Again they complied and as soon as the circle was formed around her, the magic in the air became not only palpable, but visible. A mystical purple light swirled in the air and most especially within the circle with Alainn.
“It shall be undone by the purposeful course of reversal.” Alainn heard the fire dragon speak in a slow steady tone.
Closing her eyes, Alainn felt the powerful magic all around her. The air had grown first still and eerily quiet, and then it pulsed with the extreme level of supernatural power. Alainn inhaled as she grew dizzy. With each of the magical beings in the realm of the gods now employing their many supernatural otherworldly gifts for one connected purpose, the magic was unbelievably powerful and at a completely unprecedented level.
Alainn was nearly overcome with dizziness and even though she remained sitting perfectly still, it appeared the chair was spinning and it was as though she was traveling backward at a tremendous speed. She had secretly hoped it would begin now at this moment; that everything they endured with the encounter with Ebrill would be undone as well, but she supposed that would be too much to hope for.
Although everything appeared to be a blur of events at such a rapid speed she couldn’t cognitively conceive entirely, she felt as though she were seeing it within her mind, but enduring it as well. She was now standing on the dock in England once again. She sensed Brendan O’Leary standing beside her now being controlled by the demon. The dagger in his hand was being pulled from her back instead of being driven within her, the poison being drawn from her body instead of penetrating and spreading. The pain was as real as when it had actually happened, but soon there was immediate relief.
All the events from before the incident with the cursed dagger to when she had been with the king happened so quickly she felt as though her head and body were twirling uncontrollably and that she might die from the strain of it.
The time she had allowed the king to have her was seen in reverse. She felt him moving away from her, pulling her away from, instead of pushing her against the trundle table. The words being spoken were backwards and absurdly confusing. Even the disgusting grunts of the king’s passion were oddly in reverse and Alainn with much difficulty placed her hands over her ears to shield herself from the offensive sounds. She grew dizzier and dizzier, spinning faster and faster. She felt a perilous instability within her mind and her heart fearing her mind might snap and her heart stop if this should continue much longer. She was soon entirely overcome with staggering dizziness and when she finally quit spinning, although she had remained sitting on the chair she fell toward the ground. But before she hit the stone beneath her, she was soon caught in Dardangranov’s enormous hand.
As soon as Killian was capable of moving within the circle, he went to her in concern. Dardangranov gently placed Alainn in his arms and Killian held her and nodded to the immense giant in gratitude. Danhoul went to stand beside her as well and placed his hand to her head. Alainn slowly opened her eyes and stared up into Killian’s face. She touched her belly and was astonished to learn she could sense no child within her.
Aine and Danhoul each placed their hands to her as well and confirmed the fact she was no longer carried a child, she was no longer filled with evil. Alainn’s heart gladdened to know she had been both been rescued from certain death, and averted from carrying a being that could have been the undoing of the entire human realm.
She was well aware she had been saved by the combined powerful magic, and that somehow the evil being she carried within her was no more, or perhaps had never been. The profound complexity of it left her muddled, but ever thankful to all the many magical creatures that had come to assist her this day. There was one question nagging at her. Although it had happened so fast and left her in much confusion, she was almost certain the events with the demon and Ebrill’s deaths hadn’t been reversed, that the reversal of events had somehow begun when they were back in England. She did not sense the demon’s malevolent presence, so she chose to simply revel in the joy she felt, and believe both the demon and Ebrill were truly dead.
As Killian continued to hold her in his arms, Teige and Kieran smiled broadly at their children’s obvious happiness and relief. Their elation was soon interrupted by the elderly god’s quiet, but solemn voice.
“One day soon you will be sorely needed, young Alainn to assist the gods and other magical beings. You will be called to do their bidding as you have been forewarned. When that time comes, although you will not care to leave your husband behind you, you must dwell upon this day. Remember well you were saved from death and many malevolent hardships and encounters with evil. When the time comes and we summon you, you must go willingly in the knowledge whatever time you have between now and then is an unexpected bestowment. Go with your husband and revel in the time you have with him now,” Dagda advised.
The fire dragon nodded in agreement and stared at them in seriousness.
“Do you know how much time we will have?” Killian dared to ask.
“It is uncertain,” Dagda admitted. “Therefore treat each day as though it may be the day you are forced to be parted. You will never take for granted your love or your time together.”
Trow smiled at Alainn and soon many of the magical creatures came forward to offer their well wishes.
“I think it is surely high time for a magical celebration.” It was Lugh who made the suggestion.
“I regret to say, I think we need to get back to the future right away.” Teige spoke in a downhearted tone. “We are coming very close to locating Odhran.”
“Is it true, you must leave straightaway?” Killian asked with disappointment and it was clear neither of their fathers wanted to go when they had just found their children once more.
“We will still time in the human world for a period,” Aine declared, “You may have this night with Alainn and Killian before you are sent back to the future.”
Each of the fathers held tight to their child and Alainn smiled a grateful smile at the wizard for fetching them this day.
“It was the least I could do for I heard about your unfortunate encounter with the eternal witch. I am regretful of that. Had I listened to you and waited to remove the spell on the witch, it would have been much more advantageous for you.”
The wizard spoke telepathically to Alainn and she simply nodded sensing the wizard’s sincerity.
“I was led to believe there was a war happening here in this realm,” Killian commented.
“The Fomorians have finally been sealed within the same cave where we were banished and held for so many millennia,” The fire dragon proudly revealed. “It’s only fitting don’t you think?” He grinned in a devilish manner only a dragon could accomplish as smoke poured from his nostrils.
“It would appear we all have much to celebrate.” Lugh grinned.
“And how do magical beings celebrate?” Killian was curious to know.
“Music, food, wine, ale, dancing, frivolity, and merriment in many forms.” Lugh grinned again.
“So entirely the same as in the human realm?” Killian smiled back at the god.
“Well, with a bit of magic thrown in for good measure.” Danhoul smiled broadly at the positive outcome of this eventful day.
Alainn and Killian’s eyes met and they shared a loving kiss before the magical celebration began.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The magical festivities were indescribably enchanting. Even the gods appeared to be in utter disbelief of the sheer number of magical creatures in attendance and the amount of magic and mysticism present. The air continued to pulse with the extraordinary level of supernatural power. And yet sitting beside each other, holding tight to each other’s hand, and barely leaving each other’s side was more magical to Alainn and Killian than any other event or happening that night.
Together they had gone to every magical creature and personally thanked them for their part in seeing Alainn saved from the evil that had threatened to take her life. That took a considera
ble time given the number of creatures present. They apparently each believed it was a service owed to Alainn for all she had done for the magical beings she had assisted and in knowing she would one day be instrumental in the preservation of many realms.
Alainn and Killian were delighting in spending the evening and an entire night with their fathers in time altered by magic. It was special and wonderful to get to know both of them. They ate and drank and conversed together all night long.
“So what are these odd garments you wear?” Killian asked them.
The two men looked at each other evidently unsure of how much information to share with their children who lived near five hundred years before the year where they now were located in the future.
“They are called uniforms. We are members of the Boston Police Department.” Kieran conveyed.
“It is a city in the Americas,” Alainn informed Killian.
“How do you know of Boston, Alainn?” Her father inquired. “It won’t even be founded for nearly a hundred years after the time you live in now.”
“I once went to Boston… travelled there to the future.”
“You’ve already been to the future?” Both of their fathers seemed stunned.
“It was only for a short time. I went to pay a visit to Tristan O’Malley.”’
“How do you even know of Tristan?”
“So you know him as well?” Alainn asked a question of her own, and her eyes had to be filled with curiosity.
“Aye, he’s to be a searcher as well, although he’s not been given an actual assignment yet. He’s young and wet behind the ears, tends to mouth off and be a bit hotheaded and impulsive, but his magical intuitiveness has been a great asset to us.” Teige claimed.
“And his martial arts skills are probably second to none,” Kieran said.
Teige smiled at the odd expressions Killian and Alainn wore, at the many words they didn’t understand.
“Martial arts, although I am uncertain as to what that term implies, I must assume that is how he so capably disarmed me when I had thought to kill the wee imp and why I found myself flipped about in an unusual manner and rendered momentarily stunned.”
Teige and Kieran stared at Alainn.
“This happened in the future?” Kieran sought to understand.
“No, that transpired in our century when the irksome man decided he might pay an unannounced visit in our time. I should have liked to blacken his eyes for that deed for Alainn was wounded by the vexatious undersized cad!”
“He came to see his ‘buddy’, Danhoul.” Alainn remembered the odd word and how Tristan had said it with fondness when he referred to Danhoul.
“We didn’t know of that occurrence,” Teige admitted. “Sorry I am you and Tristan didn’t hit it off. I agree, he can be a bit hard to take for he tends to make a joke of nearly everything, even when it’s not helpful and often inappropriate, but he possesses powerful magic and I believe he will be a great searcher one day, and also important in finding Odhran. He and Danhoul are close. They were raised together and I understand they’ve been through a lot together.”
“So you know Danhoul as well.” Alainn was once more overcome with curiosity and desired to ask many questions of her father and Kieran regarding Danhoul. “Danhoul was raised in the future. I know that to be truth for he speaks of it at times, but I also know he spent a lengthy time here in the realm of the gods. Do you know if he always lived in the twenty-first century where you both now reside?”
“We are never told all the information regarding the other guardians and searchers.” Alainn caught the knowing glance between the two men, so she did not push the matter.
“But why did the gods send you to the future, Alainn?” Teige asked in order to sate his own inquiring mind.
“They didn’t,” she admitted. “I went there on my own without the gods’ permission or assistance.”
“You have that level of magical power already, at such a young age?” Kieran’s eyes widened in awe.
“Her father is a gifted druid and her mother a witch, she descends from the line of Aine and apparently many elements were present during the time of her conception which ensured she possesses incomprehensible magical abilities.” Killian smiled at Alainn and there was pride in his voice when he spoke of his young wife.
“She is one of the three?” Kieran seemed to understand and whispered more to himself than the others.
“Aye, the first of the three,” Teige declared and his face filled with concern.
“Could you tell us exactly what that indicates?” Killian wanted to know more.
“We shouldn’t speak on this at length for we cannot chance changing the course of future events,” Teige insisted.
“But that infuriating response does not appease Killian or myself, Father. If I am of such alleged importance and will be forced to go to the future and be parted from Killian with absolutely no say in the matter, should I not be well informed of anything that might benefit me?” Alainn indignantly held her chin high and her temper flared.
“She has your temperament as well as your features for she bears no resemblance to Mara other than her beautiful eyes.” Kieran jested possibly in hope of diffusing the situation.
“You dare to suggest my mother has no temper?” Alainn stated. “She placed a vengeful curse on the O’Brien line that lasted for nearly two decades.”
“I actually meant you bear no physical resemblance to your mother, but wait… that was Mara’s curse?” Kieran was clearly in disbelief.
“Let us not speak further on anything unpleasant,” Killian urged, not wanting his father to be displeased with his wife’s mother. “We have only this night together and then we are not certain when we might meet again, so let’s simply eat and drink and speak on more pleasing topics.”
Alainn wasn’t willing to give up so easily when their fathers could offer long desired information. “Danhoul and Aine have already told me the other two witches are of my line, which surely must indicate Killian and I will have children?” She smiled at that possibility. “But if they are of my line and from different centuries as it has been said, and I must go to the future, how is any of that possible?”
“It’s best not to dwell on it, Alainn. Attempting to sort through the magic and inconsistencies of time travel will only leave you more confused, the more you know of it. Your husband is correct. We should savor every moment of this night together.” Teige’s tone was firm and it was clear he would not issue any further replies to her inquiries.
Alainn inhaled deeply and closed her eyes, but then smiled up at Killian and he leaned over and placed a tender kiss upon her lips which she returned with delight and they stared into each other’s eyes.
“It pleases me to know you care deeply for one other,” Kieran spoke. “Your mother and I shared a mutual love, and it was always what I wished for my children.” He was clearly remembering his other two children who had died at a young age for his eyes held a distinct somber quality of a parent who had been made to outlive his children.
“It pleases me as well,” Teige added. “When my time in the future is ended I must search for Mara to see if she maintains feelings for me as I always have for her through the years. Even believing she had died, I have never been able to care for another woman as I did her. She was my one true love.”
“You needn’t search far to find her for I know exactly where she is, and aye, she feels the same. She had never stopped loving you and pining for you.” Alainn revealed.
“Then it will be my hope one day soon I can go to her and tell her my heart still yearns for her. I suppose that is why the gods deemed I should not learn Mara is alive or that our children lived for they wanted to make certain Kieran and I remained intent on our duties as searchers in the future,” Teige reasoned.
“Does that not severely rile you to know they kept that from you all these years?” Killian said as he looked toward both the men who sat with them.
Kieran nodded in
assurance, but it was Alainn’s father who spoke with adamancy.
“More than I could possibly say.” Teige looked in the direction of the table where many of the gods sat celebrating, and he glared openly.
“We were to only speak of pleasant topics,” Alainn reminded them when she saw the enraged look in her father’s eyes. “And if Odhran isn’t found and dealt with, it is likely far graver upheaval will ensue than our being parted from those we love.” Alainn dared to suggest as she stared at her father.
“You are wise for someone so young.”
“That is much debatable!” she said as she glanced at Killian’s tunic at the blood on the cloth from when he’d battled with the demon, and, even through the light fabric, she saw the dark scabbed scratches left from the witch’s nails.
Alainn wasn’t certain if her father could read her mind or if he was simply intuitive enough to know she had fallen upon something in her thoughts that brought her great sadness and regret, but he spoke in comfort nonetheless.
“Those who possess magic are often made to make the hard choices,” Teige assured her.
“But our choices often cause others to be deeply hurt, and I am not certain I will ever be truly able to accept that.”
He gently touched her arm in reassurance as he spoke. “There must be no discord or sadness this night, Alainn.”
She nodded her head and saw Killian was staring at her father.
“I know there are several topics we care to discuss this night and some you may not be forthcoming in sharing with us, but can you at least tell me why you were you in a Scottish prison in our time if you had already been to the future?” Killian needed to know for it had filled him with undeniable curiosity.
“Even with so many inquiries, I wished to make of my father, I asked him that very question,” Alainn said with humor in her voice as she squeezed Killian’s hand.
“Sometimes we are sent back to your time or other centuries for various reasons… to follow a lead in searching for those who have mistakenly gone through a portal or if there is someone in need as was the case when I came back to save Alainn on those two occasions. Sometimes we have reason to believe Odhran has sent one of his demons to a certain time or a different location.”
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