With a watery smile, she said, “Yes, well, that’s what we do, isn’t it? Us annoying little humans? We turn up, throw a spanner in the works, and wait for someone more skilled to come and fix it for us.”
Markus shook his head and grinned. “As has been my experience.”
He placed a hand on the small of her back and led her from the room. “We should check on the progress being made elsewhere.”
This is it. He’s preparing for war. Not even a war. A siege. We must sort this sooner rather than later.
By six o’clock, the whole Druid community had been relocated and settled in at Houska. The ballroom had been set up as a dining room, tables and benches set row upon row in the huge room. The fire burned brightly, tables laden with food lined the walls, ready for the many people to help themselves. The grounds were littered with large circular tents large enough to house whole families, and the Druids appeared to be comfortable.
The council gathered in Markus’ study. Dursek had laid out food and drinks for them so they could eat together before exchanging information on their activities. Not having had the chance to speak with him, Charlotte pushed her thoughts to Dane as they ate in silence.
Are you okay, Dane?
I will be, thanks. Better now I know they’re all safe.
It’ll be over soon. She won’t wait long now the people have been moved.
No. I know. I just hope we can get Beltane out of the way first.
Would she attack on such an important day?
Nothing is sacred to her.
Try to relax a bit. Your people are safe. We have a celebration the day after tomorrow; we’ll handle the rest after that.
He glanced up and offered her a small smile. The sadness in his eyes made her chest tighten, wishing there were something she could say or do to help him.
“I must say, you’ve all done amazingly well,” Taran said, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had settled over the room.
“Indeed they have,” Markus agreed, slightly more cheerful than he had been earlier that day. “Klara, how are you?”
Klara set down her glass and said quietly, “I will be fine. The families have been brought here to be tended and prepared for burial tomorrow evening. I have arranged the priest and the site is being prepared.”
“Thank you,” he said earnestly. “And thank your sister for me.”
Izak cleared his throat. “Toyah would have come for dinner, but didn’t want to add to the numbers with the children.”
“I am grateful for her time today, Izak. I know she is a very busy woman. You’re blessed, both of you, to have her.”
Izak gave an appreciative nod and looked to Klara with a small smile.
“You’re in-laws?” Charlotte blurted in surprise.
Klara laughed, eyeing her brother-in-law. “For my sins, yes. He married my sister and I’m stuck with him both at home and at work.”
“She loves me really.” Izak smirked and continued eating his meal.
“Now we must decide on how to approach our inevitable meeting with Nyja. Lukas, are the wyverns tipped?”
“Yes, Father. Four bulls and Vlasta. She is on sentry duty after dark.”
He nodded then turned to Taran. “Taran, how many Druids are staying within the palace at any given time?”
“Fifty,” he said. “There are two hundred guards ready at short notice. Movement will be slow, given the necessary security measures, but with the wyverns and your forces, there should be time enough.”
“Thank you,” Markus said with a small smile. “Charlotte, Callan,” he said, turning their way. “Would it be acceptable to have Zander and Enya at the portal to maintain the wards? There will be an evacuation procedure in place to have them removed immediately to the location of your choosing, should the defences be breeched.”
She looked at Callan and pushed a thought.
It’s extra defence. We can’t afford for her to reach the portal. Get them out to the cabin?
If you’re sure. If you don’t want them here, they stay at the palace.
Of course I’m not sure, Callan! I’m terrified. But we have to give ourselves the best chance.
She shifted slightly in her seat, realising they were all looking her way. “They leave at the first sign of trouble, Markus. They’re to be taken to our cabin in Canada and moved to the palace from there.”
Markus nodded. “Should the alarm sound, you’re to meet in the central courtyard. You’ll have cover, a wyvern on the roof acting as sentry, and you can plan from there. Taran, may I suggest a meeting with your people?”
Charlotte cringed as Taran agreed. “Yes, I shall schedule a meeting for Tuesday morning. Will you attend, or only Dane?”
Markus considered Charlotte for a moment. “Both. Seat Charlotte between the two of us; Dane with the princes. I intend to send a message for there to be no mistaking her importance here.”
Taran chuckled. “Indeed. Arthur will be thrilled to see you.” Draining his glass, he looked around the room and said, “I have matters that require my attention. Until Sunday evening.” He inclined his head and left.
The meeting dragged on for another half an hour before Charlotte pushed her wish to leave to Callan. He made their excuses and took her home. The brutal reality of what they faced had a knot of anxiety forming in her stomach, and discussing the inevitable meeting with Nyja and her forces was making her feel nauseous.
After a quiet evening with the children, she went for a long, hot bath.
“Tomorrow can we just stay here?” she asked, climbing into bed.
“Of course. What’s wrong?”
“I’ve had enough of discussing battle plans and politics,” she said, pulling the duvet over her head. From beneath, she sighed and mumbled, “I don’t want to go to that meeting on Tuesday, and I don’t want there to be a battle of any sort. I’ve got no control over any of this, Callan, and it’s making me feel ill.”
“I’m sorry,” he murmured, pulling her into his arms. “I can’t stop any of this from happening, but we can walk away. If you want to leave, say it. We’ll go. I won’t have you feeling trapped by it, Charlotte.”
With tears welling in her eyes, she whispered, “No. My mess. I can’t back out now. I just don’t want you to be hurt. If any of you are hurt, it’s my fault and I can’t live with it.”
He held her as she cried, fitful sleep eventually taking her over.
Twenty-Five
“Happy Anniversary,” he mumbled against her lips.
“Happy Anniversary.” She stretched beneath him, his quiet sound of appreciation making her smirk as he kissed her again. “It isn’t really, though, is it?”
“I’m counting it,” he said as the bedroom door flew open and a blur of copper hair zipped across the room.
“Happy Beltane!” Enya gushed, barrelling onto the bed. “Is it time for the party yet?”
Callan laughed at her excitement. “Not until it gets dark! You’re far too early.”
“Oh,” Zander moaned with a disappointed frown. “What’s for breakfast?”
“He asked you,” Charlotte sang at Callan, turning over and tugging the duvet over her shoulder.
Nudging her with a knee, he reluctantly left the bed. “And what would you like for breakfast mo Prionnsa?”
“Pancakes!” he cheered, leaping down and dashing down the stairs with Enya giggling behind.
“One up, all up,” Callan growled, whipping the duvet away and tossing it to the floor.
“Don’t…” Charlotte complained as it rose into the air and settled back on the bed.
Callan shook his head and pulled on a t-shirt. She heard him mumble something about cheating as he followed the children downstairs.
Following a few minutes later, she joined them all in the kitchen. While Callan cooked, she set places at the island and made tea.
“Didn’t think you were getting up,” he said, moving a plate piled with pancakes to the island. Zander and Enya took their
share and covered them with syrup before Charlotte could control the quantity.
“Someone let the warm out of the bed. It’s not the same,” she grumbled, piling strawberries onto her plate. “Are you sure there’s nowhere for us to be today?”
Callan chuckled, sitting beside her, and shrugged. “Not sure. Ma and Alayna will be busy helping the kitchen staff cater for this evening. Dad will be drafting letters to all and sundry, and Dagda is probably rushing through work to sneak down to see Ferne. We could just hang around here until later. It’ll be a late night, so a quiet day won’t hurt.”
“Sounds good. I’ll start with a long, hot bath,” she said and grinned, flashing her eyebrows at Enya.
“Oh, well, we’ll just wait down here. Take your time,” Callan said, his voice oozing sarcasm. Enya giggled at their exchange as Charlotte stuffed a pancake into her mouth and ran up the stairs.
They spent the day at home, waiting for nightfall.
Leading the procession with the rest of the family, Charlotte marvelled at the crowd. The heavy beat of drums vibrated through her whole body, growing louder, more insistent as they approached a colossal stack of wood. The fire had been skilfully built into a conical shape, the outermost planks at least ten feet long, towering over the faeries and Druids gathered on the lawns. The children gazed around in awe as they watched the people dance to the drum beat from up on Taran and Dagda’s shoulders. Callan’s arm was tight around Charlotte’s waist as they followed.
Taran stopped before a low stone altar laid at the base of the fire. Charlotte noticed several carefully placed items. A goblet, what appeared to be a horn, a posy of spring flowers, and a burning candle, all arranged on a blanket of leaves. Lowering Zander to the ground, Taran surveyed the crowd that moved around him, holding Caoimhe close at his side. The family arranged themselves around the king, the children taking Charlotte’s hands as Callan stepped forward. The drum beat stopped, an expectant silence falling over the waiting masses.
Three Druids stepped from the crowd, holding flaming torches. Their exposed torsos, arms, and backs were decorated with blue symbols that Charlotte recognised as the one she bore on her wrist. They wore nothing but leather trousers sat low on their hips, and huge antlers on their heads. Positioning themselves around the fire, they held their torches aloft and waited.
Charlotte was captivated as Callan spoke, his voice loud and clear, carrying through the still, night air.
“Bless, O threefold true and bountiful,
Myself, my spouse, my children.
Bless everything within my dwelling and in my possession,
Bless the kine and crops, the flocks and corn,
From Samhain Eve to Beltane Eve,
With goodly progress and gentle blessing,
From sea to sea, and every river mouth,
From wave to wave, and base of waterfall.
Be the Maiden, Mother, and Crone,
Taking possession of all to me belonging.
Be the Horned God, the Wild Spirit of the Forest,
Protecting me in truth and honour.
Satisfy my soul and shield my loved ones,
Blessing everything and every one,
All my land and my surroundings.
Great gods who create and bring life to all,
I ask for your blessings on this day of fire.”
In a burst of brilliant orange and red, Callan’s flames shot into the sky. The crowd, Charlotte and the children included, watched their ascent with awe. The flames burst, scattering into hundreds of flickering embers that floated slowly down onto the bonfire. As the first landed, a single drum beat shattered the silence. As more landed, the bonfire began to smoke, then flames could be seen in the heart of the structure. Drum beats pounded into the still night, and when they’d gathered a steady tempo, the Druids stepped forward, lowering their torches to the base of the fire. Callan stepped back, joining the family as three women in white, flowing gowns approached the Druids as they turned their backs to the fire. The flames rose, the drums pounded, and a fiddle began to play. The three women were swept away by their men, their dresses flickering in the growing light of the fire as the fabric flowed around their legs. Taran and Caoimhe stepped forward, and as he led her to join the dance, a cheer went up from the crowd. The people around them broke away, joining the dancing couples as they whirled and skipped around the inferno that had taken hold of the timber. Dagda led the children away, she assumed in search of food, and Callan led her into the dancing masses.
They found the children with Taran and Caoimhe, dancing in a private marquee near the refreshment tents. Enya was twirling with Taran, her floral dress flaring from her hips. Zander was deep in conversation with Caoimhe, laughing and grinning.
“You kept the dress, I noticed,” Callan whispered in her ear as he handed her a glass of wine.
She snorted. “No, that wouldn’t fit me now! I found a photo and Alayna had this made.”
His eyes twinkled in the glow of the torches that lit the marquee as he took her in. “You look beautiful.”
Smiling, she turned away to see Markus and Dane in the doorway. Dane’s brows rose when he saw her. “You look lovely,” he said, kissing her cheek.
Markus greeted her much the same way and turned to Callan. “That was very well done, Callan. I rarely pay much attention to the rite, but you performed it perfectly.”
Charlotte looked at him, confusion knotting her brow. “Rite? You’re a priest now?”
“No,” he laughed. “A priestess performed the rite proper before we arrived. I repeated it for the lighting of the fire. My part in the ritual is more symbolic.”
“And the altar? I get the Druids and the women are the god and goddess, but what about the items?”
Markus explained, “Combined, the items draw the power of the goddess. Flowers to symbolise the new life around us, the candle to symbolise light returning to the world after winter, and the horn and cup symbolise male and female fertility.” With a smirk, he shrugged and said, “And that particular magic you have first-hand experience of.”
Colour rose in her cheeks as Callan choked on his drink.
“That’s enough, Mark,” Taran chuckled from behind her.
Caoimhe touched Markus on the shoulder and cooed, “Pay him no heed, Charlotte. He’s a terrible tease.” He cocked a brow and Caoimhe offered her hand.
Markus dutifully bowed, flashed his brows at Charlotte, and led Caoimhe from the tent to join the dancing.
“Daddy, can we dance?” Enya asked, tugging on his shirt. He lifted her, winked at Charlotte, and followed Caoimhe and Markus.
Charlotte and Dane joined Zander at a table. “Are you having fun, baby?”
“Yeah…no. It’s a bit boring,” he said, looking utterly miserable. “I don’t like dancing.”
Charlotte frowned, not sure what to suggest, when Dagda joined them. “Dagda, any suggestions as to what Zander can do to pass the time? He’s bored.”
“Nope. Short of watching those silly videos on someone’s phone, there’s nothing to do here but drink and dance,” he grumbled, swirling whisky in a glass.
Dane produced a phone from his pocket and handed it to a very grateful looking Zander.
“Just go, Dagda. You showed your face for the rite. There’s nothing to hang around here for, is there?”
Taran called over from the far side of the tent. “Go on! If Ma comes looking, I’ll tell her you’re dancing.”
With a beaming smile, he vanished and Charlotte sighed. “Honestly. It’s like handling a couple of love struck teens.”
“It won’t last long,” Dane laughed. “Once they’ve settled into some sort of routine, they’ll be fine.”
“Hope not. I can’t take many more months of it,” she grumbled. “Where’s Alayna?”
“Oh, somewhere,” he said carelessly, waving a hand. “You know what she’s like at these things. Ever the social butterfly. I don’t like how her friends look at me: half-terrified, half-wan
ton, so I leave them to it. Another?” He gestured to her empty glass.
“Please,” she smiled. Turning to Zander, she watched him engrossed in whatever he was doing on Dane’s phone and smiled.
A year ago, he’d have hidden from the drums.
However this ends for me, it’s been the making of him and Enya.
Dane interrupted her thoughts with a fresh glass of wine. She looked up to thank him to find him scowling.
“What? What’s happened?”
“You and those negative thoughts. Again,” he growled. “You’re going to be fine.”
“Stop listening!” she snapped.
“Stop letting me!”
She smirked at his annoyance as Callan returned.
“Stop falling out,” Callan chided and laughed, sitting Enya in a chair opposite with a drink. “I don’t want four children. I’m happy with two! Alayna was looking for you, Dane. I think she’s tired of her frilly friends.”
“I’ll seek her out, thanks. You,” he said, jabbing a finger her way. “Behave.”
“What was that about?” he asked, leaning over her shoulder.
“Nothing. He was being nosy and didn’t like what he heard. Are you going to ask me to dance, or are you saving yourself for every other woman here?”
Amused and smiling, he held out a hand and led her from the tent.
The fire had burned down to less than a quarter of its original height. The drums had quieted, leaving only the flute and fiddle to continue the merry music. The children had fallen asleep and Taran and Caoimhe offered to take them home. “You two stay out. We’ll see you in the morning. Happy Anniversary.”
“Thank you, Caoimhe,” Charlotte smiled as Callan took her hand.
They walked the grounds, not straying far from the firelight, each lost in their own thoughts. The sky had begun to brighten to the east, a very faint, pink hue spreading across the horizon.
Riftkeepers: Reckoning Page 21
