Spellbound-Legend

by Claudy Conn

  “Don’t cry, my love …” He lowered his eyes. “It was too soon … I know … don’t cry. I will leave it be for now, but I am not going to stop trying.”

  “Don’t be a dunce!” She laughed between tears.

  He grinned broadly and slipped it on her finger, saying, “My mother wore this. It was a part of a collection that will be yours.” He got up from the floor to pull her up and into his arms. Before he kissed her he whispered, “This is our time, Maxie-girl … our time.”

  The phone rang.

  He wanted to ignore it.

  Maxie had a feeling—so she pushed him towards the phone and said, “Get this one, Julian. I don’t know why, but it is important.”

  He still hesitated, but she insisted, “Please.”

  Julian picked up the phone.

  * * *

  It was the moment to shift in. Breslyn made animal sounds of impatience. Nuad put up a hand and shook his head. “Breslyn … one more moment. I have to wait for the queen. She is on her way.”

  “I am not waiting, not even for my queen,” the prince said as he shifted.

  Nuad was beside him, the gae bolga in his grip. The magical lance, which could not miss its target and which would freeze a Fae from shifting away, was often used to create a temporary prison until the queen and her Council could hand down a sentence to a wayward Fae. Not in centuries had it been so important to capture a rogue Fae. Not in eons had a rogue Fae threatened harm to their way of life.

  The prince needed to catch Gaiscioch by surprise. That was part of the reason he took the initiative and shifted to the island in advance of the queen’s arrival.

  They stood, Nuad and he, somewhat hidden by the evergreens, with the Trackers still waiting in the hidden dimension.

  Gais was a formidable opponent. He felt them as they entered his space and arrived on his secret little island. Gaiscioch immediately took up the Spear of Lughnassa when he saw the prince not more than twenty feet away from where he stood.

  This time, the prince didn’t walk, run, or slide. He shifted into Gaiscioch’s immediate airspace.

  The prince came at him swinging the Dagda club with deadly precision. Gais was aiming the Spear, but the prince was out for blood—and by damn, he was going to get it. He meant to tear Gais to shreds. He knew the Spear of Lugh was aimed to kill; he knew—but the prince also aimed to kill. Just as Gais’s hand moved the Spear, Breslyn shifted again.

  He was now head to head with Gaiscioch. The prince had been a warrior long before he became a diplomat. He swung the Club of Dagda and brought Gais to the ground. The spear of Lugh slipped from Gais’s hand.

  Gaiscioch managed to retrieve the Spear, and with a primal bellow torn from his madness he came at the prince hard. Gais’s need however, overrode his good sense. The battle cry resonated within his blood and called him—demanded he stand and fight. He wanted to do hand to hand with Breslyn; he believed he would win. It glorified his sense of self. The belief that he was about to kill a royal prince infused him with fire. Gais enjoyed the notion of a respectable fight to the death. He also knew he had to stall until the portal opened wide … it was a portal to the Dark Realm!

  The prince saw the portal all at once and knew what Gaiscioch planned. Once it opened fully, it would begin to close. This time Gais shifted in with the Spear and aimed at a vital area of the prince’s chest. He was coming in for the kill now …

  Breslyn saw Ete, and for the moment she was safe and forgotten by Gais. Good. He could fight freely knowing she was not in immediate danger. She still had not been able to break the magical chains, but the U-bolt in the earth was not part of the Balor Chain, and her magic was that of the queen’s bloodline. As powerful as Gaiscioch’s magic was, it could not withstand hers. Out of the corner of his eye, Breslyn saw just as she broke the spell holding the U-bolt to the earth and swung the Chain of Balor at Gaiscioch’s legs before Gais could shift.

  The Chain of Balor took its target and held him in place. He went down, and she draped the remaining length of chain over his body. There was naught he could do against the Chain of Balor. He lay with the chain over his chest; the other end of the Balor links, however, were still chained to Ete.

  The Spear of Lugh had landed at the prince’s feet because he had side shifted out of range. Breslyn picked it up and brought it to Gais, standing over him, his face a mask of vengeance. Gaiscioch needed dying now. He didn’t care about the sentencing, the Council, or even the queen’s wishes at that moment. He wanted Gais dead.

  All at once Ete stood between Gaiscioch and the prince. She was still attached to the Chain as she moved towards him. All the prince could see were her hungry eyes—hungry for him. He discovered that he was so relieved to find her unharmed that all he could do was move towards her.

  Nuad and the Trackers were surrounding Gais, and he could see that Nuad had the gae bolga ready.

  No one noticed that the Chain of Balor had slipped off Ete because they were looking at Gais, who was still entwined with them. Gais saw his chance.

  “Net him!” The queen, having just arrived, called out.

  Too late.

  Gais had slipped out of the loose Chains and shifted to the portal, turning at its opening to laugh wildly, proudly.

  Too late, Nuad threw his javelin. Too late the net of magic reached for Gaiscioch. Too late! Those two words, devastating. Too late …

  Gaiscioch had escaped to the Dark Realm. He would live to plan and execute his revenge.

  “But—no … oh, no! My fault … I should have let you kill him, Breslyn,” Ete cried.

  The prince shook his head of dark blonde hair and looked at the queen. “The Dark Realm will not let him go. Will that serve us? Does he not know he will be a prisoner within the Dark Realm’s prison walls?”

  “Perhaps he has planned this all along. This Dolman was not always here, Breslyn. He brought the Standing Stones here I am sure at great cost. The effort must have taken its toll on him … and depleted him for months. He has been planning this for ages.”

  “Yes, but my Queen,” Nuad the Tracker bowed his head to her. “I should have ensnared him sooner. I thought him secure within the Chain of Balor.”

  She did not smile, but she did not find fault with her Tracker. “No, Nuad. How could you see all with so much transpiring at once?” The queen looked at all of them, and her voice was low. “I believe that perhaps he has an invitation from the Dark Queen because they have no doubt struck up a bargain. They both want the same thing … She wants the humans subdued so she can rule the world. He wants to enslave the humans and own the world.” She shook her head dolefully and glanced at her Council members. They were astonished and at an immediate loss. This was beyond their imaginings. They were very genuinely frightened at the prospect of a renegade Seelie consorting and divining with the Dark Unseelie.

  “Indeed … the next few months before Lughnassa and Samhain will be critical.” The queen went on to inform her Council, “I believe Gais means to release as many of the dark monsters on the humans as he can and then strike … no doubt by Samhain!”

  * * *

  Julian put down the phone and turned to take both Maxie’s hands. “That was Mary Newton.”

  “Oh … uh-huh. Figures.” She made a face at him.

  “My love … she says that Shamon and DuLaine are here in Inverness and plan to take a cottage near Beauly Village …”

  “What—already?” Maxie screeched.

  “Yes, and apparently the DuLaine has asked Mary to join them.”

  “What?” This time it was a hushed sound. “Why would DuLaine do that?”

  “I am not sure, and I am not certain what it means.” A dark frown pulled Julian’s black brows together.

  “And why did she have to call you and tell you this?”

  He grinned. “She wants to let me know she will be in town, and I am certain it is because she wants to seduce me.”

  He was roundly rapped for his honesty. He laughed with pleasure
and took Maxie into his arms. Later they puzzled together for hours about what everything meant and what they might expect until Maxie fell asleep in his arms by the fire in the library. She came out of her doze and caught him. Julian was probing!

  She waited and finally touched him. He came out of it immediately and looked very grave as he said, “I probed Shamon … they are already installed in the cottage just outside of Beauly … not far from here.”

  Maxie was wide-awake now and jumping to her feet. “What are we going to do? What is the plan? Where is Breslyn?”

  “I am not sure yet, as the prince was supposed to have been here already. I sense something very bad is happening in Tir …”

  “Yes … Princess Ete said something was wrong.”

  “Come on then, Maxie … up to bed.”

  “Hmmm. Carry me.” She smiled demurely.

  “Ah, now it is ‘carry me’, a very different tune than the other day … eh?”

  “Very different tune, and if you carry me … I will show you my appreciation, big boy.”

  He picked her up in an instant and dropped a kiss on her lips. “I tell you what, love—until I work all this out … I am not letting you out of my sight.”

  * * *

  Maxie awoke with a start. Something was different about the room. There was a spatial wave of distortion. There was a different scent in the air, the scent of hothouse flowers and spice. And then the sensation was gone. She stared through the darkness and saw it at once. It seemed to pulsate with glinting fire. The Dagger of Pontivey!

  The queen of Fae had no doubt decided it was time they had the dagger, and in her style delivered it to them. The thing looked creepy reposing there like a living being and glinting its intention—to kill!

  Yes, Maxie wanted DuLaine dead before she hurt any more innocent people—including herself—but this felt suddenly unexpected. She always thought about it as something they would have to do … later.

  They had been wondering where it was and who had it. Pop, and suddenly it was there. Maxie’s brows went up. Did this mean, Get outta bed and go get DuLaine?

  Maxie probed, and her findings held her frozen next to Julian, and then realization hit her in the stomach. She felt part of her supper come up. She jumped out of bed and began gasping like a lunatic. What time was it? It was nearly midnight. She threw on her sweats. Please, please don’t let it be true, she breathed this over and over. Maybe it hadn’t happened yet. Maybe it was something that was going to happen tomorrow night. She ran out of Julian’s room. He already was up, pulling on jogging pants and coming after her.

  “What’s wrong? What is it, Maxie?” he called after her.

  She went to Uncle Kennet’s door and, without knocking, without calling, flung it open to find his room empty. Her heart sank.

  She turned to Julian. “He isn’t here … she has him … oh God … don’t let this be happening. Please, no! Julian … she has Uncle Kennet!”

  He took her shoulders. “What are you saying? DuLaine? You think DuLaine has him? He could be staying the night with Tally.”

  “No … he was on his way home. He was only a mile away from MacTalbot land. I saw him. I wasn’t dreaming. The dagger! All of a sudden I woke up, and it was as though the air in the room parted, and there was the Pontivey Dagger. I was wondering why, and boom like a burst of light, I saw him … I saw her, and Shamon. She has him! Julian, she will hurt him. They were lying in wait for him. It was DuLaine and Shamon.” Maxie was shaking uncontrollably. Her world spun around her head.

  Julian crushed her in his arms. “We’ll find him, Max, and she won’t hurt him. It will be okay, Max. Obviously she needs him alive. She has done this to draw us out!”

  “Shamon has betrayed us. He has betrayed the Realm.” She was pulling out of his warm, comforting arms. She didn’t want comfort. She wanted to save Uncle Kennet. She had momentarily lost it. She was wringing her hands and pacing in place. “Shamon pulled his dark sedan out in front of Uncle Kennet. Shamon made him pull over. DuLaine was using an incantation. It sounded like a black, somber musical, and, Julian, it was hardcore Dark Magic. She put him into a trance, and he went with them willingly. I saw her stroking his cheek … and I heard her calling my name. It is why she went after him. She figured it out. She figured out that I am Maxine’s descendent.”

  “Maxie … she couldn’t have gotten past our wards. She wouldn’t be able to send her voice through to you.”

  “She wasn’t. It wasn’t Lamia getting through to me. It was I going after her. I was the one probing, looking for them. As soon as I saw the dagger … I seemed to move into my automatic zone. My mind went out, and found her, but we are wasting time. Julian, she has my Uncle Kennet!” Over and over the words reverberated in her head. She has him. She has dear, sweet, beloved Uncle Kennet.

  Julian shook her. “Then, my love, get a hold of yourself. Let’s get the dagger and be off.”

  Maxie steeled herself, because if she had to plunge that dagger into the beast, she would be ready. And where the hell was Breslyn?

  * * *

  The queen sent the Chain of Balor to a safe place. She then sent the Spear of Lughnassa somewhere else. Breslyn watched her as she worked.

  “I want him dead. How will I get to him in the Dark Realm?” Breslyn asked of her.

  “You will. The time will come, my Prince.” She turned then to the Stone of Fal, and he watched it vanish. The queen rounded on her Council and demanded they join her in a magic that would send the Dolmans to their original site.

  This took considerable effort, and they all felt the earth rumble as the sky grew dark and stormy. There was a flash of lightning. A black mist blanketed the Standing Stones, and then they were gone.

  When the queen was satisfied she turned back to the prince. “Yes, Breslyn … I see you wish to question me. I shall allow it.”

  He hesitated and then voiced his concerns. “He may be able to get at our Hallows—and the Relics—again if you sent them to your chamber.”

  She raised a lofty look at him. “Precisely why I sent them where they cannot be found. I arranged for their safekeeping where Gaiscioch will never think to look. And should he somehow manage to discover their whereabouts, the arcane magic I have installed there will suffice to stop him. I have only a few Druids I trust, but those that I trust will know how to keep our Hallows and Relics safe.”

  “When were you able to arrange all that?”

  “As soon as you reported that he had taken them.” She inclined her incredibly beautiful head and released a tinkle of enchanting laughter. “What do you think Prince Danté has been doing?” She smiled. “Yes, my Prince, I have secrets even from you, but never fear … I will bring you in on this particular one. In fact, when all is over with the DuLaine and Reigate, it will be your new assignment.”

  He felt a moment’s frustration. In truth he usually was at his happiest when he was directly involved in some grand adventure with humans. He loved being the queen’s most trusted Royal, and he loved working and playing with humans.

  He bent his head to her and then turned to Ete, who was standing plastered to his side.

  Fae souls did not glow from within and perhaps were diminished by their immortal time in the universe. However, there was no doubt that the essence of a soul was something all Fae had. Ete’s pretty, sparkling eyes looked into his, and he saw her essence. It made him inhale deeply, and he took her delicate hand to his lips. “Ah, wee beauty. I was driven mad when I thought you in the traitor Gaiscioch’s unscrupulous clutches.”

  “Were you?” Ete was momentarily breathless.

  Softly, caressingly he answered, “Indeed. To think he dared to take the queen’s own favorite cousin … and only an innocent babe? I wanted to tear him apart.”

  “Ah yes. I am the queen’s cousin,” Ete said lowering her eyes. He had hurt her. He could see it cross her pretty face, and that tore at him. He didn’t want to put a fissure in her hopes—he just wanted to gently steer her away. />
  He took her chin and tilted it up. “Oh, you are far more than that to me, Ete.” He saw the smile seep into her eyes once more.

  Impishly, fetchingly she asked, “How much more?” It was an open invitation to take a leap and join her in what she was feeling.

  The prince laughed and held up a hand as he took a cautious step back. “Now we get ahead of ourselves. I do not rob the cradle.”

  Ete bit her pretty lip and decided to try another angle. She spoke over her shoulder as she started to move off. “That is good, Prince, but you need not worry on that score. Just in case you have not noticed, I am no longer in the cradle.”

  He watched the lovely sway of her hips as she moved away, and for a moment the male in him took control and whispered, Not in the cradle? Bloody hell, not one bit!

  The queen called him back to reality. They had to get back to Tir and set things in order. The Council had to devise a war plan. They were going to have to contain Gaiscioch, and he was part of the Council. However, Breslyn was impatient. He hoped they wouldn’t keep him too long. He had to get back to Lia and make certain all was well at MacTalbot.

  * * *

  Julian was already in the jeep when Maxie pulled on her jacket and climbed in beside him. “Jules … I couldn’t get a reading on where they are except that it is close, very close to the MacTalbot border.”

  “I have some extra senses of my own, Maxie, though I try not to use them too often,” Julian told her quietly. They were already racing down the driveway.

  “Ah, your Dark Magic.” She thought of the tattoos she had traced and kissed on his body. “You mean … you know where they are?”

  “Aye. I found them. They are in a cottage just five miles down the road.”

  She glanced at his face. He looked ominous. She looked at the dagger bright and shiny looped through his belt. It glinted eerily in the darkness of the night. She knew that everything about this night would be perilous.

  “Okay, all right. Here we go. What is the plan?” Maxie was a planner. She wanted one.

  He frowned. “We are going to have to play it by ear, Max. That doesn’t sound like much of a plan, but it is the best option we have at the moment. What we need is a lay of the land. Then we need to approach the cottage without her knowing. We need to catch her unawares. I am going to park the jeep half a mile short of the cottage.”