Kushiel's Justice - Jacqueline Carey [107]
"Don't know just yet." He proffered the platter. "Tell me why you're here, lad." Freeing one hand, he rapped his knuckles on the hard-packed earth. "Here in Alba.”
"The succession—" I began.
"No, no!" Aodhan waved his free hand dismissively. "I know all about the politics. Even hermits have ears. Why are you here?”
I took a piece of fish from the platter, juggling it from hand to hand. It was hot. Conor and the ollamh began to eat, picking flaky white flesh from the bones. "Because I believed it was the right thing to do," I said slowly "Because I'd given my word. Because I thought mayhap dedicating my life to ensuring a peaceful succession for Alba and Terre d’Ange was a way to atone for my mother's sins." I glanced at Conor. "It's a long story.”
"Could you learn to love it here?" Aodhan pointed. "And mind, eat your fish, lad. 'Tis best when it's hot.”
I obeyed, thinking. "Yes," I said at length, swallowing. "Alba's very beautiful.”
"You D'Angelines and your beauty." Aodhan snorted, but I thought he was pleased with my answer nonetheless. He shoved another hunk of fish into his mouth, his braided beard waggling as he chewed. "Will you stay?”
I met his shrewd gaze. "I don't know.”
"Well." He nodded. "An honest answer. Eat, and I'll give you mine." He reached out and tapped a startled Conor in the center of his forehead. "And you mind, lad! Everything you hear today is under the ollamh's seal of discretion. Breach it, and you'll be sorry.”
"Yes, Master Aodhan," he murmured.
We finished eating and washed our hands in the cool stream. Aodhan cleared his throat. "Here's my thinking, young Imriel. You seem to have the makings of a good man in you, and Alba owes you a chance to prove it; aye, even old Alba. There's naught I can do to break the binding, but there are protections I can lay over you if you're willing.”
"Will I be safe, then?" I asked.
"Safe!" Another snort. "Nothing's safe. But it will render the binding harmless so long as the protections are maintained. The rest is up to you." He studied me. "Mind you, it comes at a price, and that's whatever this great passion is with which the witch bound you.”
My heart gave a sudden leap of anguish. "Forever?”
"No, lad." There was a note of sympathy in the ollamh's voice. "Only for so long as you wear my charm. I cannot change your heart. Underneath, you'll be the same. But whatever desire drove you to spill the seed that's in the witch's keeping…" He shrugged. "Waking or sleeping, you'll no longer feel it.”
"And this Morwen won't be able to summon me with it?" I asked.
Aodhan nodded. "Even so.”
I twisted Sidonie's ring on my finger, then made myself stop, pushing away all thoughts of her. Mayhap it would be for the best. I took a deep breath and gathered my courage. "All right. If you're willing, I'd be grateful.”
He wiped his damp hands on his tunic. "Let's be about it, then.”
After our homely luncheon, it was strange to see Aodhan perform a formal ritual. He ducked into his cave several times, emerging with an array of items. The skillet was banished from the vicinity of the fire, which was stoked anew with branches of rowan and birch. He cast a handful of herbs on the flames, and a pungent smoke arose, smelling of camphor.
"Pennyroyal," Aodhan said briefly. "Take off your boots and stand over there, lad.”
Once again, I obeyed.
I stood barefoot on the hard-packed earth while Aodhan drew a circle around me with a broom made of hazel twigs, then fetched a pouch full of salt and retraced his steps in the opposite direction, sprinkling salt along the circle. Sunlight filtered through the trees that lined the stream, shining on his bald brown pate. I felt foolish, but Conor watched with grave eyes.
The ollamh began to chant.
"The charm of Brigid ward thee; the charm of Danu save thee; the charm of Manannan shield thee; the charm of Aengus defend thee.”
His voice was deep and rolling and musical, and there was power in it. Any feeling of foolishness vanished. I felt the air shiver