To Ride A Púca

by Heather McCorkle

  “We’ll be careful. There will be warriors beside us,” he told Neala.

  With a shaking hand he reached out and cupped her face. Before she could respond he spun and jogged back to the cart. He climbed aboard, took up the reins, and slapped them across the horses’ rumps, propelling them into a trot. A massive weight settled on Neala’s chest as she watched the cart pull away into the darkness. She couldn’t help but remember the time her brother rode off to battle and how he had never come back.

  14

  The two of them ran, parting the crowd by projecting their energy out like a battering ram that shoved everyone aside. People were too distracted to take much notice of the strange young women who pushed them without a touch. Having Dubh high-stepping alongside them didn’t hurt either. In this manner it took no time at all to get through the chaos and reach the little clearing beyond the forest. The lads, Ciara, and Kyla were still waiting, pacing and deep in a heated discussion.

  Before they cleared the trees Bren’s eyes shot to her, filling with relief. He dashed to her side and surprised her by pulling her into a tight embrace. Dubh tossed his head in irritation but didn’t make a move toward Bren.

  “I was so afraid yer parents wouldn’t let ye out of their sight,” he said against her hair.

  Blinking back tears, Neala pulled away and shook her head. “They’re going to help those fleeing Uí Faelain. They didn’t want me with them.”

  Bren touched her face. “Good, because I want ye with me,” he whispered.

  The words resonated all the way to the core of her power, stirring it. He wanted her with him. She had dreamt of it, but she had never imagined it could be true. Remembering his roving hands, part of her couldn’t help but wonder why. The vulnerable look in his eyes made her think she wasn’t being fair and broke through the shield she had built around her heart.

  “I want to be with ye too,” she said, wanting to mean it.

  He leaned forward until his forehead rested against hers. His breath smelled like sweet wine, making her wonder what his lips would taste like.

  “Shouldn’t we do somethin’?” Ciara’s shrill voice sliced through the moment.

  “We do need to see how bad it is,” Liam’s voice rang through the night like a bell.

  Neala and Bren pulled back at the same time. A chill passed through Neala when she realized what Liam had said. Checking the village out was exactly what she wanted to do, but her parents would have a fit if they knew.

  “Sounds dangerous. I’m in,” Cian said.

  Shaking her head, Kyla smacked him in the arm. “I suppose I have to go to watch yer arse,” she grumbled.

  A crooked smile pulled up one corner of his lips and he winked at her. “Ye enjoy the view and ye know it.”

  Despite the situation Neala had to fight the urge to laugh. Or maybe it was because of the situation. She couldn’t deny that she wanted to be in the thick of things, defending her people and her land. The thought of going there made her blood pump and was making her kind of giddy.

  “All right. But we observe only and keep our distance for now,” Irial said as she gave Liam a hard look.

  He nodded and took her hand as he said, “for now.”

  Neala felt Bren’s gaze upon her. From the feel of his power she could tell he was worried. It was strange, like she could feel his emotions through his power. She hadn’t experienced anything like it before. The firelight revealed concern in the depths of his eyes. She smiled and let the joy of finally belonging fill her face.

  “I want to go,” she told him. The pull to be with not only him, but even more so, the Order, was so intense she didn’t want to fight it.

  His brow furrowed deep and he chewed on his bottom lip. “Only to look, right?” he asked Liam.

  “For now,” Liam said.

  Bren nodded and put an arm around Neala. “Then we’re in,” he said.

  “Excellent. Let’s get our horses,” Liam said.

  They went back into the chaos of the disintegrating festivities. Mounted on Dubh, Neala and Bren led the way, clearing a path with ease. The air of celebration had turned to one of fear and near panic.

  The horses were in the network of corrals for livestock. The animals that remained were pacing, pawing, and bellowing.

  Soon they were all mounted and riding into the forest. Liam and Irial led them with the assured air of those who were used to riding under the cover of darkness. There wasn’t a bad rider among them which made for quick, easy travel. In no time at all they passed from the woods Neala knew and into O’Donovan territory. They rode for over a candlemark, alternating between cantering and trotting. At the edge of the forest that marked the end of the O’Donovan clan’s territory they stopped. The forest gave way to rolling hills through which the road to Dublin wound. All Neala could see were moonlit fields of grass and the dark hills in the distance.

  “We have to get closer,” Liam said in a hushed tone. “We’ll ride to the Wicklow Mountains. We should be able to see from there.”

  Pacing themselves so their horses didn’t get worn out, they made their way to the mountains. The cloud-choked sky made it chilly but provided a thick darkness that was well worth it. Neala had to use her ability to see the energy in living things to help guide her. It made the landscape a bright layout of plants that glowed in various colors.

  It took less than a candlemark to ride to the hills that overlooked the village. Before they reached the tree-line Neala realized the energy of the place was all wrong. It was filled with holes that looked like dead spots. Such a thing wasn’t possible with as much as it rained here. Trees choked these hills, Neala knew, she had seen it many times on their way to Dublin.

  “No, it can’t be,” Kyla murmured.

  “Shh!” Irial whispered to her.

  Dubh stopped, snorted, and shook his head as if he didn’t want to continue forward. Even when the other horses went on without him he didn’t move. His reaction, combined with the odd look of the forest, gave Neala a chill she couldn’t shake. She didn’t blame him. She didn’t want to go in there either.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Bren whispered against her ear.

  Not even his nearness could shake her feeling of unease.

  “Something is wrong with the forest. Look with yer druid eyes,” she whispered back.

  He went very still and tension sang through his power. “Ye’re right,” he whispered.

  The others started to disappear into the trees, leaving Neala feeling even more anxious. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be out here alone so much as she didn’t want them in there without her. A few soothing words and pats on the neck finally got Dubh to step into the forest after them.

  The sweet scent of freshly cut pine and oak was so thick upon the air it almost made Neala gag. The holes she had seen in the energy of the forest were indeed dead spots, they were missing trees. Stumps poked up everywhere amidst branches that had been hacked off and discarded. Great scars cut across the forest floor where massive trees had been dragged away. The energy of the forest was weak. Neala felt its pain like a wound upon her heart that left it gaping and bleeding.

  The further in they went, the worse it became. There were spots where so many trees had been cut down that Neala could see the dark sky overhead. Many of the slaughtered trees left behind stumps so big that Dubh could have stepped up onto them with all fours. The trees had been hundreds of years old.

  A sorrow so heavy she feared it would never lift settled over Neala. The urge to collapse was almost overwhelming. All that kept her on Dubh’s back was Bren’s strong arms.

  “How could anyone do this?” Kyla whispered.

  “They took far more trees than even an entire village would need to build their homes,” Cian said.

  Kyla and Cian were both slumped together on the same horse, looking as if it was all they could do to stay on its back. Irial held a finger to her lips and no one said another word. The only sound that broke the deathly still night was a
quiet sob now and then.

  Liam urged his horse into a walk and beckoned for them to follow. Tears blurred Neala’s vision and left hot tracks down her cheeks, forcing her to trust Dubh to lead the way.

  Just when she thought the horror couldn’t get any worse, they came across the first body. A man lay face down on the forest floor with an arrow jutting out of his back. The darkness made it hard to see much, but it was enough to send a chill through Neala. It smelled so much worse than she had imagined was possible. The scent of decay she had expected. What made her gag was the sweet smell mixed with the putrid one. It was not a pleasant combination. She turned her head away and covered her mouth.

  The further they rode, the more bodies they encountered. It quickly became obvious that people had been slain while trying to flee into the forest. From the looks of it there weren’t many that had gotten away. Neala lost count of all the bodies. Most had been taken down by arrows, but a few at the edge of the forest had been killed with swords and battle axes.

  At Liam’s signal they stopped under the cover of the last trees at the edge of the forest. Smoke marred the sky in a filthy smear and obscured much of the village below. What Neala could see made her wish the smoke was worse. Buildings and homes lay crumbled and smoking upon the ground. She didn’t want to see more, but she had to. Her hands shook so bad it took several tries to dig the druid’s spyglass out of her pouch. Bodies lay everywhere, rigid in their last throws of life. There were so many of them it was hard to imagine anyone surviving. She lowered the glass as tears blurred her vision.

  As one, Liam and Irial turned their horses and started back into the forest. Neala and the others followed without a word. The farther into the forest they rode the worse Neala felt. She wanted to run so badly that it was all she could do to hold herself back from releasing Dubh into a gallop. Fear had her shoulders bound so tightly they hurt. Without Bren behind her, holding her tight, she was sure she would have fled a long time ago. She wanted to be brave and definitely wanted to fight, but this was too much. It wasn’t the sight of the battleground or even the dead bodies that threatened to push her over the edge, it was the trees.

  Danes had been coming to the island and killing her people for generations but as far as she knew this was the first time they had desecrated the land. This made them more unpredictable than ever and made Neala wonder about their motives. Was it possible they knew druids were connected to the land and were trying to use it against them? Most people believed the druids had been wiped out, a myth they supported to protect themselves. Did this mean the Danes knew they weren’t?

  They cleared the forest and sped up to a trot. Dubh was a bundle of nerves beneath her and was high-stepping like one of the fancy horses the wealthy people paraded around on. She didn’t blame him. Her own eyes kept going to the distant hills and her heart was filled with a longing to be in them. But she wasn’t about to disrespect Liam and Irial by outpacing them.

  At the top of the next hill they sped up to a canter, but it still wasn’t enough for her. Dubh wanted to run like a wild thing. It wasn’t easy holding him back. Irial dropped back alongside her. A soothing feeling poured over Neala, taking some of the urgency with it and she felt it extend out to Dubh as well. The stallion’s bunched-up muscles relaxed and his gait smoothed and slowed.

  She mouthed the words, “thank ye,” to Irial who smiled and nodded.

  Soon the shelter of the O’Donovan forest eased the horrible feeling of being exposed but it also forced them to slow down a bit more. The trees here were thick and lush, a stark contrast to the violated forest they had come from. They slowed to a walk when Liam led them to the river and plunged into it. Cool water splashed up onto her legs, helping Neala focus and clearing her thoughts.

  It wasn’t long before they reached the outskirts of Bren’s village. Not long enough. Only a few candlemarks of time separated them from the horror they had witnessed. The Danes could be upon them in no time if they wanted to be.

  They paused on the road.

  We have to do somethin’,” Kyla whispered, her voice raspy from crying.

  “Tá, fight,” Cian said.

  Kyla shot Cian a fierce, protective look that was filled with fear. It reminded Neala that the two were not warriors.

  “Well, ye know what I mean,” Cian mumbled.

  “I agree. We need to spread the word among the other druids. We have to be prepared,” Liam said.

  “But druids haven’t been used in battle for over a hundred years. The others may not want our help,” Bren said.

  His protest made Neala stiffen. Didn’t he want to fight?

  With a sniffle, Irial straightened, projecting an aura of confidence and strength. Seeing it sent a thrill through Neala. Finally, she had found others who were ready to fight.

  “They won’t have a choice. This may be the last chance our people have at keepin’ our homeland. Spread the word, we meet tomorrow night,” Irial said.

  Kyla gave Irial a nod and urged her and Cian’s horse into a brisk trot.

  Did they want her at the meeting? Neala was afraid to ask. Could she handle it if the answer was no? She wasn’t sure.

  “See you tomorrow Neala. Be safe,” Kyla called back.

  Relief pulled a long breath from her. Cian waved and winked as they rode by. The fact that he could be so bold while hanging onto Kyla was almost enough to make Neala smile. A charmer he absolutely was not. Out of the corner of her eye Neala saw Ciara turn her nose up and kick her horse. The gray mare let out a squeal and reared slightly before bolting after Kyla and Cian’s horse. A flash of dark red hair drew Neala’s gaze to her right. Irial brought her horse beside Dubh and took hold of Neala’s hand. A powerful feeling of belonging flowed from Irial’s into her. Her throat tightened and her eyes burned, but in a good way.

  “Ye’re one of us now. We’ll stick together through this no matter what happens,” she said.

  Neala wanted to answer but she couldn’t, words were beyond her at that moment. Not trusting her voice, she nodded. Irial smiled and while it was sincere, it wasn’t able to remove the sadness from her eyes.

  “I’m sorry ye had to join us at a time like this,” she said.

  Neala shook her head and swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’m not.”

  A fierce pride and determination eclipsed the sorrow in Irial’s eyes. It made her look almost regal and utterly inspiring.

  “I’m truly happy ye’re part of our Order,” she said.

  “So am I,” Neala managed in a voice that sounded much stronger than she felt.

  Irial nodded, spun her horse around, and took off at a canter. After casting them a wistful smile, Liam urged his horse forward and fell in step alongside her. Something tugged at Neala to follow but she resisted and turned Dubh to the forest instead. She had to go home. There were chores to do and animals to feed. The problem was, she was scared to go alone but she wasn’t about to admit that to Bren. She was supposed to be a warrior druid. Fear should have been beyond her.

  “Do ye want me to drop ye off at your home?” she asked.

  His arms tightened around her. “No way. I’m not leavin’ ye alone. But I would like to stop and take care of a few things.”

  “But yer ma,” Neala protested. She didn’t want to leave him behind but she wasn’t about to let her own fear put Dierdre in danger.

  “She went to help, same as yer parents. She won’t be back for a few days,” he said.

  Of course. Dierdre was a healer druid. She would have felt compelled to go where she was needed. Neala should have known. Her heart drummed faster as she realized what this meant. He was coming home with her.

  15

  It wasn’t easy to be quiet while scrambling eggs but Neala did her best to try. Bren was still asleep on the floor in front of the fireplace and she didn’t want to wake him. After a long night of trying to convince him of why she should fight alongside him, she couldn’t blame him for wanting to sleep in.

  Convincing hi
m to stay out here instead of in her room with her hadn’t been easy. But at the end of the night, despite his obvious desire to be with her, he had acted like a gentleman. The worst part was, she had been too nervous to even kiss him.

  “That smells great. Anythin’ I can do to help?” his voice sounded right behind her, making her jump. He laughed and muttered an apology that did not sound sincere.

  “Tá, not scare the life out of me,” she said as she slapped him on the arm with a towel.

  Laughing, he took a step back and held his hands up in surrender.

  “There isn’t much to do except wait for everything to get done,” she said.

  “Do ye mind if I get me mornin’ contemplation in then?”

  His eyes drew her in until she realized she was staring. “Um, no. I mean, tá, go ahead,” she said as she returned her focus to the eggs.

  “I’ll be back in a flash,” he said as he dashed for the door, pausing to scoop his sword off the bench.

  Neala opened the shutters of the window over the sink so she could watch him. The eggs were finished by the time he appeared in the garden outside the window. Knowing he couldn’t see her, she watched shamelessly as he started going through the slow, deliberate movements of a form. His sword cut smooth arcs through the cool morning air, leaving traces of energy behind. She could have watched him all day but he didn’t take long. The shredded potatoes she was frying were just starting to burn when he came inside.

  Cursing the ease with which he distracted her, she moved the pan close to the window so the smoke would be drawn out. Thankfully most of the potatoes were salvageable.

  One eyebrow went up into his hair and a smile pulled at his lips. “Perhaps I should have stayed to help.”

  “Very funny,” she said as she threw the towel at him.

  Amidst much laughing and teasing, they managed to fill their plates and make their way to the kitchen table. The night’s argument and tension seemed to be forgiven. Silence fell as they ate, giving Neala time to figure out how she was going to ask what she wanted to ask.