The scout, p.17
The Scout, page 17
Desires of the Future
Alannah
My arm was likely broken in two places. Dara had at least discerned that, though it was beyond his skill to heal. Lorcan had sent him to find me after I had confessed to him the severity of my injuries through our blood bond. Dara had stumbled across me a few miles out from our temporary camp within the bounds of Ioliare. I’d fainted the moment I’d seen him, thankfully already in my human form, and woken on the back of his horse.
We were riding with haste to Beag at Lorcan’s command. We were close enough to the village, and my injuries required Aengus’ skills. I’d barely maintained consciousness as Dara’s grey gelding galloped through the forest and only his strong arm around my waist was keeping me in the saddle. It was still dark, though I suspected dawn could not be far off. I could smell the smoke on Dara, a reminder of the ambush he and Lorcan had orchestrated on Drystan’s camp. According to Dara, our little band had come out the victors once again, thanks to Fianna’s creatures.
By the time Beag came into view, it took everything in me to hold back my tears. The jostling of the horse had made me want to scream with agony. Dara guided our mount to Aengus’ cottage, the hint of light on the horizon warning that dawn was not far off. He dismounted and then pulled me off the horse as well, carrying me in his arms as he made for the back door.
“Just hold on a little longer,” he told me quietly as he climbed the back steps.
He banged on the back door and we only had to wait a moment before Aengus answered. He was still in his sleeping clothes, but his eyes widened as he looked down at me, his face paling.
“Bring her in,” he told Dara, stepping back and motioning the other man inside.
Aengus had Dara bring me to the back room, instructing him to lay me on the bed while he ran to change and gather his healing supplies. I hissed, gritting my teeth as Dara eased me onto the narrow mattress.
“I can’t believe Bran did this,” Dara said, stroking a few strands of my bloodstained hair back from my face before letting out a low growl. “After everything Lorcan did for him and everything Cadfael did to your kind.” He had been fuming from the moment I had told him who had wounded me so gravely.
“Cadfael’s daughter has bewitched him,” I said, clutching the blankets as another wave of pain hit me, “but if the Spirits will it, he will have died the death he deserves.”
“If he has not already met such an end, I will make certain he meets it myself.”
Dara’s tone was cold with a tinge of something that made his words sound like more of a vow than a threat. Bran had made a fatal mistake in turning against us, one he would pay for. It was disgusting how easily he could give his loyalty to the man who had tried to see him killed instead of the one who had saved him.
The door to the room opened and I turned my head to see Aengus step inside room. He instructed Dara to light a few more candles as he came over to my bedside. As Aengus knelt down beside me, our gazes locked, and as I took in the concern in his eyes, some of my own fears eased. Aengus would not let me slip from this Realm to the next. He would save me.
Dara cleared his throat and my gaze flitted to him. He looked between Aengus and me with a frown.
“I need to take a look at this and see how bad things are,” Aengus said, his tone soothing as he gently took hold of my arm. “I’m afraid it will hurt.”
I clenched my jaw, managing a slight nod. He probed my arm and I couldn’t hold back my whimpers of pain as he did so. The tears that pricked my eyes left me feeling ashamed of my weakness and I blinked them back, willing them not to fall.
“Can you fix her?” Dara asked, coming to stand at the foot of the bed. “Lorcan will pay handsomely. She’s far too valuable for him to lose.”
“I can, but it will not be quick,” Aengus replied. “Three days, perhaps four. It will be best if she stays here so that I can tend to her.”
“I suppose do what you must,” Dara said, pressing his lips together. “I will stay here with her. For now, at least.”
I raised my brows, doubting that Lorcan would be willing to spare him for a full four days. “I will be fine here on my own in Aengus’ care. Lorcan will have need of you.”
“We’ll worry about such things later,” Dara said, waving his hand before looking back over at Aengus. “Just heal her.”
“I will work best without interruptions.” Aengus inclined his head toward the door, giving Dara a pointed look.
Dara scowled and for a moment, I thought he would argue, but he stiffly turned and strode out of the room.
You will use this time with him to your advantage, Fianna said, its voice drifting into my thoughts as Aengus began to pull out an assortment of items from a leather bag. You will draw him to you and by drawing him to you, you will draw him to our cause.
The Stag Spirit’s faint presence vanished almost as quickly as it appeared, but a warmth filled me as I watched Aengus out of the corner of my eye. While I would certainly rather not be in the current state I was in, I would have no qualms about spending more time with Aengus.
He once again placed his hands on my arm. “This will hurt at first. The mending of bones is not a simple thing, especially when they are broken in more than one place.”
I took a deep breath, nodding and bracing myself for what was to come. At first, I felt nothing more than the usual heat that came with his gift, but then that erupted into a fiery pain that left tears streaming down my face. Aengus spoke quietly to me as he worked, promising me that it would be over soon as he used his gift to knit my bones back together. When he finally took his hands away, the pain had begun to dissipate, and I let a sigh of relief.
“That’s enough of that for now,” Aengus said, bracing himself with his hands on the edge of the bed, his weariness evident in his voice and his drooping shoulders.
I swallowed hard, taking in a few deep breaths. He then pulled out a basin of water and strips of cloth, cleaning my cuts and gashes before covering them with a salve. I let my eyes flutter shut as he bandaged my wounds and to my surprise, a few moments later, I felt him brush the hair back from my brow. His hand lingered along the side of my face and a pang of longing coursed through me. I opened my eyes to look up at him, holding his gaze.
“Get some rest,” he murmured. “I’ll be back to check on you later.”
As his hand fell away, I felt the absence of his touch like a physical jolt. But I will have days with him, I reminded myself. Dara’s presence had the potential to complicate matters, but I intended to use every moment of our time together to my advantage. I would make him want me. I would make him see what he could do with the blood that ran through his veins. We would dream of the future Fianna could help us create together.
I watched him as he gathered up his things, my thoughts racing with what that future could hold, but soon exhaustion overtook me. The last thing I felt as I drifted off to sleep was Aengus’ hand stroking my hair. He would be mine soon and one day, Blaidd would be ours.
Chapter 26
Defiance
Seren
The forest was pitch black and heavy mist obscured the narrow path in front of me. In the distance, I heard the clanging of blades and the thud of arrows hitting flesh. I pushed through the mist, trying to find my way to the battle that I could hear raging, but a wall of flames erupted in front of me, forcing me to skid to a stop.
The air grew thicker, leaving me gagging. The leg that bore the scars from Fianna’s creature burned as the fire swirled and sparked in front of me. A shape began to form in the flames, a giant stag made of smoke and ash with flaming antlers. I stumbled backward, trying to dart away, but another wall of flames stopped me.
“Do not think that you are going to alter fate this time, little mortal,” Fianna said, its voice making me cringe as it grated on my ears. “I will have your life; I will have your father and his war band’s lives; and I will have the life of your little shifter.”
The noises from the battle grew louder and I could see the tops of the trees going up in flames. An angry cry broke from my lips as I desperately looked for a way out, but a circle of flames rose up from the scorched earth and surrounded me, pinning me in place.
Fianna gave a rasping laugh before merging back into the flames from which it had come. The circle of fire around me grew even taller, trapping me where I was. Through the haze of flames and smoke, I could see shadowy figures fighting as the forest continued to become an inferno.
My stomach clenched and my heart pounded in my ears. The flames around me were so high, I had no hope of escaping the prison Fianna had locked me in. The cry of a hawk made my whole body tense and I ducked just in time to avoid the creature’s talons as it swooped down on top of me.
The hawk careened around, only to fly back at me again. A ferocious growl came from behind me and I barely had time to look over my shoulder as a large grey wolf leapt through the flames. It snapped at the hawk, the two creatures engaging in a fierce battle.
I had no time to try and intervene on the wolf’s behalf, however, as another being stepped through the circle of flames, this one far more sinister and deadly. The shadow creature stalked toward me, letting out eldritch shrieks and hisses that raised the hair on the back of my neck. My leg burned as if it were on fire as the creature bared its fangs. I remembered the pain of sharp teeth sinking into my flesh.
The wolf and hawk were still locked in their deadly battle, a blur of flapping feathers and snapping teeth. The shadow creature drew in close to me, its shoulders bunched. My heart was in my throat, the creature moments away from launching itself at me, but suddenly the ground rumbled and shook, throwing me off balance.
I tried to scramble back up onto my feet. As I did so, my hands brushed against smooth wood. A longbow, one etched with running wolves and raging rivers, lay on the ground at my feet. I didn’t think. I grabbed the weapon and the quiver laying underneath it. Leaping up, I pulled an arrow from the quiver and nocked it. I centered my breathing, adjusted my stance, and loosed.
To my utter shock, the arrow dug deep into the creature’s shoulder. It let out a shriek, shaking its head as black blood oozed from its wound, and then launched itself at me. My second arrow imbedded itself in the creature’s neck and it stumbled to its knees. I loosed again, putting my third arrow right between its eyes. It slumped to the ground, unmoving, as it slowly disintegrated into a pile of ash.
Whirling around, I confronted the wolf and hawk still engaged in their deadly battle. Both of them were wounded, blood covering their bodies, but neither was willing to admit defeat. I nocked another arrow, focusing directly on the hawk’s heart, but the creature dodged it. My arrow clipped its wing and it screeched in rage before flapping back high into the sky.
I raced to the wolf’s side as it collapsed. I fell to my knees beside it, knowing without a doubt as I placed a hand on its bloodied back that it was Bran. His sides heaved and his eyes were only partially open. Tears streamed down my face as his blood stained my skin—
The first noise I heard as I was thrust back into the Mortal Realm was the loud crash of a goblet hitting the stone floor of the Great Hall. Ale spilled everywhere, splattering the skirt of my dress and my leather boots, but I barely registered it. My breathing was fast and uneven as I struggled with the usual disorientation. A fiery pain seared through my right leg, leaving my stomach churning, as if I were feeling the bite from Fianna’s creature all over again.
“Seren?” Sioned placed a hand on my arm, making me start. “What did you see?”
I swallowed hard. “Darkness.”
Cian, who was seated on the other side of me, had already begun to clean up the mess I’d made with my drink. I went to bend down to help him, but he waved me off.
“It’s alright,” he said. “I’ve got it. Just give yourself a minute.”
I nodded, straightening and letting out a shaky breath as the memories of the haunting vision swirled around in my thoughts. I rubbed my right thigh with an unsteady hand. The pain was at least dissipating, now down to a dull ache. Few people survived a wound from a shadow creature and Cian had told me that they often never truly fully healed.
“Here,” Sioned said, passing me a cloth napkin and angling her head toward my ale-covered dress.
I took it and did the best I could to soak up as much of the ale as possible. Hopefully the dress itself wasn’t ruined. A servant had come over and helped Cian clean up what remained of my mess and I was given a fresh goblet of ale. Most everyone in the hall had at least gone back to eating their dinner. It wasn’t the first time I’d had a vision in the middle of a meal. Across the table, Domhnall was watching me intently, his brow slightly wrinkled, and Laoise kept stealing glances my way as she spoke with Arwel.
“You’re sure you’re alright?” Cian asked.
“I’m sure,” I replied, turning my attention back to my half-eaten plate of food.
I ate a bit more, but my stomach was too unsettled for me to make much of a dent in my meal. Father was in deep discussion with Ithel, the two of them apparently having tired of scowling at me after my initial disruption, and instead had returned to whatever they’d been talking about all night long. I needed to speak with him, but I also needed to him to listen to what I said and what I had seen. Interrupting him in the middle of a talk with one of his advisors would be a surefire way to start the conversation off on the wrong foot.
Still, I knew I couldn’t wait long. That vision had been a warning, I had felt that clear in my bones, but it had also held answers as well. Rhonwen’s bow had killed the shadow creature, just as it had done in the legends. Could it do so again? Ithel finally turned his attention away from Father, turning to talk with Arwel, and I seized my chance.
“Father,” I said, “I need to speak with you. After the meal.”
“Whatever it is can wait until morning.” His waved one hand and shoveled a large spoonful of lamb stew into his mouth.
“I am afraid that this cannot wait.” I held his gaze, my jaw tight, despite the glower he fixed me with.
“Yes, it can.” He shoved his spoon into his bowl so hard that flecks of broth splattered onto the wooden table.
“I have concerns for Drystan and the war band.” If nothing else would get his attention, perhaps that would.
“Do you think I chose that man as my warrior chief because he is incapable?” Father scoffed. “Whatever your concerns are, they are unwarranted.”
“And yet Seren sees things that others do not,” Mother said, sitting a bit straighter in her seat as she cut Father a sharp look. “It would not kill you to listen to her.”
He snarled at her, his grip on his goblet so tight that his knuckles grew white, but Mother didn’t wither under his gaze. She looked every inch the Banrion of Blaidd as she stared him down and I felt a slight bit of pride well within me. It had been good to see her taking her place more and more. And truth be told, I admired her greatly in moments like this one.
“Seren’s judgement is obviously not to be trusted,” Father snapped. “She has proven that over and over again.”
“You are a fine one to speak of judgement.” Mother arched a brow before taking a sip of her ale, her calm tone a contrast to Father’s irate one.
His face reddened as he spluttered at her, letting out oaths I’d never heard him utter at her before. Mother ignored him, though I noticed tension creep into her shoulders. My own anger rose at the insults he hurled and beside me, Sioned’s expression had turned hard. With one last curse, Father dug back into his soup with force, making a mess as he did so. Cian awkwardly moved a few peas around on his plate and Sioned swished her drink in her goblet, her movements stiff with agitation. An uncomfortable tension had come across the table. I picked at my stew, keeping an eye on Father. He was in a mood, that was clear, but the clan didn’t have time to wait for him to get over his petulance. He needed to know what I had seen, and he needed to act.
I waited until he got up from the table before bidding the rest of the table goodnight and following behind him. No one stopped me. Warriors opened the double doors for him and he stormed out of them while I followed close behind on his heels. I caught up with him in the entryway, calling for him to stop, only to have him ignore me.
“Father!” I shouted again. “I need to speak with you. This matter cannot wait.”
“I do not have time for this, Seren,” he retorted, lengthening his stride.
I muttered an oath of my own in Old Pernish, jogging to catch up with him.
“You might not have time for this, but I assure you that Fianna does,” I said as I reached him, fighting to match his swift pace. “What I saw tonight showed danger, but it also showed a way to perhaps stop this darkness. Drystan needs to be aware of—”
“Damn it, Seren, that is enough!” Father turned to me so abruptly that he almost knocked me over. His hands curled into fists and he narrowed his eyes. “Do you think I’ve forgotten the last time you demanded a need to act on a whim and warn Drystan of some perceived danger?”
“There was danger. Had I not done so, you might not even be aware of Lorcan. I know that I am not infallible, but this is not the first time the Spirits have shown me something that could put an end to all of this. A way to get the upper hand on Fianna and Lorcan both.”
“And what is this mysterious solution that the Spirits have deemed to show you?” Father crossed his arms.
I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly and making myself hold his gaze. “I believe that Rhonwen’s bow could be used against Fianna and its creatures. I saw it destroy one of them tonight in my vision. The creatures are how Fianna sets its fire. Take them away and you will have crippled it.”
Father let out a mocking laugh, shaking his head. “It is a bow, Seren. An ancient one. Nothing more.”
I jerked my head back, stunned at his blatant disrespect. And not just of me, but of the Spirits as well. He should have known better. He was Blaidd’s Ri. He had made his own vows when he had taken that title, to protect the Wolf Spirit’s people and follow its guidance and wisdom.
