“Me mother-in-law. We’ve always gotten along well, but with the babe coming any day, I’ll not have the time to take care of a person who’s too stubborn to die when it’s time.” Deidre sighed. “No matter what I say, she won’t believe that I’ll be fine on me own.”
Ailish drew in another breath, her expression that of pure joy. “I can help if’n you want.”
The offer sent a violent shudder straight through me. The movement went unnoticed as Deidre’s complete attention remained on Ailish. “Can you now?” she asked.
“I’ve got Cailleach’s voice and the gift to help folks cross over.”
“Would that be the essence or her actual voice you be using?”
“I’ve got the essence for me songs, but if’n the goddess wills it, I can speak in her own true voice.”
Deidre stared at her for a long moment. “That be rare, indeed, sister.” She flicked a hand toward the closed door. “You’ve me blessing to try, and me gratitude if it works.”
Ailish nodded. “When I’m done, you’ll need help putting her to ground.”
The two of them spoke so matter-of-factly, I could hardly believe they were discussing someone’s imminent death. And a loved one for that matter. Nausea rolled through my stomach, and it took every bit of effort not to bolt from the cottage in search of fresh air.
“That won’t be a problem,” Deidre said. “A gentleman friend visits every evening to see how I’m faring. He can manage a grave if there’s one that needs digging.”
“All right then.” Ailish rose from the footstool and slipped into the room, quiet as a mouse. Deidre resumed knitting, while I waited with nerves jangling for what would happen next. The fire cracked, and a raven screeched from somewhere in the front garden.
One minute dragged into another, until I feared my nerves would snap altogether. And then a cold breath touched my face as the most beautiful voice filled the cottage.
*
By good fortune, my head was firmly fastened to my body or it might have floated away when I stepped outside. Such was the effect of Ailish’s singing on me, and I could have listened to it for days, forgetting all about the world and my troubles. But then, that was the point of her gift—to help those let go from their mortal existence. I exhaled a frozen puff into the damp garden air, which happened to be another effect of her gift.
A kiss from Deidre warmed Ailish’s cheek as she followed me out, and the door closed behind us. We went a few more steps and I darted a look at her. “She’s crossed then?”
Ailish nodded but offered nothing more.
“And you’re sure it was her time?” The question came out more tense than I intended.
“The woman was already half dead inside and suffering terribly to stay here for Deidre’s sake.”
I went to the horses, which had been tied to a sapling tree. The whole thing still seemed wrong to me, as though they had somehow defied the laws of nature. “If you’re sure,” I said, without much conviction.
“Don’t be thinking I forced her to go. Gave her the choice is all, and then took the fear out o’ crossing.”
Though the floating sensation had started to fade, the song still lingered in my head, haunting and peaceful. “I’m trying to understand. It’s just so different from what I’m used to.”
“Different don’t always mean wrong, Selah. I’ve a duty to help, no less than you do.”
“I know that.” Irritated, I glanced at the sky, ready to move on to more urgent matters than our different bloodlines.
About an hour of daylight remained, which gave us just enough time to locate the dolmen. And with a bit of luck, perhaps even Nora and Deri. Assuming, of course, that we didn’t return to town to fetch Sean and his friends first. That would bring our count to at least ten, and only a fool would ignore the wisdom of numbers. But what if some of those numbers were declared enemies and more concerned with killing each other than anything else? The time wasted to their squabble could be critical to our cause.
I pursed my lips. Best one war to fight than two. And it would also keep Sean from being killed. Again. He had already broken my heart once, and though I was mad enough to skin him alive, I could not bear living through his death a second time.
Having made up my mind, I considered the trail to better gauge how fast we could push the horses when my brows came down in sudden confusion. “Where’s Henry?”
“Don’t know,” she said. “He weren’t to be seen when we left the cottage.”
“That’s odd. Where would he have wandered off to?”
“Can’t say—”Ailish turned abruptly to the side, her eyes narrowed like a hawk’s.
I froze, my shoulders taut with tension. “What’s the matter?” I whispered.
“I... I thought I saw someone over there.” She tipped her head toward the far side of Deidre’s cottage.
Trying not to be too obvious, I slowly turned and followed her gaze to what appeared to be a wooden outhouse, set atop a stone foundation. Nothing appeared or moved, and other than my pounding heart, the only sound came from the wind blowing through the upper branches of the trees.