Sean sighed and nodded, as he said, “Well I suppose–”
An earsplitting series of shrieks pierced the air. It sounded like it was coming from the other side of the mountain. “Take us there!” Sean said urgently.
This time Ailbe grabbed onto his hands tightly and they vanished, only to reappear on the back side of the mountain seconds later.
The reason Sean had told her to go to where the harsh shrieks were sounding, was because he’d heard them before. Actually, he’d only heard one before. That was in Ashling’s kitchen when the dragon creature had been busy destroying everything in sight.
“These are much bigger than the one I saw in Ashling’s kitchen,” Sean said, looking at several much larger versions of the dragon, or whatever it was, which had nearly killed him.
“They’re Tatsu,” Ailbe said, looking fearful. “Female dragons are the worst, and that’s no lie.”
“Tatsu means female dragon?” Sean asked.
“It means a world full of trouble, is what it means,” Ailbe said. “I have no notion at all about how to destroy the likes of these.”
“Maybe we don’t have to fight them,” Sean said. We just need to find Ashling and Eamon and get out of here.”
“We’ve already found them, Sean,” she said, looking up into the sky. “You see that large one with the blue scales?”
“I do,” Sean said.
“That’s Eamon in his gifted, natural dragon form.”
Sean was too stunned to speak. When he saw another, slightly smaller dragon with a fiery, red mane, he tried to articulate his worst fear. “Is that…it’s not possible, but that looks like…” was all he could manage to say.
“Yes Sean, the one with the long red mane is Ashling,” Ailbe said, confirming his fears.
Sean watched in dumbfounded silence, as the dragon form for Eamon and Ashling did aerial battle with a half-dozen dingy gray dragons. He saw three of the dragons lying on the side of the mountain, below where the airborne combat was continuing.
“It looks like they’ve taken out three of them already,” Sean said hopefully.
Ailbe nodded grimly and said, “But there’s still six more in the fight.”
As if to signify the desperate nature of the battle going on above them, Sean saw a gray dragon singe Ashling’s back, as it released a colossal belch of flames.
Eamon took advantage of the gray dragon’s focus on attacking Ashling, roaring in from behind to snatch hold of its neck. He shook the gray dragon’s neck back and forth in a frenzy of anger, snapping it like a twig. When he released the dragon, it fell to the mountainside, joining the other three dead grays.
Three of the remaining grays all attacked Eamon in unison. The last two charged at a clearly injured Ashling. Eamon couldn’t come to her aid, since it was all he could do to hold off the three who were battling with him.
Ashling raked one of the gray’s attacking her with a deadly blast of flames. It took out part of its left wing, making it difficult for the creature to stay airborne.
While she was occupied with trying to disable the injured gray, the second gray managed to take hold of her leg, just below the hip. It raked a deep tear into her flesh, and she couldn’t shake the creature off.
When the injured gray saw Ashling was in trouble, it circled back and began belching flames at her. She was in deep trouble and could expect no help from Eamon.
In the moments before the second dragon could reach Ashling, Sean could see what was about to happen. Ashling was badly injured and would not be able to fight her way free of her attackers.
He felt a surge of anger blast through every core of his being. A feeling similar to the rush of power that he’d felt in the hotel room erupted inside him. The difference was that this feeling was a thousand times stronger.
“Sean, are you all right?” Ailbe asked when she saw his body going into contortions of pain. She watched in helpless awe, as huge lumps began to form all over his body. They were rippling and multiplying so fast that soon she couldn’t recognize him.
She watched helplessly while Sean cried out in agony, as his human form morphed into something unrecognizable. Ailbe started to move to help him, but it was too late. “May the Creator preserve us!” she cried.
Sean didn’t hear her cries, because he was suffering through agony that he didn’t think was possible to survive. His entire body was exploding out of his skin and growing at a fantastic, impossible rate.
It all happened so quickly that he could hardly maintain consciousness. Suddenly, he felt his body expand outward and upward at a tremendous rate.
As quickly as it began, it was over. The pain subsided and was replaced with a feeling of unbelievable, raw power. He glanced at Ailbe and realized he was now at least five-times her height. She was staring at him with a mixture of awe and fear. In the next moment, Sean understood why.
He burst into the air at what felt like supersonic speed. All because he was flapping his arms. That’s when it hit him. He looked at his arms and they were gone. In their place were massive, red wings. Sean was a dragon!
There was no time to contemplate what had just happened, because he was soaring through the air at unbelievable speed. Sean was on a collision course with the flame-belching gray, which was still bent on attacking Ashling.
He hit the large gray dragon from its blind side with tremendous force. The creature already had a damaged wing and couldn’t do much to evade Sean’s attack once it was hit.
From that moment on, Sean’s human reasoning was gone. He could only feel unrelenting anger mixed with an overwhelming desire to protect Ashling. While the injured gray was trying to fly away, Sean bit down on its neck with his massive jaws. One vicious shake of his head and the gray’s neck snapped.
Sean let the dead gray go and turned in a lightning fast and graceful arc. He soared downward, intent on destroying the gray who had its jaws locked on to Ashling’s flank.
When the creature saw what Sean had done to the other dragon, it released the grip on Ashling and tried to flee. It was a hopeless effort.
When Sean was within thirty feet of the fleeing dragon, he released a stream of fire without conscious thought. The searing flames consumed the gray, turning it to dust.
He realized that Ashling was trying to fly over and help her father against the remaining two grays he was battling. She was moving slowly, and he could see she was in no condition to continue fighting.
With seemingly no effort, he put on a burst of speed that allowed him to shoot past her in seconds. One of the grays fighting Eamon saw him coming and turned to confront Sean. It was the creature’s last mistake.
* * *
Eamon finished off the huge gray he’d been battling just in time to see a magnificent, young red dragon bearing down on the last gray. He glanced at Ashling and saw that she too was watching the attack.
They both watched in stunned silence, as the powerful red released a stream of white-hot flame when it was still fifty-feet away from the gray. Eamon could hardly believe his eyes, as the huge gray dragon was incinerated in seconds.
The magnificent red circled back to Ashling’s side, in the blink of an eye. With astonishing swiftness and grace, the red dropped underneath Ashling and took her weight on its back. Eamon watched gratefully as the red quickly spiraled to the ground and landed softly beside Ailbe. He hurried to join them.
When he realized Ailbe was there, Eamon understood who the great red was. Sean was turning out to be more–much more–than he or Ashling could have ever imagined.
* * *
Sean slowly opened his eyes to sunlight filtering through the window shades. His first conscious thought was that it felt like déjà vu to wake up in the Cahir’s spare bedroom. His second, and more urgent, thought was that he’d never been so thirsty in his entire life. His throat felt so dry and parched he could barely swallow.
He climbed out of bed, intent on guzzling water right from the bathroom faucet. Sean made it two steps befor
e he collapsed in a heap on the bedroom floor.
When he opened his eyes again, the sun was setting. It was apparent that hours had passed since he’d collapsed on the floor. Sean began to wonder if this would always be the case when he visited the Cahirs.
“Before you complain,” Ashling said, as she charged into the room. “I was only reading your thoughts to make sure you didn’t try to get up and then fall flat on your handsome face again.”
“Water!” was all Sean managed to croak.
“If you weren’t too lazy to turn your head, you’d see a quart of ice water right beside you on the night stand,” Ashling said, smiling brightly.
Sean turned his head, struggling to ignore the massive pain. When he reached for the jug of water, he realized it wasn’t just his head that ached. His entire body felt like it had been run over by a Sherman tank.
“Let me help you with that,” Ashling said gently, as she hoisted the jug to his lips.
He was grateful for the straw in the jug, since he was certain he couldn’t raise his head to drink. Sean guzzled the entire quart without taking a breath. His burning throat fell marginally better, but he thought he could drink another gallon without hesitating.
Ashling sat on the edge of the bed and held his hand. Even the gentle squeeze hurt like crazy. “Ouch” he mumbled.
“Sure, and true, you’re the worst patient I’ve ever encountered, you big baby,” Ashling said tenderly.
“Now I know why that dragon, in our kitchen, came after you. It no doubt could recognize you were dragon born–even while I was too ignorant to see the truth staring me right in the face.”
“You were too busy being suspicious of me and trying to throw me out of your house,” Sean managed to rasp out. Sean was immediately sorry for his jest when he saw the crestfallen look on Ashling’s face.
“Though I know you’re only teasing, you’re right as rain about me. I was much too preoccupied with my unfounded suspicions to listen to my dear father. He told me all along you were someone very special. Da even suspected you could be the one spoken of in the writings of our beloved ancient of days.”
She started to say more, but when she saw the worried look on his face, Ashling just smiled and bent over to kiss his unshaven cheek. “Who knew you could grow such a manly beard in only four days, my dear Sean.”
“Four days?” he mumbled.
“Well, it’s been four days since you tried to get out of bed on your own and fell flat on your face, so you did.”
“How long…?” was all he could ask.
“I assume you’re asking how long since you turned into a magnificent and amazingly fierce red dragon. If that is indeed the question, the answer is three long weeks.”
“Weeks,” he muttered.
“Truth be told, you’re fortunate that you woke up at all, my dear Sean.”
That was the second time she’d called him “her Sean”. He liked the sound of it very much. “How did…I mean doesn’t it seems impossible…so confused,” he stammered.
“Don’t try to understand it all right now, Sean. It’s the Creator’s own truth that Da and I can hardly fathom what we witnessed with our own eyes. Never in the long history of our blessed clan had anything like this taken place. You’re a miracle, dear Shawn, and don’t ever try to convince me otherwise. To do so would be a silly, hopeless cause and that’s the sure and simple truth of it.”
Sean tried to think clearly through the pain in his head. Three weeks had passed without him being aware of it. A thought struck him out of the blue. He gathered himself to try to explain his concern to Ashling.
“Save yourself the trouble, Sean. Until I teach you how to guard your thoughts, they are open to anyone with a touch of Irish magic, without the need for me to read your mind.”
“Jennie,” he rasped.
“Not to worry, Sean. Do you not recall when I explained that time in the mortal world is not the same as it is here? Though you’ve been gone for three weeks, it will seem like less than a day to Jennie. The only problem that might occur is if she tries to call you.”
“That is going to take some time for me to wrap my head around,” Sean rasped. “The three weeks that passed since I left Portland, is less than a day outside of Rundimahair?”
“Strange to you, but it’s the Creator’s truth,” Ashling said. “It all depends on what plane of existence you’re in. If you lived where our Creator lives, a thousand of our years is like a single day.”
“I…it seems impossible,” Sean stammered.
“Sorry Sean, I’ve given you too much too soon,” Ashling said, smiling kindly. “Don’t worry about Jennie. To her, you’ve only been gone a short while.”
“It’s not likely she’ll call if it is only the first day I left Portland. She wanted me to get away from the stress and worry of work. Jennie won’t call unless it is an emergency of some kind,” Sean explained.
“Your voice is sounding stronger. I slipped a bit of home-grown remedy into your water. It always does the trick,” she said, smiling.
He was going to complain, but he realized that his voice was stronger and his aching throat felt better too. It was past time to trust Ashling and her amazing healing gift.
“Thanks,” he said.
“You’re very welcome, I’m sure,” Ashling said.
“Actually, it’s time to trust me in all things, Sean,” she said chuckling. “I have many amazing gifts you still know nothing about.”
“I take it I’m still broadcasting my thoughts for all the magical world to hear,” he said.
“Loud and clear,” she said cheerfully. “Don’t fret, we’ll work on that in the days ahead.”
“Sounds like a good plan,” he said.
She smiled mischievously and said, “I’d worry more about those dreams of yours. We wouldn’t want some of your dreams about you and me getting out for public consumption.”
“What?” he asked miserably. “I don’t even recall any dreams.”
“Not surprising, my dear. Although I must say I won’t soon forget some of your dreams of romance. It’s not hard to believe that you’re a red dragon. Even your dreams are very fiery.”
“Just shoot me now, Ashling, before I die of humiliation,” Sean grumbled miserably.
Ashling burst into happy laughter and said, “I’m just having a bit of fun with you, Sean. No one can see or hear your dreams unless they climb into your mind while you’re dreaming.”
“Which you promised faithfully not to do,” Sean reminded her.
“I did indeed, so rest easy.”
“At least this time I didn’t blush like a school boy when you teased me,” he said.
“Will wonders never cease,” she said cheerfully.
“I love that smile,” he said. “I figured I might as well say it out loud, since you’d hear my thoughts anyway.”
“Very practical and very Irish of you, dear Sean,” Ashling said.
Chapter Nine
May your troubles be less
And your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door.
~ Old Irish Saying ~
“But we have no record of seeing vile, dark creatures like these since we brought Rundimahair here centuries ago,” an average height woman with a shapely figure said. “How is it possible they were able to pass through our protective shields?”
The woman who spoke appeared to be in her thirties, and she seemed to wear a perpetual frown. Her name was Shannon Tiernay, and her shoulder-length, dark-black hair was full of soft curls. Shannon’s large brown eyes were her best feature, although they were clouded with frustration and anger tonight.
This was an emergency meeting of the council of twelve, who were charged with keeping Rundimahair safe, prosperous, and fair for all. Among those in attendance were Ashling and Eamon, along with Ailbe’s grandfather, Aengus.
For one of the few times in history, a thirteenth individual was attending the ve
ry private meeting. Because he had been a primary participant in the aerial battle of magical creatures, Sean Quinn was an honored guest.
“Dear Shannon, you almost make it sound like we invited them in for dinner,” Aengus said, in his usual calm manner. “None of us are certain how they managed to find their way into Rundimahair.”
“Is that so, Aengus?” Shannon asked doubtfully.
“Unless you’ve discovered a deep and dark secret you aren’t sharing with the rest of the council,” Aengus said patiently.
“I’ve no deep-dark secrets I’m keeping from everyone,” she said indignantly. “Perhaps you’re asking the wrong person about secrets being kept close to the vest,” Shannon added, glaring at Ashling.
“If you’ve got any facts to share with the council, you’d best get them said, Shannon,” Eamon said patiently. “Otherwise, we’ll live without the insinuations and your usual huffy tone.”
“Huffy or no, Eamon, perhaps I’m the only one with the courage to speak their mind,” Shannon said indignantly.
“Sure, and it’s true that you speak your mind often enough, dearie, but it’s also true it’s usually smoke and wind with nary a fact to be found in that head of yours,” a heavy-set, older woman said impatiently.
“You’ll not be talkin’ to me in that tone, Margaret,” Shannon shouted. “Just because you’re happy to kiss their backsides and follow along with the council leadership, it doesn’t mean I’ll be kissin’ along with you.”
“I’m wondering, in my heart of hearts, if the lack of kissing-of any kind-is why you’re such a sour old goat,” Margaret said, smiling wickedly.
Fergus, the aged head of the council, banged his ancient gavel down on his desk and said, “Enough from both of you now. We’re not here to reignite old disagreements. Let’s get back to our purpose and keep it civil,” he added forcefully. “Now is there anyone who has anything pertinent to the discussion at hand?”
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