Iohn nodded absently. “Of course, Ariel. I would be only too happy to travel with you.” He looked at the area. “What do the Daoine a bhios a 'siubhal call places like this?”
Ariel nibbled on her lower lip. Have I told him too much? Will this hurt my people? She wondered. She knew that there were Rugadh de lasair who would use this to attack her people. While she was confident that the spirits wouldn't let evil people use this method of traveling, she wasn't so sure about trusting very many Rugadh de lasair. She looked up at Iohn and felt her heart ache.
Iohn glanced in her direction, and deduced her hesitation. “Ariel iarr an earraich, mo nighean tràill àlainn. What do the Daoine a bhious a 'suibhal call places like this?” Come on, snap out of if Ariel. This is important. He mentally urged her. I don't think that there is much time.
Hearing the command in his voice, Ariel met his eyes, and still hesitated. I want to tell him so much, but...Please order me to tell you, Maighstir. I can't do it on my own. I just can't. She gave him such a pathetic look that he took mercy on her.
Iohn's eyes narrowed as he watched her. She looks miserable. I can tell that she wants to tell me, but for some reason can't. He was a bit amazed that he could read her so well, after knowing her for such a little amount of time. Is this a gift from the spirits, or is it another sign that we are meant to be together? After taking a deep breath, he pushed out with his prana and repeated his command. “Ariel, tell me what the Daoine a bhious a 'suibhal call places like this.”
This time she didn't just hear the command in his voicec, she felt it brush across her skin. She shivered as she rubbed her arms. “Maighstir,” she said in a small contrite voice, “my people call places like this travel stones.” She looked up at him with liquid green eyes and suppressed a shiver. Màthair na h-uile he is the one.
Iohn was learning his way around this new dynamic, but he already had a pretty good idea of what he had to do next. “Come here, mo nighean tràill àlainn.” When she practically leapt into his embrace, Iohn held her close and comforted her, “It's okay, Ariel,” he whispered in her ear, “I will never reveal this to anyone.” That's what she wanted to hear, he thought as she relaxed against him and buried her head in his shoulder. “Now, how does this work?”
Now that the pressure was off, she was more relaxed and told him what he wanted to know. “We think that each strip of stones is a lay line that circles the world, you step across the stones until you get where you want to go.”
“And the dirt strips?” He pointed to the areas of dirt.
“They are how you step off of the travel stones.” She said. “Otherwise, even the spirits would never be able to get off.” She looked up at him, “Are you mad at me, Maighstir?” She asked again in that contrite voice.
