Goddess of Light (The Crown of Tír na nÓg Book 3) by Sarah Tanzmann

Author:Sarah Tanzmann [Tanzmann, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2023-04-18T16:00:00+00:00

18

A BALANCE OF LIGHT AND SHADOWS

Kayla was out of the boat the second it hit the shore of Shadow Island. She patted her hip to check for her dagger, Cosaín, which had been a gift from Fay. Holding it close used to bring her comfort, but now it only reminded her of the words she should have said before parting with Fay once more.

Without turning to face the others, she said, “You should wait here.”

“I certainly shall not,” Lasarian said. “There could be all kinds of dangers lurking in the dark.”

His gaze drifted off into the distance. The sun had sunken beyond the horizon a short while ago, and the sky above had grown even darker with the fading daylight. Ahead of them, a slope connected the gray beach with a dense black forest, and not too far behind those trees was Croíleán, the Sidhe’s village.

Kayla thought of Brighid, the Sidhe Elder with the keen eyes and kind smile, who had taught her valuable lessons. For a moment, she was tempted to head to the village first, but she immediately shook off that thought. Brighid would be furious if she knew about Kayla’s actual plan and would likely ask if she should hammer some sense into her brain.

“The Elder Faerie rarely welcomes strangers,” Kayla said. “We should be glad her enchantments didn’t keep us from setting foot on the island.”

Lasarian took a tentative step toward Kayla. “I understand, mó sôla, but let us accompany you at least a part of the way.”

“No,” she said. “I need to do this alone.” She glanced at Cadfael, who was stroking the kelpie’s snout, and at Rhona standing by the boat. “Stay out of sight.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Rhona said.

Kayla refused to look at Lasarian again as she set off toward the forest. When she had nearly reached the tree line, she peered over her shoulder. Rhona was walking along the beach, her eyes scanning the ground, while Cadfael untied the kelpie’s bridle. Lasarian stood in the same spot, frozen.

With her arms hugged to her chest, Kayla ducked into the forest.

* * *

Everything around her was dipped in shades of gray and black. She had to pick her path with care, avoiding roots that stuck out from the ground and squeezing between thorn bushes without snagging her clothes. Even though she hadn’t paid much attention when Iobhar had led them to the Elder Tree for the first time, her feet seemed to remember the way, carrying her at a steady pace. Soon she passed a stream that glittered in the moonlight, and after taking a short break, she kept heading toward the hill that rose high in the distance.

When she finally crested that hill’s peak, her feet slowed, and she gazed down at the Elder Tree towering in the center of the valley. The night sky above the tree was clear, revealing thousands of stars and a bright full moon, and hundreds of violet blossoms bloomed on the tree like tiny specks of color amid a world of white.

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