“We share an understanding.”
“Oh?”
He set off for the cottage. “There is something precious we all guard.”
Chapter Eighteen
Bastet,
I am assuming you are alive and simply being stubborn, worrying me for some mischievous reason. Otherwise…
Well, something happened that I believe you would have enjoyed. I have told you of the pixies, yes? Well, one of the ones at the cottage just propositioned a guardi captain, and it was wonderful. You should have seen his expression.
- Bat, the goddess who is relearning to find humor in even the darkest situations
BAT
She wrapped her arms around Shar’s shoulders and held tight. She’d been trying to make light of it, but what Ari had just done had shaken her.
He’d… ripped the souls from his men. That was something she’d only heard of Anubis being able to do. Even here in Ireland, the only way to kill an immortal was with the soul blades or for them to choose to move on… at least, that’s what she’d been told.
Shar finally set her down once they reached the kitchen. She took a chair at the small table as Ailis and Mell entered. Her gaze caught Mell’s, and the shock she felt was mirrored there. He’d sensed at least some of what had occurred, the… agony the men of ba had experienced at the part that gave them life was torn away.
She couldn’t blame Ari. They were traitors, and at least one was responsible for allowing in the creatures that had used Nuada’s sword to slaughter his people.
Killer lay at her feet as Shar set a cup of tea before her. Ailis took the seat beside her.
“Well,” the fae said. “That happened.”
Killer whined in agreement. Bat nodded. Though he’d healed remarkably fast, she needed to get her pup cleaned up. And she still needed to tell everyone about Balor’s infiltration.
They really had been corrupted. She’d been thinking of the soul-searching she’d been doing as a mere formality. Important, yes, but despite the suspicions that there were traitors among them, she hadn’t expected to find any.
The voice last night had been insidious. It was sweet, and coaxing, and knew how to find the weak points. It was four steps and about six millennia ahead of all of them.
“We need to stop reacting, and find a strategy that will get us ahead of this,” she said, picking up the steaming cup of tea.
“You are correct,” Finn said from behind her.
Cuchi stomped in as well. “Dub is taking the bomen to get cleaned up. You send the dog as well.” He pulled out the chair at the head of the table and sat.
There was a tapping at the rear door. Tap tap tap. Pause. Tap. Caw.
Cuchi opened the door and a raven hopped in. Einin was back from… wherever she’d gone. Though the Morrigan said the raven was there as a messenger and to help, in reality the thing did whatever it wanted to, and disappeared at the most inconvenient times.
“I also need to fill everyone in on something that happened last night,” she informed them.
“Well, now, no need to be telling everyone about that.” Mell gave her one of his wicked smiles.
“Not that, you rogue. Something I forgot to say this morning, and it was very foolish of me.” She set her teacup down. “It is time to cease being foolish.”
“Agreed.” Ailis cast her a wide smile. “I hate it when people are foolish. It’s so pointless.”
That was the wonderful thing about Ailis. She always seemed to know exactly what to say to diffuse a situation, or rile it up—depending on what needed to happen. And she was always just… there.
Other than glamour, and a small amount of the empathy Mell possessed, Ailis also seemed to have a sense of being in the right place at the right time. Bat had decided it was another power of the fae’s, even if no one had outright stated it as a power. Maybe it was luck. A small gift bestowed by Fate herself.
“Yes, there are things I need to fill everyone in on as well,” Shar said, taking a seat on Bat’s left.
Reaching out, she linked her fingers with his. “We will wait for everyone.”
“I’ll go check on ‘em!” Maire, the pink pixie, popped up from behind a small potted plant in the corner by the back door and hovered until Cuchi once more opened it.
It wasn’t but a few minutes before everyone had gathered in the kitchen. The space was small, and Bat thought briefly of moving the meeting to the living room, but decided against it. Kitchens seemed to be meant for things like this—family meetings.
She contemplated everyone there: the O’Loinsigh brothers, Finn, Ailis, Cuchi, Ari, the four other men of ba, Killer, Maire and the other pixies, and Einin. A random conglomeration of beings and immortals, and yes, in a way, family. Even Cuchi. For they shared a common purpose.
Dub took the remaining seat at the table as the ba men stationed themselves against the wall. Bat didn’t hesitate a moment longer. “You all need to know of something that happened last night.”
She filled them in on the voice, and how it had reached out through dreams, how it used a soul’s points of weakness. It was hard for her to admit, there in front of everyone, that she did have those weaknesses, but she said it, for she wanted to emphasize that all needed to be on their guard.
When she finished, there was silence for a moment, then Shar spoke. “The trees are whispering. They say the shadows are gathering, and hunting. Maybe this is what they meant. They also say the shadows are on their way here and will be here in two days, maybe three.”
“Then we need to conclude our business today, and move on to the next step tomorrow.” Finn crossed his arms and leaned against the counter.
“Won’t be easy,” Dub said. “I’ve got the pattern worked out, but I still need to make the damned thing. And anyone who thinks a magical weapon can be forged in a day has their head up their ass.”
This was a fair assessment. “What do you need?” Bat asked.
“I need to be undisturbed, by hounds, pixies, goddesses, and damned sidhe. I need the shard fully restored, which, if I’m correct, means Finn and Cu Chulainn have to give up a bit of blood. And I need the shaft.”
“I’ll do the shaft.” Shar let go of her hand and pushed his chair back. “There’s a length of ash I spotted yesterday that will probably work. And if not… “
“We’ll help you look, Protector.” Daire zipped up to hover next to Shar’s shoulder.
“And that leaves me to call Da.” Mell stole Shar’s seat and laid his hands on the table, palm down, calm and oh so careful.
“No.” Dub shook his head. “We’re changin’ the strategy there. We’re surprising them.” He looked to Finn. “You can get us to Londonderry, right?”
He frowned. “It will be a stretch, but if I can’t get us all the way, Cu Chulainn can get us the rest of the way?” Finn raised a brow at the other guardi captain.
“I can.” He paused. “Are we bringing the other guardi in on this? It would be smart to have the additional backup, especially walking into that viper’s nest of savages.”
Dub’s mouth tightened, then he sighed. “I wish I could argue with you. But, yes, most of them are venomous in one way or another. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to go marching in with a contingent of guardi. Have them ready, though.”
Flash. An Island, sheer cliffs on one side falling into the ocean, green hills and beaches on the other. Five ships were anchored in a small bay, and boats full of men rowed to those beaches. A seal’s head popped above the water’s surface and winked at her.
“We will need a guide. An ocean guide. A seal.” She’d just seen Tir Hudi, and been given the clue as to how to find it. And maybe, just maybe, they’d get there not too long after the others who sought it.
“One of the selkie, or maybe mac Lir’s many children. But they won’t help without the permission of the god.” Finn sighed. “And if we are going up against the Fomoiri, I don’t think we will gain his permission.”
“But it is not all o
f the Fomoiri,” Cuchi cut in. “You reported yourself that you doubt the clan leaders are involved.”
“True.”
Silence settled.
“I will talk to him, and explain,” Bat said. “How do I reach this mac Lir?”
Dub shook his head. “Not on a cell phone.”
Mell slid a glance at Finn. “What about Oisin?”
Finn shook his head. “Won’t do it. Hasn’t talked to dear old father-in-law since he got himself locked out of Tir na nOg. Too embarrassed.”
“I may have a way,” Ailis said, her mouth pulled into a thoughtful frown. “There’s a gremlin comes into the store sometimes, and she lives out by the selkie preserve off Enniscrone. She’s had dealings with them, and may be able to get us an audience, at the least of the bull of the pod.”
Finn and Cuchi groaned in unison. “I’m not sure we want to involve that pod,” Cuchi said. “Do you know how many times I’ve already had to go out there due to the reports of malicious mischief?”
Finn crossed his arms and bent his head.
Bat waited. She knew what a selkie was. It would fit her vision, but she would also trust Finn’s judgment on this particular group of the water-dwelling immortals.
The sea had never been part of her domain.
He lifted his head and met her gaze. “It’s worth a shot. If nothing else, we’ll be able to get a better idea of where the sea god stands on this conflict. And an idea of where any of the gods stand, honestly.” He eyed the raven. “It still seems suspicious to me that they are not stepping in.”
Caw.
You have corrupted my Finn, goddess of Egypt.
Bat held her silence. This was not a discussion she was willing to have in front of the others. It was not a discussion she was willing to have at all, in fact.
But she would not want to get Finn in trouble with his boss either.
He never used to question me.
Maybe not aloud. Bat kept the thought to herself. Or thought she did.
No, he never used to question me. You truly are different from other deities. Real enough to my immortals that they can’t help but feel comfortable around you, and mysterious enough they can’t help but love you. It’s a deadly combination.
I am not trying to kill anyone, or take away your followers.
Well, you better be trying to kill at least one person.
The raven flew to the tabletop and hop-stepped toward Bat. It cocked its head one way, then another. A glint of gold, clutched in the claws on one of the raven’s feet, caught her eye. Einin extended the foot and dropped a golden ring onto the surface of the table. It fell with a soft ping.
If you cannot reach mac Lir, use this to summon his wife, Fand. Toss it into the seas, she’ll find you. A mental snort. Just make sure Cuchi isn’t around for that, or you’ll find yourself in a whole other heap of mess.
Bat picked up the ring and slid it over the middle finger on her left hand. Thank you.
I told you, I would do what I could to help. I do not agree with the Tribunal’s decision to stay out of this, even if I must abide by it on the surface.
Should Bat ask? She did understand following the visions as they were laid out for you, but it was also strange to her that they were not involving themselves in such a large affair.
This hasn’t yet touched more than a few sluagh and other solitary fae. Anger stirred behind the Morrigan’s words, reminding Bat that there were at least a couple of things she had in common with this war goddess—a hate of injustice. Even with the Treasures resurfacing and going missing, they sit in their complacency. Even the Dagda washed his hands of this affair when he left the harp for you to find. Maybe if more of the sidhe were being hurt, or showing up in the seer’s visions it would be different.
Balor is sneaky. Could he have…?
A sigh. The raven hopped back. Corrupted them? I doubt it, not the gods. But others? Possibly. And thus I do not want to push it, not without knowing the extent of his reach. The wisest thing we could do is to stop him before he can implement whatever plans he has brewing, which means you being in the right place at the right time, without him knowing about it. The less people involved, the better. Call Fand if you need to, and tell her I am calling in the favor owed. But try not to, I’ve been holding onto that favor for a very long time now.
The raven turned, waddled to the edge of the table, and flapped down to the floor to cuddle in next to Killer. The hound gave her a sniff, a small lick—causing the raven to ruffle its feathers—and settled his head back on his paws.
Bat looked at her gathered allies. “A way to reach Fand if mac Lir is uncooperative.”
“Fuck. I can’t be there for that. In fact, I shouldn’t be anywhere near mac Lir.” Cuchi stepped back and began pacing.
“Steal someone else’s girl?” Dub asked.
Cuchi threw up his hands. “If a beautiful woman was asking you to rescue them, what would you do? You’d say yes! I think I have a curse on me, to always be accused of running off with other men’s women.”
Bat narrowed her gaze and searched the energy around him. There was no curse but hers. “No,” she said. “I think it is simply your nature. You could change it.”
Ailis let out a peal of laughter, tipping her head and then the chair back. It brought a chuckle from a few of the others.
“And now we get to work,” Bat said. “There will be no… cavalry sweeping in to save the day.”
Ailis nodded. “We are the cavalry.”
Ari tilted his head. “There are no horses.”
Bat smiled at him. She knew this phrase. “I will explain after we have gotten everyone to work.”
Dub rose. “I’m off to the forge then. Come fetch the shard and put your damned blood on the thing, then bring it back,” he said to Finn. “Also, figure out a way to keep those dreams out. He’s probably got a Fir Dearg swayed to his side, or another of the ba men, if he’s able to creep into people’s dreams in such a way.” He didn’t even spare a glance at Ari as he said it, but Bat did.
Ari nodded. “There is one other missing and unaccounted for. I will handle him the same way I handled the other betrayers.”
“I’ll get Oisin working on it and back out here.” Finn headed after Dub. “He can’t stay in his library for this one. I’ll be back in a moment, and then we need to check with the teams on what they’ve found of the Fomoiri’s movements over the last months,” he shot back at Cuchi.
Shar bent and pressed a quick kiss to Bat’s forehead, then headed after his brother and Finn, leaving Cuchi, Ailis, Mell, the men of ba and the pixies.
Killer whined then nudged her foot. “Right, my pup. I’m going to get Killer cleaned up.” She turned to Cuchi. “Make sure you allow the shard to taste you. I should be back soon.” She pushed back her chair and a leg caught on something. Glancing down, she saw the severed arm still clutching the dagger that resembled the soul blades. A small pool of blood sat under it.
“And no one thought to remember that this was here?” she muttered.
Ari knelt. “Allow me. This should not be in your presence any longer.”
It was true that severed limbs were never pretty to look at, but this particular one did not bother her any longer, except as a reminder that Ari had been betrayed. Regardless of the power struggles, the wants and desires of an immortal long thought to be dead, or what he was promising to others, that was what she abhorred—the betrayal. Balor was coaxing people into duplicity and treachery. He was… coaxing them into embracing chaos.
“What is that dagger? It looks like a soul blade, but… not.” Mell had risen when Bat did, and now peered down at the dagger.
Ari pried it from stiff and clutching fingers and handed it to one of his men. “It is a des, one of the original ceremonial blades gifted from the vessel upon our creation. They will not kill, not as the weapon we are seeking to forge could kill, but it could maim the spirit if wielded by someone knowledgeable in its use. It is not a pleasant sensation.�
��
She needed to ask. Would he want to say, in front of so many witnesses? “Ari? What you did out there…”
Large red eyes met her gaze and held steady. “Is something only the head of the clan may accomplish. When Puchi passed on, the power came to me. And, no, I may only do this with other men of ba. It is the ultimate punishment, and it saddens me that I was forced to use it at all.”
She opened her senses and used a bit of her hoarded power to search Ari. There was the loss and grief he spoke of, but she sensed no regret or resentment as she had earlier in the front yard. She sensed no areas where chaos could dig its claws.
Ari would be well.
Bat nodded. “I do understand this.”
“Would have been a nifty weapon, though, if it worked on others,” Ailis said, her tone thoughtful.
“I agree,” Cuchi said.
Mell made a low sound of protest in the back of his throat and Bat caught a glimpse of that desolate field of blood and pain he kept locked away. “I have to admit, I do not agree with the use of a weapon that can’t be fought against.”
Ailis’s eyes narrowed. “What do you think we’re makin’, oh great and wise Fomoiri who hates weapons? Do ya know how ridiculous ya sound right now?”
The rear door opened and Finn stepped into the kitchen carrying the shard, wrapped once more in his sweater.
“Stop.” Bat nodded to Ari then gestured for Ailis to stand. “Ailis, will you help me get Killer cleaned up? The wounds have closed, but I don’t want him to get an infection.”
Ailis sighed. “Yeah, I don’t want to be arguing with stubborn men about their hypocritical ways. I’ll get yer Cu Sidhe all sparkling clean for ya.” The fae stood and patted her thigh. “Come on, Killer darlin’. Let’s let Auntie Ailis take care of ya while yer ma attempts to talk sense into the foolish.” She paused at the back door, beside Finn. “And when I’m back, we need to talk about other resources. I think ye’re all underestimating the use of us fae, the solitary and the trooping, and how much we do give a shit, unlike the sidhe and the gods.” She shoved open the door, allowing Killer to slip outside, then slammed it behind her.
The Legends That Remain Page 19