by Kari Edgren
Marin patted her horse’s neck, and then with a boost from Sean, settled into the saddle. “Never seen grown men turn groggy-headed from just one cup,” she said. “‘Twas unnatural if you ask me.”
“Lucky lads,” Tom said, “to trade hours of freezing boredom for dreams of two vixens.” Rather than a boost, he lifted Cate directly onto the extra mount he had led from town, and then remounted his own.
“Oh, I’ve a fair notion fairies intend to visit tonight,” Cate said, with a mischievous note to her voice. “And come morning those guards will be begging their commanding officer to leave Ireland.”
With a chuckle, Tom turned his attention to our party. He carried a sword on his back, as did the other men, though Henry was the only one with the addition of a spear mounted on the side of his horse.
“Keep alert,” Tom said, all levity gone from his voice, “and stay to the road the best you can. We’ll light lanterns once we’re in the trees and away from prying eyes.”
He moved to the front where Cate joined him. Henry and I took our places next, and the rest of our party fell into line behind us. We set off at a steady walk that I hoped would see us to the forest within half an hour. The wind seemed to pick up speed now that we were out in the open, and I tucked my chin down to keep the rain off my face.
“The storm’s turning for the worse,” Tom said to Cate, his words drifting back to me.
“I believe you’re right.” Her dark form twisted in the saddle toward the sea, then settled back into the proper position. “It has a strange feel to it, though, something I’ve not sensed for a long time.”
“Aye, I was thinking the same. There’s more in the air than just the wind tonight.”
I leaned forward in anticipation of Cate’s response. She said nothing more, and the silence gave way to the methodic thump of horse hooves.
Glancing at Henry, I found him staring ahead at the forest line. His strong form was little more than a shadow against the night sky. He rode with his usual languid grace, and despite the current tension, my pulse quickened at the sight of him.
Tomorrow night...the wind spoke in a whisper. Or perhaps it was the rush of blood in my ears, reminding me of the promise I’d made earlier.
A gust snapped at my hood. I scrabbled with one hand to pull it back into place when another found me, this time from the opposite direction. The wool slipped from my fingers, and rain pelted my cheeks. An icy breath whipped through my curls, cutting a swift path over my nape. The short hairs stood rigid, and I shook as though touched by an electric shock.
Taken unaware, my boot slid from the stirrup, shifting my weight over the edge of the saddle. At the last second, I grabbed the pommel to keep from tumbling backward.
Henry moved closer until our horses almost touched. “Are you all right?”
Regaining my foothold, I tightened my grip on the reins and used my free hand to yank the hood over my head. Residual prickles crawled over my skin. “I’m fine. Just a wayward boot.”
He watched me for a moment longer before returning his gaze to the forest. The first trees appeared on our sides, their bare branches rattling from the wind. The incline grew noticeably steeper with the thickening tree line. A little farther and the storm slackened behind the natural barrier of massive trunks and a smattering of evergreen boughs.
Tom reined once we were all well inside. A shower of sparks flew from the shelter of his hand a second before his lantern sprang to life. Several other lanterns followed, casting our party in a soft yellow glow.
“These woods have a feel of the Tuatha Dé to them,” he said.
Cate pulled back her hood. “They’re ancient for certain, and infused with the memory of their power.” She glanced around, first at the woods, and then at each member of our party. “It’s got the feel of something else, though I can’t quite put my finger on it.” Her gaze slowed over Sean and Julian, a faint shadow coloring her face. It lingered for a moment before the shadow cleared, and she continued to Henry. “Is this where you fought Lugh, my lord?”
He pointed a gloved finger along the path that wound over the crest of the hill. “In a small valley on the other side there.”
A low whistle came from James at the notion of swordplay with the sun god, and I marveled yet again at how well he had taken the news of Henry’s ancestry. Sean didn’t say anything, just kept near Marin, his eyes averted to the leaf-strewn ground.
Tom looked at me. “Tell us again Deidre’s directions to the dolmen.”
I obliged though there really wasn’t much to say. “We are to follow this path past the charred tree stump until we reach an oak grove. Once there, we travel due north.”
His stare turned searching. “Is that all?”
“So far as I know. She hasn’t actually been there herself, but didn’t believe it would be too difficult to find.”
Julian shifted in his saddle. “Do you think she’s telling the truth?”
Annoyance bent my mouth down. “Deidre Byrne has as much to lose as we do. Probably more, since her home is in the same woods.”
“How can you be sure?” he persisted. “For all we know, we’re being led straight to a pack of Cailleach’s hounds.”
Cate considered him for a moment, before turning to Marin. “Did you speak true about the druid’s message? I’ve been away from Ireland for some time, so perhaps I misunderstood the urgency of the situation when you relayed it to me at the inn.”
“You have the right of it, milady,” Marin answered. “He saw signs o’ great evil that’s to come from Wexford. And me dreams show the same.”
“Fianna MacCabe saw something similar,” I added. “Her grandfather was a druid and raised her in the old ways.”
“So I thought.” Cate circled the group with another penetrating gaze. “Let it be known that either the witch Carmen or something equally vile and powerful is imprisoned between our two worlds. And if the druids are right, then this creature is vying for freedom at Ireland’s peril.”
A curse drifted from Julian, eliciting a tight smile from Tom. “You’re right there, my lord. We may all be damned before this night is through.”
“Which is why everyone must decide now whether they proceed or turn back.” Cate’s eyes came to rest on me. “Think carefully on the matter. There will be no judgment for anyone who chooses to wait at the inn.” A mirthless laugh spilled from her lovely mouth. “I promise, if we fail here tonight, everyone will have their chance to fight.”
I lifted my chin to a stubborn line but said nothing. Cate and Tom glanced between Sean and me. Henry also drilled me with a stare, though to his credit, he refrained from starting an argument he’d no hope to win.
Sean whispered something to Marin. She shook her head vigorously. “I’ll do no such thing,” she hissed and reined her horse back several steps.
No one else spoke or showed any sign of leaving.
“I believe we’re decided,” Henry said, his deep voice bridled with obvious restraint.
Lightning streaked to the east. Long seconds passed before the resulting boom of thunder vibrated through the ground into my legs and chest. Marin crossed herself, and I hurried to do the same.
“May God protect us,” James murmured.
Justine laughed and flashed him a wicked grin. “I’m afraid we’re on our own tonight, Mr. Roth, or haven’t you heard? ‘For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.’” Lantern light reflected in her eyes, showing a devil-may-care attitude to accompany the famous words.
Cate sighed. “Very well. Let’s get on with it then.” With one last look at me, she reined her horse toward the heart of the forest.
We fell into single file this time to accommodate the narrowing trail. High overhead, the treetops thrashed wildly. Rain pinged a chorus on the branches and undergrowth. Dampness seeped through my cape to t
he underlying layers, further irritating the prickling sensation that had yet to leave my skin.
Descending the crest, we entered the valley and followed the stream deeper into the woods. At the charred stump, Tom stopped just long enough to see Henry nod before continuing on. More lightning flashed, closer than before, illuminating the path that led to Deidre’s cottage. Wind moaned through the branches, sounding eerily like a woman’s scream in the distance.
Thunder crashed several heartbeats later, and another bout of frosty prickles raced over my skin, all the way to my crown. Shivering, I pulled my cape closer to help ward against the uncomfortable sensation.
By Deidre’s estimation, the oak grove was still an hour’s ride away. The minutes ticked by at a snail’s pace while I watched the gentle sway of Cate’s cloak directly in front of me. Fog floated over the trail, undisturbed by the storm that raged above. Our party remained fairly untouched in the wood’s shelter, except for a strong sense of foreboding that had seeped into the hollow of my rib cage.
It seemed an eternity passed when Tom reined again. Extending one arm, he held the lantern at shoulder level. The other lanterns followed suit, and I was soon staring at the rough trunks of several ancient oak trees.
Tom glanced at Cate. “This must be it.”
She nodded. “Lead on and we shall soon see.”
Spurring his horse from the pathway, Tom started on a northward course. When my turn came to enter the grove, anxiety stroked my heart. After days of searching, we were close to saving Nora, and I could only pray that the madness had not broken her spirit as I’d seen happen to another man. From experience, I knew Cate could repair any physical damage in Nora’s mind. Anything else, we would get through together.
But what if we failed? What if Nora was already dead? What if Carmen escaped? And where was Ailish in all of this? It surprised me how much I missed her presence, a girl born to be my mortal enemy. What if she was in danger, or if Cailleach demanded too much of her? As Justine had pointed out, it was no secret the goddess wanted me dead, but Ailish could have no part of it due to the curse that bound us. Unless of course, Cailleach was willing to sacrifice one of her own. Would she do that? I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment to help quiet the wild rush of questions.
Nora is safe. The witch will be stopped. Ailish has not been commanded to die—
My thoughts slammed to a halt when a startled shout came from behind me. I reined hard and jerked my head toward the rear of our line. James and Justine rode nearest my flank, followed by Sean and Marin. Julian was the last rider in sight.
“What’s wrong?” Sean called to him.
“They’re gone.” Distress weighed in his voice.
Sean turned his mount, putting his back to me. “Who’s gone?” he asked Julian.
“Your men. There’s no sign of their lights.”
My brother rode the short distance back. Holding his lantern high, he emitted a sharp whistle that stung my ears.
No sound returned.
Hurried words passed between the two men. Coming to some agreement, they spurred their horses to retrace our previous route. In a matter of seconds, the light from their lanterns shrank to the size of a pinhead, then disappeared altogether.
Henry moved beside me. “What’s the matter?”
“Some of our party have fallen behind. Lord Stroud and Sean have gone to investigate.”
Minutes later their lanterns reappeared. The others joined them as they rode toward us.
“What did you find?” Henry asked.
Sean pressed his mouth to a thin line. “Nothing.”
“What do you mean nothing?”
“I mean that we went back to the trail and there’s no sign of them anywhere.” He raised a gloved hand and ticked off the names one by one. “Brian, Aron, Marcus, Gowan, Niall, Conri. They were at our flank when we entered the grove and now they’ve vanished.”
Marin’s face grew pinched with worry. “Do you think they’re lost?”
Sean shook his head. “Men don’t get lost while traveling in a line like pack mules.” He looked to Julian. “Did you see anything unusual?”
“I saw nothing.” His face appeared paler than usual. “They were behind me when we entered the grove, and then the next I checked, they had vanished.”
Henry stared into the darkened woods. “Is there a chance they returned to the inn?”
Anger flashed in Sean’s eyes. “I know these men sure as myself, and there’re no weak hearts amongst them.” His grip tightened on the reins, and his horse pranced nervously.
Cate nudged her horse into our huddle. The crease returned to her brows as she moved her gaze from Julian to Sean and then back again.
Henry’s voice turned hard. “Where are they then if they haven’t returned to town?”
“Do I look like a bleeding oracle?” Sean spat on the ground. “They didn’t abandon us, if that’s your meaning.”
James leveled a stare at my brother. “There’s no sense picking a fight with his lordship when we’re all wondering where they went.”
Sean’s hand strayed to his sword hilt. “I’ll not have it said that they tucked tail and ran.”
“Now, now, children,” Justine tutted, “let’s all play nice.”
A jagged crack sounded high overhead as the storm broke a tree branch free. It crashed to the ground not too far from us. Several of the horses whinnied and pawed at the dirt.
Tom nodded at Sean in a show of patient understanding. “No one’s saying otherwise, lad. But we’ve more pressing matters now that we’ve found the dolmen.”
I whipped around as several lanterns rose in near unison. An earthen ridge rose sharply from the ground to tower over us. Three giant rock slabs stood at its base, stacked into the shape of a doorway. It stood near to Tom’s height and twice his width, appearing an elongated mouth that led straight into the hillside.
Marin paled in the lantern light. “It’s the witch’s doing. She made them lose their way.”
“I’ll wager there’s some truth in that,” Tom said. “Her presence has been growing stronger since we entered the grove. Puts my teeth on edge being this close to her.”
He swung down from the saddle, then reached over to help Cate. Henry did the same, and I found myself on the ground, wrapped in his arms. The remaining riders followed suit, and we were soon standing in a loose huddle surrounded by the horses.
Sean exchanged a dark look with Marin before addressing the rest of our party. “Are we to abandon our friends?”
Cate shook out the folds of her cloak. “If you’re concerned for their safety, rest assured they’re better lost than entering the dolmen.” She gestured toward the trail. “You are free to do as you choose, but know that we’ve no time to lose in searching for five grown men.”
Marin seemed somewhat mollified by Cate’s words. My brother glowered toward the trail, his allegiance torn. A moment passed when he squared his shoulders back to our party.
Another moan keened through the trees. Wind dipped into the lower branches this time and ruffled my hair. My teeth came together hard as a shiver rocked me.
“Could the witch be causing the storm?” Justine asked.
Tom tipped his head toward the thickly clouded sky. Rain pelted his face, and he squinted against the onslaught. “That I don’t know—”
Lightning flashed, and for a split second, the dolmen stood awash in white light, along with a small cloaked figure seeking cover beneath the overhang of the top stone.
Thunder boomed a report as she stepped into the ring of lantern light. “The witch has no hand in the weather,” she said in the gruff Irish lilt I’d recognize anywhere.
“Ailish!” I cried. “Where have you been? Why did you leave without telling me?”
Water dripped from the hood of
her brown cloak. She looked at me in silence, her mouth set in a sullen frown.
Unease rolled in my stomach. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
Cate moved closer to Ailish and peered into her face. “Who’s controlling the storm, Miss O’Bearra?”
“That be Deidre Byrne, milady. She has the gift from Cailleach, but I think it’s got away from her.”
“Why is that?”
“She be birthing a wee babe tonight.”
“I thought it was something of the sort, except my first guess was that you had the gift.”
“No, milady. I came to the world with Cailleach’s voice.”
“That’s a rare gift indeed,” Cate marveled. “I’ve not known anyone to have it since...” She caught herself just in time. “For a very long time.”
“Me da said there’s only ever one in the mortal world at a time. And more often than not, there be no one at all.”
I looked between the two of them, confused by their easy banter when Ailish had yet to even speak to me. “Why are you here?” I asked again, though with a sharpness to my voice this time.
Neither responded at first. Ailish kept her eyes steadfast on Cate’s in what seemed a silent plea. My confusion grew tenfold when Cate nodded ever so slightly. After a moment Ailish’s gaze slipped to the ground as Cate turned to me.
“Cailleach sent her to us,” she said.
Julian moved his lantern closer to Ailish, illuminating every crease and dirt smudge on her face. “Death can keep her whelp. She’s got my skin crawling with cold.”
Cate pinned him with a hard stare that would have had me squirming if pointed in my direction. She appeared on the verge of speaking, but then her mouth pursed at the corners as though she’d decided otherwise. Grumbling under his breath, Julian hunched into his coat and turned away from her.
Tom addressed Ailish. “Miss O’Bearra, did Cailleach tell you how to get inside?”
Ailish nodded, and a rivulet of rain spilled from her hood. “We’re to walk through the stones, and the blood’s to tell.”
Just as Deidre had told us to do. “Did she happen to mention why the Tuatha Dé aren’t here instead of us,” I muttered, for no other reason than to voice the misgiving that had come with Lugh’s presence earlier. Logic stood that if they had been more diligent with sealing the dolmen, Roddy Byrne would never have had the opportunity to copulate with the witch in the first place. By extension, Deri would not have existed, and Nora would be safe and sound back in London.
