Chapter 22
CHOICES
“I thought you liked my brother.”
Until now, Beite had been silent on the walk to her gently swaying home. Deep evening filled the forest, hiding the massive trunks so that only portions were visible like misplaced tower walls. The darkness was alive with flickering light and rustling leaves.
Lavinia’s gait approached a dance despite the late hour. Her soul was alive, lit up as if it held all the luminescent creatures within Lus na Sithchaine. Beite was, by contrast, quiet. Her thoughtful gaze lay on the ground ahead.
Lavinia looked over at her young hostess. “I do.”
“But then why ... Laireag?” Beite asked, delicate brow furrowed.
Lavinia smiled warmly at the girl. “I don’t have to choose anyone.”
The words made Lavinia want to twirl. She crossed her arms over her chest to hold herself back. Beite looked at her as though she had announced she wanted to marry a dragon.
“Don’t you see? That is what Laith Lus meant, I think. I’m only here for a week more, Beite. I don’t have to choose anyone. It isn’t just about being the right age, but it has to be the right time, too.”
Beite’s lower lip trembled as she looked away. “Yes, I suppose. I forgot you were leaving, or maybe it just didn’t seem so real.” She paused, glancing over at Lavinia. “You’ll come back, won’t you?”
“Oh yes, I’ll come back. I promise.”
Beite smirked. “It was funny watching Darag flirt. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him do so before.”
When Lavinia and Darag had appeared side by side sweaty and laughing, the evening gathering had grown quiet. Knowing looks were exchanged. Then Lavinia chose to sit across from Cuileann and next to Beite at dinner. After a brief moment, Darag asked if he could join her. Lavinia barely flicked him a glance as she nodded. The whispering started and stopped throughout the evening meal.
Cuileann graced both of his new dinner companions with an easy smile of greeting, his look lingering slightly longer on Lavinia. “How go the lessons?”
“Good. She beat me today, too."
Cuileann grinned. “Good! I think it is time someone bested you.”
Darag returned Cuileann's smile. Lavinia raised an eyebrow, pretending to lord the victory over him. The look and Darag’s blush won a few more laughs. Passing nearby, Laith Lus winked at her. The night spun off quickly from there.
Lavinia didn't ignore Darag, but she didn't give him preference, either. When Cuileann gave her a choice of fruits, she smiled happily at him, taking her time in the choosing. Someone else gave her steaming cider and was given warm thanks.
Darag watched, finally leaning close to whisper, “I see you’ve become quite popular.”
She meant to glance at him, but when she found his laughing green eyes so close, the rest of the table and Kith faded into the night. He made it hard to remember to look away.
“It’s easier than hunting down everything I want at the other end of the table.”
Despite Lavinia's efforts, Darag never had a problem getting her attention during the meal. Even when Laireag managed to steal Cuileann’s seat when he was off looking for a plate of bread, she felt Darag’s presence next to her. She did her best to ignore it.
—
In the morning, Laireag found her at Beite’s as they were getting ready to leave for Suileag’s. He carried hot rolls as well as a long bow slung over his shoulder. Unusual for a Kith, Laireag’s coloring was all grays and blacks: jet black hair, dark gray eyes, and patterned skin darker than an ash tree. He held himself with power and his gaze was intense like a building storm. Beite let out a long sigh, seeing him standing at her door.
“I thought you might like to do something different today.” He nodded to the bow he carried as he handed them both the sweetbread.
“Archery?” Lavinia blinked. “I don’t see why not.”
Cuileann found them after an hour, just as Lavinia was getting fairly good at hitting a close target. The bow was strong and hard to pull, but the years of hauling rope and sailing had kept Lavinia stronger than she appeared. She didn’t take to the archery as easily as sword fighting, but Laireag was pleased.
Laireag seemed to be able to hit anything he wished. Cuileann spread his open hands when Laireag offered the bow to him. “I know better. There is no outmatching you in this.”
Laireag gave him a feral smile which was returned with easy humor. Cuileann seemed to have no doubts that his best skills lay in other directions. Lavinia chuckled.
She liked Laireag. After the morning spent with him, she could see herself becoming fast friends if they had more time together. The air crackled around him and he stood in its center with complete ease. It made her wonder how much power Darag wielded, since he was considered more skilled.
Cuileann she liked as one liked a close cousin or younger brother. His antics made her smile. He was unafraid to rile Laireag, despite the sudden feeling of impending lightning that Laireag’s gaze could throw. It was an entirely unexpected and pleasant morning.
She had the bow drawn for a long shot when Darag joined them. She felt his presence before she saw him, aware of him standing quietly a pace to her right as if he was a stone in her consciousness. She flicked a glance at him before looking back to the target. Lavinia let the arrow fly. It barely struck the wooden plank. She sighed.
“You are a distraction.” She wasn’t looking at Darag when she spoke, but his chuckle told her he knew who she meant.
"Well, if you are going to cause problems, I think you should join in," Laireag said, a challenge in his eye as he held out the bow.
Darag grinned when he took it, notching an arrow and drawing the bow in one movement. Even the breeze stilled as he narrowed his eyes, focusing on the last target. The string twanged when he let the arrow fly. The shaft sank halfway into the center of the furthest piece of marked wood, sending it off its perch with a forward flip.
“I see that I don’t distract you, though,” Lavinia said with a twinge of disappointment.
“Actually, I usually miss.” The same smile crossed both of their faces.
“Are you going to practice sword fighting today?” Cuileann interrupted, hungry for a different sport.
“Why?” Lavinia asked, “Are you going to help?”
Fighting more than one opponent ended up being a fantastic lesson. The four of them made a good afternoon out of crossing swords, fighting two against two or with one watching and acting as a trainer while one faced off with the remaining two.
Lavinia stalked Darag again with a keen eye to making a strike when Beite stepped between them, hands on her hips. “You are going to be too tired for the dance,” she said.
Darag looked like he had a mind to teach his sister a lesson about using a sword, but Beite danced away before he could move.
Cuileann and Laireag laughed. As her surprise faded, Lavinia laughed too, realizing that Niri and Ria were there as well. She had been oblivious to everything but Darag and her sword.
“You really know how to use that thing now,” Ria said as she gave Lavinia a hug.
“I’m getting there.” Lavinia’s glance slid to Niri.
“Don’t worry about your brother,” Niri told her before Lavinia asked.
“Yes, Skree is taking him fishing,” Ria said.
“Fishing?”
“Yes. Apparently the full moon, when it is great, is when the largest fish rise from the depths and so it is the best time to catch them.”
Lavinia greeted Niri’s words with a disbelieving look.
“Really, he looked fairly ... content to be going,” Ria reassured her.
Beite insisted on the need to prepare for the evening, not letting Lavinia linger. She left the practice area with the sudden worry that Darag would not go to the evening festivities. She turned back to see if she could read his mood where he stood flanked by Laireag and Cuileann, but could not determine anything with her quick glance.
“It d
oesn’t mean we have to stop practicing,” Laireag said, his voice almost too faint to hear.
Lavinia brooded as the four women gathered in Beite’s house, filling the small rooms and overwhelming the sounds of the leaves. Niri had brought a simple dress of deep blue that darkened to violet at its hem. The cloth was soft but it wasn’t silk or satin. Ria gave Niri's choice a dubious look.
“I’m not comfortable in anything fancy. Too many years in the Church, I suppose,” Niri argued, appearing frightened of Ria’s shimmering yellow dress.
“It is a change from that shirt and skirt you wore in Dion!” Ria giggled.
Lavinia tried to smile at her friend's teasing as Beite showed her one dress after another, pointing out embroidery or color that would match her eyes. None caught Lavinia's interest. The idea of a dance felt less appealing to her than it had been the day before.
“You shouldn’t worry about your brother. I think he’ll like fishing more than dancing anyway.”
“What? Oh,” Lavinia said, attention returning to the room and its occupants.
As her three friends realized that Lavinia's distraction wasn't over Ty, they began to smile. Lavinia blushed until her cheeks felt like they would catch Beite’s house afire.
“Cuileann?” Beite guessed.
“Laireag, I think.” Ria said.
“Oh no, it has been Darag from the first.” Lavinia felt the fire in her face grow even hotter at Niri’s quiet but teasing tone.
Beite and Ria exchanged a look. Hope lit Beite’s eyes while Ria’s eyebrows rose.
Lavinia threw herself on the bed, picking up a dress and twisting the fabric in her hands. “Do you think your brother will even come tonight?”
Beite sat next to her, putting her hands over Lavinia’s. Her expression was sweet, but tinged with sadness. “I don’t know. He rarely dances. If he comes, it will be to see you.”
Lavinia felt the sting of tears in her eyes.
“I thought you said you weren't serious ... that you don’t need to choose," Beite said.
Lavinia shook her head, unable to answer. She wiped a tear from her eyelashes. “I didn’t mean to ... I don’t intend to. I just ...” Lavinia looked hopelessly from Beite to Niri to Ria.
“Choose?” Ria asked, perching on the edge of the bed.
“This sounds serious,” Niri agreed as she pulled over a chair.