The sword of light, p.15
The Sword of Light, page 15
“But, sire!” she exclaimed. “We have been set upon time and time again and we don’t know where—”
“The men who attacked you on your journey here were Northmen. We found certain objects among their belongings—northern steel, emblems . . . They are those who, if our summations are correct, have slipped through by the coast to the rivers, a preliminary force meant to cause havoc. Nay, frankly, meant to kill you and Kylin and stop you from spreading word and creating defenses. Lass, I worry that you and Kylin take to the trail too often on your own!”
“We are wary, vigilant . . . and . . . um,” Kylin stuttered, wincing, “good and skilled at fighting for our lives?”
“And still you may not escape unscathed the next encounter.”
“Perhaps we are protected by the ancients,” Kylin said lightly. “And now, sire, we are with you and your warriors. Yet we all know that we must do what we do because this attack will come and—”
“Right,” Cillian said. “Eat! Bread, meats, fish . . . all is laid out. We will travel lightly and must be prepared for the length of the day and what lies ahead.”
They ate. Deidre tried not to look at Kylin.
She couldn’t forget the intimacy of their dream, of her behavior!
Soon enough, they were ready to leave. Grooms had tended to their mounts through the night and brought Cillian’s great warhorse and Daniel’s, too, to the front of the great homestead where they mounted up.
“Not everyone knows of the entries to the passageways,” he told them. “Through time, of course, through hundreds of years, the passages have changed. Some have closed by nature, some have been reopened. I suspect they will continue to change as time rolls on and on, be it for man, the gods or something new to come. There are three main entrances to the area we need. I believe that we’ll now take the western passage, and I can show you where warriors can await, ready to spring forth when others descend upon us. They will come, I believe, from the south and the east. We will guard the eastern entrance with the least number of forces. From the west, we will have a clear view of the great valley that stretches before the rise of the hills, and it will be our vantage point. You will see now what I’m saying and tell me if you believe that I am right.”
They left the horses upon a great hill.
It had been a long time since Deidre had come here and she didn’t see the entrance at first.
It was hidden by a clump of rich, long grasses and low-lying brush. But Cillian bowed to Daniel leading the way, protection before him, just as Deidre and Kylin came behind him, watching the rear.
“No enemy will show their faces today,” Cillian told them. “My people are honest!”
Daniel had a torch, lighting the way as they moved deeper and deeper into the darkness. She could see that there were torches that could be lit, set into the earthen walls, set there, she knew, for feast days, when they honored Father Patrick and his faith and also gave credence to what had been in the past.
Cillian had paused to show Kylin what seemed to be a room beneath the earth along the passage. Daniel had walked into it, explaining that once, he believed, it had housed ancient dead, now long part of the earth.
She stood alone in the passage, their one torch a distance away.
But as she stood there, it seemed that the darkness turned to silver, and she thought that her fairy creature, beautiful and shimmering, was before her.
And the creature seemed to whisper to her.
“It is here, lass, it is here that the moment will come. But you will have your sword and fear not, Deidre, for he will be at your side, and the magic of peace and goodness will guide you, even through the terror and violence.”
The silver creature spoke quickly . . . and she was gone.
Deidre stood alone in the darkness, once again wondering what was real and what tricks one’s mind might play upon one.
And yet . . .
She had the silver sword.
And thus far, it had proven true.
Just as . . . Kylin had proven to be true.
11
DANIEL SHOWED THEM the different nooks in the long passageway and as they walked along, they discussed logistics, numbers of warriors, the best places to keep troops in waiting, the best way for those within the great hills to burst out and ambush the enemy.
Kylin felt the touch of something from the time they entered the passageway, as if, indeed, something invisible lived within the darkness, but it wasn’t a sense that anything here was malevolent, rather that it had a connection to the magic of the sword, the spear, the cauldron or the stone.
They were welcome deep within the earth, and it was almost as if the invisible spirits were proud they had spoken in vision and dreams—and had been heard.
After a few hours of exploration, they were ready to move on.
Ten of Cillian’s warriors met them at the exit for the ride on to meet Declan, to request a private audience.
Kylin rode at the front of the line. Despite the warriors, he felt that he would be the first to know if danger threatened their party. But this would not be the best place for an enemy to come upon them. They rode with ten guards—on grounds that could at any time be filled with Cillian’s or Declan’s people, prepared to face their enemies.
They weren’t molested as they rode that day. And while Deidre had ridden at Cillian’s side for part of the ride, there was a point when she gently spurred her horse and rode up beside Kylin.
Dreams!
He hated to admit it, but he had been avoiding her as much as he could that day.
He had dreamed about her.
About her coming to him, touching him. And it hadn’t been a point when he’d needed to worry about his own behavior: she had been the one to come to him. And it hadn’t been just to be held.
In the dream she hadn’t come out of fear. She had come out of longing, need, desire.
And maybe even the fact that while they’d always shared an attraction, there had been that strange bitterness between them, until now, until they had both begun to understand the feelings of the other, and therefore . . .
He smiled, looking downward. It was possible to fall in love.
Was it possible to fall into like first? If so, they had. And being together, learning the heart and mind of someone, did that change attraction and admiration into something far greater, something both physical and deeply emotional?
He gritted his teeth hard as he rode, not daring to glance her way for several minutes.
The dream hadn’t stopped with a kiss. It had been incredibly intimate and erotic, almost as if it had taken place in a burst of magic greater than any shimmering presence.
A dream so real he had awakened and for several amazing minutes believed that it had actually happened.
“Kylin, are you all right?” she asked him.
He forced himself to look at her at last with a smile.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry. I’m thinking about the passageways, how we’re going to use them, logistics, numbers of men and warriors and . . . figuring out the best strategies,” he lied.
“Of course. I’ve been thinking myself. And I’ve been grateful that Cillian is so determined to be of so much assistance.”
“Cillian is a good man, a good rí. And he’s also aware that someone intends to take everything that is his birthright, ancient lands that he’s also fought to maintain. It’s an understanding of the danger all around us,” Kylin said.
“Of course. But I’m glad that he is with us as we seek our meeting with Declan. I mean, if my father and your father could be here, that would have been wonderful. My brother is an able commander, one of the best I’ve ever seen and I’m not just saying so because he’s my brother—I’ve heard others say the same. But it’s wise for our fathers to remain behind to help him.”
“I would be among those others,” he told her. “Aidan is an excellent commander.”
“You’re not just saying that because you’re riding next to me, right?” she teased.
He shook his head. “Your brother . . . like you, he’s as trained, competent and moral as your father.”
“Thanks,” she said lightly.
“Hold!” Cillian suddenly commanded. He pointed to a hill ahead of them. An array of warriors stood there, watching.
One of Cillian’s men raised his flag, showing them who they were.
They continued on without harassment.
Cillian moved ahead, approaching the guards and explaining that they needed an audience with the ard-rí. They were quickly brought to Declan’s private receiving chambers where one of his men was the first to enter, explaining that Cillian, Deidre and Kylin were there and wished to have a private interview with him.
Despite his position, Declan was still a caring man. He rose to greet them all with pleasure and affection.
And worry.
“What is this? We are warned, we have men moving throughout the country. All will provide troops to protect us here. What more is there?”
“I will let my young friends do the explaining,” Cillian said, extending a hand and deferring to Kylin and Deidre.
Kylin looked at Deidre and she said, “Sire, we have spent the morning with Cillian at the burial mounds, near here. We believe, as you know, that there will soon be a concentrated attack to shift the rule of law and our entire way and structure of life. And, as you know, we believe that someone on our emerald isle is complicit in this. Because of this, we feel that our battle plan must remain between a chosen few, and we believe that we have thought on this long and hard, spoken with our fathers and Cillian, and that we know how to best defeat those who will come upon us.”
“The sacred burial mounds?” Cillian asked with a frown.
Kylin stepped forward, “Aye, sire. As Deidre has said, we believe that we must concentrate our main forces in and around the mounds—”
“But the bulk of this horde must come from the sea,” Declan said.
“Indeed. And our fathers and Aidan O’Connor have seen to it that the neighboring people will come to the walled area of his castle and men there will have defenses that will repel the warriors who come. When they fail at taking the castle first, they will still come inland and we will have troops out to lead the way, should they not immediately take to the trails. To any coming upon us, taking Meath and land that is sacred to us for many reasons is the greatest way to destroy the hopes and morale of the people. And, sire, with Cillian and his man Daniel, we have devised movements that will give us the strongest possible positions so that we might win the fight.”
Declan nodded thoughtfully.
“There are rulers from other counties still here,” he said quietly. “Can you really suspect any of them of being a traitor—to me?”
“We just don’t know, sire,” Kylin told him.
“So, already, word has gone out. I am receiving warriors each day from other counties. How do you suggest we set this plan in motion?”
“We use our warriors, Cillian’s, and men who are your men, longtime loyalists to you, Ard-rí, for the passageways, those who will flank the onslaught of the enemy,” Kylin told him.
The information they were giving Declan was wise and tactical; he already knew that they believed beyond a doubt that there was a traitor on the isle.
But it seemed that their words pressed that truth into him in a painful way. He looked downward for a long moment and then looked up at them again.
“It will be as you say, and I will pray that all goes as we hope, that Eamon, Sigurd and Aidan are able to repel these invaders when they come. What will the plan be to assure them coming when we feel we have the advantage?”
“We will be on the outskirts with a small contingent, sire,” Kylin told him. “Deidre and I will make certain that they follow, thinking perhaps that they will quickly catch up with us and destroy us before they continue on their way. We will lead them to the hill where we will quickly disappear, where they will believe that they are still seeking a small contingent of warriors, and we will then have leaders who will meet them head-on while the others pour from the passageways to flank them, sire.”
Declan nodded slowly. “A good plan,” he murmured.
He rose, drawing imaginary lines on the floor. Declan knew the mounds well, and his queries then were regarding exactly who went where and how they would be utilized.
“I already have men here from nearby counties,” the ard-rí continued.
“Sire, we must be careful on who we send, only those who are your sworn people,” Kylin said. “And all others will front the enemy, which will quickly show those nearby if any are traitors. By the time they show themselves, we’ll be ready to take them down along with the foreign enemy.”
“I think it is our best possible plan,” Declan told them. “I am in agreement—still, I must know everything that you determined while walking in the passageways today.”
There was a knock at the door. One of the ard-rí’s retainers cracked the door open to the small council chamber.
“Enter,” Declan said.
“Sire, Angus was supposed to have left days ago, but apparently, he stayed on. I believe that now he’s about to leave to return to his own county. He wished—”
“I’ll go out and speak with Angus,” Deidre volunteered. “Kylin and Cillian can explain positions and tactics.”
She hurried out.
When she was gone, Kylin and Cillian worked with Declan, showing the various crypts and dug-out chambers within the passageways.
Kylin thought that the ard-rí was truly a great tactical man and one who knew the passageways as few others did; he listened, understood and had a few excellent suggestions for best utilizing their men, and for keeping as many alive as possible.
“When do you think this will happen?” Declan asked.
“Soon. I believe that we need to make arrangements to set our warriors into place swiftly, within the next day or so. Eamon is already bringing in supplies and people. We still have injured, and they were moving them a day ago when we left. But more than that, they’ll be ready to rain down fire upon those who come close to the wall and scatter their ranks.” He winced. Fire and boiling oil . . . horrible ways to die. But there was no help for it when an enemy was determined on your demise.
“We are prepared and ready to work with your men,” Cillian told him.
“There are men I will assign to you in the morning,” Declan told him. He looked from Cillian to Kylin. “And what shall I do about the counties’ leaders who are still here? Can I trust any of them?” Declan asked.
“I’d love to trust all of them,” Kylin said.
“As would I,” Cillian echoed sadly.
“Then it will be as you suggest,” Declan said with resignation. “I have gone nowhere on my own since you and young Deidre saved my life, Kylin, a fact for which I am eternally grateful. I didn’t want to believe that this could happen. Apparently, the powers behind this believe that perhaps getting rid of me early would speed along their conquest.”
“Aye, sire, and we were set upon again on our way here.” He glanced at the Rí of Meath and said, “Cillian sent men to retrieve the bodies. He determined they were Northmen.”
“In the morning, we begin, then,” Declan said. “I will have chosen men to accompany you as you return to the great Hill of Tara, honored by us all. Tonight, I hope you will enjoy the meal and entertainment we’ll have in the great hall. Young Kylin, I understand that congratulations are in order for you!”
“News travels with greater speed than a man can manage,” Kylin said.
“A neighbor tells a neighbor such news, and it does travel quickly,” Declan said. “My last meeting with Eamon was not so long ago and he told me that he didn’t intend to force his daughter into a marriage for an alliance or a great dowry or reason other than her own choice. So, young man, it seems she has chosen you over all the young leaders in the land. It will be good. She loves her brother, and Aidan deeply respects your father and the men and families who came here with him.” He smiled. “We can change so quickly. Over the years, so many peoples, so many tribes, have arrived here and as the decades go by, the strengths others bring become part of us. And, thankfully, in this case, a man who came from elsewhere may be the savior of our people.”
“My father,” Kylin said quietly.
“A very fine man. Well, you must celebrate this evening!”
“We are honored to be here,” Kylin said.
“Always,” Cillian agreed.
Declan nodded in acknowledgment of their words.
“And we’d best allow others your council now,” Kylin said. “Angus will not be happy being kept long from your presence.”
“I believe Angus will have been fine speaking with your betrothed,” Declan said dryly. “You are aware that he suggested an alliance to her father?”
“I am, sire,” Declan said.
“Then perhaps she needs to be saved from a deep discourse with the man. He can be . . . well, he speaks his mind, sometimes to the detriment of others. But he’s kept a strong hand on his county and if this invasion wasn’t imminent, his longing to increase trade between our shores might have been good for many.”
“We will tell him that you’re ready to see him,” Kylin said, smiling.
“If you see Berach, please tell him that we’ll ride today and speak as planned,” Declan said.
Kylin nodded.
Berach remained at the ard-rí’s residence. Did that mean anything?
With all the dreams and visions they were having, it would be so useful if something would tell them just who might betray the ard-rí and Éire.
Kylin headed out the door, respectfully holding it open for Cillian to follow.
He didn’t see Deidre. That instantly worried him.
He reminded himself that she was quite capable of caring for herself, that she carried her shimmering silver sword, her gift from a greater power.
