Page 158 of Broken Veil
Nêrys, I am shifting. She cannot?—
Stop. Seren’s mental voice was firm.
Peace settled over Carys’s body.
Wait.
Carys whispered to Cadell,We will tell you when it is time.
The two men took her by the arms, dragging her up to Macha’s altar. She slipped in the mud and nearly fell, but they lifted her, carrying her up and over fallen humans that Carys forced herself to ignore.
She ignored the tug of her heart as she left Duncan and Lachlan behind her.
Gods old and new, protect them, Seren whispered in her mind.
The rain continued to fall, and the waves of dark magic that had streamed from the hillsides up to the gash in the sky had turned to more of a trickle than a flood.
The men flung Carys onto the altar, and she fell to her knees on the grassy knoll.
Macha stood over her, glaring down her nose.
“Epona’s daughters.” Macha sneered. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
Carys looked up, and as she did, the Morrígan’s gaze fell on the glowing gold collar around Carys’s neck. “No!”
Macha ripped the rag from Carys’s head, and twin visions swam in front of her eyes.
The young social media sensation, still glowing as if untouched by the rain.
The wounded goddess, blood pouring from an empty eye socket.
“You’re hurt, Morrígan.” Carys managed to get to her feet. “We can see your wounds.”
“You interfering bitches,” the Morrígan sneered. “You think you can stop me?”
“No.” Carys shook her head. She looked over the crowd, a jumble of mortals and magic drenched in rain.
Far from a fearsome crowd, the humans still shuffling around at the top of Cley Hill looked cold and wet and tired. They didn’t look angry. Just a little disappointed and confused.
And bored.
Nêrys. I see you.
Carys had to force her eyes to remain on Macha even though she longed for the safety of her dragon’s presence.
“You can’t win.” Carys looked up at the red gash in the sky. It was starting to close as the dark magic that fed it thinned and dissipated.
“I have already won!” Macha threw out her arms. “Look at my Fianna come to serve me!”
“All these people?” Carys stood. “You think they’re your Fianna?” She shook her head. “They’re just regular people, Macha. They just want something to believe in.”
You’re provoking her. Is that wise, Professor?
Oh, now you know what a professor is?
“Most of them are already leaving.” Carys pointed at the people walking down the hill in groups, following the footpath back to the village, returning to their cars or taking shelter from the rain in the forest below. “Look.”
The goddess watched the humans walk away, and the crows over her head circled and called.
