Page 53 of Highland Queen

She nodded. “Her time is coming to an end.”

A soft sigh sounded from the other room. Aridmis shifted the candle, panning the light therein. On a small pallet was a little body lying under a heavy bear fur. A mop of dark hair fell from the bed to the floor.

Crearwy.

There was no denying she was my child, but in her placid face, relaxed with sleep, I saw the mirror of Gillacoemgain’s sister.

“That’s not possible,” I whispered.

“What’s not possible?” Aridmis asked.

“She looks like Gillacoemgain’s sister. Just like her.”

“And why isn’t that possible?” Aridmis asked.

“Because…”

Aridmis set her hand on my shoulder. “Goodnight, Cerridwen.”

I stared at Crearwy. It didn’t make any sense. Certainly, Gillacoemgain’s sister did share some looks with me, some small features, but it was almost as if I was starting at the shade herself.

“Aridmis,” I said, my heart thudding in my chest.

Aridmis turned and looked back at me. “Cerridwen, why should you be surprised? All children resemble their family,” she said then turned and exited Epona’s house, leaving me standing there, reeling at her words.

It wasn’t possible.

It just wasn’t possible.

Both Epona and I had seen a vision the night I was assaulted, a vision that showed us I would have twins. And Andraste had plainly stated that I carried Duncan’s children.

But Andraste tells lies.

The words echoed through my head. But whose words were they? My own? The Goddess? The raven?

Setting my candle down on the table beside Crearwy’s bed, I slipped onto the pallet beside her. Covering us both, I wrapped my arms around my daughter and pulled her close to me.

She stirred a little in her sleep then sighed contentedly.

Exhausted from the long night’s ride, worried for Tavis, confused about Epona, my mind in a fit of confusion, I lay staring at the wall.

Crearwy took my hand into hers. “Welcome home, Mother,” she whispered.

My heart full of joy, I finally relaxed and drifted off into dreams.

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