She glanced down at her arms, surprised to see he was correct. “Mayhap this is a sign of hope,” she said. “Such a thing once marked a great increase in power.” She did not tell him the rest of it, that according to legend, when a Fae was at their strongest with the full might of their magic coursing through and in them, they no longer even looked human. Rather, one might say such a Fae resembled a shower of sparks, like the tail of a comet as it streaked across the evening sky.
Darrick returned, handing her a black cloak similar to the one he wore. She donned it, taking care to arrange her hair behind the hood, and keeping the too-long sleeves over her hands.
“Ready?”
She nodded, glancing again at the final streaks of the setting sun. “I am.”
Again, the darkness came swiftly. One moment the faint golden glow dimly lit the western horizon; the next the valley plunged into darkness. As they watched, small fires were lit here and there, each surrounded by a group of men ready to eat and drink before resting for the night.
Into this black night Alanna and Darrick went forward.
The further into the crowd they traveled, Darrick’s confidence appeared to increase. Shoulders back, he strode forward, not bothering to try to hide his passage. Always they moved towards the center of the milling mass of men.
Nowhere did she see any children. Where this Gorsedd might be keeping her son, she had no idea. But once she found Caradoc, she meant to make sure Gorsedd would pay for his actions.
Darrick’s long-legged stride carried him ahead of her.
“How do you know where to go,” she hissed, stumbling as she had to run to catch him and tugging at his sleeve.
He glanced down at her, the hood hiding his face. “The center is where we’ll find the leader. Hopefully Morfran and Gorsedd will be together.”
“Assuming we aren’t caught.”
“We won’t be. Gorsedd will never expect the two of us to come alone like this. No doubt he’s waiting for an army, like the one Wynne has assembled. As long as you don’t use your magic, we should be fine.”
They kept moving, though Darrick took care to match his pace to hers.
Finally they reached what appeared to be the center of the milling mass of men. They made a casual sweep of the groups camped there and saw nothing to indicate Morfran or Gorsedd or any man of importance stayed nearby.
“Mayhap I was wrong. They must be somewhere else.”
“Look.” Alanna pointed. In the black night sky, there appeared to be four huge bonfires hovering above the armies. “Tynwald Hill.”
How she knew this, she could not say. “`Tis four-tiered. Each tier contains a different walkway and all are a path to the top. They’ve lit a fire on each level.”
But why? Darrick and Alanna exchanged a quick glance then, in wordless accord, moved forward.
“Gorsedd camps on the hill itself.” Even this far from it, Alanna could feel the thrum and buzz of ancient power. Glad was she to have donned the hooded cloak, for her skin began to glow brighter the closer they drew to the place. She tucked her hands in her sleeves.
“Your magic returns ten-fold,” Darrick whispered. “Your light shines from inside the hood. How can this be?”
Her heartbeat strong and steady, Alanna smiled. So much energy made her feel drunk, full of confidence. “Tynwald Hill is a place of magic. And, mayhap we draw closer to my son. If he truly is the child of legend as Wynne believes, then like Gorsedd, my power increases.”
“But why has it not done so before now? You have raised the boy since birth, yet your power – and that of your people - continued to wane.”
She thought for a moment. “In all the Fae there must be a catalyst. Something that happens in childhood, to bring that Fae’s power to the surface. Since Caradoc is a halfling, I did not know if such a thing would ever happen. Evidently it has, and his magic has been awakened.”
“A catalyst,” Darrick repeated.
Alanna nodded. She didn’t want to think about what that catalyst might been. She could only pray that her son was all right.
One niggling worry nagged at her. If Caradoc had become so powerful, why did he not come to her?
* * * *
About to ask Caradoc instructions for riding the dragon, Geoffrey froze at the boy’s horrified expression.
“What is it?”
“He comes.” Wide-eyed, Caradoc touched Geoffrey’s arm. “You must hide.”
Such terror in the boy’s voice.
“No.” Geoffrey touched his sword. “I will stay and slay this evil man.”
“You cannot.” Dread and certainty played across Caradoc’s face. “He is too powerful.”
“I can fight. Gorsedd deserves to die.”
“Listen to the boy, Geoffrey.” Sarina came forward. “Gorsedd is no ordinary man. He is Fae, and has been feeding off both Caradoc’s power and the earth’s to increase his own. Now is not the time.”
Geoffrey narrowed his gaze. “I will fight.”
“No.” Caradoc’s voice trembled. “Quickly, you must hide.”
Geoffrey heard the boy’s panic. “If we do, then you hide with us.”
“No. He comes for me.”
“I’m not leaving you to face him alone. Your mother would never forgive me that.” Not only Alanna. Geoffrey could not absolve himself were he to do such a cowardly thing.
With a harsh intake of breath, Caradoc came forward, motioning at Geoffrey that he must lower himself until their faces were level. “Listen to me,” he said, urgency and a much older tone of command in his youthful voice. “Take Sarina and hide. Gorsedd will not harm me. He wishes to use me again. Once he has taken me to Tynwald Hill, go to Ladde. You must ride upon his back and find my mother and this Darrick. Only together with them will you have enough strength to defeat Gorsedd’s evil.”
“How do you know this?”
Caradoc shrugged. “It just is. I simply know. I will try to shield you. I’ve been practicing using small bits of magic without attracting Gorsedd’s attention.”
Still Geoffrey hesitated. Though the boy spoke with the authority of a man, Caradoc’s age numbered less than a fourth of his own.
“Come on,” Sarina hissed, tugging at Geoffrey’s sleeve and trying to pull him. “We must go now, before it is too late.”
A loud buzz filled the air, as though a swarm of a thousand angry bees approached.
“Now!” Caradoc ordered, and it seemed the earth trembled.
Without conscious movement, Geoffrey found himself under a three-sided rock enclosure with Sarina.
“How the…?”
“Magic,” she whispered. “Caradoc. Now listen.”
The droning buzz grew louder, before abruptly cutting off. The following silence felt so loud it made Geoffrey’s ears ache.
A horrible stench, like rotting meat, filled the air. Eyes watering, Geoffrey rubbed them furiously, willing himself not to gag. Beside him, Sarina made small sounds of distress.
“Gorsedd. He is more than foul.” Her voice sounded choked, suffocated.
In the next instant the setting sun went gray, all the lingering brightness leeched out of it. The feeble light that remained gave a lifeless cast to everything, so that even Sarina’s vibrant beauty appeared to pale. Not her skin though. For the first time Geoffrey noticed she gave off a faint glow.
She swallowed, pinching her nose together to try and breathe without gagging. “He has amassed more power than we realized.”
Grim, Geoffrey nodded. “I don’t claim to understand all about Fae and magic, but I recognize strength when I see it.”
He peered up and over into the gloom. “But where is Gorsedd? I do not see him, nor Caradoc for that matter.”
Even as he spoke the words, the cloud lifted. Again the wintry sun shone pale yellow on the horizon. Birds began to sing again, and he heard the soft lapping of the low tide. The awful silence was gone.
“Gorsedd has left.” Standing, Sarina dusted her hands on the fron
t of her gown. “He has taken Caradoc.”
“Where? The boy mentioned Tynwald Hill.”
“He should know. Tynwald Hill is a place of magic. For Gorsedd to have grown so in power, he has to have harnessed more than Caradoc. He has raped the earth of her strength somehow.”
“Or other Fae? Can such a thing be done?”
Sarina recoiled. Then, considering, she gave a slow nod. “`Tis possible. I had not thought of that. If he has done such a thing…”
“What?”
“He will be more difficult to defeat than even we had feared. But defeat him we must.”
Geoffrey held out his hand. “Then we will do as Caradoc asked. We will get his dragon to help us.”
“I--”
“We have no choice, remember.” Repeating her own words back to her, he pulled her to him, planting a quick kiss on her upturned lips. “Have no fear. Ladde will carry us without protest, for Caradoc has asked it of him.”
“But I cannot go. I am Fae and he will know it.”
“Not if you don’t use magic. Like a moth to a flame, I think Gorsedd is attracted to power. Now we must hurry, for the darkness will not last forever.”
Sarina went willingly with him after his brave words. Brave words. Jesu save him. Despite his bravado for Sarina’s sake, Geoffrey did not know if they were true or false. For all he knew, this dragon could have a mind of its own. It might not care, or understand, that Caradoc had wanted it to carry them. To approach it without his sword drawn would be dangerous. After all, with a single sweep of its massive claws, it could kill them both.
* * * *
“Wait.” Alanna touched Darrick’s arm. “Listen.”
Set apart from the main throng, she jerked her head towards a non-descript tent. In front of a small fire, three heavily armed men clanked tankards of mead and laughed.
“She is not much of a lady,” said one. “Though I daresay that’s why Gorsedd uses her.”
“Gorsedd?” Another laughed. “Morfran is the one who has the most sport of her. And `tis rumored she is his own sister.”
Darrick growled low in his throat. Only Alanna’s soft touch on his arm kept him from rushing forward.
“Wait,” she whispered. “See what else we might learn.”
“Have they tired of her?” The third man, swaying unsteadily on his feet, jerked his head towards the tent.
“`Tis not your place to ask.”
“Oh yeah?” His grin became a leer. “They sent her out here, among the rest of us. Mayhap they intend her to be our reward.”
Having heard enough, Darrick started forward, hand on his sword.
“Darrick, no.” With both hands, Alanna grabbed his arm.
“That’s my mother they speak of,” he hissed. “I will not stand for it.”
“Listen to me.” She leaned in close, her face tilted up to his. “If you start a fight, we will be captured. We are surrounded by Morfran’s men. There is no way we can win against so many.”
His blood simmering, Darrick did not want to listen. His first instinct, though he knew it to be wrong, was to take the men out for their insult.
“You do want to rescue her, don’t you?”
The red haze that filled him faded. Jerking his head in a slow nod, he turned away from the men, one of whom had begun to notice the altercation.
“Kiss me.”
“Not now.” How could she think of kissing at a time like this?
“Hurry, or those men will never believe we have a lover’s quarrel.” She pulled his face down to her, planting a kiss that tasted of desperation on his mouth.
Now that he realized her logic, he played along. “I’ll let it go this time, wench.” Speaking loudly, he slapped her along her rounded bottom.
She gasped.
With a wolfish smile, he jerked her up against him. “Come with me. I have not yet gotten what I paid for.”
The three men by the fire laughed, losing interest as Darrick made a great show of dragging Alanna away.
Once they’d rounded another throng of people and were no longer in view, Darrick released her.
“Was that necessary?” Glaring up at him, Alanna rubbed her bottom.
“`Tis what they expected.” He glanced back towards the tent, able to see only the top of it. “If they guard my mother, we must plan how to rescue her.”
“That will be easy.” She gave him a confident smile. “I’ll take care of it myself. Meet me in an hour near the path that leads back towards Wynne and the others.” She turned to go.
“Wait.” This time he grabbed her arm. “What are you going to do?”
“Mayhap I will use a spell to make their sleep deeper than usual and--”
“No magic.” His voice harsh with worry, Darrick glanced towards Tynwald Hill. The four fires still burned high above them. “Remember what Wynne said. As long as you don’t use magic, Gorsedd cannot find you.”
“Very well.” She sighed, following his gaze. “I will find another way. Now let me go.”
“I don’t know about this.”
With a pointed look at his hand still clutching her arm, she grimaced. “Do you have a better idea?”
Longingly he fingered his sword. “I’d much rather cut them down.”
“And get us all killed in the process.”
He released her arm. She was right. “The path. In one hour.”
With a quick kiss on his cheek, she grinned. ““Aye.” And walked off without a backwards glance.
* * * *
The dragon watched them approach, huge claws tucked under its massive bulk.
“Call it by name,” Sarina whispered. “Such a thing gives you an aura of power.”
With a quick glance at her, now softly glowing, Geoffrey nodded. “Don your cloak,” he whispered. Then, swallowing, he took a step forward.
“Ladde.”
The beast raised its head, silver orbs blinking.
“We have need of you. Caradoc has asked that you carry us. We must find our companions.” Geoffrey felt compelled to explain, though in truth he knew not how much Ladde actually understood.
To his amazement, the dragon lowered his head, stretching the long, scaly neck out in front of them. Such a position rendered the beast vulnerable, should Geoffrey attack with his sword.
“He shows his trust, placing himself in such a way to make it easy for us to mount up on him.” Sarina whispered, awe making her voice tremble.
Geoffrey smiled, though he himself knew wonder at the ease with which this fierce monster trusted.
“Come on.” He held out his hand. Sarina slipped her fingers into his and he gave them a light squeeze.
“Now we will ride the dragon.”
Ladde held absolutely motionless while they climbed the scaly hide. They settled between his shoulders, directly above the huge wings. Once they were comfortable, the dragon rose, lumbering to the edge of the beach. With a shuddering motion, the beast leapt up. Then, as though clawing at the sky itself, they climbed into the air.
After the first initial shock, Geoffrey relaxed. Sarina too looked around with interest, her lively expression full of excitement.
Below them, their small rocky island looked tiny. The sea, smaller still. They flew into a sky dappled with sparkling stars. The moon, still a sliver, hid behind a dark cloud.
“Moonlight comes.” As he spoke, the cloud cleared away, bathing them in silver.
Sarina stifled a cry. “Moon glow begets power.”
“The timing is good.” Geoffrey grinned. “We can see enough to fly, but the light is still so dim no one will see our approach. They have no reason to look to the sky, and if we cast a shadow, `twill be faint.”
The dragon circled, gliding upon the wind and rising. They crested a hill. Spread out in the valley below they saw hundreds of small campfires.
“An army.” He made a quick count. “A large army.”
“Morfran?”
“Mayhap.”
“How will we
find Alanna and Darrick?” Sarina sounded worried.
Geoffrey fingered his rosary. “I don’t know, but we will.” He heard himself say. “Have faith.”
* * * *
Half-way to the path, Darrick stopped in his tracks. What they hell was he doing? Simply walking away and leaving Alanna to face possible danger wasn’t in his nature, no matter how reasonable she made it all sound.
Furious at himself and at her, he quickly retraced his steps, this time slipping around to the back of the tent. He saw no sign of Alanna, so she must have made it inside.
The three guards still clustered around their fire, now singing ribald songs, obviously well into their cups.
Creeping closer, he glanced carefully around. Though surrounded by tents and fires and men, no one paid him any mind.
Now to wait.
Picking up a misshapen piece of wood from a haphazardly stacked pile, he lowered himself to the ground. Then he pulled out his knife as though preparing to carve the wood. Many men had similar hobbies and were he so occupied, no one would find it odd that he sat by himself, with the light of a nearby fire to guide him.
Turning the wood this way and that, Darrick began to shave it. A little at a time, as though he had some plan for the shape of the thing.
Finally, the bottom of the tent puckered, then lifted. Alanna’s slender hand appeared, tugging at the heavy material.
This was how she planned to escape? Hoping no one would notice two women leaving from the wrong side of the tent? Since she could stroll out the front, past the waiting guards, nor use her magic, `twas not a bad plan.
Darrick went to help her. Together they pushed aside a panel enough for Alanna to slip through.
“What are you doing here?” she hissed, glaring at him.
“You need my help.” Not a question, he stated the facts. “How did you gain entrance?”
“The same way I plan to leave. I crawled in the back. No one noticed. They are enjoying their drink too much.”
He tried to see past her. “Where is my lady mother?”
“In there.” She grimaced. “And I’m glad you came back. She cannot walk, and I am not strong enough to carry her. I’ve tried.”
“Cannot walk?” Darrick pushed aside the tent piece and strode inside. Inside, the tent was empty save a bundle of rags in one corner. The only occupant huddled in these, peering up at him with faded blue eyes through matted gray hair, a bony hand up as though to ward him off.
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