Elphame's Choice (21 page)

“EL! THIS WAY.”
Cuchulainn raised his hand, beckoning for his sister and the Huntress to join him near the entrance to the castle.

Chagrined to realize just how tired the relatively short walk had made her, Elphame forced a smile firmly on her face and straightened her shoulders. She stifled a grimace as her right shoulder reminded her that it was still far from healed. As she and Brighid approached her brother, Brenna emerged from the interior of the castle, wiping her hands on her blood-spattered apron. She caught sight of Elphame and Brighid and called an enthusiastic greeting, but she instantly changed from friend to concerned Healer when they were close enough for her to get a good look at her patient.

“How is the worker’s hand? I hope the injury wasn’t too severe,” Elphame asked Brenna.

“He will recover, but I believe he will rethink the impulse to wink at an attractive maid while he’s cutting logs.” She
narrowed her eyes at Elphame, taking in her pale, drawn face. “I can see the surprise we planned for you comes none too soon,” she huffed. Ignoring her protests, she raised Elphame’s bodice and checked the dressing on her wound.

“Is she well? Should we call a chaise for her?” Cuchulainn asked, peering over Brenna’s shoulder.

“No,
she
doesn’t need a chaise!” Elphame snapped, pulling down her shirt and sending Brenna and her brother twin looks of annoyance. “
She
needs a bath, something besides broth to eat and some privacy.”

Brenna’s lips tilted in her endearing lopsided grin. “Then your surprise will be most welcome.”

“What surprise are you talking about?” Elphame said, trying not to grit her teeth. Honestly! The three of them were going to drive her mad. She just wanted a bath and dinner—and some time by herself to sort through her turbulent emotions.

“Come with us, sister-mine,” Cu said mysteriously. He looped an arm through hers and led her into the castle.

“Elphame! Good to see you up and about again, my Lady!”

El looked up at the voice coming from the newly rebuilt soldier’s walk just inside the main castle walls. She waved at the man, and searched through her memory for his name.

“Thank you, Brendan,” she called.

Then his voice was joined by many others, which she answered in kind, as she walked slowly through the gap in the inner wall and into the center of her castle, where she stopped in wonderment at the change five days had wrought.

The great heart of the castle looked newborn. The fountain was gurgling merrily. Someone had brought in huge ferns from the forest floor which had been potted in large clay containers and arranged in a curving pattern around the marble girl. Sconces newly attached to the walls and columns held torches that burned brightly, bringing light and warmth and a
fire-colored pulse to the castle. The floor was spotless, smooth and soft, and now that it had been cleaned, the stone looked as if the weathering of more than a century had simply served to hone its beauty.

“Oh, Cu! The columns!”

She squeezed his arm affectionately before hurrying to the giant central column. It stood like a newly commissioned sentinel, watchful and proud. It had been lovingly restored. The dancing torchlight stroked the intricate carvings of interwoven knots and the lovely designs they formed of birds and flowers and rearing mares.

And the stone hummed, with a musical, resonant voice that seemed to echo through her soul. Without even touching it she could feel the pull of its call.

Automatically, Elphame drew closer to the pillar, eager for a more intimate communication with the stone. Then she felt the dozens of watching eyes and remembered that she was not alone. Elphame fisted her hands at her sides. What had she been thinking? She hadn’t meant to put on a performance for the entire castle.

The centaur’s hooves clopped solidly against the stone floor as Danann stepped from the group of workers that had congregated near the fountain.

“The stone calls you. It is a unique gift, one you should not hesitate to answer.” The old centaur didn’t raise his voice, but it carried throughout the increasingly crowded room.

Elphame looked nervously from Danann around the room.

“No,” he said, joining her beside the column and lowering his voice for her ears alone. “Do not fragment your attention. You have only one course of action. When the stone speaks, you answer.” He softened the admonishment of his words with a kind smile. “You are destined to be The MacCallan. Your castle has called you from a great distance and across a gulf of
time. Now you must answer with your soul, as well as your body.”

Elphame licked her lips and swallowed past the dryness in her throat. His words made sense to her. She was connected to this castle—to its walls and floors and columns, and to the spirits of its past. She wanted that connection, her very soul craved it.

She spared one more look at Danann. He nodded encouragement.

Elphame cleared her mind and pressed her palms against the central column. The ancient stone became fluid under her hands as the warmth began. The heat grew rapidly, spreading up her arms and enclosing her body—and the rush of feeling filled her mind with a single shout of joy.

Faith and Fidelity!

Her heart leaped in recognition of the motto of Clan Mac which the stones of the castle—her castle—had cried with a single, victorious voice. Elphame gasped at the sweet intensity of happiness. From a detached part of her mind she noticed that Cuchulainn had moved toward her, and that Danann had stayed him by laying his gnarled hand against the warrior’s arm.

“Your sister is safe. She draws her strength from these stones.”

Elphame heard the Stonemaster’s voice as if it came from a great distance, but his words registered deep within her consciousness.

She could draw strength from the stones? What an incredible thought, but how could it be possible?

The instant she wondered the heat filling her changed, shifted and reacted to her unspoken request. The heat under her hands increased and Elphame felt them actually slide a little way into the temporarily malleable stone.

Energy surged into her body. Like a diver surfacing after an unbearably long underwater search, Elphame drank in strength from the stone. The ache in her shoulder and side was soothed, and the headache that had dogged her for five days evaporated.

Elphame closed her eyes, and took several deep, cleansing breaths, centering herself as Danann had taught her all those days ago. Then she concentrated on her connection with the living stone.
Thank you. I don’t know why you are allowing me this magical gift, but thank you.

The spirit of the castle’s central column answered her—this time in more than fragments of feelings and tides of emotions.

We have long awaited the return of The MacCallan and the pulse of life within our walls. We rejoice that you have come to claim your birthright. Behold what is yours, Goddess!

With a force that almost frightened her, Elphame felt her senses stretch as her spirit joined with the spirits of the stone. There was a moment of confusion and swirling vertigo while she became accustomed to her new awareness. Then more power filled her and with a burst of energy she was suddenly as one with the castle. Its walls became her skin, her limbs were towers and partially rebuilt chambers, and her spine was the central column itself. She could feel every nook and alcove of the castle. They were tissue and blood, just as she could feel what a sublime pleasure it was that her “body” was alive and being cared for.
This is my home
. The loving caress of her thoughts flowed throughout the foundation of MacCallan Castle. Her clan’s ancestral home lived once more.

Cuchulainn watched as the spirit realm enfolded his sister. Danann’s firm hand remained a constant pressure on his arm, as if the old centaur knew how difficult it was for him to release his sister to a realm that he had so completely rejected. But even he had to admit that she was awe-inspiring. Just moments before she looked weary and strained. Now, he watched her
change before his eyes. She glowed with the power of the ancient heart of the castle. Her cheeks flushed and her hair snapped around her with the indwelling of her castle’s spirit.

For the first time in his life, Cuchulainn saw the Goddess within his sister come fully alive, and for a moment it was as if he was watching an awesome stranger take her place. He knew it was what she had always desired, this connection with the spirit realm, and he knew he should feel happy for her—she was finally experiencing her destiny, but it saddened him almost as much as it awed him.

He broke his eyes from Elphame to study the people and centaurs surrounding them. Many of them had joined hands. Two women had fallen to their knees. On all of their faces Cuchulainn saw reflected the awe and love he felt for his amazing Goddess-touched sister. They would follow her anywhere.
We
, he amended,
we
would follow her anywhere.

At that moment Elphame threw back her head and in a voice magnified by the power of the spirits of the castle shouted the words that filled her to overflowing.

“Faith and Fidelity!”

“Faith and Fidelity!” Automatically, Cuchulainn’s voice joined his sister’s in their Clan’s ancient battle cry, and soon all the voices of MacCallan Castle blended together in a shout that echoed from the walls of living stone and out into the listening forest.

“Faith and Fidelity!”

ELPHAME LOOKED AROUND
her while she rubbed her tingling hands together. Still exuberant from the communion with the spirits in the stone, she found it almost impossible to stand still. She was filled with strength and hope and joy, but her restless eyes searched the people that crowded around her. She braced herself for her people’s reaction to what they had just witnessed. Yes, they had responded to her cry, and had been caught up in the magic of the moment. But at what cost? Would they see her as a Clan Chieftain and accept her as such, or would they begin to shy away from her? Or worse, would they try to worship her?

The little housekeeper, Meara, was the first to speak. Her plump face dimpled adorably when she bobbed a quick curtsey and smiled at Elphame.

“I supervised the cleaning of these columns,” she began in a soft, hesitant voice, but as she continued to speak her nervousness calmed. “I restored the central column myself.” Meara’s
gaze touched the magnificent column with a loving look of pride and accomplishment. “I cannot communicate with the spirits in the stone as you do, but on my oath I swear that I could feel them—their strength and most of all their welcome.” Impulsively, she reached out and squeezed Elphame’s hand. “You were right. This is our home. The very stones do welcome us.”

Through a surge of emotion Elphame struggled to find her voice.

A young man stepped up beside Meara. He bowed to Elphame and she thought she recognized him as one of the men who had lifted her to Brighid’s back the night of her accident. But before Elphame could greet him, he dropped dramatically to his knees. Locking his eyes with hers he spoke in a voice rich with the passion of youth.

“I have never had a home to call my own. I am the youngest of ten sons and all my life I have felt displaced, transient. I think many of us have felt that way.” He paused and looked around at the mixed group of humans and centaurs. Several heads nodded and Elphame heard general sounds of agreement. “But no longer. I was not born of the Clan MacCallan, but as I have labored to rebuild its walls, I, too, have felt the pull of the stone. I fit here, as I never have before. This castle has set its foundation within me, and if The MacCallan will accept me, I will swear allegiance to you and will proudly bear the clan name until my death and beyond, if Epona so grants it.”

“As will I!” cried a voice from Elphame’s right and another man sank to his knees.

“And I!”

“I, too!”

Overwhelmed, Elphame watched as each person in the great central chamber of the castle, men, women and centaurs alike, including the proud Dhianna Huntress, dropped to their
knees, until only Cuchulainn and Danann were left standing. Then Cu stepped to his sister’s side.

“I am, of course, already of the Clan MacCallan, but on this day I join those here in swearing allegiance to you, my sister and my Chieftain.” Cuchulainn knelt before her.

“Decades ago I swore allegiance to the Temple of Epona, and it is a bond I cannot break,” Danann said slowly. “But I do hereby acknowledge that you are the rightful heir of the Clan MacCallan, and I stand as witness to the oaths sworn to you on this day.” He bowed gallantly to Elphame.

“Thank you, Danann. Then bear witness that as The MacCallan I accept the oath of each human and centaur present today.” Her words were clear and filled with the strength of the castle, even as tears of happiness threatened to spill from her shining eyes. “And I bind their allegiance the ancient way.” Elphame raised her hands and invoked the timeless words of clan binding.

With a shout, the room erupted into cheers as the newly made clan surged to its feet. Elphame wiped tears of happi
ness from her face as she watched her clan congratulating one another. Wineskins suddenly appeared and they were enthusiastically passed around while toasts to The MacCallan’s health were proclaimed.

“Well done, sister-mine,” Cu said into her ear as he hugged her tightly.

“It’s like I’m living in a dream, Cu.” A dream…the word echoed through her mind, evoking images that made her wish suddenly and unexpectedly that Lochlan was there beside her. Would he have sworn allegiance to her? And if he had, would that make a difference to Cuchulainn? Would that make Lochlan one of them? Could Cu ever see that Lochlan was something more than an ancient enemy? Or would he only be viewed as a threat, something that could drive a wedge between her and her clan?

“They’re mine,” she said fiercely.

“That they are—that we are.” The warrior smiled at his Chieftain.

They belonged to her, and through them she finally belonged, too.

One of the men produced a flute and began playing a light, lively melody, which was soon joined by another flute and the distinctively liquid sound of a lyre. Elphame grinned. She wanted to dance and sing and rejoice all night, but before she could grab Cu’s hand and make him dance with her, Elphame felt a restraining hand on her arm. She looked up into the wise eyes of Danann.

“It is only temporary,” he said quietly. “The strength you borrowed from the stone will soon fade.”

Instantly attentive, Cuchulainn linked his arm with his sister’s and searched through the crowd until he spotted Brenna’s small dark head where she stood quietly beside the Huntress, her head tilted down so that her thick hair concealed
the scarred half of her face. As if she felt his gaze, she looked up and read the familiar look of worry on Cuchulainn’s handsome face. She nodded, spoke to Brighid, and the two of them began making their way through to Elphame.

Satisfied, Cu turned to his sister. “I recognize that look in your eyes, sister-mine, but unless you want to turn pale and faint in front of everyone, I think you should rethink the dance you’re going to try to drag me into.”

Elphame curled her lip at him and would have shot out a quick retort reminding Cu that she didn’t faint, if her headache hadn’t chosen that instant to pound back with a stomach-sickening vengeance.

“Your face just lost color,” Brenna said as she bustled up to Elphame. “Is it your head?”

“If I say yes do I have to drink more of your tea?”

Brenna tried to hide her smile. “Of course.”

“Then my head feels fine.” Elphame grinned, and then winced as a spike of pain pounded through her temple in time with her heartbeat.

“You lie poorly.”

“I would say it is the perfect time for her surprise,” Danann said.

Cuchulainn, Brenna and Brighid beamed in agreement.

“Clan MacCallan!” Cuchulainn’s voice broke through the celebratory noises and the room quieted. “Your Chieftain will retire to her chambers to rest and refresh herself before the evening feast.”

Elphame’s brow furrowed in confusion. Her chambers? Didn’t he mean her tent?

The bright looks from the crowd and the cheery cries of “Rest easily, MacCallan!” said they were in on it, too—perhaps Cu had fashioned a makeshift area within the castle grounds for her. She admitted to herself that the idea appealed to her,
no matter how crude the temporary shelter. So Elphame simply smiled and waved as Cu, followed by Brenna and Brighid, led her from the central hall through a passage that curved off to their right, well lit by brightly burning wall sconces. She glanced around curiously. She hadn’t spent much time in this side of the castle. She knew it housed what used to be the personal quarters of the MacCallans, but she had been more concerned with the renovation of the kitchen and public meeting rooms—and, of course, she had also been so enthralled by the fountain and the heart of the castle, that she had given little thought to the private quarters.

“Where are you taking me?”

Cuchulainn just smiled enigmatically. Elphame sighed. She knew that look; she’d get nothing out of him.

“Stubborn,” El said. “You’ve always been so stubborn.”

Behind them Brighid snorted and muttered, “Like brother like sister.”

Brenna giggled.

Elphame glanced over her shoulder at her two friends. “I’m the eldest. So if it’s anything it’s like
sister
like
brother
.”

The Huntress raised one perfectly arched brow. “I stand corrected.”

It was Cuchulainn’s turn to snort.

To the left a smaller corridor branched from the hallway, and Cuchulainn turned into it. Elphame blinked in surprise as it dead-ended in front of a thick, wooden door onto which was carved the plunging mare from the MacCallan crest. Twin sconces burned on either side of the door so that the newness of the polished pinewood glistened in the firelight with a rich luster. Elphame traced her fingers over the outline of the mare.

“This is beautiful. It couldn’t possibly have survived the fire,” she said.

“It didn’t. Several of the men cut it from one of the trees
in your forest, and Danann carved it. He said it is only fitting that the MacCallan Crest adorn the door to the Chieftain’s chamber,” Cu explained.

“The Chieftain’s chamber?” Elphame repeated. The words held unending magic.

“It is a gift from your clan.” He opened the door.

The first thing she noticed about the room was that it was alive with light. Burning sconces illuminated the walls—tall, metal candelabra held lighted tapers, and on one wall a huge fireplace crackled cheerfully. High, narrow windows were spaced all along two of the four walls letting in the muted light of late afternoon. The huge room was furnished with only a plain wooden table and chairs, a small vanity over which hung an ornate mirror, and a golden chaise which sat adjacent to a large bed covered with thick linens and comforters that glistened with a brilliant golden shine as the flickering candlelight caught the meticulously embroidered shapes of interwoven knots.

Elphame walked to the bed and ran a hand across the closest down-filled comforter.

“Mama.” She smiled at her brother. “Mama sent these.”

“Yes, they arrived this morning, along with several barrels of her excellent wine and those two things.” He pointed to the gilded chaise and the gaudy mirror.

Elphame felt laughter bubble from her chest. “Mama sent the essentials.” And with a rush she remembered her dream and her mother’s voice asking Epona,
May I at least send her a special shipment of wines and linens? The way she’s living is simply barbaric
. It had been true! By some whim of the Goddess she had listened in to her mother’s conversation. Her mother did trust her, and Epona was watching over her.

How could you ever doubt it, Beloved?

The voice that filled her head was almost as familiar as her mother’s, even though she had only heard it once. Epona! She
belonged to the Goddess—not in the way her mother did, but in a way that was uniquely her, just as her body was uniquely her. And finally she felt a letting loose within her, an acceptance of herself that had been a long time coming. With a shaking hand, she stroked the soft comforter again and gave silent thanks to her Goddess.

“I told you she would be speechless,” Cu said, grinning like a naughty boy.

“Of course she’s speechless,” Brenna said, smiling through tears. “Let’s show her the rest.”

“There’s more?” Elphame asked.

Three heads nodded. Elphame thought they looked like gleeful children. Brenna took her hand and led her to a small stone doorway that arched as the two outside walls met. It opened to a rounded tower within which steep stone stairs wrapped up and up, winding against the thick stone wall. Elphame tilted back her head. She could see that the stairs fed into a landing of some sort.

“Remember the tower I had to finish sketching today? The only one that the workers had completed?” Brenna asked.

Elphame nodded.

“This is it. Your tower is restored.”

“We all wanted the Chieftain’s Tower restored first,” Cuchulainn said.

“Everyone agreed that it felt right,” Brighid added.

“It’s pretty bare right now, but some day you’ll fill it with all of your books and such. You’ll make it yours,” her brother said.

“I—” El had to stop and clear her throat. “I can’t wait to see it.”

Brenna caught her wrist, changing from friend to Healer again. “I don’t think that would be a good idea. I realize I just swore allegiance to you, but in matters of your health I still
overrule you. And right now your body needs rest and food, not the exercise of climbing up all those stairs.”

Before she could argue Cu said, “The tower has been there for more than one hundred years. It can wait one more night.”

“And I thought you wanted a bath,” Brenna said.

Elphame’s eyes lit. “If you can drag a tub in here so that I can bathe, I promise I’ll forget about the tower—at least until morning.”