It was a wonder to both Niall and Kayne that Lara hadn’t yelled for the guards. General Kane about lost it when he heard her son had also showed up and was furious with Liam.
“The soldiers will be nothing but weary by tomorrow. I believe our troops will have the upper hand.” Niall said as he breathed on the spy crystal and wiped it with his shirt to get a clearer view.
Liam glanced at where Lara was sitting. “General Ruark will end it early. He will cut off the ale after they are done eating and the soldiers will have it all danced off before the night is over. The General will also cut the celebration short so they get some sleep.” His eyes scanned the area and settled back on Lara.
Niall brushed some dirt off of his pants “You would know him best. Why are we here? Or did you want to take a peek at the Battle Raven again.” He saw Liam flinch and straighten up and completely ignoring his question.
“I allowed you to come along only because you saw me leave. Look there, at Ruark.” Liam said and Niall watched as General Ruark made a gesture and the servers started to take the Ale and wine away. He made another and the musicians started to play a more lively tune. Liam noticed that Dillon and Bevin were openly together and wondered what had happened earlier for them to do so.
“Let’s get back to camp. I want to see how things are progressing. I would like to also make sure that the cooks have everything prepared for the morning meal before the battle begins.” Liam said and turned from the Danann festivities.
“Isn’t that what Grania? I mean your mother and her ladies are for?” Niall said and cringed at the look Liam gave him.
“We should go.” Niall said as he looked back at the celebration. He quickly grabbed Liam’s arm.
“No wait. This I have got to see. I think the Battle Raven is going to dance. Do you think it is the same in their realm?”
Liam looked over and saw that Kedryn was practically dragging his mother to where others were dancing. He watched as Kedryn walked over to the musicians and he was gesturing to the man with the drums the beat he wanted. He walked back to his mom who was red around the ears as everyone had stopped dancing and cleared the way to watch them. The band started to play a fast Irish jig with heavy drums.
Lara gave Kedryn an annoyed look. “You just had to go with the military jig didn’t you? How on earth do they know this tune?”
“Let’s just say I got to them earlier. I think it’s time this realm gets a taste of something from ours.” he said with a sly grin on his face.
“Let’s get this over with and you owe me. I have to do this in a dress.” she said and glanced back to make sure she wasn’t too close to the huge crackling bonfire.
Lara started with a traditional jig and Kedryn joined in. She gathered up her skirt for some of the dance. They started mixing in a military style jig. It was a combination of stomping, crumping and steps from an old Irish jig all in one. An Irish jig of the likes no one in the realm they were in had ever seen before.
The whole crowd was whooping and cheering and when the music stopped Kedryn and Lara hit fists and saluted at each other and walked over to their table. While they headed back to their table people were smacking them on the back. Many asked that they teach them it when the battle was over.
On the outskirts Niall and Liam looked on taken aback. Niall ran his hand through his hair and turned to Liam. “By the God I have to learn that. It would pretty much kick my arse.”
They turned away from the celebration and snuck back to their camp. It was time to prepare for the final battle.
After the music had faded Aodhan smiled at Lara as she walked up to him. She walked up behind him and put her arms around his neck resting her head on his. He reached up and pulled her around him into his lap.
“Where did you learn that? And how did you mange it in a dress?” he asked as he watched her try to knot her hair up and realized she didn’t have anything to pin it up with.
“I have some Irish relatives in the military that made it up for fun. I’ll tell you what. You do it enough, and you would be feeling it in the morning.”
Aodhan lifted her up off of his lap and onto the bench. He stood up and stepped over the bench and bowed to her holding out his hand. “May I have this dance, my Lady?”
Lara noticed the music has turned a little slower. “Absolutely.”
She took his hand and he led her to where the others were dancing. Lara recognized the tune to be an old Irish love song. She heard a man start singing the Rose of Allendale.
“Funny thing.” Lara said amused as Aodhan spun her around.
“What would that be?” he asked as he twirled her away and back to him.
“Besides the shock that you can actually dance, my Lord. This is an Irish love song in our realm. It was claimed by and English man that he wrote it and that the Irish took over as their own love song. Allendale is a village in Northumberland, England. Do you think he’s descended from someone of this realm and doesn’t even know it?” she grinned at him.
“Possibly and of course I can dance. Mother made sure of that. And a village? Here Allendale is a woman who the rose is named after.” Aodhan’s eyebrow rose in amusement as Lara let out a short laugh.
He pun her away and back to him again and side stepped with her to where Dillon and Bevin were dancing. Aodhan nudged Bevin and she looked up and smiled.
“Happy now?” Aodhan asked her
Bevin looked into Dillon’s eyes. “Extremely.”
Aodhan twirled Lara around and she looked him in the eyes.
“Where have you been all my life?” Lara asked as she pushed her hair away from her face.
Aodhan kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. “In another realm.”
As the moon moved over in the sky General Ruark cut short the celebration. They all said good night to each other. Ruark, Scanlon and Blaine were heading to the manor house with their wives and Aodhan and Devlyn were left in charge of the camp.
Lara hugged Kedryn goodnight and watched as he, Lawler and Doyle walk away. She moved close to Aodhan and gave him a hug with her head on his shoulder.
“Stay with me tonight.” she whispered in his ear.
Aodhan kissed her neck. “I cannot and would not say no to you.”
Lara grabbed his hand and he walked Lara to her pavilion. Aodhan picked her up as she lifted the door flap and carried her through. He set her back on her feet in the sitting room.
“I have one request my Lady.” he said seriously and hoping she would take what he said the wrong way.
“Anything you wish.” Lara said as she moved closer to him.
“I will stay with you tonight but I do have one condition.”
She gave him a look. “Condition?”
“I would like us to wait.” he said and looked at the confusion on her face.
“You are truly a confusing man. None like I’ve ever met before. Are you sure you can stay without anything happening? You do want me?”
“I do. I would like there to be no war lurking around to push this quicker than it should be. Also, I would like to be married first.”
Lara looked at him stunned. Aodhan saw the bewildered look on her face. When he caught on to what she was thinking and almost laughed.
“By the Gods. You think I am a . . . Let me put it this way. You are the world to me and I will be up front with you. I would like our first time together to be special between us. I would like to be married to you first. That will make the night of the wedding special for both of us.” he raised his eyebrow and gave her a sly grin.
Lara reached out to him and gave him a huge hug and kissed him until she thought she might melt all of her insides away. She backed away and looked at him.
“Aodhan Mahon MacCionaoith. What makes you think that I would agree to your proposal of marriage? And promise of a wedding night?” she asked giving him a sly look.
Aodhan got down on one knee grabbed her hands and looked up at her. She looked down at him her cheeks reddening.
She couldn’t believe what he was doing.
“Lara Eve O’Broin. If we survive this madness will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Lara looked down at him overwhelmed and she felt something she had denied herself since Wash died. Love. Lara bent down and kissed him and put her hand underneath his chin and brought him back to his feet.
“When we both come out of this alive you will have your answer. In the meantime, we will go by your rules. Just wait out here while I change.” she playfully patted his cheek.
Lara stepped into her sleeping area and dug though her new clothes and found a loose emerald green sleep dress that Gobnait had given her. She quickly changed and stepped back into her sitting area. Aodhan grabbed her hand and pulled her through the center flap and over to her fur covered pallet.
“Time to get some rest.” he said as he watched her sit down on the fur covered pallet and lounge back.
Aodhan stood and looked at her wondering if he should leave. The thought that something could happen to either of them during the battle kept him there. He wanted to spend as much time with her that he could before the battle.
“What are you going to wear?” Lara reached over to the lamp lowering the flame. Aodhan kicked off his boots and pulled his jerkin and undershirt off at the same time. He walked over to her and lay down on his back beside her.
Lara rolled over, kissed him and pulled a fur on top of them. “Good night my heart.”
“Good night a chroí.” Aodhan said and he pulled her close and she cuddled up on his chest and closed her eyes.
Chapter 29
As the Danann celebrated the Firbolg were holding their own banquet. Lady Paili prepared the plans for the banquet and General Daigh the entertainment. They agreed that the council should see that the rumors were true. That Lord Faolan had indeed returned and that his lord’s plan had succeeded. The Milesian and Danann were heading into battle the next day.
Lady Paili was sitting on a black velvet bench in front of her vanity when she heard the sound of the heavy boots on the marble floor of her sitting area. The sound became muffled as soon as he entered her sleeping chamber stepping on the rugs. General Daigh walked up to her standing directly behind her chair. He looked at her in the mirror as Paili sat her brush down and adjusted her silk robe. She slowly rose and turned to him as she put on a large ruby and diamond necklace.
“Is he here?” Daigh asked.
He adjusted his sword and tugged at his collar. He was not used to dressing up for an occasion and was in his military best. He slowly looked her over as she stepped up to him.
“Lord Faolan is off entertaining himself elsewhere.” She placed her hand on his cheek.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. “Good.”
She placed both of her hands on his face and pulled him to her and kissed him.
“I must finish preparing. We can resume with this after the festivities.”
He bowed to her. “Lord Faolan asked me to escort you to the banquet hall when you are ready. I will take my leave and will be outside your chamber door. I will take this time to discuss with the guards tonight’s entertainment.” he turned and stepped out her door.
As General Daigh talked to the guards to make certain everything was proceeding as planned. He heard a door shut and he watched as the Seer was being led down the hall by her two guards Cadman and Kelvin. Shortly after Lady Paili emerged from her chambers in a crimson velvet gown with a heart shaped neck line bodice, silky fitted sleeves and straight skirt. He looked over her appraisingly and held out his arm, she took it and the General led her to the banquet hall.
As they stepped through the huge oak double doors her eyes searched the room for Lord Faolan. He was not seated at the head of the U shaped table that was set out for himself, the council and nobility. She heard his voice and saw that he was flanked by two council members. Her eyes looked him up and down as she admired him. He wore his typical high collared long black doublet that buttoned to his waist. There was a silver wolf embroidered on each side that flowed down to his boots. Her eyes focused on his silver shirt and black leather pants that showed offer his strength underneath much to her satisfaction.
Looking around the room at the rest of the council and nobles Lady Paili quietly laughed. All she could picture was a room full of peacocks. The men were wearing doublets of all sorts of bright and garish colors with their family crest emblazed on their chest. Their wives all wore the same style of flowing silken gowns that matched the color of their husbands doublet. She looked in Kiara’s direction and thought that indeed herself and the Seer were the only two women with any sense of style.
General Daigh led her over to where Lord Faolan was and she was passed off. Lord Faolan looked her over and gave an appraisingly sly smile. He took her arm and led her to their seats. Most of the council was already seated at the tables, with some stragglers coming in. Lord Faolan took up her hand and kissed it.
“It seems everyone has arrived.” she said.
“I am pleased. You look lovely, my Lady. The dress suits you.” Faolan said.
“Thank you, my Lord. You have exquisite taste.” she said as she fingered the necklace he had presented her with earlier.
Daigh walked over and sat down on the opposite side of Faolan. “I believe you will be most entertained tonight, my lord.”
Damon sauntered in and sat beside Paili. “You look lovely sister.”
She patted his hand. “I know, brother.”
Paili glanced over at Kiara and nodded to her and Kiara gracefully nodded back. Her attention was brought back to the servants who placed a variety of meats, cheeses and bread on the tables in front of everyone. Their goblets were filled with wine or ale and Paili stood to give a Dark Irish blessing to toast Lord Faolan’s return. When she rose the room slowly fell silent.
“May the blessing of Dark be with us always. May the Firbolg always be Dark without and Dark within. May the moon shine upon us and in our hearts until it glows like a great fire consuming our enemies.” Paili turned to Faolan and looked into his eyes.
“May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings and quick to conquer your enemies. May you know nothing other than their misfortune from this day forward. Welcome back, a ghrá.” She leaned over and kissed him and grabbed his hand as he stood up.
General Daigh raised his glass and shouted. “To Lord Faolan.”
All of the guests raised their goblets and replied “To Lord Faolan.”
As Paili and Faolan sat back down Damon stood. He faced his sister and raised his goblet to her.
“My dearest sister. May you be in Heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead!”
“Sláinte!” all said and cheered as Paili gave him a look.
Faolan raised his goblet and his voice boomed through the room. “Let us eat and be entertained!”
All eyes turned to a side panel that had slid open and watched as two guards dragged a man into the room. Many started to eat and watched in anticipation as the first item for entertainment was brought into the room.
Kiara recognized the Danann tracker that had been caught entering her chambers. The man’s long blonde hair was matted with blood and dirt. His shirt had been torn and was in shambles around his waist. His pants were torn and bloodied. He was half dragged to a platform which held two makeshift posts. Attached to the posts were chains with iron clasps the top and bottom.
One of the guards kicked the tracker in the middle of the back and he stumbled on the platform between the two posts. They raised him up and clasped the irons around his wrists and ankles. He wearily lifted his head and looked directly at Kiara and his eyes surprised her. They were ice blue, cold and resigned to his fate. A man willing to die for his mission and what he believed in.
Kiara hardened herself and her heart to about what she was going to witness. She felt pity for the man and masked her face to show no emotion. Over the years she had learned to trust and confide in only one person the fact
that she still felt loyalty to her true bloodline. However, she did learn much from Lady Paili. Kiara had resigned herself to her fate and took full advantage of Paili’s training. The methods of hardening and hiding emotions she had learned over the years would come in handy at this very moment.
Lady Paili took pride in showing her the many forms of torture that Faolan had created. Kiara had witnessed servants being tortured and pitied the poor creatures. She was spared witness of human torture. Until now. In her own twisted way Lady Paili thought of her as a daughter. Her little protégé she would fondly call her. Kiara could almost best her with the sword and was just as smart academically. With Cadmon and Kelvin ever at her side she knew that Paili still considered her a threat.
Kiara’s thoughts were interrupted by the Danann man’s attempt to muffle his screams and the sound of the cracking whip and thuds of a club against his body. She focused on him and it all seemed to go into slow motion as she tried to numb her mind. The torn and bloody flesh, the long bruising marks from the whip across his chest.
His eyes met hers again and she could not look away. He did not let out another sound and every blow he took made a slight pang in her stomach. She successfully kept herself from flinching as the club smashed into his side sending a ripple across his bared chest. Kiara could tell that the guards were getting flustered that he had made no further sound and started increasing the beating.
She silently said a prayer for the man and thanked God that Lord Faolan had given both her and Lady Paili permission to leave before the final bloodletting. Paili was not fond of his favorite form of torture. The Blood Eagle.
The council members around her were cheering knowing it was coming to an end. Faolan glanced over and examined the Seer’s reaction. He turned and examined the tracker and noted the man was staring straight at the seer. She was watching straight faced and impervious to what was happening. He put his arm around Paili and leaned over close to her ear.
Celtic Rain (The Battle Raven Series) Page 30
