Whisper and Rise (4 page)

Kneeling at Sean’s grave, I allowed cherished memories to return. I felt his warmth, I heard his voice, and I saw his smile. He held me again. I shuddered when his hands touched my skin. I remembered the last time we had kissed. I didn’t wail or moan, but I wept honest tears and offered my heart again to the only man I had ever loved. It felt good to cry.

I didn’t leave Evermore until I had told my story to the mound without flowers. Sean was dead; I knew that, but I needed to tell him everything. No one else seemed to understand me, and my departed took in every word without judgment or words. Before leaving, I pressed my hand into the soft soil of his grave and left a mark of my visit. Then I rubbed my necklace. I would carry him always near my heart.

~ O ~

At the eastern edge of Aisling, near the tall evergreens, I led Maeia away from the main road again. It was quiet, and the voices of tiny birds had difficulty passing into the overgrown trail. Wagons or horses rarely came this way anymore, which saddened me. The Bauer homes had once been a kind haven for weary travelers from the mountain.

The courtyard between the small buildings was still peaceful, though, and filtered sunlight offered crisp highlights and faded shadows from the well in its center. When Maeia stopped, Eldon Bauer leapt from his front porch and ran toward us.

“Hello,” I said, offering a wave.

He didn’t speak but approached Maeia without hesitation. Though she towered over the small man, she adored him, grinning and nickering as he rubbed her nose and stroked her coat. Eldon had a way with her that surprised me. The calmness that radiated from him steadied her normal shyness.

“Her name is Maeia,” I told him as I dismounted.

Eldon smiled approvingly and continued his affection.

“How have you been, Eldon?”

He looked up at me and smiled again with the toothless grin I remembered. Eldon hobbled to the well and lowered the bucket to its depths. As he turned the metal crank, he whistled a tune that sounded like birds calling to one another. I closed my eyes and imagined what they could be saying. It was peaceful, serene. When the whistling stopped, I opened my eyes. Eldon poured fresh water into a shallow bucket for Maeia, then handed me a small wooden cup. I nodded my thanks and drank.

Instantly, cool refreshment soothed me and made my body tingle, reminding me of why this well was so important. This was the best water in Aisling. I leaned down to the man and kissed him on the cheek, offering heartfelt thanks. It was charming to see his face turn flush and red.

“Where’s Earl?” I asked, unsure what to discuss with a man who couldn’t talk. I wasn’t uncomfortable, but his silence made me anxious. I shifted my stance in the dirt.

Eldon pointed to the hill. Earl was walking toward us. He was muddy to his waist, but smiled as he approached.

“Good morning. How are you, Rhiannon?”

It was nice to hear a voice.

“I’m well, thank you,” I answered, returning the small bucket to Eldon’s hands. “I came to offer greetings. I’m traveling to DarMattey for a while.”

Both men listened intently while I told them about Darian’s escape attempt and my protective journey. There was no need to keep secrets from them; they were like family to me. Earl wasn’t quiet, and asked many questions. I could tell he missed company, and saw the sadness in his eyes whenever mention of the bandit trickled into my words. I had lost my fiancé last Moon Season, while he had lost his oldest son.

While we sat around the well, drinking more water, Earl talked about planting and the upcoming Sun Season. I laughed at his jokes and obliged him by listening intently to his tales of harvest that would come. I welcomed the company. These men were honest and hardworking. Like their sought after well water, they were pure and rare.

We talked so much that the morning passed. When I finally looked for the sun, it was already midday.

“Thank you for the water and the words.” I told the men, excusing myself from the well to prepare my leave.

“Thank you for the visit.” Earl looked nervously back at his home. “Do you want to go inside?” he asked. “And look around?”

His question sent a chill down to my toes. I didn’t expect such a question and wasn’t certain what he meant. “I’ve seen your house, Earl. Thank you.”

“There’s some of Sean’s things still inside. You may take what you wish,” he said.

I sighed, thankful for his clarification. I was a nice gesture, although unneeded. Village tradition was supposed to keep us from remaining in the past. We left our memories in Evermore with departed loved ones, and then visited them there. Lingering on the lost only prolonged the pain of a person’s passing. I missed Sean, but knew better than to ask for a reminder of his life. Still, there was
something
I wanted.

“Do you have the shield?” I asked. “The one I gave as a promise gift.” I turned to Eldon. “It’s the one you helped me find. At the cave you told me about.”

The little man beamed and patted one of my hands with both of his. He ran toward his home and disappeared inside.

“I’m sorry,” said Earl, lowering his head. “I haven’t seen the shield or the helmet you gave to my son. Not since the attack.”

I swallowed my disappointment; it felt like a small stone as it slipped into my stomach and weighed it down. “That’s all I wanted,” I said, forcing a flat smile. “It’s a shame that it was stolen.”

“They didn’t take much,” said Earl, continuing his explanation. “Just some of Cael’s things, Sean’s armor, and some coins.”

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other while rubbing my hands. They had become moist and cold from talk of the attack.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Earl.” I stepped back and adjusted Maeia’s saddle, indicating my intention to leave. “It’s unfortunate that fate left us in our conditions.”

Eldon returned, almost tripping as he ran from his home. He handed Earl a rolled parchment.

“Are you certain?” asked Earl, facing his brother after examining the scroll.

Eldon nodded.

Then Earl turned to me. “We have something for you, Rhiannon.” He handed me the parchment. “It’s a gift from our family.”

I looked at it, but didn’t open it to read. “What is this?”

“Take a look.”

Both men stared while I opened the roll. It took a moment to understand what I was reading; I had never seen a deed before.

I gasped. “I can’t accept this. No, this isn’t for me.” I rolled the paper and tried to hand it back. “I’m sorry, this is too much. Thank you for the gesture.”

None of the men would accept my hand. Earl shoved the scroll back toward me. “Please take it,” he said. “Accepting this is your gift to us. It allows a part of our family—that could have been lost—to join you.”

I couldn’t fight the tears anymore. Giant drops of happy, unbelieving joy flowed free while I held the deed to the land where Sean and I had once planned to build a home.

I grabbed both men and squeezed, thanking them as their hair smothered my face. Then I pulled myself away and wiped my face with the sleeve of my dress. “There’s something you should know,” I said, sniffling to compose my speech.

It wasn’t customary to discuss such things, but they needed to understand the truth. I couldn’t accept their gift without telling them. It wouldn’t have felt right.

“I’m not a faerie anymore.”

Their expressions didn’t change.

“I’m not the perfect woman you think I am,” I admitted. “I want you to know that. I did horrible things and was removed from the Fae.” I reached my hand toward Earl. “I shouldn’t accept such a gift with my own failings.”

Earl smiled and then hugged me. “I know you’re not in the Fae,” he said. “That doesn’t mean you’re not a faerie.”

“Yes, it does. They chose to exclude me. I was removed—and Leila took my place. I became her Giver.”

“Your presence is a light that warms us,” said Earl. “Look at the day, at the sunshine you’ve brought to our homes. Only a faerie can do that.” He stepped back and smiled. “Your choices don’t matter here. And I believe that fate still has a grand plan for you. To me, you’re still a faerie. You will always be a faerie.”

I held up the deed for both men to see. “If accepting this pleases you,” I said, “then I will—with one term.” I unlatched the tiny pouch on my satchel, where I had placed the purse my father had given to me, and opened it. “You must accept something from me.” I poured the coins into the bucket that Eldon had retrieved. “These are for you.”

Both men stared at the tiny treasure.

“Why are you giving us money?” Earl examined one of the coins.

I tied the small purse and replaced it on Maeia’s back. “The land you are offering is worth a lot to some men,” I said. “I know that Owen Dorsey wants to buy it. I’m certain that Cael will have interest in it as well.”

“Cael has no rights to anything of ours,” said Earl. His voice turned serious. “Until he returns home.”

“He hasn’t been home?” I was surprised to hear this news. Certainly if I had the courage to return to this place, he would be able to visit again, especially to see his own father, and his uncle. “Why hasn’t he come?” I asked. “Have you visited him?”

“Cael spends his days working for Owen,” answered Earl. “And when I go there he’s always gone. No, I haven’t seen him for a few weeks now.”

“I’ll talk to him,” I said, patting Earl on the shoulders, “once I return from DarMattey. The winter was hard on him and I’m certain he’s just trying to move on with his life.” I thought for a moment of telling Earl about Cael’s desperate efforts to save Sean, but the moment didn’t feel right. Instead, I held up the deed again. “Are you certain you want me to have this?”

“We’re giving it to you,” he answered with a grin. “But we’ll accept your coins in return. The trade will be binding.”

I offered final hugs and allowed Eldon to replace the water pouches on Maeia’s back with fresh water from the well. He also fed her an apple which she accepted with vigor. Then he kissed her on the nose. As we trotted away, I couldn’t stop grinning. The day felt already felt complete.

Though I had grown up seeing it every day, I had never climbed Taylor’s Ridge. There was never a reason to go up the mountain. Towering trees hovered over the winding road while pieces of thick bark, peeled from their trunks, buried leafy ferns that dotted the red soil. Animals seemed different there. The birds weren’t as colorful, but they sang sharper songs, while the squirrels were fat and gray. My journey was peaceful and the climb not as difficult as I had always imagined. It allowed me moments to imagine what living on the land the Bauers had given me would be like.

Near the top of the ridge, a small clearing broke the evergreens with delicate purple flowers and an old dead tree in the center. Near the tree, a long horizontal stone had been sliced in half. The top of it lay shattered in a hundred pieces, leaving the rest of the stone flat, like a table. That’s where Maeia and I rested. After watering her from one of the pouches Eldon had filled for me, I reclined on the rock. A chilly breeze caressed my face and sifted through my hair.

From the clearing, I saw the valley I had always known, filled with trees—dotted in every shade of green and blue—that stretched as far as I could see. I gazed at my home at the edge of our horse meadow and wondered what my family was doing. Father was most likely in the barn and Mother in the kitchen. But what about Leila and Ethan? It felt strange to watch my home from such a distance. Although I enjoyed the familiarity of the place I grew up in, it felt distantly foreign.

Farther to the south was Stone Meadow. The giant stones dominated the village. They stood anchored and regal, calling for reverence to anyone traveling over the mountain. I smiled as I stared at them, appreciating their sanctity. Stone Meadow would always be there, protecting us. Aisling had been at war before, as recently as my grandparents had remembered, but no enemy had prevailed as long as Stone Meadow stood.

The lake to the north of my home sparkled in the sunlight; it was enormous—larger than I had seen or imagined. When I saw Morgan on the other side, I quickly turned away, not wanting to dwell on the enemy.

Turning my gaze back toward Aisling, I searched for all the places, all the homes of friends and loving relatives that lived in our now seemingly small existence. Far to the west, I saw the erupting tree tops of the Faerie Temple. The angel flowers were hard to miss; their white cloud hovered over the sea of green leaves from the aspen grove that surrounded the temple. Seeing it again made my heart pound fast and unevenly. I thought of the last moments I spent there and my betrayal to the village that fateful night. While quarrelling in my mind why I gone there, I remembered Sean.

“No more,” I told myself, clenching my fists. I turned to face Morgan; to defy it; to challenge the men who had taken my future. I stared at the village across the lake and examined the buildings, and the fields, and each trail of smoke reaching to the sky like the roots of an upside down tree. I shouted at the enemy, questioning the reason for taking my love.

I yelled loud enough to scare a small flock of birds from a nearby tree. They called at me, seemingly annoyed as they cut across the sky to find a new refuge. I turned away from Morgan. The birds would carry my question.

From this place, I saw everything and gained a new appreciation for the village I had always known. Maeia nudged my arm and I remembered she had been here before.

“I see what you were missing,” I told her, while stroking her mane. I took a deep breath of air, which smelled faintly of wildflowers and lacked the smoky scent of oak that lingered in the stitches of my gown. I wrapped my arms around my horse’s neck and hugged her. “It is a wonderful place.”

A nearby raven squawked and ended the peace of the moment. I retrieved the empty water pouch and climbed onto Maeia’s back. Then I directed her down the southern fork of the road—the way Father had told me to take to DarMattey.

~ O ~

Traveling down the south side of the mountain felt a lot faster than the journey up and soon the road turned west, leading me to the land south of Aisling. Under the canopy of trees, Maeia walked in silence, allowing the songs of the surrounding birds to whisper through the leaves. I hummed to their tunes and imagined dances to match their splendor. After less than a dozen long songs, the branches opened and gave me my first view of DarMattey.

Buildings, taller than any home in Aisling, framed both sides of the same road I travelled with wood, stone, and glass faces. A long wooden promenade connected the buildings, like a welcoming trail to their entrance. Dozens of people wandered back and forth across the road and between the buildings in their own kind of order. DarMattey was large and impressive—and noisy. Between the horses, the wagons, and the chatter, the town sounded like an eruption of chaos. Perhaps the lack of grass made it that way. I wasn’t certain why.

Madeline had told me where to find Sianna; however, in the commotion around me I lost my memory and floundered in my thoughts. Maeia flinched and tried to turn back toward the mountain, but I wouldn’t let her. I agreed with how she must have felt—tiny in this giant place, but there was no turning back, nowhere to return. I needed her. I rubbed my necklace, took a deep breath, and then steered her into the town.

I looked different from the people here. The women wore printed dresses and stern faces. The men balanced wide brimmed hats and ported checkered shirts tucked into their pants. I had seen people from DarMattey all my life; they traded with Father, and many visited the celebrations at Stone Meadow. But in Aisling, I was comfortable. Here, I was the outcast—and everyone noticed me. After a few cautious steps down the center of the road, I felt their questioning glances turning to stare. The noise that had met us upon arrival quieted and ceased. I had interrupted the day.

With another breath of courage, I spoke to a round man with a friendly face. “I’m not from here,” I told him. “Will you help me? I’m looking for a friend.”

Before he could answer me, a larger woman grabbed his arm and shoved him toward the door of the nearest building. As quickly as I had spoken, they disappeared inside. Then a hundred faces stared at me. I stared back, horrified; this place was everything I had feared, and more. Maeia snorted and tugged again. This time, I let her turn.

“Miss, are you lost?” A kind voice called from behind me.

I stopped Maeia. Below us, standing in the dirt—with wide eyes under his hat—was a boy about Ethan’s age.

“I can’t be certain,” I told him. “I’ve never been here before. Is this DarMattey?”

The boy nodded. Then he took a step backward as Maeia stepped toward him. “This is DarMattey,” he said, his voice shaking. “Are you—?” Someone from the crowd yelled a name and he turned to look at them, obviously distracted. “Are you a faerie?” he asked, turning back to face me. “From the village?”

“No,” I answered, “I’m not a faerie. And yes—” my answer sounded louder than I had planned, “—I live in Aisling.” I leaned down, nearer to the boy, so that I could speak without yelling. I sensed onlookers moving closer. “I’m searching for my friend. My name is Rhiannon. My father is Neal Phillips, the horse trader.”

I heard my name repeated like a gust of wind. I was still a spectacle. I slipped down to stand at Maeia’s side, which allowed me to hide my voice and talk to the young man more privately. “What is your name?” I asked, motioning for him to come closer.

“Sam,” he told me. “I’m Sam Teagan.” He held out a confident hand. “Is your mare friendly?”

“Her name is Maeia,” I answered. “She’s the most wonderful horse a person could know.”

“I’ve never seen a white horse before.” Sam pressed his hand against Maeia’s neck and exhaled loudly, as if suddenly thankful that his skin didn’t burst into flames when he touched her. “She’s pretty.” He stroked her coat and patted her gently. “Who are you looking for? I’ll help you find them.”

Unable to resist the sudden urge, I lifted Sam’s hat and tousled the long locks of curly blonde hair he had hidden underneath. This boy reminded me of my own little brother, though a year or two older, and I could tell that his kindness was genuine. I smiled at the surprise in his eyes that reflected the sky. “My friend’s name is Sianna,” I said. “She’s married to Jake Harris. Do you know her?”

Sam grinned and grabbed my arm. “Follow me,” he said. “A welcome store is closer than you think.” He pulled me back toward the mountain, to the north side of the row of buildings, and pointed to a wooden sign overhanging the porch of the building on the end.

“Harris Trading,” it read. “A Welcome Store.”

I suddenly felt foolish as I remembered Madeline’s instructions to me before leaving. This was the place she had mentioned. “Oh, thank you,” I told the boy. I could feel my face warm with embarrassment. “I’ve never been here before.”

“You said that already.” Sam grinned at me, revealing his playful tease, and took Maeia’s reins from my hand. “There’s a corral at the side of the store. I’ll water your horse there. Why don’t you go inside and look for your friend?”

I glanced at him, briefly fearing his intentions, but Maeia seemed to trust the young boy. She followed him without looking back at me. I watched them warily while stepping onto the wooden porch, only removing my gaze once he had attached her reins to the round rails of a small fence. When I turned to face the town, I noticed the people around us had returned to their business elsewhere. I was no longer a spectacle. The noise had even resumed.

I reached for the handle of the door and turned back to Maeia. Sam had removed one water pouch and was offering her a drink of the cold liquid. “Thank you for your help, Sam,” I called to him. “I’ll return in a moment.”

“I’ll be here,” he responded. “Maeia is an amazing creature.”

The boy’s kindness suddenly made me miss my family. His honest intentions reminded me of Ethan. I imagined that they could be great friends, had they not been separated by a mountain and a river.

As I opened the door, the smell of polished leather and rope met me with another reminder of home. Sianna stood near a wooden counter, pouring a box of tiny round candies into a glass jar. I called to her with an expression of relief.

She smiled back at me without really looking, and then beamed as she realized my entry. “Rhiannon! What a surprise.” She dropped the box on the counter and rushed toward me. “How are you?”

I offered her a warm hug and patted her back. “I’m well—and I’m happy to have found you.” I squeezed her tight, grateful for my safe journey, and then released her to explain why I had come.

As I told her about my arrival, she returned to the counter and topped the glass jar with a corked lid. “I’m not surprised at your welcome,” she told me while straightening various boxes and metal canisters on the shelves behind her. “Most people here have never met a faerie. They’ve only heard stories about you.”

Sianna obviously hadn’t heard about my removal from the Fae. I opened my mouth to tell her, but the front door opened, allowing the busy sounds of the town to interrupt us.

Sianna glanced over my shoulder. “Hello, Sam.”

“Hello, Missus Harris.” Sam had my leather satchel slung over his shoulder as he entered the store.

“Thank you for helping,” said Sianna. She offered Sam a hug.

Sam smiled and lowered my bag to the floor. “She was lost,” he told her. “I didn’t know what would have happened.”

“Rhiannon is a friend of mine from Aisling.” Sianna returned to the counter and grabbed the jar of candies she had been filling when I arrived. “She’s a faerie.”

Panic stuck me like a hard slap to my stomach. My pretense had to end; I needed to tell Sianna the truth.

“Oh?” Sam looked up at me and then smiled. “I thought as much. My brother told me about you.”

“Your brother?” My stomach twisted.

“Yes.” Sam grinned and grabbed my satchel. “Thomas Teagan,” he said plainly. “He’s engaged to Sianna’s sister, Nia. Where would you like me to put your things?”

“Thomas?” I stared at the boy again, disbelieving his words, though I had heard them clearly.

Thomas was thin and dark, and had never displayed the confidence this young boy had. I kept looking at Sam, searching for a resemblance.

“You don’t look like Thomas,” I finally said, grabbing his hat for a better look at the boy before me.

He grinned back before snatching his cover from my hands. “I’m told that,” he said. “I guess I look more like my mom.”

“That’s all right,” I said. “I met your brother. He was at the Moon Season Celebration.”

Sam shifted from the weight of my satchel, reminding me of his earlier question.

“Will you place that in the corner?”

Sam did as directed, dropping my bag carefully by the window. As he walked back to us, Sianna offered the open jar to him.

“Take a sweet, dear—for your assistance.”

The boy’s eyes widened and he chose a pair of colorful round candies. With his mouth full, he spoke again. “Why did you tell me you weren’t a faerie?” he asked. “I wasn’t going to hurt you.”

As the jar hit hard on the counter top, my stomach twisted painfully. “Because I’m not a Faerie.” I looked up Sianna and pleaded with my eyes for her to understand my intention had not been to deceive her. “Anymore.”

The shock in her eyes spoke more than her gasp of disbelief. I turned away, ashamed. Then Sam made a face that I would always remember. He squinted with curiosity, but smiled with kindness. I realized he didn’t understand the gravity of what had happened to me, and I liked him more because of it. It was a refreshing change from the judgment I had received from the villagers in Aisling. His reaction gave me confidence.