Brighid slid to a stop in front of MacCallan Castle.
"So, my dearest. Can you whinny, or do I just knock on the door?" Cuchulainn asked her.
She opened her mouth to chide him, but could not. He had been through a terrible ordeal, and he felt good enough to tease her. She couldn't stifle that. She craned her head back and smiled. "I cannot whinny, but I may be able to buck."
Cuchulainn quickly dismounted. "We have a door knocker, anyway," he grumbled, and they walked to the door. Cuchulainn knocked, and waited long enough that he was tempted to knock again. Finally, it came open. The two brothers' eyes widened as they examined each other for the first time in years. Cuchulainn hadn't changed much, but Finegas was in a state of disrepair. His hair was uncombed, his eyes were dull and haunted, and he brought with him an unpleasant aroma. And that was in the opinion of a man who had been riding horseback for a day and a half.
"Cuchulainn?" Finegas asked tentatively. His eyes wandered to the silver splendor standing next to him. "What are you doing here?"
"Arianrhod…" Cuchulainn's voice broke and he quickly cleared his throat. "Arianrhod told us you have not been yourself as of late."
"I'm fine. Just fine. Who's she?" Finegas demanded, motioning sharply to Brighid.
"My wife." Cuchulainn's voice matched his brother's. Brighid stepped forward and extended a hand.
"Well met, Finegas. I'm Brighid."
Finegas ignored her greeting and her waiting hand. "I don't need a meddling High Shaman to spy on me."
For some peculiar reason, that only made her smile.
"Yes you do," Cuchulainn suddenly objected.
Finegas stared at him. "Look," he began harshly.
"I am looking. Finegas, I'm looking at your soul. Epona gave me Second Sight. And you, brother…you are broken."
Finegas was instantly curious. "Broken how?" he asked gruffly.
"Your soul is shattered. That is why she's here. She can help you."
Finegas' eyes flicked to Brighid. "Really? You ever do this kind of thing before? Or am I an experiment?"
"Actually, your brother was the experiment."
Finegas glowered at them, but stepped back in surrender. "Come in."
They complied, entering MacCallan Castle. "So how do you like it here so far?" Cuchulainn asked.
"I don't. Their joy stifles me. I'm surrounded by their happiness, but I…" Finegas bumbled into silence, looking ashamed, like he had said too much.
"But you can't feel it," Cuchulainn supplied, and Finegas looked at him in shock. Cu nodded. "I know."
"I can make you whole again," Brighid told him, looking deeply into his eyes. "But you need to relax."
"I don't know if I can do that," he said shakily.
"Try," she urged. "Try it for the sake of living."
He didn't look convinced.
She folded her equine legs, leveling their eyes. "You already let me into your home," she said softly. "There's only one more door to open."
He stared into her startling lavender eyes and felt himself nod.
Cuchulainn grinned, relieved his brother would at least give life another chance. His mirth evaporated like smoke when Brighid followed Finegas to the bedrooms. Cuchulainn pursued them there. If they kissed, and their souls linked, and Brighid was overwhelmed by attraction to his brother, he would be livid.
"Tell me what relaxes you at night, and keep it clean," she commanded.
He barked a dry laugh. "I like incense. And opening the window just a bit, so I can hear the birds while I sit by the fire."
"Sounds good. Lay down."
Finegas eyed his brother and smirked. "And he is going to watch?"
Brighid put her shapely arms on her equine hips. "There will be no fooling around," she said imperiously. "Do not insult my integrity as a High Shaman!"
"Yes ma'am," he said quickly, and lay down. He grunted as Brighid began putting her equine limbs on his bed. "Great," he groaned, "Now my bed will smell like a barn."
"Well, I certainly did not want to call the Change before lying down next to you." Her lips curled in a repressed smile, "I have my pride, as a centaur should."
"Harrumph," he growled, sounding so much like Cuchulainn she had to repress her laughter.
"Cuchulainn, will you light some incense and a fire, and open the window, please?" Brighid asked.
"Yes, dear," he sighed, and started fulfilling her requests.
"Now Finegas, you're going to have to lie very still. This takes some delicate work."
"Yes, dear."
Brighid rolled her eyes but took out her stone. "If you weren't broken already, you would be by now," she muttered, and listened to his soft chuckle as she began to concentrate.