The Legends That Remain

by Cecilia Randell

  Chapter Eight

  MELL

  Mell sighed as they entered the main floor of the guardi’s open office. Though there were officers scattered through the room, the silence was heavy. Even the pixies had been subdued as their small group had crossed through the yard, only greeting his goddess briefly—with none of the usual exuberance—before returning to their shrubs. Killer had remained behind in the yard, setting himself to guard the entrance to the building. Bat had attempted to coax him inside but he’d refused. The pup had radiated determination, and she’d eventually relented.

  Light from the clerestory windows flashed across his eyes as they crossed to the stairs leading to the library, and Oisin’s territory. Finn and Cu Chulainn both had insisted that they needed to identify the objects Bat had seen in her recent visions as quickly as possible, before any other talk or planning could be done. She had agreed.

  And now here they were.

  Mell had kicked everyone out after receiving the call that they were on the way to pick him up. He didn’t care if they lost business, or if the fae whispered. There would be no keeping something like this quiet. All that had mattered was seeing that she was all right, that his goddess was fine. He’d paced at the mouth of the alley, the Morrigan’s raven perched on his shoulder, as he’d waited for them.

  Dub had filled Mell in on what they’d found in the wood, and Shar’s reaction. How the youngest brother had sought to keep Bat from the carnage, and how he had refused to put her down. Maybe it was the fact that the devastation had been amongst those precious rowans—and wasn’t that another revelation, the sacred rowans weren’t lost, just as the cauldron wasn’t lost—or maybe it was the mention of Balor, but Shar’s protective instincts had gone into overdrive. They’d managed to calm him, but they could not get him to leave her side. He’d even gone so far as to pull her into his lap to make room for Mell in the truck, tucking her against him, his shoulders partially hunched around her. Even now there was a tangle of fear, determination, and need radiating from his younger brother.

  And… Mell’s thoughts circled back to the one he couldn’t escape from. The one that had been harder and harder to hide from Bat, and the one that had begun to trouble him over the last weeks to the point he’d needed to finally lock it away where he kept his memories of the Great War. Except it wouldn’t stay there…

  They’d farked things up with their goddess. He’d messed it up. They’d agreed none of them would pursue her until each brother was sure of his reactions and wants. He’d been the one to insist on it originally. He’d wanted her to heal, to have time to become certain that she was wanted no matter what. That they would not leave her, no matter what. He’d wanted her to know there were no demands or stipulations on the offer of a home.

  It had backfired magnificently. And today it had blown up in their faces. He and Dub and Shar should have sorted this out with her sooner. They should have told her their plans for the brooch, how they planned to create their independence, and hers, with it. They should have included her in that. And they should have prepared her, told her of the Fomoiris’ origins.

  The last months had been a mixture of delight and frustration for Mell himself. He’d felt the changes in Bat, how her need for touch and physical comfort had grown. How the brothers’ distance—though explained away by the need to keep her decision to stay a secret until the clan meeting was over—had begun to not only frustrate her, but hurt her. How her own decision to keep away for fear of hurting them had begun to tear her emotions in two—and Mell hadn’t been able to do a damned thing about any of it, not without a consensus between the brothers. Eventually, he’d had to block himself from feeling her emotions, and that in turn had brought about even more confusion and frustration on her part.

  His mistake? Not getting things resolved as soon as she agreed to stay, two damned months ago. Shar had still been unsure of his reaction to seeing the goddess with someone else, and Dub had managed to focus all his attention on handling things with the clan. It was to the point of an obsession for his older brother. Mell had attempted to steer his brothers into facing the dilemma of what to do with the goddess, but both had either brushed him off or outright refused to listen. They were, the both of them, too stubborn for his and the goddess’s good. And as a result, Mell had locked away his own growing frustration and left Bat hanging in the wind, so to speak.

  Well, we’re in it now. The trouble’s found us and grabbed us but good. Not just the fact that Bat’s name was on the invitation for the clan gathering—which was two weeks away, something everyone seemed to be conveniently forgetting—but all the emotional entanglements were coming to a head at the same time.

  He grimaced, thinking of the sickening emptiness that had entered Bat as she stood in the kitchen doorway, listening to the brothers deny her a place among them. Because that’s what their words, and actions, had amounted to. It was this that had finally broken through his self-imposed barriers, and it had hardened his own resolve to kick his brothers into some sort of decision.

  But, it looked like he may not have to do much kicking. Dub and Shar, though they didn’t have his emotional ability, must have seen some of that emptiness in her eyes, in the not-quite-there smile, the slumped shoulders. They had both been a mixture of guilt, remorse, and resolve.

  They’d begun to wake up. Finally. He’d corner them soon, and they would sort this ridiculous situation.

  Shar raised a hand to Bat’s head as they neared the back stairs. It hung there, hovering just over where her dark hair fell in sleek sheets. Caution, longing, protectiveness, and a quiet fear radiated from his younger brother. Then the hand fell without making contact.

  Mell himself wasn’t immune to that protective instinct. He wanted to sweep Bat away and back to the pub, to hide her away from whatever they’d fallen into the middle of. His gut clenched as he remembered the expression she’d worn when he’d slid into the truck. In a remote voice, she’d told him of her suspicions regarding the invitation, that it had somehow been used to spy on them. From the emotions hitting him, it was obvious the others had already heard this from her. Bat herself was shrouded in a thin layer of shock, but under it, there was a seething tangle of loss, bewilderment, concern, and anger.

  Mell stiffened as Finn laid a possessive hand on his goddess’s lower back and ushered her into the library. Shar hunched his shoulders but didn’t protest or pull her away. Dub, just behind Mell on the stairs, growled.

  And, more than the rest, that was where he’d messed up. Had they missed their chance with her?

  Reality hit him like a charging bull that afternoon as she stood out in the garden with Finn. Mell wasn’t sure exactly what the sidhe had said to her, but her reaction was obvious. Longing and relief and desire.

  And now Finn stood right where Mell wanted to be, touched her how he wanted to. All Mell sensed from his goddess at the tender gesture was… a warm acceptance, a bit of affection, and that same relief. She welcomed the touch.

  He couldn’t even be too upset about it. He just… wished he was the one who was finally giving her what she needed, and—

  “Get yer head out of yer ass.” Dub’s growled words were low, his emotions locked down. “Now is no’ the time ta lose yer thoughts because of a woman.”

  They’d just reached the doorway themselves, and Mell paused on the threshold to study his brother. Dub’s shoulders were back and his brows drawn, but the usual scowl was missing. He gazed at where Bat now sat, flanked by Finn and Shar.

  Then he focused on Mell. “She’s no goin’ anywhere.” But his accent was still in full force, and there was a questioning tilt to the statement.

  “No, brother. She’s not going anywhere.” Mell hoped he wasn’t lying. His resolve wavered.

  Dub gave a sharp nod and strode into the room, taking a seat across from Bat, and Mell followed. Ailis and Cu Chulainn, the raven on his shoulder once more, came in after them.

  Oisin approached from the rear shelves as they f
ound their seats. Ailis had been strangely silent since the wood, as had Cu Chulainn. The Morrigan’s “back-up” took the seat farthest from Bat. The four men of ba also crowded at the end of the table.

  Bat set the bundled jumper she’d been carrying on the table and unwrapped the treasure. Mell’s breath caught as a rush of emotion hit him, coming from each person gathered at the table. And the strongest was from Bat herself, followed by Dub. Wonder and reverence.

  “I need to tell you all of what I saw. And then we can work out the strategy,” his goddess said, her fingers lingering on the shard. She told them of each vision she’d had that day, starting with the blood-covered brooch, and ending with the second spear. Only twice did she hesitate. She also left out whatever she’d seen of him, and for that he was grateful.

  There was silence as she finished, each of them processing her words.

  “Balor,” Finn finally whispered. “The bomen said Balor was coming back.”

  “And to find Tir Hudi. Which is a myth even for us.” Shar propped his elbows on the table and bent his head to his hands.

  Bat looked at them all, eyes wide. Her gaze settled on him, shining and pleading. Fear reflected in those dark depths.

  “We’ll figure it out,” Mell said, reassuring her and himself at the same time.

  Oisin stood, his face blank. “Well, protocol and all that. I’ll be back.” He strode toward the back stacks, and no doubt to one of his books of weapons for identification.

  The silence descended once more. It was ridiculous. Why was no one talking, planning, sorting things out? It was as though they were held is some weird suspended animation, just waiting for the next horrible thing to happen, the next axe to fall, or sword to swing. Even Bat. Where was the goddess who insisted she would help? The one who ran for her Idiot’s Guide to Ireland, or dragged them to Ailis’s shop downtown? The goddess who faced down a crazed Grainne under Benbulben?

  “I’m sorry!” he burst out. All eyes turned to him, and he swallowed. Where were all his fancy words now? Why did they elude him? “We should have predicted you’d be included in the invitation, and prepared accordingly. Dub arranged for it before we knew you would stay. And, we should have told you about our plans for the brooch, and the history of the Fomoiri, and the banshees, and the bomen. Well, we didn’t know about the bomen. Ba men.” Focusing on Bat, he ignored the others gathered around the table, especially his brothers. “We should have told you so many things.”

  Her eyes widened and her lips trembled, then the corners lifted.

  “There are still things we need to say. That I need to say.” He tried to tell her, without telling her, just how he felt. He interjected his need to hold her, to see her happy and whole and smiling through her existence, no matter the reason. He couldn’t let it go another minute, and screw his brothers.

  She opened her mouth, closed it, and opened it again. “But now is not the time,” she finally said. Her expression was soft, and she leaned forward, just a little. Shar’s hand went to her neck—without hesitation this time—and cradled the delicate length in his palm. Finn’s hand massaged her shoulder. She didn’t pull away from either touch. In fact, she relaxed into it, and he could sense the comfort she took from the two men, and from Mell’s own words.

  Mell’s stomach churned as he focused on the hands on her. Again, it was not jealousy he felt, but a regret that he had blinded himself to what she truly needed. The O’Loinsigh brothers were not very good protectors of the goddess, not if they were going to be neglecting her in such a manner…

  Her eyes narrowed. “Wait. Banshees? Meera? The others? They are from Egypt?” She blew out a breath. “They never said a word.”

  “The Egyptians don’t have a great reputation in Ireland,” Cu Chulainn said, the raven giving a caw of confirmation.

  Mell glared at the guardi, still not quite believing the braggart was here. Anger and resentment flared. How Dub and Shar had not pounded the man into the ground, he didn’t know. His hands curled into fists. They were the ones who’d been wronged…

  A heavy hand landed on his shoulder and tightened. He flinched. His brother was barely suppressing his strength. Mell twisted his head and eyed Dub. The oldest brother had his gaze trained on Finn’s hand, and his cool was cracking, leaking anger into the air.

  Oh.

  Mell gathered the scraps of his own control.

  Bat looked down and bit her lip, unaware of the undercurrents around her. Or doing a very good job of ignoring them. “What is said of us?”

  Everyone shifted. Her eyes flashed. “Do not think to continue ‘protecting’ me in such a way.” She focused on Mell.

  So he plunged in again. “I am not sure about the banshees, but generally, the Egyptian gods are considered selfish, greedy, and overgrown. They grab for power any way they can, and would think nothing of forcing other gods and immortals from their homes.”

  Her head tilted and she was silent, her gaze far away, but lacking stars. She was simply thinking. “Why? Oh, we can be all of those things, especially amongst each other, but I do not recall a time when we invaded another land. If anything, we have struggled against being invaded.”

  Mell had no answer to that. Not one that made sense, at least. After living with her these last months, he knew she was not like that. But her own people had also neglected her, so she may be the outlier. However, she was his only experience with the Egyptian deities. And the stories his father and the other Fomoiri had told…

  “Stupid tales, passed down by so-called elders,” Dub said, picking up the explanations. His hand was still hard on Mell’s shoulder, but his tone reflected none of that. “That we were driven out, that we fled persecution, slavery, and even murder. That if the Egyptians ever came here, they would steal our greatest treasures.”

  Mell’s eyes widened even as Bat’s narrowed and the raven cawed. Everyone else remained still in their seats, fearing to draw attention to themselves in the moment. Pressure built in the air, and the goddess’s emotions were a swirl, changing too fast for Mell to pinpoint.

  And then she laughed. She threw her head back and nearly roared. She laughed so hard tears leaked from her eyes. There was astonishment there, and a little bitterness, but mostly he sensed her humor at the situation. When he thought she may be done, she peeked at the faces around her and started up again.

  Oisin returned, an old leather volume held in one hand. “Um. What did I miss?”

  It set Bat off again. Finn gave the other man a sheepish smile and shrugged.

  “The Egyptian goddess has gone insane,” Cuchi said.

  And that was when Dub went off. But not in laughter. His anger swelled and finally burst from the fragile shields that had been holding it back.

  He leapt from his chair, putting extra strength in his movements so that all Mell grasped when he tried to stop his brother was air. In a fraction of a second, Dub was at the other end of the table, the collar of Cuchi’s shirt clutched in his fist. Then the guardi captain was across the room, tossed like he was nothing more than a doll stuffed with wool. He crashed into the wall as though he was stone.

  Mell, Finn, and Ailis jumped to their feet as Dub sped to the dazed guardi, pulled back his fist, and struck. The crunch of Cu Chulainn’s nose under his fist was loud as Bat’s laughter faded.

  “This is for me.” Dub hit him again, easily avoiding the blocks Cuchi tried to throw up. “This is for my brother.” Another hit, this one catching the other man’s chin. With each blow, Dub’s anger eased, though there was still enough of it to keep the beating going for some time. “This one is for your lies.” Dub struck again, and Cuchi moving just in time to keep his jaw from breaking, though he was still dazed.

  He must have hit his head on the wall. It was the only reason Mell could think of that the sidhe wasn’t fighting back.

  “This one is for Derbforgaill.” Dub pulled his fist back once more and Cuchi stopped struggling.

  “She begged me. If anyone lied in that situat
ion, it was not me.” Cuchi shot Dub a bloody smile, an asshole to the end.

  Dub’s anger swelled once more and he struck. “And this one. This one is for my goddess.”

  “Dub,” Bat said, her tone indulgent but firm.

  The eldest brother paused, his fist raised. Mell cut his attention back to Bat. She was still seated, Shar beside her, and a dark satisfaction flitted through her expression.

  Dub pushed away from the guardi, leaving him slumped against the wall. There was something wrong with Cu Chulainn’s right arm… He was trying to use it to straighten from the wall, but it hung limp against his side.

  “It will even out in a little while,” Bat said, her gaze on Cuchi. “You should be able to use it for most tasks, but do not try to use your sword. Oh, and you will want to begin practicing with your left arm.”

  Mell exchanged a look with Oisin, the only other person in the room who didn’t seem to know what was going on. Ailis let out a sharp laugh, full of wicked mirth. Finn’s eyes slid closed and he shook his head. Shar wore a pleased smile. The men of ba nodded knowingly, and Dub…

  Well, Dub was headed straight for the goddess, heat in his eyes.

  Finn shifted to partially block Bat and held up a hand. “Not in anger.”

  Mell snorted as Dub pushed Finn aside and leaned over Bat. “That’s not anger.”

  Chapter Nine

  Bastie,

  He kissed me! My grumpy one kissed me again!

  FINALLY.

  - Bat, the goddess with a bit of hope, and who wishes you’d answer

  p.s. – this is not all the news. Things are moving too quickly to fill you in this way. I will try calling in a moment.

  BAT

  Dub’s gaze pierced into her. Suddenly his hands were around her upper arms, and he pulled her up.

  Then his lips were on hers. The kiss was hard, fierce, and his movements sharp. But the heat of him spread through her, and she softened, sinking into his hold. Bat opened her mouth beneath his and welcomed him into her.