Page 63 of First Light
“I haven’t told you all my truths either, but that doesn’t mean I’m a liar.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “What are you hiding, Cadell?”
“Many things. Aisling has spotted you.”
Carys turned and saw the wave that Aisling was giving her. “We’ll talk about this later. Hello!”
“Carys.” Aisling walked across the meadow, her long skirts dragging in the tall grass. “Isn’t it wonderful here? I don’t know why it’s always warmer in the unicorns’ part of the forest, but it is. It’s like they carry sunshine. I mean, I imagine. I’ve never seen sunshine, but Lachlan says it’s very warm.” She spotted Cadell and gave him a polite bow with her head. “Lord Dragon.”
Cadell returned the gesture. “Lady Aisling. I believe the unicorns have elemental magic that they don’t talk about freely, and that is why their dwelling places are more temperate. That is just a theory, however, and has no basis in true knowledge.”
Aisling smiled brightly. “I suspect you’re right! I missed you, Cadell.”
“My lady.” He nodded deeply. “Seren would be glad to see you thriving at court.”
Aisling’s gaze darkened, and Carys took note.
Sorrow for a lost friend? Guilt over her death? Cadell had told her she could trust no one, but Carys had a hard time imagining one sister wanting the other dead. Slightly maimed, perhaps, but never dead.
Aisling forced a smile to her face. “I get lost in my grief sometimes. Seeing you with Carys is haunting, I cannot lie.” She turned to Carys. “You’re identical, you see? Especially in formal clothes like that. The memories of Seren are sharp.” She frowned and looked down. “Even though years have gone by, the loss still feels fresh.”
Carys’s doubt flew away. “Of course. I can’t imagine how I’m going to feel when I see my uncle, and my father has been gone for six years. My wound isn’t fresh, but I’m sure it will be overwhelming.”
“I hope…” Aisling frowned. “I do hope you’ll give all of us grace. Lachlan especially. It’s hard seeing a loved one come back from the dead.” She quickly added, “But not. Because obviously you’re not Seren, but you can only imagine how it feels to see you.”
“Lachlan…” Carys didn’t know how much she wanted to say. “It’s complicated.”
“I’m sure it is. I know that he cares deeply for you.” She glanced at Cadell. “He lost Seren. I know he doesn’t want to lose you too. That’s why he’s been so adamant that you return to the Brightlands. I suspect he fears for you. That’s all.”
So Lachlan had confided in Aisling. Interesting.
“I know.” Carys looked at Cadell. “But Cadell is here now, and I feel very safe with him. Lachlan is going to need to calm down.”
Aisling started walking toward the trees, and Carys fell into step beside her. “Lachlan is usually very calm. He was even-tempered even as a child.” She smiled. “And well-traveled. He tells the best stories in court. Most of us aren’t like Lachlan. We don’t go back and forth to the Brightlands.”
“Why not?”
Aisling looked surprised. “I don’t know who would take me.Duncan? He’s the only Brightkin I know, and he would never take me. He only takes Lachlan.”
“Not anyone else? Ever?”
“No.” Aisling’s face was cautious. “It’s a strange place for us. Stories of giant machines made of metal and bright screens with false images. No magic. No familiar magical creatures. To most Shadowkin, the Brightlands are fascinating but frightening.”
Her friend Laura had asked Carys once if she’d ever go into space if she could. Carys hadn’t even thought about it. Being an astronaut sounded a little like the way Aisling described the Brightlands. Theoretically possible, but so out of the realm of reality that it was hardly worth thinking about.
Carys asked her, “Have you ever wondered who your Brightkin is?”
“Yes!” Aisling’s face brightened. “That I do wonder about. I wonder what kind of life she has. What it must feel like to be burned by the sun.” She touched the edge of her chin. “Does my twin have children? What is my opposite nature? I think every Shadowkin wonders what kind of life we would have on the other side of the gates. But the reality of it is far more intimidating than the idea.”
If Aisling’s Brightkin was her opposite, she’d be bold, jovial, and possibly crass; Carys kind of wanted to meet her. “Where were you born? Maybe I can find her.”
Aisling laughed. “Hardly a good use of your time.”
They reached the far edge of the trees, and Carys spotted the silvery loch in the distance.
“I heard you met the kelpie the other day.” Aisling shuddered. “Frightful creatures. We learn very young which bodies of water they haunt, but the signs might be foreign to you.”
“I’ve studied mythology in my world, but I don’t know how much of that lines up with the reality of your world. And I’ve spent the past few years teaching at the university about common threads inworldmythologies, so?—”