Casting the Dagda a brilliant smile, I nodded my thanks then got back to my dinner.
Afterwards, we all converged on Danua's ballroom floor. There were only about fifty of us altogether, the soldiers having remained in their own lodgings. A small party of musicians were setting up their instruments in one corner, and soon the light, airy flow of music mingled with the many voices echoing throughout the spacious hall.
The young man from earlier, Bowen, wove his way through the crowd, heading in my direction. I felt myself tense and instantly Cade's hand was in mine.
Bowen stopped a few feet away and gave a polite bow. "I was wondering if Meghan would like to dance."
I froze. He'd called me by my name. Not 'Princess' or 'Lady'. And he had a very kind voice. I studied his brown eyes and couldn't find any of the vicious humor I'd seen in the young men who frequented the Dagda's party.
Go ahead Meghan. Bowen is honest and it will do you some good to get to know more of your peers, Cade spoke into my mind.
Are you sure? I returned.
Cade's answer was a light chuckle and a quick kiss on my neck before he nudged me forward.
Yes I'm sure. I have no fear of Bowen stealing you from me. He knows better.
Releasing a mental snort, I gave Bowen my full attention and said, my voice a little wobbly, "Sure, uh, Bowen. I'd love to dance."
Bowen took my hand in a firm but not overbearing grip. The first dance wasn't a slow one, but it wasn't too fast either.
"So, Meghan, daughter of Danua, why don't you tell me a little about yourself."
His words were friendly and he sounded genuinely interested, so I opened my mouth with the intention of only telling him little, insignificant things. But once I began, the floodgate came down and I simply gushed stories from my childhood and high school years, as well as those from my time spent in the Otherworld. After three songs, the band took a break and I found myself standing in front of Bowen, a bit dazed. Had I really just spent all that time babbling without once giving him a chance to share?
"I'm so sorry!" I said, pressing my hands to my cheeks. "I just spent a good fifteen minutes talking about myself!"
I was horrified, but Bowen only laughed. Man, he had a nice smile . . .
"Don't worry about it. I enjoyed your stories, but I'm afraid you'll have to ask me about mine some other time."
He nodded towards something over my shoulder and I turned to find Cade approaching. Grinning sheepishly, I thanked Bowen for the dance and rejoined Cade. He met me with open arms and as we moved to the rhythm of the music, he asked me if I had enjoyed Bowen's company.
He's very nice, and almost as cute as you. If you ever change your mind about me, I'm going directly to him.
Never! Cade returned, pulling me closer. I bit my lip against a smile. His shil-sciar words had been pure conviction. I would never give you up my love.
We danced for a little while more, and when the musicians stopped for a longer break, Cade took me around and introduced me to some of the Tuatha De. They were so overwhelming, what with their pure, raw magic practically pouring off of them and their ancient, all-knowing eyes. Epona and the Dagda I already knew of course, but when Cade pulled me over to Lugh, I broke out in a nervous sweat.
"Lugh," Cade said, "I would like you to meet Meghan Elam, daughter of Danua."
The magnificent god turned away from his companions to consider me, one perfect eyebrow arched over a sapphire eye. For several endless seconds, he studied me but then his face broke into a brilliant smile.
"Why young Meghan, I've heard a lot about you, both from my grandson and his foster father."
My knees almost buckled as relief coursed through me. "And I've read a lot about you," I blurted.
Lugh adopted a look of slight surprise and I felt my face flush scarlet. Brilliant Meghan, brilliant . . .
But then Lugh burst out laughing.
"Oh yes," he said once he'd regained some composure, "for some reason the Celts were extremely impressed with me."
His smile was enough to light the room.
Oh, I can see why . . . I thought as I self-consciously brushed back my hair. When I was certain my face had regained its normal color, I glanced back up, taking a few moments to study the Tuatha De king before me. Lugh. The Master of all the Arts. Cade's grandfather. Although it wasn't immediately apparent, I could see the similarities between them. They both had the same strong, straight nose and there was a familiarity in Lugh's smile I'd see so many times in Cade's.
Feeling a bit bold, I cleared my throat and said, "So, why do they call you the Master of all the Arts?"
The man who had been standing beside him, the one with the silver glove, Nuadu, rolled his eyes then tilted his glass of mead towards the blond Tuatha De. "Because he is well learned in everything there is to know."
I looked back at Lugh with a question on my face. Could someone really be the best at everything?
Lugh sighed and set down his own glass. He crossed his arms and focused all his attention on me. I did my best not to squirm.
"When we first crossed over into the mortal world, into the realm of the Celts, I was several thousand years old. Many of the skills that their people trained for, I had already mastered. Think about it for a moment, if you had an eternity of time on your hands, wouldn't you grow bored of the same old thing?"
He paused and waited for my reaction. I nodded. Anyone would get bored.
"So, since I was so well practiced in such a variety of skills, I have come to be known as the Master of all the Arts. In Celtic myth at least."
He grinned, picked up his glass once again, saluted me with it, then drained what was left.
We spent several more minutes talking to Lugh and Nuadu, but when the music started playing again, Cade led me off into another round of dancing. After several dances, I was ready for a break. As Cade and I headed away from the center of the dance floor, I spotted an open door leading onto a large balcony.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I turned to Cade. "I'm just going to go get some fresh air."
Cade nodded and lifted my hand to his lips, planting a kiss just below my wrist.
"I need to go speak with Nuadu and Goibniu. I'll come find you when I'm done."
I nodded then lifted my skirts and headed for the open door. Long, heavy drapes blocked most of the entrance, but I simply swept them aside and sighed at the cool caress of night air that met my heated skin. I hadn't realized how warm it was in the ballroom.
For fifteen minutes I simply stood there, leaning against the stone balustrade and studying the city far below. Erintara wasn't exceptionally large, but the buildings closest to the castle were crowded and several stories high. A few bonfires decorated the dark landscape like brilliant little stars, farmers burning off what remained of the harvest. I wrinkled my nose at the sharp smell of smoke and smiled. I loved that smell. Taking a deep breath, I imagined staying out here all night and forgetting about the room full of Tuatha De Danann and their plans for war. I could disregard what my mother had said to me and everything that had been discussed at dinner. I could simply be a young woman enjoying a break from dancing with a handsome young man. Unfortunately, my little fantasy didn't last for very long.
I felt more than heard someone approaching. I whipped around, expecting Cade, but felt a pang of unease and disappointment when I recognized the man who'd broken free from the crowded ballroom. So much for forgetting about the doom and gloom that loomed so close in my future . . .
Cernunnos smiled and sketched a neat bow. "I'm losing my touch, I can see. I'm usually able to sneak up on anybody, but I guess I can't fool you."
I stood up tall, the thick skirts of my formal dress pooling around the stone floor of the balcony. I tried to adopt an air of grace and importance that would do my mother proud, but I'm afraid I was shaking a little too much to pull off the whole haughty princess act.
"May I stand with you for a spell?" the antlered man asked.
I narrow
ed my eyes, but nodded. I didn't trust him. So far I'd managed to keep his magic nice and hidden, and under control, but I'd been doing a lot of thinking since leaving the Weald. It seemed strange how he had singled me out to give me that extra supply of magic. Kindness had been my first assumption, but why would a god want to be kind to me? Especially when he didn't know me? Then slowly, the truth began to reveal itself, the way solid earth became apparent once winter's snow gradually melted away. The Morrigan was after me, she planned on attacking me. I had more than thoroughly convinced myself of that fact, despite the constant denial of Cade and the Dagda. Cernunnos was aware of this little detail, and since I was still relatively ignorant of the ways of Eile, why not give me a boost of magic and send me on my way? Give me the impression that I could handle the Morrigan on my own? What a perfect plan it was. Send Meghan out to face her enemy with her extra magic, to weaken the Morrigan so that she may be easier to deal with. Yes, these thoughts had been brewing over the past few weeks in the back of my mind, and here was the perfect opportunity to confront Cernunnos about it.
As soon as the antlered god was standing beside me and I was certain the noise of the crowded ballroom would cover our voices, I whispered harshly, "I know why you really gave me that extra magic. You needed a pawn to distract the Morrigan, and I was the perfect candidate."
He had the good grace to start, so I looked him square in the eyes. Yes, he was surprised, but not in a guilty sort of way. More in an I-can't-believe-she-figured-it-out sort of way.
I crossed my arms over my chest and released a bitter laugh. "I knew it. You're nothing but a coward. You strut around, flaunting your power and happily accept the status of godhood, but when one of your own decides she wants more power than the rest of you, not only do you turn a blind eye when she resorts to nefarious means to get it, but you seek out the naive people you believe to be your underlings to do the dirty work for you."
Cernunnos released a huff of breath. "I, and the rest of the Tuatha De for that matter, allowed the Morrigan no such thing. She has been performing her wicked deeds against our better knowledge."
I gasped in disbelief. "Unbelievable! How can you say that? How can you say that when Cade has been shunned from society for his entire life because of the acts of his mother?!"
My fingers curled until my hands made fists, and if it wasn't for his impressive height and the pointy antlers protruding from his head, I'd have slapped the man standing before me right in the face.
"Listen Meghan," he growled, his teeth gritted. "Yes, I did use you, but I didn't do it in order to avoid playing my part in all of this. For awhile the Morrigan did act in secret. We all knew what she was, yes, but by the time we realized her ultimate plan, her magic had grown too vast. So, we appeased her by fighting little battles to keep her power in check. She was happy with this arrangement because she could still play the war goddess but it never led to actual war. Now that she's had a taste of your power she wants more, and since you had the guts to stand up to her, she's even more determined."
"But why give me some of your power? Why not just join us and help us fight? What was the point?"
He released a heavy sigh and placed his hands on the balustrade, leaning his head over so that his chin nearly touched his chest. His antlers must have been heavy, because it seemed to take great effort to lift his eyes back up to mine. A sad, desperation lingered in their brown depths.
"I didn't give you some of my power, Meghan. I gave you all of it."
I felt like I'd been slapped in the face. Stunned, I gathered my voice and managed to ask, "What?"
Cernunnos sighed and drew himself to his full height. He was a robust character, what with his broad shoulders, lean build and the wild energy of the forest seeping out of him. A presence to be felt in every sense, just like all the other Tuatha De. But in this moment I noticed something was missing, something that had been present the first time I'd met him. He had hidden it well, but now that I gave him a good look, I realized he was telling the truth.
"You have in your possession all of my magic. Not the natural magic that all Faelorehn contain, but that special degree of glamour that only the Tuatha De possess."
So many thoughts burst forth in my mind, all of them concerning this great secret I held. The many legs of my hidden spider whipped madly about as she worked to capture them all. No wonder I'd had so much trouble getting his magic under control. My head was spinning, but again I managed to get out another word.
"Why?" I murmured.
"Because of a geis."
I blinked dumbly. Huh? Then I grew angry.
"Ugh, I'm so damn sick of that word! Is it a requirement or something? In order to be Faelorehn, you must have a geis placed on you? Everyone and their mother seems to have a geis around here."
Cernunnos stood straight and arched an eyebrow. "Trust me, it isn't something to take lightly."
I snorted. "Oh, believe me, I know."
"Mine has to do with something I learned one day while wandering the Weald. Every now and again I simply travel though my forest to make sure all its inhabitants are following the natural order of things. Sometimes, the Spirits of Nature speak to me. Other times, they offer me information."
He paused and looked at me to make sure I was listening. I flapped my hand. "Go on."
"About a month ago, the Spirits told me a great battle loomed on the horizon, a battle that could mean the end of the Morrigan's tyranny for several centuries. They also said they'd tell me how to defeat the goddess of war if I paid the right price."
My skin was prickling, and not because of the cold air of the open patio. This had something to do with the power I now held next to my own. Cernunnos's power. And that bud of magic knew as well. I'd been fighting it since he stepped out onto the patio; clamping it down with my own magic as it struggled to unfurl.
Cernunnos took a deep breath and continued. "They told me that if I gave my power over to another, a young woman who was new to our world but very important to its future, then I could learn of the secrets to winning this inevitable war. So, I accepted their offer."
"And?" I whispered, my voice coming out hoarse and demanding. "What did they tell you."
He smiled, his teeth reflecting what little light had seeped through the curtains.
"That, like your own secret, I cannot tell you lest I break my geis and forfeit all that I am."
I reached my hand backwards and was relieved when it came into contact with the back of a stone bench. I sat down, not worried about crumpling the rich, dark folds of my gown. For a few moments I simply took in air, breathing slowly through my nose. In and out. In and out.
Eventually I found my voice again. "What, what happens to your magic when this is all over?"
Cernunnos shifted his weight. "I get it back. As long as I keep my end of the bargain, my glamour will be returned to me. So, if you reveal your secret before it's time, or if you die before then or use it when it is needed, I'll get it back."
He smiled, a smug look on his face.
Anger shot through me then. So, in a nutshell, he gets his magic back no matter what happens to me. I rose to my feet, my hands clenched into fists.
"And when am I supposed to use this magic exactly?"
"Come now Meghan. I've given you a few clues here and there; nudging you along in the right direction so you don't flare out too early."
My jaw dropped. He didn't care. He had set me up for this and he didn't care. He had received all the information about how the outcome of the war against the Morrigan was going to go down and all he had to sacrifice was his glamour for a temporary amount of time. Which was no big deal because now he had me to go in and do the hard part for him. And no matter what happened, he'd get all his nice, lovely magic back. And what could I lose? My Faelorehn identity, my life, Cade . . .
"You bastard!" I hissed, ready to burst forward and punch him. I didn't care about his antlers anymore.
I drew my arm back to hit him, but he figured ou
t what I was doing and grabbed my wrist before I could make contact. Unfortunately, at that very moment someone threw back the thick curtains separating us from the ballroom. I whipped my head in that direction and all the blood drained from my face. Cade stood there looking like a bull ready to charge. He darted his dark green eyes between me and the god standing only a few feet away from me, gripping my wrist as I fought against his hold. I could only imagine what he saw: Cernunnos looking as if he wished to drag me off someplace against my will. Oh, this couldn't end well . . .
Cade moved so quickly I hardly had time to see it happen. His fingers were wrapped around Cernunnos's throat and he actually lifted the god off the ground.
"If you hurt Meghan in any way, if you so much as make her frown because of something you say to her, you'll regret it."
Cade's teeth were clenched and his arm grew before my eyes, the muscles bulging, the bones lengthening and straining the sleeve of his shirt.
"Cade!" I cried.
He ignored me, his focus entirely on Cernunnos. "I may not be able to kill you, but I sure as hell can incapacitate you for a few days."
Cernunnos kept a tight grip on the fingers that were wrapped around his throat. Cade held him a few moments more, but then dropped him. The antlered man bent over, struggling to catch his breath. Before long the coughing turned to laughter.
He stood up, his eyes watering and his face slightly red. He smiled and his eyes were alit with mischief.
"Well done Caedehn! But have no fear, I mean your sweet Meghan no harm. A pity though. It would be fun to take you on in my stag form. But alas! Not tonight. Not with your foster father and grandfather just in the other room."
He stepped forward, but kept his distance from Cade. Before reentering the ballroom, he turned and gave me another bow, this one more sloppy than the one he'd greeted me with.
Luathara - Book Three of the Otherworld Trilogy Page 23