“So I’ll tell you this now,” Connor continued quietly. “We’ve been talking to the squire, since he’s the leader of the humans left around Ridgeley. They’re mostly farmers and a few craftsmen. They’ve been afraid to rebuild the village. Don’t really want to rebuild on the same ground. They say some of them feel the presence of too many ghosts there. But they’re also afraid to buy supplies from the nearby villages to the east, especially since there’re rumors that things are turning bad at Seahaven. They don’t want the Black Coats looking at Ridgeley again.”

It was hard to swallow, hard to breathe. “What does that have to do with the Fae?”

“We’ve worked out a barter. We’ll act as traders to get the supplies from villages in this part of the south and sell them to the humans in exchange for supplying some of the food and grains we need, as well as helping us build sturdier cottages to live in.”

“You’re going to sweat and toil like humans? How will you face the other Fae?”

“I’m thinking they’re going to learn a bit about sweat and toil themselves. And if the Black Coats come in force, they’ll learn about bleeding and dying as well.” He let out a gusty sigh. “So here’s your choice. We’re going on to the next Clan territory. We want to get home. You can come back with us and be the anchor we need to hold the Old Place’s magic—or you can stay here in Tir Alainn.”

A giddy excitement filled her. He wasn’t being unreasonable after all. “I can stay?”

Connor nodded. “But if you stay, you will no longer be welcome in the Clan’s piece of the Fair Land.”

The excitement turned dark and brittle. “What do you mean I won’t be welcome? That’s my Clan. They won’t shun me.”

“Oh, we won’t shun you. We’ll throw you over the back of a horse and take you back over a bridge to another Clan’s territory. We’ll bear them no hard feelings if they welcome you, but we’ll not have you with us. It’s your choice, Dianna. What will it be?”

“I have to decide now?”

“Now.”

“I don’t believe it. You may think you can make ultimatums, but I’m sure the Clan elders have something to say about it!”

There was pity in the way he looked at her, as if he suddenly remembered the days when they’d all been so proud of her. “That is what the elders say about it.”