Blue Keltic Moon (Children of the Keltic Triad) (32 page)

Tori pointed. “When Nightshade and I said that word, the magic rising from our elements got stronger.”

All eyes turned toward him. Nightshade shrugged. “Makes sense.”

“But why not the water?” Lucidea asked. “While this pretty much proves Tori is Andras, she’s also half-Sindhu.”

“You say the word,” Tori prompted.

Though he and Tori gave rapid coaching, Lucidea was unable to vocalize the word of power. The syllables stuck in her throat, choking her each with each attempt.

“That’s enough,” Nightshade said when she drew breath to try again. “There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to draw upon the magic, but you’ve been blocked. Maybe it’s your pregnancy.”

“Great.” Lucidea sniffed. “Helps with one thing, denies me another. Just great.”

Muted by distance, an angry roar jerked their attention to the sky. Final layers of the veil peeled back, clearing, clarifying, until they looked through a reasonably clear window into the world between worlds.

B
randr Ur howled. Rage and frustration rang through the thick air. Shivers of dread channeled down Breanna’s spine and mixed with a surge of adrenaline. Her muscles flexed, tightened then relaxed. With a nod, she and her team stepped forward, a loose semi-circle of five, to corral the elemental.

While the veil had cleared until she could see the brilliant full moon shining in the human world’s night sky, their combined magic had prevented the elemental from breaking through.

A small satisfaction, but satisfaction nonetheless.

The elemental had ranted and beat his fists against the clear barrier before turning and vocalizing his displeasure. Bree stared silently at the elemental while Brandr Ur seethed. She bit back a grin, steam actually rose from his skin, making him look like a demented cartoon character.

Chance snickered, drawing the elemental’s attention.

Fists clenched, arms stiff at his side, Brandr Ur stalked forward. “What have you done?”

Morghan leapt in front of Chance to confront the elemental. “Prevented ye from leavin’ this place.”

Brandr Ur stopped and glared at each of them in turn. “You shall not stop me. None of you has the power.”

“Aye, no’ alone. But together we have.”

With another fierce howl, the elemental shoved Morghan away and stabbed a finger toward Chance. “You. I want you.”

“Fight me, then, Elemental.”

A cold fist clamped around Bree’s heart. “No.”

Both Chance and the elemental turned to her. Matching fierceness burned in their eyes until Chance blinked. For a moment he was her baby brother then cold determination return to firm his expression. “It’s okay, Bree. This is my destiny. The reason I came along.” He nodded toward Gowthaman. “He understands.”

Brandr Ur thumped a fist against his chest. “You will fight me.”

Slowly, Chance moved his focus back to the elemental. “I will. And I will defeat you. You won’t find your way into another world nor touch another unwilling mind. It stops here. The insanity stops with me.”

Morghan clutched the elemental’s shoulder and forced him to turn. “You will fight me.”

Brandr Ur laughed. “You? I defeated you once before. I will not waste the time to do so again. I will fight the boy, for he has uttered the challenge. If the young one wishes to die at my hands, then die he shall.”

Curling his fingers as if holding a large ball, Brandr Ur faced Chance and grinned. A moment later he stared down at the empty space between his palms and grunted. He switched one hand from top to bottom. The wicked grin spread across his face. But the glee disappeared under a mask of confusion. His hands dropped heavily to his sides.

Odd. Breanna kept her sword at the ready and tried to catch Morghan’s eye. The Sindhu frowned and shook his head.

“Gowtham?” she whispered.

“I do not—”

“Lost your powers, old man?” Chance sidled closer to the elemental and tapped him on the shoulder with his long sword. “Kinda sucks, doesn’t it?”

“What did you do, human? How—no, you cannot restrain me. Fight and I will take the life from you and regain what is mine.”

Chance danced to the elemental’s other side. “I’ll fight you... old man. But you won’t get anything but dead.”

“Ha. I am immortal.”

“Big deal.” Chance stepped back and shrugged.

“Chance,” Bree admonished. “Don’t antagonize—”

“Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.” He walked backwards, tugging at the leather strip wrapping the hilt of his overly long sword.

Too many options presented themselves to Bree, the rapid rise of confusion hid any answers for which she searched. Her brother couldn’t fight an elemental. She couldn’t fight a being as powerful as Brandr Ur and hope to succeed. What was Chance doing? It didn’t matter if the elemental didn’t have any powers now—what if they came back during the battle? Maybe they could make it through and close the veil before the elemental found a way to follow them.

Before she could rush forward, Gowthaman gently wrapped his hand around her upper arm. “You must let your brother do this.”

She turned on him. “What?” No. I can’t. What if—”

“This mission is filled with instances of ‘what if’. We have faced every challenge.” He dropped his gaze a moment. “Each physical and personal challenge, each moment of doubt and concern. Despite odds greatly piled against us, we communicated with our world.”

Bree strained toward her brother, intent on being at his side when the elemental attacked. Maybe the two of them...

Gowthaman tangled their fingers together and continued. “A driving factor, an essential source to each success has been your brother. Chance has shown maturity, knowledge and reasoning beyond his years. You cannot protect him his entire life. He may not seem a man in years, but, beloved, his heart is strong. See him now not as a sister, but through the eyes of the leader of the Alastriona. What do you see?”

Damn Gowtham for making her look at Chance as anything but her baby brother. Try to rationalize it as she might, she found no fault with Gowtham’s astute observations.

Rising dust burned her eyes. Thankful for the excuse to blink back the stinging dampness, she squeezed Gowtham’s fingers and turned her blurry gaze to her lover. “You’re right. It’s just... I’ve watched out for him since he was born, helped him learn how to push away Feidhlim’s evil influence, taught him to fight.”

“These strengths you have allowed him to find within himself, as well as the love you bear for him, have led him to discover the man he has become. Let him be that man. He understands the risks, he knows the chance he takes. Of us all, he is the most able to defeat this foe.”

Frantic laughter bubbled from her. She caught the distraught sounds in her hand. “A chance for Chance.” She laughed again, then burst into tears. “How can I watch him endanger himself?”

Gowtham embraced her. “You shall watch him as Alastriona, as one who has trust in those she leads.”

A large hand shoved between them. Thick fingers wrapped in Gowtham’s shirt and jerked him away. “Give me your weapon.”

Hoping to create enough distance between them to effectively use her sword, Bree shoved the elemental’s unyielding shoulder. “Let him go.”

Gowtham’s shirt tight in his grasp, he rounded on her, fist raised. Harsh breaths expanded his chest and although anger burned in his eyes, no physical heat surrounded him. The lack of his fire concerned Bree; if he should somehow regain his powers the battle would be over.

Slowly lowering his fist, the elemental gave her an appraising look, chilling her to her bones. He kept his eyes on her, but released Gowthaman and opened his hand. “Give me the weapon.”

“Come on, Gowthaman,” Chance shouted. “Let’s get this over with so we can go home. We don’t have forever, you know.”

Morghan added just as loudly, “No, do no’.”

The weight of Gowthaman’s gaze on her forced her decision. She gave a short nod. He pressed his sword’s hilt into Brandr Ur’s hand.

The elemental drew his finger down Bree’s cheek. “Perhaps I shall not destroy you immediately.”

“Promises, promises,” she muttered, turning her face to the side and shuddering. When the elemental moved away, Gowtham cupped her cheek with his palm and she closed her eyes. The swirl of soulfire danced behind her lids dissolving the repugnancy of the elemental’s touch.

“Thank you,” she whispered. How wonderful it would be to bask in their soulfire, but the reality of the coming battle forced her eyes open. Coralie moved to her side, although Morghan remained a few paces distant. Bree studied the Sindhu’s ready stance and focused concentration. As a small group of fighters facing a powerful foe, they were as ready as they could be... for whatever happened.

Brandr Ur weighed the sword in his hand, then tested the balance and swing before stalking toward the flat, open area. And Chance. Bree caught her lower lip between her teeth and accepted—nothing would stop this battle. Both her brother and Brandr Ur sought to prove themselves.

Chance had completed removing the leather from his sword hilt and dropped the long strip behind him. One hand wrapped carefully around the blade just below the curved cross guard, and the other cupped over the pommel, Chance held the sword vertically before him. The tip of the five foot blade touched the gray earth. Eyes closed, he breathed in a slow deep breath.

The aspect of ancient meditation, meant to calm the fighter, worked to ease a portion of worry from Bree’s heart as well when she matched his easy exhalation. Maybe Chance did know what he was doing. She had to trust her brother, for that trust was the greatest support she could give him in this moment. Words and arguments would only distract him from his purpose. And distractions could mean failure... for all of them.

Brandr Ur paused, watching the young fighter. Let the child have his brief time of belief. A quick glance over his shoulder showed the veil remained well open. He allowed himself a satisfied grin. Only moments were needed to put the young pup in his place. The others would fall just as quickly despite their belief in their paltry magic.

But the veil... what had prevented him from easily stepping into his new world? The pitiful magic had slowed his advance, though he had expected no less. But the veil... had been a solid force he could not break through.

A sobering thought burst over him. Had the veil somehow taken his magic? Focusing on a tall stone, Brandr Ur called for his fire... insisted the power come to him... cajoled his primal nature... demanded... begged... bargained... found nothing but dim emptiness.

This could not be. These pretenders were no match for his power. A shiver traveled just under his skin raising bumps. He stared at his arm then rubbed the strange bumps and shivered again. He was... this was... cold?

Anger doubled upon itself. That which was his, what made him a god, had been stolen from him. By these puny beings. Clutching the sword hilt in both hands, he drew breath to roar his rage, then pulled back the need and rolled his shoulders. Long ages had passed since he’d held a physical weapon but he remembered the use of such was not assisted by anger.

No matter he was forced to lower himself to this level. If he remained calm and determined, defeating these foes would take little effort. Determined, he would regain his due as a god.

Brandr Ur planted his feet firmly in the dry, gray dust and lifted the weapon, his stance eager... ready.

The challenger opened his eyes.

––––––––

“T
his is just like watching a movie through a fog,” Jayse grumbled. “We see everything going on, but can’t do anything about it.”

Nightshade commiserated with his friend’s frustration. They’d opened the veil, somehow prevented the elemental from breaking through, and now held the passage to the world between worlds steady and reasonably clear to their vision. But this was a silent movie, though it was easy to imagine the thoughts of each person.

And like a movie focused on the main action, Chance and Brandr Ur centered their view through the veil. Able to easily see the fierce, determined expressions on their faces, dread deepened in Nightshade’s gut as the combatants faced each other. More than with one of his feelings, he knew this was why Chance insisted on joining the rescue mission. Why he’d been so determined to be at ease with a new weapon.

Something about the sword drew his attention. Nightshade took a few steps to the edge of the brae and narrowed his eyes against the winds produced by the triple-strands of power. Lucidea joined him.

“What’s caught your attention?” she asked.

He turned his head and grinned. “Can’t get anything by you, can I, honey?”

She folded her arms over her chest. “Obviously a lot. We’ll talk about that later.” She jerked one hand toward the veil. “What about over there?”

“The sword.”

“Huh?”

“There’s something about Chance’s sword.”

Lucidea faced the veil and leaned forward. Nightshade shot his arm to the side to hold her back. “Careful.”

She nodded and eased back a step but continued to study the scene before them. Chance shifted his hold on his weapon, bringing the blade to ready. A dim glint shone from the pommel, casting faint light on the curving cross guards. Lucidea gasped.

Jayse was at her side in a heartbeat. “Darlin’?”

“That sword. I know it. How did he...?”

Nightshade squinted, and as though the veil wished him to see, a portion of the haft and the fine etching at the base of the blade came into amazingly clear focus.

He recognized the sword as well. “Oberon’s.”

Jayse pulled Lucidea back from the cliff’s edge and shook his head. “Can’t be. The sword’s safely locked up in the Faerie armory.”

“No, Jayse,” Lucidea said. “I’m sure that’s Oberon’s sword. More than just how the weapon looks, can’t you feel the power? Even through the veil? How did Chance get it?”

“Probably stole it.” At her soft statement, Nightshade turned to Tori. She shrugged. “You know as well as I do there’s something going on with him. Bet he knew he’d come to this point and would need a weapon that could possibly defeat the elemental. In any of the worlds we know about, there’s only one sword powerful enough to fit that description. Oberon’s.” She glanced at Jayse. “And it’s not like you keep the Faerie armory guarded, is it?”