From the depths of fear, Gill’s voice fought its way to the surface as his sister desperately struggled within the creature’s grip.
‘Eleanor!’
Chapter Forty-Two
‘Wait, Gill!’
Reece urgently stepped into his grandson’s path. ‘She will kill you without thought,’ he whispered into the young man’s wild eyes. ‘And, whatever happens, say nothing of your father,’ he discretely added, before turning to challenge the Valkyrie.
‘Then do something!’ Gill answered back, through gritted teeth.
Reece searched for a solution to their unexpected predicament; as it stood, it was a hopeless one. The Dhampir was more than aware of Kara’s capabilities. He noted how she clutched Eleanor like a prized possession. The reason returned, haunting him.
The Valkyrie playfully tapped the point of the dagger against her prisoner’s throat, drawing on her spectators’ anger. She eyed them individually. ‘It appears the Warlock has deserted his three conspirators,’ she teased in her low, foreign, raspy tone.
A shrewd glance from Asai, warned Rosalyn to stay silent.
‘He helped us escape,’ Reece casually returned. ‘We then parted ways without question. His business was his own. I assume he returned to wherever he came from. However, it is no concern of mine,’ he added, dismissing it. ‘Now let the girl go!’
‘Girl?’ she retorted, surveying Eleanor. ‘This is no girl I hold in my grip!’ Peering down at Asai, Kara leaned in, whispering in Eleanor’s ear; ‘Has he had you yet?’ she teased.
The Samurai’s face flared, hearing the Valkyrie’s lewd suggestion.
Kara threw back her head, releasing a deep, intimidating laugh.
‘I think not!’ she then purred. ‘You see, Asai is not like the others; he is… unique! Even I could not entice him.’
‘She is of no use to you, Kara,’ Reece persisted, ignoring her familiar taunts. Stepping forward, he lay down his sword, to the surprise of those around him. ‘If you release her, I will go in her place.’
‘Always the noble one, Reece!’ she jeered. ‘And why would you do that? What is this… woman to you?’
Gill could no longer contain himself, as he turned Eleanor’s dagger over in his hand, feeling her energy. ‘Let my sister go!’ he demanded, raising the weapon.
Kara’s eyes widened with added thrill. ‘A doting brother, no less,’ she remarked, turning a curious eye on him. She hesitated, regarding Gill with suspicion. ‘You remind me of some—’
‘Stop! I beg you!’ Rosalyn implored, braving a step closer. If you are to take anyone… let it be me!’
‘Not you, maw!’ Gill hissed, forcing her back. ‘Let one of them go!’
‘And here stands the “mother”!’ Kara stated, with genuine surprise, ‘pleading for her offspring. Quite the family gathering,’ she added, relishing in the unfolding revelations. ‘As brave as you are, to surrender yourself in place of your daughter…’ Her voice trailed.
A curl then appeared on the corner of her mouth. ‘You are too… old, for certain… needs.’
Rosalyn looked to Reece for an explanation of the Valkyrie’s meaning, observing him share a worrying glance with his two colleagues.
‘What does she mean?’ Gill insisted.
Knowing Kara was revelling in her continuous goading of them, Reece knew they had to act quickly. He looked at Asai—whose eyes had not faltered from Eleanor—sensing the Samurai’s growing agitation.
Caught in a moment of self-indulgence, Kara’s hand dropped from Eleanor’s throat. The young woman reached up, wrenching the Valkyrie’s long braid, in a bid to distract her. Those below gathered closer as they watched, fearing what might happen, should they choose to act. But Kara’s reaction was too swift and strong for Eleanor. With each drawn-out second—straining to fight against her hateful enemy—Eleanor felt her strength wain, from the overpowering heady scent, emanating from the Valkyrie.
Kara pulled back, using the point of the dagger, forcing Eleanor’s face to meet hers. ‘Do not try that again!’ she threatened, re-applying pressure to her prisoner’s throat.
A trickle of blood crawled down the side of Eleanor’s neck. She felt its warmth seep beneath her bodice, staining her clothes as she met with Kara’s seething eyes.
‘Enough!’ yelled Reece.
The Valkyrie ignored him. ‘I should slit your throat open, and let you bleed to death in the presence of your precious fa—’ Kara stopped dead, drawn in by Eleanor’s unusual eyes. ‘But of course!’ she exclaimed, seeing the truth behind them.
Staring down at Reece, she grinned. ‘I see your eyes in hers—hidden behind the pretty veil of blue—subtle, though obvious. They share the same intensity of a rare stone. The resemblance is uncanny—now that I can see right into them.’
Kara watched those below eye one another. Sensing their heightened discomfort, she perceived she had stumbled on something they had clearly wished to stay secret. ‘The eyes betray them, “mother”,’ she revealed, observing Rosalyn’s frantic, silent pleas to Reece.
She turned her attention back to him. ‘She cannot be your wife, Reece—too young. And as for this little one…’ she teased, continuously provoking Eleanor with the dagger. ‘I—’ She stopped, again. Her eyes widened, suddenly seeing the connection. ‘Ah, yes! Mother and daughter are also… your daughter and granddaughter. It makes sense. But I see we are missing someone, Reece. Where is she? Where is your wife?’
‘She is long dead,’ he returned, without flinching.
Rosalyn glared at Reece for denying her mother’s—his wife’s—existence, before grasping his motive. But even in his denial, the Valkyrie maintained her constant mockery of him.
‘Look at what I could have prevented,’ she continued, referring to Rosalyn and Eleanor. ‘Perhaps I should have disobeyed the Sorceress, and dispatched her anyway. Had she not been with child…’ Kara’s words drifted, regretting the lost opportunity. She held his gaze, searching for lies—seeing nothing but contempt.
‘Time is such a cruel enemy, Dhampir,’ she continued, satisfied with his reply. ‘However, we must not dwell on it, and I am bored now. Besides, she is waiting for my return, and is anxious to press on. I should imagine it is only a matter of time before we find the Warlock.’
‘You know where he is?’ Reece enquired, observing Eleanor as she strived to keep her eyes open, fighting against the weight of tiredness.
‘Not quite. But the other one has been more than helpful.’
‘The other one?’ he quizzed, trying to waste time. He moved closer, followed by his two colleagues.
Kara rose slightly, away from their subtle advance—the familiar curl on the edge of her mouth, warning them of her intent. ‘Your attempt to insult my intelligence, Reece, says little of your granddaughter’s worth,’ she said. ‘You know precisely to whom I refer.’ Anticipating their next move, she lifted herself higher into the night, as Eleanor surrendered herself to exhaustion.
‘Please, don’t take her!’ cried Rosalyn, watching her daughter slump in the Valkyrie’s grip.
For a moment Kara lingered, catching the reluctant eye of another. Then, with a nod of gratitude, she extended a faint smile towards the individual, before taking flight—leaving her cauldron of fear, dismay, and anger behind.
All eyes followed the Valkyrie as the trees rose thickly above them. Together they stood speechless and defeated, watching, until they could no longer see the movement of her great wings.
Reece suddenly jolted, then glanced around, seeing the shocked expression on everyone’s faces. But it was several moments before something occurred to him: Asai was missing.
When a distinct sound distracted him, he looked sharp, towards the woods—hearing his colleague’s determined footsteps fading into the distance. It seemed the most rational one among them, had lost all sense of decorum.
No, Asai! he thought, abruptly leaving the others behind, as he desperately hurried to catch up with the Samurai. He the
n became aware of the faint steps of another, following him—Gill.
Not good, he realised.
The pain of being separated from his only sibling had been clearly heard, when Gill cried out after her, taking it upon himself to pursue them. However, Reece knew Gill was not quick enough to catch up.
Reece now pushed himself, fearing what was at stake: everything that was precious to him; everything that had been given back, and more. No, he was not going to let anyone threaten that… no matter who they were. Not even you, my friend.
‘Bring her back!’.
Reece heard Rosalyn’s cry reverberate from behind. To bring Eleanor back was out of the question—impossible! How would he tell her? He blocked it out… for now.
He then caught a movement ahead. It was Asai. The Samurai was making ground on the Valkyrie, and fast. Onward he forced himself, no longer hearing Gill’s footsteps. Good, he thought, concentrating on his colleague, who was now proving difficult to catch. He had to stop him.
The space between them eventually tightened, drawing him, edging him closer… closer… closer, until he was almost upon him—within an inch of his grasp. But as he reached out, Asai unexpectedly swung round—with weapon in hand.
‘No, my friend!’
Reece felt the Samurai’s sword brush against him, cutting his cheek. On instinct, he reached for his Broadsword before realising it was still on the ground back where he had left it.
Asai stopped abruptly, catching the last glimpse of the Valkyrie, his face grey with anger and distorted, concealing the defeat he was feeling inside.
‘They will kill her,’ he snarled.
Dismissing Asai’s instinctive re-action towards him, Reece moved to his colleagues’ side, sensing his mix of emotions. ‘No, my friend,’ he determined. ‘Now that Kara knows who she is, Eleanor is safe.’
‘For now,’ he retorted, attempting to hunt them, again.
Reece intervened, blocking the Samurai in his path.
Asai quickly drew back, wide-eyed, then bowed. ‘Forgive me, Reece-san,’ he begged, having noticed the graze on his friend’s cheek.’
‘It is just a scratch—forgiven and forgotten,’ he said, placing a hand on the Samurai’s broad shoulder, feeling the tension inside him. ‘Listen to me,’ he continued. ‘I admire your courage and understand your wanting, but you know what will happen if we follow her. That is what Kara wants—to lure us back into L’Ordana’s hold, knowing she’ll have Eleanor to use as bait. She expects us to follow. But we are only three.’ Reece shook his head. ‘We cannot risk it—not knowing how many we are up against.’
Asai, realising the truth behind what Reece had said, slowly nodded in agreement.
‘What was I thinking?’ he said, his shoulders slumping, as though in defeat.
‘You were thinking of Eleanor, my friend. Trust me, we will get her back, somehow.’
‘Easier said than done,’ said Asai, looking over his shoulder. ‘And how are we going to explain it to him?’ he added, watching Gill plough through the bushes into their company.
Seeing them return without her daughter, Rosalyn ran towards them, distressed.
‘Where is she?’
Faced by a wall of silence, she looked to Gill.
‘Ask them!’ he snapped, brushing by her.
Agitated, she quickly turned to Reece, ‘Where’s my—’ She gasped, seeing the new scar on his face. ‘What—what happened?’ The barrage of questions began to fly, demanding answers.
Angry and frustrated, Gill walked away in denial, his head pounding with concern for his abducted sister. He then stalled, reminded by something—something the creature had said. He turned his attention to the three Dhampir.
‘What did she mean… when she said maw is “too old for certain needs”?’
‘What direction did she go?’ Reece enquired, avoiding the question.
Gill stared at him, mouth wide open and speechless.
‘Where will that take us?’ the Dhampir persisted, pointing in the Valkyrie’s direction.
‘North-west,’ Rosalyn answered.
He turned to his daughter. ‘Are you certain?’
‘I assure you,’ she replied, slightly vexed, ‘it is north-west. Why do you—’
‘Is it possible?’ Asai interrupted.
Reece nodded.
‘L’Ordana is arrogant enough.’
Gill joined them, suspicious. ‘Are you suggesting…?’
‘Perhaps,’ said Reece. ‘One thing is certain, though: we know the Sorceress sent the Valkyrie to track us.’
‘Reece?’ begged Rosalyn, looking for some understanding.
‘All this time, you think they may have been right under our noses?’ Gill surmised.
‘We cannot assume this to be the case,’ Reece retorted. ‘Though… it is possible.’
Feeling detached by their assumptions, Rosalyn grew increasingly anxious and irritated; she desperately needed answers. The strain of losing her daughter was now slowly being replaced, by an unwavering strength. Inside, she felt the rise of anger, loathing the creature that had scorned them all. She stepped into the fold.
‘How could they have possibly known where to find us?’ she said. ‘Are we not secluded?’
Gill’s mind raced as his mother’s words resonated into more questions for the three Dhampir. Unable to think, he stepped away from the company, pondering over the Valkyrie’s path, carefully analysing her last movements. Something in her conduct disturbed him—niggled on his instincts. He then turned and looked at the four behind him. Watching them, as they engrossed themselves in their solutions, he noted something disreputable in the behaviour of one in particular. As time took a breath, allowing him to re-live the moment, it then dawned on him:
‘That’s it!’ he blurted.
On hearing Gill, the agitated voices stopped, and looked up.
‘She thanked him!’ he added.
Gill, now convinced, nodded to himself. Then, lifting his eyes, he met with another’s and pointed.
‘It was you!’
Chapter Forty-Three
Tam did not see it coming—Gill’s blatant attack on him. However, it had come as no surprise to Reece and Asai; their shame was displayed in the way they hung their heads.
Rosalyn paused, stunned and confused by her son’s accusation. It was only then, by his immediate actions, her inner doubts were confirmed.
Still armed with his sister’s dagger, Gill launched himself at Tam, pinning the Highlander to the nearest tree. The Dhampir was taken back by the young man’s growing strength and speed. Despite it, he refused to defend himself; he would willingly take his punishment.
‘Traitor!’ Gill yelled in his face. ‘I’ll kill you for this!’ As he drew back the blade—ready to thrust it deep into the Dhampir’s heart—Reece and Asai rushed to protect their colleague, in the face of his naivety.
Rosalyn cried out to her son.
On hearing his mother’s pleading voice, Gill turned swiftly, meeting Asai face to face.
Rosalyn screamed when the Samurai met with Eleanor’s dagger—the full length of the lethal blade, penetrating his heart—leaving only the hilt exposed.
At first, Asai felt nothing, then sensed the pressure of its presence lodged inside him.
Dropping to his knees, he grasped the protruding handle. As Reece clutched his injured friend, as he fell, Rosalyn clasped her hand over her mouth, shaking her head, in utter disbelief.
Her eyes then looked up into the frightened face of her son, he, also, clearly distressed by what he had done. Gill stared down at his empty hand before meeting his mother’s tearful face, silently appealing to her for help and forgiveness. In the distance, he could hear Rave’s faint bark. The dog’s sixth sense was at work. Gill then thought of his grandmother, praying she would not come. What would she say, knowing he had just killed someone? Regardless of his threats, it was never his intention to take the life of another.
Everything seemed to slow as he watche
d his mother go to the Samurai’s aid. Gill moved to help, but something held him back. Turning his head, he was met by the look of remorse on Tam’s face. The Dhampir was keeping a firm grip on him.
Gill shrugged away from his clutch as his grim reality came back to the fold. ‘This cannot be happening!’ he mumbled. ‘I—I did not intend to—’
Reece raised his hand, prompting Gill to stay quiet and remain still. The young man stepped back, distressed and shaking inside.
‘This is all your doing,’ Rosalyn growled, as her father tended to Asai. ‘You brought him here, along with his betrayal. I shared my doubts with you yet you urged me to trust Tam.’
Reece turned a deaf ear to his daughter’s animosity as he regarded the welfare of his close friend. Offended by his disregard of her, Rosalyn glared at her father with disgust, before moving to verbally attack him, once more. But Reece, by now, had moved his attention to Tam whose eyes were shut tight, hiding his shame.
‘Do you know where she has taken her?’ Reece asked—the calmness in his voice bringing with it, an understanding and forgiveness for his colleagues’ faults.
Tam looked at him and shrugged. ‘I cannot say, Reece,’ he responded solemnly, ‘because… I don’t know. My head is full of confused thoughts and conversations. I know I am guilty… but cannot remember why.’
‘Then you had better try searching,’ Reece quietly warned him. Consumed by the guilt he shared with his colleague, Reece, himself, knew he would not escape Rosalyn’s inquisitions. And then there was Onóir to consider. He was relieved she had not witnessed the nights’ events.
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