“Oh, excuse me, Son,” chuckled his father. “Look, I got to go. We’re doing one last round of singing. See you tomorrow.”
Brendan disconnected the call and looked out at the serene water. He wasn’t focused on the lack of mobility the ship now had. He didn’t think about the fact that they appeared to be dead in the water. He was still confused by the conversation with his dad.
Dorian noticed too. “What?”
Brendan had an odd, quizzical look. “He’s, ah, singing at a bar.”
Dorian just shrugged. “When in Rome.”
“But I thought he was in Gilshery,” Rory interrupted.
Biddy held her forehead in her hand. “Just stop talking.”
“What?” Rory asked.
Dorian was only half-listening to the other Leprechauns’ argument. She was more focused on how to get the travel back into the travelers. “Is there anything we can do to make this thing go, Sean?”
The old captain studied the air and the sea and shook his head. “Not without a major wind, Dorian.”
The air had not only left the sails, but it had left their spirits too. They were feeling deflated and frustrated. Dorian couldn’t help but think about how close they were to Scotland. There wasn’t much left to the journey, but they were stalled and that was killing her.
Lizzie sat on the rail and tried not to think about any of the craziness. How many times had she almost died? She was beginning to lose count. It was too many times for a fifteen year old, that was for certain. What was she thinking coming on this adventure? Some of the images she had seen to this point were going to stay with her forever. They would haunt her nightmares. The worst part was that it wasn’t even over yet. They hadn’t really accomplished anything. There wasn’t even a breeze to make them even think that they were going to make it as far as Scotland.
About that time in her thoughts, she felt her hair begin to move. She looked around at the others, but Rory and Biddy were arguing and Dorian, Sean, and Brendan were in low conversation. None of them seemed to be feeling anything. Lizzie glanced upward and spotted the flag on the top of the mast come to life. It started as a small amount of movement, but then it began to whip around.
“Hey, guys,” Lizzie spoke up. “I think our wind is here.”
The others looked up just as the sails ballooned and filled with a massive gust of wind. They were all struggling to remain on their feet as the ship started sharply towards Scotland.
“Okay,” shouted Sean. “With any luck we’ll make it across in record time!”
Brendan laughed. “We have a bunch of Leprechauns with us; I don’t think it gets any luckier than that.”
The wind pushed the ship like a rock skimming the surface of a lake. The travelers were being bounced and jostled and thrown about once the ship really got going. Lizzie fell rear-end first into an open barrel. Luckily for her, it only had coils of rope on the inside. Rory and Biddy rolled right off of a table and landed unceremoniously into the dirty end of a crusty mop. Brendan was sloshed right off his feet and landed with a thud on his backside. Fortunately or unfortunately for Brendan, Dorian did the same and landed on top of him.
Brendan held her in his arms and they looked at each other, both grinning from ear to ear.
“Oh, sorry,” Dorian said quickly. “I lost my balance.”
“Yeah,” Brendan added softly. “Me too.”
She could feel herself being drawn into him. His eyes, his lips, that grin. They were all so tempting. She leaned closer following his lead.
“Whoa!” shouted Lizzie from a deck above. “Look at the sails!”
She pointed directly up the mast and everyone’s eyes followed. A shimmering mass was beginning to flash into vision. They all knew instantly who it was.
“Artie!” shouted Dorian, getting to her feet. “We’re so glad to see you.”
“I heard the Merrows’ song and I knew you lot were in trouble,” said the ghost. His form was bloated as if he were a cloud.
“Well, that definitely solves the mystery of the freaky wind gust,” commented Lizzie.
“Besides, you all looked so pitiful bobbing on the water that I had no choice but to come out and lend a hand.” Gorgoch smiled. He felt useful again. He always felt that way when he was helping the living or fighting off the monsters of the night. Seeing how happy Dorian was really warmed his heart. He did feel a little bit ashamed of appearing, though. His plan was to get them across and drift back to Ireland, but when that American was about to kiss her, well, Artie changed his plans. “Then I figured that you could use my help in Scotland after all.”
“What about Morna? Aren’t you still worried about her taking control of you again?” asked Brendan.
“I think I need to take that chance,” replied Artie with a little too sharp of a tone in his voice. He calmed it down immediately. “No one else knows the way. I’m your only hope of reaching the castle in time.”
“Scotland off the starboard,” Sean called out. “We’ll be there in a few minutes, kids. Prepare yourselves.”
A dark voyeur circled high above the ship. The spy, having seen enough, flew off towards Morna’s castle.
Chapter 12
The Black Forest
Despite it being sunrise, the area around Morna’s castle was conspicuously void of substantial light. The perpetual darkness was spawned by her dark magic and was slowly creeping further out into Scotland. Dark magic had invaded the once lush and lively forest long before Morna‘s time. Residents of the nearby land could never recall a time when the forest wasn’t black and cold and frightening. In fact, for six-hundred years the forest had been dark and spooky. Conchar had cast it into darkness long ago as his hatred for humans grew. Morna was only too happy to continue the trend.
Morna and Dullahan stood in silence as the griffin approached from the southeast. When the beast landed and its talons gently scraped the stone floor, Morna waited patiently for news. The griffin hesitated, so it was no surprise to her to find out that Duncan’s annoyingly resilient daughter and her friends had escaped the Merrows.
“So, the Merrows have failed.” She contemplated the situation before speaking again. “Fools. They weren’t useful in the wars either.”
The griffin screeched again and this time Morna found that she was surprised. “Gorgoch speeds them over the sea?” She clenched her fist and blood-red plasma dripped from between her fingers and dropped to the stone floor. When the plasma struck the cold tile it sizzled and evaporated. Morna was not pleased at this turn of events.
She turned to Dullahan. “There was no doubt that Gorgoch would step in to fight against you—he has always done that—but to come back home to Scotland, well, that’s something entirely different.” She thought again and her mind twisted and turned over with an idea. She cackled like the witches of television and the movies and shook the rest of the plasma to the floor. It sizzled as she spoke. “The fool returns to Scotland, hmmm. This little group is not to be touched until they enter the Black Forest. They will be too late by nightfall anyway, but I really want to watch these over-zealous travelers die. Let’s make sure that happens, Dullahan.”
He bowed and exited the tower. Morna turned back to the griffin. “Once Duncan’s will is finally broken, I’ll consolidate the Pure Powers of the Leprechauns, the Sidhes, and the Merrows with my own dark magic. I hope these fools survive long enough to face me.” She smiled a smile that would make even the Grinch run and hide.
…
The ship docked with little fanfare. There were only a handful of boats docked and a couple of fisherman milled around rolling nets or doing other maintenance.
Gorgoch shrunk to human size and joined the others on deck. “Once we step foot on shore we’ll need to be very cautious.”
Sean nodded his agreement. “Ghosty’s right. The old witch has many eyes watching her lands.”
“She probably knows we’re here already,” finished Gorgoch.
“Okay,” began Dorian. “
Gather your things and meet on the dock.” She immediately went to the cauldron and searched around for any item she may have left behind. She checked her bag and took a mental inventory. She had five vials of magic remaining. She decided to leave the ladle, the iodine, and other useless stuff. She did, however, take a coil of rope and a small purse-full of the golden residue that remained in the bottom of the cauldron. One never knew when a magical force field could come in handy.
Lizzie hid Rory and Biddy away in her own backpack to keep them out of the sight of the fishermen. Plus she figured that they would be easier to spot as a group if tiny Leprechauns were strolling about. They walked down the ramp, and she took a seat on an old foldout chair on the small boardwalk.
Brendan didn’t have anything to carry, so he started to clean up the deck. He righted the toppled boxes and chairs. He started to grab a broom, but Sean walked over to him.
“Hey, thanks for taking us over here,” said Brendan.
“Glad to help,” replied Sean. “These are tough times that we’re living in.”
“Sounds like it,” agreed Brendan.
“Reminds me of when I was a young Leprechaun round about the beginning of the War of Magicks.” Sean stared hard at Brendan and waited. “Tough times those were, as well.”
Brendan looked back at Sean. He had to know. “Have we meet before this boat ride, Sean, because I have this feeling like I know you.”
“I’m relieved to hear you say that because I think I remember from where I know you.” Sean thought a moment more. “It may sound strange. I have never seen you before, but I have felt your presence.”
“I’m not following you.”
“Long ago, before the War, I was having a conversation with a cousin of mine and our friend. At the time I felt a presence with us, but I didn’t pay it much mind. That was until I felt your presence again when you stepped onto my ship.” Sean smiled. “I knew right then that it was you.”
“But how’s that possible? I’m seventeen!”
“You live in a world where things don’t always make sense, Brendan. I bet before a few days ago, you thought magic only existed in the movies. You were there, Brendan, and that means something.”
Brendan conceded as his vision came back to him. “I had this dream before Dullahan attacked us. I went back and saw things that until now I thought I just made up in my imagination.” Brendan breathed out a short breath of disbelief. “You were at the campfire. I don’t know why I didn’t recognize it when I saw you today.”
Dorian walked over to the guys. “You ready, Brendan?”
Brendan looked over to Sean. “Thanks again.”
Sean smiled an old man’s smile. “Good luck to you both.”
They left Sean to his boat and they joined Lizzie, Rory, and Biddy on the boardwalk. Gorgoch held his human size but drifted out of human vision. He would stay hidden until they found the edge of town, which was devoid of wakeful and watchful eyes.
Gorgoch floated twenty feet above the others near the treetops looking to the west and at a black spot on the green landscape. He frowned and blew out the equivalent of a deep breath before drifting back to the others in mid-conversation.
“I don’t know,” Brendan was saying. “Do you really think it was such a good idea to send away our only ride back to Ireland?”
Dorian nodded. “Sean is old, Brendan. He can’t do anything else for us.” Searching Brendan’s eyes she saw that he was still not convinced. “You saw him. Getting us back to the surface nearly killed him.”
It was his turn to search her eyes. “It’s like you don’t think we’ll be going back to Ireland.” Dorian looked away and at Gorgoch as he took on a visible form. “You don’t think we’re going to win, do you?”
Again, Dorian didn’t reply. She wanted to say with the utmost confidence that they would win. That they would storm the castle and defeat the very powerful and insane witch, but it seemed like too big of a long shot. Avoiding the question was what she needed to do. “Let’s go. My father’s time grows short.”
Rory and Biddy were poking their heads out of the backpack listening in on the conversation. Rory agreed. “I think it best that we finish this journey sooner than later.”
“Did you have another vision?” asked Lizzie.
“No. I just feel like there’s something changing inside me.”
Rory did look a little peaked to Lizzie.
Dorian and Lizzie began walking while Gorgoch and Brendan hung back a second. Gorgoch leaned in and said, “I fear that the longer Morna has Dorian’s father in her possession, the more our Leprechaun friends are going to change.”
“What do you mean?” asked Brendan.
Gorgoch cocked his head. “Think of the Sidhes and the Merrows. Neither of them have ever looked or acted that way before.”
Recognition crossed Brendan’s face. “You don’t think Morna will actually be able to control them or something, do you?”
“I think it’s not only controlling them, but changing everything about them.” Gorgoch held Brendan’s stare a moment longer before vanishing from sight.
Brendan only stood for a second before walking to catch up to the group. He knew now that their window of opportunity was shrinking by the second.
…
Strange dreams played in Oscar’s mind. He had weird visions of floating and soaring high above the British Isles. He saw himself soar all the way to Wales, to the coast of Glamorganshire, and into a modest hut that he normally wouldn’t have even noticed. He landed on the dirt floor, and his bare toes pushed deeply into the soft ground. The place was empty and cobwebs clung heavily to all of the furniture in the place.
Oscar fumbled with the Knot Charm that he had forgotten was in his palm. The gold became so warm that he had to drop it. Dreams are funny, though, because the charm hovered in mid-air before zooming across the room and settling on an ornate music box that somehow escaped Oscar’s notice. The charm sat fixed on the little box, and a strange, black florescence flared for the briefest of moments. Oscar approached with caution and gingerly extended his fingers to retrieve his charm. He was relieved when he found the charm had cooled off, but a little distraught when he found that it was securely fastened to the box.
He tugged and pulled and tried to pry the charm free, but nothing was working. He lifted the box to examine it for a solution when he blinked and found that he was flying once more on a course back to Ireland. The box was still in his hand, but at the moment he didn’t seem to remember that the charm and the box were separate things. In Oscar’s mind, the charm and the box became one and the same.
…
“So, this is the Black Forest,” commented Brendan as they approached.
The Black Forest was extremely sinister in looks and in feel. It was dark, of course, but it was an unnatural darkness. Brendan was very struck by the contrast of a beautiful morning sun that shone all around them and the dense darkness that enveloped the woods that they were about to enter.
“What was your first clue, Sherlock?” joked Lizzie. No one else was smiling.
Gorgoch floated to the front of the group and took to a visual form. His features were still hard to focus on since they were elusive, but he had the others’ attention. “This forest is the most evil place that I have ever had the displeasure of venturing into. There are vile creatures that would sooner devour your flesh than look at you. The trees themselves plot against you. Do not think for a moment that Morna has any other desire than to see you destroyed.”
“She’s already tried to destroy us, Artie.” Lizzie’s eyes were large with fear. This was all so crazy! They had nearly been torn to bits by fairies, eaten by mermaids, and met with a fate fitting for Icabod Crane. Wasn’t Gorgoch just pointing out the obvious?
Brendan knew where her mind was in all this because he wasn’t far off, but he got the gist of the warning. “I think he means that it’s going to get much worse, Liz.”
Rory’s mouth fell open. “How could it g
et worse?”
Gorgoch’s face moved into what could only be perceived as a smile. “You haven’t faced anything yet, my friends. Let’s hope we can get to Duncan without having to face the witch herself.”
When silence had fallen on the group, Gorgoch, remaining in mostly solid form, led them into the Black Forest.
Perched on Lizzie’s backpack, Biddy whispered to Rory. “Are you afraid?”
Rory wanted to appear strong and brave. “Of course not.”
Gorgoch didn’t miss a beat and said, “You should be.”
…
Dullahan watched the small group enter the Black Forest. The fools were ripe for the pickings, but he would wait until he had a true tactical advantage. Attacking now, he would perhaps kill one or two of them, but the spirit would thwart his attempt to eradicate the entire group. Besides that, Morna would be none too pleased with him if they did not at least reach deep into her lands. The headless demon assumed that she wanted the group to reach her, but not before nightfall. That was key. His only real job was to slow them down, and he had a plan in mind.
…
Upon entering the Black Forest Brendan had a few things pop into his head. Words like spooky, scary, frightening, chilly, disheartening, and reparative (the last sticking in his head since the seventh grade spelling bee). But the word that spoke volumes to him at that moment was Zoinks! Shaggy and Scooby had made it famous, but it never meant more to him then being in the place the ghost called, “the most evil place on Earth.”
The one thing Brendan was thankful for was the fact that Gorgoch had come along. The guy was powerful and fast. He could protect them in the event of a monster attack. Besides all that, the guy sort of glowed. It wasn’t obscene or overwhelming, but soft and gentle. It was comforting, really. Who would have thought that could be said about a ghost?
Lizzie and Dorian were walking shoulder to shoulder with Gorgoch in the lead. Rory and Biddy were keeping a watchful eye from the safe cover of Lizzie’s backpack, which meant that Brendan was guarding the rear. He decided early on that it was a paranoid person’s worst nightmare. Every time a branch would shift or a sound would call, the others would jump or gasp and that made the startling source even worse. It was beginning to feel very much like a horror movie.
The Obsidian Dagger Page 12