The woman didn’t reply right away, but narrowed her eyes on Ailish. Several long seconds passed before the rage began to calm in her face. “Sister, you say?”
“Oh, for certain.” Ailish drew a long breath through her nose. “You’re a strong one. I can smell Cailleach’s blood from here.”
I heaved an inward sigh at the revelation.
Henry didn’t say a thing, nor did he give any indication of even hearing their exchange. While they spoke of Cailleach and being long-lost sisters, his concentration remained fixed on the surrounding woods. Frustrated by the distraction, I started to dig an elbow into his side to help break the spell. At the last moment, I thought otherwise, that the preoccupation might be useful if it kept him from overreacting, or on the chance he’d actually caught sight of something slinking about. For all I knew, another hound could be on the prowl, though Ailish would have probably smelled it by now.
The small porch creaked as the woman relaxed her stance. The previous rage had cleared from her face. The smile hadn’t returned though, and a spark of suspicion still lit her eyes. “What’s your father’s name?” she asked Ailish. “And don’t try fibbing. I know all Cailleach’s kin south o’ Dublin.”
Ailish bobbed a shallow curtsey. “Miss Ailish O’Bearra, at your service.”
“O’Bearra.” The name rolled off the woman’s tongue. “I knew a man once by that name ages ago near Waterford. Mighty strong gift he had. And a young daughter to bring up on his own. Heard he crossed to the Otherworld some years past.”
“That be me da. He died when I was a wee lass and Master Calhoun took me in.”
The woman nodded. “So you’re the charlatan’s brat? I should have known he be working with Cailleach’s blood for folks to see the dead.”
It was Ailish’s turn to spit on the ground. “Not anymore. We had a parting o’ ways back near Ballyhack.”
The woman crossed her arms over her swollen belly. “And now you’re thinking o’ joining with the devil. Is that why you’ve come sniffing about me cottage?”
Ailish leaned forward onto the balls of her feet. “What would you say if’n we’ve come to kill her?”
Laughter burst from the woman. “That it be the grandest bit o’ news I’ve heard since summer past.” She looked between Ailish and me, her mouth pursed in thought. “But why would you want to kill her, demon that she is.”
The truth spilled from me before there was time to reconsider. “Because she stole my best friend, and I want her back.”
Light gray eyes settled on my face. “Who might you be, me dear, to care so much for a friend?”
I held her gaze firm. “Selah Kilbrid.”
The woman chuckled under her breath. “I thought it be too warm out here, even with a ripe belly.” She patted the top of her stomach. “I’m Deidre Byrne, widow o’ the late Roddy Byrne.”
Since Henry’s hand was still around my waist, I didn’t attempt a curtsey. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Byrne.” It was partly the truth.
“Call me Deidre.” She cut her eyes to Henry. “I assume he’s got the same blood as you do, Selah.”
I shook my head. “He’s not like us.”
Her expression grew skeptical. “So you say.” She turned to Ailish. “Well, if you’re serious about killing Deri, you best come inside so we can talk. The weight o’ this babe be wearing me back thin.”
Ailish moved toward the door. Wanting to follow her, I nudged Henry in the ribs to get his attention. He looked down as though surprised to see me.
“We’re going inside with Mrs. Byrne.”
He dropped his arm from my waist. “You go ahead.” His gaze drifted back to the woods. “I’ll just wait out here with the horses.”
My mouth popped open. Was he really going to just let me walk into a closed room with two of Cailleach’s descendants? Hadn’t he heard anything in the past few minutes? Not that I minded the show of confidence, except that his behavior had gone well past bizarre.
I followed his line of sight the best I could. “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing,” he said, distracted.
“Really?” Sarcasm clung to my voice. “So you’ve been staring at nothing this whole time?”
He didn’t even try to answer.
Deidre beckoned toward the cottage. “Leave him to it, Selah. The sun’s almost gone, and you’ll not want to be in the woods once night comes.”
I looked between the two of them. “But...” I sputtered, unsure how to even finish the sentence.
“Don’t fret, lass.” Her lips curled to a knowing smile. “Your man be plenty safe. I pledge me word upon it.”
In truth, I was more concerned with his sanity than his safety at the moment. “Very well.” With one last glance at Henry, I followed Deidre into the cottage.
Chapter Seventeen
A Test of Blood
I stepped over the threshold into Deidre’s cottage. Squinting at the dimness, I allowed my eyes to adjust before proceeding farther. Once inside though, my skin turned to ice, and no wonder being in such a small space with two of Cailleach’s descendants.