She read and studied until the first light of dawn.
When she slept, curled in the window seat as she’d often done as a child, she dreamed of a great war between gods and demons. A battle that had raged for a century, and more. A war that had spilled the blood of both until it ran like an ocean.
And the ocean became a valley, and the valley became Silence.
Chapter 17
“Sinann, you should be in bed still.”
With her hand resting on her belly, Sinann shook her head at Moira. “I couldn’t let my father leave without seeing him off. Or you.” Sinann looked around the courtyard where horses and dragons and men were preparing for the journey. “It will seem so empty now, with so few of us left inside the walls.” She managed a smile as she watched her father hoist her son high in the air.
“We’ll come back, and the noise will be deafening.”
“Bring them back to me, Moira.” The strain began to leak through now, through her eyes, her voice. “My husband, my father, my brothers, bring them back to me.”
She took Sinann’s arms. “I’ll do everything in my power.”
Sinann pressed Moira’s hand to her belly. “There’s life. Feel it? Tell Phelan you felt his child move.”
“I will.”
“I’ll tend your seedlings, and keep a candle lit until you all come home again. Moira, how will we know? How will we know if you…”
“You’ll know,” Moira promised. “If the gods don’t send a sign of our victory, then we will. I promise. Now go kiss your father, and I’ll kiss all your other men for you when I see them.”
Moira moved to her aunt, touched a hand to Deirdre’s arm. “I’ve spoken with the men I can leave with you. My orders are clear, simple and to be followed exactly. The gate stays locked, and no one leaves the castle—day or night—until word comes that the battle is done. I count on you as the head of my family who remains here, to see these orders are followed. You are my regent until my return. Or in the event of my death—”
“Oh, Moira.”
“In the event of my death, you will serve until the next rightful ruler is chosen.” She pulled off a ring that had been her mother’s, and pushed it into Deirdre’s hand. “This is a sign of your authority, in my name.”
“I’ll honor your wishes, your orders and that name. I swear it to you. Moira.” She gripped her niece’s hands. “I’m sorry we quarreled.”
“So am I.”
Though her eyes were wet, Deirdre managed a tremulous smile. “Though we both part here believing we had the right of it.”
“We do. I don’t love you less because of it.”
“My child.” Deirdre held her close. “My sweet girl. Every prayer I know goes with you. Come back to us. Tell my sons they have my heart and my pride.”
“Sorry.” Blair touched Moira’s shoulder. “Everything’s ready.”
“I’ll say goodbye to you.” Deirdre stepped forward to kiss Blair’s cheeks. “And trust you’ll keep my eldest out of trouble.”
“Do my best.”
“You’ll need to. He’s a handful.” She opened her mouth to speak again, then took a steadying breath. “I was going to say be safe, but that’s not what warriors want to hear. So I’m saying fight well.”
“You can count on it.”
Without pomp or pageantry, they mounted horses and dragons. Groups of children were gathered, clucked over by the women who remained behind. The old leaned on walking sticks, or the arms of the younger.
There were tears glimmering. While they might look through the mist of them to loved ones leaving them behind, Moira knew they looked to her as well.
Bring them back to me. How many had that single desperate wish in their hearts and minds? Not all would have that wish granted, but she would—as she’d sworn to Sinann—do her best.
And she wouldn’t leave them or lead them with tears.