“Now is the time. Show me the boy Doyle and I will help you stay in his head so you can leave the impression.”
Chapter 34
The remaining Danann and Milesian soldiers stood watching Lara and Liam fight. Niall again looked at the men around Kedryn who were binding their legs as he walked up to the young man who he knew now to be the Lady Battle Raven’s son.
“Interesting. Handicapped them instead of killing them.”
“I didn’t think I could live with myself if I actually killed someone.” Kedryn looked at where his mother was. “Looks like they are just sparring.”
Niall glanced back over to Lara and Liam. “What do you suppose they are talking about?”
“Knowing my mom. She’s trying to convince him to stop the war. Looks like everyone else has stopped fighting too.”
“It is like they are under a spell. Do you think your mom had something to do with it?” Niall asked.
“Could be. We really don’t know the extent of her powers yet. By the way, I’m Kedryn Ashton O’Broin.” He held out his hand to Niall and he took it.
“Niall Han O’Connell. Liam sent me here to take care of you.” He grinned at Kedryn. “I believe this time I will ignore that order.”
Kedryn overheard Doyle as he was talking to another soldier behind him. He was telling the soldier that Lawler had been injured and was in the healer’s tent. Kedryn was about to turn to talk to Doyle when Niall nudged him and he watched his mom flip Liam.
Behind Kedryn, Doyle suddenly grabbed his head. He saw his sister being tortured and heard a voice in his head. “If you want to see her alive. Kill the son.”
Doyle unconsciously felt himself grab his sword and move to strike down Kedryn from behind. Niall heard the distinct ring of a sword being drawn and turned. He let a shout and pushed Kedryn out of the way. He ran his sword into Doyle while his side took the blow Kedryn would have received. Niall fell into Kedryn knocking them both over.
From where Liam and Lara were in the distance it looked as if Doyle had run his sword through Niall. Liam saw what happened. “No.” Liam yelled as he was in the middle of a downward stroke.
Lara turned her head and glanced back and saw Doyle, Kedryn and another man fall to the ground. At the same time Lara had missed a step and wasn’t paying attention to the swing that was coming down at her. Liam tried to stop the sword in time except the momentum was too great. All he could do was adjust where it would hit.
A loud thud and crack sounded and Lara felt a piercing pain run through her. Her whole upper right side grew wet with blood and her body went into shock. She fell to the ground and the last thing she saw was Liam kneeling next to her. She felt him scoop her up in his arms. She forced her eyes open and Aodhan’s face appeared and faded slowly away.
“I could have blocked it. Don’t blame Liam.” Lara said slurring the last part and passed out.
Aodhan looked at Liam who was as still as stone clinging to Lara. It looked as if Liam wasn’t even breathing.
“Give her to me Liam. I will take her to the healers. I will even do it myself if I am not too drained.”
Liam pulled her closer and looked up at Aodhan trying to comprehend what he was saying. It was slowly coming through.
“Liam. GIVE HER TO ME!”
Liam paused as Aodhan’s words got through to him. He placed Lara in Aodhan’s arms and watched as they disappeared in a flash of light. He felt his hands shaking and looked at them covered with blood. Lara’s blood.
Kedryn saw his mom go down as he was getting up and watched as Aodhan appeared by her side. In a flash translocate with his mother. Kedryn wanted to run over to the healer’s tent. He stopped himself to check on Niall. He heard Doyle speak his name. Kedryn kneeled down by his side.
Doyle reached up to Kedryn coughing out some blood and Kedryn helped him to a sitting position.
“They were torturing her. I saw it in my head. Lord Faolan would not stop until I killed you. I heard the voice in my head and it almost felt as if I could not control myself.” he coughed up more blood. “They were going to kill Kiara. She needs help. Please save my sister. Forgive me.”
Kedryn felt Doyle’s fear, his sorrow and the truth of the matter. He reached over and grabbed his friend’s sword and handed it to him. Kedryn looked him in the eyes.
“You have my word. I will rescue Kiara. My friend I forgive you.” Doyle looked at him and smiled. He slowly closed his eyes and passed into the land of his forefathers.
Back in her room Kiara felt a shift that the descendant’s son had made his decision. “He will come for me.” She let out a relieved sigh and felt the emptiness and sorrow of her brothers passing.
Kedryn’s attention moved to Scanlon as he stepped up to Niall and helped him up.
“Are you going to be ok?” Kedryn asked Niall.
“Just a flesh wound. What was that all about?” Niall asked as he pressed a cloth to his side.
Kedryn looked at Doyle’s body. “I’ll explain later. Thanks I owe you one. You sure you don’t need a healer?”
Scanlon looked at the blood soaking through the side of Niall’s jerkin. “You should let the healers mend your wound. Kedryn go to your mom. I will take care of this.”
“I’m gone.” Kedryn said as he turned and ran.
Niall watched Kedryn run to the healer’s tent. He turned to Scanlon still clutching his side.
“There are healers at the Milesian camp. I have had worse. I would rather get to Liam. This nonsense has to stop.”
“I will come with to make sure you do not pass out on the way. If you get me close enough to Liam I can try to talk some reason into him.”
In the middle of the battle field Liam looked up from his hands and got off of his knees. He stood and spotted General Kayne and General Ruark dragging a man in his direction.
General Ruark looked around and saw that some of his confused soldiers were coming to and were looking to start a fight again.
“Halt! We are done, spread the word.”
General Kayne yelled the same orders to his soldiers. They dragged General Daigh to where Liam was standing still looking at his hands. Kayne walked up to him and shook him.
“Snap out of it Liam. You must hear this.” Kayne said and Liam’s head jerked up to look at him.
Ruark threw the man on the ground. “Speak dog!”
General Daigh spit on him. He saw the look on Liam’s face and started a deep cackling laughter. “You struck the wench down! My beloved’s plan worked!”
Kayne kicked him cracking a couple of his ribs as he sprawled on the ground and rolled over. Daigh sucked in a breath and spit out some blood.
“Your numbers are reduced. All to your blind ignorance and you will be no match against us. Our numbers are even greater than you can imagine. The race of the Firbolg will rise again!”
“I think not.” Liam said as he walked over to Daigh and slugged him so hard he hit the ground.
The General’s nose started to flow with blood running down his face making him look even more sinister. Daigh looked up at Liam scowling and spat out more blood feeling a tooth fly loose.
“You are not as tough as you seem Milesian. You are pitiful. Crying over a woman. You will die like your father with a sword in your belly. It may not be by my hand this time. I revel in the thought of you and your precious Danann and Milesian people groveling at Lord Faolan’s feet begging for your lives.”
The general laughed a creepy hysterical laugh which Kayne quickly put an end to. Kayne could have sworn he heard the wicked man whisper Paili’s name before he fell over. Hearing what the Firbolg said made Liam sick to his stomach. He turned, fell to his knees and retched on the ground. All those lives lost and for what? He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and looked at General Kayne and General Ruark with a haunted look in his eyes.
“Lara was right. I should have listened to her. Now she too might be lost.” Liam stood and stumbled as he turned and headed back to their camp in a daze.<
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Niall and Scanlon reached where Ruark and Kayne were standing watching as Liam stumbled through the battlefield.
“I will make sure Liam makes it to camp. Scanlon, you better talk to Kayne first.” Niall ran jumping over bodies to head Liam off and walk the rest of the way back with him.
Chapter 35
Lady Paili was furious when Lord Faolan came to their chambers and gloated to her that General Daigh was dead. She lashed out at him and he let her get in a good punch to get out her fury. He stopped her when she grabbed a dagger. Faolan grabbed her wrist and twisted so hard she dropped it.
“You have no right to shove that in my face. What of Cadmon?” she asked.
Faolan paused for a second. “I feel he is still alive. That is all I know. He is not close enough for me to sense where he is.”
Paili breathed out a sigh. “That is a relief.”
He looked at her curious wondering who else he needed to deal with. “Was he another of your conquests?”
She looked at him sharply. “No. Kiara would be utterly distraught if anything happened to him. He is like a father to her.”
Faolan let out an evil chuckle. He had two forms of leverage against her. Damon and now the Seer.
“Your maternal side is showing through again Paili. You might want to look into that. Or should I just end that little issue for you like I did with the monk?”
He gave her a wicked grin. Paili’s rage rose up and she swung at Faolan. He grabbed her and kissed her roughly as she pounded her fists against his chest. She gave in kissing him back.
“You are mine tonight and always.” Faolan said leading her to bed.
Chapter 36
The camp was overrun with injured soldiers lying in wait for healers and others limping around looking for a place to rest. Eion navigated around them and stopped in his tracks as he watched as a man cautiously approach him. The man had dark curling hair and features that were not Milesian or Danann. He made a signal for peace and stopped in front of Eion.
“Firbolg” Eion said under his breath.
“Where can I find the Druid Eion McGrath and the Lady Battle Raven’s son?”
“Why do you ask and why should I believe your sign for peace?” Eion asked looking over the man whose face seemed a bit familiar.
“I am surrounded by Danann. I could not leave without being killed if you called for it.” Cadmon said as he removed his sword and handed it to Eion.
“You have a point. I am Eion McGrath, Druid of the Light. What do you want Firbolg?”
“I have a message from the Seer Kiara. The name is Cadmon Gallaghan.” he pulled out a piece of rolled up parchment and handed it to him.
Eion had a flashback of a child who was now the man standing before him. He looked at Cadmon and took the parchment unrolling it.
“As in Lord Ailill Gallaghan?” Eion asked as he finished reading the message.
“He was my father.” Cadmon said.
“He was a good man. Come with me.” Eion said and handed back his sword.
Eion saw Devlyn step out of the healer’s tent and motioned for him to join them. He led Cadmon, along with Devlyn who looked cautiously at the Firbolg at his side to Ruark’s pavilion. They found General Ruark in the war room talking to Kedryn and Aodhan about Lara.
Eion cleared his throat and all looked his way.
“My Lords, this is Cadmon Gallaghan. He has brought a message from the Seer.”
“Kiara? What message? I swore to Doyle that I would rescue her.” Kedryn said.
Cadmon gave the young man in front of him a serious look over. This young man is the one that Kiara foresaw to make the decision of whether to help her or not? He was not sure what to think.
“I believe you should read her message out loud Eion.” Ruark said as he looked cautiously at the Firbolg in front of him.
Eion unrolled the scroll and sat down in the nearest chair.
Eion,
It is time. I am sending Cadmon, my guard and protector, to you as a guide for the descendant’s son. I have foreseen two different possibilities. Whether he will come for me or not I do not know. What I do know is that he has not made his choice at this time. I have foreseen that Cadmon will be his guide with two others. He is loyal to me and you can trust him. If the descendant’s son has made the choice to come and save me, Cadmon will gladly lead the way. I cannot tell you much more due to time being short and I have to personally deliver this letter to Cadmon in secret before he leaves.
Peace be with you and to all of our land.
Remember. . . It is not that the dream is impossible. It is what you want of that dream.
Kiara
“How do we really know the note is from Kiara?” asked Devlyn as he skeptically looked at Cadmon.
“It is from her. No one else would know the phrase. It was something that I would always tell her when she was little.” Eion said.
“As soon as my mom is healed and the peace negotiations started. I will go and find Kiara and bring her back.” Kedryn said.
“Why not leave now? She is unattended with those butchers. Who will come with?” Cadmon asked as he looked at them disgruntled that they were not leaving right away.
“I have a feeling I know who one of them men will be. I would like for him to offer and make the choice himself. Will she be ok for a while?” Kedryn asked.
Cadmon gave in and sighed. He really didn’t have much choice in the matter anyway. His thoughts were of Lady Paili. She had grown fond of the Seer and would not let anything happen to her.
“She is treated well. I also believe that Lady Paili will not allow any harm to come to her. She and the monk took over Kiara’s training right after Lord Faolan left and Lady Paili is very protective of her.” Cadmon said.
“My brother. He is still alive? Why would Faolan or Paili let him train her still?” Eion said filled with the hope that his brother still lived.
“He had knowledge that Lady Paili did not. She knew if she observed Kiara’s training sessions with the monk. She would also gain that knowledge and had to get down on bended knee to keep Lord Faolan from performing the Blood Eagle on him.”
“I have heard it mentioned. What exactly is the Blood Eagle?” Kedryn asked.
“Are you sure you really would like to know?” Eion asked.
“Yes.”
“Cadmon. Would you do us the pleasure?” Eion asked.
“I would not consider it a pleasure. The Blood Eagle is Lord Faolan’s favorite. He shackles the man or beast to posts or places them on an altar. A very sharp and long blade is used to cut the victims ribs by the spine breaking the ribs so they resembled blood-stained wings. He slices the victim open and pulls out their lungs. Just for kicks he sprinkles salt in the wound. He likes to hear them scream.”
Kedryn held up a hand. “Please. I think I’m going to gag. I get the picture. Unfortunately.”
Eion sensed a slight evil radiating from Cadmon. So faint he didn’t recognize it right away. His eyes were drawn to the pendant Cadmon was wearing and reached over and yanked it from his neck. It immediately started to emanate a ghastly reddish orange glow.
“You have to destroy this.” He said urgently.
“No.” Cadmon said flatly and snatched it back from Eion. “Kiara gave it to me. She is like a daughter to me and I will not throw it out. Why should I?”
“Lord Faolan has tampered with it. I cannot remove this magic. The only way it can be removed is for the symbol to be destroyed by the one it was made for or if the wearer dies.”
“What kind of magic is it?” Kedryn and Devlyn asked at the same time.
Eion looked at Cadmon “This magic shows Faolan exactly where you are. And if you are still of this earth.”
“Can he see me here?” Cadmon asked worried.
Eion closed his eyes and concentrated. “No. This one only works short range. I am assuming you never left the palace since you were Kiara’s guard. Faolan would not have needed to use a stronger s
pell. If you are leading a mission to save Kiara. I do not think that you would want him to know you are at his doorstep.”
Cadmon took out his double edged battle axe to destroy the carved eagle and Kedryn yelled “Wait!”
Everyone looked at him curiously while Kedryn started to pace.
“I’m not sure why. I think it may work to our advantage on the way in. After we get to Kiara we should destroy it.”
“I will think on it. Let us make that plan when we know who the other two are.” Cadmon said.
“I would offer to go with you. Sadly, I cannot and I have duties here. Is Lawler the one you were thinking of?” Devlyn asked.
“No. Someone else. I would like him to come with if he chooses to. I should go check up on my mom. After I’ll go and see how Lawler is doing.”
Aodhan watched as Kedryn turned to walk out. “I’ll come with.” He followed Kedryn out of the tent.
Eion turned to Cadmon. “I believe for now you will have to appear as our prisoner.”
“You have a good point. Lord Faolan has many spies. If one of them catch sight of me here it would have to seem that way. Especially if they are going to believe I escaped. I am thinking that is what Kedryn has in mind.” He fingered the carved eagle feeling sick that Lord Faolan made use of a gift that Kiara had given him.
General Ruark looked at his two guards by the door flap of the pavilion. He motioned to the soldiers to step forward. Each moved from their leisurely stance to attention.
“Cadmon, these are my most trusted men, Lieutenant Kory Donnlan and Lieutenant Derrick Staffard. Kory, Derrick, you will escort this man as a prisoner however remember he is our guest. As soon you your tent is erected make an extra bunk in your quarters for him.”
“As you wish General.” Kory said and gave Ruark a quick bow.
Cadmon handed Derrick his sword and dagger. “Prisoners do not carry weapons.”
“Good point.” Derrick said and gave Cadmon an untrusting look as they led him out.
Celtic Rain (The Battle Raven Series) Page 33
