Celtic Mist: The Calm Before the Storm (Battle Raven Series) (28 page)

She squealed in delight. “You, young man just may be spared.”

Upon hearing that remark there was a murmuring amongst the nobles.

“Silence!” Cyri shrieked and looked around the room. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of Aalia. “How could I be so foolish. Please, lady Aalia. Join us.”

Firnir stood up and pulled the chair out for Aalia. He gave her a worried look and she patted his cheek. Aalia bent over and kissed Tynan noticing his clenched jaw and fists.

“It will be ok dear.” Aalia said.

Cyri impatiently walked around the table to Aalia grabbing her arm twisting it. She was even more infuriated when Aalia gave her no notice to the pain. She lost her lady like gait and pulled Aalia to the line she had formed. Cyri gathered up her skirts and strode in front of her hand picked line looking at each of the tables.

“Now that we all have gathered. I believe it is time to choose who will have the honor of becoming our entertainment.”

Gasps and protests started to sound and Lord Faolan stood. “Be silent or all of your house may meet a quick fate.”

The room immediately fell silent and Lady Cyri looked to him and shivered in delight. She let out a shrill laugh. Every person had a look of fear on their face. All except Aalia.

“Now who shall we choose?” Cyri said narrowing her eyes at each person.

Nearly skipping down the line she came to the lord who had looked at her with scorn. “You my lord.”

Two guards walked up to him and he loudly protested kicking and screaming. They stuffed the mans own kerchief in his mouth and hit him in the stomach and shackled him to one of the posts.

She came to the young man who bowed and complimented her. “You may go and sit down.”

She looked to the young woman who complimented her beauty. “You also.”

Both hurriedly walked back to their tables in fear that she might change her mind. Cyri walked up to lady Daly and reached around her neck undoing the diamond necklace. “Such a pretty thing.” she said and tore the tiara off ripping strands of curls out making the woman yelp in pain.

“I believe you will not be needing these anymore. It would be a shame to see them blood stained.”

Removing the brown curls from the tiara Cyri placed it on her head “Take her.”

Lady Daly looked at her in shock watching as Cyri placed the necklace around her neck. The guards led her to another post.

“Then there was one.” Cyri took a long pause to view the final and third post. She looked from the young man before her and to Aalia.

Pulling the man to her she kissed him full on the lips and whispered in his ear. He walked back to his table as she pointed to Aalia.

“Take her.” She dramatically turned and gave Aalia a slight mocking push. “This I will enjoy.”

General Tynan stiffened and as he began to stand up Lord Faolan held out his arm.

“I have foreseen this and will handle it.”

“Yes, my Lord. Of course, my Lord.” Tynan said ready to spring if Faolan did not handle it.

Lord Faolan patiently watched as the guards began to take Aalia to the last post. Cyri started to sway Faolan’s way with a look of triumph in her eyes. He stood and projected his voice. “Release Lady Aalia.”

Lady Cyri stopped in her tracks. “No!”

The soldiers immediately released Aalia and Cyri almost tripped

on her skirts as she ran to Aalia and tugged on her. “I will not be denied.”

Tynan watched as Cyri struck Aalia knocking her to the floor. The loud crack of her head hitting the floor echoed in the hall along with Cyri’s unhappy screeches. She looked at Faolan definitely and he removed his hold on Tynan. Cyri had produced a long wicked blade and raised it above her head. He leapt over the table and ran to Aalia blocking the blow just in time.

Faolan’s voice boomed out. “Lady Cyri, enough! Choose another.”

She gave him a pout. “Fine.” she looked at each table and her eyes stopped on Firnir who was standing behind Lord Faolan. Faolan noticed and moved blocking her view and gestured for her to move on.

She let out a loud “humph” and watched as Tynan carried his unconscious wife back to the table. Cyri walked over to the youngest of the two brothers she had chosen and held out a hand. He took it and looked to his parents walking to her side resigned to his fate. She brought the boy to the front of his table and turned him to look at his family.

“My dear young Sheehan. I would not dare take the life of one who so graciously praised me.” she looked to the table and at the relief in his parent’s eyes. “You may choose the third from your family.

The boy did not even pause and pointed to his brother. The brother let out a loud protest as he glared at his younger brother.

“Guards.” she said and watched as the brother was taken to the third post. Cyri bent down to the boy and whispered. “Wise choice.”

The young boy whispered back. “Father is ingesting the poison my brother gave him as we speak and I wish to spare my mother. She is no threat to my rise to power.”

Letting out a joyously wicked laugh she kissed the boy on the cheek and led him back to the table and then walked over to her seat.

Lord Faolan picked up her hand and kissed it. He turned to Tynan and looked down at Aalia who’s head was still resting on his shoulder. Releasing his grip on Cyri’s hand he turned and placed his hands along side Aalia’s head. Using the healing powers that Paili had given him he healed the deep scratches on her cheek and watched as she slowly woke.

“Apologies General. I saw this coming but had to make an

example of Cyri. Lady Paili would not have wished any harm to your wife. I will not let anything happen to your family.”

Tynan bowed his head. “Her murder will be avenged, my Lord.”

“I know.” Faolan turned to him. “You may retire with your wife general. She has had a trying night.”

“Thank you, my lord.” Tynan said as he carefully stood Aalia up and helped her out of the room.

Lord Faolan grinned to himself as Cyri gave him a smoldering look of defiance. He stood and held a hand out to her. “Please proceed, my lady.”

She took his hand and stood giving him a side glance. Lord Faolan inwardly smiled at her uncertainty and gave her a nod.

“Let us eat and be entertained.” Cyri said and gave the entertainment a menacing grin.

Placing an arm around her waist Faolan glared as he looked to each table. “I would like to thank the lady Cyri for providing the entertainment.”

As if on cue they all cheered. Although not as whole heartedly as last time. Lord Faolan sat down and the thrashing of the entertainment began.

It had been a week since Aodhan left with Lara, Kedryn and Kiara on their little expedition. Lady Orla impatiently paced the room.

“You should relax, my lady.” Shanna said as she gently led Orla to a plush chair by the fire.

“Apologies. There is nothing I can do about this. You are kind to let me stay in the cottage. It is most lovely.”

“Please my Lady. We are both mothers here. Although yours is grown I can only scarcely imagine what you are going through. Speak of these things or you may grow mad from them.”

Lady Orla looked at the concern on Shanna’s face. “Thank you for not coddling me. A woman that will speak her mind and not just tell me things will work out for the best is much reassuring.”

“Tell me. What is on your mind?” Shanna asked giving her a reassuring smile holding out a cup of tea.

Letting out a bell of a laugh Orla sat up in her chair taking the cup. She let out a long sigh. “It seems I am afraid that if they do find this portal that I may lose my son to them.”

“Them?” Shanna set down her cup.

“Lara’s parents and family.” Orla gave her a worried look.

Shanna took her hand and squeezed. “How so?”

“I realize this is silly. What if he want’s to stay there. I do not know what Lara will decide. My heart leads me to believe she will want to stay in her realm with her family.”

“She will do what’s best of course for Kedryn and Aodhan. Do not fret my lady. There are compromises and possibly when they return you can suggest going with them to meet her family. After all they will be your family too.”

“Oh my, I have not looked at it that way. Thank you Shanna. With Blaine gone. God rest his soul, my heart has been set on Aodhan staying here.” Orla picked up her cup and took a sip.

“Remember they have to come back. There is another battle.” Shanna frowned at the thought.

“That is what I should be fretting over. Not something as trivial as where they will spend the rest of their life.” Orla set down her cup of tea.

“I would not consider that trivial. Of course, you are correct the next and hopefully final battle is our main concern.”

“Thank you for the talk you are a treasured friend. I believe I will rest my weary bones now.”

“As you wish. I will send a servant when the evening meal is ready. Or do you wish to dine alone tonight?”

“I believe company would be the best thing for me. I heard that Eion is going to spin a tale. That may cease my worries for a time.”

Shanna stood. “I will take my leave. Have a lovely nap.”

“Thank you.” Orla said as she stood and followed Shanna to the door.

Kedryn looked up at the wall of red dirt next to the trail they were following. The recent rain fall had caused a mudslide down the hill into the lake below. He bent down and scooped up some wet mud.

“Does this remind you of anything?” Kedryn asked as he squished the mud in his hands.

Lara let out a laugh and looked around. “The path we followed by the stream near Springbrook.” she looked at the mud in his hands. “Don’t even think about it.”

“But we could always jump in the lake down there after we are done.” Kedryn said as he gave her a crooked grin.

“What is he talking about?” Aodhan asked.

“Mud fight. We got into one back home and were covered from head to toe. Thankfully it was still raining and most of the mud washed off of us before we made it to the showers.”

“I felt sorry for whoever was cleaning the showers that day.” Kedryn said as he laughed.

“I’m sure they have seen worse.” Lara said as she looked to the lake. “Lets head down and set up for the night. You need to clean that hand anyway.”

Kedryn pretended to throw the mud at Kiara and she rolled her eyes at him.

“Boys. Do not even think about it.” Kiara said

Aodhan reached down and grabbed a handful of mud and flung it at Kedryn hitting him in the chest. It splattered onto Kiara’s face. She wiped the mud off with her hands and looked from one to another and felt a rush of air go by her from behind. Aodhan ended up with a splattering of mud on his leg. Kiara looked behind her at Lara who had a huge grin on her face.

Lara walked up to Kiara and took her hand putting a lump of mud in it. “Join in. It’s good to have some fun every once in a while.”

Kiara looked at her hand and gave Kedryn a devious grin. She started running at him scooping up more mud as she went and hurled the mud at him as he ran towards the lake.

Aodhan walked up to Lara. “Truce?”

She looked down at the mud in her hand and threw it down. “Truce. Besides. I think those two are having enough fun for the both of us.” she said looking on as Kedryn and Kiara flung mud at each other by the lake.

Lara and Aodhan slowly walked to the lake. His arms circled her waist pulling her close as she leaned against him with her head on his shoulder. The closer they got ruins of an old stone house started to appear. A collapsed chimney and the base of the house stood were visible. The lake the sun was setting and reflected soft pale shades of yellows, reds and oranges across the water.

“How far away from here do you suppose the ruins of Yule are?” Kiara asked as she wiped some mud off of her hands. “ I believe I should change.”

“Or take a dip in the lake.” Kedryn said as he picked her up and ran with her squealing in his arms as he dunked them both into the lake.

Lara looked to Aodhan. “Now they both will have to change. How far are the ruins of Yule?”

“About a half days journey is all. Are you sure you want to camp by the lake? There is no place to build a shelter.” Aodhan said as he flicked some mud off of his pants. “I believe we all should change.”

Lara looked around and up at the night sky. It seemed oddly quiet to her but that may have been because of the lack of trees around the lake. “Grab some wood and lets start a fire in the old fireplace.” Lara stood still for a moment and concentrated. “There is no one around for miles we should be safe enough.”

“We still need to keep watch. Just because there are no people around does not mean that the wildlife will stay away.”

Kedryn and Kiara sloshed up to them and Kedryn looked back to the lake. He was laughing as Kiara slugged him in the arm. Her wet hair was strewn around her.

“I lost my hair ribbon you lug.” she said trying to straighten out her hair.