Chapter 16

In the galley of the captured fishing boat, Lugh thumped a bowl of fish stew in front of Speal, who regarded the three glaring eyes floating in the broth before she looked up at the mortal.

"You couldnae spare them the sight of my belly?" she asked as she picked up her spoon.

"The one-eyed witch claimed you favored such. I but do as I'm told." He sat down on the bench beside her and rolled out the map they had been using while sailing the waters near Ronalsee. "We've searched near all the waters none of mine shall cross. 'Tisnae one sign of your MacMar or their island. If we dinnae find them in the north of the sound–"

"Then you've failed me, or lied." She ate the fish eyes, enjoying the way they popped in her mouth before she reached for a stale oat cake and crumbled it into the stew. "I wonder how mortal eyes taste in pottage, for yours look tasty. Would you stew them with fish or crab?"

"I didnae claim the bastarts occupied these waters," Lugh said. "You did. The other witches, 'tis something amiss with them of late. They're forever scratching at their skin and refuse to eat. Aye, and hiss like cats whenever I draw near."

Speal knew the cause, of course—in another few days the full moon would again rise, and because their last change had been unfulfilling, the Cait Sith had grown even more restless than usual. She had been brooding over what to do to keep her sisters from turning on each other again during the monthly change, but the only solution meant dropping anchor and moving them off the ship onto an island. If she returned to Insii Orc, where the enchantress awaited them, her lack of progress in finding the MacMar might result in another tantrum, one that could see them all slain.

"I need a place where we may spend a night away from the boat," she finally told the mortal. "Any small island with a few mortals shall do." She hated the thought of killing more helpless islanders, but in their true forms they became voracious hunters, intent only on chasing down and tearing apart prey. "Mayhap this haven where you sent the others?"

"End me, for I'll no' guide you any place for such purpose," Lugh said, looking even more disgusted now. "Why need you slay more innocents? Cannae you spend a night in peace?"

She turned her head to stare at him for speaking what had been in her mind. "If you wish survive that night, I'll need lock you away from me and my sisters. Dinnae you reckon by now that we're beasts in the skins of mortals?"

"That dark thing that beats and eats men, aye, but the rest of you...she's led you astray," he said, almost as if he were sorry for her.

Speal wondered if Lugh meant to prod her into ending him. "If you wish save us, then find us an island for a night." She saw him frown. "You already ken a place, dinnae you?"

"You'll find no people living there, only red deer and sheep left to graze the glens." His eyes glinted as he studied the map. "'Twill take a day reach the place, and we'll need take care anchor a good distance from the shore so we dinnae ground the boat on the tide sands."

"How shall we cross the water if we're anchored?" she demanded. "You've no skiffs."

His thin lips curled. "You may wade to the sand bars and walk the rest of the way, Witch, for the island doubles in size when the tides go out."

"If you're lying, I'll lash you to the hull and let the sharks eat you slowly." She pushed aside the stew and went out onto the main deck.

Although the fishing boat was smaller than the trader, it needed only half the crew, and sailed much faster. As soon as another vessel came within sight of them Lugh would hoist a bright yellow flag, which she knew signaled that the crew was sick, and the other boat should avoid them, which they did. With the full moon approaching she should keep the flag hoisted at all times, Speal thought, and then grew disgusted with herself.

I'm growing as soft as Fia toward mortals.

"Sister." Dearg, who had insisted on accompanying them, came to join her at the railing. "Why dinnae we sail for Francia? 'Tis said all manner of nobles who abide there, and some quite laden with coin and young, pretty daughters."

Speal sighed. "You reckon Derdrui shallnae find us hiding anywhere we flee?"

"We might scatter across the countryside after we seize some riches and new forms to wear. 'Twould prove too much trouble, her chasing all of us." The little shifter leaned against her arm. "Only I'm so tired, she'd catch me soonest, I reckon."

She put her arm around her. "Did our sovereign command you tempt me thus if we took too long with our search?" As Dearg stiffened she stroked her head. "Dinnae fret. I ken what she shall do if you disobey her—and I've no notion of abandoning you lot and running away."

"That mortal you brought with us, he's an odd one," the little Cait Sith said after a long silence. "He hardly sleeps or eats, and he's ever watching the horizon, as if expecting rescue. Yet when any boat comes within sight, he hoists the plague flag. Nor does he seem fearful of us. I wonder just how strong he may prove."

"Dinnae torment Lugh," she scolded her. "I need him steer this facking wreck, and he may yet find the MacMar for us." She slapped her bottom. "Go and rest now."

Dearg met her gaze. "The enchantress shallnae wait much longer. If she bids the sisters you left with her find us, I reckon we shall all seek our rest at the bottom of the sea."

Speal watched her go below deck, and then looked out at the endless sapphire waters and their white-crested waves. "Mayhap 'tis where we belong."

After seeing Shaw confront Caroline,Jamaran didn't want to leave her alone. Once she had delivered the Fae objects she had collected to Duncan, he offered to escort her back to the cottage.

"Quit worrying about me. The creepy chieftain and I are good now." As they walked out of the stronghold she tucked her arm through his. "But if you just want to come over and keep me company, I won't say no."

"I've duties I must attend at the palace." He walked with her to the dock where she had tied up the skiff she used to go back and forth to the main island, and helped her in before he cast off her rope. "Perhaps I may visit after sunset?"

She looked around before she leaned closer and brushed her lips against his. "If you bring some of that Sleepfast hooch. I want to try that again."

He waited until he saw her safely land the skiff on the other side of the bay before he entered the water and swam to the palace, where the king's attendants told him Merrick had just left to join a patrol. The king had warned him that he would name him as his heir as soon as he found a solution to his dilemma with Meg, but he suspected the chambermaid would soon wed another mortal.

When that day came, Jamaran would be the first to know.

He had no desire to become king, and suspected even if Merrick attempted to force rule on him by naming him his heir, he could swiftly persuade the council of elders to choose another in his stead. Unlike him they would not be swayed by affection for or loyalty to the former monarch, and their own preference for a Selseus-born leader would compel them to select the most fair-minded of their kind. They might even choose a queen for the throne.

If Merrick fathomed that from his thoughts, he might also decide to remain as king.

As the hour grew late he decided to go to the trysting pool and retrieve the nearly-full jug of Sleepfast he had there. Even if Caroline changed her mind about drinking it, Jamaran disliked the taste of whiskey, and he wouldn't mind keeping his own supply of spirits at her little cottage. Yet as he neared the cove he sensed Nyall approaching, and waded up to the embankment to meet him.

Stay back from me.

Jamaran stopped. He'd never seen his friend in such a state; the captain had singe marks on his tunic and trews, which were torn in several places. Bloody scratches covered his hands and wrists, and thin streaks of white light crackled in his dark eyes.

What's happened?

Naught that I may undo. Nyall crouched down and stretched his hand over the water, and small arcs of light jumped from his palm to burst against the dappled surface. In anger I summoned lightning from the sky, and near killed Shaw.

The strange boon, which had plagued the captain since he'd been struck by lightning, had been slowly growing more dangerous over time. It also explained why his friend wanted him to keep his distance.

Put your hand in the waters. As Nyall glared at him Jamaran gestured to the sky. 'Tis how you may discharge the lightning that clings to you. If such knocks me out, then we'll find another way.

I may end you.

Jamaran waded over closer and reached down, seizing his friend's wrist and plunging it into the cove's waters. That caused a larger burst of light, and as Nyall jerked free of his grip the power bounced off his own hand without harming or burning him.

You see? He pulled his arm out of the water to show his friend. Your eyes, they're no longer filled with lightning, either. Shaw yet lives?

Nyall stood, and turned away. Aye.

Then he'll recover. From the shaking of his shoulders Jamaran knew to stay back and give him the time to compose himself. Control of the boon, 'tis all you need learn. I shall aid you however I may.

His friend faced him. "And Caroline? Shall I burn her to cinders the next time I take her in my arms? Shall my kiss set her face on fire?"

Now he understood why Nyall feared his strange boon so much. "You'd never harm our lady."

"Reckon you I wished harm Shaw?" Nyall shook his head. "I lost my temper and almost turned my brother to ash. What shall I do when next I argue with her? When she angers me? When she does whatever she wishes, as always, no matter what I say?"

He knew Nyall would first set fire to himself than risk hurting anyone, especially Caroline or him. Then he understood why his friend kept pushing him out of his thoughts. "Calm yourself. Your màthair wasnae right about you. You're but a man, no' a monster."

"You saw what I may do. Indeed, even now Shaw runs across Caladh away from me. Shaw, over whom no one's ever prevailed since his return." Nyall's expression grew bitter. "Indeed, in the end I may need beg him slay me."

"No problem." Footsteps rustled the grass as Caroline stepped out of the shadows, a basket of bread in one hand. "If you really want to die, I'd be happy to kill you."

Eavesdroppingon her men didn't bother Caroline in the slightest; both of them still kept way too much from her, especially Nyall. Seeing him demonstrate his lightning power for Jamaran had startled her, but his crap about possibly using it on her made her furious. After all they'd gone through, and everything they meant to each other, he was still pushing her away.

As soon as he saw her the captain backed away. "Dinnae come near me, my lady."

"Why? Are you going to burn my face off tonight?" She dropped the basket and walked right up to him, grabbing his hand and pressing it to her cheek. "Nothing is happening. Well? I haven't got all night to die a horrible death. Let's get cooking, Captain."

"Stop tormenting me." He pried her hand off his wrist to end the contact. "I spoke of only what may pass, no' what I wish do."

"Oh, I get it. You think you might accidentally set me on fire." She imagined punching him with both fists. "It's a shame you can't read my mind, or you'd be running away from me very fast right now."

Nyall made an impatient sound. "'Tisnae time for jesting, either."

"I'm not joking. I could seriously kick your ass all the way back to the stronghold for saying such stupid crap. I also don't torment you. Neither does Jamaran. We're your friends. You're my lovers." She watched his eyes for any sign of the lightning, but the only thing she saw in them was terrible despair. "Come on, what happened with Shaw was probably scary, but it's not your fault. He got away alive, didn't he? So you just learn how to control the lightning power."

"You speak so merrily of what you dinnae understand." He looked for a moment as if he might grab and kiss her, but then he caught himself and moved back. "Jamaran, take the lady home."

"No, you don't get to dismiss us like that," she said flatly. "Make me understand why you would give up the only two people who will do anything for you. Being alone isn't any fun for you. Sometimes when we're sleeping together you put your arms over both of us, did you know that? Like you're trying to protect us even when you sleep."

"I cannae protect from me," Nyall shouted.

Caroline had never seen him like this, and it was starting to scare her. Although she had a whole new appreciation for what Shaw must be going through with his demon, what the captain was doing was the same as cutting his own lines so he could sink alone to the bottom of his despair.

"You have some nerve, you know?" She paced back and forth for a moment, trying to work off a little of her own anger. "You made me trust you, Nyall. First with my safety and then with my body. I've never let any man get that close to me, but I believed everything you told me. You turned out to be a liar anyway."

He rubbed a hand over his face. "Caroline, please."

"You don't have any faith in me. You think I'll fall apart when things get bad with you." She uttered a brittle laugh. "I was left to die in the ocean by a man I cared about and trusted. I nearly drowned in this bay, too. Believe me, it doesn't get any worse than that. Also, I can stop time, maybe someday forever. That seems a lot more dangerous than your lightning bolt thing. But look, I'm still here. I'm not crazy. I'm making a life for myself."

"So you should, without me." His shoulders hunched. "You dinnae ken the madness in my blood. Whether you care or no', I shallnae risk harming you again. 'Tis over between us, my lady. I wish you and the commander much happiness."

She watched him stalk off, and imagined going after him. That would only make things worse, and in the end this demon was his to fight, not hers. Not yet, anyway. When Jamaran came and put his arm around her she leaned against his shoulder and sighed.

"If I throw a big rock at the back of his head, would that kill him?" she muttered. "No, then Duncan would have to fix him, and end up with a massive migraine."

"Our captain's facing his worst enemy," her lover said, his tone soft and thoughtful. "His hatred of himself."

"He hates himself so much he just gift-wrapped and handed me to you? I'm betting it's not that simple. There's more he's not telling either of us." She turned to face him. "How much do you want to bet he comes over to my cottage later to sneak a peek in the window to see if we're consoling each other?"

He released a sad chuckle. "'Tisnae a wager I'd make."

"You really are a decent guy, commander." She touched his arm. "Don't worry. We got him into bed with us. We'll help him get through this, too."

Jamaran kissed her brow. "I shall do whatever I may."

"First we need to get him somewhere alone with us, and not my place." She tapped a finger against her lips. "Remember that idea you had about taking Nyall and me to that abandoned island where we can spend the whole night making love under the stars? Maybe that's where we can help him practice some control."

"'Tis some caves where you and I may take cover." He smiled. "Aye, if we may convince him go there, then he'd no' fear harming anyone when he summons the lightning."

"Great." She sighed. "Now we just have to talk him into it."