The Prophecy (Kingdom of Uisneach Book 1)

by Heidi Hanley

  The day turned unseasonably warm and Briana, pent up and restless, took a notion for a ride to the beach to explore the sea cave. Brath couldn’t join her, having been harnessed by his Master of Wardrobe, Darby Duncan, for the fitting of his wedding outfit.

  Turning once more to the company of Jonathan, Briana went to the stables, where the head groom insisted on saddling Banrion for her.

  “One of the knights should go with you,” Riordan said, regarding Jonathan uncertainly. “Where’s your father?”

  Miffed, Jonathan said simply, but with more authority than he was entitled to, “Busy. I’m the Queen’s Protector. I’ll accompany her.”

  “We’ll be fine, Riordan.”

  “Right. As though either of you has enough experience to get out of the rain.”

  “I beg your pardon…”

  “Ah, go on then, but if anything happens to you, I’m not responsible.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of blaming you,” she said, taking the reins and swinging up effortlessly on her mare’s back. Point proven, she thought, but the groom only rolled his eyes.

  Jonathan had already discovered the way, and within a quarter of an hour they were racing down the beach, Andromeda doing his best to match Banrion’s leggier strides. She slowed the mare to allow the lad some professional dignity, and realized they were near the cave.

  “Briana,” said Teaguen, waving at her to come in. The faerie was sitting on a boulder just inside the cave. She glowed in her opal-colored sheath. Jonathan did not appear to see her.

  “I am invisible to him,” Teaguen said.

  “Mr. Stark, would you mind waiting here for a minute?”

  “I’m not supposed to leave you, Lady Briana.”

  “I’ll be in your sight; I just want a moment alone.”

  “Okay, I guess, but don’t go too far in.”

  “You know, you’re starting to sound a lot like Sigel.”

  His smirk indicated he took that as a compliment.

  She entered the dark, damp cave. Water dripped from the recesses into a small pool. Bats chirred from deeper in.

  “It’s good to see you, Teaguen.”

  She grinned. “You too! Amazing getaway from Shamwa. Well done!”

  “That was you?”

  “None other. It was tricky, inhabiting the crone’s body, but I managed, just in case you needed me.”

  “You could have been a bit speedier getting me out of there.”

  “I did not do anything. You keep forgetting how much magic you have. You need to practice more with that, Your Highness. Anyway, I am here to talk about your wedding.”

  Briana stretched her neck toward the roof of the cave. “Everyone wants to talk about the wedding.”

  “How are the two of you getting along?”

  “Fine.”

  “From the look that just crossed your face, I would say a bit more than fine.”

  Waves lapping the sandy shore were the only sound for several minutes as Briana tried to come up with the words to express her feelings. “The truth? I really like him. A lot.” She buried her face in her hands. “I can’t believe I just said that.”

  “Why not? He is a wonderful man.”

  “How can I feel this way about him when I love Silas so much?”

  “Briana, life rarely orders itself to our expectations. All you can do is open your heart and prepare for the passages. You have, in fact, already walked through a gateway.”

  “What gateway?”

  “A portal. To transformation. Invisible, but a passageway, nonetheless. It is understandable that you might be frightened by the change and new expectations, but you must rise above your fear to accomplish what you have set yourself to achieve, what you are destined to do.”

  “How do I do that?”

  “By letting go of some of your self-limiting thoughts. Remember who you are.”

  “What does that even mean?” Briana asked, suddenly weary.

  “Who did the reflecting pool say you were?”

  “A woman guided by love.”

  “Yes, and you have been given a great many people to love. You are also a faerie, and possess gifts to help you meet this challenge of ruling Uisneach. Let love guide you.”

  “But love is confusing me. I want more than anything to be with Silas and yet, when Brath kisses me, I just about melt.”

  Teaguen sighed wistfully. “How nice.”

  “No, it is not nice,” Briana groaned. “It’s driving me nuts!”

  “Only because you are limiting your understanding of love. Use your magic to expand your vision and your heart, Briana. You love many people here, and they love you and want to help you, but you must first let go of the things that hold you back, that keep you stuck in this place of doubt, guilt and fear.”

  “Like?”

  “Like desiring to love Silas only in the physical sense. Like thinking you cannot love Brath because you love Silas. Like believing you are not enough, as you are, to be a queen.” Teaguen hopped down off the rock and scooped up a handful of sand. She held it out in front of her. “Briana, there are more ways to love than there are grains of sand on this shore. You and Silas travel together throughout time. Your souls are inseparable, but you must open up to the other possibilities for your soul’s growth, while you let go of the restrictions you have placed on it. You judge that having him as a lover is more valuable than having his friendship, protection, and guidance as you move into your new life. You worry you will miss an opportunity to share an expression of love that goes deeper than any other. This is not true, and learning this is one of your soul’s tasks. The other is recognizing that there might be more to this marriage than you can currently conceive of. It is a good thing that you are becoming open to learning what you can from this partnership with Brath.”

  “I suppose so.”

  “Well, this isnot the reason I came here. I need to know about any plans regarding Evalon.”

  Briana summarized Brath’s ideas.

  “Excellent! We would like to propose a council meeting with the King and Queen of Uisneach shortly after your marriage.”

  “You’d come to Ard Darach?”

  “It requires a dispensation from the actual King of Evalon…”

  “He’s still alive?”

  Teaguen smiled brightly. “We are immortal, Briana. And there’s a wonderful king, who can’t wait to meet you. Can you arrange the council with King Brath?”

  “Of course. Oh my, am I immortal, being part faerie?” she asked, anxious at the thought she would outlive everyone she loved.

  “No, my lady, you are not, at least not in the sense you mean. Only pureblood faeries are immortal.”

  Relief washed over her. “Thank Maker.”

  “The council?”

  “Yes, of course. How will I confirm with you?”

  “Keep working in the garden. You’ll discover our portal.”

  “My lady,” Jonathan called. “Are you all right?”

  “I must go now,” said Teaguen. “You are not alone, Briana, and you are stronger than you think. Trust yourself and those who are trying to help you. Even Brath.”

  “Wait, Teaguen…” But the faerie had already disappeared.

  Jonathan’s shadow erased the last vestiges of the faerie’s glow. “I was worried when you didn’t come out for so long.”

  Teaguen’s visit left her a bit dizzy. Briana clung to Banrion as they made their way out into the sunshine. In a moment, she was back to normal. She smiled at her youthful protector and turned back toward the castle. “We should get back, before the king starts to worry.” She urged Banrion into a trot.

  Riordan stood outside the barn, waiting.

  “Better?” he asked, taking her reins.

  “Yes,” she said, “and I’m home in one piece. Do you feel better?”

  “I do.”

  The housemaid, Mary O’Brien, intercepted her as she stepped into the hall. “Milady, a post has come for you.” She handed Briana a le
tter with the Winge family seal on it. Tearing it open and scanning the contents, Briana clapped her hands and did a little jig. Sir Thomas and his family would be here in four days. I best organize some things to keep Epona busy, or she’ll incite a riot.

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Falling

  Three days after her meeting with Teaguen, just past dawn, Briana wrestled with a thick tangle of gorse hedge on the southern edge of the garden, digging and tearing away brambles. Her efforts revealed a circular stone entrance framed by smaller curved stones. She whisked moss and debris off the doorway, revealing carved images of Evalon on the lichen-splattered stones.

  “I found it!”

  “Found what?” asked Lady Seraphina Froud.

  Wiggling backward, Briana made her way out of the hedge and bumped her head on a low-hanging tree branch. “Ouch!”

  “I beg your pardon! I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  Briana stood, rubbing her head with one hand and pulling twigs and yellow flowers out of her hair with the other.

  “Good morning, Lady Briana.” In a sea-green day gown, Lady Seraphina looked as elegant and fresh as the rose bush she stood next to.

  Briana cringed. I must start dressing for the part, or I’m going to be the dowdiest, most tomboyish queen in the history of the kingdom.

  “Good morning, Lady Seraphina. You’re up early.”

  “I wanted to catch you alone, and Silas thought I might find you here. What did you find?”

  “The portal for the faeries to come from Evalon. I’ve been searching for days.”

  “How did you know where to look?”

  “I didn’t. My gut brought me to this hedge, and I dug and ripped and, well, between Mr. Suleiman and I, we’ll open it up in no time, and you’ll be able to see it without getting dirty.”

  “I’m not opposed to getting a little dirty, my lady. Nevertheless, I’ll wait. I’m sure you’ll want to share this discovery with everyone.”

  Briana nodded. “So, what can I do for you?”

  “Could we sit?” she asked, pointing to the nearby bench.

  The two women sat, Briana stiffly, and Lady Seraphina perfectly calm and poised. Dara found his way to the women and, after investigating Lady Seraphina with a cursory sniff, settled down near Briana.

  “I’ll get to the point. You may have developed the wrong impression of the relationship between Silas and me.”

  “Your relationship with Silas is none of my affair.”

  Seraphina smiled. “I know differently, and hope this conversation will bring you some ease. So, if I may continue?”

  She knows differently? This can’t be good. Briana inclined her head for the woman to go on.

  “Silas and I grew up together. We’re best friends and absolutely nothing more. The thought of Silas in any romantic way is absurd.” At Briana’s uplifted eyebrow, she laughed, the sound like the bells on a faerie tree.

  Even her laugh is perfect, Briana thought, grudgingly.

  “You would find that hard to believe, but only because you love him.”

  Briana’s hand flew to her chest. She breathed in sharply.

  Seraphina placed her own hand upon Briana’s. “It’s okay. I’m a close enough friend that Silas felt comfortable confiding in me. He also feels you could use a woman friend and believes you and I could be that to each other.” Lips curved in a charming smile, she added, “I think so, too.”

  It dawned on Briana that she had no female friends nearby. She nodded carefully.

  They chatted and Briana found her kind, intelligent and extremely witty, and knew they would become friends.

  “So, you aren’t interested in Silas, but I wonder Seraphina, is there someone else you are involved with?”

  For the first time since their visit started, Seraphina’s smile wavered. “Well, since I’m credited with your secret, I think it only fair I trust you with mine. There is someone I’ve loved since I was practically a child. Unfortunately, he’s older and was happily married.”

  “Oh, I see. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Circumstances are different now. There might be some hope after all.”

  “I’m all for impossible love becoming possible.”

  Seraphina laughed. “Indeed, so I shall tell you the man who has held my heart for so long is Sir Jameson Stark.”

  “Oh, my!” Briana exclaimed, taken aback by this disclosure.

  Seraphina nodded. “You understand the difficulty? I am truly sorry for his loss. Lady Stark was a kind and gracious woman. I would never have revealed my feelings to Sir Jameson when she was alive.”

  “But you will now?”

  “When the time is right. He must grieve, of course, but when he is ready to consider his future, I have every intention of making him aware of my affection.”

  “He’s a good man. I bet when he’s ready for another lady in his life, he’ll be happy to know you care for him.”

  Briana glanced up to find Ayden Suleiman, Head Gardener, coming their way. “Seraphina, it looks like our privacy’s been invaded, so we should probably go, but I look forward to spending more time with you soon. Thank you so much for… well, everything. It’s a relief to me, not only to have a friend, but to know Silas has someone he can lean on.”

  Lady Seraphina nodded and turned brightly to the gardener. “Why, hello, Master Suleiman. It’s been ages.”

  “Greetings to you, Your Ladyships.” He bowed. Mr. Suleiman had his mother’s compact, gnomish body and his father’s high cheekbones, long, thin nose, and small lips, which gave him a thoughtful, mystical appearance. What hair remained was pulled back into a tight ponytail. He moved gracefully and spoke quietly. He’d come to Ard Darach a few years before the curse, and engineered this botanical faerieland Briana was now discovering. On the two occasions she’d spoken to him, she found a kindred spirit and looked forward to more time working with him.

  After one last hug, Seraphina took the walkway out of the garden to the cottage where she lived with her aging parents, and Briana apprised the gardener of her discovery in the hedge. The morning unfolded like a list: breakfast meeting with Brath; go over menus for meals during the week of the wedding with Mrs. Flannigan; review final plans for wedding ceremony with Cailleach; fitting for her wedding gown with Donla. All this by noon.

  At least I didn’t have to check chamber pots, she thought, rubbing her aching temples. Lunch would be served soon and the men weren’t back. She grabbed Nua out of habit and headed for the middle ward, where she thought they were training, intending to call them in to eat.

  As she walked through the gateway, she heard shouts and laughter. Men stood in a half-circle around Brath, who was stripped to his breeches, his chest gleaming with sweat, his hair falling carelessly across his forehead. He wielded a giant broad sword against Silas. Concentration and the fury of flashing steel sharpened both men’s faces as they parried, jabbed, retreated and circled one another. She ran toward them, intending to stop their fighting, but was stopped by Sigel’s big hands.

  “It’s okay, lass, they’re only practicing.”

  “This is not a good idea, Sigel.” He shook off her concern.

  Heart in throat, she watched as the men dueled. Then, in one weird motion, both swords soared into the air, did a macabre dance under the bright rays of the sun and fell, point down, in front of each man. They stared at the swords and then at Sigel, who was staring with a speculative look at Briana.

  She maintained a blank expression. “Guess you’re even. Time for lunch.” Briana turned to leave.

  “Not yet, lass. You need more practice if you’re riding with us,” Sigel said.

  Thinking he was joking, she huffed and started off, but he caught her by the elbow. “Not so fast. I’ve been neglectful of your training, milady. Face your king.”

  She stared at Brath, who was breathing heavily and wearing a sly smile. Silas leaned on his sword hilt to watch. A chorus arose, “Rise up, milady! Rise up! Face the king!”
>
  Brath wiggled one finger at her before raising his sword in preparation. “Come to me, my lady.”

  “No way, I’m not…”

  The knights continued heckling. She could walk away to their jeers and be seen as a coward, not worthy to ride with them, or she could face Brath. After a thorough glare at Sigel, she stepped in front of Brath and lifted Nua as high as she could.

  “No magic,” Sigel ordered her.

  Brath took a step closer. His eyes, deep mossy pools, captured hers. “Oh, I think there is plenty of room for magic here.”

  Butterflies. She swallowed hard but held his gaze. To look anywhere else on his body would break her concentration and give him an advantage she couldn’t afford. Hopping into a wide stance, she swung Nua upwards. Brath blocked the arc. She ducked when his blade whipped around sideways and came at her head. Jumping back up, she barely had time to hop over the metal as it made a pass at her feet. Nua found a spot in the center of his abdomen to bury her point in, but the sight of hardened muscle sprinkled with cinnamon hair trailing down to the waist of his breeches distracted Briana long enough for Brath to move behind her and catch her against him, employing his blade as a restraint across her throat. Heat spread across her belly where he held her securely with one hand. She allowed herself only a moment of pleasure before going limp to make him think she was done. The second he relaxed, she dropped down and skittered away, coming back up in full swing at him.

  His laugh was rich as he danced away from her. “Nice move, Briana, but you may as well surrender. I’ll have you in the end.”

  The innuendo left her breathless.

  He kicked her sword away with his own and she went down on one knee to retrieve it. Motion behind him alerted her to danger and she swung herself behind his back.

  “Greeerrrr!” she growled out, using both hands to bring Nua straight up, blocking Sigel’s weapon as it came in a downward arc at Brath’s back. With that immediate threat removed, she stood panting, sweat forging a river between her breasts and puddling under her arms. Sigel feinted again. Brath cut her no slack and started to raise his weapon.