by LAURA HARNER
The dense fog in front of them was the worst they’d yet encountered. Although the clock said it was mid-afternoon, the darkness settled around them. Slowing the engines even further, they inched through the near total darkness. It was eerie. No sounds penetrated the air, not even the water against the sides of the boat. The silence was unnerving.
Without warning, all power on the boat died, and Faolan desperately tried to restart the engine and regain control. Without the navigation system and engines, they would be tossed around and killed against the rocks.
“Faolan, look!”
“I canna just now, Elena,” Faolan gritted through clenched teeth.
“No, Faolan, look at the mirror,” Elena said urgently, as she held it out to him. The mirror had changed to a near blinding light, with no discernible image.
The boat jerked forward as though someone was pulling a string attached to the bow, pulling them through the clouds that surrounded them. They rushed up to the flybridge, straining to see through the fog. The air was not the bone-chilling dampness Elena had expected, the balminess made her think of the monsoon season back home. Faolan put his arm around her protectively, and Elena circled her arm around his waist. Side-by-side they stood, watching, and waiting.
Chapter Thirty-two
Breaking through the clouds was a lot like what Elena pictured arriving at heaven might be like. She wouldn’t have been surprised to hear celestial trumpets in the background while an angelic choir heralded their arrival. The clouds that had surrounded their boat for days suddenly separated and the sun shone down on them, the warmth caressing her skin. She looked out at a land that was green and fertile, a valley surround by gentle hills, with a backdrop of a soaring mountain.
“It’s lovely,” Elena breathed.
“Aye, lass. I canna begin to describe the feelings it causes to arise in me.” His brogue thickened with the depth of his emotions. Elena looked at him, moved to see the sheen of unshed tears in his eyes. His big hand clasped tightly around Elena’s, and she could feel tremors from the strength of his emotions.
A small wren, like the one from their visions, landed on the railing near them. It peered curiously at Elena and Faolan before flying off. As the boat drew inexorably closer to the dock, there was a man standing there, where previously it had been empty. He was dressed in flowing cornflower blue robes with long white hair and a rather wispy long beard. It was their man from the mirror.
Where did he come from?
The boat glided to a stop at the dock, and Elena pulled Faolan’s hand towards the stairs. He pulled her close to him, kissed the top of her head, and whispered, “Stay behind me for now, lass. I doona’ believe there is any danger, but I willna take a chance with you.”
They climbed down to the main deck, and Faolan called a greeting, just as he had at every marina, “Good day to you. May we join you ashore?”
“Aye, lad, and bring your lass. Welcome home.”
They crossed the small gangplank to the dock, and Faolan thrust his hand forward, saying, “Faolan MacGailtry.”
The older man looked surprised for a moment, and then reached with his own hand, saying, “I am Earnan.” The men shook hands; then Earnan peeked around Faolan and grinned impishly, “Welcome, Elena. It seems you are well protected from the danger I present.”
Elena stepped around Faolan, and Earnan took her proffered hand, kissing it with a grand sweeping gesture. His eyes were a vibrant shade of cornflower blue that matched his robes. He appeared to be in his mid-sixties, tall and slight, with a bookish air about him.
The sounds of yipping and yapping filled the air as a tiny ball of fur barreled down the hill until she reached Faolan, where she promptly rolled over on her back, feet in the air, tongue lolling.
“Hussy?” Faolan asked wonderingly. Bending down to rub the dog’s belly, he scanned the shore, looking for Brigid. Although the scenery was lovely, there was no indication from where the dog might have come.
“Come, Elena and Faolan. We know you have many questions. We will answer them over the course of the evening. Let me take you to the castle.” Faolan and Elena exchanged glances, before turning as one to look at Earnan. With another dramatic gesture, he swept his arm toward the gently rolling hills, and a majestic castle was revealed.
The castle appeared to rise from the base of the mountain, nestled in its protective embrace. It was white stone, with turrets and towers, and a massive wall protecting against invasion from the sea. From their position at sea level, it towered above the shoreline, visible for miles on a clear day. Yet they’d not seen it, even from the dock, until Earnan waved his arm.
Elena gasped. “It’s lovely! Where did it come from? How many rooms does it have? How many people live here?” She would have gone on, but Faolan interrupted with a question of his own.
“How is it you kept it hidden from our view?”
“’Tis but a parlor trick, my young friend. I am surprised that with the skills of your wee wife you need ask. ‘Tis naught more than her power used on a grander scale. Look behind you. See you the horizon?” He waited to continue until they both nodded.
“How many days since you last saw the sun from your boat? Did you see any sign of a navigable waterway? ‘Tis but one way we protect ourselves. A Druid skill of imagery. Come now, we have prepared your welcome.”
Faolan and Elena again exchanged a long look, and Elena sensed they both felt comfortable in following the old man. They followed Earnan with Hussy announcing their arrival. Elena struggled to keep pace with the men, their long legs making short work of the hill. Of course, much of her lagging behind was simply due to the fact she wanted to see everything. Her head swung this way and that, trying to take it all in.
The castle was two stories on the outer wings, three stories for the keep, and the turrets on each corner rose to the equivalent of a five or six story building. It had been hewn from the lightest colored stone and bleached by time to a soft white, the color of clouds against a summer’s day. If it had ever been surrounded by a second outer wall or moat there was no sign of either now. The inner wall was intact, but the gateway between the two unmanned guard towers was open and didn’t look as though it was ever raised to close the castle walls.
They followed a smooth pathway that snaked up the hillside, the switchbacks reducing the rate of incline needed to reach the castle at the top of the hill. Elena noticed that there was a small metal track similar to those used in mines that ran straight up the hill from the dock to the castle. That must be how they brought in supplies, she thought, relieved she wouldn’t have to carry the luggage up the hill on her back like a pack mule.
As they quickly paced through the courtyard, Elena barely had time to take in the large garden plots of vegetables and a rose garden with stone benches and a fountain. She was giving herself whiplash, trying to see everything at once. Elena couldn’t wait to explore every inch of the extensive gardens and stables.
The massive oak door to the castle was designed to open from the top, swinging down and outward to create a twenty-foot entry ramp. Earnan walked directly to the door, which would surely have crushed him if the door swung down. Nearly invisible until you were right up against it was a smaller, more traditional doorway cut into the original oak slab.
They entered the keep through the great hall and came to a stop. Earnan had provided little in the way of commentary as they’d walked. Elena had wanted to keep up a steady stream of questions as they climbed the hill, but she was worried about Faolan. He was becoming increasingly withdrawn; she could scarcely sense him. She felt the wolf very close to the surface, and placed a comforting hand against his back.
Apparently, she was not the only one who sensed his unease, because Earnan turned around and looked at Faolan, saying “Peace, brother.”
Faolan shivered, his eyes were wild, nostrils flared, as though scenting nearby danger. Or prey. It was as close as Elena had ever seen him come to losing control. She needed to bring him back. Spea
king softly, Elena, reached up to cradle his face in her hands, urging him to look at her, to look into her eyes. He came back by degrees; slowly his eyes regained their focus, his breathing slowed, and his muscles began to relax.
Finally, with a great shuddering breath, his eyes locked with Elena’s, and she felt him return, sensed his feelings again. He was overwhelmed by his emotions, his fear rolled off him in waves. He was worried that his still might not be controllable. As if seeking answers to the question of Elena’s safety, Faolan looked at Earnan.
Without turning away from Faolan, Elena asked Earnan, “I wonder if it would be possible for us to go to our room for a while, if you plan for us to stay here in the castle, that is.”
Earnan spoke directly to Faolan, ignoring Elena’s question.
“Doona’ fear, Faolan. You wouldna have hurt her. You must trust me on that. You must trust yourself. There are two things you need to see now before I can leave you alone.”
Faolan gave Earnan a long, searching look, glanced at Elena, then back at Earnan and gave a curt nod.
Earnan led the way across the great hall, which Elena belatedly realized was covered with portraits. He came to a section of the back wall, and Faolan’s quick intake of breath was audible as he looked up at a portrait of himself.
No, that wasn’t right, Elena thought. At first glance, she thought it was Faolan before she noticed the slight differences, the eye color, the shape of his jaw were not the same.
“’Tis my father,” he said, his voice unsteady. “Why would there be a portrait of my—”
“Faolan….” A woman’s voice came from behind them.
Faolan’s head whipped around to look at the beautiful woman. She was wearing emerald colored robes, and looked to be in her mid-fifties. She had tawny gold eyes with reddish-blonde hair, streaked with white and pulled into a chignon on the back of her head. She was regal, and Elena realized with the coloring and the way they held themselves that the woman and Faolan could be related.
Faolan followed a different train of thought, his eyes widened, breath quickened, and his voice was raspy as he croaked out, “Brigid?”
The woman held a hand out to him, and he slipped his into hers and let her lead him away from the portrait. She took Faolan toward the stairs, speaking softly, never releasing his hand.
“’Tis sorry I am we had to tell you this way, Faolan, but we need you to know you are safe now. The old woman you have known was also me, just with the imagery applied. You know me. You can tell by the portrait that your father was known here.” She stopped outside a door and turned to face a very stunned looking Faolan. “This is a place for you, a home for you. I wouldna put you in danger; you are safe here.”
She turned to look at Elena then. “Elena, dear, I know we doona’ know each other well, but you have seen my image in your visions. We saw the sisterhood together; I know this is the start of your journey. Tonight is for the two of you; some time to accept you are here. We willna give you more tonight, we will start on the morrow. Know that you both are safe.
“We have had your bags brought to your room, and we will have food sent up, so there is no need to leave unless you want to. Earnan and I will be in the drawing room tonight if you decide to join us after dinner.”
As Brigid turned to walk away, Elena again noticed the similarities between her and Faolan, in the eyes, and the way they moved. She wondered how they were related, and wondered if Faolan knew. She jumped slightly as Brigid’s voice spoke softly in her head, “Please doona’ tell him that tonight. I will tell him on the morrow.”
Faolan, completely unaware of the mental exchange said, “Let’s go in,” and opened the door to the most luxurious suite either of them had ever seen. They stepped into a sitting room fit for royalty with brocaded chairs and a settee, a large hearth, and a museum quality tapestry hanging on the wall. There were fresh flowers in a crystal vase, and a basket with fruit and snacks, and a tray with glasses and decanters. Everything you might find in a five-star hotel. Not that I’d ever been in a five-star hotel.
A king-size four-poster bed dominated the bedroom, and the bathroom had an even larger claw-footed tub than the one at the farm. Yummy. Someone had brought their belongings from the boat; their clothes and toiletries were all here, ready for them to use.
Faolan had been strangely quiet since he had nearly lost control earlier, but he was in control now. He wrapped her in his arms, pressing his front to her back, holding her close. With one hand, he pulled her hair aside, so he could kiss and bite her neck. He placed his other hand between her legs and pulled her back tight against his erection. Without a word passing between them, they made love, finding comfort in the familiarity of each other.
Much later that night, Elena woke as she felt Faolan leave the bed.
“What’s wrong?”
“Och, lass, I need to run. I believe we are safe, but today the wolf was close. I thought he was all but gone. I need to stretch, to taste the air. Fear not, love, I will return anon.”
“I’ll be waiting,” she said and kissed him.
Chapter Thirty-three
Faolan and Elena felt completely refreshed after their long night together in the castle. She’d been waiting for him when he returned from his run around the grounds. While sharing a late snack from the food sent up earlier in the evening, he’d described the castle grounds and surrounding hillsides. He was electric, cheeks flushed, hair wind-blown, eyes sparkling. He needed to run as his wolf more often, it was still a necessary part of him, even without the curse.
When they’d joined Earnan and Brigid for breakfast in the great hall, they’d found them both dressed far less dramatically than they had been the previous day. The robes had been replaced by jeans; Brigid’s topped by a jade green silk tee, while Earnan favored a faded denim button-down. A banquet of food was set to the side of the large table, raising questions of who had prepared all of it. For that matter, who had brought the luggage and left the tray of food outside the room?
The large dining hall echoed with an uncomfortable silence. Elena started to throw out inane questions, hoping that eventually one of the other three would pick up the conversation in a more meaningful way. “Are there servants here?”
“Aye, lass,” Earnan answered, “’Tis the MacMartin family who stays here on the island, except for occasional trips to the mainland.” It was actually seventeen MacMartin’s, Elena found out later.
“How is it so much warmer here than it was in Scotland or on the boat?” she asked next, giving voice to another thing that had her curious.
Eyes sparkling, Brigid said, “It could be because we are in the middle of the Gulf Stream,” she said, “The west coast of Scotia has long been renowned for its more temperate climes.” Then turning her head regally to look at Earnan, “Or it could be because Earnan likes to muck about with the weather.” An unmistakable laugh in her rich voice. “What do you think, dear Earnan?”
Earnan grinned his impish grin again and said, “Aye, maybe a wee bit. I doona’ like my bones cold.”
Faolan, who had been loading his plate during this exchange, joined those seated at the table. Before beginning to eat, he looked back and forth between Earnan and Brigid, before locking his gaze on Brigid. “You first. You have a lot of explaining to do, woman.”
Brigid turned a brilliant smile on Faolan, “Aye, Faolan, I do owe you a story or two. I have been knowing you, Faolan since you were born,” which caused Elena to gasp, considering he was over three hundred years old!
“Aye, ‘tis true. I used a spell of imagery to change my appearance to stay near you all this time. You have known me as Brianna, Brigit, Brenda, Brighde, and now Brigid, which is my true name. The face you see before you now is my true form. Like you, I have aged very well over the years.” She laughed delightedly before continuing.
“It was my role to read the signs around you and to guide you. I am Druid born and trained, with a special talent for prophecy. When I wasn’t needed near
you I would come here to the island. Lilly were your caretakers, and they did an excellent job. You have grown into a fine man, and now that you are here for your training, you will make an exceptionally strong Druid.
“We could not train you while you were cursed. It would have been far too dangerous. Now we need you to begin your training immediately, there are skills you must have before this Beltane.”
“Why?” Faolan asked between bites. He must have been famished; Elena had never seen him eat like this.
“Och, lad,” Earnan answered him, “There is a prophecy about this Beltane and the return of the Druids. Know ye the stories of the Druids who were scattered by the Tuatha Dé Danann?”
“Aye, but Elena may not,” he answered, looking at Elena.
“I’ve read a lot of different stories about the Druids. I’d rather hear it from you,” she told Earnan.
“Well, neither of you know all of it, so I will be tellin’ you some of it now, and more will come out during your training. I’ll not be keeping secrets, just some of the information will only make sense after you know certain other things.”
Earnan looked at Elena and said, “The Tuatha Dé Danann, the Fae,” he paused and Elena nodded for him to continue. She knew those were other names for fairies.
“The Tuatha Dé Danann and the Druids occupied Scotia thousands of years ago. There are many legends surrounding both groups, we will be telling you what we know about their histories, but for now, you need to know they were both verra powerful in different ways. They were also verra fascinated with each other, and began to form alliances, liaisons.
Earnan continued, his voice somber, “There were a handful of men and women that formed the Druid council, and they were kept secret from the world to protect the magick. It was their job to sit in judgment should any Druid abuse his or her power. The council became complacent and went from visiting the outside world every year, to only venturing from their hidden spot every four or five years.