by J. M. Briggs
“I need to put some more wood on the fire! You don’t want to freeze do you?”
“I won’t,” Leugio insisted. “There are furs on the bed and the pelt is sealing things up again now.”
“Not that much,” Flaitheas corrected. “You’re just comfortable.”
“Yes, I am.” He smiled up at her, admiring the way her brown eyes glittered in the light of the fire. “Please, for the hero.”
Flaitheas’ expression softened but turned sad. “I’m worried, Leugio. Another attack last night. Just enough to distract us and kill a few more warriors. Does this Teàrlach have a large army or not? What is his plan? Why haven’t we heard anything lately? Ours seems to be the only village under attack now.”
“I don’t know,” Leugio admitted. With a sigh and a soft groan, he slowly sat up on the bed. His bare chest was cold despite the fire. He glanced up through the smoke hole, but there was no snow currently falling. “I suppose… if I was trying to take over the land, I would want to kill the only mage.”
“Then why not send a larger force against us?” Flaitheas touched the muscles of his back and gently ran a finger down another scar. “I know you’ve been injured a few times, but nothing too life threatening.” She leaned forward and pressed a kiss between his shoulder blades. “In fact, you can take more injuries than any other warrior, even Conn.”
“Maybe that is part of the magic,” Leugio offered. He meant it more as a joke, but now that he considered it there was a ring of truth to all of it. “Maybe Teàrlach is just testing us, or maybe he doesn’t have as much support as we feared.”
“That seems too convenient.” He turned to find Flaitheas frowning and staring into the fire. “Maybe it is to lure us into believing that they aren’t very powerful. I hate to say it, but since they attack at night and with the slope of the hill, many of them always escape. If Teàrlach is willing to sacrifice a small number in these attacks, then he could still be massing large numbers. After all, they have to move at night. You remember what Conn told us when he came.”
“Of course,” Leugio said. “And so far the mounds still don’t seem to be connected underground.”
“At least not yet, maybe that’s what they’re doing. We need to find out what is going on, Leugio!”
“I know,” the words came out more sharply than he meant for them too. “But it isn’t that simple, Flaitheas: you know that. Last time we visited my home village there was no sign of Iúdás, and we don’t have the force to invade a mound. While Iúdás may not want to be part of this war, the guards will protect their home.”
“How can you be sure that Iúdás is still alive?”
“I can’t be. He was our only source of information, and either he’s avoiding the surface now or he’s dead. Either way, there isn’t a way to get more information.” Standing up, Leugio grabbed his tunic and carefully pulled it on so he didn’t disturb the bandages. “I don’t know what else we can do, Flaitheas.”
His wife’s shoulders slumped and she lowered her eyes. “I know,” she said. “I’m sorry, Leugio. You’re doing the best you can and more than the rest of us. I shouldn’t be taking my frustration out on you.”
“It’s alright,” he said gently. “We’ll all worried, and this weather isn’t helping.”
“I’ve never liked winter,” Flaitheas agreed. She glared at the doorway. “Cold and poor weather for riding.” That remark made Leugio smile and he leaned over to kiss her forehead. Then he grabbed his cloak and pulled it on, securing it with his iron pin. “Where are you going?”
“For a walk around the village,” Leugio said. “I need to clear my head and think.”
“I’m sorry, Leugio,” Flaitheas said quickly. She sat up on her knees, looking worried and nervous.
“Oh, I’m not angry,” he promised. “I just need some fresh air and a chance to think. I might go outside the wall. Maybe it will help me get a new idea. Ideally, we should have something in place for spring. Some new strategy.”
His statement earned another smile from his wife and she nodded in agreement. “If you need to talk it out-”
“You’ll be the first I come to.”
“And Conn might be able to help as well.”
“Of that, I have no doubt,” Leugio agreed. Something shifted in his stomach, but he wasn’t sure what it was. Flaitheas was smiling now at the mention of their new friend. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Just be careful and don’t slip in the snow.” Flaitheas paused. “And take a sword if you’re going outside the wall.”
Nodding his head, Leugio headed for the door and grabbed the fur wrap waiting on a small rack. He slung it over his shoulders and pulled up the hood of his cloak. Then, with a smile towards Flaitheas, he collected his sword and secured it to his belt. Under the cloak and fur it wouldn’t be easy to draw, but he’d have it. Flaitheas nodded in approval at him before he stepped out of the roundhouse.
A wave of cold hit him and he shuddered. Quickly dropping the pelt back into place, Leugio looked around and noted that there were only a few people outside their homes. The sun was already sinking in the sky and most had finished for the day. He already missed the warmth of summer. At least they were approaching the longest night. Things would get a bit easier once the days started getting longer again.
His side ached a little, but the cold actually seemed to help as he headed towards the gate. Smoke was curling up from every longhouse and he caught the smell of cooking from several. He moved faster and adjusted his cloak to keep his hands tucked inside. Men were placed on the wall platforms with weapons at the ready, though all of them were huddled by the fire cauldrons. One of them gave him a shocked look at he headed for the gate. However, Conn was at the gate and speaking with one of the guards, his sword at his waist and a scowl on his face.
“Conn,” Leugio called. “Everything alright?”
“Caught one of the guards sneaking off,” Conn grumbled. He shook his head, making his long brown braid swing around his neck. “Disgraceful. Guards need to be loyal and take things seriously.”
“Careful, Conn, or Eochu Finn will make you the leader of his guards. I thought you didn’t want that kind of position here?”
“I don’t,” Conn protested. He looked a touch embarrassed now. “You know my interest is stopping whatever the Sídhe have planned.” Conn gestured to the guard at the gate, who nodded quickly and jumped back to his post. “Besides, he likes you far more.”
“I’m not sure about that,” Leugio said.
“Oh come now, he must like you. After all, from what Flaitheas told me, he all but ordered the pair of you to marry so you’d become king.” Conn shook his head a little, resting his arm lazily on the hilt of his sword. “Surely that says something about his regard.”
“I know,” Leugio said. His cheeks flushed. “But even now, I’m still never sure what to say to Eochu Finn.” Shaking his head, Leugio struggled for the right words. “Even now, I still feel like a shepherd boy.”
Conn’s grin softened slightly and he studied Leugio for a moment. “You said that your father was a warrior? Did he not teach you?”
“He was, but I was just a child. He never had a chance to teach me, and Mother… well, she always wanted me to stay close to her and Keelia. One of the reasons I fight so much more with magic is that it is truly easier for me. I just flail with a sword.”
“Well, you do a decent job regardless,” Conn said. “I suppose your mother’s reaction is understandable, but it is a great thing to fight in the service of a king!” Conn’s tone was almost gleeful and he folded his large arms over his chest. Just standing beside him always made Leugio feel too small and thin. “Though I never expected to fight with the men of Eochu Finn. I suppose that a great threat brings unusual changes.”
“Do you miss your home?”
“Sometimes.” Conn shrugged slightly and glanced towards Leugio’s house. “I had a small farm, but my wife passed in childbirth two summers ago and it hasn’t fel
t right since.” Then he laughed a little. “Maybe that’s why I let myself get so worked up over the Sídhe taking a few horses.” He shook his head. “My brother and his family lived with me. I’m sure they are handling things just fine: my brother has probably forgotten that he isn’t the true master of that land.”
“Well, I’m grateful that you agreed to stay,” Leugio said. He reached up and clapped a hand on Conn’s shoulder. “You’ve been a great asset to us.”
“Not as useful as magic, but I’m pleased to hear that I’ve been of help.”
“You have been.”
Leugio wasn’t sure what else to say, but thankfully Conn seemed to understand. The warrior nodded to him and strode away from the gate. The guard sighed in relief and relaxed a little until Leugio gestured for the gate to be opened. He received a worried look, but the guard didn’t protest.
The snow crunched beneath his boots as he walked carefully away from the gate. Once he was off the worn trail the ground was more treacherous. While the snow wasn’t deep, it did a good job of hiding the roughness of the hill. He peered out across the white landscape. There were patches of dark trees and dots of livestock around them, but the air was still and quiet. Winter always seemed like the world was bracing itself to him. As a child, he’d enjoyed the evenings that promised stories by the fire and long nights of sleep, but now he was all too aware that those long nights benefited the Sídhe.
There was so much he didn’t understand about his enemy. He’d been in one mound, and while he wanted more information, he dared not enter another. Breathing in the cold air, Leugio hoped for inspiration, but nothing came. This was a war where the territory of the enemy was too dangerous to go into. He couldn’t in good conscience lead people there. It was a puzzle. As much as Iúdás’ words about the Grand Mages frightened him, he couldn’t help but wish there was someone around with more information.
Looking up, Leugio noted that the sun had set. The world was colder now and he tightened his cloak around him before bringing a hand up to touch his brooch. It hummed beneath his fingers and he looked out into the darkness. Something was shimmering in the distance: an odd dull light that was growing brighter and brighter. Shifting closer to the edge of the rocky terrain, Leugio heard murmuring up on the wall behind him.
“Any idea what it is, sir?” a guard called down.
“No,” Leugio replied. “I’m not sure.”
It was sharp and orange: for a moment he feared that something had caught fire. Then he caught the smell of snow on the air and frowned in confusion. There was no smoke on the air. It couldn’t be a fire in the fields. Beneath his feet and in the air around him, Leugio sensed the magic swirling. Whatever the odd color meant, it was stirring a reaction from the world itself. His stomach tightened fearfully.
Then he heard the drumming and the voices. An unnatural rhythm began to echo up off the plains toward him. It rang around the rocks and filled his ears. Even the sound of his own heartbeat became muted. Footfalls echoed up towards them. Behind him, the stillness of the village was gone. There was shouting, screaming, and the clanging of metal. Pulling out his sword awkwardly, Leugio heard the gate open but didn’t turn around. Conn was at his side moments later.
“Is it them?”
“My magic is reacting to something,” Leugio said.
“Sounds like a lot of them.” Conn’s sword gleamed in the light from the torch he was carrying. “Why now? The solstice is in two days: why not attack then, during the longest night?”
“Maybe they can’t, or maybe there is somewhere else they want to attack,” Leugio replied. He glanced up at the torches many of the men were carrying. “Just brace yourself.”
The line of Sídhe marched up the hill. There were over a dozen rows of seven wide. All were in leather armor and armed with bronze weapons. His own point of reassurance was knowing that they had the stronger weapons. Over his heart, the Iron Brooch warmed further. He and all the men around him were still, bracing themselves for whatever was coming. Then the Sídhe stopped and one stepped forward, looking right at him.
“Surrender,” a Síd said. “Your lives will be spared. The mage will be executed and the rest made slaves.”
“No,” Conn said before Leugio could say anything.
“Lord Teàrlach will destroy all of you,” the Síd hissed. “This island will serve as our new homeland. All will gather here and we will have a new home! You cannot win. Humanity is too fragmented.”
“You already have the mounds,” Leugio said. He kept his voice calm, though a nervous twitch was rising up through his arms. Conn shifted closer to him. “Surely we can reach a peaceful arrangement?”
“You are a mage, your kind destroys us!”
“No,” Leugio protested. “If that was true then none of you would even be here. You would have been destroyed in the past. I do not wish for war.”
The Síd curled its lips and raised its hand. Conn moved before Leugio could. A strong arm pulled him out of the way, but the arrow caught in Conn’s shoulder. There was a long groan, but Conn kept moving him. Staring at the arrow in horror, Leugio realized that it would have hit his chest. Ice filled his veins. The Sídhe began to rush forward with a war cry. In the distance he could still see the light, and suddenly realized what it was. A mound: a new mound right beyond their walls. He had no time. The Sídhe were upon them. Swinging the sword in his right hand, Leugio frantically released as much magic as he could with his left.
The world shuddered. Everything turned white and the Sídhe screamed. His heart trembled and burned as magic rushed through it. Too fast, too much, but he kept pushing. Magic was crashing outward. It tore through the first line of soldiers. The one who’d spoken vanished with his mouth open in a scream. The second row hissed and their flesh began to melt while the third row unleashed arrows into the air.
Humans scattered. Conn was groaning on his knees beside him. As the magic eased and the darkness took over once more, Leugio risked a glance towards him. Should he stop and help him? Conn climbed to his feet and pulled the arrow from his shoulder with a pained huff. There was a rush of brown hair and Flaitheas was suddenly at Conn’s side, supporting his weight and touching his face tenderly.
Something twisted. A thought tried to form, but it couldn’t. Instead, there was relief as his wife helped Conn away. Around him men were firing bows into the mass of Sídhe. He opened his hand and pulled on more magic. An orb of light formed and he threw it into the sky. Light cascaded around the Sídhe, forcing many to lower their eyes and guards. Raising his sword, he rushed into the fray.
31
Family Meal
It wasn’t that Alex hated Central Diner; it just contained memories that she hated. She and Arthur had made it a regular date location thanks to its wonderful burgers and fries. Even now, sitting at the table alone, it was difficult not to think about him. Everything was loud and noisy but familiar in the worst way. There were too many triggers for emotions, and her chest was tightening. Alex gripped at the end of the table for a moment and took a long slow breath. She wasn’t going to have an attack, she told herself. She was beyond that.
Finally, the tightness eased and Alex scanned the dining room quickly. There were a couple more people, but no one was paying any attention to her. The retro diner wasn’t as busy as usual as many students were already gone, but there were several local families. Toying with the straw of her soda, Alex kept glancing around the room. She’d arrived first and managed to get a booth in the corner where she could see most of the diner.
Still no sign of her brothers. Alex held back a sigh. She should have met them at their hotel and come with them in the car. No, she corrected quickly. Public was better. They couldn’t go into too many details in public. Of course, Matt had wanted public too. Maybe he was worried about how she’d react or what she’d do.
Rolling her shoulders, Alex groaned a little at the lingering ache in her muscles. They’d made the Gate without any incident. No Sídhe, no Fae creatur
es, and nothing going wrong. That hadn’t stopped them all from being braced for an attack. As the Gate had hammered itself into the ground, the alien magic sputtered and flickered out. Extinguishing like a candle while her magic swept into the void and filled with the warm, glistening magic of the Iron Realm.
She knew she should be happy with their success. They’d stopped more Sídhe from entering the Iron Realm and trying to capture more slaves. Yet there was no sense of victory, no thrill of having pulled off a fancy new trick in finding the weak points first, and no glow of achievement. There was just another day. There’d be more attacks and they’d build more Gates. She’d need to enchant more iron just in case before they headed to India.
