The Dominion Pulse
Page 29
“I’m so sorry,” Oscar cried. “I couldn’t stop myself.”
“Dad,” Brendan said, pulling him out to arm’s length and grabbing the back of his father’s neck, urging him to look into his eyes. “It’s not your fault, Dad, and I promise you, we will not let them win.”
Oscar crumpled into his son’s chest, guilt-ridden and broken, repeating his apology. Brendan glanced up at Dorian with a newfound strength and motivation burning within him. The couple shared a bond that was stronger than anything he could have ever imagined. He wasn’t just making a promise to his father, he was also making vow to Dorian.
Epilogue
Partnerships
“Where are we?” Caoranach asked, her voice sounding like it had to travel through a gravel-strewn throat. “Who are you?”
Elathan moved closer to her bedside and knelt down to be at eye level. She was just as he remembered with silky black hair and snow-white skin. Her bright yellow eyes were radiant and gave her the allure of an extremely exotic beauty.
“It is I, Elathan, the golden god,” he stated. “I freed you, and it is I who request your partnership.”
“What have you to offer in your courtship, Lord Elathan?” she replied, turning over onto her side and staring at the golden god with seductive eyes.
“I am the Lord of the Six Realms of Otherworld, and with your help, I will be the Lord of Earth as well.”
“And what would that make me?” Caoranach asked, her eyebrows rose inquisitively.
“You would be my queen, of course.”
Her lips curled into a subtle smile. “And how do we accomplish our goals?”
“We start by traveling to the Emerald Crown of the World.” Elathan reached down and helped her to her feet. “Shall we seal our union with a kiss?”
The two embraced, a sign of an agreement that would benefit death and destruction and forsaking all who believed in freedom or love.
…
“Rory, I’m starting to really worry about Dorian and the others,” Biddy said as she busily prepared tea on the stovetop. “It’s not like her not to send a message or something.”
“Calm down, love,” Rory said. He walked over and rubbed her shoulders. “Those are some of the most powerful beings on the planet, and they are on the side of good, Bid. Luck favors them. I’m sure they’re fine.”
Biddy poured the tea and the couple stepped out of their cottage and into the street. Tevis and Fergus were out in the field kicking a giant ball back and forth. Gnomes and Leprechauns had become quite close—not to say that the occasional fight didn’t still break out. All in all, life in Corways had slowed down, almost returning to a version of normalcy, as if Elathan had never returned.
Fynn and Sinead approached Biddy and Rory from the center of town, the megaliths standing stoically behind them as grim reminders of their fallen brethren.
“Any word from our friends?” Sinead asked, her Dryad eyes as pretty as a spring flower.
Rory shook his head. “None.”
“Go on and tell them,” Fynn encouraged Sinead.
“Tell us what?” Biddy asked.
Sinead looked around to make sure that no one else could hear. “I have been speaking with the spirits of the trees and word has spread from the north that a great evil has settled upon the land.”
Biddy and Rory exchanged woeful glances.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“We don’t know for certain, but we were thinking about traveling north and finding out,” Fynn said, moving his thumb back and forth between himself and Sinead.
“We can’t ask you to do that,” Rory objected. “It’s too dangerous.”
“You all have done so much for us, and we want to be useful,” Sinead explained.
Fynn nodded. “Especially if Elathan and his gang are coming back… it’s our Earth, too, and we want to help.”
“I think it’s the right thing to do, Rory, and I think you and I should go with them.”
Rory gestured around the town. “What about Corways? We can’t just leave it. What about Dorian’s orders?”
“They’ve been fine before with us gone, dear, I think they’ll be fine again.”
Rory mulled it over and looked at Sinead. “How far north?”
“I’m not sure, but the whispers from the Dryads say something about the Emerald Crown of the World.”
“Emerald Crown of the World?” Rory repeated, sparing an ominous gaze at his beloved. “It looks like we are bound for adventure, Biddy.”
…
The archway opened, and in a matter of minutes Brendan and his group were stepping foot on the familiar dirt and stone path of the Chamber. The trees were still leafless, and the fog still hung overhead, but the place was somehow cheerier.
“Where are we?” Oscar asked.
“We’re in a place called a Nether Corridor,” Lizzie answered. “They call it the Chamber.”
“I’ve never heard of it in all my research.” Oscar said, sounding perplexed, and it was apparent that he was exhausted from the whole ordeal.
“Dad,” Brendan addressed his father as they all walked the lonely path. “Do you remember anything that happened while you were in Otherworld?”
“Otherworld,” Oscar said with a subtle laugh. “I never thought I was in Otherworld.” The entire thing sounded like something out of a Celtic fairytale to the professor. Otherworld can’t exist, but then again neither should Leprechauns or witches, he mused.
“I already know that you found the dominion pulse of each realm for Elathan, but other than that, your time there is a lot less clear,” Brendan prompted.
“That sounds vaguely familiar, more like a dream really,” admitted Oscar. “I kept thinking Lizzie was going to come in and wake me up because my alarm had not gone off.”
Lizzie pulled in under his arm and gave him a side hug as they walked. “I wish I would have been able to, Dad.”
Oscar leaned down and kissed her head. “I know, dear. I know.”
Dorian took Brendan’s hand and the couple slowed to the rear of the group. “Let’s let him get used to having his mind be his own before we hit him with a bunch of questions.”
“You’re right, it’s just that you didn’t feel how much more powerful Elathan is now.”
“Thanks to you I only got to feel a percentage of it,” she said, rounding out her stride and stepping in front of Brendan. “I didn’t get to show my appreciation yet.” She stood on her toes and gave him as passionate of a kiss that she felt comfortable giving in front of his father.
“Wow!” Brendan said. “You’re welcome.”
“Come on, slowpokes. Catch up already,” Rohl barked as the group began to distance themselves from Dorian and Brendan.
“So what’s the plan?” she asked, taking his hand again.
“I’m going to introduce you to the Morrigan,” he replied. “I think she might be able to help.”
About The Author
When he’s not writing fantasy novels, Brad A. LaMar works as an author and educator in the Indianapolis Metropolitan area. He has worked with middle school age students for fourteen years and loves the enthusiasm they can bring to learning.
Brad especially enjoys the way a story makes a reader think, laugh, and react. He works hard to deliver those experiences in his best selling YA fantasy series, Celtic Mythos. You can learn more about Brad online at
balamar.lightmessages.com.
Look for The Bloodright Inheritance, the final book of the Celtic Mythos series, to be released Spring 2016.
Celtic Mythos Series
By Brad A. LaMar
The Obsidian Dagger
Book 1
The Megalith Union
Book 2
The Dominion Pulse
Book 3
The Bloodright Inheritance
Book 4
(Coming Spring 2016)
For more Celtic Mythos adventures, check out
Brad LaMar’s short s
tories series at:
bradalamar.com