I stared at Epona. “What do you mean?”
“Do you like Macbeth? Is he a good man?”
I clutched Lulach tighter and pressed my cheek against his head. Epona always had a way of putting things that made the truth clear. “No,” I whispered.
Epona nodded. “But you gave him a chance?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
“Because Andraste told you he was your king and because you saw him in your cauldron.”
“Are you saying—”
“You know what I am saying.”
I frowned heavily. “Epona, what should I—”
But my words were cut short when the door to Epona’s cabin opened. A little hand held onto the doorframe as the little body that went with it struggled to pull herself up and into the room. I stared as my baby entered then rose slowly.
Epona lifted Lulach from my arms. “Come, let’s get you another biscuit, Lulach.”
Taking her other hand to help her along, May assisted Crearwy into the room. The girl had very dark hair, dark blue eyes, and pale skin. She looked just like Lulach and me. Yet in her brow, her chin, I saw Gillacoemgain. I gaped as I looked at her. She was a miniature doppelganger of Crearwy, Gillacoemgain’s sister, for whom she was named. I tried to hold all of the emotions in, but tears welled in my eyes. I kneeled down and held out my hands to her. “Hello, Crearwy,” I whispered.
She looked uncertain, casting a glance to May for reassurance. The idea that she needed the approval of a stranger to come to her mother startled and saddened me. May nodded to her, and tepidly, the girl came to me.
“Dat one? Mum. Mum? Mum! Dat one?” Lulach called.
I cast a glance back to see Lulach straining to see his sister.
Keeping in mind that while I was her mother, I was also a stranger, I gently picked Crearwy up. She smelled of soap, her hair wet from being freshly washed. She wore a green woolen dress. Her hair curled around her ears.
“Sweet baby,” I whispered then hugged her. “My sweet Crearwy.”
She squirmed a little.
I pulled back a little then eyed her carefully. She gave me a look so full of suspicion that everyone in the room laughed.
“Really, Crearwy. Won’t you smile for your mother?” Epona told her good-naturedly.
I stroked her cheek, and she gave me a soft, shy smile.
“Dat, dat, dat! Mum,” Lulach screamed, annoyed with being ignored.
Once more, everyone chuckled.
“Yes, Lulach. I hear you,” I said then moved toward him. “Lulach, this is Crearwy.”
Crearwy perked up then and looked at Lulach. Her brow furrowed like she was trying to figure out a puzzle.
“Dat, Dat,” Lulach said, pointing at her.
“Crearwy,” I told him.
“Crw, Crw,” he tried.
“Crearwy, this is Lulach. He is your brother,” I said.
She stared at him. “Lulu,” she said, pointing.
“Yes, Lulu,” I said with a laugh.
Crearwy gave me a sour look as if she took my laughter as mocking.
Oh my goodness, Sid was right. What a personality.
The door opened once more, and Madelaine and Ute entered.
“Oh, I missed it!” Madelaine lamented, joining Epona and me. “Well, Crearwy, here are your mother and brother.”
“Lulu,” Crearwy explained to Madelaine, pointing to Lulach.
“This is Lulu?” Madelaine asked her. “Oh, all right then,” Madelaine said then smiled, kissing the girl on her forehead.
Crearwy favored her with that same soft half-smile.
“She looks very well, very healthy. Thank you for your care,” I told May.
May smiled. “Of course. I love her very much.”
My stomach felt queasy.
I sat down then, Crearwy in my lap. I dug into my pocket and pulled out the small wooden top Lulach always played with and handed it to Crearwy. Lulach, distracted by yet another biscuit, didn’t notice.
“Would you like to see this?” I asked Crearwy. “It’s Lulach’s toy.”
“Lulu,” she said then pointed to Lulach once more.
“Yes, Lulu.”
The door opened once more, and Aridmis, Druanne, and a stranger entered. I assumed this to be Juno, the girl Epona had mentioned. She had a head full of curly black hair that fell down her back. Her nose and cheeks covered with freckles. She smiled at me.
“Well met, Cerridwen,” Druanne said stiffly.
“Druanne.”
“Cerridwen,” Aridmis said happily then embraced me, pausing to kiss Crearwy, who seemed not to mind. “Welcome home.”
“Thank you, sister.”
“Cerridwen, this is Juno,” Epona said, introducing the girl.
I moved to rise, but she motioned for me to stay seated.
“I’m pleased to meet you, sister,” Juno said with a smile. She then went to Epona’s cupboards, pulled out cups and started pouring everyone some wine.
“And where is Sid?” Madelaine asked.
“Wherever the wind blows,” Uald said. “She’ll be back soon, I suspect.”
Everyone sat and Juno handed out goblets while Epona served small cakes and sweets to the assembled crowd.
I smiled at my sisters. I was home. I was safe. I grinned at everyone even Druanne whose chilly—but consistently chilly—nature felt comforting and familiar. I was with my family. Madelaine eased back into her seat, sipping her cup of wine. Finally, I felt at ease. Finally, I felt like myself again. I squeezed Crearwy close to me.
“My little lass,” I whispered in her ear. “I’m your mum.”
Crearwy looked up at me from under her long, dark lashes. “Mum?”
I nodded.
She smiled then turned her attention back to the top, turning it around and around in her hands, a slight smile on her lips.
I kissed the back of her head. Closing my eyes, I inhaled the scent of her hair. I never wanted this moment to end.
Chapter 29
It was several days before Sid finally arrived.
“Sorry for the delay, love. The Seelie queen had another baby, and there was much ado regarding the matter. We had to call some of the fey healers in because her delivery wasn’t going well. In the end, her little baby came forth without any problems.”
I’d taken up residence in Sid’s house in her absence. She’d found me there resting with my children. Lulach and Crearwy had taken to one another at once. It seemed that Crearwy’s sourness and apprehensions did not extend to her brother, with whom she played very happily. Having tired themselves out, the pair was sleeping in Sid’s bed.
Crearwy stirred a little at the sound of Sid’s voice but did not wake.
“She’s such a bright girl, interested in all the world. Epona spends a lot of time with her,” Sid said, bending down to kiss Crearwy. “How alike they are,” she said, looking from Lulach to Crearwy.
“Sid, what’s happening to Epona?”
“That’s a common question here, but none speak of it. All this time she has held the charm of youth. Now she begins to age. You must understand, given her true age, if she lets go completely, she will die. I believe she is letting go a little at a time.”
“Why?”
“To give Crearwy time to grow up.”
“Crearwy?”
“Crearwy is her chosen successor.”
I stared at Sid. A memory of Andraste’s prophetic words rang through my mind. I was suddenly feeling very sour with Andraste and planned on given her my most Crearwy-like glare when I saw her next. Meddlesome creature. “So she is.”