He would send word of this to his old commander in the Order of the Osprey, Cian Sutherland, but after that, hisresponsibilities ended. He would return to his farm and carry on with his life as if none of this had ever happened.
They didn’t speak as they walked, each lost in their own thoughts. He took them east, through wilder country in case more of MacKay’s patrols were out this way, until around an hour later, they approached the ravine where he’d first encountered Madeleine.
The crumbling bridge that spanned it looked to Deryn as though it could collapse any minute. He certainly wouldn’t trust it to take his weight. But that wasn’t what was required. Madeleine had goneunderthe bridge, not over it, and if she was to return to her time, that’s what she’d need to do again.
Handing Rory to his mother, he peered over the edge of the defile. The water level had receded somewhat and now a gentle stream filled the bottom rather than the lashing torrent it had been. Nevertheless, he frowned. If she and Rory wanted to pass through the arch created by the bridge, they would have to wade along the stream, which looked to be at least knee-deep.
Madeleine came to stand beside him. “That’s it?” she said quietly. “That’s what brought me here? Jeez, how can something so innocuous hold so much power?”
“Things aren’t always what they seem. Especially when the Fae are involved.”
She nodded distractedly. “How do we get down?”
Deryn scanned the area, looking for a safe place to climb. Around twenty feet or so downstream, the bank flattened into a gentler incline and there were bushes clinging to the sides that could be used for handholds.
“There,” he said. “If ye climb down first, I’ll hand Rory down to ye.”
His feet felt like they were made of iron as he led them over to the spot he’d indicated. He did not want them to climb down.He did not want them to walk under that arch. He did not want them to disappear from his life.
It was a harsh realization and it made a hard lump form in his stomach. But he said nothing as Madeleine peered over the edge, deciding on the best route. Instead, he just stood there, holding Rory’s hand and wishing that there was something, anything, he could do to make them stay.
But there wasn’t. He had no right to ask such a thing, so he kept his mouth shut and his expression carefully neutral as Madeleine straightened and turned to face him.
“Well, I guess this is goodbye then,” she said softly. She was standing close to him, so close that if he reached out, he would be able to touch her hair, her face, her lips. He ached to do that. He ached to run that silky hair through his fingers, to feel that soft skin against his hands.
“Aye,” he replied just as softly. “I guess it is.”
She stared up at him, her eyes wide and her lips slightly parted as though she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. Damn him, if that lead ball in his stomach didn’t suddenly become twice as heavy.
“Thank you. For all you’ve done.”
“Ye are most welcome. Fare ye well, lass.”
She sucked a breath through her nose, stepped forward, and kissed him. He was so shocked that he went rigid, the feel of her lips on his sending heat straight to his groin. But before he could respond she pulled back, spun on her heel, and walked to the ravine’s edge. She glanced back at him, then grabbed the branches of the bushes to steady herself as she climbed to the bottom. Once there, she stepped into the icy stream and gasped.
“It’s freezing!” she cried, dancing from foot to foot. “Are you ready, sweetie?” she called up to Rory. “Deryn is going to pass ye down to me. Okay?”
Rory didn’t look ready at all. His hand tightened in Deryn’s and the lad looked frightened. Deryn leaned down.
“Did ye know that fairies live by the side of this stream? Ye and yer mam are going to go look for them. And if ye find one, she’ll grant ye a wish. Would ye like that?”
Rory nodded.
“Good lad. I’m gonna lift ye down to yer mam so ye can start yer search, all right?”
He hoisted the boy into his arms and then approached the edge of the ravine. Planting his feet wide to get a good purchase, he crouched low, took Rory around the waist, and then held him out to Madeleine. She reached up and grabbed him, pulling him close.
“Where are the fairies, Mama?” he asked in his sing-song voice.
Madeleine didn’t answer. She was staring up at Deryn, seeming as if she wanted to say something.
Deryn forced words out even though they were so hard it felt as though they were ripping his throat raw.
“Ye had best get going if ye dinna want to catch yer death of cold. Goodbye, Madeleine. Goodbye, Rory.”
“Goodbye,” she whispered and walked away from him.
