“Come on, son! Come suit up so we can show you how we do things around here,” Isla’s father called out, holding up my kilt. “I promise, we’ll go easy on you,” he said to laughs all around.
It was only as I got closer to the group that I noticed all the competition equipment was larger, heavier, and set up higher than usual. With no humans around or secrets to protect, here the family was free to play without constraint or fear. Along with Connall, on the field were Brodie Gunnach, Alasdair, Duncan McKenzie, Dalton Moore, and king Kade himself. There were a few other men I’d met briefly at our handfasting but hadn’t interacted with much. I had a feeling we’d all know each other a bit better after today.
“This equipment’s been sitting in the storage sheds for a while now. Apparently, my daughter felt it was time we dusted it off,” Connall Gunnach said, handing me my kilt.
“Looks like fun,” I said.
“That’s because you’ve never competed against Clan Gunnach before,” he said to grunts and laughs all around.
“Don’t forget, brother. He’s an oracle,” Kade said. “And we don’t yet know what he’s capable of.”
“He’s a shiny new toy, barely out of his shrink-wrap,” he taunted.
“Okay, how ’bout I get changed and you can do the honors of showing me how to swing that hammer,” I said, pointing to what looked like Thor’s Mjolnir laying on the ground.
“The ladies change rooms are just over there,” Connall said, pointing to a nearby hedgerow.
“I’m good here,” I said, turning away from the bleachers before taking off my shoes and dropping my pants.
I fastened the belts on my kilt and put my shoes back on before turning to face the crowd of women who were all now hooting and shouting.
“Alright, Magic Mike. Let’s see how you do with your clothes on,” Isla’s father said, picking up the hammer by its heavy leather handle strap.
Normally in modern competition the device used is a ‘hammer’ in name only, as the end is a sphere, attached to a long flexible handle. This thing, on the other hand, was the real deal.
“What’s the matter, boy? Is our gear a little different than what you’re used to?” Connall asked.
“Different to what I’ve seen in books, but I’ve never done any of this before, so I guess it’s all the same to me.”
“You mean you came here all the way from America to compete against seasoned athletes and you’ve never so much as tossed a hammer?”
“I guess so, yeah.”
“It’s a good thing you didn’t compete after all. Those guys would have cleaned your clock,” Brodie Gunnach said.
“I don’t know,” I replied. “The guys at the gym showed me clips on the internet. Nothing looked all that complicated to me.”
The crowd of men groaned and jeered.
“This isn’t the internet, boy. And these aren’t your typical games. This is Castle Gunnach,” Connall said, stepping up to a white chalk line that had been sprayed onto the grass. “So, please allow me to show you how we do things around here.”
I backed up and joined the others a safe distance away. If there was such a thing.
“A competition hammer is typically around seven kilos,” Kade whispered. “Ours weighs twenty-five. And those flags out there mark distance,” he said, pointing.
“How far will he be able to throw?”
“The human record is around seventy-five meters.”
“That’s almost two-hundred and fifty feet,” I said.
Kade smiled wide. “Our closest flag is three hundred feet away.”
Connell began swinging the hammer over his head. His feet digging into the earth below him as he spun. Once he’d completed five revolutions, he released the hammer and it sailed through the air with ease, landing well over five hundred feet away.
Cheers erupted from both the spectators and competitors alike as Connell basked in the applause of a spectacular, and clearly unhuman, throw.
“I can see why you don’t let the Cauld Ane compete in your games, Kade.”
“Remember what Haddi told you,” Kade said. “Your increased strength will come to you as you need it, but you can’t force it. You must let your powers flow through you.”
I nodded, then walked out to the pitch, passing Connall as I did.
“Did I not mention this is my best event?” he asked with a smirk.
“Thanks for the lesson,” I replied, in a polite and respectful tone, of course.
“Careful not to hurt yourself,” he called back.
I knew nothing could break the bond between me and Isla, but I was fairly sure shoving what was likely an ancient Norse relic up her father’s ass would make family dinners awkward, so I said nothing and toed the line as I began psyching myself up.
How hard could this be? Sure, the hammer’s heavy, but you’re a strong guy, Arric. In fact, you have magic fuckin’ powers just like these guys. Maybe even more. Yeah. Fuck these Scottish arrrrrseholes. What kind of way is that to say ass anyway? Arse. It sounds stupid.
I gripped the leather strap tightly and began my wind up, quickly finding I had the needed strength to whip the hammer around my head.
One rotation.
My feet began to slip up from underneath me, so I dug deeper into the earth as I pick up speed.
Two rotations.
My chest burned and the hammer began to feel lighter as I picked up even more speed.
Three rotations.
As I swung around for the fourth rotation, I thought about the timing of my release when my feet came out from under me, causing me to completely eat shit in front of everyone.
I hit the ground with a thud, face first. The hammer went the opposite direction, flying straight up into the air before landing inches away from my rattled skull.
My ears rang and I struggled to decipher the sound I heard all around me. After a few disoriented moments, I recognized the sound as the laughter of a dozen Scotsmen and looked up to see just that. A dozen laughing Scotsmen. They weren’t laughing, so much as crying with laughter, but at any rate, no one seemed particularly concerned about my well-being, so I figured I must be okay.
I got to my feet and looked to the stands to see a horrified Isla. Her hands were to her mouth and I could sense her deep concern for me.
Are you okay? Isla demanded frantically in my head.
I’m fine, baby.
Do I need to come down there?
Fuck no.
I dusted myself off and found that, in truth, I really was okay. More than okay. I felt completely normal.
I looked over at Kade, to see he was the only one of the men not laughing. He stood with arms crossed. His eyes locked on mine.
I nodded, picking up the hammer and toeing the line once again.
You got this, love, Isla encouraged.
This time, as I began to spin, I ignored the number of rotations, the timing of the release, the feeling in my chest, and the weight of the hammer. This time, I didn’t think about how I felt at all. I simply allowed myself to become part of the transference of energy between the hammer and the air molecules that would keep it from flying. Then at precisely the right moment, I released the hammer from my grip. After that all I had to do was increase the gravitational field between the hammer and the ground beneath it.
Of course, all of this happened within seconds, without me leaving the spot where I was standing, and I had no control of it whatsoever.
The hammer rocketed through the air, screaming past where Connall’s toss had landed, imbedding itself into a limestone wall at the far end of the field.
I turned to a sea of green and blue tartan and the whites of a dozen sets of eyeballs.
“Looks like proper games are afoot, boys!” Brodie Gunnach yelled to the roar of all present.
Isla
“HOLY CRAP,” MUM breathed. “Did you see his hammer?”
“I sure did,” Cat said. “And Arric can undress in front of me anytime.”
&nb
sp; “Behave,” I growled as I stood, my hand tented over my eyes, and watched until it was practically out of sight before focusing back on my man and grinning from ear-to-ear. His tattoos glowed, and I felt the warmth of mine settle in my heart. He met my eyes briefly, smiling, then was pulled back into the throng of the men.
“Oh my word,” my auntie Charlotte crooned. “You done found yourself a maaaaaan.”
I laughed, nodding. “I sure did.”
Charlotte was mated with Niall MacMillan who was in the crowd of men, along with his brother, Max. Max’s mate, Grace, was sitting beside Charlotte just behind me and Mum. They had driven in from Edinburgh for the games and planned to stay for a month or so more.
I loved having my whole family together. We were really just missing our Icelandic side. My mother had two sisters. Charlotte and Sophia. They were a special trifecta with powers that, when combined, could raze a city block. My mother had the ability to control fire, Charlotte ice, and Sophia earth. We didn’t get to see Sophia much, as she was working in the remote arctic to try to reverse the effects of climate change. She was a world-renowned researcher as far as humans were concerned, but to us, we knew she was working on a level to heal the earth humans wouldn’t be able to comprehend.
“Okay, men,” Uncle Kade bellowed. “Arric is the one to beat!”
The men clapped Arric on his shoulders, perhaps a little harder than need-be, and he laughed, obviously loving every second.
“Oh, Max is up,” Grace squeaked, standing behind me and grasping her hands at her chest.
Max rubbed his hands together before picking up the hammer, retrieved by my brother, and glancing toward the stands. He smiled at Grace, then took his swing. It didn’t even come close to Arric’s, or Connall’s for that matter.
I can’t wait to see what else you can do with your hammer later.
Arric peeked up over the crowd and raised an eyebrow. You better watch it, baby. I’m commando under this skirt.
Kilt, love. Get it right.
He grinned before focusing back on his fellow brethren.
As the ‘games’ continued, we began to get restless so decided to head back to the house and prepare supper for what were sure to be a gaggle of very hungry overgrown boys.
“Come on, baby girl,” Mum directed. “Let’s go.”
“I don’t want to miss Arric.”
“He’s got a few to go before he’s up again,” she said, tugging on my arm. “That big ol’ man of yours is going to need some replenishing, and you need to get some calories in you as well.”
I eyed the men but felt Arric stir in my mind. Eat, baby. Your mom’s right.
Okay, but don’t stay out here too long.
Yes, ma’am.
I followed my mother back to the house, fighting the urge to stay linked with Arric a little longer. The more time I spent around him, the more I craved everything about him. His mind. His body. His body. Then there was his body.
* * *
Arric
When we were done having our fun, the once proud back lawn of Castle Gunnach looked like a battlefield. Not a single blade of grass appeared untrampled and not a single man wasn’t spent, battered, and completely exhausted. We’d even dragged Haddi into the fray once we’d decided he was far too clean for our liking.
After we’d tossed everything that wasn’t bolted to the ground, and a few things that were, our games devolved into an impromptu rugby match using Max’s shoe as the ball. He was, without a doubt, the biggest loser on today’s field of battle, and this was his punishment.
However, the rugby game would end up serving the biggest punishment to us all. Even after pushing ourselves all day during the course events, we dug down even deeper once we squared off for battle. The Cauld Ane used every ounce of their powers, as did Haddi and I. The clan hit me with shots that would have crippled or killed humans, but the harder they came at me, the more I pushed back. Eventually leading my team to victory.
Now that Max’s size thirteen had been returned to its rightful foot, both teams lay on the ground, covered in mud and bruises.
“I can’t remember the last time I had that much bloody fun,” Kade said, panting heavily.
“Normally, I would have already recovered from my workout, but I’m not even sure I can move my arms,” Connall groaned, before calling out, “Arric!”
“Yeah?”
“Good game, son.”
The tone in Connall’s voice when he said ‘son’ made me smile. Something changed during the games. A bond was forming between me and this clan I was now beginning to see as my family. I was learning how to trust them, and I sensed their fear of me was subsiding.
I also sensed the Gunnach clan needed this day as much as I did. Not just for the bonding experience, but for the ability to physically let loose without the fear of being exposed.
“We should probably drag our arses up to the house before our women send the dogs after us,” Brodie said, to grunts all around.
“I don’t think my bloody legs work anymore,” Max cried out.
“Me either. Arric, I don’t suppose you can fly too?” Connall asked.
“Yeah, but my cape is in my pants pocket and all I’ve got on is this kilt y’all made me wear,” I replied to laughter and wheezing from the group.
“Looks like we’re gonna have to hoof it back,” he said to more groans.
The women had long since headed back to the house, not interested in watching a game of rugby that was really nothing more than blood sport. Samantha had promised there would be a banquet awaiting us once we’d had our fun and cleaned up. Emphasis on the cleaning up, so we headed back toward the castle, en masse.
As we walked, dark clouds formed in the heavy skies above us.
“Maybe it’ll rain and we won’t need to bathe,” Alasdair mused.
Kade laughed. “You’ve never been a big fan of bathing, have you?”
“Aye.” Alasdair grinned. “Remember the days of battle when we’d camp for the night just as filthy as we’d started?”
“Those are days I’m happy to forget,” Max said, clapping Alasdair on the shoulder.
“That’s because you’ve gone soft. All that fanny available to you.”
“Oy, there’s only one fanny I’m interested in,” Max growled.
“Now,” Alasdair pointed out. “But for hundreds of years… before Grace—”
“You’ll shut yer mouth about Grace.”
We continued along, slowly but steadily. Talking trash and reliving the day’s glories. Each man more exhausted than the one to his right and left. Every one of us had left every ounce of strength we had back on the field of battle, and we were drunk with exhaustion.
Hurry home.
I tried to respond with my assurance we weren’t far, but I felt her presence leave.
I glanced at Kade who froze in place, before whipping his head around. “Something’s wrong.”
“Aye,” echoed a few of the others.
“I feel it too,” I said and ‘called out’ to Isla but got no response.
Arric
AS WE APPROACHED the house, I could see Isla standing in a tight group alongside Samantha, Pepper, Payton, Grace, Charlotte, Abela, and the other women who’d been watching our backyard games. A black SUV was parked near the front entrance and three people stood in front of it. A well-dressed man, a woman, and a hooded figure.
“You expecting company?” I asked Kade.
“No,” he replied sternly, and we picked up our pace as best we could.
As we neared the castle I could see that Isla and the others were standing inside a circle of what looked like luminescent chalk. They looked like they were crying out, but we couldn’t hear a sound they were making.
“What the hell is going on here?” I asked but knew exactly what it was.
A trap.
Turning to face the group of three, Kade looked like he’d seen a ghost. “Father?”
A man who appeared to be in his s
ixties smiled, but the mirth didn’t meet his eyes. I felt my skin crawl. “Hello, son. How nice it is to see you again.”
“Al,” was all Kade said, but even that was wasted motion as Alasdair was already on the radio to his security team.
“Don’t bother trying to call your guards,” Kade’s father said. “They’re all dead.”
“If that’s true, you’re next,” Alasdair said, taking a step forward.
“I don’t think so,” Kade’s father said, motioning behind us. “Your women are currently being held within a binding circle. If you fail to give me your undivided attention, or attempt any act or aggression, I will raise the internal temperature of the circle and you can watch everyone inside it burn to death.”
“Harm a single one of them, and—”
Kade motioned for Alasdair to be silent. “What do you want, Erik Gunnach?”
“Erik Gunnach was the name I was forced to use while hiding in the God forsaken country. My name is Gunnar Egilson of Icelandia. Seventh king of the Kalt Einn and last rightful ruler of their people.”
“You were never king! You tried to stage a coup to overthrow Kaspar’s father and are a convicted enemy of the people. You have no authority here,” Kade said, in a measured tone.
“I don’t need your authority. I have power,” Erik said, pointing to the circle.
“You are not an oracle,” Haddi said. “You do not possess the magic to create a binding circle.”
“That’s correct, brother. But I do,” the man standing to Erik’s left said, removing his hood to reveal his identity.
“Sindri?” Haddi gasped. “You’re…you’re alive.”
“Your gift of sight is sharp as always, I see,” Sindri replied.
“How can this be? I thought you’d been killed along with the others,” Haddi said. “I searched everywhere for you. I reached out every day for years…decades. Why couldn’t I sense you were still alive?”
“Because I wished to remain hidden from you,” Sindri replied. “Hidden away to learn and practice the magic that Tor and the other elders refused to teach us when we were young.”
Bound by Fate (Cauld Ane Series Book 10) Page 14