“Ar ais sláinte”—Return health.
I whispered and continued to hold her gaze. She inhaled sharply and held her breath. A few seconds later her body started to relax under my touch. The bleeding ceased, her skin mending effortlessly. I closed my eyes, feeling the magic recede back to my essence. Opening my eyes once more, I stood to my full height.
“Art, call on the warriors that remain, all that are well and healed. Have them gather the wood and prepare the bodies of our fallen for the funeral pyre. We shall offer them one final blessing and release their essence before we leave. The Àrd-shagart and I will be there briefly,” with a curt nod he turned on his heel hurrying towards the others. Eisha, now fully healed, stood to follow behind him. Before she could turn, I took her into my embrace feeling her instantly stiffen. I held her tighter. She was trying to remain strong. What was to come would be a long and arduous journey. Reluctantly, she let her arms hold my sides in her attempt to accept my hug. I kissed her forehead before I spoke.
“I will pray for his soul to be renewed and live on. You shall not worry. He will be at peace… I am here for you, a chara”
She nodded and left my arms, wiping another tear that escaped her. She cleared her throat but did not speak. She could not. She offered a lesser smile than what in a common day would illuminate her eyes, then turned and fell in step with Art to fulfill her duty.
“Brother,” I called after him, “we need not waste time. We must begin our new journey at once.”
The scene I encountered when I enter the hut was one of solace, but I knew in my heart a few moments ago that had not been the case. Bloody rags covered the soil under my feet. And a few brother warriors still waited to be healed. Their injuries were great, but in no time they would be well. I spotted the High Priest sitting on a wide trunk at the end corner of the room and walked hastily towards him. The thundering of my heart finally disappeared as I noticed he was unharmed and well. The blood on his white robe was not his own. He would never heal himself before healing the others. I fell to my knee before him.
“Mo meantóir”—My mentor. I said, placing my right hand on my heart and bowing my head to him. A sign of unwavering respect, offered only to the High Priest.
“Rise, Mo mhac”—My son. “No need to kneel before me. I am pleased to see you are safe,” he answered, motioning for the next warrior to come to him for healing.
“Ar ais sláinte,—Restore Health” he said placing his hands on Cathair’s left leg. It was bleeding profusely. A deep gash covered most of his thigh. Light emanated from Mo meantóir’s palms and Cathair clenched his teeth, his fists trembling as the injury began to heal.
Although we could restore the health of almost any wound, the practice was painful for the patient. Fundamentally, we were reversing the act that had caused the injury. As a result, the person being healed would feel the pain of the wound as they did when it was inflicted, until it vanished. We could vanish the pain with magic, but a warrior would never ask for such sympathy. Enduring the pain nourished our kinship.
I looked up, rising from the ground and took the spot beside him as I began to assist with the healings.
*
Once we were finished, we headed to the beach to meet the others. My thoughts were lost and my mind kept replaying our final moment in the village. After saying the prayer and performing the blessing at the funeral pyre, we returned to the Àrd-shagart’s hut. With a heavy heart, I watched the High Priest gather the sacred book, with which he had taught elemental magic and the way of the Druids to me when I was a boy. Something I was never meant to learn, especially as a warrior. Nevertheless, he had harbored the grace to bestow it upon me because of my gift. He also took the manuscripts that documented part of our existence in all existences. Knowledge passed down prudently through generations, to the descendant of the High Priest only. Or in lack there of to the one deemed worthy enough to be chosen as Leader and new High Priest of our clan. The Orderof the Druids.I observed while he collected his Spioradálta iris—Spiritual journal, placed his lips upon it and whispered a prayer. The journal shimmered and locked. He placed it inside a leather sac with the other manuscripts.
Before I realized it we were at the beach, my feet sank into the sand with every step I took. The boats were ready, and the beach was filled with the remainder of our Druid family, ready to depart to our next home. Wherever that may be. I prayed it was a place where we would find refuge. I counted our numbers as the aching inside my chest grew. One-hundred and forty-seven brothers and sisters had formed our village. Now, only seventy-two people remained. Over half our clan was gone in one night. In one single night.
I looked towards the horizon realizing the first light of dawn was almost upon us. We needed to leave.
“Mo mhac”—My son.
The High Priest’s voice took me from my thoughts. His hand rested on my shoulder. I turned to face him as he looked into my eyes with purpose.
“I need you to heed my words wisely. I have prayed to the Goddess for guidance and she has shown me the truth. We must part ways to ensure our people can survive.”
My heart started to race at the implication in his words. He could not expect me to leave my people. I needed to protect them.
“No,” I said stubbornly, “we stay together. It is the only way I can protect you. The only way I can make sure we all survive this. Dividing our family will only make us weaker. We need to count on each other. I just need a moment to construct a new strategy.”
He remained silent with an expression I was not able to read. Then his reason dawned on me, and I understood. My throat constricted, I had failed him.
“Please trust that my warriors and I can keep our people safe. Do not lose faith in me Mo meantóir, please,” I begged. “I promise I shall not allow this to happen again. I will protect you all. Give me another chance to prove myself to you.”
He shook his head, his eyebrows creasing in bewilderment.
“Cynwrig, do you believe you are to blame for what happened tonight?”
I could not muster and answer because I did share blame. If I had woken up before the attack began. If I had kept vigil outside the village with my warriors like I had the last few nights. If I had not allowed them to talk me into resting… I lowered my head in shame, unable to hold his gaze.
“Mo mhac, look at me,” he asked. His voice soft and understanding. When I failed to do so, he placed his left hand on my neck making me raise my head. When I did, he rested his forehead to mine. I placed my hand on his neck as we had done many times before. It was a sign of respect but more than that, of brotherhood.
“You are not to blame for what the Romans did tonight. We are alive thanks to you and your warriors and do not allow misgiving to convince you otherwise. I will never lose faith in you, Mo mhac. I have watched you grow up and have seen you train for a fight you did not wish, but understood might be necessary. You have deprived yourself from sleep and nourishment, innumerable times to protect our people. I know your heart.”
“But Gildas…” I trailed off not able to finish the sentence.
“Gildas is at peace. His essence has been released to the earth to be transformed so he shall live on. We shall not lament his passing for he is with our Earth Mother now, and soon he will live again,” he nodded and he continued. “You must divide the people creating new clans, and assign warriors to protect each group.”
My gaze roamed the faces of my people, while focusing on Mo meantóir’s words.
“I shall assign seven warriors to be spearheads. Two extra warriors shall go with each of them for support. The people will have to be allotted into clans of ten. I shall take the two remaining brothers with me. You and Leigh shall be part of my clan. Eisha & Art will be my support. We will keep you protected,” my gaze returned to him and found him shaking his head once more. The way he regarded me said his decision was final.
“I cannot leave you, Mo meantóir,” was all I was able to declare before his words silenced
me.
“Cynwrig, Mo mhac, you must not allow your love for me to surpass your duty to our people.”
“Forgive me,” I whispered ashamed. Dejected, I resigned myself to his wishes. He was the High Priest.
“We all must disperse and lead a different cluster. I will have two of your warriors with my clan. We will be safe.” He paused for a moment as if to consider his next words carefully.
“We will need to take different paths. Live apart for a period until we can determine that it is safe to unite again. We shall see each other in ár sráidbhaile mháthair—our mother village—after two winter solstices have come and gone.”
Astounded by his decision, I could only stare at him. Before I even had a chance to protest, spoke again.
“Cynwrig, listen to me, Mo mhac. There is no time for quarrels and there is something more significant you must do.” The look of urgency in his eyes and the tone of his voice killed any objection I may have harbored.
“Anything you need my Àrd-shagart,” I answered, bowing my head.
Suddenly his eyes grew soft as he gazed at me with the look of the past. “Mo mhac, do you remember when you were a boy and you found my Spioradálta iris?
I nodded, confused by the change in topic as he continued, his eyes seemed lost in the past.
He smiled wistfully, “You have always been strong in the ways of magic, Cynwrig. Your essence… There is something within you.” He became quiet for a moment then placed his hand on my shoulder. “Your pet lizard was dying so you went into my hut looking for my help, but I was not nearby. You found my journal, searching for something that could help him. You wanted to heal him but did not know the words, and you discovered a different prayer instead.”
His gaze on mine was intense, urging me to remember. Then it softened.
“The poor blessed animal was running around the village well after his natural time.” He said with a bit of amusement.
My eyes widened as the memory came to me.
“Banna síoraí,” I whispered and saw him nod once in confirmation. My mind raced with the implications as my heart began to beat harder. “You want us to perform the eternal bond rite? But that would make us…” I trailed off baffled by his request.
“Immortal,” he finished for me.
“I do not understand, you warned me against it. You said that it was imperative that I remembered the order of life and respect it. That it was something not to be taken lightly, and it should only be performed when there was great need for it. No other option.”
A burdened sigh escaped him, “Our brothers and sisters are being hunted and killed across the lands. They are dying. We might very well be the last of the order of the Druids. We need to find a way to protect our legacy. Our teachings. Our people. This is that moment, Mo mhac. There is no other option.”
I nodded as I received the truth in his words. Once again, I studied the faces of my Druid family.
“I am not sure I am strong enough, Mo meantóir.”
He smiled. “You are Cynwrig. I have seen you do things never done before your time. And you have something none other performing that rite has ever had the privilege to do. You can connect with my essence and Leigh’s. You can channel our energy and harvest strength from us. Our Earth Mother will do the rest.”
“But that will weaken you. If I harvest your strength you will be susceptible to…”
“We will have time to recover on our journey. We will be safe.”
*
I looked around at the faces as my feet dug into the sand connecting my essence to the earth. My Druid family stood together forming prayer circles, one within the other in a repeated pattern. I stood in the center of the circles and opened myself to the magic within. With Leigh standing behind, and the Árd-shagart in front of me. I took a deep breath connecting to their essence. Instantly, I could feel the pulse of energy intensifying within my body. The familiar rush of magic surged, amplified by their connection. The power swirled and crashed, like the mighty waves of the ocean. It traveled to recesses of my being that had never been reached, and awakened every cell of my body. Connecting me to the Goddess, our Earth Mother in a way it never had before. The copper hue engulfed my vision, and my irises glowed.
As my brothers and sisters held hands, linking the prayer circles and enclosing the energy, I looked towards the sky. I could feel the breeze on my skin. My hands illuminated and I extended my arms upwards and began to pray, raising my voice loud enough for all to hear.
“Grant Oh Mother, what I ask today,
From my essence to yours, I beg for your protection,
Earth our mother, hear my plea, understand my need.
Bond our essence to yours, together as one.
One with the ocean, One with the sky,
One with the sun, One with the land.
Grant us life, Renewed life, Continued life,
Make us part of you, Together as one…”
“Bond our essence to yours, together as one. One with the ocean, one with the sky,
One with the sun, one with the land…
My family chanted while the wind began howling around us. The waves of the sea rolled high and splashed against the rocks, swaying the boats as the sky lightened. The rays of the sun filtered through, making his presence known. The energy flowed from the earth through me, and intensified my strength. The chanting grew louder.
“One with the ocean, one with the sky, One with the sun, one with the land…
The rush of power continued to build, electrifying my nerve endings and raising the hairs on the back of my neck. The energy expanded rapidly within, and my body began to feel light as air. My feet momentarily left the ground as the magic reached its apex.
“Together as one…”
Suddenly, the energy inside me exploded. The light illuminated my entire body, shooting out and covering my Druid family like a wave of power. The hue in my vision changed. It became all colors, then all colors became one. My feet returned to the sand, and my skin tingled with a different kind of awareness. I could feel all the elements as if they were actually touching my skin. My vision seemed enhanced. Everything became clearer and sharper. Although I felt weak after the exchange of energy I experienced, my body felt more… alive.
Something had changed inside me. My eyes traveled over my family while I assessed them. They settled on Art and Eisha who stood side by side. Their faces held the same expressions as the others. It was one of mixed emotions. Shock, confusion and amazement seemed to be the predominant ones among my people. It was the first time most of them felt the effects of the elemental connection. Yet this time it was different, even if they did not realize it. Their eyes glowed with the remnants of the magic, as they looked at their bodies in wonder. Surely, from feeling the same sensation I had just felt. Then it disappeared.
We gathered everyone and divided the clans. I assigned the warriors to guide and protect each, and we assisted the women, children and men onto the boats. I witnessed the boats filled with my Druid family sail one by one towards their new destinies. A light inside me dimmed.
When my brother Art and Eisha stood in front of me, blocking my view, I smiled. Art and I held each other’s necks and rested our foreheads together.
“Brothers in light and darkness,” we said in unison, and then let go.
My chest tightened. My brother and I had never been apart. He was the younger of us both and I had always been there taking care of him. But this was not about us. It was about our people. We had to protect them. After I paid the same respect to Eisha, I kissed her forehead.
“Stay out of trouble,” I said, winking at her. I smiled although the tightness inside my chest increased. We held hands and said our last blessing together, until we saw each other once more.
“ Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
/> Deep peace to you.”
“Until we meet again, brother.” Art said giving me a final hug.
Eisha and I shared the sentiment. I watched them get on their respective boats as Laochra ceannaire—warrior leaders.And sail away. I turned to find my boat and Mo meantóir’s ready and walked towards him to say my “until we meet again.”
Once I reached him, I dropped to my knee, placed my right hand on my heart and bowed my head in respect. When I lifted it, shock rendered me speechless to find him kneeling in front of me, his hand over his heart. His eyes shone, and his smile was burdened with the weight of goodbye.
He held my face in his hands as he spoke.
“Cynwrig, Mo mhac. Be vigilant and wise. Ask for direction from our Earth Mother when you feel lost. Continue to guide our family in their spiritual path. Protect them and do not forget. We shall see each other at the second winter solstice,” he released me and standing up, handed me something.
When I looked down at my hands, I saw what looked like a book wrapped in a cloth. My fingers trembled as I opened it. The detailed oak carving greeted me. I had seen it countless times yet it never ceased to enthrall me. The covering was made of fine sacred oak, carved to display the tree of life on the front. The roots of the tree converged and twisted into our clan symbol. Other Druid symbols adorned it all around it as well as on the spine. The back showed an essential carving, the Triquetra, which in our Celtic existence represented the triplicities of mind, body, and soul, as well as the three domains of our Earth Mother. Earth, Sea, and Sky.
“My Spioradálta iris, it is yours now. It shall guide you when I cannot,” he said as I looked into his eyes.
Holding my gaze, he repeated the words he had whispered on it while gathering his textbooks. “Mhàin airson an airidh”—Only for the worthy.
Hidden Magic: An Ancient Magic Novel Page 2
