Free The Undivided by Jennifer Fallon

one bloodline,’ Álmhath told her. ‘There has to be, or those who have a vested interest in there not being a new set of twins to take over channelling the power would have wiped out the line a thousand years ago. Yours happens to be one of the stronger ones. Fortunate indeed that your last bleed was near a fortnight past,’ the queen added. ‘We may not have much time, so it’s important you conceive as soon as possible.’
    ‘Why is time suddenly a problem?’ Brydie asked. She couldn’t see what the rush was. Darragh of the Undivided had been living a mere seventeen miles away all his life. Surely, if it was so critical to preserve his line, Álmhath could have slipped a fertile woman into his bed anytime in the last four years, or so.
    ‘The Tuatha have forced our hand,’ the queen told her, frowning. ‘If we don’t act soon, there may not be a line to preserve.’
    Brydie’s eyes widened with surprise. ‘Is Darragh in some sort of danger?’
    ‘He’s always in some sort of danger. He is one of the Undivided,’ Álmhath said, glancing around as the canopied wagon slowed. She turned to look over her shoulder. ‘Why are we stopping?’
    Brydie rose to her feet to find out if she could see past the forest of pikes carried by their mounted escort. ‘I think there is something blocking the road.’
    It was hard to tell, and she didn’t think it was a dire threat, because the mounted guards still had their pikes pointed at the sky, rather than lowering them, as they would if they thought the queen was under attack.
    By the time she sat down, the wagon had come to a complete stop.
    ‘Did you want me to find out what’s going on?’ she asked.
    Álmhath didn’t answer. Instead, she leant over the side of the wagon. ‘Seamus! What’s going on! Why have we stopped!’
    ‘The fault is mine, I fear, an Bhantiarna .’
    Brydie yelped in fright. On the other side of the wagon, the sídhe lord, Marcroy Tarth, had suddenly appeared. He was dressed in a fine embroidered linen shirt and a dark emerald cloak held together at his throat by a deep purple amethyst and gold filigree brooch.
    ‘I was on my way to Sí an Bhrú when I saw your party approaching and thought I might prevail upon your hospitality for a ride.’
    ‘How convenient for you,’ Álmhath remarked with a scowl. There was no way, Brydie realised, the queen would be able to refuse Marcroy’s request for a lift to Sí an Bhrú , which effectively put an end to the discussion they were having. Brydie was destined to remain in the dark about her queen’s sudden need for a child from the Undivided for some time yet, it seemed.
    ‘Do you travel alone, my lord?’ the queen inquired, looking about for any other of the Tuatha that might accompany the Faerie lord.
    ‘I thought it better under the circumstances,’ Marcroy said, smiling. ‘I didn’t want to alarm anybody at Sí an Bhrú .’ He turned his attention to Brydie. ‘Well met, Lady Brydie. You are honoured indeed to ride with the queen this fine day. You will not object to me joining you, I hope?’
    It was phrased as a question, but there really wasn’t any polite way for Brydie to answer, except in the affirmative. She glanced at Álmhath for help. The queen let out an exasperated sigh and offered Marcroy a seat with a wave of her hand.
    With a smile and a nimble leap, the sídhe jumped into the wagon, barely making it rock as he took his place beside Brydie. The guards relaxed and Seamus headed back to the head of the column to ride with Torcán and Anwen.
    ‘So, what are we discussing?’ Marcroy asked the silent and decidedly peeved women with a pleasant smile. ‘The weather? The latest fashions at court? How long it will be before Atilis is run through by one of his neighbours?’
    ‘We speak of nothing that would interest you, Marcroy,’ Álmhath told him, settling back in her seat. Brydie judged that to be a monumental lie, but she took her cue from the queen and made no