Rundimahair: A new hero for a new adventure

by Larry Forkner

  He made it down to the kitchen, despite feeling like he’d been run over by a truck. The kitchen looked clean, neat, and organized, just as it always did. The gas cooking range looked so clean it could be brand new. When he glanced at the pantry door, he felt a sudden pang of unease. He glanced back at the gas range and thought it didn’t seem to belong there, although he couldn’t figure out why.

  Just as he was about to open the refrigerator, he heard voices coming from the library. His first instinct was to grab an apple and head back to his room, but there was urgency in the muffled voices that piqued his curiosity. After a few moments of indecision, Sean finally tiptoed down the hallway and stopped just outside the library door.

  He could hear what sounded like Eamon’s voice, but he was speaking too softly to understand his words. Then Ashling spoke, and her voice was much clearer; the urgency he’d detected moments before was coming from her.

  “I know, Da, but I can’t keep healing him and erasing his memory. I’ve had to do it several times within a few days, and you know that can be dangerous and not always effective. As it is, I think he’ll have some aches and pains and perhaps some vague recall of what happened when he wakes up in the morning.”

  Eamon spoke again, but Sean could only hear a word or phrase here and there. It sounded like, “worth the risk,” but he couldn’t be sure. Then he thought Eamon said, “That young gray must be one of Riley’s experiments. Did you talk with him about it?”

  Ashling’s voice was louder when she said, “You can be sure I had a face-to-face discussion with him. I told him there would be no more dragon breeding without unanimous approval of the council. He’s just not careful enough with his little pets.”

  “Aye, that’s the truth of it. Even though he’s a gifted breeder, he’s gone too far this time,” Eamon said in a louder tone.” He continued talking, but Sean couldn’t hear enough to make sense of it.

  “We don’t even know if he’s the one, Da. I know you think he’ll save us all, but I’m still not convinced of that. We really don’t have any proof positive,” Ashling said.

  Sean could hear the growing frustration and worry in Ashling’s voice. His mind was swimming with confusion, as he tried to come to grips with what she was saying. She had to be talking about him, but none of it made any sense. In fact, nothing made any sense since the accident had landed him in this strange little town.

  It was time to get out of here. He didn’t understand much about what was going on, but he was developing a very uneasy feeling about Eamon and Ashling. In truth, something wasn’t right about the entire community of Rundimahair.

  In his haste to be gone, Sean turned too quickly, and the dizziness that continued to plague him caused him to slump against the wall of the hallway. The old oak wall paneling creaked noisily, causing Sean to grimace. He hoped the noise didn’t carry into the library. He stood very still for several moments, waiting to see if there would be a reaction from Eamon or Ashling. Slowly he began to relax when the library door stayed closed. He tiptoed quietly out of the hallway and into the kitchen, ready to make a rush for the stairway.

  “Things just haven’t gone well since the moment you set foot inside our little town, have they Sean?”

  Sean cringed at the sound of Eamon’s voice and looked up to see him standing on the other side of the saloon doors to the kitchen. He was smiling, but Eamon’s gray eyes were filled with sadness. His first thought was to try to rush past the older man and run for the door.

  “You’ve nothing to fear from the likes of us, Sean. We’re your friends and you’re safer here with us than anywhere else you might wish to go.”

  Sean forced himself to concentrate on what Eamon was saying. If only his thought process wasn’t so muddled. One thing he did know for certain was that he didn’t feel safe, despite Eamon’s gentle words.

  “Look Eamon, I don’t really understand everything that is going on around here. There are definitely some weird vibes flying around your town, and the strangest vibes of all are coming from your daughter, Ashling. I don’t think I want to know what the answers are anymore. I just want to gather my things together and get back to Portland. Do you have a problem with that?”

  “Not at all, my young friend. When the time and circumstances are right, you will be free to go if that’s what you choose,” Eamon said.

  “I don’t know how you ended up standing there blocking my way, when a moment ago I thought I heard you talking to Ashling in the library. You sound like the voice of reason, but what you’re really saying is that I’m not free to go now. To me, it feels like you’re holding me against my will, and apparently, you can move invisibly at the speed of light. Just two more bizarre events to add to the list.”

  “We’re not holding you against your will, Sean. We’re actually protecting you from those who may do you harm,” Eamon said.

  “It’s a waste of time trying to convince him of our good intentions, Father. Think how you would feel if you were wearing his shoes. Well, it’s true he hasn’t shoes on his feet at the moment, but you understand my meaning, I’m sure,” Ashling said, as she stepped out of the hallway behind Sean.

  He was pleased that he hadn’t flinched at the sudden sound of her voice so close behind him. In truth, he was expecting Ashling to show herself at any moment. He turned slowly and locked eyes with her, trying to understand what her intentions were.

  “So, you overheard parts of our conversation in the library; am I correct, Sean?” Ashling asked quietly.

  “I came downstairs for a midnight snack and heard voices. I guess I was wondering who was up at this hour aside from me,” Sean said. “Is that gas stove new?” he added without thinking, as he stared at it in confusion?

  Ashling nodded her head slowly as she walked toward Sean. He stared into her beautiful green eyes that often sparkled with humor and intelligence. Her eyes were softer now and seemed to be filled with compassion and warmth. He was sure that this was the look that some of her patients saw when she was about to deliver bad news.

  “You can see this is not going to work, Da,” she said, looking at Eamon. He has to go back to his own world.”

  “Don’t be too hasty with your decision, my dear girl,” Eamon said, as he stepped through the saloon doors. “You may be condemning him to death and taking the last ray of hope away from our people.”

  She stared at her father for several long moments, before she sighed deeply and said, “It’s my decision to make, Da. I’ll give him another treatment before he goes to be sure he’ll never recall being in Rundimahair.”

  “And what of our enemies? If they suspect he is the one we’ve been waiting for, then he’s as good as dead.”

  “They’ve not laid eyes on him; of that I am certain,” Ashling said firmly. “As long as his memory of us is completely gone, then he’ll have nothing to fear.”

  “And if he’s the one I suspect he is?” Eamon asked, his eyes filled with sadness.

  “He’s not, Da.”

  “Are you so certain of this, my darling girl?” Eamon asked.

  Even Sean saw the hesitation in Ashling’s eyes, for just a moment, before she regained her resolve and said, “I’m sure.”

  Eamon didn’t respond, but only shook his head sorrowfully. Ashling looked as though her own heart was breaking, as she turned to Sean.

  “I couldn’t be sorrier no matter how hard I tried, Sean. It was a mistake to bring you here, although we had little choice at the time. What were we to do? We couldn’t stand back and watch while you crashed into the ravine.”

  She took another step closer, and he waited for his fight or flight instinct to kick in. Instead of running, Sean felt the urge to step forward and embrace Ashling. She was indeed a beautiful woman, but it still seemed an odd inclination considering the awkward circumstances. Her next steps brought her into his personal space—only a couple of inches separating them.

  “Ashling, I don’t want to seem unreasonable here. You and your father have bee
n very kind to me, but you have to admit there is more than a little weirdness going on around here.”

  “A fair statement if I ever heard one, Sean. But I promise you there will be no more of that to worry about.”

  Ashling stepped up against him and gently put her arms around his neck. With the two-inch heels she was wearing, and Sean in his bare feet, they were very nearly the same height. He felt mesmerized by her steady gaze and her tender touch. How could he have ever doubted her motives?

  Without thinking about it, he put his arms around her waist and leaned in to kiss her gently on her soft, full lips. He felt her respond briefly by wrapping her arms tighter around him, as he pulled her into a tender embrace. It was only for a moment, but nothing had ever felt more wonderful and right.

  Finally, she pulled back, although she kept her arms loosely around his neck. He looked into her soft, green eyes and saw the turmoil and sorrow there. “It’s going to be all right,” he said softly.

  She sighed deeply and smiled sadly as she said, “Though you’re not going to remember any of this; I want you to know that it has been our great pleasure to make your acquaintance. We’ll not soon forget you.”

  While he was struggling to understand her meaning, Sean felt a gentle pressure at the base of his neck. Ashling was saying something, but he could no longer hear her clearly. A sense of euphoria swept over him, from head to toe, and he collapsed against her. Even as his conscious thought was sweeping away, Sean had just enough time to marvel at the pleasant combination of softness and strength of the woman who held him in her arms. His last conscious thought was that he would never forget Ashling Cahir for as long as he lived.

  Chapter Five

  When I dream, I dream Of Ireland’s rolling hills

  Of all its lovely, shimmery lakes and little babbling rills

  O, Ireland! O, Ireland! We’re never far apart

  For you and all your beauty fill my mind and touch my heart.

  ~ Old Irish Saying ~

  He is standing on the highest point of the rolling, tree-lined hills that surround the breathtakingly beautiful, green valley below. Small, lush meadows, sprinkled with multi-colored wildflowers, break up the thick tree growth on the valley floor. The two sparkling blue lakes, which are centered in the valley, are the true stars of Mother Nature’s impressive show.

  Despite his many travels, and the myriad wonders he has beheld, Sean is sure he has never been anywhere or beheld anything that could rival this stunning valley. There is more to it than just the dazzling beauty before him. He feels an almost spiritual essence emanating from the peaceful scene. The words “sacred ground” run through his mind, and this feels right.

  At the far end of the valley, beyond the two lakes, is a group of stone buildings. At its center is a very tall circular stone tower with two small window openings very near the top. A church constructed of the same gray stone as the tower is nearby, with a small cemetery directly behind it. Several other buildings are laid out in loosely organized, close proximity, which is reminiscent of a long ago medieval European village. Without knowing how, Sean understands that this is a monastery—not a village.

  A patchwork of grain fields lies to the east and north of the buildings, and a stone fence runs along the west side. This is obviously the monastery entrance, and he sees groups of men clad in homespun tan robes hurrying in and out at the main gate. By all appearances, this bustling community is as prosperous as it is peaceful and serene.

  It is a beautiful sunny day in Ireland, and the sun’s rays warm Sean pleasantly, as he contemplates hiking down to the monastery and paying a visit to the good people living there. Just as he begins his decent from the hilltop, a grouping of thick, dark clouds rolls over the hills, across the valley and quickly cover the sun.

  He is suddenly filled with a sense of foreboding moments before a thunderous noise reaches him. When he sees the first wave of riders charge over the hills above the monastery, Sean realizes the noise is the thunder of thousands of horse’s hooves. The riders are an embodiment of the apocalyptic destruction raining down on the peaceful valley below.

  Without truly knowing how, Sean realizes the monastery was a source of pure light that was created by the Angels of the Sidhe. These angels were here on earth to protect humans from the demonic Tuatha race of immortals.

  * * *

  Sean awoke from a deep sleep to the sound of someone shouting in impotent rage. His heart is racing and pounding against his chest. He sits up abruptly and realizes that he was the source of the shouting. It feels like he just awakened from a long, deep slumber. As the memories of the monastery quickly faded, Sean felt a sense of kinship with those who’d called the ancient monastery home.

  His eyes darted from one location to the next as his mind struggled to make sense of his surroundings. While images of the beautiful Irish valley still played through his mind, he wondered how he knew it was in Ireland.

  Slowly, his mind began to catalog the items in his room. The fog and confusion continued to lift as he realized that he was sitting up in his own bed. The familiar, luxurious appointments of his master bedroom suite surrounded him. The comforting feeling of knowing he was safe in his own home began to push back the anxiety that had overwhelmed him moments before.

  Sean threw back the bed covers and tried to stand up too quickly. A rush of dizziness almost caused him to fall back onto the bed. After taking a few deep breaths and shaking his head, the wooziness began to fade away.

  After taking a long hot shower and munching down two of his favorite granola bars, Sean felt almost normal again. He reached for his cell phone, which was plugged in, charging on the kitchen counter. Something about the cell phone being there seemed off, but he refused to ponder the weirdness that lingered in the back of his mind. Surely it was only the after-effects of his strange dream.

  By the time Sean arrived at his downtown office building, he was slowly getting back into his everyday groove. His mind was clear and alert when he walked into the suite of offices his company occupied on the top floor of a ten-story building. Sean owned the entire building.

  “How was the weekend on the Oregon Coast?” his office manager, Jennie, asked cheerfully.

  His first thought was that it seemed like he’d been gone much longer than a weekend. Sean shook off the strange feeling and said, “Uneventful.”

  “Did you find anything worth pursuing at the real estate auction?” Jennie asked from the door to her spacious office, which was next to his.

  There was that feeling again. It was like he’d just checked out for a few days with no real memory of where he’d been or what he’d done. He was fairly certain that he hadn’t been at any real estate auction. Where had he been? No answers were forthcoming.

  “Earth to Sean,” Jennie said, laughing. “You seem a little bit out of it this morning.

  Sean forced a smile and said, “The truth is I was feeling lousy by the time I got to the coast. I actually spent most of my time in bed trying to get over whatever was bugging me.”

  “Well, maybe you should be at home resting up. I can handle things for a few days,” Jennie said.

  Sean looked at her concerned smile and almost felt like he wasn’t being completely honest with Jennie. Unfortunately, what he’d told her felt like the truth, or as much of it as he could recall. He was coming to realize that he honestly couldn’t recall any details of what was apparently a lost weekend.

  * * *

  Ashling was feeling uneasy after completing visits with her patients today. The truth was that even though it had been several weeks since they’d sent Sean home, she couldn’t get him out of her mind.

  She truly hoped he was back to his normal life by now. It would take time for the residual effects of the magic she’d had to use on him, to completely dissipate. After a month or so he shouldn’t have any lingering ill effects, even though she’d had been forced to use very powerful magic on his mind. Ashling had been very careful, but it wasn’t good to work s
uch influential magic so often, especially in such a short period of time.

  About a week after they’d sent him home, she’d linked minds with Sean during his sleep. It was clear that he was still troubled by vague dreams of his time in Rundimahair. It was nothing that could lead him back, but it troubled her that he still held on to even distant memories. All traces of his time there should have been washed away.

  Even more troubling was the realization that he’d had several dreams about the distant past. The last time she’d touched his mind tracks, he was in the midst of a dream.

  The dream was a shockingly accurate retelling of a long-ago tragedy among the humans, who were supposed to be protected by angels of the Sidhe. Instead of protecting the humans who worked and lived at the monastery, some of the angels had followed a woman named Danu and participated in the slaughter of innocent people.

  Fortunately, the great Creator of all life cursed Danu and her followers. After the slaughter of the innocent humans that Sean had seen in his dream, Danu and her followers became known as the Tuatha immortals. While they could battle against the Angels of the Sidhe, the fallen angels of the Tuatha immortals could no longer harm humans in any way.

  There was no way that Sean should have had access to memories of a tragic event which occurred thousands of years ago. The fact that he’d been blessed with such insight lent much credence to her father’s belief about Sean. The belief that he was truly the one they’d been waiting for.

  She wanted to check on him again to see what else was hidden in his mind, but she worried about the consequences. Ashling was the absolute best at searching through the myriad pathways of anyone’s mind. She could wander through a person’s mind without them ever knowing she was there. The problem was it always left an enchanted trail. It was nothing a normal human would ever notice, but others with immense magical gifts might possibly find those trails.