“You have had that ability from the beginning of your powers because of the love that already existed between you two,” Aislinn said. “It is most powerful.” Ran made a soft noise and he glanced at her. Her discomfort at this topic was there on her face. She may have accepted that something still existed between them, but she was not ready to speak of such things to strangers.
“If you are ready then, Ran?” he interrupted, holding out his hand once more. Aislinn nodded and stepped away.
“I would speak with you when you return, Ran,” the young priestess said.
Soren scooped her into his arms and lifted her high in the air. It was very peaceful up here and he found that he stopped and just floated many times just to enjoy it. He did that now, allowing Ran to see everything beneath them.
“The coastline looks so very different from here,” she whispered. “And even more so when I am in the water.”
“Have a look,” he said, holding her still. “There is the bay of Skaill. And look how the layers of rock change at the sea’s edge.”
He’d climbed on many rock outcroppings, risking falling into the dangerous waters. It was something boys did to challenge themselves.
If he dawdled now, enjoying the feel of her in his embrace, with no one else around them, he refused to feel guilt over it. Since meeting up with these outsiders, they had barely a moment without others around. The priests liked to ask them questions. The others—the warblood and fireblood—spoke of powers and plans. Even Roger and the other men drew his attention away from where he wanted it—on Ran.
“I think I would remain up if I had this power,” she said as they flew south.
“Do you feel that way when you are with the sea?”
“Aye. I feel safe there. It is my refuge.” Her voice was not that of the strong woman he knew. She had been injured, so injured that she sought the sea and him to recover from it.
“I am here for you, Ran,” he whispered. She looked at him and said nothing. “But you do not trust me. You love me, but you do not trust.”
She sighed and he carried it away on the winds.
“I cannot simply change what I feel or I would,” she explained, her gaze still on the ground and not on him.
She would have let go of the love she had for him, if she could have. Soren understood it.
“Nor can I,” he said. “I do not expect that you should. I would just tell you that I will prove myself to you, if you will give me the chance.”
Ran neither agreed nor denied his plea. Considering how long she had been convinced he’d betrayed her, it was not a surprise. He was also certain that her father added to her anger and humiliation. Erik being involved did not help either. All because he had not stood up to her father’s ludicrous demands.
All to protect a man who truly was a heretic and who believed in other gods. Worse, those gods were not as false as they’d been taught to believe.
But she had let him close, let him inside her, and she had sought him out for help when her father was in danger. That must mean that there was some chance to rebuild the trust lost. When this was over, there would be time to sort out the rest.
If they survived at all.
Seventeen
From this height,she could see the mysterious mounds scattered all across the land. As Soren took her closer to the slip of land between the two large lakes, she saw that the number of them increased. Around Brodgar, she could count at least a dozen. More trailed north to the henge called Bookan. And more spread south toward and around Stenness.
Whatever the reason for them, it was clear that this area was held to be special by the ancient builders who erected these circles of stone and the cairns and mounds around them. Ran had visited most of the larger islands of Orkney and knew that these structures existed on all of them, but none had as many as the mainland.
Only Kirkwall and the immediate area had none.
This area of the island meant something special. The stone circles and brochs and burial cairns and mounds spoke to it. As did the other darker feelings Ran had when she stood near the edge of Loch Harray where Einar’s first map marked it with those squares.
Soren set her down near Stenness where they’d first felt something around them. The two priests were there, examining the stones. They stood and stared as Soren took his human shape again. Ran could not fault them for their curiosity, for it must be extraordinary to see proof of their beliefs right before their eyes.
“Stormblood. Waterblood,” the priests said in voices filled with awe and respect. “How may we serve you?” the older one asked, bowing low before them.
“William said you might help us search for symbols or markings,” Ran said, walking toward them. Soren handed her the map he always held close now and she unfolded it. “Here. And here,” Ran pointed at the two places she was curious about.
“Of course, Waterblood,” the priest said, bowing again. “We will do whatever is required to serve you.” At first, the bowing and the glances had been complimentary. Now though, they made her uncomfortable, as they also made Soren, if his expression was any indication.
“I pray you, please call me Ran. And this is Soren,” she nodded at him. “And you are called . . . ?”
