Stoc (A New Druids Series Book 3)

by Donald D. Allan

  But she was fooling herself and she knew it. She could sense the wrongness in the world and knew a terrible battle was occurring just beyond normal sight. A war that had likely been going on for a long time.

  Katherine and Dog had spied Gaea from time to time. She would spy on her, always from a distance. It didn't bother Katherine. It gave her peace of mind. She was glad to know someone beside Dog was looking out for her.

  Will had looked out for her. He had taken the time to show her how to survive out here. He had known somehow that she would be leaving. Sensed it and rather than dissuade her he had helped her. She admired that. He was a good man and she could see how Nadine had fallen for him.

  She looked out with her senses and spied the thread that tied her to the other draoi. She could see the one that tied her to Will's and saw the white that was part of the link. Dog's bond, she could see, was thick and a bright solid white that pulsed with their shared heartbeat. She knew it wasn't normal, but she simply didn't care. It was what it was.

  When she deemed the rabbit cool enough, she placed Dog's share down on the ground in front of him. He looked to her and when she took her first bite, he wolfed his down. Bones crunched and were swallowed, and in a matter of seconds his rabbit was gone. She had barely swallowed two mouthfuls when he started eyeing hers.

  "Hey, greedy guts. You want more, go hunt more. This is mine, doogie doog."

  Dog panted in laughter. It amused her that dogs really did pant in laughter. Their faces really did smile like humans, showing their teeth. Part of the bond between dogs and humans, she figured. They adapted to us. Poor things.

  She finished her rabbit and gave the carcass to Dog. It was gone in seconds and Dog licked his chops in deep satisfaction. Raw rabbit is good, she thought, but I like the cooked kind better.

  Katherine blinked and shot a look at Dog. It was happening again. Dog's thoughts became her own. "Stop that!" she admonished him. Dog looked guilty and then leaned forward and licked her greasy lips. "Yuck! Get off me, dog breath!" She pushed at him with one hand and wiped her mouth with the other. He play nipped at her fingers.

  A small sound from just outside the campfire had them pause and look up. Dog didn't growl because they didn't smell anything. The wind was coming from that direction. We don't smell anything. So it is nothing.

  Katherine and Dog looked back to the fire together.

  "Can I come closer?" asked a familiar voice out of the darkness.

  Katherine growled deep in her throat. Dog looked in the direction of the voice and panted a smile.

  "I promise I won't stay long. We need to speak."

  Katherine looked at Dog and he continued to pant happily.

  She blew hair from her face. "Okay, come over to the fire."

  Gaea stepped into the firelight and sat cross-legged on the ground across from Katherine and Dog.

  "How was your rabbit?"

  "Delicious. We would have saved you some if we had known you were coming," joked Katherine. Katherine kept her eyes away from Gaea. It's easier to stay mad if we don't look at her.

  "I need to show you something."

  Katherine glanced up and watched as Gaea opened her robe. Her chest and breasts were bruised a deep purple. Her whole chest was bruised. It looked terrible. Katherine stared in surprise.

  "By the Word! What happened to you?"

  "Erebus happened. Two months ago at the Crossroads. Do you know the Crossroads?"

  Katherine nodded. Of course we know where the Crossroads are. Many smells of many people. We stayed away.

  "There was a battle. Against Erebus. You remember Erebus?"

  Dog and Katherine growled.

  "He struck me. The first time he has ever done that. It... it was unexpected. He has never attacked me directly. Not in that manner."

  Katherine scratched the back of her ear. "Why?"

  "We fight a different kind of battle. Always constant. I gambled and lost. I forced a direct confrontation. He was stronger. He always has been, but this was different."

  "Different how?"

  "I'm not sure, yet. I'm not sure I will ever figure it out."

  Katherine stared at the bruise. In two months, it should have healed. Gaea should have healed it. She shrugged. "I'm not sure how we can help you."

  "I think I know how, but it's drastic. Something someone a long time ago tried to convince me to do. I refused. Now, I don't see any other options."

  "Who?"

  "It doesn't matter. He was a good man. I miss him dearly."

  Katherine picked at her pants a moment. "So, what do you want us to do?"

  "Do you remember Seth?"

  "Of course, I do! Why would you bring that monster up! He killed my mum and dad! Turned my dad into something horrible! He could never kill my mother, but he did! Seth did that!"

  "Calm, Katherine. I don't mean to upset you. I just need you to understand what I am about to say. I think I have a way to defeat Erebus. I need you to become something not unlike Seth."

  Katherine jumped to her feet and Dog raised his hackles and growled, teeth bared. "What!? Are you insane! I could never become what Seth was! An aos'si, one of the sluagh sidhe! How dare you ask that of us?"

  "Calm, you two! Calm! It will not be like it was for Seth. I promise you that. Seth was broken from me. Erebus used him then. I could not see him. Either could Erebus. He was separated from the battle. Unseen by both of us. Erebus had gotten to him first. Moulded him into something he could use. I would do the same with you but with no deceit. I will be open and honest with you."

  Katherine glared at Gaea for a moment and then slowly sat back down again. "You would separate me from your power?"

  "Sort of. You would still have power. You would leach it from the world like Seth did. But I have to tell you, you would be separated from me and the other draoi. To them, it would appear that you died. But you would live. For a higher purpose."

  "Wouldn't that do something to Dog and I?"

  "Yes."

  "Yes, what?"

  "You would still have each other. I think it is that bond that will allow you to survive when for others it would drive them insane. Seth and the Archbishop lost their sanity over time. With Dog, that shouldn't happen."

  "Shouldn't? You don't know?"

  "No, I don't."

  "What do you gain by this? Why would we agree to this?"

  "Because you could single-handedly take down the greatest threat the world has ever known. You would eradicate Erebus."

  "How?"

  "You would infect him with what I am going to do to you."

  "Infect him? How?"

  "It's hard to explain. It is well beyond yours or anyone else's understanding. Much like a person gets infected and dies, you would become that infection. Except the infection would only target what Erebus is."

  "And us? Would Dog and I get infected and die?"

  "No, you would only be the carrier."

  "Let me think on it."

  "Fair enough. I'll be back tomorrow."

  Katherine looked up and Gaea was gone.

  Dog and Katherine sat in silence for a long time and the fire burned down to embers. She shivered in the cold night air and Dog moved up to lie against her. She grabbed his fur and laid her head on his back, and he laid his head on his front paws. They stayed that way for a time. The fire was almost gone, and the sky filled with stars.

  "What do you think, Dog?"

  Dog lifted his head and panted.

  "Yeah, that's what I thought, too."

  End of Volume Three

  Look for the next volume in the New Druids series coming in 2018.

  Freamhaigh: A New Druids Novel (Volume Four)

  By Donald D. Allan

  World Details

  Ranks and Hierarchies

  Draoi (Druid) Ranks:

  Freamhaigh (Root) – Head Druid

  Cill Dara(e) – Druid Priest/Priestess (The Elevated Druid)

  Stoc (Trunk) or informally just Draoi
– Full Druid

  Craobh (Branch) – Journeyman Druid

  Duilleog (Leaf) – Apprentice Druid

  The Church of the New Order Ranks:

  King (in abeyance since Revolution)

  Archbishop (acting head of the Church)

  Bishop

  Dean

  Vicar

  Army of the Realm Ranks:

  Officers:

  Knight General (former rank from before the Revolution)

  General

  Brigadier

  Colonel

  Lieutenant Colonel

  Major

  Captain

  Lieutenant

  Second Lieutenant

  Enlisted:

  Warrant Officer

  Staff Sergeant

  Sergeant

  Corporal

  Lance Corporal (appointment, not a rank)

  Private

  Recruit

  Lord Protector's Guard Ranks:

  The highest ranking officer is General. Because the Lord Protector's Guard is a specialty occupation, the members come from the Army of the Realm, and on occasion from the Navy of the Realm. For this reason they share the same rank structure except that the lowest officer rank is Captain and the lowest enlisted rank is Corporal; those being the earliest rank you can be selected or request service in the Lord Protector's Guard.

  Navy of the Realm Ranks:

  Officers:

  Fleet Admiral

  Admiral

  Commodore

  Captain (Navy)

  Commander

  Lieutenant-Commander

  Lieutenant (Navy)

  Ensign

  Midshipman

  Enlisted:

  Chief Petty Officer

  Petty Officer

  Master Seaman

  Leading Seaman

  Able Seaman

  Ordinary Seaman

  It should be noted that the General of the Realm is the head of the Army, the Navy, and the Lord Protector's Guard. The Lord Protector's Guard recruits from the Army of the Realm, and rarely, from the Navy. The Navy's top rank, the Fleet Admiral, is not quite equal to the General. In this world the Navy is not the senior service.

  Calendar and Seasons

  The calendar is in the background of the world and not specifically referenced except where it occurs accidentally. We don't dwell on the calendar and neither do the folks in Turgany. In this world the Celtic names for things have slipped and are rarely used. The common language is English.

  Seasons:

  Winter ("Geimhreadh") – December, January, February (Nollaig, Eanair, Feabhra)

  Spring ("Earrach") – March, April, May (Marta, Aibrean, Bealtaine)

  Summer ("Samhradh") – June, July, August (Meitheamh, Luil, Lunasa)

  Autumn ("Fomhar") – September, October, November (Mean Fomhair, Deirreadh Fomhair, Samhain)

  Time Frames:

  Day – dia

  Night – nocht

  Week – 8 days and nights—deug

  Fortnight – 15 days and nights – cola-deug

  Month – mios

  Days of the Week:

  Sunday – Domhnaich

  Monday—Luain

  Tuesday—Mairt

  Wednesday—Ciadain

  Extra—Durdaoin

  Thursday—Ardaoin

  Friday—Aoine

  Saturday—Sathurna

  Breakdown of a Year:

  365 days in a calendar year for which only 360 are provided actual dates. The extra five days per year (see Solstices/Equinoxes) are used as celebration days and are known by their title rather than as calendar date. It works like this: there is a December 24th, followed by Christmas Day, which is then followed by December 25th.

  24 fortnights (24x15 days) per year

  45 weeks per year

  3 weeks and 6 days per month (totalling 30 days per month)

  Solstices (longest/shortest day of year)/Equinoxes:

  Vernal Equinox is the day after March 19th (or Marta 19) and is celebrated for 1 day as Ostara Day (non-calendar day).

  Estival Solstice (Summer) is the day after June 20th (or Meitheamh 20) and is celebrated for 1 day as Litha Day (non-calendar day)

  Autumnal Equinox is the day after September 21st (or Mean Fomhair 21) and is celebrated for 2 days as First Mabon Day (harvest) and Last Mabon Day (feast) (non-calendar days).

  Hibernal Solstice (Winter) is the day after December 20 (or Nollaig 20) and is celebrated for 1 day as Yule (non-calendar day).

  Holidays:

  Samhain. Nov 7 (Samhain 7). Midpoint between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. Celebrates the last harvest, the cycle of life and gifts for passing spirits. Preparation to survive winter, confront the possibility of death. Colours: black, brown, reds, oranges. Opposite to Bealtaine.

  Yule is the day after December 20 (Nollaig 20) and is a non-calendar day. Shortest day and longest night of the year. Celebrates the end of darkness, the return of light to the earth. Herbs are at their least potent. Colours: green, red, white, silver, gold.

  Imbolc. Feb 1 (Feabhra 1). Midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Celebrates the quickening of spring, the end of winter, time of planning and hopes. Colours: red, orange, white.

  Ostara Day is the day after March 19 (Marta 19) and is a non-calendar day. First day of Spring, the night and day stand equal. Celebrates the birth of spring, rebirth. Time of planting. Colours: red and yellow.

  Bealtaine. May 6 (Bealtaine 6). Midpoint between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice. Time of rebirth. Colours: blue, pink, yellow, green. Opposite to Samhain.

  Litha Day is the day after June 20 (Meitheamh 20) and is a non-calendar day. Summer solstice, first day of summer, longest day of the year. Celebrates the light and the sun without there would be no life. Time of strengths and accomplishments. Gather herbs as "herb night" is when they are at their most potent. Colours: blue, yellow, green.

  Lammas. Aug 1 (Lunasa 1). Midpoint between Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox. First harvest festival. Celebrates the beginning of harvest season, the decline of summer to winter. Time to dismiss regrets, farewells, preparation for winter. Ceremonies involve breads, grains and corn dolls. Colours: oranges, greens, browns.

  Mabon Days are the two days after September 21st (Mean Fomhair 21) and they are non-calendar days. Referred to as First Mabon and Last Mabon. Autumn Equinox, first day of Autumn. Celebrates harvest. First Mabon is harvesting time and Last Mabon is the feast. Time for thanks and learning, repairing all things. Colours: dark reds, yellows, browns.

  Important Calendar Dates Summary:

  February 1 (Feabhra 1)—Imbolc

  March (Marta)—Ostara Day (Vernal Equinox) is the day after March 19th

  May 6 (Bealtaine 6)—Bealtaine

  June (Meitheamh)—Litha Day (Estival Solstice (Summer)) is the day after June 20th

  August 1 (Lunasa 1)—Lammas

  September (Mean Fomhair)—First/Last Mabon Days (Autumnal Equinox) is the two days after September 21st

  November 7 (Samhain 7)—Samhain

  December (Nollaig)—Yule (Hibernal Solstice (Winter)) is the day after December 20th

  Currency

  1 crown (large round gold coin) = 36 groats = 144 pence

  1 half-crown (large round gold coin with centre hole) = 18 groats = 72 pence

  1 mark (small gold coin) = 9 groats = 36 pence

  1 groat (silver rectangular coin) = 4 pence

  1 tuppence (small silver coin or large copper coin) = 2 pence

  1 pence (copper coin) = 1 pence

  1 half-pence (copper coin with centre hole) = 1/2 pence

  1 farthing (small rectangular copper coin) = 1/4 pence

  Coins are measured by known weights that are in accordance with the Turgany Weights and Measures Act. For example, a full crown must weigh exactly one royal ounce (28 grams). A half-crown weighs a half ounce (14 grams). And a mark weighs a quarter ounce (7 grams) which means it is a bit heavier than a quart
er but sized about the same. A groat weighs the same as a mark (but is larger), and a tuppence weighs half that of a groat (hence if it is made of copper it will be larger). Typically wealthy merchants will carry coin scales to verify that they are not being cheated with counterfeit coins. The habit of biting a gold coin was to prove that it was indeed gold—which is soft—and not some impostor.

  Seven Tenants of Morality

  1. Strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason.

  2. The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions.

  3. One's body is inviolable, subject to one's own will alone.

  4. The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo your own.

  5. Beliefs should conform to our best scientific understanding of the world. We should take care never to distort scientific facts to fit our beliefs.

  6. People are fallible. If we make a mistake, we should do our best to rectify it and resolve any harm that may have been caused.

  7. Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought. The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word.

  About the Author

  DONALD D. ALLAN is a Canadian author of fantasy and science fiction and an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy.

  He is the GOLD medal winner of the Dan Poynter's Global eBook Awards 2016 for the category Fantasy/Other Worlds for his debut novel Duilleog, the first novel in his New Druids series. The second novel, Craobh, won the BRONZE medal in the same category in 2017.