Celtic Mist: The Calm Before the Storm (Battle Raven Series) (29 page)

“I think it looks quite stunning.” Kedryn said as she stuck her tongue out at him.

The suns light faded and the moon rose. Memories of his mom’s favorite camping site flooded Kedryn’s memories. He remembered how she told him that she would not go on or in the lake because at one time she saw a huge shadow in it and refused to. Kedryn tried and tried to convince her that it was probably a big log or a shadow from the trees but Lara wouldn’t budge. There had been no sightings and he told her it was just her imagination. She would always smile at him and shake her head and say I know it’s silly but I will only fish in that lake.

“The lake seems safe enough. At least we weren’t gobbled up by the lake monster.” Kedryn laughed.

Lara gave him a look. “Very funny. Lets all change and wash the mud out of these clothes.”

“Lake monster?” Kiara asked glancing back at the lake concerned.

“Just teasing. Ladies first” Kedryn said and gestured to the fireplace.

Lara and Kiara picked up their packs and headed behind the chimney. Lara turned to Aodhan and Kedryn and circled her finger at them. They both turned and waited.

After changing they all walked down to the lake and washed the mud out of their clothes the best they could.

Kiara stood. “I will have to say the mud fight was fun.” she turned and grinned at Kedryn “However, the clean up I could do without.”

Lara stood. “Now that we are clean lets hang the clothes by the fire and get some sleep.”

“Sleep would be good. Kedryn, would you like to take first watch?” Aodhan asked.

“Yes.” Kedryn replied and walked away looking for a good spot to keep watch.

Hours after the others had fallen asleep Kedryn was fighting to stay awake and was just about to walk down to asked Aodhan to relieve him when a loud splash sounded and a spray of water covered all of the camp site. The fire hissed out and they jumped up. Kedryn came running down.

Everyone backed up with weapons drawn and they saw in the moonlight a huge fish jump into the air and splash down.

Lara looked behind them and picked up her frame pack. “I believe we should move camp away from the lake.”

Another splash was heard and Kedryn ran to the edge of the lake. “Holy cow. Did you see the size of that thing?”

“Get back here. They might think you are lunch.” Lara said and watched as Kedryn slowly backed away.

Aodhan watched as two giant fish jumped in the moonlight and he laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Lara asked as she pulled at her damp shirt.

“Salmon. They are giant salmon. I have heard the tales but never in my life have I seen one, even two, so large.”

“Let’s go fishing then.” Kedryn said as he gave Aodhan a huge grin.

“No. Lets move camp.” Kiara said.

Kedryn let out a disappointed groan. “I’ve never caught anything that big.”

Aodhan clapped him on the back. “Neither have I. Leave them alone. After all, if we catch one it could mean bad luck.”

“How so?” Kedryn asked.

Kiara picked up her bag. “Salmon are revered as extremely sacred in the Druid tradition. They are considered the oldest of all the animals.”

“Seriously? Huh. Then millions of people in my realm are doomed.” Kedryn said.

Aodhan looked up the hill and to the trees. “I think we should move camp up the hill and change out of these damp clothes before we catch a chill. Kedryn and I will start a fire while you ladies change.”

Lara tugged at her wet shirt. “This is probably the cleanest I have been on our travels. I suppose camping by the lake was not such a good idea.”

“It was a good idea up until the fish jumped.” Kedryn said as he put an arm around his mom and squeezed.

Aodhan led them to a small clearing and they all changed again. Kedryn set up a fire pit to dry them off while they slept.

“I will keep watch.” Aodhan said as he kissed Lara and walked off.

When the sun began to rise Aodhan woke them and they started their journey to the ruins of Yule.

Late in the afternoon the ruins of the village came into view. Like the hill of Tara the ruins of Yule were expanded into two hills. Only in this realm one hill sloped down into the other hill below. The wall that once surrounded the village lay crumbling and covered in ivy and moss. As they picked their way through Lara looked around at the city and it’s fallen and decaying houses and central square with what looked to be a large round well.

Kedryn walked up to the well and sat on the edge. “What now?”

Lara looked around and then to the upper hill. “We should look around here first. I don’t think we will find it down here.”

“Follow your gut.” Kedryn said and hopped down off the well. He turned around and peered over the edge.

Kiara walked over and looked into the well. “Do you suppose the water is any good? We need to replenish our supplies.”

Aodhan picked up a bucket that was next to the well and tested it out. “Does not seem to have too many holes.”

Lara looked around at the remains of the houses long since gone with all but their foundations and a few crumbling walls protruding from where they once stood. Along side the houses were over grown ditches that must have once been used for sanitation and drainage ran along the streets.

“Kedryn do you still have the water filter in your pack?”

“Yes.” Kedryn said and shrugged off his pack and started to dig through it.

They lined their water skins and canteens along the well and Aodhan tied some rope to the bucket.

“We will have to quickly fill them since this bucket will not hold for long.” Aodhan said

They quickly gathered the water and Kedryn glanced around at that village. “Better get started while we still have light.”

“Good idea.” Kiara said looking around and headed to the nearest ruin.

After they rummaged around a few buildings no signs of an underground city was found. Lara took time to study and sketch the inscriptions and relief tablets which were on the buildings and standing stones what would have been the gates to the wealthy houses. Every once in a while they stopped to check and see if anything would lead to where the older remains of the city would be.

Ending back in the main square Lara looked around satisfied. “To the other hill?”

Aodhan gave her a bow “Lead the way, my love.”

A temple on the edge of the next hill came into view and what looked to be a large cemetery. From the temple overgrown terraces made their way up the hill to the estate.

Lara felt in her gut that the remains of the castle Morrigan were under the ruins of the estate on the hill. When they reached the top of the hill she looked down onto the village below. The streets and aqueducts were perfectly separated in squares along the roads ruins of the homes.

Walking through what would have been the entry gate into an overrun courtyard they followed a path of upturned stones to where the door to the house would have been.

The estate house’s roof was caved in but much of the walls remained. Wooden remains of steps strewn on the floor indicated that there was at least a second floor to the estate house. Lara picked her way through to the main hall.

The creaking of a floor board under Lara’s feet turned into a loud crack. Aodhan grabbed for Lara as she fell through the boards and hit dirt. Her relief didn’t last long when falling of stone sounded beneath her. She started to sink and suddenly disappeared into the darkness below.

Kedryn quickly bent over testing the floor. He lit a torch and threw it down into the hole. Lara caught it as she was sitting up.

“Wait here.” Kedryn said as he grabbed hold of the ledge and swung down.

“You have a habit of falling through walls or should I say floors to find what you are looking for.” Kedryn said looking at her concerned.

Lara sat up checking every part of her body. “No worse for the wear.” she tried to stand and immediately sat down. “I take that back.”

Kedryn helped her up and looked around where the moonlight was showing through.

“Everyone ok down there?” Aodhan yelled and he looked over the side of the hole

“Give us a minute.” Lara yelled up and gave him a quick smile.

Kedryn took the torch and walked around the rubble. He looked up at the ceiling and took out his sword testing to make sure the rest held. Running the light of the torch and his hand along the wall. He came across a sconce with a stub of a candle in it and lit it with the torch and looked around to see one on each wall.

Lara looked down and saw blood spreading on the side of her leg and sat down. She ran her hand down her leg and found a gash in her pants and flinched when she put pressure on the wound.

Aodhan lowered Kiara down and she looked around as he jumped down to Lara’s side. He noticed her holding her leg and immediately examined it. Bluish white light surrounded her leg.

“Thanks.” she said as she looked around.

He kissed her. “Anytime, my heart. What do you suppose this room is?”

Kiara walked up to a broken vanity that was crushed when the ceiling fell in. “It looks to be a bedroom.”

Lara examined the bed that was covered with chunks of ceiling. “We defiantly found something.”

“How much time do we have left?” Kedryn asked.

Aodhan raised an eyebrow and thought about it for a second. “We have been gone a little over a week.”

“Then we should head back soon. Portal or no Portal.” Kedryn said.

Kiara walked up to the door. “Now that Lady Paili is gone he will most certainly move forward with his plans if even sooner.”

“For revenge.” Kedryn said as he swept some of her hair behind her shoulder.

Kiara gave him a sad look. “Lady Paili was the only thing besides power that he loved. Yes. For revenge.”

Footsteps sounded on the stone stairway to the dungeon. The hidden door to the study opened and Lord Faolan looked up to see Firnir walk in.

“Lady Cyri has asked for me to find you. She has been complaining of your absence.”

Faolan scooted his chair back and stroked his beard. “This battle is more important than her mere whims.”

Firnir sat down in a chair across from the desk. “You have found the magic of how to impede her powers my lord. That may be enough.”

Slamming his fist on the table he looked at the papers on the desk. “It is not good enough. I need to find a way to permanently disable them during the battle.”

“Are you going to send more to assassinate the Lady Battle Raven?”

Faolan rubbed his eyes. “I have wasted enough men with that effort.”

“He is a wise General. What should I tell your ladyship?” Firnir leaned forward.

Faolan closed the book in front of him. He stood and walked over to a shelf pulling out a dusty scroll.

“I have been neglecting Lady Cyri lately. That woman is insatiable. I will go to her after I look at this.”

“No need, my Lord. She has sent for the new Lord Sheehan to entertain her. Be wary of that one my Lord. He has an eye on your throne.”

“He is but a child.” Faolan spat out.

“He is almost a man my Lord. With Cyri taking over some of his eh ehm training. I am foreseeing hints of a plot against you.” Firnir said.

“He will be dealt with. Before the battle I will declare that a man from every noble house must hold the front line. Since he is the only man . . .”

Firnir let out a chuckle. “I see. You are most wise, my lord. Is there anything you need? Perhaps a meal and some wine?”

“Yes. Thank you.” Faolan said and picked up his quill and started to write again.

Taking his queue Firnir stood up from his chair and pushed on a brick releasing the hidden door and walked out.

Faolan looked up when the door slowly slid into place. He took out a blood red ruby necklace and placed it on the desk before him and lounged back in his chair.

Lara looked around at the room from the bed to the door still shut but half off of it’s hinges. “Why don’t we search the room first before seeing what’s beyond that door.”

A quick sweep of the walls and furniture revealed nothing except the fact that either someone left in a haste or the room had been ransacked. Dust covered clothes, books along with other items were scattered around.

Kiara walked over to the door and tried to open it and it would not budge. She shoved at it again and a chunk of wood from the top fell to the floor just missing her head. Looking up at the door annoyed Kiara ran her hand over its surface and then she looked closer at it. “Look at this. It is the symbol of Macha.”

“Are you certain? It is not the symbol for Badb?” Aodhan asked

“Most certain. This is a crow in flight holding a mistletoe. Badb’s would be a raven.”

“Of course.” Aodhan said and motioned for Kedryn to help him move the door. They tore the door off its frame and set aside what remained of it. An old musty smell filled the room and Kedryn put his torch out into the hallway. Tall pedestals lined the corridor. Kedryn walked up to one and examined it. There was a indention with liquid in it. He stuck his finger in it and sniffed.