“Relax.”
I turned to Uar who was now sitting up leaning against his hand. “Did you do this?”
“Do what?”
“Clean me up?”
“Well, Brea gave you a bath, but I helped with some of your bruising.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. I must’ve stunk and I would have been mortified if Uar had done that for me. I needed to thank Brea for doing it, because it would not have been a pretty task. I stood up and looked at my arms. A lot of the bruising had gone down but I still felt immense pain in my elbow. “My elbow is still killing me, I think he fractured it.”
“He. You mean my father did this to you?”
“Yes Uar, your father did this to me when he threw me up against that bloody stone wall.”
He sat up and bowed his head. “I’m sorry Brigid that he did that to you.”
“He did more things to me than that Uar, he tortured me every day. I was beaten and abused continuously.” Anger brewed up in me as I clenched my fists when the memories of what I’d endured came back up to the surface. “Every day I would cringe when I heard his footsteps heading towards my cell.” I started crying. Uar got out of bed and pulled me towards him. There was a fire lit and he gently lifted me towards it and sat me down on his knee. I felt the warmth of the fire warm my broken soul and I poured my heart out to Uar. I told him everything that had happened, every little detail that I could remember and knew about. Even about Cichol kissing me and pushing that key into my mouth.
Once I’d finished he was silent. He nuzzled his head into my neck as I cried. He stayed silent and let me have my moment. There were a lot of things that I didn’t understand and it frustrated me.
“What’s going on Uar? I’m so confused. Cichol helped me, I thought he wanted to kill me and we just left him there. What is going to happen to him?”
Uar pushed me gently away from him so I could look at him in the eyes. “When you were captured. Zeg was with you. He hid away in your armour. Cichol and his army took you under the sea to Bres, my father.” He choked slightly as he said the word father. “Zeg stayed with you until he knew where you were going to be held then he teleported to me to tell me where you were.”
“He can do that?”
“Yes that is part of his abilities as a brownie, but he has to know where he is going and be connected to somebody to get there.”
“Wow, I had wondered what had happened to him. But if you knew where I was, why didn’t you come sooner?” I remembered the nights sitting on the cold hard ground wondering if Uar was ever going to find me, whether he’d save me. That was before I realised, I needed to toughen up and get on with figuring out how to get myself out.
“We did. We marched an army to where Zeg said you were, once we got to the spot Bres was no longer there. That’s when we realised Bres must be constantly on the move.”
“What? I was never moved. I stayed exactly where I was, in my cold stinking hole of a prison room.”
“No you wouldn’t have felt it. Bres is very powerful and his encampment under the sea must be enchanted, it moves every two days and only Bres and his general know the coordinates.”
“Cichol.”
“Yes Cichol and Bres.”
Realisation hit me. “Cichol told you where I was going to be didn’t he.”
Uar nodded. “I must admit when he first showed up I wanted to cut his head off, but that was until I felt his commitment to you and I knew in spite of everything he was trying to keep you safe, so I listened to him… after Brea tried to drown him.” A smile grew on his face as the satisfied moment of Brea trying to drown Cichol replayed itself in his mind. “But, he is a hard man to kill your… friend.”
I cringed at the mention of the word friend. Was he still my friend? I had hated him and wished him dead so many times in my prison cell, after all he was the reason I was there, but then he did something that I did not expect – he helped me live. “Yeah, I suppose he is a friend.” I bowed my head as a tear slid down my cheek.
Uar licked it away with his tongue. Shivers ran through my body and we kissed again. His hand massaged my thigh as the kiss deepened.
“Brigid!”
We quickly pulled away as the door swung open and banged against the wall as Hagrid walked in. He had a big smile on his face and if he’d seen us kissing he didn’t say anything. He walked quickly over to me and lifted me off Uar’s lap and trapped me in a huge bear hug, spinning me around in circles. “Brigid, Brigid, Brigid boy am I happy to see you!” He laughed. “I thought you were a goner when we couldn’t find ya.” He spun me one last time before placing me gently on the ground.
“Hagrid.” I started to cry again. Dam it, what was I crying for. I was all emotional. “Hagrid… thank you.”
He pulled me into a hug again. “No, no, no more tears. You are safe and you are welcome.”
“Thank you, I owe you big time.” I turned away and wiped my eyes.
I looked at Uar. He was still sitting on the seat, and Zeg was sitting on his shoulder, both had huge goofy smiles on their faces. Zeg stood up and blew me a kiss. I squeezed his cheek gently with my thumb and index finger as he shyed away, embarrassed at the attention. I giggled as I sat back down on Uar’s knee.
Hagrid smiled as he looked at us both. He didn’t say anything, he just nodded at Uar and Uar nodded back. That must be some sort of man code for something us girls don’t know about.
Uar kissed me on the forehead as I leaned back into him. His muscles relaxed as I tucked in against his chest. I felt the bulges of his muscles as I wriggled, trying to get comfortable. “So, what now?” Hagrid asked.
Uar sighed and looked at me and surveyed my face. “First of all we have to fix this wee one.”
“Agreed.” Hagrid said. “Have you had a good look at yourself yet” he smiled as he asked me, but I wasn’t sure if it was in good humour or if he was wondering if I had or not. And I hadn’t, I had no idea what I looked like. I actually didn’t want to know.
“No, I haven’t looked, I don’t want to either. Just heal me Uar, please, I’m not interested to see what that beast did to me. I just want it erased from me.”
Uar and Hagrid looked at each other, another silent secret man code thing. I huffed. “Okay, let’s do this. Uar, what’s the best way to do this.” I knew that Uar had healed a lot of my injuries, but he wasn’t strong enough unless he was with me to fully heal me.
“Let’s go outside.”
“What outside where everyone can see?” Was he mad. “I thought we were in hiding. Don’t we have a whole army after us?”
“Well yes we do, but…” he smiled. “Come and see for yourself.”
He took my hand as he helped me through the door. I winced at the pull on my elbow and swapped hands with him. He apologised as we walked down a thin hallway. Where were we? I had no idea where we were and I hadn’t even asked the question yet. I was just so happy to be safe and alive and with my dream man, that I don’t think I really cared. I felt safe and that is what mattered. The hall had open windows, more like archways opening up the side of the walls. The sun streamed down to my fingers. “The sun!” I blurted out. Uar gave me a massive smile. “The sun is out, I thought the sun never came out here anymore… Are we still in the Otherworld, your world” I asked Uar.
He nodded his head. “Yes Brigid we are.”
“Wow, I never realised how beautiful it was.” I looked through one of the archways and stopped. I walked up to it and put my hand on the peach coloured stone and closed my eyes. The warmth was one of the best feelings I’d felt in a long time. I hadn’t seen any sun while I was under the sea. This moment I was locking away in my memory forever. I heard familiar clinks and clanks as I looked down below into an open grass courtyard, fully enclosed by a large peach coloured wall. Brea waved at me as she noticed me leaning over the window. There were a few of the Gold Belts training. They all stopped and looked up at me with big smiles on their faces. I smiled back as we made our way
down to them.
CHAPTER 20
There was an old stone well that stood a metre above the ground in the middle of the courtyard. Uar stopped me once we reached it. Everyone came closer to us, nodding their well wishes to me. I thanked them all for helping me one by one as we passed. I appreciated that they had put their own lives at risk to safe mine. I knew I was important to them and the key to finishing their curse, but they didn’t have to risk their own lives, but they still did. It was more than I could ever ask of them.
I looked frantically around for Gurt, only now realising that I hadn’t seen him yet since the tunnel caved in around us under the sea. “Gurt?” I yelled out. I looked frantically at Uar. “Where’s Gurt? I haven’t seen him yet.”
He frowned not saying anything.
“Where’s Gurt Uar?”
“He didn’t make it back.”
“What?” Oh my god, Gurt. What have I done. I felt like vomiting. I leaned up against the well. “This is all my fault.”
Familiar warm arms wrapped around me and pulled me in. “No, this is not your fault. This is my father’s fault. Besides, we sent a small group of Gold Belts out to search for Gurt. He’ll be fine… it’s Gurt. We will find him.”
He kissed my forehead. “I hope so, I don’t know if I could stand it if he lost his life to save mine.”
“He’ll be fine. They will find him Brigid.”
I certainly hope so. He could be injured somewhere, lying in hiding dying somewhere. Oh, the guilt was overwhelming.
“Ready?” Uar asked.
I looked into the well and nodded my head. I was ready to get the memories removed permanently from my body. They would be forever in my mind, but at least I wouldn’t have to look at them every day in the mirror. I stared at the dark water below. I sensed the ripples before I could see them. Strands of bright copper hair swirled, rippling the water. Brigid, their Mother was here.
I turned to Uar. He nodded his head and smiled. He knew, he could see her too. We both leaned over and starred lovingly into the water. I felt the light from Uar enter my body, it was so intense I closed my eyes and let his healing powers heal me physically. It was euphoric, it was intense and very very welcomed. I felt the pressure leave my eye socket as the swelling disappeared. My elbow was next as I felt a small pop. I opened my eyes in surprise and rubbed my elbow. Nothing, it didn’t hurt anymore. I felt strong and very empowered. I felt like a new woman.
“Thanks Uar” I pulled him in close and hugged him.
From over his shoulder I could see the Gold Belts kneeling on the grass in front of us. Their eyes and mouths wide open. I had seen this before when Uar first healed me. It must’ve still taken them by surprise. There was a huge light last time as our light combined as one to heal me. But this time they look absolutely gobsmacked.
“Well I’ll be” Tunnan whispered from the crowd loud enough for me to hear him.
“What?” Even Uar was looking at me strangely. “What? What’s happened? Did it not work?”
“Ah, you may want to look at your hair.” I heard Brea say beside me as she gently flicked a lock of it over my shoulder.
OMG! My hair had turned orange. Not just any orange, it glowed. “What?” I pulled all my hair over my shoulder and ran my hands urgently through it willing it to turn back to blond. “How can this be?” My hair shimmered with rays of light weaving in and out of its silky long copper locks. It was like Brigid the goddess’s hair. I have her hair. She gave me her hair.
“I have her hair!” I yelled out to everyone. They all just stared back at me astonished.
I turned to Uar. “She gave me her hair.”
He too looked astonished as he took a step towards me and gently ran his fingers through it.
“Why would she do that?” I whispered.
I felt an object shooting towards me, the shadow just about hitting my face. I threw my arm out to block whatever was going to hit me. A fiery arrow hit the rock before it hit my face and split it in half.
“That’s why” Tunnan said as he strolled out of the crowd juggling a couple of rocks casually in his hands.
I stared at him. “You threw a rock at me?” I yelled astonished that he’d do that. “You threw a rock at me!” I yelled again as another fiery arrow flew out of my hand, barely missing his smug face.
“Yes and lucky you have bad aim.”
I threw another one at him. This time it landed on the ground in between his feet. “How do you know I was aiming at you.”
I heard sniggering amongst the crowd as Tunnan took a step back.
“Enough!” Uar shouted. He took my hands in his and turned them over. He gently wiped his fingers over the palm of my hand where the faint glowing line of an arrow marked it. “She has given you her fire arrow.”
“Her arrow? You mean that fire thing that keeps coming out of my hand.”
He nodded.
I was confused. How was this even possible. “I’m confused. She can do that?”
He nodded again.
“What does it all mean?” I asked as I turned my hands over looking at the mark on my hand.
“I think Mother has given you a helping hand so to speak. With that arrow, we may just have a fighting chance.” He turned to the Gold Belts who were now standing up. “We have a chance!” He yelled. “Our Mother will be coming home to us!”
The group roared into cheers as Uar stood in front of them with his hands on his hips in a Peter Pan stance and a smile like the Cheshire Cat. I gulped.
◆◆◆
Tunnan stood in front of me. We both held long wooden fighting staffs. Uar and Brea were to the side of us. I took my fighting stance as Uar had showed me waiting for Tunnan to make his first move. He stepped forward and brought his stick down in front of me, I stood still. I knew he was going to do that, he wanted to see what my reaction was going to be. Would I flinch. He gave me a cheeky smile and stood back where he was before. Before he could react I quickly jabbed my staff into his stomach. He attacked by swinging his staff forward, as I blocked the hit to my head. I could hear words of encouragement from Brea as we fought together. Uar was standing silent, watching us with his arms crossed over his bare chest. You see, now that I had the fire arrow inside me, I felt invigorated. I felt different. I could sense things before they happened and I was strong. I lot stronger than before. My aim was intense. Long distance I still hit my target. My senses were being overwhelmed and I was loving it. Tunnan struck his staff down on mine before he flipped it over to knock my staff out of my hand. He failed, before it could I pulled back and swept the ground taking his legs out behind him. I stood over him with a huge smirk.
“Ha, I have you now” I gloated.
He swung his leg around and took me down with him. He leap to his feet from his back and held the staff at my throat. “You were saying?” Bugger! I grimaced as he held his hand out to help me up. He yanked as I came to my feet. “Never assume you’ve won until they are dead.”
He was right, I was getting too cocky. This power was making me feel invincible and as Tunnan had just shown me, I certainly was not. I need to remember that.
The Gold Belts had started testing me, training me, seeing what I was capable of now that I had this fire arrow gifted to me by the lady of the sacred flame. We all knew I could aim and was good with a bow and arrow, but I also now had strength and intuition and did I mention my fighting skills. I was like a black belt ninja… well maybe not that extreme, but it was just as excellent.
◆◆◆
I found out we were currently staying at Aberline Castle, Tunnan’s house, well his parent’s old house before they were killed. It wasn’t the sort of house I imagined Tunnan to live in or grow up in, it was very grand. He didn’t look like the grand type. It was more like a fortified villa than a castle. It was huge and secluded with two stories of peach coloured stone. It had exposed archways as the wings of the house met each other. It semi circled around a large courtyard with a stone well in the middle.
It was surrounded by a tall stone fortified fence. It was so thick that the Gold Belts could walk on the top of it while they patrolled the surroundings by the villa. They were guarded by a taller layer of stone on the outer side with slits strategically placed. I kind of imagined him living in some sort of stick hut, or maybe a cave out in the woods somewhere, away from people, like a hermit. I really wanted to know a bit more about him, he was shrouded in mystery. He didn’t live here, in this house, instead he chose to live as a nomad, constantly moving from place to place. Hunting his food and bartering meat and animal skins for items he needed. I could feel the pain it caused him even being here in this house. It must be filled with bad memories for him.
There was a caretaker that would come by once a week to check on things, but other than that the house was left on its own with no one to love it. It was kind of sad. The house was naked and bare, no pictures, minimal furniture, the house was left unloved. It was a shame because I could imagine back in its day it would have been amazing.
One-night Tunnan had gone to bed early and I finally managed to hear part of his story over a warm fire with our bellies filled with food and mead. I was sitting on Uar’s knee as Hagrid told the story. Tunnan’s family were on Bres’s side of the fight when he was betrayed and taken down by the people he ruthlessly ruled over. Tunnan’s Mother Adela, lured Brigid away to the cliff to show her a flower, the ghost orchid. I was told the real name of the ghost orchid but it was too weird, it went in one ear and out the other… I was just going with the name ghost orchid for now, that one I could remember. Apparently it was really rare and depended on some sort of fungus to make it grow, and Adela had told Brigid that she’d seen it bloom over by the cliffs when she was collecting wild garlic. Brigid was desperate to see it, Adela knew this and showed her where she saw it. Brigid knew something was wrong as she walked closer to the cliff. She looked into Adela’s soul and saw betrayal on Adela’s aura, but it was too late. Brigid trusted Adela, she was one of her closest friends. Adela smiled at her as Bres froze her. Brigid whispered silent words as the stone immobilised her and covered her body in stone. Three shots of light flew out of her mouth before it was covered forever with stone. One hit Adela and she fell down dead. One went to Bres, but he managed to dodge it and the other flew up high into the sky. The look of despair and betrayal could still be seen on her face captured in stone for eternity. Tunnan’s father, Herman was devastated by the death of his beloved wife, but still remained faithful to Bres and carried on as a commander of his army, before he mysteriously disappeared. No one has heard from him since. Adela’s betrayal of Brigid and his father’s disappearance has been eating Tunnan up ever since. He acknowledges his family was on the wrong side of the fight but he’ll claim allegiance with no one. He was a free spirit anchored down by no one or no side. He was with us because he believed it was the right thing to do and maybe in some way it might heal the pain in his soul from his family’s betrayal of our Mother of the sacred flame.
The Sun Goddess of Cargills Castle Page 14