“You are?” Still on her feet, Aislinn took another mouthful of her meal.
“Gwydion.” He looked hard at her out of eyes blue as Fionn’s. “Ye seem to know your mythology. Can ye tell me who I am?”
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “You’re a warrior magician. Greatest of the enchanters.” She cocked her head to one side, thinking. “You also control illusion.” Setting down her plate, she snapped her fingers. “Hey, you could take on D’Chel.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Aye.” He looked at the others and winked. “The lass has faith in me.”
“There’s another problem you might be able to help me solve,” she said before shifting her gaze to the third man. “First, though, tell me who you are.” She met coppery eyes set in a tanned face. His beard was scraggly like Fionn’s, and he was dressed in leathers like Arawn, except rather than a vest, he wore a full leather shirt.
“I am Bran.” His gaze never left hers.
“Prophecy, war, sun, music, arts.” She held his frank stare.
“’Tis a pleasure to be recognized. Nice to meet you, lass.” Bran smiled.
Aislinn blew out a breath and sank into a chair with her food. “My, what an august group. Guess I can retire to the back bedroom while you save the world.”
Fionn handed her a glass filled with mead. “What did ye mean about there being something Gwydion could help you with?” It sounded as if he was jealous, and his next words clinched it. “I can do anything he can.”
“The hell ye can,” Gwydion snarled.
Better start at the beginning. Aislinn leveled her gaze on Fionn. “You’re going to be angry with me, but stuff it, okay? When you caught me downstairs a little bit ago, Rune and I were coming back from our second trip—”
“What?” He was on his feet and by her side in an instant. Fionn locked his hands on either side of her face and stared at her in disbelief. His eyes shaded to midnight, and she understood how pissed he was.
“Stand down, man,” Arawn shouted.
“Aye, leave the lass to tell her tale,” Gwydion said. Coming to his feet, he took one of Fionn’s arms and yanked hard. Grumbling, Fionn let go, but didn’t return to his seat. She heard him behind her, pacing.
Aislinn shook herself. “Thanks.” She smiled at Gwydion. “You can rescue me anytime.”
“I doona fucking think so,” Fionn snapped.
“I was teasing,” she protested. “Trying to lighten things up a touch.”
“Doona encourage them. They’d lure you to bed in a heartbeat if I turned my back.”
She couldn’t believe how out of sorts he sounded. Guess it’ll take more than that roll in the basement hay to calm him down. “You don’t trust me—” she began.
“Nay, it’s that I’ve known them for hundreds of years.” His tone softened ever so slightly. “Aislinn, we need to know about what ye did in Taltos.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to organize her thoughts. “The first trip, I mostly wanted to see if I could get through. I eavesdropped on the Old Ones, and Dewi talked to me.” Turning, she spoke to Fionn. “I was careful. I noted the place I came into Taltos, even marked it with magic so I could find it again.”
“What’d ye overhear?” Fionn still didn’t sound very friendly.
Aislinn looked around for Rune, but he wasn’t back yet. Good. “I’d rather Rune didn’t know this, but according to the Old Ones, Marta did…something to her parents. They’re upstairs in the attic, slathered in layers of illusion and spells. I don’t know if part of them is still alive, but Marta may have used their energy to boost her own magic.”
Bella cawed and flapped over, landing on Aislinn’s shoulder.
She turned to the bird. “You will not tell Rune, either. Understand?”
The raven pecked gently at her hand. Aislinn took that for a yes.
Fionn looked interested in spite of himself. “Did you try to break the spell?”
Good, he’s back to American English. Means he’s at least trying to get along with me. “Did I ever. Spent hours. Nothing worked.” She ate some more. “Rune sensed them there, too. We searched the entire rest of the house, and the yard, before we found them.”
“What about Dewi?” Bran asked. “We sent her to, ah, blend in with the Old Ones eons ago. Since then, she’s ignored my requests that she return.”
“Aye, and ’tis precious little in the way of spying she’s done for us,” Arawn added, sounding irked.