“I do, my lord,” a man’s voice came from the middle of the group.
Caylean motioned him forward. A man with dark brown hair down to the middle of his back stepped forward.
“What is your name?” Caylean asked.
“Liam Arc’hantael,” he replied.
“Liam, why do you lead an army against us?” Caylean asked.
“We heard of wolf-men in this keep, my lord,” he answered.
“As you can see I am here,” Caylean replied.
“Are there wolf-men, my lord?” Liam asked.
“Aye, they are my pets,” Caylean said coolly. “They made good servants. It was a pleasure breaking them.”
“They are still a threat,” Liam pressed.
“They are nae a threat,” Caylean barked. “Besides,” he stroked Giorsal’s cheek. “I like this one.”
The men of the group chuckled but Caylean felt Tristan’s anger. Grateful to see in Giorsal’s eyes her understanding of what he was doing, he continued.
“Will you share her?” One of the druids shouted.
“I might,” Caylean looked back. “But no’ anytime soon. Now what more do you want, my brothers?”
“Forgive us, my lord, we were told wrong,” Liam said. “We will be on our way.”
“If you are in the area, come back and join me for an ale,” he said.
“Thank you,” Liam replied.
“Now go in peace,” Caylean stated.
Once the druids had turned and started to walk away, Caylean faced his family.
“Tristan, I beg you to understand what I was doing,” Caylean said.
“I do, lad, ’tis them I donnae like,” Tristan said.
“Aye, I ken, but truly it was the only way—”
“Caylean!” Giorsal screamed. Turning as fast as he could, he saw Giorsal raise her bow just as he felt an arrow sink deep into his shoulder. Giorsal loosed her arrow, killing the druid archer hiding in the trees.
Shouts from the men resounded in the forest as they rushed the gates, swords drawn.
Aedan held his son as pain radiated down his arm. His eyes had turned red as his druid half attempted to heal him. Gasping when he could not heal, he gritted his teeth and growled.
“Wolf’s Bane.”
Giorsal raced to him as Aedan helped him down the steps. Isla was already waiting for them at the base of the stairs.
“Take him to his room,” she cried.
“Mother, make sure Giorsal is nae there,” Caylean ground out.
“I am nae leaving you,” she cried over Weylyn and her father shouting orders to the wolves still on the battlements.
“I could hurt you,” he replied.
“Mate, I am staying,” she stated.
“Hurry, Aedan,” Isla cried.
“Why does Wolf’s Bane affect him?” Aedan cried. “He is immortal!”
“There is much we donnae ken about our son, Aedan,” Isla replied. “He is nae a usual druid or wolf.”
“Tie me down!” Caylean shouted as they stumbled through the hallway. “I must be tied down! I cannae hurt anyone!”
“Aye relax, lad, we well tie you down,” Weylyn appeared beside them.
Once they were back in Caylean’s and Giorsal’s room, Aedan and Weylyn set Caylean on the bed and he laid back.
“Tie me down!” he shouted again. “Quickly!” Weylyn grabbed his legs and tied a rope around his ankles. He tied it around the bed’s footboard securing it in a tight knot. Aedan tied one rope to Caylean’s left wrist and to the top of the spindle on the headboard.
Before Isla could even attempt to remove the arrow, Caylean’s eyes turned black with yellow pupils and he phased into his wolf. He grabbed his father’s tunic and pulled him closer.
“Too late,” he growled and threw his father across the room knocking him unconscious as he hit his head against the wall.
Caylean slashed at the ropes holding his feet. Once he was free, he jumped up and ripped the arrow out of his shoulder.
“Caylean!” his wife cried.
Caylean’s eyes snapped to her and a flash of recognition appeared but he did not change. Jumping over the bed clothes that had fallen when they tried to get him on the bed, he raced to the door letting a raged howl rip from his lips.
***
Weylyn raced to his son as Isla held Giorsal back from following Caylean.
“Aedan,” Weylyn shook him, pulled out a whisky flask and helped him drink.
Giorsal fought with Isla trying to remove her hold. Eithne was with Weylyn helping Aedan. Her swollen seven-month pregnant stomach catching Weylyn’s eye.
“You, Isla and Giorsal get to the cellar,” he said.
“Nay, we will be fine,” Eithne stated. “Now let me heal Aedan.”
“But our pup?” he asked.
“Donnae fash, the energy needed is nae so very great,” she said placing her hands behind Aedan’s head and mumbling a spell as her eyes turned red.
Aedan woke with a start. “Easy lad,” Weylyn called.
“Caylean,” Aedan breathed. “Where is he?”
From the screams coming from below in the main hall, Aedan’s question was answered. Struggling to his feet, Aedan looked at his father and nodded.
“Eithne, Isla keep Giorsal and yourselves inside,” Weylyn said.
Eithne nodded and watched the two of them leave, saying a quick prayer of protection for them.
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Aedan, Weylyn and Tristan met at the base of the stairs. “What has happened?” Tristan demanded.
“His wolf-self took over,” Weylyn replied. “He phased.”
“And the wolf’s bane?” Aedan asked. “Why and how is it affecting him?”
“You recall when I was pregnant with him?” Isla’s voice came from behind them. The woman carried weapons.
“Gods’ sakes! What the hell are you all doing?” Aedan shouted. “This is nae a place for a female.”
“We will discuss that later,” Isla shot a scalding look to her husband. “Do you recall when I drew the wolf’s bane out of Tristan’s arm when I was pregnant with Caylean?”
“Aye,” Weylyn replied. “What of it?”
“Because I was so newly pregnant the wolf’s bane I drew out affected him,” she explained. “He is nae immune to it, it makes him stronger.”
“Gods above,” the men breathed.
“And beware,” she went on. “His bite will nae heal and will kill even immortals.”
“How do we stop him?” Weylyn asked.
“Moon flower,” Isla explained. “We must get it inside him. Whether he drinks it or if we shoot one of Giorsal’s arrows into him.”
“Have you any?” Aedan asked.
“Aye, in the little room off our bedchamber,” she said.
“Let us go then,” Aedan offered.
“We will meet you in the bailey,” Weylyn said. “Donnae be long.”
Watching them leave, Weylyn and Tristan eyed Giorsal and Eithne.
“My love, I will nae have you participate,” Weylyn said. “You must think of our child.”
“I am nae going to sit by waiting for news, Weylyn,” Eithne said. “I am by your side in life and I will be by your side now.”
“Alpha!” Blane shouted as he raced through the great hall. “There are far too many. If they get in, we will be overrun.”
“Send men to the east and west gates,” Tristan ordered.
“Already done, Alpha,” he went on.
“Good where are the villagers?” Tristan asked.
“Most of them made it through the gates before they were closed, the women and children are in the infirmary. Any able-bodied man and lad has been given orders,” Blane explained.
“You did well, Blane,” Tristan replied. “And the others?”
“Fled to the woods, sire, I donnae ken how many but at least thirty,” he relayed.
“Then the gods will protect them,” he stated. Turning to Weylyn he
continued. “We need Caylean.”
Nodding Weylyn agreed. “With your permission, Alpha, I will go and see if I can find him. You are needed here.”
“Be careful,” Tristan stated. Before he left, Weylyn grabbed his wife’s arm.
“If you must be here, go to the infirmary with the others. Please listen to me on this. I have to ken you are safe,” he said.
She nodded, framed his face and kissed him hard. “Come back to me,” she breathed.
“I will, now go,” he watched her leave and turned to Giorsal. “They will need your bow.”
She nodded and followed her father and Blane back to the battlements. Aedan and Isla returned and went straight to Weylyn. Passing him a vial of moon flower oil, Isla listened as Weylyn explained what Blane had reported. Isla agreed to go to the infirmary and help there. Rubbing the oil on their swords, hands and leather armbands, Aedan and Weylyn cautiously followed the sounds of animal fury and screams.
Passing through the internal hallway was eerily silent. Muffled cries and sounds of battle raged outside but Aedan and Weylyn heard nothing but their soft breathing and the beating of their hearts.
Eventually they heard the ragged sounds of a wild animal. Caylean was inside the armory. Bodies of two half-phased guards lay at the entrance. Aedan approached silently and felt for life in both wolves. When he found no sign of life, he said the quick blessing given to all wolves.
He looked over at Weylyn and shook his head. Weylyn closed his eyes for a short moment mourning his brothers but then phased to his half-wolf. Aedan did the same.
They looked through the doorway of the room only to see two more bodies and one wolf clutching his leg looking in sheer horror at Caylean’s back. Looking towards them, the wolf’s eyes grew large and he was about to cry out for help when both Aedan and Weylyn put a finger to their lips telling him to remain quiet. Aedan inched forward and grabbed the wolf’s tunic. Pulling him back towards them, Aedan held his breath when the man’s leg passed by a fallen rack of swords. The clanging echoed in the small room. Caylean’s body stiffened and Aedan, Weylyn and the injured wolf, held their breaths.
Caylean turned so quickly they all flinched. Letting out a howl, he raced to the injured wolf and snatched him away from Aedan slamming the door in Aedan’s and Weylyn’s faces. They fell back hearing the wolf’s screams. Aedan let out a loud curse and felt his father’s hand squeeze his shoulder.
“You did what you could, son,” he said.
“I did nae do enough!” Aedan shouted.
All went quiet in the room and Aedan and Weylyn sent a blessing up for the wolf’s soul. They had only a moment before the door swung open and Caylean’s figure bounded out of the room. Aedan stepped in front of Weylyn.
“Caylean!” he shouted but the hybrid knocked him down and stood over him. Weylyn yelled his name and grabbed the oil but the hybrid crouched over Aedan and growled. “Caylean, son,” Aedan whispered. “Please.”
Suddenly letting out a howl Caylean threw his head down and sunk his teeth into Aedan’s neck and shoulder.
“Nay!” Weylyn screamed.
Pulling back with Aedan’s blood on his mouth and teeth, Caylean howled again and then stopped. The hybrid looked down to see a small cut on his abdomen and the oil on his father’s hand. Looking down at Aedan, Caylean turned his head to one side as if confused.
“I love you,” Aedan gasped. Caylean shuddered and shook, folding in on himself falling to his father’s side he crawled away. Weylyn was at his son’s side instantly cradling him in his lap.
“Aedan, Aedan,” Weylyn cried. “Aedan, son, stay with me.”
“I wish I could, Da’,” he groaned. “Take care of my son, please be there for Isla and my children.”
“Aye, but you are going to be fine,” he comforted but tears gathered in his eyes.
“I donnae have time to argue with you,” Aedan gasped. “Please. I love ye, Da’. Please forgive me for anything I have done that has hurt you. Oh gods,” he wheezed. “This is nae what I expected it to feel like.”
“Look at me, son, focus on me,” Weylyn calmly let his tears fall.
“I am scared, Da’,” he confided.
“Shh, shh, I am here,” Weylyn soothed. “I love you, Aedan.”
Aedan smiled slightly as blood dripped out of the corner of his mouth.
“Love ye too, Da’,” he said. “Tell Isla that I—”
“Weylyn!” Eithne screamed and ran as fast as she could to him.
“What are you doing here?” Weylyn demanded.
“What happened?” She pleaded.
“Caylean,” Weylyn answered.
“Oh gods,” she whispered. She looked at Weylyn. “I could save him.”
“How?” Weylyn asked.
“Forgive me,” she locked eyes with him. “It will cost the life of our child. The amount of energy needed.”
“Nay,” Aedan breathed. “Leave me be.”
“Nay, I will nae,” she answered. “You are my husband’s first born. And I love you too.” Her eyes pleaded with Weylyn. “I will nae put the choice on you, but swear to me you will nae hate me.”
“Never,” Weylyn breathed.
She kissed him slightly and turned her attention back to Aedan. Slowly reaching forward, her hands trembled and tears streamed down her cheeks when she felt her child kick.
“Eithne, stop!” Caylean’s voice rang down the hall. He raced to them and slid on his knees. “Da’! Forgive me!”
Without hearing a reply, Caylean reached forward and a surge of power knocked them back as he healed Aedan’s neck. Aedan gasped and opened his eyes. Caylean ended the spell and helped his father up.
“Forgive me, da’, please,” Caylean begged.
“Shh, I am fine now, it was nae you,” Aedan said embracing his son.
“Aedan!” Isla screamed as she and Giorsal approached them. Isla grabbed her husband and held him tightly. Giorsal rushed to Caylean and embraced him.
“We need you,” Giorsal whispered to him. “The druids are strong and papa has seen MacRaes behind them. There are rumblings that they have heard we had something to do with Galbraith’s death. We need you all.”
Aedan stood and took his sword. Looking at his father, he embraced him tightly. Weylyn not letting him go for a moment.
“Now let us go and save our pack,” Aedan said once he finally stepped away.
“Da’,” Caylean called. “I—”
“Son, you are nay at fault. I love you and always will. Now let us go,” Aedan said.
Caylean nodded and followed them to the battlements.
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
Tristan greeted them and eyed Caylean.
“All well?” he asked.
“Aye,” Aedan replied. “What do we have?”
“The druids are strong and I saw the MacRae colors behind them,” he said.
“There are far too many for us alone,” Aedan assessed. Turning to his son, he continued. “Do you think you could communicate with Sutherland’s men?”
“Aye and Dagda he could be here by dawn,” he looked out seeing the sun begin to descend in the sky. Had it only been hours since Weylyn had woken him? It seemed like days.
“Do it,” Tristan said.
Caylean nodded and turned down the stairs. Once alone, he reverted into himself and shouted Dagda’s name. He journeyed to the spirit world shouting to his mentor.
“I am here,” Dagda replied.
“We need you,” Caylean said. “Druids from Germany and the MacRaes are marching on us.”
“We are on our way,” Dagda replied and without another word he vanished. Caylean contacted Sutherland’s druids and explained the situation, they promised to leave the standing stones immediately and tell Gregor as soon as they returned to the keep.
His task done, Caylean looked back at the battlements where he saw and heard his family giving orders. Knowing they would be safe, he made the hardest decision of his life.
It was quiet. A deep breath before the storm. Tristan, Aedan and Weylyn took a moment to rest while on the battlements. The druids had retreated into the woods. The MacRaes held back waiting, their campfires flickered through the woods.
“Where are they?” Aedan whispered.
“’Tis nae a coincidence both the druids and the MacRae attacked at the same time,” Tristan stated.
“You think someone told the MacRaes?” Weylyn asked.
“I think we should watch our backs,” Tristan said.
“Who?” Aedan asked.
“I donnae ken for certs,” he sighed. “But I have my suspicions.”
“Aye, as do I,” Weylyn answered.
“And me,” Aedan said. “I pray I am wrong.”
“We all do,” Tristan said.
“Arrows!” Someone shouted on one side of the battlements. The wolves took cover as arrows rained down.
“Damn those druids,” Tristan grumbled.
“Aye,” Weylyn agreed.
“Nay, those are human arrows,” Aedan replied. “The MacRaes are attacking.”
***
After the MacRae arrows rained down, Tristan heard Chief MacRae giving orders to his senior men-at-arms. Tristan looked over the battlements and stood when it was safe.
“MacRae!” Tristan shouted. “Why do you attack?”
“I saw my son, Wolf,” he shouted back. “A sloppy attempt to cover what truly happened. I ken well wolf marks and the tuft of fur may as well have been your name etched into him.”
“Your son was poisoning you and he attempted to rape my daughter,” Tristan yelled.
“Lies!” MacRae bellowed. “My Galbraith would never do that!”
“Consider it, Chief,” Tristan called back. “You felt better since his death, aye? That is because he is nae attempting to kill you!”
“Lies! I refuse to hear any more of this!” MacRae yelled. ““I heard about your kind from my grandfather. One named Marrock nearly killed our entire clan. He gave my grandfather something to remember him. The wolf claw scars across his face was a constant memory and one as a boy I swore to avenge. Archers! Burn it to the ground!”
Midnight Sky (The Wolf's Bane Saga Book 3) Page 22
