by Donna Grant
Conall looked toward the forest and raised his face to the cliff. Gazing down at him was Moira. Only one other time had he ever witnessed her control over wind. She had helped him. It gave him pause, but he refused to give her the upper hand.
“This doesn’t mean I’ll allow Glenna to come to you,” he whispered, and knew she heard every word.
Chapter Twelve
Glenna trembled in the dampness of the cave. Gregor had taken her so deep she couldn’t hear anything but the constant dripping of water. She bit her lip and moved to her left. Bugs. She just knew there were bugs crawling on her. She hated bugs, but she hated spiders more. And once she thought about a spider, every place on her body felt as though hundreds of tiny legs crawled on her.
At first she tried to ignore it. She couldn’t. She moved her hair out of her face, but the sensations steadily became worse. Her skin and scalp tingled just thinking of those nasty spiders. Every sound was those eight legs crawling on her.
It was too much. She jumped up and ran in the general direction she thought Gregor had taken her. It didn’t matter how many times she told herself she was being silly for running from something she wasn’t sure she had felt, the fact was that there might have been something. Her fear was too much. She chided herself for not paying better attention after running into a couple of walls.
But then it was hard to notice when there was nothing but blackness around with the occasional torch to guide her. Her eyes had become accustomed to the dark, but not enough so she could really see. She would have to talk to Conall about that. How did they expect a person to walk in this blackness?
Then she went face first in a spider web the size of a castle.
She shrieked as she struggled to get the web off her. Had anyone asked, she would have sworn she could hear the spiders crawling toward her. Her heart pounded and the more she tried to get the web off, the more it clung to her. Hysterics set in. Something touched her side. She screamed and banged into a wall as she jumped.
Her hair clung to her face with sweat, and it wasn’t until she brushed a strand away from her face that she felt it.
A spider.
The unmistakable feel of eight legs crawled rapidly over her finger and it was all she could do not to faint. Her mind told her to fling it off her hand, but her body refused to move. She stood frozen in terror. But when it sank its fangs in her, she let out a scream and viciously flung the spider off. Then she flipped her head over and swung her hair around to make sure there weren’t more of them hiding in her hair.
Unfortunately, spiders were drawn to her, and the one she had flung off came right back toward her.
* * * * *
“Where the hell is she?” Conall demanded.
“I left her right here,” Gregor said, and held the torch higher to shed more light.
“She must have ventured off.”
“Unless she can become invisible, I think you’re right.” Conall tamped down a groan as blood trickled down his arm. “She could be anywhere. These caves go deeper than I’ve ever explored, even as a child.”
“I knew I should’ve stayed with her,” Gregor mumbled.
They both stopped and stared at each other when the scream reached them.
“Glenna,” they said in unison, and ran in the direction of the scream.
* * * * *
Glenna stopped running when her lungs begged for breath and a stitch started in her side. She had no idea how far she had gone, but it was definitely not the way to the castle. All she saw when he looked around was never-ending walls of stone. She wished for a torch so she could be sure the spiders were no longer following her.
A flicker of light caught her attention. She quickly followed, hoping it was Conall. Instead she found Moira.
“I wondered how long it would take you.”
Still gasping for breath, Glenna asked, “What are you talking about?”
“I wanted to see if you could find your way without hearing the music. You did. Your Druid powers are more than I expected, especially at how little you’ve been taught.” With that Moira turned and walked away.
Glenna stared stupidly after her. Had she really found her by herself? “Moira?”
“Remember the way,” she called out, her image fading in the darkness. “This is where I will meet you. This cave leads to the stone circle.”
Glenna’s mouth dropped open. Was it coincidence she happened upon this route?
“Go, Glenna. Conall is coming.”
She followed Moira’s urging and turned back to retrace her steps. She hadn’t gone far when Conall and Gregor rounded a corner.
“There you are,” Conall said, and rushed toward her as he held up the torch. “Are you all right? We heard the scream.”
She nodded. “It’s silly, really. I hate spiders.”
“You ran because you saw a spider?” Gregor asked.
The torch shed enough light to let her see they both thought she was daft. “It wouldn’t leave me alone. I think it was upset because I ran into its web.” She shivered and rubbed her hands along her arms.
“Did you kill it?” Conall asked.
“I couldn’t. Gregor reached you in time I see.” She was anxious to make sure he was unharmed, to know her vision helped.
“Aye.”
It was the slight wince that drew her attention to his shoulder. She spotted the blood and the hastily wrapped bandage around his upper arm. The thought of him injured sucked the breath right out of her.
She gently laid her fingers on his arm. “You’re hurt.”
“It’s only a scratch. Angus tended to it.”
“It doesn’t look like a scratch. What happened?”
“A soldier tried to prevent me from killing the MacNeil.”
“Oh, is that all,” she said, anger making the words harsh.
How could he be so nonchalant about it? There was blood. He was in pain. Not to mention she hadn’t had a vision about someone trying to kill him. How would these visions help if she couldn’t have one when it counted?
“This isn’t the first time I’ve been wounded, nor do I think it will be the last. Now tell me. Did you have another vision?”
She shrugged. “It seems I’ve had a few of them lately. But I didn’t see this,” she said, and again touched his arm.
He turned her face to his with a finger under her chin. “You saved Ailsa’s life as well as mine this day.”
It was the sadness in his voice and his eyes that told her what she had been dreading. Tears she couldn’t control ran down her face. “He didn’t bring Iona, did he?”
He shook his head and wiped her tears away.
She yearned to scream her anguish. Instead she put her trust in Conall. “What will you do now?”
He put a hand on her back and urged her to walk. “I’ve some thinking and planning to do. He’s made it known he wants MacInnes Castle. He’ll do whatever it takes to get it. He was mighty upset at not seeing you.”
“I thought he might,” she said. “I’m sorry he is such a bad man. I never knew.”
“No one should be reared by a man like that.”
“Where is the MacNeil? Does he wait outside your walls?”
“He and his army are gone. For now. They’ll be back with more men, I’m sure.”
“But you’ll be waiting for them.”
He stopped and stared at her. “Aye, I will. I aim to kill him.”
Glenna started to speak when the torch went out. A sound came from farther down the cave and she just knew it was the spider. Anger and fear welled up inside her. “I need light. I can’t stand this darkness. The spiders will come.”
“I know the way,” he said, and put his hand on her back.
But Glenna didn’t move. Fear had frozen her again. She closed her eyes and wished with all he might for some light.
The torch blazed again. She opened her eyes and found Conall looking from the torch to her.
“You did this?”
S
he shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe?”
“She did,” Gregor said.
* * * * *
Conall ran his hands down his face and stared at the mead flask sitting between him, Gregor and Angus in the now-empty hall. His arm throbbed, but the cream he had found sitting on the table in his chamber had lessened the pain and stopped the bleeding.
He didn’t even want to know how Moira had gotten to his chamber to leave the healing cream without being seen. Aye, he knew it was she who had left the cream. Her healing abilities were legendary, but why she would want to help him after everything he had done to her was a mystery.
Angus cleared his throat. “We can go after the bastard.”
“His men outnumber us.” Conall rubbed his eyes as weariness set heavily on his bones.
“What are you thinking?” Gregor asked.
Conall shrugged. “I’d been planning his death for some time now, but I won’t leave my people defenseless. This castle has withstood many sieges from lairds hungry for our land. It will again.”
“MacNeil has a weapon you don’t know about.”
Conall raised his eyes to Gregor. “And just what weapon is that?”
“Glenna.”
If one of the Fae people had suddenly popped in front of him Conall wouldn’t have been more surprised. “Explain yourself.”
Gregor lifted his goblet and drained its contents. “It’s why she didn’t want to be able to see or hear MacNeil. Iona taught Glenna just enough…”
“To be dangerous,” Conall finished. “St. Joseph.” He rose and began pacing. “Just how dangerous is she?”
“How is Glenna dangerous?” Angus asked.
Gregor raised his black eyes. “She wasn’t lying, Conall. Your clan would all die.”
“Surely there’s a way to get the clan out,” Conall said.
“How is Glenna dangerous?” Angus asked again, his face becoming red in his agitation at being ignored.
“Fire,” Conall and Gregor said at once.
Conall slid into his chair. “Fire is her power.”
“She’s got no control over it?” Angus asked Gregor, his eyes wide with confusion.
“She doesn’t know how to,” Conall answered for Gregor. “That’s why Moira was so insistent to get to her.”
Gregor nodded and poured himself more mead. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” Conall answered, and looked up to find Ailsa walking toward him. “What are you doing out of bed?” he asked with a smile.
“I wanted to tell you what happened today,” she said in a small voice.
Conall picked her up and put her in his lap. “I know what happened today. Glenna saved your life, but don’t worry we’ll find who did it.”
“A man told me you wanted me. That’s why I left the castle, but I think he tricked me.”
Conall raised his eyes to Angus and Gregor. Their shocked expressions mirrored his own. “What did this man look like?”
“I’m not sure. He had a cloak on and it covered his face.”
“You didn’t see anything else?”
She shook her head. “All right,” he said, and set her on her feet. “Off to bed with you. We’ll find this cloaked man.”
After Ailsa was gone from the hall, Conall ran his hands through his hair. What was he to do now that there was a cloaked stranger in his castle?
Gregor whistled through his teeth. “Finding a cloaked man shouldn’t be hard, but I’ve a feeling he wore the cloak only to hide himself from Ailsa.”
“You’ve the right of it,” Conall agreed.
“What are ye going to do?” Angus asked this time.
“I don’t know,” Conall said, and walked from the room. He needed time to think.
Alone.
* * * * *
Glenna sat on her bed and stared through her narrow window at the sun making its descent, waiting for the time she would meet Moira. She had made sure she remembered her way through the caves when Conall had walked her back.
Excitement coursed through her. She hated deceiving Conall, but she was a Druid. She couldn’t ignore the yearning within her. Still, the thought that she was doing something she wasn’t supposed to sat heavy on her heart, but she couldn’t deny that ever since she came here she was finding herself, little by little.
She rose and left her chamber. The castle was busy with the evening meal as she made her way down the stairs. A glance told her the hall was full, which would occupy Conall. He had left her alone this night, and she was sure he would continue to do so. She quickly made her way outside.
Once in the bailey, she kept to the shadows and headed for the cave. When she was in the cave, she grabbed a torch and took a deep breath before heading into the darkness.
Before she knew it she had come to the spot where Moira had been. After a deep breath, she forced her feet to move and soon found herself in the forest, the stone circle ahead of her. She couldn’t believe no one had stumbled upon this before.
“They cannot see what they don’t believe,” Frang said from behind her. “And we don’t discourage the ones who do believe. We’ve nothing to hide here, Glenna.”
She bit her lip. “You read thoughts?”
“I could tell by your expression what you were thinking.”
She laughed, relieved that she didn’t have to guard her thoughts. Moira stepped forward then and offered her hand.
“Are you ready to learn more of the history of the Druids?”
Glenna willingly went with her and sat while Moira’s words began.
“The Druidic philosophy of balance between spirit and flesh is oneness between the physical and spiritual. This is a unity we hold as a natural, healthy and necessary state.”
Glenna closed her eyes. There was magic around her and she eagerly opened herself up to it.
“We also recognize a oneness with this world and the Otherworld,” Moira continued, her voice soft and smooth. “The Otherworld is a substantial place, just like ours. Though the laws of time may differ in as much as they don’t age like we do, their magic is more powerful and commonplace.”
“Magic,” Glenna whispered.
“The realm of the Otherworld is made of earth, water and wind. It’s energized by fire.”
Glenna’s eyes popped opened. “What are these Otherworld beings?”
Moira walked closer and peered deeply into Glenna’s eyes. “They are the Fae. It’s they who gave us the prophecy that you are a part of.”
“Don’t all Druids hold powers?”
“Nay. You are different, special. You were given those powers because you were born on a Druid festival, Imbolc, that is marked by fire and water.”
“And the other two?”
Moira lowered her green eyes. “One was born on Lughnasadh, the celebration of life, and the other was born on Beltaine, the return of the sun.”
A chill raced down Glenna’s spine. She glanced around and saw the Druids dressed in masks and scantly clad. Her eyes jerked to Moira. “Tonight is a feast.”
“Aye. Beltaine.”
“I want to see.”
“It isn’t time,” Moira stated, and turned away. “This is the most powerful night for the Druids. The veil between worlds runs thin this night. You don’t know enough to understand and you could be hurt.”
Glenna refused to listen. How could Moira tell her these things but expect her to stay away. She kept her thoughts to herself and concentrated on learning of her power.
For the next two hours she began to learn to control the fire. It took immense concentration, and she was attempting to create a fire when Conall’s voice boomed around her.
“Moira! Moira, I’d speak to you now,” he demanded.
Glenna jerked her eyes to Moira. “How did he know I was here?”
“He doesn’t,” she answered. “He wants to talk to me about you. I’ve been expecting him since MacNeil left. Stay hidden,” she said before walking to him.
Glenna ducked
behind a huge pillar so she could see Conall. He stood outside the circle, the moonlight surrounding him in its glow. His hair hung loose around his shoulders, giving him a primal look, and the memory of its silky feel heated her skin.
“What brings you here so late?” Moira asked him.
His jaw flexed. “Why did you help me earlier?”
“Because Glenna asked it of me.”
He nodded and crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you know where Iona is?”
Moira’s head bowed and her hands fisted at her sides. “Nay. I wanted to tell you, but I knew you wouldn’t listen even though you could’ve easily used your gift.”
“Gift,” he bellowed. “It’s not a gift but a curse.”
“How can you say that? You’ve used it often enough. You should know yourself if MacNeil is lying.”
He waved off her words. “Why didn’t you help Iona?”
“I…we couldn’t, Conall. It was her destiny. She knew it for years.”
“Explain yourself,” he said, and took a step toward her.
Glenna became afraid for Moira but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. She turned and found Frang beside her.
“Don’t, lass. Moira can take care of herself,” he cautioned.
Glenna doubted it for she knew how Conall fought, but she didn’t argue.
Moira took a deep breath. “I’ve no need to explain. You know what I speak of for you were told of your destiny as well.”
Conall snorted. “You’re mistaken.”
“Do you hate us so much that you’ve turned against what is in your blood?” Moira asked, incredulous. “I knew you hated me, but I thought it was because of Iona. But it isn’t just me, is it?”
He neither denied nor agreed with her assessment, but by the silver glint in his eyes Glenna knew Moira had struck upon something painful.
“It’s your oath.”
Conall turned his head away from her and stared into the trees. “A man is made or broken by his oaths.”
“But you made another oath,” she said softly.
Glenna wished she could see Moira’s face. Whatever she had remembered seemed to change many things. But Glenna’s heart when out to Conall as he struggled with his anger and resentment.