Page 73 of A Celtic Secret
Chapter Twenty-Three
“WE’RE RUNNING OUT oftime,”Riona said into Declán’s mind as they headed down to the courtyard.“I’m not sure how else to explain it, but Aodh’s about to break through whatever’s holding him back. Break free from his chains, so to speak.”
“I know.”He took her hand when they reached ground level.“Yet we must focus on calming our people. ‘Twould be nothing worse than having chaos within these walls.”
In full agreement, she set aside the fear of what was coming and focused on those around her. From the women and children and tradesmen to the warriors walking among them trying to keep everyone calm. Strangely, the more she spoke to people, the more a blue haze fell over her vision.
“’Tis your magic,” Declán murmured in her ear. “Your eyes shine blue as your inner druidess tries to calm your people. To remind them how powerful you really are.”
“And what of your inner wizard?” she wondered as Luna fell in beside them, her paws muddy from more mischief. “I hear Cian wears black robes when his magic ignites because he’s considered a dark wizard. What about you? Do you have robes too?”
“Not that I’ve ever seen,” he revealed. “Despite my brothers possessing them.”
“Truly?” She was surprised by that. “Are they all black like Cian’s?”
“Nay.” He steered her through the crowd while they continued to spread reassurances. “Liam’s is black. Aodh’s, white.”
She stopped short at that. “Seriously? Why does that sound backward somehow? Liam is adarkwizard?”
While she knew that didn’t mean he was evil, it still seemed strange. He smiled, laughed, joked, and flirted. Grew dark and eerie? Not once. Ever. Then again, she’d only known him for a couple of days.
“There is more to my jovial brother than meets the eye,” Declán said in response to her thoughts.
He was about to say more when Eisibél stopped them, concerned. “Have ye seen mother?” She shook her head and wrung her hands. “I have not seen her since last night, and I fear it.”
“Fear it?” Riona frowned, not liking the sound of that. A chill ran down her spine. “What do you mean, fear it?”
“I mean, she is not right in the mind lately.” She gave Declán a pointed look. “I fear there is little she would not do to see me with ye, m’lord or,” her lower lip trembled, “mayhap another with yer status.”
Thinking the same thing as Riona, Declán cursed under his breath. Where had Imag been when they were talking strategy at the last fire the previous evening? “When exactly did ye see her last, Eisibél? Think hard and fast for—”
“For nothing,” Riona said softly when tears rolled down Eisibél’s cheeks. She rested a hand on the woman’s arm in comfort and gave her a look of reassurance. “It’s okay. What’s done is done, and no fault of yours.” She gestured at the women and children around them with fear in their eyes. “Whatever your mother’s done is none of your concern anymore. Whatisyour concern is helping us calm these people.” She wiped away Eisibél’s tears and met her eyes. “Can you do that for me? For us? For all these villagers I know you care about?”
“I can.” Eisibél nodded, clearly grateful to be forgiven for something she hadn’t done. “I will.”
And so she did. Off to talk to as many as she could.
“This isn’t good,” Riona muttered under her breath as they continued on. “If Imag found a way to tell Raghnall everything we discussed last night, then he knows what we have in place to defend ourselves against him.”
“Mayhap,” Declán said. “But that doesn’t lessen our magic any or the strategic measures you put in place that weren’t discussed last night.”
“True,” she conceded. “But itdoesgive him a better idea about that totem and our potential weaknesses. Where to throw all of his power.”
He was about to respond when Áengus joined them with a grim look and requested they join him on the battlement above the front gates. Only when they were heading up the stairs and away from everyone did he reveal the last thing they wanted to hear but fully expected.
At least in part.
“More warriors than we can count come from the south,” he reported. “’Tis safe to say King Raghnall approaches with his entire army. Every last man, I would say.” His expression grew grimmer still. “What comes from the north, however, might almost be worse.”
“What do ye mean the north?” Declán frowned. “Unless....”
