THE MORRIGAN CHRONICLES

I WAS ON the ground with my back against the tree when I saw Emrys speeding towards me. He descended gracefully, landing gingerly on his feet. I didn’t bother teasing him for the goofy grin on his face. Let him enjoy this moment. I couldn’t help but raise my eyebrow though, making him laugh.

“I do believe there’s quite a story here you will have to tell me about someday,” I said as I stood, bumping my hip against him.

“Not gonna happen.”

Emrys took my hand and managed to smile even wider. “You ready to get back?”

“I am,” I said, smiling back.

We stepped through the Great Oak. Instantly the cool air tickled my face. My heart raced in anticipation as I looked around. King Conall stood alone, holding the reins of his horse and two others. My eyes locked onto his.

King Conall raised one hand as if to say, wait. His voice was warm and calm as he spoke. “Morrigan relax, Neil is fine. Emrys, may I have a private word?”

I heard the words Conall said but my stomach dropped. I knew something had happened. If Neil was ‘fine’ he would be here. Conall asking to have a private word with Emrys confirmed that something serious had happened and I felt the panic begin to rise within me.

Conall and Emrys stood in front of me. Emrys was having a silent conversation, speaking with Conall in their minds only. Conall kept his eyes trained on me, only glancing at Emrys occasionally. Emrys leapt upon one of the black geldings and raced towards our home. I knew he used magic to enhance the speed because in an instant he was out of sight.

“Conall, I’m terrified. Neil is not fine. Tell me this instant. What’s happened?” I pleaded.

Conall tied the reins of both horses to a tree then walked to me. He was slow, methodical, and calm. Fear bubbled under my skin.

Gently taking my hands in his, he bent over, kissing my cheek. His eyes were soft. The look on his face was one I hadn’t seen in centuries. Without knowing it, that look, conveyed to me what had happened. I bent over, gasping for air as if having been punched in the gut by a giant. That would have been less painful. I dropped to my knees.

Conall knelt next to me. He put one hand on my back then pulled me to his chest and I buried my face into him. He began, “About three months after you had gone Brian came to me with some suspicions. I put Aiden on task of rooting out the truth.”

I silently cried into Conall’s chest. Tears streamed down my face and without looking he used his thumb to brush them from my cheek.

I managed to catch my breath and said, “Go on.”

Conall cleared his throat. “Riley—the Druid girl that Emrys asked to take charge and continue the trainings—she and the others were being integrated into working with the Knights as a team. She and Neil… Well, there was an attraction.”

I tried to take a deep calming breath but it hitched in my throat. My voice sounded shaky as I said, “So he’s with her now. Almost as soon as I was gone, he was with her.”

Conall said nothing. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. One I knew to be true. My heart ached as if it had been carved from my still breathing body. At the same time, I felt a wrath deep inside me at having been discarded so easily. So quickly. My anger didn’t stop at him. I couldn’t believe that I was so foolish. How could I have been so blind? Again?

Conall picked me up in his arms, walking me over to the horses. He put me down so I could stand, placing his hands on both sides of my face. Piercing my eyes with his he spoke as forcefully and regally as I’d ever heard. “We are going to go back. Emrys is beginning a Samhain celebration the likes that no one has ever seen. We are going to begin the feast as is our duty and enjoy this night. I cannot tell you how sorry I am for what has happened. You know, I… I…”

I put my fingers to Conall’s lips. I stopped crying and said, “You needn’t say any more, my King. I will be composed by the time we arrive. I was taken by surprise is all.” I hesitated. “I’ll be fine.”

Conall gave me his little crooked smile and bowed. “To the celebration, then.”