Winter Moon: A Banshee's Tale

Preview

**I'm a little behind on schedule, so here's a preview of the following chapter :)**

"Aren't you going to invite us in, ma? It's been a long day after all," Nolan asked, stepping forward to give Alma a quick hug, which his mother returned, although her eyes were still trained on Aoife behind him.

"Well?" She demanded, ignoring Aoife's presence at the door. Nolan led her away with an arm round her shoulder. It is anyone's guess what he told her, but she did ask Aoife to come in. Perhaps it was a good thing Aodhan was out of town, for I much doubt if she would have received the tenuous welcome at all, had her older cousin been home. In an odd way, it did not sound all that different from Nolan's questioning of my companion in the morning. At least the son was justified in his probing; Aoife was only a child, and family at that.

Lunch, as it happened, was a suspiciously short affair, marked by silence, reproving looks, and stilted conversation. Aoife took her leave shortly after. I could hardly stay where I was so unwanted, she said, though neither of us pushed for more. We did, however, end up hearing the most of it anyway, for while Aoife was not particularly upset, she was rather disappointed–something I'm sure Nolan felt as well, though the bitter tang of it was perhaps dulled by understanding.

"She wouldn't even tell me why she's angry with us," Aoife said sadly. "I even told her I believe her about the faeries now!"

"I don't think she's angry with you, dear," Bronagh said softly. "People don't always need a reason to be mean."

"But you're nice to me," Aoife insisted, "And everyone said I should be scared of you!"

"Wasn't Nolan with you?" Bronagh asked instead.

"He was..."

"I don't think she'd have let her in otherwise," I said.

"At least we won't drive you out of here," my companion said. "You can stay as long as you like. You never need to go back to them."

"What?" Aoife looked back in alarm. "Why wouldn't I want to go back?" She had scrambled to her feet quite abruptly at Bronagh's statement, eyes wide, and eyeing the path back home. It was hard to tell who looked more scared of the two of them, for Bronagh looked just as confused, having not a clue what she'd said wrong.

"You said you left because you felt unwanted..." Bronagh said slowly, head tilting slightly in question.

Aoife nodded once.

"Why go back, if they still don't want you?"

"Sure, aintin Alma would rather I didn't exist, but uncail likes me! And brother Nolan too! And da will miss me too, I'm sure."

"Your– oh! Aoife, child, I meant you could spend your days here, not that you should never go back home!" Bronagh said, relief evident in her features.

"What of Aodhan, she didn't mention him," I noted.

"Oh, I haven't seen him much. I don't know, I guess," Aoife said when Bronagh repeated my observation.

We both nodded at that.

"Well, what would you like to do?" Bronagh asked, just as we both turned to a rustle in the trees.

 It was Nolan.