"Yes," Wynn whispered.
"She was badly hurt when Gleann found her and brought her home. In another moon, they knew she was with child. My grandparents did all they could to make certain their coming child would not be treated as an outsider."
Leanalham's voice broke with a painful breath. Firelight glistened in the tears running down to the edge of her triangular jaw.
Leesil understood. Even if Leanalham's grandparents had accepted and shielded their half-blood child, some among their people still wouldn't accept it.
"Grandmother died the night my mother was born," Leanalham went on. "Grandfather was broken inside, as happens among many who are bonded. He left my mother for Gleann toraise. No one saw him again.
"My mother was… not right in her mind. She wept often and seldom left the enclave's dwelling trees. Except at night, when she might sit alone in the forest. It was difficult for Gleann, as he never found a way to make her feel like one of the people.
"By the time my mother was of age, Gleann was a most respected healer. A young man with the Spirit awareness came from clan Chiurr to ask that she bond with him-but only if Gleann took him under tutelage as a healer. I think Grandfather was desperate to see my mother have a normal life. He agreed to the bargain. But my parents' bonding was short and then broken by my father, as my mother did not change. He left after I was born and returned to his own clan. By then it was clear that he had never truly loved her, or he would not have been able to leave."
Leesil knew better. Love didn't always last-and sometimes it wasn't enough.
"Not long after," Leanalham continued, "my mother disappeared one night. Some in the southwest say a woman was seen heading for the mountains. She evaded all who approached. Perhaps she found a place among humans."
Leesil waited for more, but Leanalham went silent.
"You grew up alone with Gleann?" he asked.
She nodded. "Except for Sgaile, but not until after my mother left… and his last testing to be Anmaglahk. He was then free to see family again and to live where he wished, though most of hiscaste live in Crijheaiche."
Leanalham turned to face Leesil fully.
"Sgaile's grandfather was bond-brother of my grandmother's father, though he calls Gleann his grandfather in respect. Sgaile and I share blood. He is often away, but his acceptance of me weighed greatly. Sgaile never knew my mother, but he stood for me among our clan, and he is Anmaglahk."
She nodded slowly, as if remembering something.
"He has traveled many lands, but other mixed-bloods are unknown. So you are the first half-blood he has ever met."
Osha stepped from the trees with two gutted and cleaned rabbits ready for roasting. He also carried a bulging square of canvas tied up by its corners. Leanalham took a long breath and stood up.
"I should help prepare the meal, as it grows late and we are all hungry… yes:
Leesil nodded to her. He had no notion what else to say, no matter how much they shared. Words would weigh nothing against the life she had led and the one he had lived. He glanced across the clearing to where Magiere faced Sgaile engaged in some talk he couldn't quite hear. Chap was with them as well. Leesil couldn't help studying Sgaile for a moment.
The man must have more immediate relatives than Leanalham and Gleann. Yet he chose to call the dwelling of a mixed-blood girl and an eccentric old healer his "home" and these two people his "family."
Leesil didn't believe he would ever understand Sgaile.
Magiere approached in quick pounding strides. Sgaile's tension rose and he broke off his discussion with Urhkarasiferin.
After their confrontation with the Aruin'nas, it had taken a long and heated argument with this woman to keep her and Leshil from reclaiming their weapons. Apparently that debate was not yet settled.
"No more," Magiere growled at him. "Give me our arms… now!" Sgaile took a long breath. "I understand your concern, but if you had been armed today, we might not have talked our way out. I gave you my word. You will be protected."
"You can't," Magiere insisted. "We saw that today. What if those people hadn't listened? I won't risk those I care for, whether I believe you or not. It's not about your word or keeping it… it's about failing, regardless."
Sgaile was not certain how much insult hid beneath her words. He had his ways and customs to follow with faith, and his oath of guardianship to fulfill, and arming this human woman would make neither easy to accomplish.
"You couldn't even keep Leanalham safe," Magiere whispered.
Sgaile fought down rising anger. Her voice carried no malice, but his frustration made it seem so.
"Get me my weapon, or I'll get it myself," Magiere threatened. "Choose!"
Sgaile hesitated too long, and Magiere took a step toward him. A snarl rose up, and she halted.
Chap stood between them, braced in Magiere's path against her legs, but his crystalline eyes looked up at Sgaile.
"Get out of the way!" Magiere snapped.
The majay-hi only growled and would not move.
Sgaile felt a moment's relief that this Fay-touched creature shared his concerns. Then the dog trotted around him, skirting Urhkarasiferin, and headed straight for the bundle and pack that held the weapons and armor. Sgaile went cold inside as the dog sat down next to the arms and stared at him.
Did Chap not understand anything he had tried to make this ill-tempered human accept? Now the majay-hi appeared to side with her.
Ever since the time Sgaile went to kill a half-blood marked as a traitor, this unique being's presence had shaken all he believed concerning the ways of his people.
A memory surfaced in Sgaile's thoughts, of Magiere, her white face aglow, standing by her companions in the forest the night he and his brethren had come to take them. Sword out, she stood ready to defend them from whatever came.
The memory snapped away, replaced with one of a terrified Leanalham huddled next to Wynn amid the Aruin'nas.
The majay-hi lifted its paw and shoved the pack over.
Urhkarasiferin whispered in Elvish. "What is it doing?"
Still Sgaile hesitated and glanced at Magiere. She folded her arms, waiting, as if the dog's action required no explanation.
How could Sgaile explain to Urhkarasiferin what he saw and felt? How could be justify relenting to the majay-hi's request?
Sgaile was bitterly forced to admit that Magiere might speak the truth.
They had escaped the rightful anger of the Aruin'nas, but it had come too close to bloodshed. Leanalham had suffered for it, despite the final outcome.
Sgaile knelt before Chap with uncertainty. He unbound Magiere's heavy blade and lifted it with the rest of the arms still in the pack. He held out the sheathed sword, and Magiere wrapped her hand solidly around it.
Sgaile did not let go. His gaze drifted across the clearing to Leanalham. The girl was assisting Osha in spitting rabbits to cook over the flames.
Magiere followed his glance and then turned her hard eyes back on him.
"No one will touch her," she said. "That's my word."
Sgaile released Magiere's sword.
Chapter Eight
Wynn walked beside Osha with Leanalham nearby as they passed through an aspen grove filled with low grass and patches of dandelions. Magiere trudged ahead in her studded hauberk, the falchion strapped on her hip. Leesil was fitted with his weapons and hauberk covered in steel rings. Wynn was still uncertain how Magiere had managed all this, but part of her was relieved when she saw the two gearing up that morning, until Magiere forced Wynn to strap on the battle dagger over her short robe.
The last time Wynn tried to use a weapon she had been beaten to near unconsciousness by two of Darmouth's soldiers. The sheathed blade thumping against her side was an unpleasant reminder. She tilted back her head and saw a thousand green leaves haloed by the bright sun. Ahead, she heard the sound of running water.