A Witch's Quest

by Leigh Ann Edwards

  “Why do you not simply keep Danhoul within the realm of the gods so that he is protected or allow him to remain in the future in hope that Odhran cannot get to him?”

  “Danhoul would not be content to stand by and play no part in this, and he will be required to end Odhran’s evil once and for all, as will you, Alainn. It was determined millennia ago. But many other events must happen before the battle is fought. There are others who must be employed, the two other powerful witches from other times. There are wrongs that must be righted and you will need to find for your father for he is necessary as well.”

  Alainn had heard much of this before and she found herself losing patience at the tedious discussion when always only partial truths were revealed.

  “Why can you not simply tell me the whole truth of it? I have discovered my father is a searcher surely enlisted by the gods, so it is likely you know of his whereabouts. Inform me of that and what must be accomplished and be done with it!”

  “You must have patience, Alainn. We must establish and maintain a balance, must be certain that those who fight on the side of good will outweigh and overpower those with evil qualities. And at the moment you are not in any condition to fight the battle even if the others were here.”

  “What do you mean I am not in any condition? Is it because of the cursed blade?”

  “In part, that is the truth, but there is another concern. The gods cannot discern why you with your many premonitory abilities have not discovered it. Even now we search for a means to deal with the condition accordingly.”

  “Well then can you not simply inform me what it is?” She felt herself growing more fearful as well as impatient and consumed with frustration.

  “For now if you do not happen upon the information on your own, we believe it is best you not know.”

  “Then why did you so often allude to it, Aine? You rile me fiercely.”

  The god simply narrowed her eyes at her and did not respond.

  “Are you able to tell me how I might return to Killian?”

  Something in the goddess’ eyes at the mention of Killian had Alainn sorely fretful.

  The water suddenly turned a dark grey and began to swirl. Alainn lost sight of the goddess’ face for a moment as though the connection to the realm of the gods had been broken, but soon the water cleared and turned blue once more. When her face became clear again, Alainn asked, “What has happened to Killian?”

  Alainn glanced into the pond of water and was stricken with a clear vision of Killian in their bedchamber. His eyes were glazed and Alainn knew without a doubt he was filled with fever and his breathing was reminiscent of Mac’s breaths shortly before he died. Her heart lurched at the sight of Killian so obviously ailing.

  Killian’s image was soon replaced by an equally disturbing vision of Danhoul slumped over in a castle corridor. He held his palms to his head in pain, and it was clear he had spewed many times. His face was void of any color and his face filled with something nearing madness with the pounding in his head. Alainn reasoned if she did not get back to her world, both Killian and Danhoul would die.

  “Two of my guardians lie near death and my third cannot assist me in getting back to save them? Is that the truth of it?”

  “There are never actions without consequences. You chose to go to assist your friend with the birth of her child when you knew her time to leave this world was near. You took fate into your own hands when she was to die. Now there will be consequences for your interference and someone must take her place. You might have avoided this unpleasantness entirely if you had made the decision to stay with your husband and the young druid.”

  “How much time has elapsed since I left Castle O’Donnel for I am unable to aptly discern the passage of time when in another realm?” she whispered without addressing Aine’s serious accusations.

  “You have been gone nearly seven days? Your husband fell ill two days after your departure and the druid has been nearly incapacitated only hours after you left.”

  “A week, it has been a week, how can that be? I thought it was perhaps a day,” she whispered again as tears formed in her eyes.

  “You were in a deep sleep here in this realm for almost the entire time. Your experience in the demon’s realm has sapped your strength and your powers.”

  “Why can you not at least assist with Danhoul’s predicament for it was not me who placed the strict rule of distance upon him? That was on the gods.”

  “But you chose to leave all the same, young witch, when both men would have preferred you stayed. Your selfishness has caused this.”

  “I was selfish to feel the need to assist Margaret and her child? How can that possibly be perceived as selfish?”

  “You feel you can determine who might live and who might die. You knew within your heart that the woman was to die, you felt it with your powers and yet you interfered. The woman and her child lived therefore two other lives must be taken in exchange.”

  “Why was I given these powers and these visions if not to assist in saving those I might?”

  “You cannot save everyone. It is up to you to learn how to distinguish whether the visions are to allow you to assist, or simply to give you fair warning. Now you have caused your husband to suffer needlessly and surely lose his life, as well as the druid whom I realize you care much for as well.”

  “So I should have simply allowed Margaret and her child to die?” she lamented.

  Alainn sat down upon the ground in dismay and fearfulness. She felt a distinct darkness overtaking her and a hopelessness encompassing her mind and her heart.

  “If you wish to return to your husband you must first show me how you found your way to this realm, then you must return to the corridor, and unseal the portal. For in doing so that will open all others and you shall then find the one that leads to the human world. It is the only way. Go now and make haste for you may still be capable of saving the two of them.”

  Something in her mind and her heart told her not to trust these visions or to heed Aine’s words. Why did Aine refer to her as a young witch, and Danhoul as the druid rather than their given names? Why did she want her to show her the enchanted stairway? It was then she realized something had changed surely when the water had turned dark.

  When she stared down into the pond for the briefest of seconds she saw that the reflection within the pond in true form, it was no longer actually Aine, but the dark demon in his hideous demon form, and behind him were Ciara and the witch’s coven.

  Chapter Thirty

  Alainn stood up and stared with unmasked hatred at the being’s reflection in water.

  “I nearly fell for your treachery you despicable beast. I almost allowed hopelessness and despair to consume me which was surely your intention, but you are sorely mistaken, demon. I will never allow you to take me or my soul nor to keep me away from Killian!”

  With that she closed her eyes, allowed her heart and mind to be filled with power and love and hopefulness. She thought of Killian’s green eyes, his warm smile, and strong powerful arms. She imagined herself within those arms and then allowed herself to be transported back to him.

  As she was pulled through the realms by way of her magic, Alainn saw Aine’s face appear before her and she wore an expression of pride. Her strong voice spoke to Alainn as she careened through the supernatural realms.

  “You have passed one of the most difficult and challenging of the gods’ tests, Alainn. It was their intent to discover if your magical powers have grown and adapted in order to ensure your safety. We sent you to the realm of hopelessness and you discovered a way to escape. You did not wallow in your despair but searched for a means to leave. You aptly found the enchanted staircase. You did not fall victim to the soulless beings, the ones who are dead, yet undead. You used your fear and your uncertainty to benefit you and even believing your husband and Danhoul might be near death, your magical abilities were employed in a way that would see you safe.

  “At one time your
powers would have failed you when in such emotional turmoil. It is possible the council of the gods may require further challenges and tests to ensure us you are capable even during perilous and emotional times, but I have discouraged them from this. I feel you are nearly ready. Once we discover a way to address your present unfortunate condition it shall be nearly time for you to be sent to the future to search for the others and right the wrongs so the final battle may be fought.”

  Alainn, even in her presently incapacitated state in being hurled through the realms, felt resentment and enragement that the gods would cause her such cruel torment as a means of testing her. They allowed her to believe Killian was dying and for that they would never be forgiven. It had been a long while since the gods had tested her. They’d been back in England then, and when she dwelled upon that time, when their trials and tests had caused her to question her mind and everything she saw or heard she became more infuriated. She hadn’t had any contact with the gods or anyone from their realm since that time for they’d been predisposed with a raging war in their realm. She presumed peace must have prevailed again in their realm if they were back to testing her with their damnable trials. She was so enraged at the moment she wasn’t certain she would allow herself to ever simply do their bidding on their say so. She would need to learn more regarding this matter, but for now she must get home to Killian and discover what was actually the truth and what was simply the deception of the gods and their infuriating tests.

  “You’re truly not ill? You’ve not become filled with fever?” Her voice trembled as she hurried toward her husband. He was standing by the gate that led to the graveyard when he spotted her and he, too, was obviously relieved.

  “No, I am well, Alainn. What made you believe otherwise? Have you had a vision that indicates I’ll become ill?” he said as he met her part way and immediately pulled her into his arms.

  “I am simply much relieved you are well,” she said, and by how desperately she clung to him, he was certain to be well aware something distressing had happened when she’d been gone.

  He held her tightly in his arms and returned the affectionate embrace.

  “I am relieved to know you are back here as well, Alainn. Though I am no seer, I had an ominous feeling about it from the beginning for I had the strongest indication you would be unable to return.”

  “You were correct for it was not an easy journey home to you, and not without many pitfalls. How long have I been gone, Killian, for I have no notion what time has actually passed since I left?”

  “A few hours. Enough to render Danhoul entirely useless, but I finally filled him with enough drink so that he simply passed out. He’ll possibly have a throbbing head when he awakens, but I reasoned it saved him some pain in the meantime.”

  “You saw him filled with drink?”

  “Aye, well I thought it was a better solution than hitting him over the head and knocking him unconscious. It bought him a reprieve while you were gone. It would appear he is much intent on filling himself with drink recently at any rate. He’s been giving Riley a run with how often he’s at the drink.”

  “Aye, I am much aware of the frequency Danhoul partakes in drinking in the past weeks since we returned from England.”

  She then glanced toward the freshly dug grave and recalled Mac would be laid to rest the following morning.

  “Cookson and Lily remain on the road to recovery?” she questioned, averting her eyes from the open grave.

  “Aye, and your grandfather and Riley continue to improve as well for I’ve seen them this day. There has been no further fever recently reported. Perhaps this damnable sickness has finally nearly run its course.”

  She nodded as she still held tight to him and inhaled his welcomed masculine scent.

  “What news have you of Margaret and the babe, Alainn?” he asked as he placed his chin on her head and they remained holding one another.

  “Mara and I saw to it that wee Seamus Kilkenny was safely delivered. Margaret is much improved and was greatly relieved to be able to hold her babe for she had become resigned to the death of both she and the boy-child.”

  “You have saved two more lives, Alainn. I am wed to the most beautiful and magical witch. You’d have to possess magic to keep up the pace you’ve done these past weeks.”

  Their eyes both went to the unearthed grave.

  “I told Pierce and Molly of Mac’s death, and that Molly carries a child.”

  “She carries their child? Sure those glad tidings must have brought them some joy and comfort on such a difficult day,” Killian declared as they reluctantly ended their embrace and walked hand in hand toward the castle.

  They were greeted near their bedchamber by a red-eyed Danhoul with an affable broad smile on his face.

  “’Tis so good to have you back Lady Alainn.” He smiled a lopsided grin at them and she smiled at his referral to her as a lady. “Sure me and my achin’ head are equally happy to see you back safely.”

  “Come to me on the morrow and I’ll tend to the fuzzy aching head you’ll have from the drink,” she suggested with a smile.

  “Aye, I’ll do that.” He grinned again. “So you saved Margaret and the babe as well as thwarting the demon’s attempts to steal you away on two more occasions. You passed the god’s damnable tests?” Danhoul commented in a slurred tone.

  She simply nodded and glanced at Killian as he stared down at her with concern. She avoided his eyes and replied to Danhoul.

  “I suppose that is an accurate assessment.”

  “It is certain you learned some valuable information during those infernal tests,” Danhoul claimed.

  “I have come to discover that we were surely mistaken regarding the woman we thought was Ciara from the future. I believe she is perhaps an older sister to Ciara or perhaps even her mother, and that she was indeed dead at one time, but that perhaps she is somehow alive again at least in some capacity.”

  “What?” both men asked in notable confusion and Danhoul appeared to be considerably soberer upon hearing this disturbing possibility.

  “I do not pretend to understand any of it. I only know that I met up with more than a few of the dead who remained able to aid the demon as they did in life. The others are perhaps bound to the demon’s realm, but the woman I think is not.

  They all stood in silence for a moment considering that disturbing possibility before Alainn spoke once more.

  “She is not a spirit, not like Shylie or Diadra, she is dead, but still within a human body and able to do the demon’s bidding somehow. It is much regrettable that Glynnis is not here to offer what information she might have given us. Therefore, I must speak with those who knew Ciara’s mother, but not this night. This night will be better spent with my husband.” She smiled sensually at Killian, and Danhoul in his intoxicated state simply waved to them and left alone.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  “It is imperative you tell me what you know, Eibhein,” Alainn insisted. “I was told that Ciara’s mother died in child bed in birthing Ciara. Is this truth?”

  The midwife had spent the past three decades assisting women during their birthing time and she was apparently credited with seeing nearly five thousand children brought into the world.

  The short, small-boned woman appeared childlike herself, so short in stature was she. She seemed disinclined to want to speak of Ciara or her mother.

  “I am told you were a friend to Glynnis,” Alainn continued to speak though the other woman had yet to reply.

  “Glynnis and I were well acquainted. To say we were friends would be an exaggeration,” she finally responded. “We respected the other’s position in the village and here at the castle. She was knowledgeable in healing and I know how to ably assist in childbirth. I do despair to hear that she may have met an unpleasant end.”

  Alainn nodded her agreement.

  “Did Ciara have a sister?”

  “No, Glynnis’s daughter, Oonagh only ever gave birth to one child, Ciara,
” she said with some distaste.

  “You are not fond of Ciara?” Alainn questioned.

  “She has always been a distasteful, unlikable woman, but at times she seems filled with a darkness bordering on evil,” Eibhein said in a whisper. “Her mother Oonagh was given to darkness as well.”

  “And did Oonagh die in giving birth to Ciara or of child bed fever?”

  “She was near death when I left to attend to another woman. I remember that night well. No one could ever forget that accursed night. It was during a full moon, and not just a typical full moon, but a blood moon with a large dark red ring around it. Babes oft seem inclined to arrive during a full moon, but that night there were a dozen babies born. All females, and though each of the newborns lived, not one of the mothers survived.”

  “None of the mother’s lived? I realize that many women meet their end in carrying and birthing a child or in the days that follow, but twelve women on the same night that is entirely peculiar isn’t it?”

  “Aye, it has been said there was a curse on those who gave birth that night.”

  “I would be inclined to agree. Though I have not dealt in midwifery often and I know the risks are high in childbirth, I would suggest there was some form of dark magic afoot that night.”

  “Aye, I have always suspected as much. For not one woman died days later of child bed fever as is often the way of it, they all died either in giving birth or in perilous blood loss immediately afterwards.

  “Glynnis was there with Oonagh and she was inconsolable when we could not stop the bleeding for Oonagh was all she had. Glynnis had no family to speak of, never had a husband. It is believed, though never actually confirmed by Glynnis, that Oonagh was a product of rape. Yet Glynnis did not appear to disfavor the child because of it. She doted on her and trained her to be a healer. But Oonagh was a most unusual sort, she was always given to a dark nature, she had a distinct darkness about her even as a child, and I am not ashamed to admit, I feared her.