Rundimahair: A new hero for a new adventure

by Larry Forkner

  “So that’s her dirty scheme,” Eamon said. “It’s a good one at that. Grainne will be so desperate to find us that she’ll jump at the chance. It may well allow Cassiday to deceive her. But eventually Grainne will see through the ruse and destroy her.”

  “We only need her to believe she’s found us long enough for us to attack her largest stronghold. Our plan is to destroy her fortress while she is chasing an illusion,” Ashling said.

  “And are we sure we know where to find her dark palace?” Eamon asked.

  “May I touch your mind, Sean?” Ashling asked, pointing at his head.

  “Be my guest,” he replied, although he was still nervous about other people searching through his mind.

  “I’ll be gentle,” she assured him.

  Ashling closed her eyes and quickly joined minds with her father and Sean. She took Eamon through the memories Sean had from his spiritual journey into the bowels of Grainne’s Ireland fortress.

  When they were done, and she withdrew the contact that she and Eamon had shared, Eamon could only shake his head in wonder.

  “Do you know how rare and wonderful a gift you have there, Sean?” Eamon asked.

  “Ashling has told me it’s a rare gift. To me it feels strange but also wonderful to be able to travel as my spirit self. Somehow, it seemed to work better and keep me safer while in my dragon form.”

  Eamon nodded and said, “That would hold true with what we know about our dragon-self. We are stronger in mind, body, and spirit in our dragon form. You’re a special young man, Sean. I’ve always known this. But I had no idea your powers would grow so fast and deep.”

  “Perhaps so, but I’d still be shaking in my boots if I had to fight against Grainne one-on-one. When she sensed my presence in her castle, the first time I was there in spirit form, I thought for sure I was a goner,” Sean said.

  “She’s a scary one, to be sure,” Eamon said. “I don’t know of anyone who could stand against her alone, excepting my own dear Ashling. Even then, I would never allow such a battle to occur. The one disadvantage Ashling would have is that she fights with honor and integrity as any great warrior should.”

  “You’re saying Grainne may have the advantage because she’ll use any evil trick ever conceived to destroy Ashling?” Sean asked grimly.

  “Oh aye, she’d do that and more if she could,” Eamon said. “It’s hard to believe that someone who was once an honored leader of the Sidhe, is now the darkest, vilest creature who ever drew breath.”

  “I’m not above using a dirty trick or two if I must,” Ashling said. “How we’re planning to use Cassiday as a sacrifice, to distract Grainne, is not truly noble.”

  There was silence in the room for several moments before Eamon finally said, “There’s truth in what you say, Ashling. I would only say that we’re fighting a war not of our own choosing. If Grainne would turn away from her desire to destroy us, we could all live in peace. It is her dark ambition that forced us into a war for our very survival.”

  “Very true,” Sean said. “Then we must add to that the fact that Cassiday came to us with this plan. We may be agreeing to use her to our benefit, but it is also to her benefit. Even if there’s only a minute chance that she may be freed from her dark prison, she’s willing to live with those odds.”

  “Well said, Sean,” Ashling said. “When I pushed through her mind tracks, I knew that she’d rather see her soul destroyed than suffer eternity in outer darkness. After spending a few minutes in that dark place, I’m not sure I blame her.”

  “We’re in agreement then,” Eamon said firmly. “It is time to gather our people to council. We must prepare them for what is coming.”

  “Hope for the best and prepare for the worst,” Ashling said.

  “Exactly so,” Eamon said.

  “Are you going to change first?” Sean asked, smiling. “Even preparing for the worst may not be enough if they have to see you in your pajamas and that frumpy robe.”

  Ashling narrowed her eyes at Sean but couldn’t hold back her laughter. Soon, Eamon and Sean joined in. They all seemed to realize that if this might be their last chance to laugh about anything for some time to come.

  * * *

  Grainne didn’t usually sleep more than a few hours each night. Some nights she didn’t sleep at all. It had been that way ever since she’d turned her back on her family, friends, and community nearly a millennium ago. Most nights she didn’t mind not sleeping, but tonight she was feeling uneasy about the past. She’d much rather sleep than relive those dark days.

  She’d joined forces with the followers of Danu and betrayed everyone who’d ever loved or cared about her. In the end, she’d even been forced to destroy her own family to prove her loyalty.

  A man called Roderick had been the leader of Danu’s Tuatha clan at the time. He’d laughed and howled like a mad wolf, when she burned down the home she’d been born in.

  Grainne had been in her dragon self at the time, and the dark dragon seemed to lust after blood and death with a vengeance. By the time she came to her senses, she’d burned down the entire community she’d been raised in. Her parents, brothers and sisters, extended family and close friends had all perished that night.

  Roderick couldn’t resist the mayhem and joined her in his dragon form. He was the one who’d burned down everything in sight for miles around.

  He’d welcomed her into the rebel community with open arms. She’d played the part of a loyal new member for two years. It took her that long to build up her own following among the Danu rebels.

  When she was sure they could win, she’d ambushed Roderick and his soldiers on their way home from a raid on the Sidhe. They were tired and beat up from an unexpectedly difficult battle.

  Grainne and her followers quietly surrounded them when Roderick had ordered his troops to stop and rest for the night. She waited until they were all asleep and then attacked from all sides.

  The night sentries were killed silently before they attacked the sleeping soldiers. On quiet feet they crept into their unsuspecting camp and used their swords to slay them while they slept.

  Grainne called out Roderick’s name when she was leaning over him, watching him sleep. He was obviously fatigued from the battle because it took him several moments to finally open his eyes.

  “Grainne,” he said in a sleepy voice. “What are you doing here?”

  “Taking my place as the rightful leader of Danu’s Tuatha rebels,” she said in a pleasant, soft voice. After a deep sigh, she added, “You’re tired, so I’ll let you rest now.”

  Roderick realized what was happening when the sounds of dying soldier’s screams reached his ears. “How dare you!” was all he could shout before she plunged a long, black dagger into his throat. He grabbed the blade and tried to pull it out, but it only cut through his hands.

  He realized she had somehow taken his dagger, which had once belonged to Danu. The sword, which was forged from the same dark magic steel, lay uselessly by his side in its scabbard.

  She waited until the last spark of life left his now dull eyes before she pulled the dagger out. There were other ways to kill an immortal, but this had been the most satisfying.

  Most of the time, Grainne could keep the visions of killing her family away from her mind. On rare nights like these, the cries and screams of her dying parents and siblings could still haunt her.

  Suddenly she felt something else interrupt the night terrors she was experiencing. After a moment, she realized someone was trying to communicate mind-to-mind. It was extremely rare for anyone to come close to touching her mind tracks, but this one had unusual gifts for communicating mind-to-mind.

  While keeping a strict guard up, she allowed a hint of the seeker’s mind to touch hers. Instantly she recognized who it was. It had been a long time, but she would never forget Cassiday. It was a testament to the woman’s power that she could even faintly touch her mind from outer darkness.

  “What do you seek, old friend?” Grainne
asked, mind-to-mind.

  Grainne waited for a response, but it felt like static on an old telephone line. Finally, she heard a very soft, almost imperceptible message playing over and over in her mind.

  “…found Rundi…I know…I can lead you…come to me…found Rundimahair!”

  Grainne instantly threw back her covers and sat up in bed. Could it be possible that Cassiday had somehow located her hidden enemy? The odds against it were astronomical, but if anyone, other than herself, could locate their enemy it would be Cassiday.

  She had extrasensory powers second only to her own. In some ways, Cassiday was even stronger. The fact that she was able to push through any type of message-from outer darkness-only proved her powers were still formidable in short bursts.

  It would mean going through the terrible journey from here to outer darkness. Even someone with Grainne’s great powers feared what waited there. It wasn’t likely, but still possible that she could be trapped there. Was it worth the risk for what was likely the rantings of a deranged mind?

  There were many enemies she’d destroyed who’d lost their souls to outer darkness. She was sure that Donal and Roderick were there, along with others she’d killed on her way to taking over the Danu’s rebels. If they realized she was there and banded together against her… the thought made her shiver with disgust.

  “Too dangerous. It’s not worth the risk,” she mumbled, as she lay back in bed. “Cassiday is likely in league with my enemies there, and they are waiting for me to fall into their trap.”

  Grainne rolled onto her side and closed her eyes, intent on forgetting about it altogether. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she heard it again. “Grainne…time is short…come now or never…”

  * * *

  Despite her very fierce, confident demeanor, Grainne couldn’t help the shiver of fear and disgust that struck her. It had been centuries since she’d first entered the realm of outer darkness. It was one of the very few things that could still strike dread in her heart and mind.

  Her fear arose from the fact that in outer darkness, she had little control. It was the great Creator of everyone and everything who had fashioned this dismal place. It was set aside for those who’d become so evil that there was no longer any hope of redemption for them. Grainne felt a shiver of fear and revulsion when she realized that description fit her perfectly.

  It was why she’d set herself up to never leave the realm of the mortal world. If her physical body was ever destroyed, there was no doubt that her black spirit would spend endless eternities suffering in outer darkness. Being forced to pay for her terrible sins was the one thing that she truly feared.

  Grainne forced herself to refocus on why she was here. She had to find Cassiday, finish their business quickly and leave this mournful plane of existence. When she forced her fears and uncertainties away, and focused on Cassiday, Grainne felt her presence immediately.

  It only took her a couple of minutes to reach her. She’d ignored the other dark creatures lurking in the murky shadows. They all knew who she was and were wise enough to shy away from her as she passed by.

  It was a shock to see how shriveled and emaciated Cassiday had become. Even though the sprits here were immortal by nature, the darkness had eaten away at them, leaving a sunken shell of what they had once been.

  “I’m here, Cassiday. Let’s get this over with as quickly as possible,” Grainne said. She impatiently nudged Cassiday with her foot. Like many of the troubled spirits here, Cassiday was sitting on the hard ground, slumped against a rocky wall.

  It took a few moments for Cassiday to gather her wits about her and struggle to her feet. “Sorry, I didn’t sense your approach. The senses become dull and numb after existing in profound darkness forever,” she said quietly.

  “It hasn’t been forever yet, Cassiday. If you are trying to deceive me in any way; I’ll make sure that your suffering is compounded beyond your wildest fears.”

  Cassiday dropped to her knees and groveled at Grainne’s feet, as she said, “No one knows better than me that I could not mislead you, even if I wanted to.”

  Without any warning, Grainne pushed into Cassiday’s mind tracks with vicious power. The emaciated spirit, cringing at her feet, cried out in fear and pain. Grainne only pushed harder until she reached the core of Cassiday’s mind tracks. It only took a few minutes to find what she was looking for. Grainne couldn’t help but smile, even in this dark and sorrowful place.

  “You see now that I spoke the truth,” Cassiday said shakily. “Keep your part of our bargain.”

  “I see that you believe it is true,” Grainne said. “If your information turns out to be good, then I will see what I can do to help you.”

  “But you said you would take me away from this place,” Cassiday whimpered miserably.

  “You should know by now that I lie much more often than I tell the truth. There is no way to leave this place once the Creator sends you here. There are things I can do to make your existence here more tolerable, if your information turns out to be true.”

  Cassiday began to wail and howl like a mortally wounded animal. Grainne pulled away from the grip she had on her leg and disappeared. She couldn’t stand another moment in this place, and she vowed that she’d never return.

  * * *

  “It appears that Grainne believes what she took from Cassiday’s mind,” Ashling said, as she joined Eamon and Sean in the living room.

  “How will we know for certain?” Eamon asked.

  “When she attacks the false location we’ve established,” Ashling said.

  “But we hope to attack her own compound,” Sean said. “We can’t wait to see if she attacks the false location.”

  “We’re not going to wait, Sean,” Ashling said. “We’re going to attack while she is gone on her wild goose chase.”

  “So we’re that certain that she will attack?” Sean asked.

  “She’ll be there,” Eamon agreed. “She’s been waiting for this opportunity for centuries. Grainne wants to destroy us so badly that she’ll never let this chance pass her by.”

  “I hope we’re ready,” Sean said.

  “We’ve got to be ready, Sean,” Ashling said solemnly. “Our time for preparation is at an end.”

  “May the Creator of us all be with us,” Eamon said. “Let’s gather our people together and do what must be done.”

  “As you wish, Commander,” Ashling said.

  Eamon smiled sadly and said, “I’ve always preferred Father over Commander.”

  “As do I, Father. Sadly, the time has come for you to put on the mantle of commander-in-chief. This calling must take precedence over all others,” Ashling said.

  “Aye, what you say is true and so it will be. Still and all, I don’t have to like it,” Eamon said with a sad smile.

  Chapter Seventeen

  May your neighbors respect you,

  Trouble neglect you,

  The angels protect you,

  And heaven accept you.

  ~ Old Irish Saying ~

  Everyone working at Grainne’s large Northern California headquarters was doing their best to stay out of her way. On her best days, she could be amusing and even charming with her staff and followers. Considering her reputation as an evil warlord, it often surprised them when they saw her more pleasant nature.

  Since she returned from visiting Cassiday in outer darkness, Grainne’s good side was nowhere to be found. She’d been woefully impatient, surly, and short-tempered with everyone around her. While her bad moods had come and gone before, everyone thought she’d be thrilled to have finally pinpointed the location of Rundimahair.

  Grainne did seem to be excited about finding her greatest enemies’ location after centuries of searching in vain. But there was something about her incursion into the realm of outer darkness which had left her depressed and very short-tempered.

  While she did realize that her behavior was unproductive, and might even be counterproductive, Grainne was struggl
ing to shake off the fear that clung to her like a bad smell. Even though it had been a week since she’d visited Cassiday in outer darkness, the thought that she might end up there would not leave her mind. In truth, she’d prefer to cease to exist, in mind, body and spirit, rather than spend a single day in outer darkness.

  “Carla,” she snapped impatiently. “Have you located Rundimahair yet?”

  “Not yet,” Carla replied. “I’ve located the coordinates, based on what you gave me. The problem is, there doesn’t seem to be anything there for miles around. It all appears to be farmland and rolling hills.”

  Carla was her top tracker and her talents were unsurpassed. Grainne had outlined everything she’d learned from probing Cassiday’s mind tracks. She’d been confident that Carla would be able to locate her enemies quickly.

  “I assure you it’s there, Carla,” Grainne said in a sugary sweet voice. “It’s obviously hidden by their formidable magic, but that magic must be wearing thin after all these years.”

  “You’re right about powerful magic at work in the area. It’s so powerful that I couldn’t see through it. I can feel the magic, although it’s a variation I haven’t come across before.”

  “That shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise since they are protecting their lives and families with that magic,” Grainne said sarcastically.

  “I’m not really surprised,” Carla said calmly. “I expected something powerful would be at work to hide them from us. The problem is, I can’t work past it. I was about to suggest that you and I go onsite together and see if we can find a solution.”

  Carla’s calm professionalism helped Grainne to get a grip on herself. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I like the concept,” she said thoughtfully. “My only concern is that they’ll feel our presence and be forewarned of our imminent attack.”