The Akasha Chronicles Trilogy Boxed Set: The Complete Emily Adams Series

by Natalie Wright

  But for Dughall, control over an island overrun with barbarians was not enough. He had his sights on something far greater. The next morning, Dughall put his highest commander in charge of Érie, and he set off with his best army to the south and west to search for the Sacred Grove of Brighid. At nightfall, Dughall ordered camp and went to his tent to eat alone.

  As Dughall chewed his bread, he heard a slight rustling sound behind him. Within seconds, he was on his feet, turned around and had pulled his sword from its sheath. His men knew better than to enter his tent without permission.

  In the darkness he saw a small figure appear. Is this a child in my camp? Child or no, I will kill anyone who dare enter my private tent.

  But it was not a child. Standing before Dughall was a creature that had been relegated to legend. Dughall stood aghast and stared at a pixie.

  Dughall could not believe in his own sight. He had heard the Celt peasants talk of forest folk and faeries, but he did not believe in it. Dughall thought it was just the talk of imbecile pagans.

  Here it was though, standing no more than two feet high and extremely slight of build. Her ears came to a point, and her skin was as white and luminous as marble. Her wings were like those of a dragonfly. They were thin as onionskin, shiny, and iridescent. They changed colors depending on the light and her mood. The pixie’s eyes were overly large for her small face and dark as coal with no color visible at all. The overall impression was frightening despite her diminutive stature.

  The sprite said nothing but bowed slightly. In a small voice that Dughall had to strain a bit to hear, she said, “I am Macha, of the Dark Sídhe. I come to offer my assistance to the one who has slain the last High King of Érie.”

  Dughall was speechless. At last he said, “Why would you offer to help me? You are a faerie, and I seek to take over your country. Why help me in this plot?”

  “There are many Sídhe in this fair land. Some are what the humans call ‘Fair Sídhe’. Others are ‘Dark Sídhe’, like myself. Before humans came, we were in all corners of this isle. We of the Dark Sídhe have never forgiven the humans for taking our lands from us and driving us to the knolls, mounds, trees, and underground.”

  “Why do you think I would be different? I can tell you that I detest most humans, and I am not inclined to enjoy the company of bestial creatures any better. Your high pitched voice is already grating me.” Dughall eyed his sword as he considered wielding it.

  “We believe that you will treat us differently because we have something that you need.” Macha’s voice was steady and without a hint of fear.

  Dughall stopped eyeing his sword for the moment. “Tell me why I should not swat you down here and now.”

  “We know why you are here and that your task is not yet complete,” Macha said.

  Dughall raised his dark eyebrows. “What task is that?”

  “You seek the golden ring, the torc of the Order of Brighid.”

  She had his complete attention. Dughall’s sword dropped to his side. “Continue.”

  “You seek the power that lies within the Grove. But there are potent spells and enchantments that protect the Grove. Despite these, you may break through. You have men to spare. But the Order also has allies such as the Fair Sídhe. Their magick is formidable, and they are loyal to the High Priestess and the goddess. You will need our assistance to even find the Grove, and once there, you will need our help to get inside.”

  “Let us assume that you are correct and that I, Dughall, High King of Érie, needs you. What do you and your kind want in return?”

  “The Dark Sídhe will be your allies and protect you and your lands from your enemies. In exchange, we will be equal to the humans that live here and have our own lands.”

  Dughall thought for a moment and again eyed his sword. He did not know if he could trust the creature. Perhaps it has been sent by the High Priestess as a decoy.

  On the other hand, Macha confirmed what Cormac had told him. And if it was true, the force of his armies may not be enough to obtain the object of his desire. I may need the magick of this detestable creature if I am to succeed in my mission.

  “You may join me in this quest,” he said finally. “But know this Macha. If you or any of your kind betrays me, you will not need to bother with running to the mounds or forests. Your faerie blood will trickle into the roots of your beloved trees, and it will be the end of your kind.”

  Macha simply nodded her head in understanding and took leave of Dughall as quickly as she came. Where she went he did not know and truly did not care. I may keep my word to her or I may not. It would depend on his mood.

  Dughall lay on his bed of blankets and lamb’s wool and grinned widely. He could scarcely believe his unexpected luck. This is going better than I had planned. It is a sign of approval from the divine that my purpose is noble indeed. It will not be long now and I will hold in my hands the key to my deepest desire.

  9. MARCH TO THE SACRED GROVE

  Despite the fact that Saorla redoubled all of the spells and enchantments protecting the location of the Sacred Grove, with the help of Macha and the other Dark Sídhe, Dughall was able to find it.

  There were several skirmishes along the way between the Fair Sídhe and the Dark Sídhe. Dughall and his men stood almost speechless as small, brightly dressed faeries flew out of trees, mounds and woods, their wings glistening in the sun, and attacked the Dark Sídhe that were traveling with Dughall and his men. The Dark Sídhe, full of pent up venom and anger, dispatched their attackers quickly and with ease. After a few hours, there were no more surprise attacks by the Fair Sídhe, who apparently decided to give up rather than be exterminated.

  At the suggestion of Macha, Dughall ordered two of his men to go forward as scouts as the rest pulled back. After two hours, one of the soldiers stumbled back to camp while the other soldier was nowhere to be found.

  “What happened?” Dughall asked the hapless man.

  The soldier stared vacantly and said over and over, “I am your servant, my love.”

  Dughall quickly lost patience with the man who had clearly lost his mind. He paced the floor and tired of hearing the soldier prattle on and on, he pulled his sword and in one swift stroke, cut off the man’s head.

  “Now he will stop with his incessant, mindless chatter,” he said. The soldier’s head rolled a few yards and came to a stop just a few feet in front of Dughall.

  “Sire,” Macha said in her soft but brittle voice. “He has been kissed by the Lianhan Sídhe, Sire,” she said.

  “Explain, creature,” Dughall barked.

  “She is a powerful spirit. Lianhan Sídhe is quite beautiful to human men and irresistible. She lures men to her then kisses them. But her kiss removes most of their life essence, and they become addle brained or kill themselves.”

  “So this hapless soul was already dead,” Dughall said flatly as he nudged the lifeless head lying on the ground with his toe. “This is all very interesting, Macha, but how can we defeat this creature?”

  “I do not know, Sire,” replied Macha.

  Dughall spun toward her, his eyes ablaze with fury. “You drag me all the way out into this wood claiming you can gain entry to the Grove, and now you tell me that you do not know how to defeat the creature that stands in my way?” Dughall bellowed.

  “Sire, no one that has ever seen the Lianhan Sídhe has been able to say what they saw. No one knows exactly how she holds sway over men. We must send another scout, but this time, be close enough to see what happens,” offered Macha.

  Dughall’s face softened ever so slightly. “You mean send another of my men as bait, is that what you are suggesting?” asked Dughall.

  “Well, yes, Sire. I think it is the only way,” answered Macha.

  “Yes, Macha, I think you are right. You are a detestable little creature. So devoid of feelings for human life. I do believe I am starting to like you.”

  Dughall’s compliment made Macha’s skin brighten and her wings became an iridesce
nt coral color. Together, Macha and Dughall made a plan to find at last the secret of the power of the Lianhan Sídhe.

  10. LIANHAN SÍDHE

  Dughall and Macha were in position. They followed a safe distance behind the soldier who they tapped to be the scout then scampered to the top of a small hill where they would have a view. The poor soldier had seen his mate come back from the last scouting trip addle minded and knew that the other had not been seen again. His legs quaked as he entered the area around the Sacred Grove.

  If a person was observant, they could notice that when one got close to the entry of the Grove, all was still. There was no breeze and no birds chirped. The winds were calm. There was no movement at all. As the soldier approached, the stillness made him quake even more. The preternatural quiet made the area around the Grove eerie. The eerie quiet made most who experienced it flee in fright.

  As the scout wandered the perimeter of the wall, he felt a slight breeze and a chill come over him. He turned and saw before him the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

  Her hair fell around her shoulders in waves of gold. Her eyes were the brightest blue, like two radiant sapphires. Her full, rosy lips were parted slightly. But it was perhaps her skin that was the most striking. Pale and luminescent, it almost glowed. The soldier was so immediately enthralled with her beauty that he did not notice that she was, in fact, hovering before him, held aloft by her large faerie wings.

  Dughall and Macha watched the whole scene from afar. They saw the soldier immediately enraptured by the beautiful creature. They watched as the scout moved closer, a wide smile on his lips. He held out his hands to her, and she held out her hands to him. They heard music. It was faint at first, but grew louder. It was singing. The Lianhan Sídhe sang to the soldier, and it was the song that lured him ever closer to her.

  Macha turned her small head to Dughall and said, “Do not listen to her song. Muffle the sound so you cannot hear her.”

  Dughall did as she said and wrapped a cloth from his saddlebag around his ears. He could see the Lianhan Sídhe but could not hear her beautiful song.

  What he saw was totally unexpected. The Lianhan Sídhe smiled in a most beguiling way and continued to sing her song and lure the man closer. At last, their hands touched. She bent to kiss him, and he offered his lips to her. As soon as their lips touched, Dughall saw the man’s body go rigid, and for a split second, he opened his eyes wide in terror.

  The Lianhan Sídhe was no longer the beauty that had lured him to her. Her eyes had gone from beautiful sapphires to red as flame. Her fingers ended in sharp talons rather than neatly trimmed nails. Her wings, seconds ago light and glittery, were the scaly wings of a dragon. Her body and face, previously all light and luminous, were covered in reptilian scales. Her lovely blue billowy dress was replaced with rags.

  As she drained the life force from the man, his eyes became vacant. The Lianhan Sídhe’s beautiful song was replaced with a loud cackling. The life force of the man seemed to have made her even larger and more powerful. As quickly as she had appeared she disappeared with a loud crack as she flapped her large dragon wings and disappeared into the waning light of day.

  Dughall and Macha stared in wonder at the spot where the Lianhan Sídhe had just been. It was Macha who broke the silence.

  “You know Sire, legend says that if a man can resist her kiss, that she is defeated and doomed to wander the earth as a ghost for a thousand years, unable to take any more victims.”

  “You mean, if I can resist her … ”

  “If you can resist her, you will defeat her. She will be powerless,” Macha replied.

  Dughall’s lips curled into a sneer. He had discovered the secret of the Lianhan Sídhe, a secret unknown to any man in history until now. I will defeat he and rob her of her power. No faerie harlot will stand between me and that which I most desire.

  “You know Sire, that ordinary cloth will not be enough when you get close to her. Her song will pierce right through it,” said Macha.

  Dughall had not thought of that. He would need something stronger.

  “Do you have magick that will protect me?” he asked.

  “No Sire, but I know of one who does,” Macha answered.

  Macha summoned Cian, a Dark Wizard. She told Cian that Dughall needed a potion that would render his ears useless for a time.

  Cian eyed both Macha and Dughall warily. “I owe you nothing, Macha. Why should I do this for you or for this one?” he said as he gestured toward Dughall.

  At that Dughall quickly grabbed the old wizard and put his sword to the man’s throat. “This, my dear man, is why you should help me,” Dughall hissed.

  “Ah, you are all about might then. You fighting men. You think that piece of metal makes you superior,” the wizard replied.

  “Who is in a position to die now, old man? You will help me, or I’ll run you through.”

  The wizard had been caught off guard and was not in a position to use his magick to defend himself. He found himself with no choice but to give in to Dughall’s demands.

  “It appears I have no choice but to aid you, oh dark one,” Cian croaked. Dughall released Cian and the old wizard stumbled. “I will need time to gather the proper ingredients.” Cian rubbed his throat where Dughall’s sword had been.

  “It grows dark. You shall have the evening, but no more. I want your potion at first dawn old man.”

  Cian went into the thick woods that surrounded their camp and worked feverishly through the night with only the light of a torch to help him find the forest herbs and fungus that he needed for his potion. By dawn, the potion was ready for Dughall.

  “Here it is, as you demanded.” Cian handed the tankard to Dughall. “Drink all of this and you will not have use of your hearing.”

  “I will not be able to hear anything, old man?” asked Dughall.

  “You will not be able to hear the loudest thunder,” replied Cian.

  “And it is only temporary?”

  “It will wear off after a few hours,” said Cian.

  Dughall took the cup and drank the potion down quickly. Midway through he gagged from the vile taste, but he forced himself to choke down the viscous draught. No sooner than he had swallowed the last of it, he was overcome with excruciating pain in his ears. His heart pumped faster and he heard the sound of his blood rushing through his veins. Dughall held his ears, fell to the ground and writhed in pain.

  “I will kill you, old man.” Dughall’s voice was choked by his pain as he held his ears. He would have surely cut the dark wizard down if he had been able to get to his sword. But soon the agony began to subside, and as it did, he realized that he could not hear. He clapped, he spoke and let out a loud yell but could hear nothing. He smiled wide, a most unsettling sight.

  “My hearing will return?” asked Dughall. The old wizard nodded.

  Macha accompanied Dughall to their spot within sight of the Grove. Cian stayed behind at camp as being a human man, he was susceptible to the Lianhan Sídhe’s song.

  As Dughall approached, he felt the same stillness that the soldier had felt followed by the same slight breeze and sudden chill in the air. Then she appeared. Even more beautiful up close. He felt drawn to her even though he could not hear her song. For a brief moment, Dughall was worried. It was an uncommon emotion for Dughall. Though I hear not, I am drawn to her. Macha, you imbecile! I have been tricked.

  But as Dughall drew closer, he saw that her while the faerie’s lips moved, he could not hear her song. Her beauty drew him to her, and he wanted to kiss her lips, but he kept his wits about him. He knew that giving into one desire would doom his quest so he resisted her. Just as she bent closer with the softest rose petal lips to kiss him, Dughall shouted at the Lianhan Sídhe, “I rebuke thee! You do not charm me, devil woman. Be off with you.”

  Just as her lips were about to meet his, she heard Dughall’s words and her beautiful visage changed instantly. Her eyes were again as red as flame, her hands talons, and her wings lik
e a dragon’s. She screeched loud and piercing for just a moment then fell silent. She was still visible but became as a ghost, there but barely. Her ghostlike image wandered off into the wood, her face sallow and her mouth open as if in a scream.

  Dughall still could not hear so he did not know that no sound came from her horrible open mouth. But he knew that he had defeated Lianhan Sídhe and that she would no longer stand between him and the torc.

  11. BATTLE FOR THE SACRED GROVE

  “Now what, Macha?” asked Dughall.

  “We must find the gate,” she replied.

  “There is nothing here but vines and trees,” replied one of the soldiers.

  “It is an enchantment, you imbecile,” sneered Dughall. “All of you, earn your keep and hack away these plants,” he barked.

  “I would not do that if I were you,” interrupted Macha.

  “And pray tell, why not dear Macha?” asked Dughall.

  “Because those vines and trees are not ordinary.”

  “Yes, yes, they are under a spell. I know. So we will break that spell,” said Dughall.

  “It is not just a spell. The vines and trees are enchanted and in service to the Sacred Grove. They will defend themselves. You cannot break the spell by cutting them,” said Macha.

  “Macha, I have over one hundred men here with axes, maces, swords and hatchets. The magick of the sisters of this grove is no match for the magick of steel. You heard me. CUT!”

  The soldiers hesitated. After seeing one of their own come back from the Lianhan Sídhe addle minded, most of them had become believers of the magick of the Sacred Grove. But their fear of Dughall was greater than their fear of the magick, so they began to hack away at the vines and trees thickly covering all of the walls and gate to the Sacred Grove.

  At first it seemed to work. The vines were dispatched and fell to the ground. But within seconds, the vines not only regrew themselves but also became even thicker. The trees, too, seemed to grow larger. Before they saw it coming, vines wrapped themselves around the men, axes and hatchets and all. Within minutes, all of the soldiers near the thicket were totally engulfed, swallowed alive by the living thicket. Their screams were loud and agonizing, all sounding at the same time. Even Macha covered her ears.