Aodhan looked at Eion’s disapproving expression on his face. “I know that the trackers can follow. I was in a hurry.”
“You did not think. You could have turned into a mist wraith yourself and this would have been all for nothing.” Aodhan stood looking down as Eion continued on. “You have taken a huge risk testing your powers here. I saw what using our power has done to Faolan after he spun the web around me. The rumors about what happened to Badb’s sisters are true. Faolan was nothing but a shadow and the only power he had was the use of his mind.”
Eion flipped his Lapisphere up in the air and caught it. He smacked Aodhan on the back and smiled at him to ease the tension in the air.
Aodhan raised his head and looked up at Eion. “Apologies.”
“Obviously there was no harm done. Your recklessness proved that we can translocate in this realm. I am pleased your father found my sphere. What a huge mistake that was leaving it behind. How long has the war been going on?”
“About a year now. There have been only skirmishes in the past year. Liam’s army has now pushed its way to the Duir plain. That is where the final battle will be and will begin after the Day of Rest if Liam does not agree to peace.” Aodhan said.
“What took so long for you to come through?” Eion asked
“First of all we had to wait for the Harvest moon. Also, father did not trust anyone else to go through the portal to find you and the descendant. I had to crunch in years of what you had taught him into days. I memorized how to open the portal but closing it . . . not so much. Father barely made the journey to the cave. I should have tried to translocate us there.”
“Why didn’t you?” Kedryn asked
Aodhan shrugged “I have never tried it with a person before.”
Eion shifted and rubbed his beard. “If the Firbolg and Trackers translocated more than one person in this realm and continue to exist we can also.”
“Kedryn and I will go first. I have Blarney castle fresh in my head still.” Aodhan ran his fingers through his hair and gave Kedryn a nervous glance.
“Did Blaine teach you to translocation with a bag or pack on your shoulders?”
“Yes.”
“You should not be concerned. Concentrate on the person, yourself and where you are going.” Eion said.
“How many in your realm are able to translocate?” Lara asked.
Eion reached up and scratched at the stubble growing on his chin. “Besides myself and Faolan I believe three. The power to translocate is a Druid trait. Although, while I was still deciphering the portal three boys had apparently inherited it. Aodhan was the first and the oldest. Like Aodhan the other two have a bit of Druid blood in them. One of Liam’s cousins, Niall, who I believe was two at the time gave his mother a fright the first time he translocated.”
“Can they heal too? And two years old?” said Lara
“The others can not heal. That is a trait Aodhan received from his mother along with the power of sensing of others. It is very rare that a child receives one. A gift of many was unheard of until Aodhan.”
Lara looked over at Aodhan and wondered what else he had not told her. “The other?”
“Lady Paili’s brother Damon. I use the term lady loosely. He was a fine boy although I am certain his sister has influenced him by now. He is Nail’s age and both were at your house. Niall was the one who recognized me. A person is able to translocate up to possibly five people. However that has never been tried since it could seriously weaken or even kill the person doing it. Three is the most that one has tried.”
“That also explains the small numbers that came through. Just make sure that I come through with you, no inside out stuff or me turned around so I can see my arse. Ok.” Kedryn said.
Lara laughed out loud and she realized that all of them assumed that she had agreed to their crazy plan to go to Ireland. “Hang on. I haven’t agreed to anything. I’ve listened to all you both have said and am trying to see reason. If you think I’m just going to go with you.”
Kedryn watched as his mother took out her worry stone and started twirling it through her fingers. He looked down and realized he was doing the same and didn’t even realize it. He stopped and put it in his pocket and reassured his mother. “Nothing they have said is a lie. You are all about helping others. This is huge. Life and death stuff and . . .”
Lara held up a hand. “Even though it is not a lie. That does not mean we have to agree to it. Think about it. We are leaving everyone behind. Not knowing if we are alive or dead.”
“It will work out. I know you can’t trust them. Trust me. If you aren’t going to go I am.” Kedryn said.
“You are too big for me to manhandle into staying.” Lara looked from Eion, to Aodhan and to Kedryn. She couldn’t just let her son leave with these two men. Her headache was slowly forming into a migraine and she closed her eyes rubbing her temples.
“Head hurt?” Kedryn asked looking at her concerned.
“Yes.” She said
Aodhan walked up to her and placed his hands on her head. White light surrounded her head and she felt the ache slowly fade. He rubbed her temples with his thumbs. “Better?”
Lara looked into his eyes and quickly stepped away from him. “Thank you. We better go. Translocating to Ireland. Imagine that.”
The light from the moon sparkled on the lake and strange feeling washed over Lara. She thought of the good and the sad times that she had camping with Kedryn then of her family and friends.
“We might as well just move to Ireland as much as we visit.” she said.
Looking at Kedryn made Aodhan question Eion about him. He talked about the young man as if he knew him. “You did not seem too surprised to see Kedryn.”
“I knew about him of course. I have practically watched him grow up.” Eion said.
“That is true. I have been bringing Kedryn here for years camping and fishing. Eion would have known about him. He’s been here this whole time right behind where I set up the tent and we didn’t even know it.”
Aodhan walked over to Kedryn “I believe we have wasted away enough time. Eion you take Lara and I will take Kedryn.”
“Great. See you on the flip side mom. I get to be the experimental translocate.”
“Hey, I thought you trusted me?” Aodhan said raising his eyebrow.
Kedryn laughed and gave him an innocent look. “I do.”
“He’s right. How about you take me?” Lara asked.
Aodhan shook his head no. “It will be ok Lara. I can to this.”
“Eion has probably done this before and you are the Chosen one.” Kedryn patted her arm as she gave him a worried look.
“That doesn’t mean you aren’t important.” Lara said.
“Whatever. I’m going with Aodhan”
Eion walked over to Lara. “Aodhan, you do know Niall and Damon will be able to sense the travel.”
“With luck we will be to the Druids cave before them. They have to find the starting point first. You ready?” Aodhan held his forearms out to Kedryn and he took them.
“Let’s do this.”
Lara had to look away as Kedryn and Aodhan were surrounded by a blinding light and disappeared. As Eion put his hands on Lara’s shoulders she looked up at him. Her quick study of him revealed that he was a bit taller than her, had short messy blonde hair with a sharp nose and chin. There was something about him that puzzled her.
“Shouldn’t you be older? You look not much older than Aodhan and you knew him when he was a child?”
He gave her a slight smile “Hold on.”
Eion held out his forearms and instead of grabbing his arms Lara put her arms around him in a bear hug. She saw a flash of bluish white light and closed her eyes. It felt like her breath was taken away and that her whole body being sucked through a tiny hole.
When she felt her feet hit the ground Lara looked up at the legendary Blarney Castle. She took in a deep breath and looked around. “The one place I have never made it to duri
ng our visits to Ireland and I can’t stay. I always wanted to visit Blarney Castle” she looked up at the moonlit castle.
“It is a simple masterpiece of craftsmanship.” Eion said
“Can I go and kiss the stone?” she asked looking at Eion as he frowned at her. She let out a laugh. “Just kidding I know we have no time.”
Eion started walking and looked behind his shoulder at her. “If you have your ancestor’s wit. You do not need the Stone of Eloquence.”
Aodhan and Kedryn walked up to them. Aodhan looked around studying the surrounding shadows around the castle.
“The trackers and Firbolg have probably already sensed the travel now. Niall is pretty bright and will most likely realize we headed here. Niall and Damon also know that if we get through and close the portal they will be stuck in this realm.”
“The Druid’s cave is this way.” Eion said as he hurriedly walked away through the thick grass, maze of rocks and wild flowers.
A faint shimmer of light radiated from the cave and grew brighter as they walked through the mouth. Lara studied the arch appeared as it appeared with lightly glowing runes surrounding it at the side of the cave.
“Couldn’t just anyone just walk through?” She asked.
“I would like to see someone try. They would run straight into the side of the cave.” Eion said as he narrowed his eyes at the portal deep in thought.
“Since my father closed the portal behind me to open it you have to know the right decipher for the runes. Also, the light is not visible during the day. When I came through no one was around except the caretaker. From what I observed he doesn’t explore the grounds at night.”
Eion walked up to the portal. “The portal can only be opened and radiates the light during the cycle of the Harvest Moon. That is when the Morrigan created it.”
Lara turned to Aodhan. “When we go through how long will it take for us to get to where we are going?”
“About four days. It is not much time for training but it will have to do. I’m not certain what is happening now. General Ruark was attempting a peace treaty with Liam and we may still have some time.” Aodhan shook his head as he thought of Liam
Eion glanced their way. “Liam actually is keeping with the tradition of the peace negotiations? Even the Day of Rest?”
“Why wouldn’t Liam just attack during those days and why a Day of Rest? He sure would have an advantage if he did.” Kedryn asked.
“He respects General Ruark. Liam even sent a messenger to let Ruark know that he will respect the seven days of the negotiations and Day of Rest.” Aodhan said.
“When you left the negotiations had just begun. Do you think we might have one or two days to train with the troops?” asked Eion.
“It is possible. I have lost all sense of time since I left and come through the portal. It is all such a blur. I do not even know what day it will be when we go back through. It will certainly be interesting to see if time passes the same. When we reach Carrick’s he can inform us on what has happened while we were gone.”
Lara stepped closer to the arch and studied the glowing runes surrounding the portal. She was tempted to reach up to touch them and thought that just might ruin the sequence. Being an archeologist she knew that if she did it might end up very badly. The “Mummy” movies popped into her head. This is cursed, that is cursed, everything is cursed. She held in a laugh and decided to get serious.
“If I agree to and assuming you expect me to fight. You will have to explain what is really expected of me and of Kedryn.”
“It will be all explained when we get to the Duir Plain. General Ruark will have a war counsel when we arrive. I am positive he has got a plan figured out already. You having a son was never figured into the plans so we will have to adjust them a bit.”
Lara felt her emotions begin to boil as she thought of Kedryn being in a bloody battle. “I don’t want him to fight.”
“That is not up to you or us.” Aodhan said.
“I’m not a baby anymore. I already know how to fight. I’ve basically been training since I was five. I know how to use a sword.” Kedryn defiantly said.
She looked sharply at him. “Not in a war zone.”
“Do not worry. I sense some of your fighting spirit in him. If it makes you feel any better we will have him do the sideline fighting and leave the front lines to the veterans.” Eion said
“If you have not noticed Kedryn is not a boy anymore. He is on the edge of manhood.” Aodhan said.
“He’s my son and it’s my job to protect him.” she looked at Kedryn and thought, yes he is a man. Oh God help me. She looked to Kedryn and gave in letting out a defeated sigh.
“You are right. Even after all we’ve been though getting here it’s all still like an impossible dream to me.” Lara said shouldered her pack. Her emotions were running wild at the thought of Kedryn being in a bloody war.
Eion walked over to Lara and put his hand on her shoulder surrounding her in a calming light. When he felt her relax and the confusion slowly fade off of her he backed away from her.
“I cannot tell you exactly what is going to happen and everything that is expected from you. It was foreseen that your decision will affect the outcome. Other than that it is up to the choices we all make.” Eion turned and walked back to the portal arch.
Lara walked over to where Kedryn was standing at the opening of the cave. She stopped by Kedryn’s side and glanced at Eion who was touching the runes in what looked to be a pattern.
To her surprise Eion was speaking an ancient Celtic language she recognized from the handwritten book her grandmother had given her. It had been passed down through generations and never realized how important it was until now. Lara put her arm around Kedryn’s shoulders and squeezed.
“I’m sorry. I know you aren’t my little boy anymore it’s thought of you being man enough to be in a battle brings out the overprotective mom in me.”
“I am almost seventeen.” he said annoyed.
Kedryn stepped away from her and walked up to where Eion was standing in front of the portal. Lara glanced at Aodhan who shrugged and he offered his arm which she took he led her over to where Kedryn stood.
“It is ready.” Eion said and he signaled for them to step through the portal to the other side.
The portal didn’t look much different to Lara but what did she know. “Here we go.” Lara muttered under her breath and noticed her hand was shaking as she pushed some hair behind her ear.
From behind her Aodhan leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “It will be ok.”
She leaned back against him to calm her nerves and glanced over at Kedryn who gave her an apologetic look.
Lara whispered back to Aodhan. “I believe you.”
Aodhan stepped around her. “I will go first just in case something unfriendly is waiting on the other side.” He walked through the portal before anyone could object. After a few heart pounding seconds he popped his head through. “All clear.”
Cautiously walking up to the portal Lara watched as Kedryn walked through and looked back at Eion. She took in a deep breath and stepped through with Eion following after her. A light mist of rain could be seen falling outside of the cave. It wasn’t enough though to hide the brilliant light of the full red gold Harvest Moon reflecting it’s light onto the rain.
The memory of the Irish saying her great-grandmother used to tell her ran through her head.
May the blessing of the Celtic Rain be on you, the soft sweet rain. May it fall upon your spirit, so that all the little flowers may spring up, and shed their sweetness on the air.
May the blessing of the great Celtic Rain be on you, may it beat upon your spirit and wash it fair and clean, and leave there many a shining pool where the blue of heaven shines, and sometimes a star.
Lara smiled at the memory and turned to Aodhan who was speaking to Eion. She could sense the concern in his voice.
“I did not see my father anywhere close to the cave. It does lo
ok like there was a fight and some blood just outside but I found no bodies.”
Squatting down Aodhan looked over a small rock enclosed fire pit. He picked up a few charred pieces of wood and tossed them in.
“It also looks like there was a fire lit here a couple of nights ago. Other than that no one else is near the cave. I will scout around to see what I can find and make sure that it is safe while the portal is being closed. All of you stay at the back of the cave until I return.” Aodhan stood and quietly slipped away again.
As Eion watched Aodhan leave he turned to the portal. Lara slipped her frame pack off and Kedryn did the same.
“How crazy is this? Everyone we know must think we are dead. It’s sad to think of that. I hope grandma is ok and everyone else. Do you think that Glenn and Cassie will go on with the wedding? It was only a week away.”
“I hope so. You are right this is insane. Everyone we love has been ripped away from us.” she sighed.
Kedryn gave her a hug. “Let’s stack the wood. I think we both need to do something to keep our minds off of all of it.”
As they started to head over to the fire pit all three jumped as a pile of wood fell to the floor. Eion cursed, glared at Aodhan and back at the portal.
“Apologies. I found some more wood just outside. I did not see anything else out there and will scout around more just to make sure.”
“Are we going to camp here tonight?” Lara asked as she watched Eion touch another ruin. She walked over to the wood Aodhan had dropped and started stacking it in her arms.
“We will camp here tonight while I finish. Aodhan take Kedryn scouting with you. You can show him how and what to keep an eye out for and an extra set of eyes would not hurt.” Eion said.
Aodhan skeptically looked at Lara and to the wood she was stacking in the fire pit in a nice neat tee pee style.
“Do know how to start a fire?” Aodhan asked
She reached into a pocket in her cargo pants and pulled out a plastic case and popped open the lid lighting a match.
“I think this will do. You will find a bright and shiny fire by the time you come back. What if they figure out that we have come directly here and come through while you are gone? Do you really think it’s a good time for you and Kedryn to leave?” She looked at him and back at Kedryn a little more than worried.
Celtic Rain (The Battle Raven Series) Page 6
