Page 34 of Queen of the Shadow

Scáthach lifted her arms over her head. “Follow me.” With swanlike grace, she dove into the bloody sea. The spirit of the horse followed her, the water closing over them like a mother’s caress.

Béfionn’s magick pulsed through her body as Scáthach dove impossibly deeper and deeper. As sure as sunrise, the magick drew her to the warm current that was the artery leading to the heart of Annwn and the Summerlands beyond. Scáthach could not enter Annwn this way. Only the dead or her mother were permitted entrance through this spirit portal, but Scáthach shared the goddess’s blood and, even more importantly, her love. The artery recognized her. It pulled her and the spirit of the stallion down until a silver light illuminated a tunnel-like entrance.

Scáthach turned to the stallion and gestured to the entrance. The glowing spirit hovered before her. He dipped his head, and again she rested her palm against his wide forehead.All is forgiven. Now go with my blessing. Learn and grow as you wait for Uathach.

She watched the stallion disappear through the entrance and then was surprised by the rush of longing she unexpectedly felt to join him. It had been a long time since she’d visited the Underworld. She’d grown up spending time there with her mother and, as the Queen of Shadow hovered in the warm vein of water, she thought of how lovingly the spirits had always welcomed her. Was it odd to consider Annwn a second home? Probably...

With a final warm caress the current released her, and Scáthach drifted up toward the scythe moon and the mortal world that waited above. She surfaced and floated on her back, ignoring the cold she was beginning to feel now that the artery released her. The sky was filled with stars that scorched across the darkness, leaving trails of light as ethereal and beautiful as the stallion’s spirit. Her tears slid down her face, joining the sea, blending salt with salt. She grieved for the stallion, who had been young and foolish. She grieved for her daughter, who had not asked for the gift of Sight. And Scáthach grieved for herself, for though she would never regret giving her daughter the spark of divinity that saved her life, she would miss the Sight. She would dearly miss it.

She swam strongly back toward shore, where the sturgeons greeted her, escorting her to the shallows. Scáthach stroked their slick, cool backs. “Thank you, my friends. Thank you for coming even without Mother. I’m glad it was you who accepted the stallion’s body.” She caressed them once more before she left the sea and retraced her path across the beach to the shadows that held her castle. Scáthach stopped then and looked up at the northern tower, sure she felt eyes watching her. She thought she saw a flash of amber, but as her sight sharpened and she focused, there was only the darkness of the tall, narrow window slits.

Scáthach continued to the pasture, entered, and secured the stone. When she turned to where she’d left her clothes, unexpected joy rushed through her. Leannan was there, waiting patiently. The big dog’s tail thumped against the ground. Her greetingwoofwas soft and worried. Scáthach dressed quickly and then sat beside her beloved deerhound. She put her arm around the dog’s neck and Leannan leaned into her as Scáthach whispered reassurance and took comfort from the steadfastness of her dog’s unconditional love.

Part IISummer 200 BCE

Chapter 8

There was only one reason Sentanta wanted to win the race.

He must win so he could collect the boon.

He’d had no idea that his opportunity to claim it would come so soon and so perfectly, but when he heard them arguing with her, Sentanta knew he had to speak up. He told himself it wasn’t just about what he wanted. It was the right thing, the safest thing to do. Uathach and Tabiti agreed.

They spoke almost as loudly as his heart.

* * *

“Can you see any of them yet?” Uathach asked.

Tabiti lifted a hand to her brow, squinting against the bright summer sun as she peered out from Dunscáith’s western parapet, searching the slate-colored water. “No, but the boats that took the students out to sea returned not long ago. It’s still too soon for any of them to have reached shore.”

“I always worry about this part of the training.” Uathach kept her attention focused on the water as she paced along the parapet. “It’s a lot to ask of them.”

Scáthach went to her daughter and stilled her with a hand on her shoulder. “They must swim to shore from where they’re dropped out at sea, concealing themselves by succeeding at the underwater feat as they come within sight of the castle. They leave the sea and their chariots await them.” Scáthach pointed her chin in the direction of the seventeen empty chariots being held just off the beach by members of the Shadow Guard. “Each student must drive their chariot down the road to the castle, complete the chariot feat, free their horse from the cart, and race to the Bridge of Leaps, where they are to vault over the bridge. Every warrior who completes all three feats gets to continue their training and the victor wins a boon from me.”

“Yes. I know all of that, Mother. And it is why this race always worries me,” said Uathach. “Each student would rather die than fail.”

Scáthach turned her daughter, forcing Uathach to shift her gaze from the water to her mother. “You know this isn’t just a race.”

“It’s a test,” said Tabiti.

“Exactly.” Scáthach nodded.

“And from last year’s group of students, one almost drowned. Two fell during the chariot feat, both breaking bones, and three more fell to the rocks and water below the bridge and had to be fished out half-dead,” Uathach said.

“Better they fail here than during battle,” said Tabiti.

When Uathach rounded on Tabiti, Scáthach silenced her by speaking first. “Tabiti is correct, and you know it, Uathach. During this test they are not being shot at with arrows. They are not being chased by ambushers. They are not vaulting over a moat to end a siege. What I’m asking them to do today iseasierandless dangerousthan what will be asked of them after they leave here.” She met her daughter’s gaze. “What is it that has you acting like a mother hen brooding over her chicks?”

The tension released from Uathach’s shoulders as she blew out a long breath. “The Sight.”

“You had your first vision?” Tabiti asked.

“Yes, and it was confusing and frustrating,” Uathach said as she rubbed her temple.

“And it made your head ache?” Scáthach asked softly.

Uathach nodded.