by Ashlyn Chase
Pat stormed out of the pub, leaving Finn to listen to the entire village debate the possibility of dragons, ancient castles, and his own loss of sanity.
* * *
Rory exited the bathroom wiping his hands on a paper towel. “This was all me sisters could find at the grocer. We need to pick out terry-cloth towels together.” He shot Amber a wicked grin as he tossed the towel in the trash under the kitchen sink.
“We? As in you and them, right? You want a female point of view to decorate my place, I imagine.”
“I do not. Me sisters would just confuse matters. Shannon would pick ruffles and Chloe would talk me into camouflage.” He reclaimed his spot in the middle of his futon and patted the empty space beside him. “I meant you and me. After all, we’re the ones who are to be livin’ together.” The more he thought about sharing his intimate space with the sexy, honey-haired flight attendant, the more he liked the idea. And the less he was just teasing.
A pretty blush colored her cheeks and she stuttered, but Rory was saved from another poor attempt at an insult when the intercom buzzed.
“Ah, we have company.” He rose and strode to the buzzer before she could get there, then punched the Answer button. “Who might you be, and who are you callin’ for?”
The female voice announced, “I am Euterpe, and I’m here to see Amber.”
“Euterpe, is it? Like the muse?”
He heard a giggle on the other side of the intercom.
“She’s my…my funny friend,” Amber said quickly. “Let her in.”
Rory pushed the Enter button, and a few moments later there was a knock. Amber was ready for it. She opened the door, clamped her hand around her friend’s arm, and practically dragged her to the bedroom with no further explanation.
“Wait,” Euterpe said. Amber paused but didn’t let go.
“Who is your handsome friend?”
Rory straightened to his full six-foot-two height and sent her his most charming smile.
Amber rolled her eyes. “That’s Rory. Pay no attention to him. He’ll be gone before you know it.”
“No, I think you should introduce us,” Euterpe said. She lowered her voice. “I have the feeling we have something in common.”
Amber hissed, “How could you possibly think you have anything in common with my unwanted roommate?”
Rory, with his acute sense of hearing, caught every word. He strode over to the women and extended his hand.
“Pleased to meet you, Euterpe. If you be named after the muse I’m thinkin’ of, we may well have somethin’ in common.”
“Like what?” Amber asked.
Euterpe took his hand and they both said, “Music,” at the same time.
Rory grinned and lifted the woman’s hand to his lips, where he placed a kiss on her knuckles.
Euterpe seemed perfectly comfortable with the gesture. “Do you play?”
Amber snorted. “He plays with my patience.”
Rory ignored her. “I play the fiddle, squeeze box, guitar, and bodhran. I sing and compose a bit too.”
“Really?” Euterpe sighed. “I’d love to hear some of your songs—”
“Not. Now,” Amber bit out. She tugged on the muse’s arm until it was clear she’d rather dislocate it than let her talk to Rory.
Ah. She must be threatened by me Irish charm. That’s well and good.
“A private concert it is then. Me sisters make up the rest of our trio. I’ll call them down.”
“Don’t bother.” Amber marched her friend to her bedroom, shoved her inside, then closed the door behind them.
Rory chuckled. Ah, I’m gettin’ to her. He needed to speak to his sisters anyway, so he removed his shirt and shimmered, allowing his dragon form and wings to magically appear.
He flew up to the ceiling and rapped on it. He probably didn’t need to use the secret knock he and his sisters had developed, but he did anyway.
Chloe was the first to come downstairs. She let herself into the apartment, and as soon as she spotted Rory’s dragon form, she slammed the door behind her. “Stop feckin’ around,” she hissed. “You’ve a human in the next room.”
He transformed quickly and stood with arms folded as Shannon opened the door and walked in.
“Why did you slam the door in me face, Sister?”
“This foolish idjit had his dragon out.” Chloe glared at him. “Next time, bang on the ceiling with a broom handle—like a human would.”
“I guess you’ll have to buy me a broom. Don’t worry. Amber is fully occupied with a friend right now,” he said. “A friend we may be able to sway to our side. She loves music. Her name is even Euterpe.”
Shannon’s jaw dropped. “Euterpe? The muse of music? Our muse?”
Rory lowered his voice. “I don’t know if she’s supernatural or not, but this building must be a safe place for muses. Bliss comes here.”
Chloe pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her jeans pocket. “I was makin’ a list of things we need. Which is more important? Puttin’ on a show or movin’ in fully?”
“I may not have a place to move into if a muse is against me livin’ here. I’ll probably end up in a cardboard box,” he said. And I need to protect my sisters—not that they’ll admit it. Plus, seein’ that wizard again is vital. Three pairs of eyes on two floors will be better for spotting him.
Chloe and Shannon glanced at each other. “We’ll get the instruments.”
“I was hopin’ you’d say that.” Rory dug a key out of his pocket. “Do you remember the way back to the storage locker we rented before going to the tearoom?” he asked.
“I do.” Chloe snagged the key and slipped it into her front pocket.
“Never fear, Brother,” Shannon added. “We’re here for you.”
Chloe smirked. “We may fight amongst ourselves, but when outsiders attack an Arish, they take on the whole clan and rue the day.”
Rory chuckled. “I’ll compose a special song. Something that will irritate Amber and entertain her friend.”
Shannon moved closer and touched his arm. “You might not want to anger her overmuch. Did you not notice her eyes? They’re hazel green. Grandmother gave you a magic gem at birth. I can’t remember if the color was gold or green, but it was amber, which comes in both colors. Heavens, even her hair and her name are Amber.”
He’d noticed all right. Perhaps his sister was giving him good advice, and it was best to tread lightly. Their gifted gems were said to match their true love’s eyes.
Chloe reared back. “I know his magical gem is amber, but surely you don’t think she’s the one for Rory?”
Shannon sighed. “My gem is sapphire, and Finn’s eyes are as blue as the princess’s ring.”
Chloe muttered, “Bollocks. At least me gem is an impossible color for eyes. One more bit of proof there’s no lover meant for me. I can’t think of anyone with diamond eyes.”
Shannon smiled. “You never know. Mayhap a supernatural has diamond eyes.”
“Ha. I’ll believe it when I see it.”
One side of Rory’s lips rose. “Or maybe he just has the hardest head on earth. In that way, she’d have met her match.”
“I should let you get your own feckin’ instruments, food, and furniture.”
“All right. All right.” He held up his hands in surrender but couldn’t help chuckling all the same. “Don’t rush. I’ll probably need the night to compose something, and it’s late already.”
“Do you think her friend will be here tomorrow?” Shannon asked.
“I think if we invite her to a session, she’ll arrive at any time we agree upon.”
* * *
“I want to know more about the actual duties of being the muse of air travel. Can you tell me what I’d be expected to do?” Amber asked her trainer.
“Um…I can
show you, although I may need your help.”
“But how can I help if I don’t even know what I’m doing? I’m a flight attendant, not a pilot. Am I supposed to tell the pilot or copilot how to fly a plane?”
“Of course not.” Euterpe laughed. “One would suppose they’re in the pilot or copilot’s seat because they already know how to fly. All their muse would do is encourage them to stay calm and focused on a safe flight or landing—or whatever. I think. I don’t know.”
“Okaaaay…” Amber said, still confused.
“Let’s start at the beginning. Why do you want to be the muse of air travel?” Euterpe asked and began pacing.
“I’m not sure I do. I know I want this apartment, and if being a muse gives me an edge…”
Euterpe snapped her focus back to Amber. “That’s it? You just want the muse power to throw your weight around? Why, I should report you!”
Amber jumped up. “No! Please don’t do that.”
Euterpe continued pacing and kept right on talking as if she’d heard nothing. “On the other hand, since I haven’t even trained her yet, that might not be fair.”
“Yes. That’s the right idea.” Amber nodded emphatically. “I need to be trained.”
Euterpe continued to ignore her and spoke as if carrying on a conversation with herself, alone. “I suppose I could give her a warning.”
“Absolutely. I’d appreciate that. Consider me warned.”
She whirled on Amber and folded her arms. “You must concentrate on your muse duties first and foremost. Your personal wishes come second.”
“Agreed.” Amber would have agreed that the sky was yellow and the grass was blue at that point.
Euterpe looked down her nose at her. “That is your first lesson. Now, sit.”
Amber almost fell to the floor, as if a giant invisible hand had pressed down on her shoulder.
Euterpe remained standing with her arms crossed. “I know nothing about air travel. You will have to teach me as well.”
Amber gulped. How much was she expected to know? Flight attendant training had taught her about safety, how to put out fires, keep passengers calm, and respond to medical emergencies, but not how to actually fly a plane. Flight attendants might pull off a miracle and land a plane in the movies, but it wasn’t part of their certification.
Amber didn’t feel particularly confident at the moment. In her bedroom, she had a goddess who spoke in riddles and couldn’t make a decision without a long monologue with herself. In her living room was a drop-dead gorgeous guy who acted like he owned the place. And nowhere could she find a piece of furniture that she could call her own and sink into for a good cry.
The intercom buzzed. Maybe it’s the movers.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to see who that is,” Amber said as she escaped the bedroom.
Rory was already speaking over the intercom. “She’s here. Please come in.” He hit the buzzer that opened the outside door.
Well, at least he’s polite to strangers.
She strode to the door, asking, “Is it the movers?”
“No. Some woman. She said she was a friend of yours.”
She opened the apartment door and in strode Mother Nature herself. She was wearing perfectly fitting jeans and a clingy green sweater that could have been made for her by a famous designer. Why couldn’t I have become the muse of fashion?
The goddess’s white hair was bound in a trendy chignon at the nape of her neck.
Oh, crap. Did Euterpe decide to tattle on me after all?
To Amber’s surprise, the Goddess of All grabbed her shoulders and kissed the air on either side of her cheeks. “Amber, my dear. I hope you don’t mind me showing up without calling. I need to speak to you.” She glanced at Rory over Amber’s shoulder. “In private.”
“Certainly. You can join me in my bedroom.” She lowered her voice and whispered, “Our mutual friend is already there.”
“Lovely! We’ll have a party,” the goddess said.
Amber doubted that. She led Gaia to her bedroom, and upon opening the door, was shocked to find a white folding table and chairs that looked as if they had come from a wedding or a garden party. A basket of fruit graced the middle, and small plates and saucers were spread around on three sides.
The goddess took a seat as Amber closed the door. Euterpe sat next to her.
“What kind of tea do you like?” Gaia asked Amber.
“Oh, anything. As long as it has no caffeine. My nerves are kind of shot.”
Mother Nature pointed at the table and said, “Herbal it is.” A teapot appeared on the table. “You’ll pour,” she told Amber.
That said, the goddess launched right into it. “Euterpe, I’m afraid you didn’t understand what I wanted you to do when I asked you to train the new muse.”
“Oh? I’m sorry, Gaia. What did I do wrong?”
“Well, just about everything, but I’m here now, so we can straighten this out.”
Amber let out a sigh of relief, then realized Euterpe could interpret that as an insult and tried to cover it with a cough.
“I see,” Euterpe said. “Please tell me what to do and I’ll comply.”
“Simply teach her the basics of being a muse. What her powers are and how to use them.”
“I thought that was what I was doing.”
Amber had finished pouring the tea and finally sat down. “Actually, you were teaching me what not to do.”
“But both sides are necessary,” Euterpe insisted. “She needs to know what to do as well as what not to do. Don’t you agree, Goddess?”
Gaia took a long sip of tea and Amber did too.
“Actually, we don’t have a lot of time. I think it would be better if I gave her the quick version and you can be excused to do”—she twirled her hand in the air a couple of times—“whatever it is that you do.”
“Yes, Goddess. I understand.” She rose and left the room.
Amber gazed at Mother Nature and wondered what she’d meant when she said they didn’t have much time.
“Amber, as a muse you’d be able to listen for Mayday calls. Did you know that?” Gaia asked.
“No, I didn’t. How would I do that?”
“Simply tune your frequency to pick up those words. You might want to specify that you only hear them when spoken above one thousand feet. Otherwise Beltane will drive you crazy.”
“What’s Beltane?”
Gaia rolled her eyes. “The springtime festival held on May first. May Day. With a May pole. Sound familiar?”
“Oh, yeah.” Amber tipped her head. “But how do I ‘tune a frequency’?”
Mother Nature closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “She really taught you nothing.” She focused her gaze on Amber again. “I’m sorry. Simply ask for whatever you need. Be as specific as possible, and I’ll give you the ability.”
“I see. So if I say, ‘Mother Nature, I’d like the ability to hear the term “Mayday” when spoken above one thousand feet,’ you will grant me that ability?”
“Correct.”
“What about mountain climbers? They might be calling for help at above one thousand feet.”
Gaia leaned back and stared at Amber. “You’re a smart little shit.”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t being a smart-ass. Do I need to take care of them too?”
“No, I really meant it. You’re smart to think of that. I want you to concentrate on air travel. I’ll find someone else to look after fools who insist on going where they don’t belong. Or not. Maybe I’ll let them learn from their own stupid actions.”
She took a deep breath and stared at Amber. “Since I know what you meant, I’ll grant you the ability to hear ‘Mayday’ limited to air travel, but understand that you must be as specific as possible in the future. I can’t be held responsible f
or misinterpretations.”
Amber didn’t point out that Mother Nature herself had not been specific enough. Somehow she knew the powerful goddess wouldn’t take it well.
Before either of them could go on, Amber heard a Mayday call. It sounded far away, but she heard it plainly.
“There it is,” she cried. “I heard a Mayday!”
“Drat, I’d hoped they could keep that piece of junk in the air,” Gaia muttered. Then she grasped Amber’s hand. “Here we go.”
Suddenly Amber was in the back of a cockpit, and the plane was losing altitude. She heard one engine sputter and go silent.
“Lean over the pilot’s shoulder and tell him what to do.”
Amber’s throat almost closed in panic. Tell the pilot what to do? All she could think of to say was, “Tighten your seat belt, and the sick bag is in the pocket in front of you.”
But suddenly she just knew—and she directed him toward a long, straight, deserted field in Polynesia. The pilot managed to lower the landing gear and steer. At last, he landed the plane safely.
She heard a cheer rise up behind her. Gaia tapped her on the shoulder and gave her a thumbs-up.
Then she was back in her bedroom—alone. She collapsed on the folding chair and mumbled, “Holy fuck.”
All the furniture disappeared and she landed on her butt on the floor. “Oww!”
A moment later, Rory knocked and opened her door. “Are you all right, lass?”
“I will be when the movers get here.” She rose and rubbed her backside.
“I have a fine futon.”
“How nice for you.”
* * *
Finn leaned on the bar and wondered if Shannon could be trapped in that cave that seemed to be part of the castle built into the cliff on her property. If so, how would he get down there to save her? Just then, a man with an English accent swiveled his stool toward his partner and leaned in to speak in a low voice.
“So, how did the town of Ballyhoo get its name? Do you know?”
“Nobody remembers how the town got its name, or if the term ballyhoo—meaning ‘uproar, commotion, or hullabaloo’—came after the township. The place is ancient, with relics and weaponry carbon-dated to 300 BC. The bogs were lousy with them before they all got carted off to the national museum. The ancient Irish kings must have had quite a ballyhoo here.”
