Wilde's Army (10 page)

“To answer your question from before, if your mother Binds us at Willow Falls, we either have to wed before anyone notices, or escape—and being alone is not the safest option. You said my father told you to keep your distance from me when we arrive. Did he indicate any reason as to why?”

A lump forms in my throat. “He said if I wanted this to end well, I must protect you by keeping my distance.”

Arland’s eyes glass over. “There may be something in my prophecy about our marriage; something he has not told me—I fear there is a great deal he has not told me. We should speak to your mother and see what she knows. She seems to be in a sharing mood tonight.”

“Are you saying you’re willing to be Bound to me?” I’m beginning to wonder if either of us has any self-esteem. Arland said I wouldn’t have to bully him into anything, but he never actually said he wanted marriage. Permanence.

His eyes return to the here and now, smiling at me. “I always have been, Kate, but we will be outcast if we are caught breaking away from what a High Leader has ruled. The only way we would ever be able to redeem ourselves is to win this war.”

“I have every intention of winning this war,” I say with a lot more confidence than I’ve had in a long time.

“I knew you would say that. We should return inside and discuss your conversation with Griandor and our Binding with your mother.”

Arland stands then offers me his hand, and I take it. He wraps his arm around my shoulders, and we walk up the short incline to the mouth of the cave, but we stop before entering the dreary hideout.

“I love you, Katriona Wilde.”

“I love you, too, Arland Maher.” I return his formal tone.

Bending down, he places a gentle kiss on my lips. One that leaves me wanting so much more … especially after our talk of marriage. The thought of being Bound to him makes me giddy. He pulls away, and I touch my fingers to my mouth, trying to hold the tingling remnants of him there.

When we reach the back of the cave, I see Mom has kept her promise. She sits in the exact place we left her. Mom grins.

I drop my hand from my lips.

“Did you two work everything out?” she asks.

We take seats next to her. “Yes, and we have a lot to discuss, Mom. Do you swear to be honest with us?”

“I swear to be as honest as I can.”

That little earnest statement seems to be the best I will ever get from my mother, and I guess it’s going to have to do. “We want to be Bound, but not here. Arland doesn’t think it’s safe for us to escape, so how will we perform our Binding at Willow Falls without being caught?”

Her grin widens. “Well, I couldn’t be happier. I have a few ideas for the spell. We will come up with a plan later,” she says as if the ordeal is all worked out in her head.

“But, Mom, Leader Maher told me to keep my distance from Arland once we arrive. We suspect he knows something of our marriage. Do you know if something will happen?”

“No, I am not aware of anything that will occur at Willow Falls.”

I want to believe her, I genuinely do. After so many years of her keeping things from me, I find it a little difficult, but I move on. I will press her for more, later. “If we keep our distance, the only people aware of our relationship will be those here.”

“The soldiers all have a great deal of respect for Arland; requesting their silence should be relatively easy. But since Perth is aware of your relationship, we do have a concern—”

I wave my hand. “Perth is not a concern. We should include him in our plans. If he truly doesn’t have any desire to marry me and believes in uniting our sides, then he will only agree with anything we come up with.”

Arland and Mom both glower at me.

Before either has a chance to protest vocally, I go on. “I do think we should keep the Binding thing a secret … from everyone.”

They continue their silent treatment.

“Will anyone ever trust me?” I throw my hands up.

“We trust
you
, Kate, but trusting someone we have grown to have a genuine hatred for is difficult,” Arland says.

Everyone is so quick to judge, so quick to hate. There has to be a reason why Griandor told me to trust those around me when he did. He must have known Perth was the only one there. There’s a way to make everyone trust him, but I’m missing the connection. All the interaction I’ve had with him doesn’t amount to much. And I haven’t seen him interact with anyone else … except for Mom.

I focus on her. Long brown hair falls in front of her eyes, making her appear younger than she is. Innocent. “Mom, why did you tell Perth your name was Morgandy Domhnaill?”

She looks around the dark cave then leans forward.

Arland and I do the same.

“A long time ago, Morgandy was a goddess loved by many. She was pure and kind and did not think so highly of herself to live in the heavens. She wanted to be near her people, so she could help them in times of suffering.”

“She didn’t want to live in the heavens because she didn’t like the other gods?”

Mom shakes her head. “She preferred being near those who prayed to her.”

“Was she a primary god?”

“Yes, how—?”

“Griandor told me … .”

She takes my hands in hers. “What was he like?”

“Mom, the name … ?” I say, pulling my hands away.

“Right. Well, one particularly dirty man came to her door and begged for food. It was her nature not only to offer him food, but her home. She allowed him to bathe, eat, drink, and sleep. When he was clean and well fed, he thanked the goddess and offered her payment by telling her a story. She listened to the story about his life with great interest, and when the time came for him to leave, she was saddened. It was unusual for Morgandy to have feelings so strong about a Draíochtan man, so she offered that he stay longer. He tried to refuse, but she all but forced him to remain with her. He continued telling her stories, and in return, she told some of her own. So, as the story goes, the two fell in love and had a child. The child was my great-grandmother, times three. Every new generation of women on my side of the family is told the story about Morgandy. Not many Draíochtans know of her, but those who do, know she is good. The Seer said I would need to use the name when I returned here.”

I’m related to the gods? Maybe this is why they chose me, because some of their blood runs through my veins, because, in a sense, the powers belong to me? Does this mean I’ll live forever? No. That’s ridiculous. Sitting back, I think over her story before I speak, trying to piece together what it all means and how it applies to our situation.

“Perth’s aunt told him if he ever heard anyone use Morgandy’s name, he should trust the person. In fact, it wasn’t until
he
used the name that I decided not to kill him.”

Arland snickers.

I glance sideways at him, heart lifting from his moment of pure enjoyment. “His aunt must have had some sort of idea someone would offer him Morgandy’s name in the future.”

“I imagine a Seer instructed her to tell Perth that, but she might not have known why. It still does not make me want to trust him, but because trusting him is what you wish for, I will do it,” Mom says.

“Thank you, Mom.” I turn and face Arland. “Arland?”

“If trusting him makes you happy, I will do it, too.” The muscles in his face tense, suggesting he’s not lying; he’s
only
doing this to make me happy.

“Okay, when the soldiers wake up, we tell them to keep mine and Arland’s relationship a secret. When Perth returns, we should sit down with him and come up with a plan of action to show ourselves as united at Willow Falls. I’m still trying to figure out how we can trick everyone into thinking I’m willing to marry him. Maybe there’s another way to go about uniting our kinds … ?”

“Would you mind sharing with us what the war is about?” Mom asks.

What I’m about to say is not going to make her happy, but my knowledge of this war is the one piece of power I hold over everyone, and I’m not about to let it go easily.

I take a deep breath. “You tell me what I need to know about my future, without holding
anything
back, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know about this war.”

Mom’s mouth falls open—I’ve just offended her—but she closes it, then frowns.

I’ve got her cornered
.

A pebble tumbles through the cave, breaking the silence. I look up and see my mom’s silhouette walking toward us. Before she left, I wondered if she was going to find a way to punish me, to tell me I was acting petulant, spoiled or ridiculous. She’s explained why she hasn’t told me anything about my future, but it’s not like I’m going to head for The Clearing then jump through the portal back to Earth … there’s too much at stake.

She reclaims the seat she left an hour ago.

Arland releases me from his embrace, leaving a chill on my skin where his arms were, and we sit up. I enjoy the understanding between us. He must know if I ever want information from anyone, the knowledge Griandor gave me is what I will use to bargain. Of course, that will only go so far, but I will use it as long as I can.

Mom sighs and crosses her arms over her chest. “What do you want to know?”

“You can start by telling me what’s going to happen to Arland at Willow Falls.”

She waves her hand. “Oh, Kate, I already told you I do not know.”

“And I’m telling you, I don’t believe you. You’ve successfully lied to me and everyone I know my entire life.” Agitation echoes off the cold cave walls.

“I have only ever done what I was told. It was the only way to protect you, do you not see?” Her voice reminds me of my childhood when she’d scold me for disobeying.

“No, Mom, I don’t see. Why don’t you try to explain it to me? You want Arland and me to be Bound, you tell me you know we’re stronger together, you tell me you know everything about my future, but when I ask you for details, you say you don’t know.” Okay, so that came out more cross than expected, but I don’t want half-truths. I don’t want
you’ll stray from the path of Light
. I want answers, honesty, and I want it now. This is my mom I’m asking for information, not some stranger, and I’m not asking for much. Just enough to help me survive, to give me hope.

Arland places his hands on my shoulders and puts his mouth beside my ear. “Kate, I know you are angry. You have every right to be, but you need to rein in the fire before everyone wakes up—everyone who is not already listening, that is,” he whispers.

I’m burning. Bright blue light fills the cave. Flames stretch from me in all directions, illuminating tiny beads of water sliding down the moss-covered walls, and revealing the clenched eyes of a few soldiers.

Heat fills my cheeks. I cannot believe I allowed my emotions to get out of control. “Sorry.”

Mom clasps her hands in her lap.

Arland watches me and rubs my shoulder.

Closing my eyes, I focus on the magic, the power, the anger that released the Light and fold it in over my heart until the fire is gone.

“So … .” I clear my throat. “Instead of just allowing things to happen, Mom, I think it would be wise to tell me what you know. I’m not going to walk away from what I have to do, no matter how hard my future may be.”

She purses her lips into a thin line. “Fine. I only know about you, Kate, and not about everyone else. Something happens to Arland at Willow Falls, something that makes you angry with the Leaders. I do not know what it is, but it is enough to provoke anger in you that will define Encardia for generations to come. That is assuming you do not fail in the remainder of the war.”

Revolutionize
comes to mind as well as Griandor’s other words, “You could still fail.” They twist and warp around in my head until I’m dizzy. What could I revolutionize? What is it I’m missing? If I am ready, willing, and fighting, why might I still fail?

Arland leans in close to Mom. “Why would you want to Bind us if you already have a good idea we are going to be punished for it?” His words come out like a growl.

Mom offered us what we want, but as always, it’s just a part of the game. I’m beginning to think Arland is right … there will be no future for us. We are doomed before we even begin. He and our children always died in my visions … I’ve been warned. I reach for his hand, and, for a moment, sickness rises in me. If I don’t figure all this out, hand holding, occasional kissing, and a short-lived marriage could be it.

Betrayed. That’s how I feel.
Again
.

She rests her back against the wall. “Because, Arland, do you not want as much time with Kate as you can get? I would kill for one more day with Brian. For one more whispered
I love you
from him. I can give you something no one can ever take away. Some may try, but a Binding spell is permanent. We would be breaking laws, but would a proper marriage not be worth it?”

Arland squeezes my hand. “Every moment with Kate is worth it, but I do not want her to be exiled for our union.”

Maybe she’s not playing a game with us. Maybe she truly does miss my dad and wants us to be happy like the two of them were. All I know is I couldn’t care less if I’m exiled, punished, or put to death for being with Arland. He is exactly what I want.

“Arland, Kate will be fine. That much I know. She will give some sort of speech—”

“Wh—?”

“Before you ask”—she shakes her head—”no, I do not know what you are going to say, Kate. You will give a speech that wakes everyone up and somehow unites our people.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “How did you know I have to unite everyone?”

Mom mirrors my action. “I know a lot, but I still do not know what this war is about.”

She went from being a concerned mom to know-it-all again. I’m still not sure if I can trust her. “You know a lot, like you knew about Brad? Why did you lie to me about him, Mom?”

Leaning forward, she takes my hands in hers, but I yank them away then slide closer to Arland. Whatever her justifications for hiding things and confusing me about my future with Arland are, I don’t understand why she would let anything happen to Brad. He was a victim, made to look evil and used against me by Dughbal.