The Peacekeeper

  Chapter 28

  Wesladus

  Ian came down to break his fast in high spirits. He hadn’t had much sleep the night before staying up with Elspeth, but that was okay. They talked, laughed, planned, made love, and had a wonderful time. He shook his head for being so stupid. Not going to happen again, he told himself.

  He took his seat and noticed Larc was joining them. “So good of you tae be here,” he told Larc. “We need tae talk.” He looked at all his brothers sitting around the table. “I want tae tell you all, I’m sorry for the ordeal I’ve put ye through. It was a mistake tae behave that way, and I’m sorry. Now that I’ve said that, let’s get down tae business. Where’s Dougal?”

  “He’s workin’ on the locator spell for Merlin, makin’ sure he has all the ingredients. He’s been at it day and night with Cameron on the grimoire.”

  “Any luck Cameron?”

  “I think I found a way tae locate Athdar, but I’m not sure. Athdar was created oot of crushed bone and a bairn sacrifice, using the bairns blood. He was returned to Elspeth’s parents tae be raised as their own. They ne’er ken. It’s true that Athdar’s bone was used, but it was the bairns blood, Elspeth’s brother. It’s a verra dark and demonic spell. It should have ne’er been used.” Cameron looked around, “Where’s Elspeth? Is she coming down tae break her fast?”

  He knew she was tired and that she got sick mornings, but he wasn’t ready to tell everyone about the bairn yet. So, he answered with. “We were up late talking so she is still asleep.” The brothers laughed but didn’t say anything else. “I’ll have somethin’ sent up later.”

  “Good,” Cameron continued. “Because what I have tae say I doona want tae say it in front of her. Since I believe her brother was sacrificed tae bring Seamus back tae life we may be able tae use some of her blood for the locator spell. It’s only Athdar’s soul in the body. The blood that runs through is still tied tae Elspeth and her parents. I’m not sure how tae ask her, so I’m leaving that up tae you, Ian.”

  He felt concerned. “How much blood do you need?” he asked.

  “Not much. A small prick on the end of her finger should do it.”

  “Och, that shouldn’t be a problem. When she wakes up I’ll ask her. Larc,” he said, as he changed the subject. “Thank you and your men for coming tae our aid in battle. If not for you and them, we would have lost. Arthur would’ve lost his army, his men, and we would have lost our earth’s. We are in your debt.

  “I’m going tae get right tae the point here. I made a big mistake in not going tae you a while back tae ask you for your help. If my pride hadn’t been so big, I would’ve. Many men died because of it, and it is a regret I will always carry with me. Now that I’ve said that. We need your help. If we have any chance for survival, we need the werewolves with us. That was proved at the battle.”

  Larc smiled and tilted his head. “Thank you for that Ian. When Merlin told us what was happening, many of my men were ready to join your army. We were just waiting to be asked. Now that you have, we are more than happy to join forces. I of course want to be kept in the loop. I would ask to join with you and your brothers as one of you. My men are as important to me as yours are to you. I would ask to lead and train them alongside of you, make decisions alongside of you. If you can accept these terms we are ready to join forces.”

  “I see no problem with that. Do any of you object?” he asked, directing his question to his brothers. Naes came across the table.

  “Let me know how many men we need to start. I’ll make the arrangements and bring them here. We’ll come by the fort’s portal.”

  “That sounds great, Larc. When we finish eating I will show you around and you can meet the men, see the long houses, and show you a room you can have here in the castle. Of course, you will want tae have your first here as well.”

  “Yes, I also need to make arrangements for my brother to take over the pack while I’m gone.”

  With that part of the conversation over, two maids started bringing the food to the table. He motioned for one to come over. “Could you have some biscuits sent up for Elspeth along with fresh water, and help her with a bath?”

  “Yes, my lord. Would she want that now or should we wait a bit?”

  “Now would be fine. She’s probably awake.”

  “Och,” said Finn. “You starving the lady for some reason?”

  “Weel, I guess now is as good as time as any to make my announcement.” He paused with a big grin. “Elspeth and I are going tae have a bairn. She gets sick when she eats like mither did and biscuits are all she can keep down.”

  Finn was the first to congratulate Ian, but was soon drowned out by all the hooting, hollering, and jokes. Ian laughed with them and had a few of his own.

  ****

  Elspeth was on her way down to join them and heard Ian’s laughter. She stood out of sight and listened, very happy to hear them having fun. Even at her expense. She started to giggle and held her hand over her mouth thinking about how she joked with Moira. If only they would have heard that conversation. She silently turned around and went back up the stairs, smiling.

  Chapter 29

  Ian stood in the training yard looking at his remaining men. They’d lost thirty-two of their forty-eight men. More than half. Today new Crixior, Crimson Keepers, and Ocrul were coming to make up for the lost men. The werewolves were coming today as well.

  It would be good to add the Ogourax to their army. The addition of the werewolves would add six men to each squadron raising each to eighteen. His small army would have a grand total of seventy-two soldiers, not including all the dragons.

  He thought that was a good-sized army when you considered what the soldiers were. It wasn’t the size, he figured, as much as what these men were capable of doing together as a group. He sadly watched the remaining men in the training yard. He’d hear a command or two from one of his brothers, but for the most part the only sounds were the clang and scrapes of the swords.

  Morale was low, but to be expected after the battle they just waged. He was hoping that would change soon with the new recruits arriving this morning, and the werewolves later in the day.

  Tomorrow the yard would be fuller than this army has ever seen it. He planned a speech in hopes to boost morale. The battle was over, but the war wasn’t. Not until Athdar and Drakkor were dead, and he meant to see that happen, he would see that happen, he vowed.

  He brushed his hands on his thighs and turned to walk inside the castle. He needed to speak to Elspeth about sharing her blood for the locator spell. There was no way around it, he’d have to bring the sore subject up again, that bairn never had a chance because of Athdar, and he hated talking about it. It always left her sad. Hadn’t she been through enough already?

  He sighed and went inside the castle, and up the stairs to where Conall, Dougal and Cameron sat discussing the magic they’d use to find Merlin.

  “Yes,” said Dougal, “you need tae add styrax tae the wymote and golden star root. Withoot it we canna break through the barrier.”

  “I dinna read that in the book,” explained Cameron, getting exasperated. “It dinna mention that anywhere. It has tae be perfect tae work.”

  “It has tae work the first time,” he interrupted, walking in, “because I’m only taking blood from Elspeth once.”

  They all looked up.

  “Cameron doesn’t seem tae remember what Merlin said about the book not being complete,” said Dougal. “I ken my spells, and what goes together, and you canna leave styrax oot.”

  “Did you get the blood from Elspeth yet?” asked Conall.

  “Nae, do you need her here? If not, one of you needs tae come with me because I doona ken how much you need. I doona want tae bleed her any more than I have tae. Besides to get it, I have tae bring up the whole subject again, I was hoping she could forget it. She doesn’t understand the details, and I doona wish tae have tae give them tae her. I’ll just tell her that her blood may help tae find Merlin. If sh
e has questions, then I’ll just have tae address them then.”

  Dougal frowned, “why doona you bring her here. With us she may not be so taken by the news. You can watch the spell and see if it works.”

  He sighed, “I will talk tae her alone, then bring her here for the blood. I may need tae help her process it. She may need tae cry aboot it, you ken being with bairn and all.”

  “We understand,” said Cameron, “Take your time.”

  He left trying to form the words in his mind exactly what to say. In the end, he thought he’d just tell her the truth. She deserved that, no matter how bad it was.

  When he went through the bedroom door to the adjoining solar, Elspeth sat at the window humming and sewing. She looked up and smiled. “What brings you here, Ian? I thought you were at the trainin’ yard.”

  “What you sewin’?” he asked, avoiding the inevitable.

  “I’m practicin’. I was never taught tae sew or how tae run a household. Your mither is going tae show me, and your sisters are teaching me tae sew. I want tae be able tae make nice things for the bairn and you.”

  “Els, I need tae tell you some things aboot your brother, and there’s no easy way tae say it. We need a sample of your blood for the locator spell, for Merlin.”

  “But Merlin said my brother was killed, sacrificed. That means my brother is dead. I doona understand how my blood can help. Of course, I would gladly give my blood to help find Merlin, but I doona understand.”

  He sighed, he knew it would come to this. “Everything aboot Athdar, is your brother, the blood that runs through his veins, is your brother’s. At the time of death, your brother’s soul was released and Athdar took over the body. The body of your brother. There were ne’er two bodies, and that is where we were confused.” He sighed. “We thought all of his blood was drained, it wasn’t.

  “It was true when King Rulm said he saw him die, he failed tae mention he was brought back tae life with a different soul. What he said was truth, but he didn’t tell the whole story, and he lied when he said he made the man pay for his sins, so I think he was part of it.

  “Since it was your brothers blood used tae create Athdar, my brothers think if they use yours they may find where Merlin is at with a locator spell. I thought you’d be verra sad aboot it.”

  Elspeth smiled, a sad smile. “You mean sob aboot it?” She answered herself, “Nae, I’ve done my crying over my brother’s death, for now anyway. Afore I was with bairn, I never cried, now it seems I do a lot. I’m trying not tae. I just wish I could’ve kenned him. Weel, you need my blood. How do you want it?”

  “Come with me, sweetling. We’ll go tae the lab with Conall, Cameron and Dougal. They said we could watch the spell if we want.” He took her hand and pulled her up for a short, sweet kiss, before leading her out the door.

  “Sit here, Elspeth,” said Dougal, “we need just a wee bit a blood. Your finger should do. I’m going tae nip it with the point of this knife and drop a few drops into this bowl with herbs and root. I’ve got my pendulum soakin’ in it. After we add the blood, I’ll say the incantation and hang it over the map in hopes it shows where Athdar has Merlin. Since he made the spell, your blood can maybe tell us where the cloaking spell is at, if we can break that, we will find Merlin.

  “Are you ready?”

  “Aye, I sure hope it works. I’m worried aboot Merlin,” she said, as she took her seat in front of the table and held her hand over the bowl.

  Dougal picked up the knife. “You can close your eyes if you like.”

  “Nae, doesn’t bother me ever so much. I’ve seen blood afore.”

  Dougal made a very small slice and carefully pinched her finger to make the blood flow. He had a wet cloth with some herb on it to clean her finger. She sat back.

  Dougal stood above the bowl with his hands over it and said an incantation. When he was finished, he pulled out his pendulum and it glowed. He held it over the map and waited as it turned in a large circle searching for what they hoped was Merlin.

  It was supposed to shrink in to smaller and smaller circles before focusing on the point where Merlin was located. But, it didn’t do that. The circle ever widened. After a few minutes Dougal dropped it. “It didn’t work,” he said, disappointed. “Back tae the book.”

  Cameron looked at Dougal. “There is nothing more on the subject. We’ve tried everythin’, and that was our last hope. I doona ken where tae go from here.”

  He thought for a second, then said, “Are there any books listing monasteries? Maybe we can look at a list and find one in the cliffs.”

  “I can look in Merlin’s library,” said Conall. “Why doona I do that while you settle in the new recruits. We can meet at dinner. If I find something afore that, I’ll let you ken. I’m sorry Elspeth, we were sure it’d work.”

  “That’s okay, Conall, we all have tae do all we can think of tae find Merlin. We’re just doing our best. I’ll do anything I can tae help.”

  He took her hand and helped her up. “Do you want to go back tae the room tae sew?”

  “Aye, I’d like that. Then I want tae go for a walk on the beach. Maybe find those shells I lost.” She smiled, and Ian smiled back. She felt Ian’s brother’s eyes on them and smiled to herself at sharing a secret with Ian. If his brothers could only guess.

  Chapter 30

  Mystic Kingdom

  Angus walked inside Mystic Kingdom’s castle and straight to where the queen was. He didn’t have time to fool around with guards, or anyone else who to tried to stop him, he simply threw them out of his way. Ian had sent him here to do a job, clean up the books, protect the queen. He’d found out this time of day, she was in the library talking with her aids. He was tired of being jerked around and he didn’t care who heard him coming. He pushed a guard out of the way and slammed through the door.

  Queen Edina looked up with surprise on her face, which quickly turned to anger. “I suppose you are the one who’s been all over looking for me? Before you say anything, you can leave. I don’t want or need your help.”

  The Queen’s closest aid stood with a scowl. “I’ll remove him my lady.”

  “You can try, but you willna get verra far,” he said, with a low growl.

  The Queen frowned, “Remove him Dedrick.”

  Dedrick jumped toward him to grab his throat. Angus stepped aside, flung his arm out, grabbed the back of Dedrick’s shirt and in one smooth movement, sent him against the doorframe knocking him out.

  He stayed where he was crossing one leg in front of the other and leaned against the door contemplating his fingernails. Without looking away, he said in a low deadly voice, “If you want that toad tae live, you may suggest tae him, to mind his manners.”

  The queens look of anger increased. “Sirrah, I could have you put in the dungeons for your despicable actions.”

  He looked at her then and a shock went through him. God’s, she was gorgeous, especially spitting fire from those dark eyes. Though her anger did nothing to temper his.

  “You and your army couldn’t put me in your dungeons if my hands and feet were chained. Shut your geggie and listen tae what I have tae say!”

  “Guards!” Three came through the door instantly. “Seize this man and take him to the dungeons.”

  He pulled his sword. The first went at him and he sidestepped, smacked him on his arse, and sent him flying against the corner of a table, knocking him out. The second had his sword out and ready, he knocked it from his hand, grabbed and twisted the guy around, kicked him in his arse, and shooting him up against the wall. The third came at him with his sword, he parried and punched him square in the nose and down he went. The three guards lay sprawled on the floor, all out cold. He stood and yawned as if bored.

  “You need tae listen to what I have tae say and I’m not leaving ’til you do.” He was so angry he flashed a bit of fang.

  The Queen’s eyes widened, but her look of annoyance grew. “I’ll give you three minutes, then you leave.”

 
“That’s a fine thank you for someone who travelled such a long distance tae protect your sorry arse, and that of your kingdom. You need tae have better manners, Queen.”

  The Queen looked as if she had never been more insulted. “You, sirrah, are the one without manners! I don’t know if it’s because you aren’t smart enough to know your manners, or you didn’t have a mother to teach them to you. But I, nor my kingdom, needs the likes of you.”

  He felt fury. “You can talk all ye want tae about me, but you will not speak ill of my Mither.” He tried to stop it, but his anger brought down his fangs and his fae part made him glow.

  Edina looked at him with obvious amazement but not with the fear he expected to see. He knew she saw a huge man, dark shoulder length hair, glowing silver eyes, short cut beard almost a shadow, sculpted face, and fangs. She should be afraid, but she wasn’t, she seemed…enthralled.

  “You must be the devil himself,” she said, “but you don’t scare me. I was married to one, and my thanks to the one who killed him.”

  “Nae, not a devil, one trying tae save you from them. And that would be my brother you’re thanking. He killed your husband trying tae violate his wife tae be. Only you wouldn’t understand it, because you probably liked it, bein’ as how you married him.”

  The queen stood up straight and walked up to him and slapped him as hard as she could across his face.

  That shut him up, and he retracted his fangs and dimmed his glow to normal.

  “You know nothing of me,” she seethed, “or my marriage. You will explain what you meant by the devils, then you will leave this castle, these grounds, and this kingdom never to return. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Maybe I dinna make myself clear. I have a job tae do, and if you doona care aboot yourself, you should care aboot the people in your kingdom. I’m not from here, I come from a different place than your world. A different earth than this. Species you have never heard of live there. They have special gifts unlike humans.

  “Merlin, I, and my brothers, have been protecting your sorry arse for hundreds of years, yes, we live that long and longer. There is an evil you can’t comprehend tryin’ tae take over your planet and ours. Your husband was helping him tae do it.