by Tena Stetler
Fingers twined, they started down the path to the castle. “The true magic of the grounds is only found after you’ve ventured out into the numerous walks around the estate.”
“Lead the way.” After wandering several of the paths around the castle, they took the one leading through the standing stones. Synn stopped in the middle and seemed disoriented. She let go of his hand.
“You all right?” He paused at her side, reached for her.
“Yes, I thought I heard something, must have been the wind.” She stopped to touch one of the stones, then hurried up the path toward the poison garden. Skull and cross bone signs warned of the dangers of Cannabis, Opium Poppy, Wolfsbane, European Mandrake, and other traditional poisons. “Maybe I should use a bit of magic to harvest some of the plants for potion making.” Synn rubbed her hands together just a little too gleefully.
“Not a good idea, even in jest,” Gavin said in a solemn voice. He glanced back at the stones and then at Synn and began tugging her down the path away from the poison gardens.
Dragging her feet, she continued to look back at the gardens. “True, I’m sure Gale could get what I need.” She snickered, a sound that sent shivers up his spine and not in a good way.
Several yards down the trail, he grabbed her shoulders and spun her around to face him. He stared into her eyes, giving her shoulders a little shake. “Synn…”
She blinked up at him. “What?”
“Are you okay?”
“Sure. I just got a bit confused coming out of the stones on which path to take.” She glanced around. “We passed the poison garden already?” She studied his face. “What did I do?”
“Are you able to weave a spell of protection from spirits’ influence?”
“Of course. Why?”
“Because you just suggested use of magic to harvest a few of those plants.” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder toward the gardens.
Wide-eyed, she gasped. “I did?” She wrapped her arms around her body, murmured a few words, and drew a necklace of black stones infused with red from her pocket. At the center of the necklace hung an amulet of several shimmering green stones caged in silver. She slipped it over her head. “Sorry about that. I should be fine now.”
“What did you put around your neck?”
“A necklace my mother gave me.” A faraway look came into her eyes. She paused to finger the stones. “It’s made of Fire Agate and Green Amethyst. The agate bounces negative energy back and builds an impermeable shield of protection. The amethyst clears disharmonious energy and assists inner vision.”
Gavin gaped at her. “You were expecting—a problem?”
“Maybe.”
“Then why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
“You would’ve refused to bring me. I can’t live my life in fear or in a bubble of other’s protection. I have the means—at least I used to—have the ability to protect myself.” She shivered. “I hope we hear from Bruce soon. For now I’m fine.” She led the way through the Fairy Glade.
He gave her a dubious look. “One more episode and we are out of here.”
“Fair enough.” She sighed. “Better avoid the Druid’s Circle and Sacrificial Altar.” She looked up the well-worn path where several visitors milled around taking photographs. “Do you feel that?”
“I don’t feel anything.” He raised an eyebrow.
She took one step, paused, and took another toward the Witch’s Stone in close proximity to the Druid’s Circle.
“Whoa… Not going there.” Wrapping an arm around her waist, he moved toward another path.
“But it’s calling to me… Don’t you hear it?”
“No,” he said firmly, pulling her tighter against him moving forward with the crowd of people.
She stiffened and became rooted to the spot. “The Witch of Blarney has been with us since the dawn of time. Supposedly she’s the one who told MacCarthy about the power of the Blarney Stone. Legend has it that she only escapes the Witch Stone after nightfall. So we’re safe.”
He gave her a little squeeze and smiled at the people around them. “It’s not working,” he whispered.
Quietly, she said, “Sure it is. I’m in control. Wanted to touch the stone to see what she had to say.”
“Not a good idea. Now get moving.”
“I suppose you’re right,” she said ruefully. “Spoilsport. This is such a beautiful place.”
“Aye.”
They wound their way toward the Witch’s Kitchen. The opening was narrow. She touched the moss-covered rock wall and backed away.
“It’s believed this was home to the very first Irish cave dwellers to cross the mists of time,” Gavin said in a deep mysterious voice.
She giggled and gazed up at him for a beat before returning to stare at the narrow pathway. “Too close quarters for me. I’m not claustrophobic but I don’t like the vibe. It’s soooo cold in here. She touched her necklace and trembled. Taking the next turn, she headed toward the Rock Close and the Wishing Steps.
The sun disappeared behind the clouds, and a mist settled around the castle on their approach. “Can you climb the steps with your eyes closed?” Synn asked a devilish smile curving her lips. “You know it’s said that if you can, your wish…”
“Aye. And I can do it jogging backward.”
She blinked at him. “Really?”
He closed his eyes at the bottom of the stairs, whipped around to face her, then jogged up and back without a misstep. He opened his eyes and grinned. “We used to challenge each other as teens. I can’t tell you how many times I landed on my arse before I mastered the task. Cracked my noggin a couple times too. By the way, I did it without thinking about my wish.” He puffed out his chest, rubbed his finger nails against his jacket. “If you believe the legend—my wish should come true within a year.” He chuckled.
Synn closed her eyes, placed her hand against the rock wall just above the railing, and slowly walked up the stairs. At the top she turned careful to keep her hands on the wall and descended the stairs. At the bottom she opened her eyes and smiled. “I did it…without thinking of my wish. It wasn’t a problem, because I was thinking about how I could fall, crack my head wide open, and die.”
“Drama queen.” He snorted. “Where next?”
“Explore the castle. The view from the top is supposed to be spectacular.”
“Aye, it is. That’s where you can kiss the Blarney Stone too. You have to bend over backward, and it’s a wee bit cramped in there. But it’s worth the discomfort if you believe the legend. Besides, now there are hand rails to support you.”
She smirked at him. “We’ll see. First, let’s eat lunch. I’m starved. Then we can let Storm out for a romp. I don’t want any accidents.”
“Great idea.” Avoiding the Druids Cave, he took her hand and followed the path to the boardwalk. They strolled by the water garden and waterfalls on their way to the truck to retrieve lunch.
****
Inside the castle walls, Gavin wrinkled his nose at the damp, musty scent. “Smells like the castle keeper should take a page from the people who lived here in ancient times. A little orris root, rosemary, lavender, woodruff, or rose petals would be helpful.”
Synn laughed. “Why don’t you enlighten them?”
“With my luck, they’d suggest I do just that on a volunteer basis. Learned that lesson as a lad.” He snickered.
“It must have been awful cold and damp in the castle for the inhabitants. There’s no coverings on the windows, but bars.”
“Each room usually had a fireplace for heat. The kitchen and great halls had more than one, besides the people back then dressed a lot different than we do today.”
She shook her head. “Still, must have been a rough life.”
“’Tis true. But they didn’t know any different. This was their life.”
She paused in the large open area entitled the family room, tilted her head up, and stared at all the levels of the castle. “Wow, there’d be n
o way to keep heat in here.”
“Aye.” He glanced up then followed her as she continued up the steps of the castle interior exploring every hallway and room on the way to the castle roof.
At the top, she briefly leaned on the black iron railing to look over the wall in several places around the roof. “Wow, the climb was worth it. The view is breathtaking.” She glanced at the line waiting to kiss the Blarney Stone.
“Well, what are you waiting for? You know you want to kiss the stone,” Gavin teased moving her to the end of the line with very little resistance.
“This is silly.” Still she waited her turn and kissed the Blarney Stone. After she got up and straightened from her position at the stone, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips. “I guess we better get started back. Thank you so much for today. I’ve had a wonderful time.”
“My pleasure. Next time we have a day off, we’ll visit more castles and ruins.”
“I’d like that.”
They wound their way down the castle stairs, revisiting a couple of rooms Synn thought she’d missed. At the truck, she clipped the leash on Storm and walked around the area for a bit, then returned the pup to the crate over her loud objections. On the ride home, she rested her head against the seat watching the scenery pass by. She was quiet for a long time. He hoped it was from the physical day, not the nightmares and magical interference. They stopped once on the outskirts of town to let Storm out to do her business.
The road to her cottage took them by the pub. He didn’t want to spoil a great day by stopping by Shaughnessy’s. But he had a nagging feeling that was exactly what he was supposed to do. Prior experience taught him nothing but trouble would come if he ignored his gut. “Mind if we stop by the pub on the way home. Storm can stay in the truck for a few minutes. I want to make sure—”
“Everything is all right?”
“Of course it’s all right. I’ve taken time off before.” Gavin bristled. “I had a life before—” He stopped mid-sentence. No way was he going to spoil this day.
She shifted in her seat to face him. “Before what? Me? Before your sister married an assassin? Or Brandy became engaged to a vampire? Before your world came crashing down amid demons, vampires, witches, and world ending shit?” She paused, closed her eyes, and leaned her head against the seat again. “I didn’t mean that. I’ve been on edge since the dream—nightmare—premonition. Call it what you want. Today was a nice reprieve. But when we hit the edge of town—what’d you call ’em—” she tapped her temple. “My spidey senses went off.” She shivered.
“I have to admit the dreams you have been so kind to share are disconcerting. If we were in danger, Bruce or Tristian would have contacted one of us. They aren’t going to leave you hanging in the wind.”
He turned on the street behind the pub. The parking lot was full to running over. Weaving through the cars without finding a space, he pulled back onto the road. After circling the block, he parked down the street and cut the engine. “Stay put for a sec.” Gavin stepped out of the truck and surveyed the area. Nothing seemed out of place or unusual.
A slow creak indicated Synn had opened her door. “Stay girl. We’ll be back.” She eased the door closed.
He strode to her side and glared down at her but said nothing. Not looking for a fight. Slipping an arm around her waist, they strolled to front of the pub. He yanked open the heavy wooden door. Friendly voices, raucous laughter, and the yeasty scent of the pub spilled out. Tension eased in his muscles. He released the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Synn walked through the door first and froze.
Chapter Thirteen
And so it Begins—Family History and Sword of Kilara
Seated at the bar were Hannah and Tristian. Synn sucked in a breath. This was bad, she could feel it. “Looks like your sister and her husband have come for a visit.”
Gavin smiled wide and rushed through the crowd pulling her behind him. Hannah squealed as Gavin snatched her off the barstool. He swung her around in a circle, nearly colliding with several patrons waiting for their pints. Katie narrowed her eyes at him as she cautiously approached the bar and picked up a tray full of drinks.
“Boyo, you make me spill this and you’re a dead man,” she warned, making her way back through the crowd.
“Gavin, put me down,” Hannah demanded.
“What are you doing here?” Gavin asked lowering her to her feet. He gave her a quick hug and kissed her cheek before letting her go.
She backed away to stay clear of Gavin and his sister. The ebb and flow of the crowd pushed her farther and farther away from the bar. Suddenly a hand snaked around her wrist and pulled her through the crowd.
“Don’t be getting lost.” Gavin chuckled. “Guess the weather didn’t make the difference we thought.”
“How long you staying?” He wanted to know.
Hanna shrugged. “Don’t know.” Tristian has business here. I came along to see if I could help Ma and Synn with the wedding plans. Where’d you two sneak off today? Da said Synn’s been helping out here too.”
“No sneaking around. Had the day off. We went sightseeing. Drove by a few ruins on our way to the Blarney Castle where we spent most of the day. The Wishing Steps, Witch’s Kitchen, and Stone intrigued her.”
“Oh, what fun.”
“No…they gave me shivers and—” She gave herself a little shake. “I did enjoy touring the castle. The views are spectacular, especially from the top. The gardens and waterfall were mesmerizing.”
“We were on our way home, noticed the crowd, and stopped in to see if Da needed help. Looks like the staff’s got it well in hand. Synn’s pup is in the truck, so we need to be on our way.”
Tristian’s bar stool swiveled around until he faced Gavin and Synn. “Good to see you too.”
Gavin grinned and offered his hand. “Sorry, didn’t mean to ignore you. So what are you doing here? Or do I need to ask.”
“Probably not. However, I’d like a word with Synn.” He glanced around the pub. “Somewhere quiet.”
Gavin hesitated for a beat and glanced over at her.
She nodded, wiping her sweaty palms on her jeans.
“Sure. Down the hall, past the bathrooms take the first left. That’s our office. She knows the way.”
Tristian got to his feet and held up a hand. “I need to talk to her alone first. Give us a few minutes. Tristian leaned over to his wife, brushed his lips over hers. “I’ll be back.”
“Is your business with them, then?” Hannah narrowed her eyes.
“Unfortunately, yes. Been chatter they should be aware of—and.” He blew out a breath. “A few things Bruce wants brought to Synn’s attention.”
“Anything I should be concerned with?” Her eyes clouded with worry.
“Given the volatility of the world these days, there’s always reason for concern.” His reassuring gaze swept over her and Gavin, then landed for a split second on Hannah. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
A title wave of fear washed over her. Rooted to the spot, her feet wouldn’t move. She couldn’t catch her breath. The Overlord’s assassin wanted a word with her. Was this the end she’d wished for in the early hours of this morning? I’m not ready. She wondered at her change of mind and attitude. What has changed? She knew in her heart but couldn’t come to grips with it.
Adrenaline flooded her system; the fight or flight response was alive and well. What was he saying? Her heart pounded so loud in her ears she couldn’t make out the words.
A wave of nausea hit. Covering her mouth, she ran for the ladies’ room, shoved open the door, rushed into the first stall, and bolted the door. When she turned, her stomach’s contents spewed into the toilet.
After a few minutes there was a soft knock on the stall door. “Synn?” Bridget’s voice was a welcome relief. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. I’ll be out in a minute.” She took a couple of deep breaths. What the hell is the matter with me?
“You sure?”
“What happened?” Gavin asked. “You all right?”
“Don’t think my stomach liked all the bumpy roads today.”
Gavin looked skeptical but shrugged. “Okay, come get me when you two are finished with your secret meeting. There are a few things I’d like to discuss with Tristian too.”
A wane smile turned up her lips while Tristian’s expression remained unchanged.
Tristian held the door open and closed it behind her. Once inside the office, he motioned for her to have a seat. His gaze fixed on her. “First there is family history Bruce wants you to be made aware. It’s why I asked to talk to you alone. I wasn’t sure if you’d want anyone else privy to that information. The overlord would have come himself, but he’s meeting with the council and time is of the essence.”
As she eased into the chair, her roiling stomach settled a bit. Should I bring up my shared nightmares? No, I’ll wait and see what he has to say.
Clearing his throat, Tristian sat in the black leather chair behind the scarred wooden desk, moved aside a pile of invoices, and began. “When Bruce provided protection for the information you had on Baltizar and the Book of Shadows, he didn’t just take you at face value. It seems your ancestors were members of Andre’s elite guard known as the Guardians Guild made up of magical creatures formed over a millennium ago.”
She looked up from the worn gray carpeting and wrinkled her forehead in confusion. “Who’s Andre?”
Tristian rested his arms on the desk and templed his fingers. “Andre is Bruce’s father. He was the Demon Overlord before Bruce and is married to Matiah, an angel. The Guardians were tasked with protecting those creatures that were not of pure blood. This was before the covenants were put in place to discourage mixed races. But during that time the mixed were still viewed as outcasts. Fear of mixing the magic would create an invincible creature was the reason for the covenants.”