Ghalien: A Novel of the Otherworld

by Johnson, Jenna Elizabeth

  "What do you mean we can't take anything from the inventory?"

  Devlin's deep voice pulled me from my thoughts and I realized I had reached the smokehouse. The pungent, tantalizing smell of smoked venison tickled my nose and my mouth began to water. I could contemplate the mysteries of the Amsihria later. Right now, I had to help my companions gather our rations.

  "I've not got clearance from Enorah, so you can just wait right there and make up a list of what you'll be wanting until she gets here, you young pup!"

  I stopped a few feet away to watch the encounter, ready for a few moments of amusement.

  The woman was older than anyone else in the village and I wondered if she might be Lorehnin, of mortal descent. Pure-blooded Faelorehn grew to maturity, then stopped aging after that. The Lorehnin aged depending on the level of glamour in their Faelorehn parent. Some lived for hundreds of years, others for thousands.

  "Oh come on!" Rhyne complained. "Let's just push her into the stream. By the time she manages to crawl back up here, we'll have gotten what we needed."

  The old woman shrieked and tried to hit Rhyne with a branch she had been pointing at them like a sword, but he side-stepped her.

  "You're not helping, Rhyne," his brother growled, casting him a disapproving look.

  Letting out a soft chortle, I stepped forward. "Maybe I can help," I announced.

  "Who are you?" the old woman demanded while eyeing me suspiciously.

  "Caedehn MacRoich, Enorah's brother. She has given us permission to take provisions from the smokehouse."

  Giving Rhyne and Devlin a short nod, I moved to step past the woman, only to feel the sharp bite of her stick cracking against my hand. Grunting in pain, I pulled away and shot her a glance of pure ire.

  "You hooligans stay away from the food supply!" she bellowed.

  I was about to snarl a response when something slammed into me. At first I thought the old woman had completely lost her mind and rushed me, until I realized what had knocked me to the ground wasn't anything physical.

  Caaaeeedehn, the Morrigan's voice crooned into the deepest recesses of my mind. I know that little strayling is in there somewhere, and although you may be able to hide her secrets from me for now, I'll strike out at you until you are nothing more than a sniveling, mindless lump of flesh.

  This time, she showed me a picture of Meghan's cold, still body, white from death, floating in the creek that surrounded Luathara. Standing over her, I could see my own image, gleefully cleaning her blood from my sword.

  "No!" I gasped.

  Through the barrage of nightmarish visions and the harsh sound of my mother's taunting tone, I could hear Rhyne's and Devlin's panicked voices calling for my sister. Despite my pain, I managed to think what a ridiculous sight I must present, curled up in a ball on the muddy ground, growling as an invisible enemy wreaked havoc inside my head.

  The attack lasted several seconds more and as it tapered off I became aware of someone, no, several people, carrying me back to my cabin. Instinct took over and I lashed out in anger, but fortunately whoever was carrying me managed to avoid being struck.

  "Cade?" Enorah called softly. I felt someone brush the hair from my forehead and almost melted in relief when I saw my sister's face.

  "Not . . . that . . . bad," I panted. "Morrigan . . . gone."

  "That may be so, but you are going to lie down and rest until the morning. If you still insist upon going with us at daybreak, which I fear you will, then you'll need all the rest you can get."

  "Definitely . . . going," I murmured as my head lolled to the side.

  For some reason, this latest attack left me feeling weaker than the last one. Vaguely, I heard my conscience telling me it was foolish to go chasing after a draghan when the Morrigan was attacking me like this, but I ignored it.

  The people who had been so kind to help me to my cabin set me on top of the bed and took off the top layer of my muddy clothes. I didn't even have the energy to thank them.

  "Sleep Caedehn. You can eat in the morning," Enorah whispered as she leaned in to kiss my forehead.

  I mumbled something, but it was too difficult to speak at the moment.

  Enorah's boots sounded against the wooden floor as she left and the soft click of a door latch told me I was alone. Despite the wall that separated us, I could hear her talking to the people outside.

  "What happened to him?"

  That was Rhyne's voice.

  "He's had a run-in with the Morrigan. She's been punishing him by invading his mind," Enorah answered.

  Silence, and then, "Will it ever stop?"

  "I don't know Devlin." Enorah released a huge sigh and then continued, "Best to let him rest for the night and then we can approach the subject in the morning."

  "He's not still thinking about going with us?" Rhyne said in surprise. "Not when the Morrigan is angry with him. Shouldn't he try to appease her first?"

  Enorah laughed, a bitter huff of sound that pretty much summed up the pathetic, turmoil that was my life. "Oh Rhyne, this is nothing new. The Morrigan is always angry with him and there is nothing he could ever do to redeem himself in her eyes. It is something he has always lived with."

  And with that lovely little bit of naked truth laid out for all the world to see, I drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

  * * *

  An intense pounding in my head greeted me in the morning. When the sound didn't stop, and when I heard Enorah's quiet voice calling my name, I realized the pounding had been her knocking on the door. Grumbling and stumbling around like an ox with a hangover, I managed to make it across the room without stubbing my toes too many times. The fog was heavy again on the other side of the door and my sister's mood seemed to match it.

  "I came to see how you were doing," she said. "Cade, if you're not up to this-"

  "No. I'm going with you," I growled, gritting my teeth against the continued ache in my head.

  I needed action. If I sat around in the Weald all day long with nothing but the children's antics to keep me company while awaiting another attack by my harpy of a mother, then I would go mad. It was a risk, taking on a draghan when the Morrigan could incapacitate me at any moment, but I was willing to take that risk. Besides, if left with all that free time, I might start to think about Meghan again, and that could be dangerous. As much as I ached to see her, to make sure she was happy and healed and safe from my mother's minions, I knew it was still too soon.

  Enorah's dramatic sigh brought me back to the present. "Fine. But I don't want to get stuck dragging your mentally disturbed carcass all across the Weald."

  She must not have slept very well last night because at the moment she was crankier than I felt. "You can leave me if the Morrigan attacks me again. I can always catch up."

  Enorah moved in close and put a hand against the door jamb, leaning in so that we were nearly eye to eye.

  "Not if you are lying in a heap, drooling all over the forest floor." She stepped back and crossed her arms. "You'd likely become some magical beast's meal."

  I grumbled and rolled my eyes as I clambered back inside to find my shirt.

  "I'm not talking about the Morrigan's faelah, Cade!" my sister shouted at my back. "The things that live deep within the Weald have been soaking up Eile's magic for who knows how long. We don't know what might be lying in wait. All five of us will need our full physical and mental capabilities for this journey."

  I had just pulled on my first boot when Enorah finished her tirade.

  "I can handle it, Enorah," I insisted as I fished for my other shoe. "Believe me, it will be worse for me if I sit around here all day with nothing but my thoughts to occupy my time."

  I looked up at her, my gaze sharp and stern. She returned it with full measure.

  Finally, her shoulders lost a little bit of their tension. "I see we are at an impasse."

  I nodded. "That we are."

  Enorah released a breath I didn't know she was holding and stepped away from the doorway. "Very
well, Caedehn. We're meeting up at the fire pit in fifteen minutes."

  "I'll be there."

  She turned and began to stride toward the center of the village. As my sister's form disappeared into the fog, she called out over her shoulder.

  "And you will tell me more about this disagreement with the Morrigan. We have two weeks and more in front of us for this quest, and don't think I won't get more details out of you."

  I clenched my jaw as I double-checked my pack for everything I would need for the journey. I didn't doubt Enorah's words. By the end of our expedition, whether we returned triumphant or as failures, she would know about Meghan. The funny thing was, the thought of my sister knowing about this new, other woman in my life didn't terrify me as much as it had before.

  * * *

  By the time the rest of the Wildren were up and enjoying their communal breakfast, Enorah, Fenrah, Rhyne, Devlin and I were well on our way toward the northeastern edge of the Weald. The path we took was wide enough for all of us to walk side by side, but we chose to stay in a single file line. Although I didn't expect anything to attack us this close to the village and at such a late hour of the morning, I didn't want to take any chances. To my immense relief, everyone else seemed to be of the same mindset. As the miles wore on and the sun rose above the jade canopy of leaves, chasing the mist away, I breathed in the deep, rich fragrance of the wild. So many scents bombarded me: the pungent green of young leaves unfurling, rich earth newly churned by small burrowing animals, wild stream water washing over stones and roots and loam, and . . . magic. Magic as old as the Otherworld itself. The glamour of Eile was all around us and it had its own unique scent, a scent I couldn't describe. Birds sang from the treetops as a gentle breeze ran its fingers through the branches, and the chatter and complaints of small animals charging ahead of us kept us company for most of the morning.

  At mid-day, we stopped to eat a light lunch from our packs. We had just begun skirting the edge of the Weald's heart, the place where legend held that the trees grew as tall as mountains and the magic was so wild no one could tame it, not even Cernunnos. After a half an hour, we took up our trek once again, moving away from the heart of the forest but never quite leaving it behind us. We walked for six hours, climbing over dead, fallen trees and traipsing through the myriad of streams and creeks that decorated the forest floor like a network of veins. When we reached a large shallow pool where several of these small rivers had accumulated, Enorah called for a halt.

  "We'll camp here tonight." She indicated a flat patch of earth fenced in by a collection of giant boulders.

  "Looks like a popular place to overnight," I mused as I nudged some charred wood out of a stone pit.

  Rhyne peered over and grunted his agreement.

  As everyone removed their packs and began placing their bedrolls for the night, I sat down onto a soft patch of moss and leaned against one of the stones, letting my eyelids flutter shut. Reaching into the deep recesses of my mind, I conjured up my glamour and used it to send one word outward: Fergus?

  I didn't expect my spirit guide to hear me on the first try, so I called for him again. On the fourth attempt I got an answer.

  I hear you.

  How is Meghan?

  She is well, though she still misses you.

  I felt the corner of my mouth curve upward and my heart twinge in that all too familiar pang of longing. I truly hoped she missed me. That meant she would welcome me when I returned.

  Have the faelah been causing you any trouble? I asked.

  Not much and nothing I can't handle.

  Good.

  Where are you? Fergus asked.

  I sighed. I didn't want to tell him I was off on a dangerous quest with Enorah. He would worry and might even insist upon returning so that he could join us. However, I didn't want to lie to him either.

  Taking a mental breath and hoping he would understand, I sent, I'm in the Weald with Enorah and some of her friends. We have been asked by Cernunnos to deal with a draghan in the Amsihr Mountains.

  Fergus's response was a shocked one. A draghan? Where did it come from?

  I suspect Firiehn.

  You will need my help.

  No, I said firmly. Fergus, you must protect Meghan. She is vulnerable now that her geis is broken, you know that. And I don't trust my mother to keep her word about leaving her alone. I have Enorah and a few other Faelorehn with me, and I am much healed from my fight with the Morrigan.

  I didn't tell him about my further punishment; about the ordeal in my mother's cavern. If I did, he would disobey me and return right away.

  You are not telling me the entire truth.

  No, I wasn't. But Meghan needed him more than I did.

  Fergus, I will be fine. Trust me. I need you to stay with Meghan, or I will worry about her and end up getting myself injured.

  I thought I heard my spirit guide growl into my mind, but I couldn't say for certain.

  Very well, he finally conceded. But we must find a better way to protect her.

  I know, I admitted. Just let me get done with this task and then I'll give it some more thought, I added.

  Until you return, I will guard her as if she were my own spirit ward.

  Thank you, Fergus.

  I broke the long distance connection with Fergus and opened my eyes. The campsite was deserted except for Enorah, who sat on one of the smaller boulders watching me.

  "Is the Morrigan giving you trouble again?"

  "No." I groaned and leaned forward, rubbing my face with my hands. I felt suddenly weary, as if I'd run the last several miles instead of walking them. "Communicating with Fergus."

  "Ah yes. He is guarding this person the Morrigan wants to murder."

  I only nodded. My sister was about to pry and I didn't feel like getting cracked open just then.

  "So, are you ever going to give me the details? Now would be a good time."

  Fortunately for me, the rest of our group decided to step back into the stone circle at that moment.

  "Tell her, Devlin! Tell her about those faelah I took down last month. There were thirty-five of them, at least."

  Rhyne seemed to be trying to make an impression again, or maybe he was just trying to impress Fenrah. It was hard to say, but the dark haired girl was ignoring him.

  "Rhyne, no one is ever going to believe that story because no one was with you when it supposedly happened," Devlin growled.

  "Supposedly happened? It did happen! Where do you think I got all of those bruises?"

  "The gods only know," his brother muttered.

  Enorah gave me a perturbed look, then rolled her eyes and stood up.

  "Fenrah and I are going to do a little exploring," she announced, casting her gaze on the other woman.

  Even I recognized Enorah's rescue attempt. Fortunately, Fenrah did as well. In fact, I think Rhyne was the only one oblivious to it.

  "I don't think that's a good idea," he blurted, suddenly forgetting the argument with his brother.

  "Oh, and why's that?" Fenrah asked, crossing her arms and giving him a look I had seen on Enorah's face more times than I'd like to admit.

  Rhyne wasn't intimidated. He matched Fenrah's stance and said, "I don't think it's safe for you ladies to go wandering around alone this close the heart of the Weald."

  Devlin, who had been taking a drink from his water pouch, coughed and spit half the water out. I merely sat there, waiting to see how this played out. I almost felt sorry for Rhyne. How could someone who'd lived in the Wildren's village for a few years be so oblivious to the fighting skills of its women? The more I got to know the youngest O'Brolaigh brother, the more I decided he was like a young puppy, eager to please his master. In this case, he'd latched onto Fenrah, and on some level, my sister as well.

  Fenrah huffed and snatched up her bow and quiver. "Oh, is that so? Would you like me to demonstrate my ability to protect myself whilst in the wild? How about you go stand against that old tree stump while I make an outline of
your body with my arrows."

  Rhyne went pale and Devlin slapped him on the back.

  "Go ahead, brother!" Devlin laughed, his bright blue eyes shining as he continued to shove his sibling. "You did take on three dozen of the Morrigan's faelah, after all."

  Rhyne ignored him and instead turned to me. "Well, aren't you worried about your sister going out there?" he asked, indicating the trees on the other side of the pool.

  I shrugged. "No. In fact, I'd be more worried if you wanted to go exploring. Enorah knows this forest better than anyone, save for Cernunnos, and as fearless as you may be young O'Brolaigh, fearlessness will not keep you safe from ancient magic."

  Rhyne opened his mouth to make a retort, but his brother elbowed him and gave a slight shake of the head.

  "You've lost this argument, Rhyne," his brother said in a stern voice. "Besides, I don't think there is anything you could say or do to keep Enorah or Fenrah from doing what they want."

  Obviously flustered, the younger O'Brolaigh brother allowed his shoulders to sag in defeat.

  I stood up and stretched out my sore muscles. Enorah and Fenrah were already heading out to explore, having given up on the conversation a while ago.

  "You needn't worry about them," I repeated cheerily, nodding after my sister and her companion. "Enorah is one of the best fighters I know, and if she trusts Fenrah, then I can safely say the same about her."

  "Oh, don't mind my little brother," Devlin said, "he's just disappointed he doesn't get to tag along."

  Rhyne bristled and shot his brother a heated look.

  "It would have been the perfect opportunity to show Enorah how much I've improved with my practice lately."

  He sounded so much like a little boy, crestfallen because he'd been left behind by an older sister he adored. Boy did I know that feeling. I smiled at his enthusiasm and opened my mouth to say something more, but lost my train of thought in the next second. An image of Meghan spontaneously appeared in my mind, her dark brown hair falling onto her shoulders and her changeable hazel eyes gazing at me with affection. I almost let myself get lost in the wonderful moment, but then Meghan's face changed. Her hair began to fall out in clumps and tears, no, blood, pooled at the corner of her eyes and streaked down her cheeks.