“Because you understand the Fae, you understand how to travel in Tir Alainn—and because I’m comfortable with you.”

A gleam came into Gwynith’s eyes. “If I go with you, would you teach me the moon dance?”

Selena smiled. “I can try. Come on, then. Let’s get your saddlebags packed. I want to leave as soon as possible.” She heard a loud snort. “And I’d better explain to Mistrunner that he needs to be patient a bit longer.”

“If you want to stay with him, I’ll run back to the Clan house and pack.”

Snort. Stamp.

“That’s probably wise,” Selena said dryly.

Gwynith rushed toward the Clan house, then rushed back. “Huntress?”

“Selena.”

Gwynith smiled. “Selena. I’m really wiccanfae?”

“Yes, you’re really wiccanfae.” Selena shrugged. “Perhaps in other parts of Sylvalan, the word no longer means the same thing as it does in the Mother’s Hills.”

“And Dianna and Lucian are wiccanfae?”

“Yes. She anchors to the branch of earth, and he obviously can draw power from the branch of fire. Having another form is what distinguishes the Fae from the rest of Sylvalan’s people, regardless of what other talents that person has. Being connected to a branch of the Great Mother is the heritage of the House of Gaian. Long ago, people who had another form and that connection to the Mother were called wiccanfae—the wise Fae.”

“By the fields, full and fallow.” Gwynith shook her head. “Last summer, when the Bard was trying to find out anything he could about the wiccanfae, he guested with Lucian and Dianna’s Clan. I wonder what he’ll say when he finds out he was dining with the very thing he was searching for and didn’t know it.”

Chapter 14

waxing moon

Ashk made herself as comfortable as possible on the stone bench that ran along the terrace wall. Tomorrow, or the day after, she would have to drop the glamour of appearing male so that she could spend a few quiet hours in the women’s communal room at the Clan house where they would guest.