The Long Staff (The Staff Wielder Series)

by Clare Wilson

  ‘Good Lord, is that the time?' yawned the Laird, looking at the grandfather clock in the corner. It was now past eleven o’clock. ‘We had best all be off to bed.’

  At this they rose and Naithara offered to walk the Sheriff to the door. On the way out, she stopped in the hall to admire another cabinet containing silverware. ‘A handsome collection, yes?’ she asked.

  The Sheriff was slightly confused by her comment. ‘Yes. Indeed, my Lady.’ He had been in the house on many occasions throughout his life and the extensive silver collection of the Laird was not new to him.

  She beckoned for Lizzy to open the front door. ‘Come to me again when it has been done,’ Naithara said softly. She then leant in and kissed him on the cheek.

  The Sheriff felt his heart leap as she touched him, her scent made his head feel fuzzy. As he stood on the step dumbstruck, she briskly closed the door in his face and ascended the stairs with a smile. The fool would do exactly what she wanted him to; the seeds for the next phase of her plan had been planted. This felt like progress, surely they could not fail now. Soon she could summon her master with the good news that their last barrier had been removed. She wondered what rewards he would bestow upon her for such an achievement. Would he increase her power? That would probably have to wait until his ascendance; he was growing weak waiting for the new moon. At least if she could report such momentous news, the wrath she had encountered from him recently might stop. She wanted to prove to him everything she was capable of.

  Meanwhile, as the Sheriff made his way into the night, he wondered about how he was to achieve the strange deed Lady Naithara requested of him. Putting these doubts aside he then thought of how she made him feel, with a woman like her he could achieve great things. With this in his mind he strode along and set to finding a way to make her happy and remove the MacKays. Suddenly he heard something clinking in his pocket, reaching down to feel that it was heavier than normal. He stuck his hand in and discovered he had some cutlery with the Laird’s family crest upon them. He didn’t remember picking them up and wondered whether Lady Naithara had slipped them into his pocket when she kissed him on the cheek. By the time he had arrived home, an idea had begun to form in his mind. Like a puppet, he was acting exactly as Naithara had hoped. He thought to himself, Michael MacDonald, you had better be sure about this. There is no turning back if you take this path. He shook his head to clear his thoughts; he couldn’t disappoint Naithara. She was the most intoxicating woman he had ever met. He knew if he didn’t take this chance he would regret it for the rest of his life.

  Chapter Four

  The Dark is Rising

  Back at the cottage all of the MacKays were sleeping. There came a rattle at the front door and Torean rose from his bed to find out who was knocking. He was muttering to himself about un-godly hours as he opened the front door to find a hooded figure in the doorway.

  Tom, awoken by the noise, couldn’t make out what was said, but he could tell it was a woman. He moved to try to leave the bed and the sagging wooden frame creaked loudly. Aneirin stirred for a moment and Tom sat perfectly still until he rolled over and began to snore. Then crawling like a cat from the bed, trying not to wake Aneirin once more, he looked through the crack in the bedroom door. This wasn’t easy, the figure in the doorway was cloaked and he could only see Torean’s back from his position. Plus Aneirin’s snoring was making it very difficult to make out what was being said.

  ‘Thank you for taking this risk, lassie,’ he heard Torean say. ‘Go safely now and do not stop until you are home, do you hear?’ With that he closed the door.

  By now Adaira had risen from her bed and was walking into the living room sleepily. Pulling her nightclothes about her, she drowsily enquired what was happening.

  Torean looked round as she entered. He no longer looked sleepy, all colour had drained from his face. ‘Wake the children, we must talk,’ he said seriously.

  Torean’s tone seemed to rouse Adaira from her sleepy daze. Without a word, she turned towards the room the boys were sleeping in with a worried look upon her face.

  Seeing this, Tom quickly scuttled back to bed and only just made it beneath the sheets as the door creaked open. He pretended to be asleep as Adaira came to them and shook her son awake.

  ‘Darlin’, you need to wake up,’ she said softly. ‘Your grandfather wishes us to gather in the front room,’ she leant over him, lovingly stroking her son’s hair.

  Tom sat up and rubbed his eyes, trying his best to look as though he too had just woken. ‘What’s happening?’ he enquired, yawning. She lingered on him for a moment and he hoped he wasn’t overdoing it.

  ‘I’m not sure, dear,’ she said, crossing the room to fetch Aneirin’s house coat. ‘I think Torean will need to tell us that.’

  As they all sat down together at the table in the living area, Adaira busied herself putting on a pot of tea. She always did this when she was nervous. It was easier to be busy than to be sitting imagining what on earth could be wrong.

  Torean looked around at all of them, unsure where to begin. ‘We are in great danger,’ he said solemnly. ‘It is now at the point where I can no longer protect you from the truth.’

  ‘What is all this?’ Adaira interrupted. ‘Does it relate to why the Sheriff has been visiting us so often?’

  ‘Please,’ Torean replied. ‘It would be best if you let me explain first, then ask questions.’ Torean took her hand and gave her an imploring look. She accepted this and poured them all a cup of tea. Torean took the cup gratefully. ‘It’s hard to know where to begin,’ he said. ‘I suppose it all comes down to this.’ He rose and fetched his staff from the corner.

  Tom felt his heart leap into his mouth. Is he about to reveal the secret’s of the staff? That would also mean he'll need to reveal the reason for me being with the family. Will they still want me here once they know we have been lying to them? He felt physically sick.

  ‘This is no ordinary walking cane,’ Torean continued, sitting back down at the table. ‘It’s been in our family for generations. It can channel great power and here in Cairn Holme the MacKays have used it to protect the land from evil.’

  Adaira was looking at him as if he had gone mad, while Aneirin had a look about him as though he had been waiting on this information for a long time.

  ‘Torean, please, it’s late. What is this nonsense?’ Adaira said doubtfully. Nothing the old man was saying made sense to her. He was beginning to frighten her, has he lost his senses?

  Torean held up a hand to silence her. ‘Young Tom appearing here isn’t a coincidence either,’ he continued. ‘I summoned him with the power of MacKay and brought him from his own time here to us. He too has a staff.’ At this he motioned for Tom to fetch his staff from the corner.

  Tom, unsure of what else to do, simply stood up and brought his staff over to the table. He couldn’t look either Aneirin or Adaira in the face; he knew they were staring at him in disbelief.

  Adaira and Aneirin were now looking from Tom to Torean, both wondering what else the old man was going to reveal.

  Adaira could not remain silent. ‘Do you mean you have stolen this boy from his family? Do you know how to send him back? How would you feel if…’

  ‘Please, mum,’ Aneirin cut in. ‘Let granda continue, I’m sure he will answer our questions.’

  She was not happy, but sat in silence, her arms now folded.

  ‘There have been times,’ Torean continued solemnly, ‘when I have had to fend off great evil. This is one of those times. Tom has come here to help, he will return to where he belongs once this is over. A friend, at great personal risk, has come here this night to inform me that we are to expect another visit from the Sheriff. However, this time he will not simply be poking around as he has before. He has orders to remove us in whatever way he can find. This means it's no longer safe here. Adaira, I would like you and Aneirin to leave tonight and seek shelter in the hills.’

  At this they both looked appalled. Adaira put her
arm around her son. ‘If what you say is true,’ she said firmly, ‘I wish to stay here and defend my home. We have done no wrong, why should we run?’

  ‘They are strong words,’ Torean said softly, ‘even so, you are my family. I wish to protect you. You don't know what we are up against.’

  Suddenly Aneirin cut in, and Tom thought that this was the most talkative he had seen Aneirin since their conversation in the barn. ‘I too shall stay,’ he said. ‘Although I'm hurt you've not been training me to help in this fight, is this stranger more important than I am?’

  A tear rolled slowly down Torean’s cheek. ‘No, my boy, please don't say such things. You know how important you are to me. You must also remember that Tom is family. He is a MacKay, even if he is not familiar to us. It is a fault of mine, but one which you must understand has come from love. I have tried to preserve your innocence, and, since your father’s death, I've put off bringing this burden upon you.’

  At this statement Adaira looked up sharply, a defiant tear fell from her eye. ‘What are you trying to say Torean? Do you mean Abhainn died fighting this?’

  The old man looked down at his cup of tea, ashamed. ‘It is our destiny, lass. We have no choice! If I could have died in his stead I would have gladly done so.’

  She knew this was the truth, but still she felt betrayed. ‘Tell me what happened to him, Torean,’ she demanded tearfully. ‘I believe I deserve that much.’

  Torean looked at her with great sorrow; he seemed to hesitate. ‘It was a different threat to that which we face now. Abhainn took up the staff when I was injured in battle. Trying to fight our enemies and protect me, he was overcome. A stray spell which he had not blocked sent him flying over the edge of the rocks up by Dawson’s Watch.’

  ‘You told me he fell trying to rescue a stray sheep from the edge?’ Adaira said, feeling a mixture of confusion and anger.

  ‘I know, my dear,’ Torean whispered, tears now rolling freely down his face. ‘Anything I have said to you both has only been to protect you. I couldn’t bear to lose another loved one because of the responsibility which I bear.’

  The group sat in silence for several minutes after the old man had finished speaking.

  ‘Can you forgive me?’ Torean asked quietly.

  Adaira looked up at him as though his voice had woken her from a dream. ‘I’m not sure Torean,’ Adaira responded frankly. ‘I can’t take this in. You’re telling me that my husband’s death was a lie. I don’t know how you expect me to feel!’

  Torean looked at the floor, he could not expect forgiveness.

  ‘Nevertheless, I love you,’ Adaira continued, ‘and if what you say is true, I will need to put this aside for now in order to protect my son. We will need to discuss this later Torean, I am not happy about being lied to.’

  ‘Mother!’ Aneirin interjected. ‘You cannot be suggesting that we leave our home!’

  ‘Did I say that?’ Adaira said matter-of-factly, looking her son squarely in the eye. ‘We will not be chased from our home like frightened animals,’ she turned back towards Torean. ‘For now everything else I feel will simply have to wait.’

  Torean smiled at her hopefully. ‘I cannot ask anything else for now.’ She was such a strong woman, and in the last couple of years since Abhainn’s death, he had felt like she was his daughter in more than just name. He needed her now more than ever. Deep down he was glad they wanted to stay with him. ‘I think if you are set on staying we should get some proper defences in place,’ he said almost cheerfully. ‘Adaira, my dear, please prepare some bags for travelling in case we have to run.’

  ‘How many days should I pack for?’ she said.

  ‘Well,’ replied Torean thoughtfully. ‘I would hope we won’t have to run at all. Although, if we do have to flee from here, it would mean travelling for some time, at least a week? Pack as much as you can within limits. The main things will be blankets and food.’

  She nodded and rose from her chair, eager to get the bags prepared. As before, she always felt a little better when she was able to busy herself with something.

  ‘Aneirin,’ Torean continued, now turning to his grandson. ‘I want you to gather the animals and take them to Wilson’s farm. Old Wilson has been a friend of mine since boyhood and will understand.’ Now looking to Tom he said, ‘Tom, come outside with me and we shall place some protective enchantments around the farm.’ He stood and ushered Tom towards the door.

  As he opened the door Aneirin said, ‘Surely Wilson will ask me why I am doing this? What shall I say?’

  Torean turned to him and smiled, ‘I know this is hard, boy. Tell him we may need to go away for a short time, and that you cannot reveal any further information to him at the moment. Tell him the situation is serious and that I will explain to him upon our return.’

  Aneirin shrugged his shoulders and headed for the back door.

  Tom and Torean went outside the cottage, ‘Face the house,’ the old man said.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Tom asked warily. He thought Torean looked drained by what he had been forced to reveal to his family.

  ‘I'm fine, boy,’ Torean snapped. He couldn’t afford to get upset again, they must be ready. ‘We must leave such talk for now and concentrate on preparing ourselves. Face the house.’

  Tom did not argue with the old man, and they both stood with their staves and faced the building.

  ‘We are going to raise an enchantment which will alert us to danger,’ he said, motioning to Tom to hold his staff aloft. ‘I don’t want you to worry; you are perfectly capable of such a task. Close your eyes as before and sense the power.’

  Tom closed his eyes and listened to the wind.

  ‘When we cast this we must both turn in opposite directions so as to cast a circle around the farm,’ said the old man. ‘Now, after me say, rabhadh.’ There was a moment’s silence when Torean raised his staff and then said, ‘Rabhadh.’ Blue light flowed from Torean’s staff and flowed out around the cottage.

  Tom felt a great sense of tension. ‘Rabhadh,’ he said a few moments later. He was worried he wasn’t experienced enough, in spite of this, the power flowing from Torean helped him to focus his own. Slowly they placed a protective charm around the farm.

  ‘There,’ Torean said.

  ‘How does this enchantment work?’ Tom asked.

  ‘Well,’ Torean replied, ‘if anyone other than a MacKay penetrates the boundary of the enchantment we will both know.’

  ‘How can we?’ Tom enquired, puzzled.

  ‘My father told me that the sensation can be slightly different for each person. It will be a sensation which is out of the ordinary, something which distracts you.’

  ‘What do you feel when it happens?’ Tom asked, starting to worry he may not recognise the sign when it came.

  ‘For me, my boy,’ Torean said smiling and trying not to laugh, ‘it’s my nose.’

  ‘What do you mean your nose?’ Tom asked, now visualising smelling some horrid aroma or bursting out in nose bleeds.

  ‘My nose tickles,’ he smiled.

  ‘Tickles?’ Tom asked thoughtfully. ‘It’s a little less dramatic than I expected.’

  ‘Well, my boy, it is the nature of the staff. The staff learns to know its wielder, for each of us it's slightly different, as we have different strengths and weaknesses from one another.’

  Tom looked worried.

  ‘Don’t fret. When it happens you will know. When you become more accomplished with the lore of the staff you will recognise the ways in which it reacts for you.’

  Tom hoped Torean was right. ‘What will we do when they come?’ he asked, changing the subject.

  ‘Well,’ said the old man, ‘there are some protective spells I can show you if you would like?’

  ‘Yes please,’ said Tom. ‘I feel so helpless right now.’

  ‘Don’t,’ Torean said, trying his best to comfort him. ‘Let me see, some protective spells,’ he mused. ‘Srad is the word used to summon fire; it can also be
used to manipulate fire. Therefore if you are in a situation where you need to escape flames or if you need to create flames it is extremely useful. Then there is Amail. This incantation puts a barrier between you and a foe, and as with all the powers of the staff this enchantment will use whatever is to hand whether it be the wind or the trees. When accomplished, you can also combine words so that you can determine what form they will take. By combining the two words I have told you, you could create a barrier of fire between yourself and a foe, very formidable.’

  Tom was now moving his staff through the air, obviously imagining wielding such power.

  ‘Nevertheless,’ Torean added quickly, conscious he did not want Tom trying to run before he could walk. ‘You should not try such things at this stage. Also, if possible, I would rather keep you out of sight when the Sheriff comes. At the moment you are a bigger asset to me if they don't know you're here at all.’

  ‘Why?’ Tom asked, feeling slightly hurt.

  ‘Well,’ said Torean, sensing Tom’s insecurity. ‘This isn’t the final battle, and if Lady Naithara doesn’t know you exist it could help us in the long term. Plus, young man, right now I would spend more time worrying about you trying to wield your staff than protecting the farm. If you were to try combining incantations without the proper guidance you could end up destroying the place yourself. ’

  ‘I understand,’ Tom said, feeling a mingled sense of disappointment and relief. He wondered what they were about to face, and despite his initial feeling of annoyance he felt shamefully relieved he would not be expected to join this fight.

  Having completed their task of protecting the farm they both went back inside the house and Torean wasted no time showing Tom a secret entrance to the hay loft in which he could hide safely from the coming enemy.

  Dawn was fast approaching when Aneirin returned from Wilson’s farm looking exhausted.

  ‘Thank you, son,’ said Torean, patting him on the shoulder as he fell into one of the chairs around the kitchen table.