Page 75 of A Celtic Longing
A great prize for all to admire, he was chained in Siobhán’s courtyard with a heavy, unforgiving collar around his neck.
“He’s beautiful,” she whispered when he raised his great black, scaled head and narrowed his golden cat-like eyes as if sensing her there. “And caught somewhere between horrible misery and fury. Between incredible hatred and terrible sadness.”
“He is,” Riona agreed and looked south. “But not for much longer. Not bound like he is.”
“Nay.” Tréan joined them. “Da grows close to Siobhán’s castle, so we must continue on.”
Declán joined them as well and looked between her and Riona. “With the magic you two possess now, you should be able to get us there quickly with my guidance. There will be more enemy warriors posted than usual, which says something considering King Raghnall always had many at the ready.”
Shannon nodded, understanding. “Then less is more.” She looked at Dúghlas, who had been determined to lead the charge. “You must stay here unless we need you.” She placed her hand against the tree again and looked up, understanding what she was capable of now. “If we need you, this tree will let you know.”
He shook his head and frowned. “I do not understand.”
“But you will if we need you,” Shannon assured, knowing the tree had their backs. It would do anything to save its unknown kings. Anything to save Liam and Aodh. Thanks to King's Heart, she met Dúghlas’ eyes and nodded, showing strength she hadn’t felt earlier. “Tréan’s right.” She looked at Riona and Declán. “It’s time to go.”
“Then travel safe, my queen,” Dúghlas said loud enough for all to hear. He nodded with pride when she knew he wanted towrap her up in a big bear hug and keep her out of harm's way. “Travel safe, Unnamed One. Might the gods be at yer back.”
She saw the pride in all those present, men eager to fight, but they were seasoned warriors, so they knew better than to utter a word and draw attention to themselves. Instead, when she glanced back, all had their heads bowed and their blades held against their chest, swearing their fealty in a way she felt to her core.
She nodded at them in recognition of their loyalty, then headed south, not on horseback but afoot. There was no need for their horses to be stolen or put to death. Besides, it was best to travel this way because it would be stealthy and quick. Yet all the while, she was connected to Liam even though he tried to block her. Felt his worry for her and their son despite sailing into certain death himself.
Now she had touched King Heart’s, she felt a new sense of confidence she could only hope he felt too. Understood because she knew it would make a difference.Hadto.
“Whilst strange considering we approach a dragon,”Tréan said into her mind as they crept through the darkening woodland behind Declán and Riona,“’tis best I approach Aodh as my wolf.”
“I understand.”Her heart leapt a little when he vanished, and his great white wolf stalked alongside her instead. She nodded with pride at how strong and at ease he could be in both forms, yet worry still nagged at her.“Fight well if need be and stay safe.”
Tréan gave no response, but he didn’t need to. He was both her son and her familiar, and she understood him as only a mother and druidess could.
“’Twill get especially difficult just ahead,”Declán said telepathically, directing his advice at Shannon.“Whilst I know you and Riona can get us there quicker, you might want to holdoff, if possible, until we reach Aodh lest Siobhán detect your magic.”
“He’s right,”Riona agreed. “It’s not all that far to Raghnall’s, I mean Siobhán’s castle, and if she’s distracted by Liam and his ships, why risk it?”
While Shannon didn’t like it, they were right. Better safe than sorry.
“Considering Siobhán knows I have knowledge of where Raghnall’s warriors patrol,”Declán said,“’tis best we assume she will cover areas he didn’t have his warriors before.”
So they made their way swiftly along a route Declán had obviously thought about ahead of time. One that led them through plenty of brush until they had no choice but to cross a moat afoot. Shannon couldn’t care less, though.
Not if it meant saving Aodh.
Because the closer they drew to him, the more she felt him. Not just his dragon but the man within. His inner struggle. The horrible trench of darkness he was lost within. Not just the physical chains around his neck but the rhetorical ones.
When Declán took her hand and pulled her up on the other side of the moat, the look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. He felt his brother from the inside out too. Felt his pain.
Something seen minutes later.
It was one thing to see Aodh in her mind’s eye at King’s Heart. Another entirely to spy his great black dragon chained in real life. He took up nearly the entire courtyard with his head resting on the cold ground and his eyes closed. They had made it to a small alleyway between the armory and stables with little room to move. If Aodh knew they were there, he showed no sign of it.
“How do we do this?”she asked Tréan when he sidled up beside her.“How do we get through to him? How do I healhim when he’s under Siobhán’s spell? Better yet, how do I do it without her being the wiser?”
“Through the mind,”he replied.“’Tis the only way I imagine.”
“A mind that’s influenced by Siobhán?”She frowned at him.“That can’t be right.”
“What choice do we have?”
She was about to reply when Siobhán’s warriors ran in the direction of the sea. In the direction she knew Liam approached.
