Celtic Mist: The Calm Before the Storm (Battle Raven Series) Page 13

  Stepping through the door they glanced around at the small sitting area. Kedryn held up a hand when he heard a conversation in another room. Niall motioned to a side door. As they stepped through the door Kedryn and Niall stopped in their tracks when they saw Bevin. She was sitting having tea with Paili and Kiara. Kedryn’s sword lowered and he raised it again when Lady Paili stood and drew a dagger from her belt. She motioned for Kiara to stand behind her.

  “Kedryn, Niall!” Bevin said as she stood up dropping her tea cup and ran to Niall giving him a hug and began to shed tears of joy.

  Muffled footsteps sounded from the sitting area and Kiara cautiously walked to the door and peeked in.

  “Lawler!” Kiara said as she rushed to the sitting area nearly knocking him off his feet.

  Kedryn looked to Lawler who got his balance back. He shrugged and said under his breath. “Women. I’m surprised you would even remember or recognize me.”

  “How could I forget my brothers annoying friend who used to pull my pig tails?”

  Kedryn walked to where Lawler and Kiara were quietly talking. “I need you and Cadmon to keep watch outside.”

  “It will be done.” Cadmon said as he walked past Kedryn and Lawler followed him out the door.

  Kedryn walked back in from the sitting area and looked to Paili who still had her dagger raised.

  Kiara walked up to her. “It is him, my lady.”

  Bevin looked to Kedryn and walked over to him. “Lawler is here with you?”

  “Yes.” Kedryn said and gave her a curious look as she fidgeted at the mention of Lawler’s name.

  The sensation of a tiny tingling was coming from something around his neck. Kedryn rested his hand on the falcon amulet. An uneasiness came over him and Kedryn looked around ready for guards to come bursting through the door.

  “Something wrong?” Bevin asked.

  “I don’t know.” Kedryn said as he looked around.

  Lady Paili was finally lowering her dagger and looked Kedryn in the eyes. “He is the one?”

  “Yes.” Kiara said.

  In his chambers Lord Faolan sensed something was not right. He had not felt Damon’s amulet since his return. Now he felt it’s presence and the wearer was not Damon. He relaxed and concentrated feeling that the man was in the Seer’s chambers. He took up his trident staff and walked over to a secret panel. He paused feeling druid magic begin to build near the seers chambers. Only a man with Druid blood in him he knew could draw on the power.

  As he strode through the passage Faolan silently opened a secret door and entered behind a tapestry. His eyes scanned the room and saw that Kiara who talking quietly to Lady Paili. There was no sign of the Druid Eion as he looked at the scene before him. He saw the Milesian

  woman who was helping care for Damon standing with two men who had drawn swords. One Faolan recognized as the late Lord O’Cuinn’s nephew and the other he was not quite sure who he was.

  Lord Faolan whispered to himself as he stepped out from behind the curtain and raised his trident. “It is time to dispense of this troublesome pest. I can not have interruptions of men trying to free the Seer any more.”

  As Lady Paili was lowering her dagger she raised it again when Kedryn rushed forward. “Kiara behind you!”

  Lady Paili turned as Lord Faolan’s deadly stroke was thrust at Kiara. Paili shoved her to the side and the trident sank into her chest piercing her heart. Paili looked into Lord Faolan’s eyes.

  “Farewell, my love.” she whispered as she fell to the floor. As she faded away, her last thoughts were of Damon.

  Lord Faolan let out a frightening wail and fled out of the room back through the way he came ripping the tapestry down as he fled. Faolan burst open the panel to his chambers and realized what he was doing. He let grief get in the way of vengeance and began to draw on his power.

  In his chambers Damon woke with a start and ache in his heart as he felt Paili fade.

  “NO!” He yelled and rolled out of his bed feeling the strain in his back. The ache in his heart overrode any pain he felt in his body. He rushed out of his chambers and noticed no guards were in the hall. He stopped at the sight of smeared on the floor in front of Kiara’s door. Damon shoved the door open to find Niall blocking his path. Pushing Niall aside he ran over to his sister where Kiara and Bevin hovered over her.

  He took Paili in his arms. “Get a healer. Bring her back. Please bring my sister back! Get a healer.”

  Bevin knelt down next to him. “It is too late Lord Faolan’s trident pierced her heart. There is nothing more we can do.”

  “Faolan? Where is he? Are you certain he did this!” Damon looked around furious at the other men in the room.

  Bevin took the hem of Paili’s dress and wiped away the blood. “Look at the wound. This was not done with a sword. The trident made that.”

  Everyone turned when Cadmon and Lawler entered. Lawler paused not quite believing his eyes when he saw Bevin.

  115

  “Let’s go. The guards have been alerted to our presence and I can feel Faolan drawing on his power. ” Cadmon said.

  Lawler raised his sword. “What is he doing here? Why is he still alive?”

  Lawler walked to where Damon knelt and Kedryn blocked his way. “I believe that is for Niall to decide.”

  Lawler backed up a step and turned to Niall.

  “We were friends in the past I can not. Do as you see fit.” Niall said and he walked out the door.

  “Be done with this quickly. Niall and I will see to any who come down the hall.” Cadmon said and walked out after Niall.

  Bevin took one of Damon’s hands. Her other hand took his chin gently and raised his face to look in his eyes. “Come with us.”

  “You can not be serious!” Lawler screamed at her. He unsheathed his sword picking Bevin up by the waist with one arm he moved her out of the way. She let out a small cry.

  Damon pulled Paili close. “Now that she is gone. Lord Faolan has lost his hold over me. I would rather die this way than receive the Blood Eagle.”

  “No.” Bevin whispered as she looked on. “Please Lawler, No.”

  Kedryn didn’t know the laws of this land and decided to let Lawler deal with Damon as he saw fit. As Lawler raised his sword Kedryn had a flash. Through spots he looked over at Bevin’s tear streaked face then to Lawler. The flash unsettled him. He concentrated and let his power flow and took a closer look at Bevin and Damon. As Lawler swung Kedryn’s sword clashed stopping the downward strike at Damon’s neck.

  “What are you doing?” Lawler asked looking at Kedryn in dismay “He must die.”

  “He comes with us.” Kedryn sternly said and took a side glance at Bevin. The relief on her face quickly faded when Lawler turned.

  “Now see here . . .” Lawler said and looked away from Kedryn when he heard someone rush in.

  Cadmon stopped before Kedryn. “We must hurry.”

  Kedryn looked around the room. “Discuss latter. Move now.”

  Cadmon peered out the crack of the door and down the corridor. “We can take the hidden passage to the kitchen. The halls are crawling with Firbolg.”

  Kedryn looked at the bodies on the floor then down the hall as heavy footsteps sounded. He jumped over the bodies and opened the panel. Kedryn watched as Damon picked up Paili’s body and followed them. Lawler gave him a look that shot daggers. Kedryn wondered if he would ever forgive him. He shut the panel behind Daman and they all held their breath as soldiers ran down the hall. When the footsteps faded Kedryn motioned to Cadmon.

  “Be as quiet as you can. Very few know about this passage.” Cadmon led them down the passage and paused as they heard shuffling. He looked around the corner and saw Firnir leave the passage and step into a room.

  “Where does that lead?” Niall whispered.

  “It is across from the throne room. Not much further.” Cadmon said as he hurried them down the narrow passage and stopped.

  “We must move quickly. I can sense Lord Faola
n shielding the castle so that we can not escape.”

  They rushed out the panel into the hall and past the flustered servants in the kitchen. Damon looked to the cook and she nodded motioning the staff to go about their business. Cadmon stopped at a small door and opened it a crack. He motioned for them to be silent. He shut the door, unsheathed his dagger and turned to them.

  “What was that?” Lawler asked moving towards Daman

  “What?” Damon said backing up.

  Kedryn stepped in-between them. “Enough. What do you mean?”

  Lawler narrowed his eyes. “With the cook?”

  “Long story. Just know she is on our side.” Damon said as he looked to Cadmon. “No what?”

  Cadmon closed his eyes. “I can feel Lord Faolan shielding the castle and using his power to lead the guards to us.”

  Niall glanced around. “What about traps?”

  “I know how to reveal them but not get rid of them. We must go by the soldier’s quarters and stables. There are no traps there.”

  “Why not?” Lawler narrowed his eyes.

  Kiara nudged him. “Simple silly. Soldiers, blacksmith and others roam that area. No one would be crazed in the head to try and escape that way.”

  “Except for us.” Niall said shaking his head.

  “Then the element of surprise will be on our side. I hope. Now what?” Kedryn said as he fingered his claymore.

  “That is what I’m counting on. Faolan would not expect us to escape that way. Beyond the stables there is a small deer trail that leads down the mountain. Niall, I will take the lead and you will follow to hide any tracks that we may leave.” He turned to Damon. “You can not carry her down the mountain it will slow us down.”

  Damon looked down at Paili’s lifeless body. “I will not leave her.” he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked at Kedryn.

  “Is there anyone you trust with her?” Kedryn asked.

  “I will take her to Zona and leave her with Aalia. That even may lead Lord Faolan and the General off of your trail.”

  Niall stepped up. “I will follow and he will most likely think we all translocated there.”

  “That may cause more problems for Aalia. Can you take care of the barrier?” Damon asked as he readied himself to translocate.

  Cadman concentrated. “Yes but if I do it will give away our position.”

  “Do it.” Kedryn said.

  Bevin walked up to him and closed Paili’s eyes. She grabbed the back of his head, pulled him to her and kissed him. “Return to me alive.”

  “For you. Anything.” Damon said and disappeared in a bright reddish orange flash.

  Lawler jerked her around. “You will answer to Lord O’Cuinn for this treachery. Have you forgotten Dillon already and taken another to your bed?”

  Bevin pulled her arm out of his grip. “You speak of which you do not know.” she glared at Lawler pushing past him to stand next to Kedryn and Kiara.

  Cadmon let out a sigh “As soon as these doors open we must run.”

  “Let’s do this.” Kedryn said as he gave a slide glance to Lawler. Suddenly the cook screeched and shouts of men sounded in the kitchen.

  “Hurry. Faolan has alerted the guard to our position. He may even appear himself!” Niall said as he looked to Cadmon.

  Cadmon motioned for them all to move forward. “When I open the barrier keep going. Do not wait for me to close it. Run!”

  Cadmon grabbed Kiara’s hand and ran with her onto the sunlit cobblestone towards the stables. Kedryn followed with Bevin close to his side. Niall ran after Lawler as he scanned the area for trouble.

  As they ran past the barracks and stables they could hear doors banging open and shouts sounding from behind. The barrier was coming upon them and Cadmon held up a stone that glowed a bright green. There was a burst of light and a part of the shimmering black barrier faded as he motioned for them to run through. He quickly stepped past the barrier and put away the stone. As he ran to catch up with the others angry shouts were heard as the soldiers were unable to follow.

  The barrier faded and loud crashes sounded from behind. Kedryn looked back at soldiers and black energy bursts that were rushing out at them. Dark smoke hit the ground all around them and one hit Lawler square in the shoulder knocking him off of his feet. Bevin helped him up and looked him over. The thick leather that covered his shoulder was singed away and his skin was stark black. He shrugged away from Bevin and urged her to run.

  Kedryn looked back to where the bursts were coming from. A dark figure formed behind the blasts on a turret carved into the mountain. He swore the man was looking directly at him and stopped.

  Cadmon yanked his arm. “Run! I will take care of this.”

  Kedryn ran after Lawler to catch up with the rest of the group. He glanced back at Cadmon who was running with raised hands sending out bright green bursts. The green bursts collided with black and they exploded in the air. A low guttural sound vibrated through the air and the ground began to shake. The group stopped and Cadmon pushed them on.

  “Keep moving. Don’t stop for anything!” Cadmon scanned the ground and a large crack was forming in front of them. He ran ahead jumping over the gash that was growing larger as the earth fell into the darkness below.

  Kiara jumped and Cadmon caught her urging her to keep running. Kedryn took Bevin’s hand and they both jumped over and the ground gave way from under them. Bevin pulled Kedryn forward to the ground and he jumped to his feet. Lawler took a running leap and barely made it over the edge as Kedryn pulled him to safety. Lawler ran after Kiara and Bevin followed after.

  Cadmon and Kedryn looked at Niall who stood on the other side of the crevice that was now three man’s length wide. Niall shrugged as he grinned at them and translocated to the other side. They ran away as a frustrated growl that echoed through the air.

  Chapter 25

  In a bright flash of orange Damon appeared with Lady Paili in his arms near a huge white and golden streaked marble fireplace. He walked over to a chaise lounge by the fire and placed Paili’s body on it. There was a shriek and he moved aside as Aalia ran to Paili’s side examining her. She closed her eyes and concentrated and an orange mist surrounded Paili’s body. When Nothing happened she tried again and nearly slumped over the body.

  “She is beyond healing.” Aalia stood grief stricken and furious. Tears ran down her face as she turned to Damon. “What happened?”

  “I have to leave. You were the only person I could think of that would give her a proper burial.” He turned to the door.

  Aalia tugged on his arm. “Who did this Damon?”

  “I must leave now.” he looked at her pleading eyes. “Fine.”

  Damon quickly told her what had happened. He explained about the descendant’s son and how they had all showed up to rescue Kiara. His head dropped as he told her of seeing Paili on the floor. His hand moved to the wound that proved that Faolan had inadvertently caused the fatal blow.

  “Lord Faolan truly is a foul creature. Why my husband believes in his cause is far beyond me. I will make certain she receives the proper rites and burial.”

  “Thank you. Who knows what he has told General Tynan to make him believe in this cause. Hold your tongue when it comes to Faolan. For the safety of your son, if nothing else.” Damon said and took one last look at his sister and ran out of the manor house just as Lord Faolan appeared in a flash behind Aalia.

  She was kneeling by Paili’s side calling for her servants to help start to prepare Paili’s body. He gave her a cold look as she stood up. Faolan kneeled by Paili and took her lifeless hand. He leaned over and tenderly kissed her forehead.

  His love for Paili showed through in the few seconds he sat at her

  side. A tear escaped down his cheek that he quickly swiped away. Aalia was shocked at what she saw and quickly masked her emotions when he turned to her.

  She wrung the bloody cloth that was in her hands. “Damon placed her in my care to prepare the arrangements, my Lord. Yo
u have other worries to attend to at the moment.”

  He stood and studied Aalia watching blood drip from her hands. She masked her hatred well. Damon must have told her the truth. He understood her feelings towards him and hated himself for what had happened. Faolan had unintentionally killed the one woman in his life that he actually loved. That realization cut him to the bone and the truth must not come out if he was to use this to his advantage. Faolan took a step to her and grabbed her face squeezing it making her look him in the eyes. He locked his other arm around her so she could not move.

  He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “You will not speak of what Damon has said or your son will suffer. Was he the only one here?”

  His grip was so tight on her cheeks she could not speak. Aalia made a small noise of acknowledgment. She saw a movement at the door and chanced a glance. Faolan noticed her glance over and felt Tynan behind him. He moved forward with a new plan.

  “You let Damon leave. That foul creature watched as the Milesian ran her through.” Lord Faolan spat out at her so that the general could hear.

  “Lord Faolan, let my wife go. She could not have stopped him if she wanted to.” General Tynan said as he took a step forward ready to strike if Faolan did not release his wife.

  Faolan released his grip on Aalia and turned to his general. Even though Faolan admired the general’s boldness he must be punished for it also. Only later, much later. After the battle perhaps.

  “That will be the last time you give me an order General. However, you are correct. Lady Aalia was attending to Lady Paili when I arrived. That would have been her first priority.”

  Faolan released his grip “Apologies my lady. General Tynan. Come with me. We have much to discuss.”

  “Yes, my Lord.” Tynan said as he glanced at Paili’s body and back at his wife giving her a concerned look. Aalia motioned fro him to go.

  “General.” Lord Faolan impatiently said from behind him.

  “Coming, my lord.” Tynan said and followed Lord Faolan out the door.

  Chapter 26