Page 114 of Rogue's Possession (Covenant of Thorns 2)

Further Up and FurtherIn

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Over and over it occurs to me that the Black Dog moves outside of the rules. I think this isimportant.

~Big Book of Fairyland, “The BlackDog”

Ilooked fromthe grizzled man to Starling’s wide brown eyes. Back to him. “Fergus?”

“In the flesh.” He toasted me with his tankard, then winked at Starling. “No hug for your old da, Little Bit?”

She threw herself at him and he enveloped her in a bear hug, laughing when she squealed at the rough stubble on his face.

Athena and I sat gingerly on the other side of the table. Then she popped up again. “What am I thinking? I’ll fetch breakfast.”

I nabbed her sleeve to stop her. “Let the inn help do it. Who cares what they think now? I’d rather you stuck close.”

Starling and Fergus finished their reunion just as the scowling maids brought out our food. Hopefully none of them had spit in mine. I certainly hadn’t won any friends among the female population with my performance last night. I used a judicious wish to cleanse any germs or toxins.

“How are you here, Daddy?” Starling asked. Belatedly, I thought. Then the next thought occurred to her. “And oh no! You missed Mother. She went in the other direction, looking for you across the Endless Sea.”

The guilt on his face told it all.

“Yes. How is it that you serendipitously just happened to turn up right this moment?” I inquired in a sweet voice. Starling gave me a sharp look and I hoped she’d be circumspect.

“I don’t believe I’ve made your acquaintance, lady. Or your companion there.”

“My fault.” Starling jumped in. “Daddy, this is Lady Sorceress Gwynn, my liege lady. We’re on a quest!”

So much for circumspect.

“A quest! Seems like my luck is with me, as I’m on a quest too. What is yours, Lady Gwynn. I tell you mine if you tell me yours.” His Irish brogue rolled out thick and charming—and didn’t take me in for one moment.

“I suspect you know exactly what our quest is, Fergus. Tell me this. How long have you been in the habit of lying to your wife?”

He scratched his bristly chin, white hairs peppering the red. I wondered how old he truly was. “Well now, a man sometimes tells his wife a pretty story or two to keep her satisfied. It hurts none. I didn’t imagine she’d take it in her head to come looking for me, after all these years. Your turn—who’s your little blue-haired servant girl there?”

“This is Athena. She’s, um, a friend, not a servant.”

Starling looked flustered, especially when Athena raised her eyebrows in feigned shock.

“Athena, eh? Companion of heroes. Seems apt.” Fergus winked at me.

Wow. Put like that it sounded really…egomaniacal. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“I like it,” Athena countered firmly and Fergus nodded.

“See? The lass knows it’s right. What with you on your own odyssey.”

“You’re remarkably well-read for a poor Irish farmer.”

“Yes, that. You can’t farm at night and those right bastards close the pubs at two—have to pass the time somehow.”

“Sleep?”

He shook his head. “Never was much good at that.”

“What are you good at, Fergus?”

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