The druid scoffed, but the Vaich snatched his hand and tugged him through. The druid came stumbling after, catching himself upon the king’s chest. Firelight flickered across the Vaich’s smirking face, the whin still wreathing his head like a crown of summer sun. In his mind, the druid chided him terribly, but the moments tumbled by and he remained silent—no words of wit or fight.
Between the walls of Rhyd-hal, they were endlessly watched, but here in the grove they were nameless. Around them the dancing and songs carried on, but the druid heard only their mingling exhales.
Finally, the Vaich’s smile fell; the gold of his eyes shifting from ember to armor.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, releasing the druid’s hand. “I shouldnae mock you.”
It should have meant something. Those words should have burrowed in his mind, but all the druid could think about was the emptiness left in the wake of his touch.
“I ought to go off and water Saorla.”
“I will come with you,” said the druid and at once went rigid at the urge.
The Vaich looked confused. “You wish to?”
“I…”
“Well, I willnae say no to company.”
The two broke away from the festivities, the Vaich fetching the water pot from their dwell. With everyone around the fire pits, the tents were especially quiet. If he listened, the druid could hear the forest breathe; the foxes crying in the distance.
And the whispers.
He picked at his fingers. He shifted his weight. He silently urged the Vaich to hurry. And when his tall, dark-haired form ducked under the door, the druid relaxed.
The Vaich chuckled. “I think that’s the first time you’ve ever looked happy to see me.”
“How absurd,” the druid replied.
“Aye that’s true. Suppose I dinnae ken what happiness looks like on your face.”
The druid felt as if he’d been petrified, and rubbed his arm to stop the skin from turning to stone.
“I am plenty happy.”
“Is that what you’d call it?” The Vaich nodded him aside. “Come on.”
The night was dark but the glow of the moon peeking through the branches. They found the mare grazing lazily in a patch of emerald. She seemed comfortable enough there, though snorted pridefully as the Vaich walked up.
“Dinnae be that way,” he said, his voice a calming hum. He never sounded so gentle as when he talked to her. “I havenae forgot about you.”
The Vaich set the pot down for her and hungrily she drank. He patted her auburn hide, his face soft and all his edges smoothed.
“You must mean a great deal to one another,” said the druid.
The Vaich glanced back at him. “We grew together, she and I. She taught me many skills.”
“Such as?”
“Like trust and responsibility and how to make peace with a difficult thing. She’s a mind of her own, the lady. She willnae be commanded if she doesnae agree. Suppose I didnae break her… but even a king should ken when to bow.”
“Surely she is your only exception.”
The Vaich let out a breathy laugh. “Is that true?”
Above, the sky was pale with starlight, its radiance spilling into the clearing below. It shimmered in blades of grass, and danced in the Vaich’s golden eyes.
The druid quickly looked away.
