“What the hell?” Brennan muttered. “She can’t see us, can she?”
But she could. I could sense it. The woman was mortal, but she something was very immortal about her. She had supernatural senses somehow.
At my thought, she smiled slightly as though she could hear my thoughts. But that was impossible. I knew that much, at least. No mortal could read the thoughts of the gods. It had never happened. With that, she threw her head back and laughed, causing the other women to look at her curiously before going about their business of doing laundry.
What the hell?
I raised my head slightly and her gaze caught mine. She took one step and then another, then she was walking confidently towards us from across the meadow. The hem of her saffron shift was wet from the dew on the grass and her feet were bare.
There was no point in hiding, so I unfolded myself from the grass as gracefully as I could. Brennan and I stood still as we waited for the woman to reach us. The other females had stopped spreading their laundry on the rocks, but they remained across the meadow. They didn’t look bothered by our appearance.
I could hear Brennan’s unspoken question since I could read his mind. Who is she?
“I don’t know,” I answered out loud. Taking a step forward, I asked the woman that very thing.
“Who are you?” I asked. She was no more than six feet away from us. “Do you know us?”
She didn’t answer my question. Instead, she drew to a stop in front of us and knelt at my feet. “Princess, I’ve been expecting you.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. As the daughter of the goddess of witchcraft, who also happened to be the goddess of the moon, I was deemed the princess of the moon. It was, at times, an honor I didn’t appreciate. I could feel Brennan’s eyes on me now. He wasn’t accustomed to this side of my life. He had only seen me act fairly mortal. Being goddess royalty was a new facet of my personality for him.
Gritting my teeth, I reached my hand down. “Please, get up. How do you know me?”
She looked up at me doubtfully as she remained in her submissive position. I felt certain that this strong woman was not submissive often.
“Truly?” She raised one red eyebrow. “How could I not know you? Our father has spoken of you often.”
“Our father…” The words died in my throat as realization set in. Her eyes were identical to mine, a unique gray. I stepped away from her.
“Don’t be alarmed,” she reassured me quickly. “I mean you no harm.”
“How can you say that?” I hissed, stepping further away. Brennan poised himself as if to provide protection for me. I put my hand on his arm. “This can’t be right, Bren. My mother surely didn’t intend for us to come here.”
The woman got to her feet and stared me in the eye. Like my own, the sunlight made her gray eyes seem incandescent. “I recognize the danger Mormo poses to you,” she told me quietly as she remained motionlessly in place. I could see that she wanted to seem nonthreatening. “Like you, he poses a danger to me as well. Unlike you, his threats to me could be quite permanent.”
“You’re mortal,” I said bluntly. She nodded.
“Yes. I am. But we share the same immortal father. It is true.”
“Why did my mother send me here?” I asked her brusquely.
“Because she thinks I can help,” the woman answered simply.
“Help me?” I asked.
“Of course. Who else?” She stared into my eyes again and I felt as though she was looking directly into my soul. It was disconcerting.
“Your name.” I didn’t ask, I stated. I was simply too tired for pleasantries at this point.
“Branwyn. You and the son of Apollo should rest. Allow me to show you to a safe place, princess.”
“My name is Brennan,” Brennan interjected. “It’s not ‘son of Apollo.”
“Whether it is your name or not your name, it is still who you are,” Branwyn replied. “I cannot help that and neither can you. There are worse things.”
I had to admit that I liked her matter-of-fact manner. Her attitude was simple and definitely not flowery. I had the distinct impression that I would always know where I stood with this woman. My sister. The thought almost floored me. I had no idea that I even had one.
“Come,” Branwyn urged. “We have much to discuss, but I believe you should rest first and we can speak when your minds and bodies have rested.”
Brennan looked at me, his amber gaze concerned. “You really should rest,” he said quietly. “You’ve been through a lot today. You’re strong, but even the strong have the need to rest.”
I nodded curtly, just once. I hated to admit it, but he was right. My legs were quite literally shaking from weariness. Hanging over a ledge, dangling over bubbling lava would do that to a person.
“Good,” Branwyn smiled. “You must believe me, princess. I wish you no ill. I only want to help. Your mother is very strong and very respected here. We would do anything to keep her daughter safe.”
She smiled again and I studied her for a moment. She was sincere, I could tell that much. I glanced around again. The druids sought wisdom. I quickly flipped through my memories regarding this ancient people.
Druids had priests, priestesses and seers. They sought higher powers in many forms, including gods and goddesses. They worshipped my mother, for one, although they didn’t typically use her true name. They thought she was the mother of everything that ever was. Priestesses and Seers lived simple lives. They were self-sacrificing and loyal. It didn’t surprise me that Branwyn was opening her home to me. It was very possible, probably even likely, that she had seen me in a vision. They worshipped nature, they opened their minds to powers that they didn’t understand. And sometimes, they channeled visions. It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if she had seen me in one.
“Did you see my coming in a vision?” I asked curiously as we walked together over the meadow toward the small gathering of huts.
“No,” she glanced at me. “Your mother told me.”