The cursed towers 275
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mouth thinned again and her mobile nostrils flared out like little white wings. "Ye said all ye wanted was
to stay somewhere where ye and Bronwen can be safe," she went on before Maya gave in to the
temptation to turn her into something small and slimy, as she so clearly wished to do. "I gave ye that
sanctuary. Why do ye wish to leave it? Ye ken ye and Bronwen will both be in grave danger if ye return
to Rionnagan."
The Fairge said nothing, though the little girl said rather fretfully, "Wha' do ye mean? Why are ye
fraitchin'?"
Isabeau smiled at her and stroked the wet hair away from her cheek without replying. Maya scowled and
said, "Bronwen is the rightful banrigh! Jaspar named her heir."
"Only because he did no' believe Lachlan was truly his brother," Isabeau replied swiftly. "And ye ken the
Lodestar chose Lachlan. It knew Eileanan needed a strong Righ and warrior. The land is already in
chaos, Maya. The people do no' need more doubt and confusion in their hearts and ye ken Bronwen is
too young to rule."
"She is the rightful heir," Maya said obstinately.
"Admit that ye wish to be banrigh again and have everyone adoring ye and obeying your every
command," Isabeau said tartly. "If ye canna be banrigh, regent is close enough, is that no' so? Well, I will
no' let ye sacrifice my sister or the Coven or the people to your selfish ambitions. Ye canna take
Bronwen away."
"I dinna want to go 'way," Bronwen said, suddenly beginning to cry. "Wanna stay wi' Is'beau. Wanna
stay."
"It's all right, my lassie, ye do no' have to go anywhere ye do no' wish to go," Isabeau said, drawing her
close and looking Maya defiantly in the eye. She could only hope that Maya would not want to upset her
daughter and change Isabeau into a toad before her very eyes. Seeing the Fairge gather in her will, she
tensed, ready to throw up her defenses or to try and dive behind the rocks, futile though both actions
would probably be. Bronwen was clinging close, though, and Maya hesitated then relaxed, unable to risk
losing her daughter's tenuous affection.
After a moment she said softly, "Will ye give me my daughter and let us leave if I remove the curse from
Lachlan?"
Isabeau stiffened all over. "Ye cursed Lachlan? That is why he sleeps so? How?"
Maya said, "Will ye give me Bronwen and no' follow us or try to stop me? Will ye let us go and no'
follow?"
Isabeau shook her head, resisting the urge to let her will be submerged beneath Maya's. "No! No, I
canna! Meghan would never forgive me."
'Ye mean she'd rather have Lachlan lying more dead than alive?" Maya said silkily. "What about your
sister? He's no' much good to her like that."
Isabeau's emotions were in a tumult. She clung to the little girl, saying, "Nay! Ye canna take Bronny away
from me!"
"She's no' your daughter!" Maya snapped. "She's mine! Ye wonder why I do no' want to stay with ye
when ye act like ye're her mother and I'm some kind o' interloper. How can she come to love me with ye
always snatching her away from me?"
