I swallowed hard. “What about the last thing? The soul?” I mean really, how did they expect us to find a soul?
Snapping my fingers, I said, “The hall we passed through, the Banshee graveyard. Do you think we could find a soul there?”
Angus shook his head. “Not unless it was a Queen. Ta Banshees do what they’re told, so tay aren’t really bad. Obedient, not bad.”
I looked over at Bres, who’d arched an eyebrow. “What was it that Fianna gave you when we left, Quinn?”
My pocket suddenly felt heavy. I hadn’t asked what Fianna had given me, but I had no doubt now what it was. Aednat’s soul gem.
The small brown bag looked nondescript when I laid it on the anvil, but when I undid the tie and slid the gem onto the tempered steel, the three Smiths gasped. The blue and green stone was all that was left of Aednat. My heart clenched just thinking about her.
“The gods indeed be looking out for ya, Quinn.” Angus dropped a big hand onto my shoulder and patted it. “We can build you ta sword you need, a sister to Excalibur. For a price.”
Blinking, I stared up at him, not sure if I’d heard correctly. “What?”
“We can do nothing for free. There is always a cost,” he said, his voice sad. “I wish it were different, but if we break that law now, our safety here is forfeit.”
Bres stepped forward, his eyes narrowed. “What kind of cost?”
The three Smiths put their heads together, the low rumble of their voices filling the two-sided shelter as they discussed, though I could make out nothing of their words.
Stepping over to Bres, I slipped my hand into his.
Any idea what they might come up with?
He shook his head. Not a clue. I didn’t even know that this was a possibility.
With a grunt, Angus stepped away from Wil and Paddy. “We’ve decided tat ta cost will be someting simple. Someting you’d perhaps like to give us.”
I took a deep breath, thinking I was prepared for anything. Wrong again.
“Your mother.”
“Huh?” I half grunted.
Angus flushed. “You see, being ta oracle and all, we thought tat she’d like to live here. It’s safe and she don’t have to be seeing any more prophecies here. And . . .” he half glanced over his shoulder at Wil, who was suspiciously stone faced.
I looked at Wil, really looked at him, and realized that he was a handsome man. His body was fit and muscular, his eyes were gentle and he had a strong jaw line. Then it hit me. She was the oracle. The one who’d prophesied everything, the one who had seen her daughters killing each other. And she’d had us anyway. It boggled my mind and yet, even with that, everything she’d done and said made ridiculous sense in that context.
She did not give all the prophecies. I gave the first, as I was the oracle before her. She gave the second, after the two of you were born. It was then that she revolted, that she rebelled and did her best to stop loving you girls.
Cora’s words rocked me and I stumbled outside, ignoring Bres’ concern. “Why tell me this now?”
I feel that it’s the right time.
Standing outside the covered shop, I struggled to grasp this new twist. “Does that mean Ashling or I is next in line?”
You will be the next oracle; it is through the Tuatha blood that that calling is passed.
Just what I needed, another responsibility.
You won’t gain it until your mother is very old. You have time before that happens.
Turning, I headed back into the shop. I would deal with the prophecy/oracle business when I had to. Right at that moment, it wasn’t the time.
My eyes met Wil’s hazel ones. “Why her?” I asked, not looking at anyone else. Wil cleared his throat.
“Your Mama, and I . . .”
Paddy snorted. “He’s been in love wit her and she wit him for their whole bloody lives. But her damn interfering mudder, she stopped ta marriage. It soured your mama, made her a bit crazy.”
Wil nodded. “Tis true. I love her. Want her here wit me.”
That man could have been my father if things had turned out differently. “I won’t force her,” I said.
Angus started to laugh. “You won’t have to, Lass. All right. We’ll make ta sword for ya. You send your mama back here and ta deal is done.”
They shooed us away into the house, the sounds of bellows and hammers on steel following us. “How long?” I asked.
“As long as it takes.” Was the only answer they gave.
The interior of the house was cool and clean. I plunked down on one of the sturdy wooden chairs, my thoughts racing. “Did you know that my mother was the oracle?”
He shook his head. “No, whenever the oracle came to see my father, it was at night and her face was covered. But I suspected.”