by Ann Gimpel
“Bullshit.”
“No, it’s not. Once upon a time, I thought I was a Mage with weak Seeker skills. Rune—” she whistled and the wolf trotted to her side “—taught me I was both Hunter and Healer. Fionn showed me I had Seer ability. I’m still learning about my Seer gift. It’s not easy to control.”
Another figure melted out of the darkness and joined the first. Fionn felt magic as they spoke telepathically to one another.
“We invite you and your bond animal to talk with us,” the first man said after a few moments. He moved the light so his form was visible.
Aislinn started forward with Fionn behind her.
“Not you, Celt,” the second man snarled.
Fionn grabbed Aislinn’s arm. She tried to pull away, but he held fast. “She is not coming without me. We were just set upon by Bal’ta in Penrith. They were shielded so well we weren’t aware of them until they were on us. Once we arrived here, we used her Seer gift mixed with my magic and discovered two of the dark gods are close by.”
“What is the woman to you, Celt?” one of the men sneered.
“She will be my wife. She is bound to me through an ancient covenant that links the kings of Ireland to my house.”
“What hogwash.” The other man made a face and spat in the dirt.
“It really is true,” Aislinn said. “It’s not important, though. Soon, we shall have to deal with far worse things than we have faced so far. We must stand together if we are to have any chance of success.”
“If we lose Earth, and we may well,” Fionn cut in, “her blood will be on the hands of all who refused alliance against the dark.”
“You should talk. Maybe not you, but your kinfolk who left us to die.”
“I apologize for their poor behavior.”
Bella flew from a nearby tree and landed on Fionn’s shoulder.
“What’s that?” one of the men asked. “Your familiar?”
“The raven is linked to me much as the wolf is bonded to Aislinn. It is a variant of the human Hunter bond.”
Bella cawed menacingly and fluffed her feathers.
“Maybe we should hear them out,” the first man muttered.
“I am not so certain. They could be spies for those oversized reptiles,” the second retorted.
Rune growled. Aislinn dropped a hand to rest on his head. “You’re upsetting my wolf. He killed two of those oversized reptiles. They’re called Lemurians.”
“So they told us,” the second man muttered.
“We thought that whole thing about them living under some mountain in the States was a crock,” the first cut in.
“Well, it’s not,” Fionn said. “The four of us have been there. Look, either take us to where the rest of you are, or make a decision not to so we can leave. Time grows short—for all of us.”
The second man moved in front of the lantern and beckoned. “Walk ahead of us. I don’t trust you enough to have you following.”
“What if we feel the same way?” Fionn asked.
“Then we are at a stalemate and you may as well—”
“Oh, stand down, both of you. The testosterone is so thick, I can smell it.” Aislinn walked toward the second man. “Just show us where the path is, and you can follow along after us.”
Fionn kept hold of Aislinn’s arm and walked by her side. The men had accused them of being spies. What if it was a projection and they were walking right into a trap?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
It took everything Aislinn had to control her fury. Fionn and his friends had been kind to her, probably because she was the MacLochlainn and linked to both Fionn and Dewi. She could easily see the haughty group of Celts that had convened in the dragon’s cave telling local humans they were on their own. She unclenched her jaw and inhaled a steadying breath. Fionn had looked guilty as sin when she’d asked if he knew anything about the human’s accusations. And he was doing his damnedest to distance himself from the U.K. by speaking Americanized English.
Get a grip, her inner voice snapped. I need to be on top of my game, not mired in anger.
A substantial structure emerged from the mist. She couldn’t see all of it, but it looked like a medieval castle. “What’s this?” she asked Fionn.
“Castle Balloch. It was built in the early twelve hundreds and reconstructed around eighteen hundred.”
“I didn’t ask for a history lesson. Have you been inside it before so you know the layout?”
“Yes.”
The one word had a terse, bitten-off quality. She knew Fionn well enough to understand he was worried about what the two humans were up to.
“Say,” she called over a shoulder. “What are your names?”
“Names have power.”
“Well, you know mine and Fionn’s and Rune’s.” She kept her voice cheery and non-confrontational. “Trust needs to be a two-way street.”
“Keep quiet, woman. We are nearly there. Decisions will be made then regarding who trusts whom.”
Rune growled and headbutted her leg.
“What?”
“Not certain. Something doesn’t smell quite right to me.”
Fionn tightened his grip on her arm. He’d obviously listened in. “Keep us apprised,” he told Rune.
Aislinn came to a stop at the brick outer wall. One of the men channeled magic, and a panel swung inward, revealing a huge inner courtyard. The castle lay ahead of them, a looming silhouette outlined against the night sky. The men moved around her, trading the lantern for mage lights. In the increased illumination, she noted both men had shoulder-length red hair. One was her height, around six feet, the other a few inches shorter. They jogged across gravel-strewn dirt to the base of a tower, where one tugged on a door that opened onto stairs winding upward.
The men darted inside. “Hurry it up, now,” one called back at them.
She leaned into Fionn. “What do you think?”
“Ye know what I think. ’Tis your call, lass.”
Rune’s hackles stood up along his back. After a momentary hesitation, he launched himself after the humans.
“Guess that decides it,” she muttered. “I’m not letting him go in there alone.”
She counted as she climbed the circular stone staircase set into the sides of the tower. At two hundred, a landing opened off to her left. One of the humans motioned her through into a hallway. Her nose twitched. The stone smelled old and damp. Something she couldn’t quite get her mind around pricked her senses and set her teeth on edge.
In only a few steps, the corridor led into an enormous chamber. Hundreds of humans milled about. Many were eating. Some sat in small groups, talking. Everyone’s clothing was sturdy, serviceable, and had been patched many times. Her heart went out to them. These were her people, even though they might not see it that way—not yet, anyhow. How could the Celts have been so callous?
Aislinn balled her hands into fists to quell her nervousness. No matter how precarious her position amidst all these strangers, this was what she’d hoped for. Enough people to make a difference. She scanned the dimly lit room, but she couldn’t locate Rune. Mage lights bobbed; they were the only source of illumination. Fionn’s solid warmth was welcome where he pressed against her side. It wasn’t as hard as she’d feared to box up anger at his kin and lay it aside.
“Well, well, well,” a voice boomed out.
The crowd parted to let someone through. The din of voices and clatter of eating utensils faded.
Something clicked. Aislinn raised her hands to pull magic. “Travis,” she hissed. “I was hoping I’d run into you again. What have you been up to since you sold me out to the Lemurians?”
“She’s lying.” Just as tall and skeletal as ever, Travis strode to stand within a few feet of her. His civet rode on his shoulder. “It was her who threw me to the dogs. Look what she’s with.” He pointed at Fionn. “Celts can’t be trusted, and neither can humans who consort with them.”
“I need one of you where Seeker magic is pr
imary.” Aislinn spoke loudly enough for her voice to carry. “Seeker magic holds the key to truth. I invite you to test the truth of my words against his.”
“Totally unnecessary.” Travis waved a dismissive hand and pushed scraggly blond dreadlocks behind his shoulders. “I do need a few of you, though, to toss this sorry lot into the dungeon.” He narrowed his brown eyes. “Don’t even think of trying to escape. Before we ran the Old Ones off, we shielded the lower levels.”
“I tell you,” Aislinn said evenly, “that Travis is a spy turned by the Old Ones. He set me up so they could trap me.”
“If that’s true,” someone called from the depths of the room, “how is it you’re here?”
“I rescued her.” Fionn radiated menace. His blue eyes looked like ice chips.
Travis rolled his eyes. “What tripe.” He started for Aislinn.
Rune launched himself out of the shadows and drove Travis to the ground. The civet screamed. Bella left Fionn’s shoulder and flew straight at the cat.
In the split second before the room erupted in mayhem, Aislinn jumped onto a table. “I have no reason to lie to you. Come on.” She made come hither motions with both hands. “Seekers. Test my words from where you stand.”
“Don’t listen to her,” Travis wheezed. “She’s a witch. She’ll ensorcel you—”
Rune’s growling and snarling drowned out the rest of his words.
“Like hell I am. Besides, the Seeker gift is immune to such tricks. I first met Travis back in the States when he and I fought for the Lemurians.” A gasp rose from the crowd; Aislinn forged ahead. “In those days, the Old Ones convinced us they were on our side and we were all fighting the dark gods. Fionn and I have discussed this. We are still not certain, but we believe the Lemurians conscripted humans to make certain we wouldn’t rise against them before their power was consolidated. They’re a dying race. It’s why they joined forces with the dark gods: to reinforce their flagging power.”
Aislinn scanned the crowd and took a deep breath. At least they weren’t rushing toward her. Rune seemed to have Travis under control. Bella was baiting the cat, dive-bombing it and then flying just out of reach. “How am I doing so far, Seekers?”
“What you’ve said is the truth.” A blond man stepped forward with a dogged expression on his face. He was medium height and solidly built, with a barrel chest and broad shoulders.
“Would you like to hear more?”
A rustling chorus of yesses started in the back of the room and surged forward.
“Once we figured out the Lemurians had sold us a bill of goods, Travis fought with a group of humans and Celts in our first campaign to go after a dark god. I managed to disable Slototh. After the battle was over, Travis left with a group of Hunters, except he didn’t stay gone long. The Celts and I and our bond animals were strategizing which dark god to target next when Travis materialized in our midst. He wove a tale of Hunters being under attack. Of course, we went to his aid. He manipulated the jump magic with the help of Regnol, his Lemurian mage lord, and—”
“She lies. Do not listen to her.”
“No.” A woman detached herself from the crowd. “It is you who are not telling the truth. Your words ping sour against my Seeker gift.”
Travis struggled against Rune. The wolf’s jaws descended, hovering over his throat.
“You’d better behave,” Aislinn said, “or I’ll tell him to kill you.”
“If he doesn’t, I will,” Fionn growled. “After that trick Travis played on us, he deserves to die.”
“The rest of what happened, please,” the female seeker demanded.
“There isn’t much left to tell. I sensed I’d been separated from Fionn and Rune and panicked. Regnol showed up, told Travis he’d done an excellent job, and hauled me beneath Taltos to await punishment for killing Metae, my Lemurian mage lord. I’m certain the Old Ones were none too happy about the two my wolf killed, either.”
“Travis must be newly arrived amongst you.” Fionn’s gaze swept the crowd. “How long has he had to share your secrets with the enemy?”
“Too long,” someone muttered.
Six men hurried forward. They formed a circle around Rune and Travis. “Would you call your bond animal?” one asked. “We have our own ways of handling traitors.”
“Rune.”
The wolf backed away from Travis. The men parted to let him through, and he loped to Aislinn, jumping onto the table to join her.
“Well done.” She stroked his head and then turned toward Fionn. “What will happen to Travis’s bond animal?” She didn’t feel the least bit bad for Travis. He’d cooked his own goose, but she’d always liked the civet.
“That depends entirely on him,” Fionn answered. “Most often, if the human is corrupt, the bond animal cannot be salvaged, either, because of the depth of the connection.” He whistled; Bella flapped to him and landed on a shoulder.
Aislinn surveyed the room from her perch on the table. “Is there anyone else among you that you don’t know well? Or haven’t known for a long time?”
“Not an easy question to answer,” the woman with the Seeker gift said. Curly dark hair fell to her shoulders. She was buxom, but not very tall. “Some of us are local and have known each other forever. There’s a group from the Highlands, another from beyond Hadrian’s Wall on the other side of what used to be the border. There are even a few from the coastal areas and southlands.”
Aislinn remembered what her wolf had said. “Do you mind if Rune wanders among you? He is good at sniffing out Lemurian taint.”
“Some will smell like Travis,” a man pointed out. “Those of us who have sat and talked with him.”
“Or me.” A slight blonde with hair past her waist came forward. Color stained her thin cheeks. “We did a bit more than sit and talk.” She pounded a closed fist into her other hand. “Bastard. If I’d known…”
Aislinn considered telling the woman she was far from the only one Travis had charmed into bed, but when she caught the expression on Fionn’s face, she changed her mind.
“If your wolf knows, let him have at it,” the Seeker male said.
Murmurs of assent rolled forward like a wave. Rune lost himself in the crowd.
The men hauled Travis, kicking and screaming epithets, to his feet. Fionn pushed his way right next to Travis, doubled up a fist, and socked him in the nose. A loud crack sounded; blood poured down Travis’s face. Fionn drew back to hit him again, but one of the men got between them.
“Hold.”
“I’d like to kill that sorry bastard.”
“Yes, we all would. But first we want to stretch him over the rack. A little pain should wrench the truth out of him.”
Fionn moved out of the way, giving her a clear view of Travis. If she hadn’t been watching carefully, she would have missed the subtle contortion in his jaws. She hurled herself off the table and shrieked, “He has cyanide under a false tooth. Don’t let him swallow it.”
The men closed around Travis. After a scuffling struggle, one of them bellowed, “Got it.”
Another yelled, “Thanks,” as they hauled Travis out of the room.
The civet screeched its displeasure. Someone cornered it, picked it up by the loose fur at the back of its neck, and carried it away.
Fionn closed his arms around her. “How did you know about the poison?”
“Because I used to have the same thing hidden under one of my teeth.” She swallowed hard. “Once, I almost took it.”
The arms around her tightened. “Thanks be to the gods, you didn’t.”
Rune made his way back to her side. “No other spies as best as I can tell. The one who smells strongest is the woman who admitted sharing his bed.”
“That’s a relief.” Fionn let her go.
“It looks as if you’ve saved us from a huge mistake.” The blond man with the Seeker gift walked briskly to her, hand outstretched. “My name is Daniel.”
Aislinn took his hand. “Nice to meet you
. I am Aislinn, and this is Fionn.”
“You sought us out for a reason. What is it?” The man stared hard at her out of green eyes.
“The battle for control over Earth is heating up,” Aislinn said. “It may well be heading into its endgame.”
“We know that,” Daniel murmured. “No one else has come to warn us. Why you? And why now?”
The line of Fionn’s jaw tightened. He lifted his chin. “Aislinn is only recently arrived here. I am not proud of my kin. We have a long history of underestimating humans, or ignoring them entirely.” He took a breath. “Aislinn taught us—or at least she taught me—that you are a valuable ally.”
“Yes.” Aislinn jumped into the conversation. “The more of us who are working together, the stronger we are. We would like it if some of you returned to Ireland with us.”
“And then we would come to wherever the fighting is worst to support you,” Fionn added.
“Can you make that promise in good faith?” Aislinn turned her head to lock gazes with Fionn.
“Bran, Arawn, and Gwydion will come with me. If the four of us set an example, others will follow.”
“Arawn as in god of the dead and revenge?” Daniel asked, his eyes widening.
“The same, though he’s really not so daunting as all that.” The corners of Fionn’s mouth twitched. “Could you gather everyone so we might forge a plan?”
Aislinn knelt next to Rune and stroked his rough outer coat.
Fionn was using magic to do a final check of the hundred or so men and women who were coming back to Inishowen with them. He was also checking for arm tattoos. “Not that I don’t trust you,” he’d told the wolf, “but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Rune reassured him there wouldn’t be any hard feelings. “If we both make a mistake and someone slips through, everyone will blame you,” the wolf added with understated lupine humor.
Aislinn bent and kissed the tip of Rune’s snout. When she raised her head, she asked, “How soon did you realize Travis was here? Truth, now.”
