Elphames Choice

by P. C. Cast

Chapter Nineteen

  Elphame looked around her while she rubbed her tingling hands together. Still exuberant from the communion with the spirits in the stone, she found it almost impossible to stand still. She was filled with strength and hope and joy, but her restless eyes searched the people that crowded around her. She braced herself for her people's reaction to what they had just witnessed. Yes, they had responded to her cry, and had been caught up in the magic of the moment. But at what cost? Would they see her as a Clan Chieftain and accept her as such, or would they begin to shy away from her? Or worse, would they try to worship her?

  The little housekeeper, Meara, was the first to speak.

  Her plump face dimpled adorably when she bobbed a quick curtsey and smiled at Elphame.

  "I supervised the cleaning of these columns," she began in a soft, hesitant voice, but as she continued to speak her nervousness calmed. "I restored the central column myself. " Meara's gaze touched the magnificent column with a loving look of pride and accomplishment. "I cannot communicate with the spirits in the stone as you do, but on my oath I swear that I could feel them - their strength and most of all their welcome. " Impulsively, she reached out and squeezed Elphame's hand. "You were right. This is our home. The very stones do welcome us. "

  Through a surge of emotion Elphame struggled to find her voice.

  A young man stepped up beside Meara. He bowed to Elphame and she thought she recognized him as one of the men who had lifted her to Brighid's back the night of her accident. But before Elphame could greet him, he dropped dramatically to his knees. Locking his eyes with hers he spoke in a voice rich with the passion of youth.

  "I have never had a home to call my own. I am the youngest of ten sons and all my life I have felt displaced, transient. I think many of us have felt that way. " He paused and looked around at the mixed group of humans and centaurs. Several heads nodded and Elphame heard general sounds of agreement.

  "But no longer. I was not born of the Clan MacCallan, but as I have labored to rebuild its walls, I, too, have felt the pull of the stone. I fit here, as I never have before. This castle has set its foundation within me, and if The MacCallan will accept me, I will swear allegiance to you and will proudly bear the clan name until my death and beyond, if Epona so grants it. "

  "As will I!" cried a voice from Elphame's right and another man sank to his knees.

  "And I!"

  "I, too!"

  Overwhelmed, Elphame watched as each person in the great central chamber of the castle, men, women and centaurs alike, including the proud Dhianna Huntress, dropped to their knees, until only Cuchulainn and Danann were left standing. Then Cu stepped to his sister's side.

  "I am, of course, already of the Clan MacCallan, but on this day I join those here in swearing allegiance to you, my sister and my Chieftain. " Cuchulainn knelt before her.

  "Decades ago I swore allegiance to the Temple of Epona, and it is a bond I cannot break," Danann said slowly. "But I do hereby acknowledge that you are the rightful heir of the Clan MacCallan, and I stand as witness to the oaths sworn to you on this day. " He bowed gallantly to Elphame.

  "Thank you, Danann. Then bear witness that as The MacCallan I accept the oath of each human and centaur present today. " Her words were clear and filled with the strength of the castle, even as tears of happiness threatened to spill from her shining eyes. "And I bind their allegiance the ancient way. "

  Elphame raised her hands and invoked the timeless words of clan binding.

  "Through the deep peace of the flowing air I bind

  you to me.

  Through the deep peace of the crackling homefire

  I bind you to me.

  Through the deep peace of the flowing wave I bind

  you to me.

  Through the deep peace of the quiet earth I bind

  you to me.

  Through the four elements you are bound to me,

  The MacCallan, and through the spirit of our Clan

  the bond is sealed. Thus has it been spoken; thus

  will it be done.

  Rise, Clan MacCallan!"

  With a shout, the room erupted into cheers as the newly made clan surged to its feet. Elphame wiped tears of happiness from her face as she watched her clan congratulating one another. Wineskins suddenly appeared and they were enthusiastically passed around while toasts to The MacCallan's health were proclaimed.

  "Well done, sister-mine," Cu said into her ear as he hugged her tightly.

  "It's like I'm living in a dream, Cu. " A dream. . . the word echoed through her mind, evoking images that made her wish suddenly and unexpectedly that Lochlan was there beside her. Would he have sworn allegiance to her? And if he had, would that make a difference to Cuchulainn? Would that make Lochlan one of them? Could Cu ever see that Lochlan was something more than an ancient enemy? Or would he only be viewed as a threat, something that could drive a wedge between her and her clan.

  "They're mine," she said fiercely.

  "That they are - that we are. " The warrior smiled at his Chieftain.

  They belonged to her, and through them she finally belonged, too.

  One of the men produced a flute and began playing a light, lively melody, which was soon joined by another flute and the distinctively liquid sound of a lyre. Elphame grinned. She wanted to dance and sing and rejoice all night, but before she could grab Cu's hand and make him dance with her, Elphame felt a restraining hand on her arm. She looked up into the wise eyes of Danann.

  "It is only temporary," he said quietly. "The strength you borrowed from the stone will soon fade. "

  Instantly attentive, Cuchulainn linked his arm with his sister's and searched through the crowd until he spotted Brenna's small dark head where she stood quietly beside the Huntress, her head tilted down so that her thick hair concealed the scarred half of her face. As if she felt his gaze, she looked up and read the familiar look of worry on Cuchulainn's handsome face. She nodded, spoke to Brighid, and the two of them began making their way through to Elphame.

  Satisfied, Cu turned to his sister. "I recognize that look in your eyes, sister-mine, but unless you want to turn pale and faint in front of everyone, I think you should rethink the dance you're going to try to drag me into. "

  Elphame curled her lip at him and would have shot out a quick retort reminding Cu that she didn't faint, if her headache hadn't chosen that instant to pound back with a stomach-sickening vengeance.

  "Your face just lost color," Brenna said as she bustled up to Elphame. "Is it your head?"

  "If I say yes do I have to drink more of your tea?"

  Brenna tried to hide her smile. "Of course. "

  "Then my head feels fine. " Elphame grinned, and then winced as a spike of pain pounded through her temple in time with her heartbeat.

  "You lie poorly. "

  "I would say it is the perfect time for her surprise," Danann said.

  Cuchulainn, Brenna and Brighid beamed in agreement.

  "Clan MacCallan!" Cuchulainn's voice broke through the celebratory noises and the room quieted.

  "Your Chieftain will retire to her chambers to rest and refresh herself before the evening feast. "

  Elphame's brow furrowed in confusion. Her chambers? Didn't he mean her tent?

  The bright looks from the crowd and the cheery cries of "Rest easily, MacCallan!" said they were in on it, too - perhaps Cu had fashioned a makeshift area within the castle grounds for her. She admitted to herself that the idea appealed to her, no matter how crude the temporary shelter. So Elphame simply smiled and waved as Cu, followed by Brenna and Brighid, led her from the central hall through a passage that curved off to their right, well lit by brightly burning wall sconces. She glanced around curiously. She hadn't spent much time in this side of the castle. She knew it housed what used to be the personal quarters of the MacCallans, but she had been more concerned with the renovation of the kitchen and public meeting room
s - and, of course, she had also been so enthralled by the fountain and the heart of the castle, that she had given little thought to the private quarters.

  "Where are you taking me?"

  Cuchulainn just smiled enigmatically. Elphame sighed. She knew that look; she'd get nothing out of him.

  "Stubborn," El said. "You've always been so stubborn. "

  Behind them Brighid snorted and muttered, "Like brother like sister. "

  Brenna giggled.

  Elphame glanced over her shoulder at her two friends. "I'm the eldest. So if it's anything it's like sister like brother. "

  The Huntress raised one perfectly arched brow. "I stand corrected. "

  It was Cuchulainn's turn to snort.

  To the left a smaller corridor branched from the hallway, and Cuchulainn turned into it. Elphame blinked in surprise as it dead-ended in front of a thick, wooden door onto which was carved the plunging mare from the MacCallan crest. Twin sconces burned on either side of the door so that the newness of the polished pinewood glistened in the firelight with a rich luster. Elphame traced her fingers over the outline of the mare.

  "This is beautiful. It couldn't possibly have survived the fire," she said.

  "It didn't. Several of the men cut it from one of the trees in your forest, and Danann carved it. He said it is only fitting that the MacCallan Crest adorn the door to the Chieftain's chamber," Cu explained.

  "The Chieftain's chamber?" Elphame repeated. The words held unending magic.

  "It is a gift from your clan. " He opened the door.

  The first thing she noticed about the room was that it was alive with light. Burning sconces illuminated the walls - tall, metal candelabrum held lighted tapers, and on one wall a huge fireplace crackled cheerfully.

  High, narrow windows were spaced all along two of the four walls letting in the muted light of late afternoon. The huge room was furnished with only a plain wooden table and chairs, a small vanity over which hung an ornate mirror, and a golden chaise which sat adjacent to a large bed covered with thick linens and comforters that glistened with a brilliant golden shine as the flickering candlelight caught the meticulously embroidered shapes of interwoven knots.

  Elphame walked to the bed and ran a hand across the closest down-filled comforter.

  "Mama. " She smiled at her brother. "Mama sent these. "

  "Yes, they arrived this morning, along with several barrels of her excellent wine and those two things. " He pointed to the gilded chaise and the gaudy mirror.

  Elphame felt laughter bubble from her chest. "Mama sent the essentials. " And with a rush she remembered her dream and her mother's voice asking Epona, May I at least send her a special shipment of wines and linens? The way she's living is simply barbaric. It had been true! By some whim of the Goddess she had listened in to her mother's conversation. Her mother did trust her, and Epona was watching over her.

  How could you ever doubt it, Beloved?

  The voice that filled her head was almost as familiar as her mother's, even though she had only heard it once. Epona! She belonged to the Goddess - not in the way her mother did, but in a way that was uniquely her, just as her body was uniquely her. And finally she felt a letting loose within her, an acceptance of herself that had been a long time coming. With a shaking hand, she stroked the soft comforter again and gave silent thanks to her Goddess.

  "I told you she would be speechless," Cu said, grinning like a naughty boy.

  "Of course she's speechless," Brenna said, smiling through tears. "Let's show her the rest. "

  "There's more?" Elphame asked.

  Three heads nodded. Elphame thought they looked like gleeful children. Brenna took her hand and led her to a small stone doorway that arched as the two outside walls met. It opened to a rounded tower within in which steep stone stairs wrapped up and up, winding against the thick stone wall. Elphame tilted back her head. She could see that the stairs fed into a landing of some sort.

  "Remember the tower I had to finish sketching today? The only one that the workers had completed?"

  Brenna asked.

  Elphame nodded.

  "This is it. Your tower is restored. "

  "We all wanted the Chieftain's Tower restored first," Cuchulainn said.

  "Everyone agreed that it felt right," Brighid added.

  "It's pretty bare right now, but some day you'll fill it with all of your books and such. You'll make it yours," her brother said.

  "I - " El had to stop and clear her throat. "I can't wait to see it. "

  Brenna caught her wrist, changing from friend to Healer again. "I don't think that would be a good idea. I realize I just swore allegiance to you, but in matters of your health I still overrule you. And right now your body needs rest and food, not the exercise of climbing up all those stairs. "

  Before she could argue Cu said, "The tower has been there for more than one hundred years. It can wait one more night. "

  "And I thought you wanted a bath," Brenna said.

  Elphame's eyes lit. "If you can drag a tub in here so that I can bathe, I promise I'll forget about the tower

  - at least until morning. "

  "Drag in a tub?" Brighid laughed and the other two joined her. "I think we can do better than that for The MacCallan. " The Huntress nodded toward the wall in which the fireplace had been built. "This is my favorite part. Follow me, my Lady. " She grinned, swishing her blond tail as she led Elphame to an unnoticed gap in the wall situated near the far side of the fireplace. It looked as if a part of the wall had been sliced open by a giant's hand.

  Intrigued, Elphame watched as the Huntress disappeared into the dark void. Her voice drifted back, eerily muffled by the thick stone walls.

  "Be careful. There's plenty of room, but it's a little damp and tends to be slick on the hooves. "

  Elphame stood within the sectioned off wall and blinked in surprise. It wasn't another room at all. Wide stairs opened at her feet. They were lighted by wall torches, and she watched Brighid's withers disappear as the stairwell dipped down and turned gently to the left.

  "Go on, you're going to love this," Cuchulainn coaxed when she hesitated.

  Elphame stepped carefully down the stairs, followed the curve to the left, and went down several more steps before it bottomed out by emptying into a small, cavern-like room. The Huntress stood next to a deep pool of water from which waves of steam hung suspended in the thick, warm air. Elphame could see that the pool was fed by a waterfall that ran lazily from the wall above it, and drained off at the other end through a groove carved in the stone floor. Open braziers held smooth, round stones which Elphame knew would replace the hot stones that must have already been placed in the pool to heat the normally cool water.

  "The oils and soaps are from the women," Brighid said, pointing at an impressive collection of small bottles and jars that sat beside the pool. "We each brought our favorite. " She bent and tapped a large glass jar with her finger. "My offering is soapstone. "

  Brenna gestured at a fat round bottle. "I chose an oil infused with chamomile of which I'm particularly fond. I always find it soothing. Be certain that you rub some of it into your side. " The Healer looked carefully at Elphame. "And I do not want you soaking too long. "

  "I promise," Elphame said, raising her hands in surrender.

  "I didn't bring oil or perfume," her brother said. "But I did manage to talk the innkeeper into donating those towels. "

  "It's perfect," Elphame breathed.

  "No," Brighid said, backing toward the stairwell. "It will be perfect when we have left you alone so that you can bathe without an audience checking your every pulse and breath. "

  Brenna frowned, but didn't argue when Brighid took her shoulders and pushed her toward the exit. Then she shifted her gaze to Cuchulainn.

  "Your sister can bathe herself. "

  "Hrumph," he said, and ducked from the room.

  "Thank you
, Brighid," Elphame said. "You are a good friend. "

  "Anything for The MacCallan. " The Huntress sent her a jaunty wink. She started up the stairs, and then stopped and swiveled at the waist so that she could meet Elphame's eyes. "I almost forgot - we are planning a special dinner tonight to honor your recovery. It's a little something I hunted especially with you in mind. But take your time, Wynne promised to keep a plate warmed for you. "

  "You hunted it just for me? What is it?"

  "Wild boar. "

  Ignoring the dull ache in her temple, Elphame threw back her head and laughed.