. “I do as I please and you’d do well to remember that.” He grabbed the horse by the reins and led it over to a patch of grass and underbrush.

Maere watched him warily as he removed their belongings from the animal and made the camp ready for the night. Was he ignoring her now? Common sense told her to let him be, he was in a foul mood and nothing would right it with the possible exception of a good night’s sleep. But common sense lost the argument in her mind. She stomped to where he was tying the reins to a tree. “What you don’t understand is I am a lady now and you will treat me as such.” She turned away, caught sight of the rising moon, and her mood suddenly shifted. “So beautiful,” she murmured. A distant memory of the moon goddess and her stories washed over Maere. “Nimue watches over those she loves.”