Page 44 of A Celtic Secret
Chapter Fourteen
“WHAT IS IT?” Declánfrowned at his second-in-command when he approached with several warriors. “Why are ye not at the border keeping watch?”
“Because our border is not where it should be, m’lord.” Áengus and his men swung down, fell to a knee, and bent their heads, recognizing both Madison’s and Riona’s statuses.
He frowned. “What do ye mean ‘tis not where it should be?”
Riona thanked them and asked them to stand, then looked from her palm to Declán. “I think he means it’s grown smaller.” She gestured at where she had been wrapping a strand of Caith’s mane in circles that grew smaller and smaller within each other. “It seems when I can’t draw, I find other ways.”
“And those circles are meant to represent my borders?” He frowned from Riona to Áengus. “How is that possible unless the enemy is driving ye back as we speak?” He shook his head. “And I do not see that.”
“’Tis less about what ye can see, m’lord.” Áengus and his men swung back onto their horses. “Come. Let us show ye.”
The last thing he expected was to come upon not a line of enemy warriors but two of his own men bloodied and tied to a tree. If that weren't odd enough, several more seemed ready to fight Declán and his lot.
“What is this?”Cian asked telepathically as Declán and the remainder of their warriors pulled their blades free.“Mutiny?”
“No,” Madison said aloud. Her eyes flared emerald as she gazed at the men facing off with them. “I saw this before when I viewed a battle through your warrior’s eyes, Cian. When I fought Declán’s warriors. This is possession.”
“And imprisonment.” Riona’s eyes flared blue as she slid off of Caith. Declán swung down and made to stop her, but she shook her head and met his eyes. “It’s okay. They won’t hurt me as long as I stay on this side...or even on the other side. You and others, however?” She shook her head. “I wouldn’t risk it.”
He frowned and kept his blade at the ready when she stopped within feet of one of his most trusted warriors. A man who seemed unrecognizable in the way he seethed with hatred at Declán.
“See.” Riona touched something he couldn’t see between them and his warriors. “It’s an invisible wall.” She glanced at Áengus. “One, I suspect you couldn’t travel beyond?”
He shook his head. “Nay, m’lady. ‘Twas not there one moment, then there the next, leaving half of us on this side and half on the other.” He gestured at the two tied to the tree. “Then those possessed, as ye call it, trapped on this side were determined to end us. Rather than cut them down, we kept them alive in hopes ‘twill be a curse soon lifted.”
“Only when I have my druidess back,” one of the warriors on the other side of the wall ground out, his voice not quite right. His eyes were dark with Raghnall’s magic. Undoubtedly, with the enemy king himself as he glared at Declán. “Only when I have mywifeback.”
So he knew now. Or had he known all along?
“She’s not yer wife in this life,” he growled. “And never will be.”
Fury rose. Rage that felt old and new all at once. He instinctively tried to reach out and grab the man by the neck—Raghnall to his eyes—but met a solid wall even magic didn’t work against.
Meanwhile, Madison exclaimed, “no,” and raced after Riona, who was heading for the men against the tree. She grabbed her arm and shook her head. “Don’t try to help them. You’re far too susceptible to Raghnall right now.” She glanced from the men to Riona. “I’ve got this.”
Before Riona could deny her, Declán closed the distance and held her back when Madison braced her hand against the tree the men were tied to and closed her eyes. Seconds later, green spread up and down its trunk and encompassed the struggling men.
“M’lord?” One of the warriors stopped struggling and blinked up at Declán in confusion. “When did ye arrive?” He frowned at the ropes around him. “How did I....”
When the other man’s eyes cleared as well, Declán gave swift orders to all. Split off into pairs of two and make their way to all borders. Bring those on this side who were possessed back to the castle to be helped, then set up a new perimeter closer to the castle. No one was to engage any warrior on the other side, no matter how close a friend they may be.
“A circle within a circle until the castle is completely surrounded,” Riona said softly. “Until we’re under siege.”
