Bridge of Mist and Fog Read Online Free PDF

haven’t seen your grandparents for a couple of years now. Just think what fun you’ll have with all your cousins. We’ll stay until you’re settled.”
    Airy sat up and looked at her father. Despite his positive speech he didn’t look very happy. “At least I know you’ll miss me.” When her father’s arms came around her she leaned into him, trying hard to stop the tears that threatened to spill over.
    He let her go too soon and stood up. “I hope you packed last night.”
    “I did.” Airy climbed out of bed and headed for the bathroom to wash her face. Despite her feelings yesterday about this being a good thing she felt heavy and uncertain. When she looked in the mirror there were dark smudges under her eyes and she didn’t recognize the combined expression of terror and sadness in them.
    MacCuill was in the lower hall when Airy dragged her bag behind her down the stairs.
    “The boatman is waiting,” he said, grabbing her bag.
    “But I haven’t had breakfast!” Airy felt whiney and small but she couldn’t stop herself.
    “That’s your own fault, Airy. We woke you in plenty of time. Honestly, what have you been doing up there?”
    Her mother was annoyed with her, and Airy’s eyes filled with tears. She was about to leave for who knew how long—the least Maeve could do was be nice to her on her last day. “Where’s Kenneth?”
    “Your brother is staying with his friend Aidan until we get home. I told you to say goodbye last night. Did you?”
    “No. I forgot all about it.”
    “Well, it’s too late now.”
    Maeve’s impatience was getting on Airy’s nerves. She wished her mother would stay home and let her go with her father and MacCuill. Anger rose up and before she could stop herself she was screaming at the top of her lungs. “Why are you treating me like this? I hate you!”
    “Don’t talk to your mother that way!” her father yelled as she streaked through the door. She ran toward the horse pen and when Facet came to the fence she buried her face in his mane letting her tears fall onto his fur.
    A hand came onto her shoulder and she looked up to see MacCuill’s deep blue eyes gazing into her own. “It’s time to go,” he said, taking her hand and leading the way down the hill. Her mother and father waited ahead of them, their faces turned her way.
    “Why is Mama being so mean?”
    “Maeve loves you, Airy. I don’t think she’s excited about having you so far away.”
    “But this entire thing was her idea.”
    MacCuill shook his head. “This isn’t her idea. It came from the goddess of prophecy.”
    “What? But my parents…”
    “They’ve been making the best of things. It’s been very hard on both of them.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “No one does, Airy. That’s how destiny’s work.”
    At the bottom of the hill the river came into view, tendrils of pale mist obscuring the water. The boatman waited, his oar in his hand. He’d been here longer than anyone, even the druids, his boat moving up and down this river for as long as time itself. He was blind and Airy had never grown used to his milky eyes and right now he seemed to be staring directly at her. She always had the impression that the boatman could see in another way, maybe from a sense that only he had. She smiled in the hopes that she was right.
    “Come along, Airy,” her mother coaxed, holding out her hand. Airy took hold of her fingers and stepped into the coracle and settled next to her mother on the narrow wooden seat. MacCuill and her father sat in the other end and without a word the boatman put his oar into the water and they moved swiftly forward into the swirling fog.
    ***
    They ended up in Bailemuir where her maternal grandparents lived. After a very short visit with them, her father borrowed one of the cars and headed toward the Edinburgh airport. Airy was in front next to her father, her mother and MacCuill in the back, and when she stole a look at him his expression was resigned. He