The Peacekeeper

  The dragons went through easier, just behind the men. The path became clearer and the fog cleared somewhat. So far, the journey wasn’t as tough as he’d expected.

  They continued for a few hours when Merlin showed back up. Conall called out to Ian that he was with them. As if on cue they came to a place where the road split off, and Merlin showed them the correct path.

  When he looked back from where’d they come, the fog shrouded where they’d been. It must work both ways, he thought. He turned and concentrated on Conall. “What’s Merlin got tae say?” he asked him.

  “We aren’t far from the valley. We best get the men ready for an ambush.

  ****

  Mount Zomm, training yard

  Athdar and Drakkor stood in the yard watching the men, when a scout came galloping up. Pulling his horse to a rearing halt just beside Athdar, he shouted, “men coming to the valley! About a hundred!”

  Athdar looked up at him surprised. “Men? Damn, I wasn’t ready for this. How the hell did they get through the cloak? Men to the valley! If Ian McGregor is there, bring him to me alive. Do you hear me? Kill the rest! Drakkor come, we are implementing our plan now. We need to get Merlin and get to the cave.”

  When they got to Merlin’s room, he tried to wake him and found he couldn’t. Then it dawned on him. “He’s projecting! That’s how the men got through the cloak! I didn’t think he’d have the energy for it. You sneaky bastard!” He slapped him hard.

  Instantly Merlin was back and awake. He saw fear on the old man’s face as he opened his eyes and realized his plan had been discovered. He threw him over his shoulder and called for Drakkor to follow.

  When they got to the cave he dropped Merlin on the floor. His hands and legs still tied. He knew Merlin had no energy to fight anyway. It probably took most of what he had left to project. It didn’t matter to Athdar anyway, he was implementing his plan now.

  “Athdar, you can’t use the spells in the Grimoire. You face certain death if you do, and me as well. You know the Gods warned us against using those spells. Do not use the dark book, you know the consequences.”

  He laughed. “I broke that rule the minute Drakkor brought me back to life. And the minute I took your ether and all the others. No Merlin, I won’t be stopped this time, but you’re right you will die, but not because of using spells from the Grimoire, no because of me. Now shut up!”

  He waved his arm and said a few words, and his brother could no longer speak. He stood above the bowl he’d prepared and began chanting. He could tell Merlin recognized the spell by his look of fear. “Do not!” his thoughts loud and clear to Athdar.

  He laughed, then sliced his hand and let the blood drip into the bowl. Then he poured in some black wax which caused the contents to flame up. After the flame receded, he took the bowl over to Merlin. He dipped his fingers in the paste, and wiped it across Merlin’s forehead, still chanting. When he finished, he said, “be gone!” and Merlin vanished.

  ****

  Pendragon castle in Wesladus

  Elspeth sat in Merlin’s library talking to Ian’s brother. She was bored and wished to have someone to talk to so she sought out Cameron. He was telling her stories about battles, and about Ian, she was really enjoying herself. She loved hearing about the crazy things Ian did before she met him.

  He was a ladies’ man, but she’d figured that out anyway, and even though Cameron didn’t go in to detail about the women, she could read between the lines. Those days were over for him. She’d make sure of it she thought with a laugh.

  It was in the middle of one of those stories Merlin appeared. Suddenly, he was there laying on the floor at her feet. She screamed “Merlin!” She jumped up with Cameron right behind her.

  When she realized what bad shape he was in, she bent over to check him. Cameron at his other side. “Hurry,” she said. “We need to see if he’s injured so I can heal him.” They both began to search him.

  Merlin opened his eyes, he tried to tell them something but nothing came out. He shook his head, no, but she couldn’t understand his meaning. They worked to remove his clothing when suddenly the air around them blurred. She looked up and around. “Where are we?” They appeared to be in a cave, in the same positions they had been in the castle.

  Cameron looked around. “This isn’t good.”

  Athdar and Drakkor stepped from behind the alter. Drakkor spoke, “Well, well, Cameron McGregor, this is an added surprise. Athdar threw out his hand and in a deep voice said an incantation. She watched as Cameron’s demeanor changed. He seemed suddenly tired and dropped to the floor.

  She screamed, “What did you do to him? You pig! You God forsaken, pig!”

  Athdar smiled. “God forsaken, yes. Drakkor, tie her up. Then we must go meet Ian.” He laughed. “We’ll leave her on the alter. And this is Cameron McGregor you say, Drakkor?” Drakkor nodded. “Well, well this day just keeps getting better, tie up Cameron McGregor. He’ll be down, but I don’t want to take any chances.”

  Athdar grabbed the ropes and handed them to Drakkor. Then he leaned over and grabbed her. She struggled but was no match for him.

  “Ian will be here for you and your men. You willna get away with this.”

  “Oh, but I will,” he said then grinned wide. “He will be here, make no mistake, but he’ll watch me kill you, then Merlin will watch you both die, and for the grand finale, I will end Merlin’s miserable life.” He laughed.

  She felt a blast of worry go through her when she looked into Athdar’s evil glare. He no doubt believed every word and she wasn’t so sure she didn’t either. Stay strong, she told herself. Think of the bairn.

  Athdar and Drakkor left after she was tied atop the alter. She thought about the monastery and the monks, she thought about where she was raised, and thought about Mother Thomas. She hadn’t really prayed since she left the convent. Now would be a good time. “Listen tae me,” she said beginning. “Maybe I haven’t done things the right way, but there’s a reason I met Ian. There’s a reason I’m goin’ tae have his bairn. Please doona let it end like this.

  “I have believed in you all my life. I have given my life tae protectin’ the ill and injured and have asked for nothing in return. I have believed in prevailing good, always, and you ken that. Please help us.” And she began to sob. “Please,” she said, “doona turn away this time. We need you.” She continued to pray.

  ****

  Athdar was in a rush. “They will come to the monastery looking for us, and we need to be ready. If some of his soldiers make it here, I want them trapped outside. I want McGregor in and them out. I’ll open a portal from inside and take Ian to the cave. You be prepared to grab him when he comes through. I’ll freeze him, you tie him. I want him awake and alert to watch what I’m going to do to Elspeth. I’ll revive Merlin enough to watch, but not all the way. He got the best of me once. He won’t do it again.”

  ****

  Ian and his men fought. They made it to the valley at the same time as Athdar’s men did. There wasn’t time for contemplation or planning, the battle was on. There was all manner of magic and mayhem, the black clouds rolled across the heavens in rumbling anger, lightning struck, the ground shook and then cracked open, and large hordes of black nasty insects were born. The swarm yielding a clacking sound that was almost deafening.

  Ator and his dragons dodged lightning and battled through gale winds, tracing fire lines down on those they could. They fried the insects before they could fly toward the crowd of men fighting with swords. They backed up Ian and his men wherever they could.

  The werewolves were true to form. They were the size of ponies with two rows of sharp gnashing teeth, claws the length of daggers, growling, attacking, biting, and ripping out throats. The vampires were biting as well, ripping at throats and leaving gushing streams of blood shooting from necks. The fae held fire in their hands and when they threw it onto their opponent’s chest, explosions of sparks left the men screaming. It would have been mass hysteria to anyon
e looking on, but in this battle very few of his men fell.

  They made quick work of Athdar’s army and when there were but five enemy soldiers left, they bolted. He screamed, “follow them! They’ll lead us to Athdar.”

  Athdar’s remaining men reached the monastery first, running up the steps and through the doors. Athdar and Drakkor were there to greet them. Athdar yelled over the chaos. “McGregors! Ian! If you want to see Elspeth McLellan alive you will stop your men.”

  He held his hand up to halt the men. “Ye doona know where she is.” He kept his voice confident while his stomach sunk. He hoped Athdar was bluffing, but knew he was telling the truth. This was one time he wasn’t sure knowing someone spoke the truth was a good thing. He felt sick.

  “Make no mistake I have her, in fact I’ll show you. You and all McGregors shall enter. No one else is to even try or she’s dead. Do you understand?”

  Ator sent a silent message. “We can burn the monastery and force them out.”

  He thought back, “Nae, I canna take the chance that Elspeth will die. We’ll go in, I doona have a choice. Athdar! We’ll come in!” He called for his brothers and ordered all else to stand down. “We’re coming in Athdar. If it’s a trick, my dragons will burn you alive.”

  The door slowly opened. As soon as he and his brothers came through, the door slammed shut. Athdar was on the other side of the room. He instantly froze the McGregors. “Drakkor, guards, tie them up. I’ll open a portal and we’ll bring them through. I’ve put a spell so none can enter. We haven’t much time.” Athdar opened the portal. After the men were tied. Athdar released the freeze.

  “Anyone try anything and Elspeth dies. We are going through the portal to where she is. I reiterate, don’t try anything stupid.”

  “You heard him. I willna take a chance on her life.”

  As soon as they went through he saw Elspeth on the alter. His heart sank. “You okay?” he asked.

  “I’m okay Ian, but he plans on killing me in…”

  “Shut up, Elspeth! I will tell them what I am going to do!” Athdar shrieked. “She’s right, Guards hold the McGregors! He flew his hand through the air and they all became weak. His brothers dropped to the floor unable to stand.

  He watched, his anger so bad, he didn’t comprehend the weakness that befell him. He looked around and saw Merlin and Cameron on the ground. “Are they alive?”

  Athdar turned toward him with anticipation in his eyes. “Oh yes. Your brothers will watch the show, then they die, but first I have an order in which I will do things. I am going to kill Elspeth first so you and Merlin can watch, and then I’ll kill your brothers, and just before Merlin, I’m going to kill you. My brother, last but not least, will see you all killed, and then I will enjoy killing him slowly. You see there’s nothing you can do.” He laughed and walked over to the alter.

  He thought to Ator, “Ator, we’re in a cave somewhere. We went through a portal, so I doona ken where. Find us. Athdar plans on killing us all. We’re weak, some spell. Can you hear me?”

  “Yes, I’ll look for you. Not sure where, but I’ll spread the dragons out. Hang on Ian.”

  Athdar flung his arm around the room removing the weakness from the McGregors but not Merlin. Another wave and the McGregors became frozen again. The only thing they could move was their eyes.

  He watched as he walked to Merlin and pulled him in to a sitting position. He raised his hand and sent a jolt into Merlin, half reviving him. “I want you to see the show, Merlin, and the boys too.”

  Athdar walked to where Elspeth lay and picked up the spelled knife that Merlin originally used to kill Seamus. He ran the tip down Elspeth’s chest. “I’ve waited a long time for this. I plan to enjoy it. You see this knife is a special knife. My brother made it. Specially forged to kill any species. It’s quite magical, kills vampires, fae, most anything, and is very painful. Ironic isn’t it, that I should use a knife that my brother made to kill all that he holds dear? Except for Ian, I owe him a stake to the heart. You see he took an old friend from me with a stake, and well…neither here nor there, his death will be by stake, yours by Merlin’s knife,” he spoke as if caught up in another world.

  He looked at Elspeth curiously. “I see you’ve mated. Ian, I suppose.” She didn’t answer and Ian saw she was frozen in fear. He knew Athdar was completely mad. Athdar drew the knife across her chest. Her breathing became fast and shallow. He traveled across one breast and down to her belly. Ian pushed against the freeze spell enraged at not being able to move, anger eating at his insides. He was ready to explode.

  Athdar looked farther, and after a frown he smiled. “Well it looks like I won’t be killing only McGregor brothers. It appears to me you have some little McGregors.”

  He was stunned. McGregors? More than one?

  “Ah, you didn’t know did you. There’s two little heartbeats in her belly.” He laughed. “I’ll cut them out and show you Ian.”

  Elspeth finally reacted. “Nae!” she screamed. “Nae!”

  He looked toward Merlin. He looked a bit better than he had when they arrived in the cave. Maybe he would be able to help them.

  He struggled harder, screaming in his head, but was unable to move a muscle. He was frantic and terrified of being unable to save Elspeth and the bairns. Damn it if only Merlin could break the spell.

  Athdar held the knife in one hand and picked up something else. “See this? It’s the stake that is going to kill you Ian. It’s been blessed in holy water, so don’t get your hopes up that you’ll live through it, I guarantee you won’t.”

  He glanced around the room at his brother’s frozen forms. Merlin caught his gaze and gave a slight nod of his head. As Athdar picked up the blade and held it over Elspeth’s belly, Merlin gave a jerk of his arm. He felt the spell fall away. He could move.

  He turned but before he could reach Athdar, the bastard drove the knife in her chest. He felt his heart sink and his blood boil, letting out a blood curdling scream he lunged for Athdar. He wasn’t quick enough. Athdar grabbed the stake and sunk it in his chest, hitting his heart. Everything went black as he hit the floor.

  Athdar laughed insanely as the rest of the McGregors and Merlin fell silent. He knew there was nothing they could do.

  ****

  Ian jumped up. Beside him lay his body. Instantly he was pulled through a swirl of flashing bright lights. He heard a cacophony of men’s voices and realized they were all him. In an instant, he went through every life he ever lived. In each one he was a warrior. Different times, different places, but he remembered them all. Suddenly his purpose was clear.

  When he began as a spark, it was as a soldier for good. He started as a thought, then energy, then life. As but a spark he broke away from the One Great God with the intent purpose of fighting for good. Some of his lives were short and some long. He looked different in each one.

  In many of those lives he had a wife, a different one each time. No not different, just different vessels just like him. It was Elspeth, always Elspeth. He remembered her and screamed for the God of Light. “Come you bastard! Now!”

  Suddenly he was back in the room. He quickly looked around. No one moved. Time had stopped.

  “Ian? Son?”

  He looked toward the voice. “Da? Eoghan? What are you two doing here. Why has time stopped?”

  “I doona ken, son. But it’s good to see you. Though not under these circumstances. I’m sorry son. We’ve been watching over you and the family since we’ve been gone. I miss Moira. Is she happy?”

  “Not without you, da, or Eoghan. She thinks of you always. What’s going tae happen tae Elspeth and the bairns?”

  “We’ll leave that up to you,” came a booming voice. Suddenly the room filled with light and a red glow. The God of Light and the God of Dark appeared in the room.

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “Think Ian and remember. Your many lives, your existence, how many times you’ve fallen in battle. Tell me what you’re fighting for.�
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  “I’m fighting for the rights of others, for the ones who canna do it for themselves, for myself and my family. In all my lives, I’ve battled evil, not once has my family and I lived tae an age of peace, tae watch the ones I love tae grow, I’m tired of the fight.

  “I want tae live in peace and be able tae love my family without thinking we’re all going tae die every time I turn around. I understand why I am and I have worked hard tae make sure people and places were safe, now I just want tae live my life with my family. I want tae feel love, and joy, peace, and know what it is like tae just live. I want my Da and my brother back.

  “Is it so much tae ask? I want tae see my bairns born, and have many of them, a large family, full of love. Look what’s happened, it always does, I want a different life, one with no worry.”

  “You will find there’s always worry, Ian. You will understand there is no pleasure without first knowing pain. You can’t know peace without war. There is no happiness until you’ve known sadness, you can’t understand life, until you’ve understood death.

  “Think about that. If there was un-ending peace what questions would you have. Would you understand it as peace? Balance. Understanding. In your heart, you know. You have worked very hard Ian, this is true, and you certainly deserve the happiness you seek.

  “If this is your true wish, I will grant it. Eoghan will return with you. It wasn’t his time to leave yet, anyway. Lachlan I’m sorry, you cannot go back.

  “You will have your peace Ian but think on it and think hard. The choices are yours. You won’t remember your other lives when you go back or who you truly are, and only a minimal amount of our conversation, but you will have to remember at some point. When you do, I’ll come again and we’ll re-evaluate your circumstances.

  “You’ll remember dying and Eoghan going back, your life will be at peace, but your brother’s lives, remain the same. You will go back to McGregor castle and be lord there and live your life in happiness, your brothers will return to Wesladus at Pendragon and continue their work there.”