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Béfind raised her hands to strike Tod down, but Donal caught her arm and held tight. Tod is right, he
said. Go home.
One of the Fane began to laugh, a silken sound of scorn and amusement. The others joined in, filling the
air with cruel music. A lord dressed in shades of ruby and amethyst negligently lifted a finger, and Tod
shot up into the air. A fine lady bent her wrist, and Tod flew to her like a child s plaything flung by
careless hands, bounced from one Fane to the next.
Stop it! Ivy cried. She charged the nearest Fane lady, seizing handfuls of trailing silken sleeves. Let
him go!
Tod tumbled to the ground, groaning softly. Ivy knelt and gathered his small body into her arms.
Take me home, Cordelia, she said, her voice hoarse with weeping. Take us home.
Cordelia closed her eyes in gratitude, fear and awe supplanted by untrammeled joy. She set down the
poker and held out her hands, one to Ivy and one to Donal.
Donal did not take it. He released Béfind and backed away, stopping beside Queen Titania.
I cannot go with you, he said in a whisper.
What? But it is over. Donal
You must return without me, he said, raising his voice. It was never my intention to come to
Tir-na-Nog. But now that I am here& He stared up into the silver trees. I realize that I belong among
the Fane.
Cordelia stared at him without comprehension. But you& you belong here no more than Ivy does. Every
word Tod spoke to her was true.
True for her, he said. True for one who requires love to live. But I am not like Ivy.
I don t understand. She moved toward him, sickened to the core of her soul. I do not blame you for
being angry at my refusal to believe your stories. I was a fool, Donal, I freely admit it. I was a fool about
a great many things.
He shrugged. You are human.
And you are half human!
My humanity has been my cage. I have no desire to live at the mercy of primitive mortal emotions for the
rest of my life.
Cordelia stilled her trembling. And what sent you here to help Ivy, Donal? What drove you to save her
in the first place? What of the animals you have served with your compassion and your healing gifts? Do
they mean nothing?
They will do as well without me.
But I will not, Cordelia cried silently. She clenched her fists. I ask nothing of you, Donal. I expect
nothing, only that you grant yourself the same understanding you did Ivy. You need not stay in
England& the whole world awaits you.
I have a whole world here, he said. In Tir-na-Nog I can serve some purpose and escape mortal
suffering. What more could I ask?
All at once Cordelia felt something she couldn t name, a certainty that welled up in her like a dry spring
come to life. She knew without question that Donal was lying, and that he did it to protect her and Ivy
and all those he loved.
No, she said. I don t believe you, my dear& you were never very adept at prevarication.
His head jerked up, and a flash of emotion crossed his face. Leave this place, he said. Leave now,
Cordelia Hardcastle, and be glad you pay no terrible price for your freedom.
But I do pay a price, she said. You are the price. You, the man we love. The man I love.
He turned sharply away. You speak to no purpose, for I cannot love.
Even if I believed that, it changes nothing. I will not let you throw your life away. She signaled to Ivy.
Go through the Gate now, and wait for us.
Ivy obeyed, taking Tod with her. Drawing up her skirts, Cordelia raced back for the poker and snatched
it up, holding it before her like a sword. Your Majesty, she said to Titania, you will kindly release
Donal from whatever bond you have placed upon him.
Cordelia, Donal whispered. Go, I beg you.
I shall not. She wielded the poker in a wide circle, sweeping it from side to side. Titania, Béfind and the
other Fane fell back with shouts of rage and fear. Righteous anger bubbled up in Cordelia s heart, anger
such as she had not allowed herself to feel in years, a wildness and ferocity that gave her the strength and
speed of ten Othellos. She advanced on the Fane like a tigress defending her young, and they retreated in
astonishment.
Now, Donal! she cried.
Still he didn t move, staring at her as if he had just witnessed something beyond his imagination. With a
snarl of impatience Cordelia seized his arm, flung him about and ran for the Gate.
DONAL S FEET TOUCHED solid earth, and almost at once the seductive spell of Tir-na-Nog began
to leave him. He blinked, aware of Cordelia s hold on his arm, and slowly returned to himself. He saw
Ivy sitting on one of the fallen menhirs, Tod and Sir Reginald nestled against her, and a man with a horse
a little farther away& a man Donal recognized with disbelief as Sir Geoffrey Amesbury.
For a moment all Donal felt was a profound relief and the overwhelming desire to take Cordelia in his
arms and kiss her to within an inch of her life. But then he remembered, and exaltation crumbled into
despair.
I must go back, he said.
Cordelia lifted her hands to his shoulders and gave him a firm shake. Nonsense. We are safe now, and
Safe? He shook his head, laughing at his own stupidity. You shall never be safe again if I betray my
bargain.
To remain in Tir-na-Nog in Ivy s place? she asked, her face unyielding.
It was necessary, he said, pulling away. Ivy would be destroyed
And you will not? Cordelia jabbed the end of the poker into the ground, grinding it deep into the soil. I
saw what would become of you, Donal, and I shall not permit it.
You are one woman, Cordelia, no matter how brave. They have millennia of magic behind them.
Believe me when I say that if any of them attempts to steal either you or Ivy, I shall kill her. She smiled.
I see by your expression that you do not believe me. Do you think me incapable of such violence, my
dear, such mad and reckless behavior? But you did not know me when I was young.
Cordelia&
She might have said more, but the Fane had no intention of allowing such leisurely conversation. The
Gate hummed, the square of light trembled between the menhirs, and Béfind plunged through, her face a
mask of rage. She strode directly for Ivy.
Donal knew he had to stop the Fane before Cordelia risked her own life, but it was clear that Béfind
would not listen to reason. She had no interest in Donal s bargain; she wanted what was hers, at any
cost.
With a whispered prayer, Donal wheeled, snatched Cordelia s poker from the earth and opened his mind
to the beasts. He sent a call far and wide, to every creature large and small that might serve to distract
Béfind from her purpose.
He knew in an instant that the animals would not answer him. Paralyzed with fear, he spoke to Sir
Reginald. The dog ignored him. He listened for the horses thoughts, but all he heard was silence.
Cordelia was already halfway to Ivy s side when Donal caught up to her. They were both too late.
Béfind was reaching for Ivy when Tod surged up between them, defiance in every line of his little body. [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]
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Béfind raised her hands to strike Tod down, but Donal caught her arm and held tight. Tod is right, he
said. Go home.
One of the Fane began to laugh, a silken sound of scorn and amusement. The others joined in, filling the
air with cruel music. A lord dressed in shades of ruby and amethyst negligently lifted a finger, and Tod
shot up into the air. A fine lady bent her wrist, and Tod flew to her like a child s plaything flung by
careless hands, bounced from one Fane to the next.
Stop it! Ivy cried. She charged the nearest Fane lady, seizing handfuls of trailing silken sleeves. Let
him go!
Tod tumbled to the ground, groaning softly. Ivy knelt and gathered his small body into her arms.
Take me home, Cordelia, she said, her voice hoarse with weeping. Take us home.
Cordelia closed her eyes in gratitude, fear and awe supplanted by untrammeled joy. She set down the
poker and held out her hands, one to Ivy and one to Donal.
Donal did not take it. He released Béfind and backed away, stopping beside Queen Titania.
I cannot go with you, he said in a whisper.
What? But it is over. Donal
You must return without me, he said, raising his voice. It was never my intention to come to
Tir-na-Nog. But now that I am here& He stared up into the silver trees. I realize that I belong among
the Fane.
Cordelia stared at him without comprehension. But you& you belong here no more than Ivy does. Every
word Tod spoke to her was true.
True for her, he said. True for one who requires love to live. But I am not like Ivy.
I don t understand. She moved toward him, sickened to the core of her soul. I do not blame you for
being angry at my refusal to believe your stories. I was a fool, Donal, I freely admit it. I was a fool about
a great many things.
He shrugged. You are human.
And you are half human!
My humanity has been my cage. I have no desire to live at the mercy of primitive mortal emotions for the
rest of my life.
Cordelia stilled her trembling. And what sent you here to help Ivy, Donal? What drove you to save her
in the first place? What of the animals you have served with your compassion and your healing gifts? Do
they mean nothing?
They will do as well without me.
But I will not, Cordelia cried silently. She clenched her fists. I ask nothing of you, Donal. I expect
nothing, only that you grant yourself the same understanding you did Ivy. You need not stay in
England& the whole world awaits you.
I have a whole world here, he said. In Tir-na-Nog I can serve some purpose and escape mortal
suffering. What more could I ask?
All at once Cordelia felt something she couldn t name, a certainty that welled up in her like a dry spring
come to life. She knew without question that Donal was lying, and that he did it to protect her and Ivy
and all those he loved.
No, she said. I don t believe you, my dear& you were never very adept at prevarication.
His head jerked up, and a flash of emotion crossed his face. Leave this place, he said. Leave now,
Cordelia Hardcastle, and be glad you pay no terrible price for your freedom.
But I do pay a price, she said. You are the price. You, the man we love. The man I love.
He turned sharply away. You speak to no purpose, for I cannot love.
Even if I believed that, it changes nothing. I will not let you throw your life away. She signaled to Ivy.
Go through the Gate now, and wait for us.
Ivy obeyed, taking Tod with her. Drawing up her skirts, Cordelia raced back for the poker and snatched
it up, holding it before her like a sword. Your Majesty, she said to Titania, you will kindly release
Donal from whatever bond you have placed upon him.
Cordelia, Donal whispered. Go, I beg you.
I shall not. She wielded the poker in a wide circle, sweeping it from side to side. Titania, Béfind and the
other Fane fell back with shouts of rage and fear. Righteous anger bubbled up in Cordelia s heart, anger
such as she had not allowed herself to feel in years, a wildness and ferocity that gave her the strength and
speed of ten Othellos. She advanced on the Fane like a tigress defending her young, and they retreated in
astonishment.
Now, Donal! she cried.
Still he didn t move, staring at her as if he had just witnessed something beyond his imagination. With a
snarl of impatience Cordelia seized his arm, flung him about and ran for the Gate.
DONAL S FEET TOUCHED solid earth, and almost at once the seductive spell of Tir-na-Nog began
to leave him. He blinked, aware of Cordelia s hold on his arm, and slowly returned to himself. He saw
Ivy sitting on one of the fallen menhirs, Tod and Sir Reginald nestled against her, and a man with a horse
a little farther away& a man Donal recognized with disbelief as Sir Geoffrey Amesbury.
For a moment all Donal felt was a profound relief and the overwhelming desire to take Cordelia in his
arms and kiss her to within an inch of her life. But then he remembered, and exaltation crumbled into
despair.
I must go back, he said.
Cordelia lifted her hands to his shoulders and gave him a firm shake. Nonsense. We are safe now, and
Safe? He shook his head, laughing at his own stupidity. You shall never be safe again if I betray my
bargain.
To remain in Tir-na-Nog in Ivy s place? she asked, her face unyielding.
It was necessary, he said, pulling away. Ivy would be destroyed
And you will not? Cordelia jabbed the end of the poker into the ground, grinding it deep into the soil. I
saw what would become of you, Donal, and I shall not permit it.
You are one woman, Cordelia, no matter how brave. They have millennia of magic behind them.
Believe me when I say that if any of them attempts to steal either you or Ivy, I shall kill her. She smiled.
I see by your expression that you do not believe me. Do you think me incapable of such violence, my
dear, such mad and reckless behavior? But you did not know me when I was young.
Cordelia&
She might have said more, but the Fane had no intention of allowing such leisurely conversation. The
Gate hummed, the square of light trembled between the menhirs, and Béfind plunged through, her face a
mask of rage. She strode directly for Ivy.
Donal knew he had to stop the Fane before Cordelia risked her own life, but it was clear that Béfind
would not listen to reason. She had no interest in Donal s bargain; she wanted what was hers, at any
cost.
With a whispered prayer, Donal wheeled, snatched Cordelia s poker from the earth and opened his mind
to the beasts. He sent a call far and wide, to every creature large and small that might serve to distract
Béfind from her purpose.
He knew in an instant that the animals would not answer him. Paralyzed with fear, he spoke to Sir
Reginald. The dog ignored him. He listened for the horses thoughts, but all he heard was silence.
Cordelia was already halfway to Ivy s side when Donal caught up to her. They were both too late.
Béfind was reaching for Ivy when Tod surged up between them, defiance in every line of his little body. [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]