Page 64 of First Light

“You’re a university professor?” Aisling’s eyes brightened. “That’swonderful.”

“Yes.” Carys sensed a kindred spirit in a fellow academic. “I teach a class on introduction to world mythologies, so it’s about myths and legends from all over the world and common threads between different cultures.”

“That’s fascinating, but I can see how that might not help much in Alba.” Aisling gestured to the water. “Take kelpies. Most of them hunt in more remote areas, but this one has settled here, maybe to be close to the blessing for some reason.”

“And do kelpies behave differently in Alba than in Ireland—in Éire?”

Aisling nodded. “They do. And different still are the northern nokkers and nixes. I’ve never been to Nordland, but my cousins in Anglia are familiar with them.”

“There is water horse mythology in Asia too,” Carys added. “It’s a common legend that shows up in many parts of the world.”

Aisling smiled. “Not a legend here.”

“No, I guess not.” Carys stared at the loch, her memory flashing back to the terrible equine monster that had nearly taken her life. She didn’t want to think about even more monsters living in this strange world, but if she was going to stay here, she’d have to start believing every myth she’d ever studied might be reality in the Shadowlands.

She watched a small group of unicorn children dancing and playing in the meadow. “Why would this kelpie want to be close to the unicorns? To trap them?”

“I doubt it. Kelpies feed on human energy. I suspect it’s something relating to Cadell’s theory about elemental magic. Everyone is drawn to unicorns.” She turned to face the lively clearing with unicorns in human and animal form. “They’re all ridiculously beautiful of course. They’re warm. They’re innately good.”

Cadell added, “And they’re true. In the Shadowlands, that is a valued trait.”

“An excellent point,” Aisling said. “Like dragons, unicorns do not lie or conceal who they are, though they do conceal themselves. They’re quite shy individually.”

Carys spotted Azar. “Not that one.”

“Isn’t she darling?” Aisling’s eyes glowed. “She’s such a sprite. Her parents were double blessed by the gods.”

Carys looked at Cadell. “I’ve heard that a couple of times now. ‘By the gods.’ Who are the gods here? I’m sure they’re different than the ones in the Brightlands.”

“The gods here are old,” Cadell said. “And varied. They wear many forms, and humans serve the one that calls to them. Some appear as storms, some as spirits or energies. Many take animal forms when they want to wander the Shadowlands.”

“Like Aengus Óg,” Aisling said. “When he flies among the birds. Or Epona taking the form of a mare to walk with the horses.”

“The Éiren people have many gods,” Cadell said. “The Cymric do as well. They usually have different names, but they’re often the same gods.”

“Are the fae considered gods?”

“No,” Aisling said. “But they’re perhaps… closer than humans are.”

Carys looked back at Cadell, but he inclined his head toward Aisling.

“Lady Aisling would be more expert in fae customs and culture than either me or Lachlan,” he said. “The fae favor her people.”

Aisling’s cheeks turned rosy. “The Éiren court and the fae court are closely connected. Queen Orla took a fae noble as her consort long before I was born, and that has led to very close relations.”

“As her consort?” Carys looked at Aisling. “Like she married a fae?”

“It’s not unheard of,” Cadell said. “Fae often become enamored with mortal beauty and will take human lovers. The queen of Éire is a powerful woman and known for her beauty.”

“It’s said that if a fae and human union is blessed by the gods, it might even produce a natural child.” Aisling’s hand clutched her skirt. “Can you imagine?”

“A child who belongs in neither world,” Cadell said. “I would not envy that offspring.”

“But imagine the power,” Aisling said. “I might envy that.” Shequickly looked at Carys. “For using magic, I mean. Cadell is right. A child such as that would be neither human nor fae and might be shunned by both. Though it would be treasured by its parents, I am sure.”

“That’s right,” Carys murmured. “Humans here can’t have children.”

Sorrow flickered across Aisling’s face.

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