"Channa Leigh!" Ronin called. "Are you all right?"
She moved unerringly toward the open door, causing Darkfest to marvel at her ability to get around the castle unaided. She had a remarkable memory, he thought, that she should so quickly have memorized the design of the place.
"Ronin," she said, her voice warm with welcome. "What brings you here?"
"I've come to fetch you home."
"Home?" she asked, alarmed. "Why? Is something wrong?" Her hand went to her throat. "Mama's not sick again?"
"Nay," Ronin said quickly. "All is well. 'Tis only that I've come to claim what is mine."
"I dinna understand."
"You dinna belong here," Ronin said, his courage asserting itself once more.
"Oh, but I do," she said softly. "For one year, I belong to Lord Darkfest."
"Nay! I'll not have you staying here, alone with him."
"I gave him my word, Ronin," she said. "Would you have me break it?"
"Ye have yer answer," Darkfest said, his voice like the rumble of a coming storm. "Go home."
"Fare thee well, Ronin," Channa Leigh said.
He stared at her a moment, wanting to argue, wanting to rush in and take her away by force, but he knew about honor and, in the end, he turned and started back down the path that led to the village.
Darkfest closed the door, then turned and faced Channa Leigh. "So," he said, "is that the boy yer going to wed?"
"He's no a boy," Channa Leigh said defensively. "He's a man full-grown, and a brave hunter."
Darkfest scowled, annoyed by the note of admiration in Channa Leigh's voice, jealous at the way she jumped to the boy's defense.
" 'Tis a beautiful day," he growled. "Would ye care to go outside?"
"Oh, yes."
"Come, then." He took her hand, noting the way she flinched at his touch. Did she flinch when that boy touched her, or did she fall into his arms, eager and ready for his caresses?
Jealousy was an emotion he had not known before; the depth of it surprised him as much as the source. To think that he, the lord of Darkfest Keep, was jealous of a callow youth. It was unthinkable, and yet it was true.
He guided her through the castle toward the door that led into the rear yard. Tall trees cut in fanciful shapes grew along the high stone wall. Plants and flowers bloomed here in rich abundance, nourished by the strength of his power. He had fresh fruit and vegetables the year round. He raised no animals, ate little meat save that which the villagers brought him.
Peacocks strutted in the sunlight; turtledoves nested in the tops of the trees.
Holding Channa Leigh's hand, he walked her through the yard, describing the trees, the plants, the flowers, the birds. She listened intently and he saw the yearning in her face, the desire to see it for herself.
"I have business to attend to," he said, his voice curt. "Will ye be all right out here alone for a time?"
"Yes."
He led her to a low bench beneath a flowering tree. "Sit here," he said, "until I return."
With a nod, she sat down, her skirts spread around her.
Darkfest moved away a few steps, his shape changing, his muscles rippling, and then, in the guise of the wolf, he returned to her side.
"Magick!" Channa Leigh exclaimed as he pressed himself against her leg. "What are you doing here?" Smiling happily, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. "I am so glad to see you."
Rising, one hand grasping his fur, she stood up, her head turning from side to side as she tried to see everything at once.
"Oh, look!" she said, pointing at a peacock with feathers spread wide. "Isn't it beautiful? Oh, and look at that, and that."
The garden was like a fairyland, filled with plants in myriad shades of green and flowers in all the colors of the rainbow - bright reds and blues, violet and lavender, yellow and orange and pink. She walked through the flowers, pausing to touch this one, to smell that one, to stare in wonder at a tall plant with brilliant white flowers and sharp black thorns.
When she reached out to touch it, the wolf growled and pushed himself between her and the plant.
"Stop that," she said, and reached for the flower again, giving a little shriek when the wolf rose up on his hind legs and caught her hand in his mouth.
Channa Leigh frowned at Magick. "Why can I not touch it?"