years.”
“You’ll feel better once you’re in bed.” As Cahira walked beside the litter, she launched into a long lecture about Aerie Castle—how ancient it was, and how it had been built when those on the mainland still lived in mud huts. “But then, you already know that we’re from a superior race.”
He grunted in reply. Before the witch could start bragging again, he turned to Maeve. She was on the other side of the litter, still holding his staff. “How long have you been here, my dear?”
She gave him a quick glance. “I arrived this morning.”
“By boat?” he asked.
Maeve shook her head, but before she could reply, Cahira butted in.
“She swam here. She’s a selkie, which means she inherited a small portion of my power.” Cahira motioned to herself. “While our daughter is limited to the form of a seal, I can shift into any sea creature I like.”
“Like a pufferfish?” he muttered under his breath.
“Excuse me?” Cahira stepped closer to the litter.
“I’m worried about Trouble,” Brody said, raising his voice.
“Oh.” Cahira scoffed. “There will be no trouble here. I’m completely in charge.”
“I meant the cat you gave me two years ago.” Brody had learned about it from the Seer’s journal. “I named him Trouble. He ran away, and I’m worried—”
“He’ll be fine,” Cahira insisted, then muttered under her breath, “He definitely is Trouble.”
So the cat had annoyed her, and that was why she’d foisted it on the Seer? Strange, Brody thought, wondering what the cat had done. And something else was strange . . . “I’m curious, my dear. How can it be that one of the ponds is green, while the other is blue?”
“I was wondering that myself,” Maeve murmured.
Cahira gave them a smug look. “It has to do with tiny creatures who are living in the water and how they reflect the sunlight.” She chuckled. “But of course the islanders think it is a magical spell I put on the water.”
“There are other people here?” Brody asked.
“Of course.” Cahira waved a dismissive hand. “Servants, guards, and the Embraced children brought here by Lord Morris. You remember him, don’t you? He was the third person to join our Circle.”
Brody’s hands tightened on the arms of his chair. So Maeve knew the truth about her parents now. And she had been correct about the Embraced army being here. He tried to recall how much the Seer had actually known about the Circle or the army. Not much, really, for Cahira had kept him in the dark about her more nefarious plans. If the witch suspected he was not the real Seer, she might be fishing right now. “Did we talk about that?” He gave her a confused look. “I’m afraid my memory is not what it used to be.”
She nodded. “I’ll explain everything after you’ve had some rest. And I’ll have some hot porridge brought to you, too.”
Porridge? He winced inwardly. What he needed was some real food. While the servants carried him up a shallow staircase to the next floor, he came up with a plan. “Could you have a tray of food delivered for Maeve? I would like to dine with her and hear all about her life.”
Cahira huffed. “How exciting could that be? She grew up in a convent.”
“Perhaps, but I want to hear her siren voice. I find it quite soothing.”
Cahira’s mouth twisted in annoyance as she climbed the stairs beside the litter. “I’m a siren, too. Where do you think she got it from?”
Brody ignored that. “No doubt, if my daughter sang, men would cross the ocean to hear her voice. If she laughed, they would lose their hearts to her.”
Maeve stumbled on a step, her face growing pale and her knuckles turning white as she gripped his staff hard.
“Is that why you lost your heart to me?” Cahira asked with a smug look.
“Quite so, my dear.” Brody smiled at her. The servants reached the next floor and carried him down a hallway. He glanced back to make sure Maeve was following them. “Could you bring our daughter two trays of food? She barely made it up the stairs. Have you not been feeding her?”
Cahira gritted her teeth. “She is not going hungry.”
He might be overdoing the pettiness, Brody thought. So he gave Cahira a tearful smile. “I can’t thank you enough, my dear. Being here is such a blessing. Please forgive me if I’m out of sorts. I’ve been in too much pain lately.”
Cahira’s face softened. “I understand, Burien.” She stopped beside a