The Scourge of Muirwood (Legends of Muirwood #3)

“I was always a little afraid of you,” Lia said softly.

“Were you?” Reome asked, looking baffled. “I am sorry, Lia. I am sorry for all of the dreadful things I said and did to you. Teasing you and mocking you.” Her eyes squinted thoughtfully. “I suffered greatly from my guilt and shame until I spoke with the Aldermaston. We really spoke, Lia, as I am sure you often did with him. He was so gentle and kind to me. He helped me see that punishing myself accomplished nothing. He taught me to be grateful for what I have instead of what I lost or never had.” There were tears in her eyes, and she blinked rapidly. “If I have a boy, I will name him Gideon.” She bit her lip. “I will never forget what you did for me, Lia Hunter. May the Medium comfort you and keep you. I believe in it now as I have never believed anything in my life. You gave me the first spark of it.” She squeezed Lia’s hands and then gave her a kiss on her cheek. “Bless you, sister.”

Lia’s heart shuddered with emotion and she clenched Reome tightly, amazed at her surging feelings. The two had never shared a hug in their entire lives together at Muirwood. It truly was the end of all things.

As they left the kitchen into the chilled morning air, Marciana and Kieran halted while the rest gathered outside.

“Do you think Pen-Ilyn will still be by the shore?” Marciana asked. “With his boat to ferry us across to Pry-Ree?”

Lia pursed her lips. “I believe…someone will be waiting for you. The Medium responds to our needs. I cannot see who, but I sense it. Someone will take you to the ships.”

Marciana swallowed. “Do you think…that Colvin…? Do you have any sense, Lia?”

She frowned. “I cannot see his future. Any more than I can see mine or yours. There is nothing but fog, like the mists that often settle over these grounds. My Gift only works when I benefit others, not myself.”

“But in your heart,” she pressed in a low voice, her eyes desperate for assurance. “You said Hillel…that she was a hetaera. Do you think he resisted her?”

Lia’s heart twisted with pain. “I do not know. I cannot think on it without getting ill. They were to be married at Billerbeck. He believes I am dead. I had hoped to find him here at Muirwood.” She clenched her jaw and stifled her feelings. “We can hope, Ciana. That is all that we can do for him now.”

Tears trickled down Marciana’s cheeks. She nodded and Kieran put his arm around her shoulder, hugging her. She leaned against him, trying to master her feelings.

“Goodbye, Lia,” she whispered. “Would we were sisters. Thank you for saving me from Dieyre. Thank you for saving me from what you suffered at Dochte Abbey.” She put her hand on Lia’s arm. “I would not have been as strong as you.”

They hugged each other one last time and then Lia watched the group begin the slow walk towards the ring of oaks surrounding the grounds and then towards the Bearden Muir. The lake that had surrounded the Abbey had long since receded. The Abbey defenses were broken.

As she watched them go, she turned her gaze to the Tor and the dark duty that awaited her there.





*





As Lia climbed the Tor, her heart grew more and more heavy as she neared the charred stumps of the twin maypoles at the peak. Her stomach clenched with agony at seeing the blackened shells, the stick-like figures still chained there. The last time she had climbed the Tor, she was with Colvin on a stormy day hunting Seth’s footprints with the Cruciger orb. The wind whipped about her, moaning softly against her ears.

The evidence of death lay ahead of her, but the memories of hearing what had happened tortured her soul.