Summer fun, indeed.
Chapter Twenty
REUNIONS, PT. 2
Alison
Alison tried to catch Nolwynn up on the situation with the dam, but Nolwynn was already aware: her people had spotted the construction of the demonstration dam on a different stream to the west of the manor.
She agreed to send some of her people to help “liven up” the demonstration a bit. “I’ll watch from a distance,” she said. “My last encounter with the king was…tense. I don’t want to draw his ire again.”
Alison advised that everyone should keep their distance. “We need him to believe that the dam has failed because of its own design, not because of magic.”
With a plan in place, Alison bid farewell to Nolwynn and headed back into Fossholm to meet Keir, following a path the korrigans showed her that avoided the worst of the climbing and bouldering.
He was there at the stables already when she arrived. “They’re settling in nicely according to the staff, off on a tour of the grounds by the time I got there. My father wasn’t home—he’s on his way back from Sudport with most of the royal staff and attendants. They’ll get here just before the king and princess fly in. Alison, what’s wrong?”
She had known she wouldn’t be able to hide her feelings from him—he was far too perceptive. “Come,” she said. “Let’s talk while we ride.”
Alison led them, urging her horse forward as fast as she could handle. She debated what to say to him and how to say it. Would it be better to let him see Charlotte for himself?
No, she decided. She’d tell him herself once they reached her cottage to give him time to come to terms with it so he could meet Charlotte on even footing.
They rode as quickly as they could back into Herot’s Hollow, crossing the river at the bridge south of town to avoid most of their neighbors and traffic. Keir was terribly worried, but he trusted her enough to allow himself to be led.
From the gate, Alison could see that the cottage and the gardens had been visited, likely by Gwenla and Brytak, in her absence. She would thank them later. There were more important things at hand.
“Do you remember when I told you that it felt like I came up for air at the end of our time in the vine’s world?” she asked him once they were inside. “And that I felt it again when I was looking at the falls when we came into town.”
“Yes,” he said. “I remember. I suppose it was a path back to normalcy, back from the experience of being someone else into your own skin.”
“Keir, it was real,” she said. “I…met her. Just now. She survived.”
Alison took his hand and led him to the couch.
“Who are you talking about?” he asked. His expression, the tone of his voice. He was so much like Charlotte it brought tears to Alison’s eyes.
“Danny,” said Alison. “Her name is Charlotte now. The korrigans saved her. She’s been with them all this time.”
“I don’t understand,” said Keir. “Alison, did the korrigans do something to you? Danny died. I saw it myself. We searched the river and the lake beyond for hours. Days. He was a child. He couldn’t have survived long on his own.”
“She wasn’t on her own. The korrigans save people from drowning. They saved her. They helped her become who she had always been. Charlotte. Your sister.”
Keir froze. In the memories Alison had shared with Charlotte, there had been signs of who she was, signs she was sure Keir had noticed as well. “You met someone who claimed to be my sister?”
“No, Keir,” she said gently. “I met your sister. She’s alive.” The tears fell down Alison’s cheeks.
Alison watched the thoughts cross Keir’s face. Disbelief, anger, doubt. Concern for Alison—had they done something to her? Was this some effect of the magic still confusing her mind and making her say things to hurt him?
“Alison, I believe that you believe what you’re saying is true. I know you wouldn’t lie to me, and especially not about this. But I don’t think I can believe it until I see her for myself.”
Alison nodded. “She’s coming here. That’s why I wanted to get back here so quickly. She’ll be at your house soon.”
Keir sat back, rubbing his jaw and staring off into the distance, deep in thought.
“She didn’t believe me either,” said Alison. “She thought…she thought you were like your father. That you hated her. All the times you took the blame, she thought that’s how you really felt.”
His eyes were haunted when they met Alison’s again. Some part of him was beginning to believe it. “What did you say to her? How did you convince her to come here?”
