“Two hundred and sixty-two years,” the ghost corrected me. “But a nice ear for it, nonetheless.” He doffed his bonnet. “Alistair MacVain at your service, cousin.”
D.J. looked at me. “Cousin?”
“McKays and MacVains are both septs of Clan Mackay back in Strathnavar.” I looked at the ghost. “I’m to be joining you, then?”
“Not that I can tell. I heard there was a cousin in need of a piper for a battle, and being as I’m the only dead one in five hundred miles, I answered the call.”
“You’re a ghost,” D.J. said. Ever tactless, my girl.
“Aye, and packed along from Strathnavar when the young laird brought his whole castle to this overheated land of Georgia.”
D.J. snorted, trying not to laugh, I think. I smiled. “Aye, we could use a good piper, for tomorrow bodes ill for us all.” He started fading. “Meet us at the Pyramid, tonight. And no peeping in the meantime. You’ll only be embarrassed.”
“Cousin, you’d be surprised what people get up to in a room where the ghost is supposed to be. Makes the lassies right frisky.” He faded to just his head and the tips of his drone pipes. “Tonight, then. I wouldn’t miss a wee skirmish. Manu Forti!” He faded completely with a quick run on the pipes I didn’t recognize.
D.J. burst into laughter. “That—” she gasped and laughed more. “That was Free Falling by Tom Petty. Your piper has some Southern rock influence there.” She laughed a lot and it blessed me to hear it. I hadn’t told her how much her tears had disturbed me, and I wouldn’t. She was so strong, or at least brittle, all the time, she wouldn’t thank me for holding on to her moment of weakness.
I let the sound pour over me, a promise of many more to come. I was going to see this through and kill my demon. I was going to walk away after the fight and come home to this office and make love to my woman, who loved me. I told myself that over and over, setting it firmly in my mind.
I kissed her softly. “Back to sleep with you, lass. It’s not even dawn.”
“What about you?”
“I need to see my sister and my mother, but I’ll be right here.”
“Mages,” she grumbled and pillowed her head on my shoulder.
It would be mid-morning, and in June the sun barely set up near Glasgow, just six hours of night. Ma would be up. Lispeth was another thing, if she’d been out riding or fighting. She said she was retired, but you couldn’t prove it by the way she acted.
I calmed myself all soft and still, and thought of Ma, picturing the old house on the lochs where we’d all been born, a wee cottage of seven rooms, too small for a family of fifteen. I saw the whitewashed front, the bundles of herbs drying from every window and near the hearth, the solid and worn wood furniture that had stood up to fifteen mages, two of us called to combat.
I sent a fetch, a double of myself, made of mana and will, into the cottage. Some New Age folks called it astral projection, but my family had been sending fetches since before Hadrian built his wall, and nothing astral plane about it. I could see Ma at the table, scribing a rune into a talisman. She sensed me, for she held up a finger. I waited as she finished sealing the spell into the bundle of thyme and heather, bound ’round with silver.
“Ah, Bran, me bonnie lad. Did they not give a proper send-off? What are you doing calling at this hour, it must be early there. Or are you just rolling in?”
“Had a ghostie come callin’,” I said. “Young Alistair MacVain, dead two hundred and sixty-two years, but still willing to pipe a cousin into battle. I was awake and I’d rather miss some sleep than time with my lady.”
Ma looked a little startled and I could see her hunting to place the name. Then she smiled. “Aye, they’ve missed Alistair up in Strathnavar for a while. Went missing about a century or so ago. I’ll tell the cousins he’s found and not dissipated. And what of you, my lad?”
“I’m well. Going to kill my beastie tonight, and then come home to love my lady. I’ve decided I won’t need sending off.”
“Brave words, but I’d expect no less.”
“I’ll need all the help I can get. Can you and the sibs send mana my way around three in your morning? I’ll be needing it about nine o’clock, Central Time, if you can round up anyone else. I’m thinking fourteen of us McKays, and spouses, should be just the edge I need.”
“Fourteen?” Ma laughed. “Lad, you’re a combat mage. You been making your donations regular, I know, because we have fifteen of your bairns in our town alone. All the breeder girls want the McKay in their line.”
“Fifteen?” I gaped a little and did some fast math. We weren’t allowed families in my line of work, but the Witan didn’t want to lose our power. So the women had to birth two before they were allowed to finish training. They usually handed them to a breeder sibling to raise. Combat mages were never only children. The men donated once a year. The Witan made me donate once a quarter, trying to get more of my power in the bloodlines. That was about a hundred and forty times since I started training. Fifteen kids wasn’t bad.
“Aye, fifteen here, and a right mess it caused when Angus McTavish started sparking young Jenny Campbell from the next block. Their mums had an uncomfortable talk, to be sure. It’s too many for a town this size.” She took down a cord and started touching knots in it. I knew they would summon all my siblings to a conference. “Fifteen here and fifty more around the world. I can call some of them. Sakura won’t be helping much, she’s just brand new, born in April and a wee beauty already. I’ll chatter at wee Shomari, though, when his fetch drops in for lunch with his gram. He can talk to his friends in Nairobi.”
Sixty-five children. I had sixty-five children and knew four of their names. I was willing to bet Ma knew them all. When I got out of this, I was going to meet them, every one of them.
“Call everyone. All the sibs, all the kids. Any grandkids I should know of?”
Ma laughed. “You’ve a dozen or so. Aislinn, your oldest here in town, is a breeder mage of the busiest sort.”
I couldn’t think about all that right now. I had a world to save, and my own life with it. “Bless me, Ma, in the old tongue. Help make sure I can keep all my promises.” I kissed the top of D.J.’s head. “I’ll bring her ’round for inspection sometime soon.”
“Hold still then, darling boy. Let’s see if your creaky old ma still has a good sian in her.” She got to her feet with about as much groaning as a woman half her age. Clean living in the Highland air was going to make Ma live forever, I expected.
I imagined going to my knees, and my fetch must have done it right, for Ma laid her hands on my head and circled me with the Sun, not even needing her cane.
“Sian a chiur Moire air a Mac ort
Sian roimh mharbhadh, sian roimh lot ort
Sian eader a’ chioch ‘s a’ ghlun
Sian eader a’ ghlun ‘s a’ bhroit ort
Sian nan Tri ann an Aon ort
O mhullach du chinn gu bonn do chois ort
Sian seachd paidir a h-aon ort
Sian seachd paidir a dha ort
Sian seachd paidir a tri ort
Sian seachd paidir a ceithir ort
Sian seachd paidir a coig ort
Sian seachd paidir a sia ort
Sian seachd paidir nan seachd paidir dol dieseal ri deagh uarach ort, ga do ghleidheadh bho bheud ‘s bho mhi-thapadh.”
She said it twice, and though my Gaelic was rusty with disuse, I knew she had blessed me well. I knew she’d use that one. She liked it since she had been named Moire, for the Virgin.
“The charm that Mary placed on her Son be on you
Charm from slaying charm from wounding
Charm between pap and knee
Charm between knee and breast on you
Charm of the Three in One on you
From top of head to sole of foot
Charm of Seven Paters once on you
Charm of Seven Paters twice on you
Charm of Seven Paters thrice on you
Charm of Seven Pa
ters four times on you
Charm of Seven Paters five times on you
Charm of Seven Paters six times on you
Charm of the Seven Paters, of the Seven Paters going Sunwise in lucky hour, on you a-keeping you from harm and accident.”
The Seven Paters would keep me right enough, I thought, but Ma kept her hands on my head and circled me widdershins too.
“Clogaid na slainte mu d’ cheann
Cearcall a Chumhnaint mu d’ amhaich
Uchd-eididh an t-sagairt mu b’ bhroilleach
Ma ‘s ruaig bho ‘n taobh-chuil
Brogan na h-Oighe ga d’ ghiulan gu luath
Sian nan Tri ann an Aon ort
Bho mhullach do chinn gu bonn do shail
Agus sian paidir nan seachd paidir
Dol tuaitheal is deiseal deiseal is tuaitheal
Gu d’ ghleidheadh bho d’ ohul
Bho luaidhe ‘s bho chlaidheamh
Bho lot ‘s bho mharbhadh
Gu uair a’s am do bhais.”
That one I wasn’t so sure about. Widdershins charms had their own uses, and few of them benign. Ma seldom did those. I didn’t like the ending of it at all.
“The helmet of salvation about your head
The ring of the Covenant about your neck
The priest’s breastplate about your breast
If it be rout on the rear
The shoes of the Virgin to take you swiftly away
Charm of the Three in One on you
From crown of head to sole of foot
And the charm of the Pater of the Seven Paters
A-going anti-sunwise and sunwise, sunwise and anti-sunwise
To protect you from behind
From lead and from sword
From wound and from slaying
’Til the hour and time of your death.”
Ma kissed me and said, “Off withee. There’s work to be a-doing. And sleep to be taking before your battle.” She winked. “Give your lady a good loving too. She’ll need it for the days to come.”
“Ma!” She had never been so frank about my love life before. Then again, she’d never told me she knew all my children before.
“Oh hush. Yer fifty years old, Bran McKay, with sixty-five children, so don’t you be squalling like an infant at the thought of loving. Get ye gone, lad, and all my best blessings go with you.”
As I let the fetch fade away, she added, “And don’t be pestering your sister. They wrangled a nasty pooka last night. She’ll be recovering to lend you what she can tonight.” Her last words were like the whispers of the wind in the heather. “I love you, son.”
I held D.J. a bit closer and drifted back to sleep, secure in the love of my lady and the blessings of my mother.
* * * * *
We woke late, the night’s celebration and early morning visitors having taken their toll. D.J. had nothing in the office for breakfast, as usual. I insisted we stick to the routine we had developed, treating this day like any other.
We went to breakfast at the café down the street, eating outdoors in the unseasonably cool weather. We both drank a great deal of tea and only nibbled the food. We’d want lunch after the workout, I was sure.
Today, I took her down by the river for a walk. Two miles down and back the river walk was, and I set a steady pace. It was fast, but we could talk. She didn’t say much, just kept hold of my arm.
I considered what had been in my heart for a day or two, but knew it wasn’t the right time. I’d known her a week, less than, actually, and although the mana said she was right and my heart said she was right, my head knew proposing would be all wrong. I decided to wait until after I defeated my demon. Then I would be retired and able to stay in one place. I could give her a real life, instead of a combat mage husband who was always on the move and never home.
After some time shooting, her with a gun and me just with fire, we went for lunch. She took me to a deli place that had over a hundred and fifty kinds of beer on the menu. I had a bottle of oatmeal stout, then graced my throat with a drafted pint of the black stuff, freshly drawn. Guinness tasted here like it did back home and I made a note to remember the place.
Admire drank a single bottle of something called Dixie Blackened Voodoo. I tasted it and ordered one for me too. I needed to go easy. Too much and I’d sleep until time to go to work, and I had so much more than that planned. I’d try the Ghost River next time.
My girl got up and came back with one more pint, a proper pint, of something blacker than the Guinness. “Try this.” I didn’t like the smirk she was wearing.
It was stout and stark and I could taste every note in it. Amazing stuff for an ale. “Damn good. What is it?”
“Arrogant Bastard. I thought it suited you.”
I took another drink. “Aye, made for me.” I offered her the pint, and she sipped it, just tasting. It was good and thick. I felt almost too mellow after I finished it.
“Let’s take you home so I can take shameless advantage of your intoxicated state.” She stood up and offered me a hand. I pulled myself to my feet and made it to the car.
“I like that plan. How shameless and brazen are you, my love? And the advantage is all yours.” I settled in the passenger seat and let her take me home. I could stop being pished anytime I wanted, but right now, I felt pure dead perfect.
Memphis rolled by and her little car felt smooth as glass. I smiled at my pretty lady driving me around and she gave me back a smile. The night before lingered in my mind. The mana still wasn’t riding us like it had and I wondered if she’d be up for a tumble or freeze on me again.
She reached over and held my hand all the way home like we were kids. That settled it. I lived through tonight, I was taking her home to Ma and the family. She’d never have to worry about making rent or finding floaters again.
We walked upstairs and she locked the door. I sat down on the bed and found that stretching out sounded like a really good idea too. She didn’t move from where she stood with her back to the door.
“Bran, I don’t know if I can do this. The mana’s not pushing me.”
“Do ye want to?” I asked. She smiled.
“Your accent gets thicker when you drink. It’s still sexy. And you’re incredibly sexy. The problem is, I’m not sexy.”
I held up an arm and gestured. She walked to the bed like she’d been condemned to it. “Do you want me, lass?” I asked. “Was it ever you wanting or just the mana shoving us together?”
She sat down on the edge and let me wrap an arm around her waist. “I don’t know. That’s what’s killing me!” She looked at me, her face as closed as it had been that first day. I wanted to make it open up into the woman I’d seen these last few days.
She looked down at my arm like she’d never seen it around her waist before. Then she smiled and lay down beside me. “Last night, part of me wanted you. Part of me said no. And I couldn’t get the fight stopped long enough to do anything. But I liked you holding me.”
“That’s a start. The woman I met a week ago would have shot anyone that tried for a wee cuddle.” She laid her head on my shoulder.
“I don’t know. Shouldn’t I want you? Or at least want to make you happy if I love you?”
“Admire, I love you, you know that. Don’t force yourself. I never want that from you.” I stroked her hair, twirling the ponytail around my finger.
She lay in my arms for a minute and I could hear her breathing deeply. I’d never met a woman who was as scent-oriented. I wondered if there was a lycanthropic ancestor who hadn’t bred true back in her line somewhere.
Then soft, hesitant lips moved on my throat. I held still and let her. She really was still a virgin in a lot of ways. Having sex because she wanted it, instead of being driven to it by magic, was a new experience for her. The mana had been riding us hard for the last week, a new thing for both of us. I wanted it to be good for her, whether the mana had her in its grip or not.
“It’s all right, precious,” I whisper
ed. “Anything you want.”
The kisses were becoming firmer, as if she remembered she liked this. It almost felt like she was tasting me. Her hand reached over and undid the box latches on my vest and she let her fingers slide over my chest. It seemed like she was remembering how to love me. I felt a soft, wet tongue along my neck and her teeth gentle on my earlobe.
She licked my ear and whispered, “Bran, could we just skip to it? I want you, but I need you to take over before I lose my nerve.”
I smiled. “Aye, love.” I rolled onto my side and kissed her mouth, taking it as deep as I could, tasting her, and holding her very close.
Her tongue moved with mine, a far cry from the first time I’d tried and she’d bit me over the miles. Tiny sounds escaped her and her body pressed ever closer.
“Yes, please, yes,” she said when I let her up. I turned her onto her back and knelt over her to open her shirt. She shrugged out of her bra and let me see her pretty titties.
I stroked them appreciatively and the little nipples stood right up to my touch. She was breathing deeper with that, looking excited. I stripped away her jeans and shrugged out of my own vest and kilt.
The beer had all left me, so it was to be just us, her and me, with nothing between or inspiring it. I propped above her on my elbows and kissed her more.
“I do love you,” she whispered.
I’d wondered last night if I’d hear those words from her again. Now they sparkled in my mind, clear as sunlight on the loch in summer. I kissed her for them and ran my fingers between her legs.
She was wet and nearly ready, so I slipped one in to help her along the way. Her arms went around my neck and she kissed me for that.
“We’re fair ready, aye?”
She nodded and pulled me in for yet more kisses. She wouldn’t be letting go of my mouth any time soon, so I worked with one hand and got myself ready. She got me stiff just being around her, and this was near to torture, waiting until she could take me.
I pushed in, careful, but needing her. She wrapped her legs around my hips and never let go of my lips. I thrust, slow and deep, wanting her to feel it, but not hurt.
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