The First Spell Weaver of Airendell: Book Two of the Airendell Chronicles (6 page)

Magdrid has been evaluating her condition, she tells Elias, “Her heart is bruised as well.  We must to get that pressure off before it stops beating completely.  Keep it beating and we can heal her injuries fairly quickly.”  Magdrid assures Elias.

When the tube is in, the blood pooled in her chest cavity slowly starts draining.  “That’s sufficient young man.  Remove your tube,” Magdrid instructs Elias. 

“Just a moment,” says Elias as he listens to Morna’s chest with his stethoscope.   When he is satisfied that Magdrid is correct, he removes the tube and joins Luca in weaving the spells that will heal Morna’s body.

Damian is very stiff and uncomfortable in the presence of all the blood, but he holds his breath and concentrates on Morna’s face as he helps George hold Morna down on the bed.  Elias looks at Damian and says, “She should be okay now.  Do you need to go outside kid?”

“I’m good,” Damian insists.  He really doesn’t trust Morna’s mother, and wants to keep an eye on her.

Luca understands the young vampire’s concerns and tries to reassure him; “All is going as it should. Morna will be fine Damian.  You can go outside, son.”  Damian meets Luca’s eyes, and then he finally nods and is gone in an instant. 

Magdrid looks at Luca in surprise.  She is amazed at the control the vampires have exhibited around all of this blood.  “You can go too, Lucian.  The sight and scent of her blood must be overwhelming for you.  I promise that my daughter will be all right,” the First Spell Weaver of Airendell quietly tells her son in law.

“I know Magdrid, but I won’t leave her,” Luca quietly informs his mother in law.  “This isn’t anything I haven’t dealt with before.”

“What she needs most now is sleep,” Elias assures Luca.  “I will reset the bones and apply splints.  But I do not want her out of this bed for at least a week.  Luca, you have the difficult job now, making her stay put.”  Elias chuckles as he thinks to himself that he wouldn’t want that job. 

Magdrid speaks up, “I have a sleeping spell that should put her out for at least 3 days, should I use it?” 

Luca says, “No Magdrid, it won‘t work on her.  When Morna wakes she will insist on going to find our daughter.  Magdrid, you must go to Alfheim, right now.  I doubt that I can track Ari, but I suspect he hasn’t gone far so I will set out in a little bit to try.   He will want another shot at destroying Morna and I.”

Magdrid looks into her son in law‘s eyes and says, “Elias and I will go right now.  I will send Kelly and Nobbs to help keep an eye out for Ari.  Are your healing spells strong enough to help her if she has any complications?” 

Luca nods, “My magic is as sound as ever Magdrid, you needn‘t worry about that.” 

Magdrid observes the men around her daughter thoughtfully.  “I can see my daughter is truly an amazing being to have such a wide array of men seeking to do her bidding, and looking after her.  Luca, I have made so many mistakes.  I should have sought her out years ago, and tried to figure out how to break the curse.  I assume she can die, even though she has been exposed to your venom?”  Magdrid asks thoughtfully.

“Magdrid, all creatures can die, you know that.  Even the so called Immortals like ourselves.” Luca agrees with Magdrid.  “Neutralizing Ari is the key to keeping her safe.  He is our enemy.”

“We must neutralize Kyera regardless.  She is still a threat to Morna and everyone she loves.  Almeda told me that Kyera killed Morna’s children, but that the high council of Alfheim had sprites watching them and managed to whisk the children to safety at the last second.  Have you been able to confirm this?” Magdrid asks Luca.  Her voice is hopeful.  “My heart sings at the thought of four grandchildren.”

“No Magdrid we have not been able to confirm that.” Luca regretfully tells Magdrid.  “Ari and Almeda were our only source of information on this score, and obviously that’s not reliable.” 

Just then the front door crashes open and Valliant strides in followed by his sons Sailor and Raider.  “What is that cow doing here?” he demands as the points at Magdrid.

Luca sighs, he had heard Damian explaining to Valliant what had transpired before the demigod barged into the cottage.  “Valliant, it seems that Ari tricked us into believing that Magdrid was behind all of Morna’s troubles.”

Valliant grunts, but says nothing more.  It’s plain to everyone present that Valliant doesn’t trust Magdrid one bit.

Luca looks at Valliant and says, “As soon as Elias says it is okay for Morna to be moved, you must take her someplace safe.  I can’t know where she’s hidden.  In case Ari can still connect to my mind.   As soon as I began to suspect that he was behind everything and not Magdrid, he shows up here with a small army of Trolls.  He apparently murdered his own mother, placed some kind of binding spell on me that held me virtually defenseless until Morna showed up.  If I know where Morna is, Ari will too.  I won’t risk that.  Valliant, you and Damian are the best ones to protect her.”

“She shouldn’t be moved any time soon,” says Elias.  “She has had too many serious injuries in such a short period of time.”

“I am heading out to try to track Ari.  It is probably useless, but I must try.  He has my daughter.” says Luca in an anguished voice.  “I will leave now and let the rest of you plan.  But could I have a few minutes with my mate before I leave though?”  

“Luca she is out cold,” says Elias.

“That’s okay, I just want to say goodbye.” Luca says quietly.

Everyone steps back outside to give Luca some time with his mate.  He leans down and kisses her cheek gently.  “You can do better than that,” Morna whispers in a sleep thickened voice.

“How are you feeling, mo chroí?” Luca asks.

“Like a couple of tons of monster fell on top of me,” Morna grunts as she tries to sit up. 

Luca gently places his hands on her shoulders to stop her.  “No way, love,” he says as he kisses her cheek again.  “Elias was very adamant that you must lie still for a while.  Be a good girl.  How much did you hear?” 

“Everything.  Do you really think Ari can read your mind without you being aware of it?” Morna asks skeptically.

“No, I said that for Magdrid‘s benefit.”              

“Are you really planning to leave me behind?” Morna asks.

“No, it is always a bad idea for us to be apart.  I was a damned fool to leave you at the Gateway.  Can you forgive me?” Luca asks quietly. 

Morna looks at him evenly and says, “Nothing to forgive.  I had it coming.  In your place, I would have been angry too.  You were right, I just gave up.  I am sorry.”  She smiles tentatively at her mate and kisses him deeply. 

Luca reluctantly pulls back from the kiss and says, “But I want Magdrid to think we will be apart,” Luca says.  “I am hoping she will tip her hand if she thinks we are vulnerable.”

“We can’t trust her Luca,” Morna asserts quietly.

“I agree with my daughter,” booms a voice from the doorway.  “Let her think we are keeping Morna hid safely away.  Let Magdrid and that boy Elias go seek the help of the light elves, but I think they have already demonstrated that they cannot control their own. ” 

“I don’t trust Magdrid not to do away with Elias,” says Morna worriedly.

“I think we should trick Magdrid and capture her, and go to Alfheim ourselves,” says Luca.

“Perhaps, but I am not ready to tip our hand to Magdrid.  She probably thinks that she convinced us of her innocence.  She has always been very confident in her abilities to persuade people,” says Morna thoughtfully.  “But maybe Alfheim isn’t our best option right now.  Father, do you think Heimdall would help us?  It occurs to me that even Ari couldn’t hide completely from the Guardian of the Bifrost.”

“I was about to suggest that very thing, Baby Girl,” said Valliant.  “Are you up to making the journey now or should we wait?”

“I think she should wait,” says Elias from the doorway.  “But what do I know?  I am just a trained physician and healer,” he adds sarcastically.

“Godson, you and I both know all I need is a good meal and I can make the trip.  I will have plenty of bodyguards to protect me if we are challenged.  And that is very unlikely, as you well know.”  Morna replies as she gets up from the bed.  “You will be in much more danger accompanying my mother to Alfheim than I will be with Luca and Valliant to protect me.”

“Fine Pretty Morna, I know you won’t listen to reason anyway.  So I won’t waste my time,” Elias says as he walks over to hug his godmother.  “And don’t worry, I don’t trust Magdrid either.  But what she told you about me being chosen to succeed her, that part is true.  She and the Elders summoned me here two hundred years ago and gave me the news.  They said the seers had foretold of it, and that I had to simply bide my time and mature.  But I never really put much stock in that story, so I am still leery of trusting too much in her too soon.  Let her prove herself first, I am thinking.”

“We should send someone back to look out for those at the Oklahoma gateway,” says Morna.  “Rinda, Fionn and Micah went to check on the girls at The Bridge.  Oh man, and Mike!  Ari knows about him too.”

“Sailor and Raider have already left for the Oklahoma gateway. My sons will remain as guardians of the gateway until they hear from me, and Rinda and Micah will can stay with your girls until they hear from you.   Bronwyn, Brian, Carrick and Enya plan to accompany Elias and Magdrid to Alfheim.  They don‘t trust the cow any more than I do,” informs Valliant.  “Your godson will be well protected daughter.  Breena and the Stone Breaker will travel with us.”

“Damian, you and George need to come in here please,” Morna calls out quietly.  When they join them Morna asks, “Damian, have you been informing George of the discussion in here?”  When Damian nods, Morna chuckles at how close the two have become, and continues, “Well George I am sure I know what Damian will want to do, but what about you?  Will you join us and go to Asgard, or do you want to return to Brigid and your grandmother?”

“I should want to return to Brigid and Maria, but I honestly can’t turn down the chance to go to Asgard.  Besides, no one will get past my Granny, Brigid is perfectly safe,” admits George.  “Unless you think I will do more good back in Oklahoma.”

Valliant speaks up, “George, I want you to come to Asgard. I believe you are much more powerful than you are aware.  I want to discuss your history.” The demigod says cryptically.  “I think you will play an important role in restoring balance between good and evil.”

“Okay, all that is settled,” says Morna rubbing her hands together in an attitude of anticipation.  “Now on to more important things, I need food and a bath before we go anywhere.  I am famished and I smell like a Troll.”  She wrinkles her nose and everyone laughs. 

Damian opens one small section of his backpack, it is full of jerky, candy bars, energy bars, cokes and bottled water.  “Sorry about the poor selection, but I wanted to make sure you had essential calories.  I have kept this with me since I became your bodyguard.  I also have some clothes, a first aid kit, a knife and revolver in here.  I had no idea what you might need in any given circumstance.  But at least I can feed and clothe you Morna, even if I can’t protect you.  Sorry, but I had no way to keep the sodas cold.” He apologizes.

Luca laughs, “Damian, nice work.  That‘s fine with her, she loves her junk food.”

Morna gives Damian a big kiss on his cheek and helps herself to the goodies in the bag.  “I can take care of the soda.  Watch this kiddo.  This is a little trick I came up with between my LiNora and Hilda incarnations, after Father took me to Jotunheim.”  Morna holds a can of coke in her hand and utters a short spell and ice forms on the outside of the can.  “Oops, that might have been too much.  It‘s much harder to do on a small scale like this.  Too bad I didn‘t remember this little trick when we were fighting the Trolls in the glen.  I could have saved myself a few broken bones and a lot of embarrassment.”   She laughs at her mistake. 

Luca takes this opportunity to run everyone out of their cottage saying, “Morna needs to eat, bathe and rest.  After the envoys leave for Alfheim we can leave for Asgard.  Everyone in agreement?”

Everyone nods and files out, giving Morna hugs or kisses as they go.  She holds her friends tightly who will make up the entourage bound for Alfheim and charges each of them to be cautious. After everyone leaves Luca comes to Morna and caresses her cheek.  “You remember Hilda?” he asks softly.  When Morna nods, he asks, “How long?”

“I remembered her and Roxie on the run over here.”  Morna smiles sadly.  “I never seem to know when memories will come back.”

“So you remember my failures now too.  Can you forgive me?” Luca asks quietly.

“Darling, there is nothing to forgive.” Morna assures him as she snuggles into his arms.  “None of this is your fault.  But I can understand how much pain those lifetimes must have caused you when you learned how I died.  I was terrified I would get to you too late to help today, and that made me recall those deaths.  I was nearly crushed by the pain you must have felt because you were unable to prevent them.  But those lifetimes in no way represent a failure on your part.  Fate can be cruel, you know that.  And this curse took my fate completely out of our hands.  You have never failed me love, never!  If either one of us has ever failed the other, it was me.  I know you watched me live as wife to Myles when I lived as LiNora, and as wife to Erik when I lived as Nichole.  How long did you endure that? Thirty-six years, as I recall.”