Celtic Rain (The Battle Raven Series) (11 page)

Aodhan lay down and looked to Eion. “Wake me in a couple of hours to keep watch. You should not have to do it all yourself tonight.”

“We all need some rest and I put a charm on the front of the cave. It is a Druids cave after all. As long as I am in it we are safe and hidden for the night at least. Get some rest you deserve it.”

Lara woke stiff, groggy and most of all very hungry. She stretched and thought to herself that she better get up and make sure the workers are up. It all started coming back and she stared up at the cave ceiling realizing this was not a dig. The blood, running and where she was came crashing down on her.

As her eyes started to adjust to the light she rubbed her face and removed the strands of hair sticking to it. Lara rolled over to her side and turned right into Aodhan with their faces inches apart. He had a smug smile on his face not even trying to look innocent. She looked at him for a second pushed off his chest and sat up.

“You have the whole cave to sleep in.” she said as she swung her arm wide in a circle.

He changed his look from smug to absolute innocence. “None of those places are as warm.” he said and gave her a lop sided grin.

“Ugh, men!” Lara said as she reached over to shake Kedryn awake. “Time to get up. I’ll get the pack and pull out some breakfast.”

Kedryn shook off her hand irritated that she woke him up so early. He pulled the blanket over his head and she heard a muffled. “Too early.” He sat up knowing that if he didn’t get up when she asked his mom would pull the blanket off of him and wake him up anyway.

Lara reached over and pulled her frame pack close shoving her blanket and pillow inside. “I looked last night and we have plenty left over since we didn’t use much at the dig.”

Kedryn rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and stood up. He walked over to the pile of wood and picked up an armful. “Since they provided all of that lovely bland flavorless food. You should have offered up your spices.”

“And offend the cook? I don’t think so. You might have ended up with spit in your food. She was like the
lunch Nazis
you have at your school.”

Kedryn laughed and set the logs by the fire. Lara looked around for Eion and saw him sitting at the edge of the cave.

“Didn’t you get any rest?” she asked as she pulled most of her hair up into a couple of hair pins. Ugh, why did I get layers? Oh yes, my sis said
it’s the new sexy.

Eion stood up and walked over taking a seat by Aodhan amused with her hair struggles. “I believe I have had enough rest over the past few years. Tonight we will split the shifts in threes. Kedryn can stay up with Aodhan and he can show him what to look for. It is much different than scouting the ground.”

Lara pulled out some bars and dried fruit along with the coffee kettle and rack. “Can you set up the tri-pod and start up the coffee?”

“Sure. Use the good stuff?” Kedryn asked

Lara thought about it for a second. “Why not.”

As she was looking in the pack she noticed Kedryn’s blanket and travel pillow on the ground by Aodhan’s feet as he stood up.

“Hey, could you throw me the blanket and pillow by you so I can pack it
up?”

“Anything you wish my Lady Battle Raven.” He said as he made a mock bow and balled them up and tossed them to her.

Annoyed Lara gave him a sharp look and grabbed the blanket and pillow and stuffed them in the gear pack. Aodhan got a devious look on his face and leaned over to Kedryn. He whispered just loud enough for Lara to hear.

“Was that
the look?
”

“Yep.” Kedryn said grinning at his mother.

Lara rolled her eyes and watched as Kedryn picked up everything she had taken out to get the coffee started and set it up over the fire. One more time she thanked God that she hadn’t gone back out to bring in the frame packs from the jeep. Luck of the Irish she grinned to herself. Then frowned thinking about the past and what lie ahead.

Eion studied both Aodhan and Lara and shook his head. Lara’s shift in mood made him wonder if it was Aodhan that was doing it or this whole situation. “This should be interesting.” Eion said under his breath and said out loud. “After we break camp and get going, I think that following alongside the Idad Forest road and stopping in the afternoon is the best plan. I would like to avoid the towns and estates on the way. I don’t want Lara or Kedryn’s presence known until we hit the Duir plain or Tralee at least.”

“I will find a good spot to train and camp. An area close to water would be good too.” Aodhan said.

“When you find the stream I think Kedryn and I will try a spot of fishing. After I will se to Kedryn’s training.”

Eion looked at the coffee pot and took a good whiff. “That smells delicious. Like a morning drink we have here except a bit different.”

Lara inhaled the sweet Hazelnut coffee fumes and started to feel herself wake up a little bit more.

Aodhan sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulders and playfully squeezed. “Yes very good.”

“It is hazelnut flavored coffee. Enjoy it while it lasts boys. I like to bring some of civilization while I’m on digs. I only have one more can of the good stuff left.”

She made a show of removing Aodhan’s arm from around her and took
out some plastic cups. She poured each of them a cup of coffee and handed out some breakfast. Aodhan reached over her and looked into the pack that was sitting in front of her.

“You do not happen to have anything else fun in that pack?” he asked.

“I also have some flavored hot chocolate that I think I will save for a special occasion. Just because I have to
rough it
doesn’t mean I have to leave some of my favorites behind.”

“Chocolate that is hot I do know about. Anything else?” Eion asked.

“Of course, I’m full of surprises.” she said as she tried to look into her pack past Aodhan’s arm. He was leaning over her rummage through it.

“Don’t you have any respect for others personal space?”

Lara shouldered Aodhan away pulling his arm out of her pack. She pulled out her cell phone. It was burnt black and looked like the battery had blown out the back.

“What is that?” Aodhan asked taking it from her.

“My cell phone. Looks like no reception here the whole phone is blown.” she heard Eion curse and glanced his way.

“That must have been the smell of smoke and pop that I heard going through the portal.” he said

“My phone was so deep in the pack the sound it must have been muffled.” she said.

“I’ll tell you a story about that sometime. There is not anything else in there of your realm technology wise anyway?” Eion asked.

“My laptop is at home. There is just the usual camping gear, blankets, matches, and flashlight. Look at this it blew too. Check out the batteries.”

“Apologies. It was my mistake. I should have known better. What more is in there?” Aodhan asked as he leaned over to look in again.

“I also have some pans, plastic plates, and some other things. The food should last us until we get to where we are going. That is if we ration it right. You said four days right?”

Aodhan looked at her to answer her question and he noticed that some of her hair had fallen out. He reached over and let his fingers linger on her hair then realized what he was doing. He pushed the strands of hair behind her ear quickly pulling his hand back.

Eion noticed and looked at them amused. This will be really interesting he thought to himself and cleared his throat.

“We do not have to worry about food. There are plenty of springs and animals around here. I can teach Kedryn how to hunt on the way. If you have enough in there we will not have to and it would save on time.”

Lara decided to change the subject. Hunting wasn’t exactly her favorite thing to talk about.

“I’ve been curious. How is it possible that there are rumors here about the sisters turning into banshees in your realm?”

Eion took a sip of coffee. “After her sisters were turned Badb had to figure out how to configure closing the portal herself. It seems while it was still open a couple of Danann snuck back through to rejoin the small group that stayed behind.”

“The myth in my realm is that all of the Danann left with the sisters was not true?” Lara asked.

“May I give a little history Eion?” Aodhan asked and Eion gestured for him to go ahead.

“After the war a counsel was formed of the three lands. A treaty was agreed upon with the Danann and split the provinces in order to maintain peace. There weren’t enough Danann left for them to cause trouble so it worked out well. The Milesian king and queen overlooked the Lords of the Danann and Firbolg alike.”

“If there was a king how did the Milesian ended up with only a Lord?” Kedryn asked.

“I was just getting to that. As time went on the Danann named a true Lord of their race. The king allowed the Lord to rule over the Danann with the exception that he would answer to the king if need be. Eventually the king died with no heir to the Milesian throne. The blood line had ended and the Milesian decided that it would be better to follow the Danann example and elected a Lord. The counsel grew in power, elected by the people with Danann, Milesian and even Firbolg council members. Until Faolan took over.”

“What of the Firbolg? Where do they come from?” Kedryn asked.

“The Firbolg is a race that came from across the sea and landed on the Danann side. A battle was fought as their plan was to conquer the Danann and move from there to the Milesian. When they failed the Firbolg burned their remaining ships and were banished to the other side of the mountain where they remain to this day.” Eion said.

Aodhan reached over, refilled his cup and took a sip scalding his tongue and cringed. Lara noticed and laughed as he gave her a non-convincing glare.

“That was brilliant. No one here knew anything about what happened after Badb closed the portal. For instance that she had descendants until Kiara started having visions. At that time we did not know that you and Kedryn were part Milesian also. It was assumed she had conceived you after she was on the other side.”

Eion set his cup down. “When I knew Kiara she was already a powerful Seer. Is she still a captive of Faolan?”

“We believe so. Father did send a couple of trackers and scouts to rescue her however none have returned.”

“It is my hope Lady Paili still saw fit for her to stay in the quarters she was in after Lord Faolan had followed me through. If she is smart she will keep Kiara as an asset and train her. This is a very frightening thought.”

When breakfast was finished Lara wiped the cups clean and Kedryn helped her pack up the rest of the gear. Lara shook out the last coffee cup.

“You said we are stopping by a stream right?” Lara asked.

“With any luck. Why do you ask?” Eion asked.

“Someone has to do the dishes around here.”

“A woman after my own heart.” Aodhan said as he slightly turned put his hand over his heart and gave her a mocking grin while walking backwards out of the cave.

As Lara and Kedryn shrugged on their packs she turned to Kedryn and handed him her dagger. He tried to hand it back to her since he’d seen it before.

“Push the spot under the hilt.”

Kedryn pushed where Lara showed him and the blades slid apart. He looked at the two separated blades and gave her a look. “When do I get a sword?”

“When you are older.” She said and slid the blades back together.

They stopped after a few steps out and took in the scene before them.
The only part of the realm that Lara had seen was the outside lit by the bright orange Harvest moon. Now a shining sun rose sending colors of orange, yellow and purple streaking across the sky.

Lara looked out over the land and she saw that the cave was set deep into the side of a hill surrounded by bushes and trees to the front and side. No correct that not a hill. She turned and looked up at the snow covered peaks of a mountain range glinting in the sunlight. Lara turned to get a better view and it extended out on both sides of the cave as far as the eye could see. Cascades of small waterfalls were quietly streaming down the mountain.

Kedryn came up to her side and crossed his arms. “Why are there always mountains?”

“What do you mean?” Lara asked as she closed her eyes feeling the sun shine on her face and light breeze.

“Every movie we’ve seen that has some sort of fantasy world. Mountains.” Kedryn gestured to the surrounding landscape.

Lara opened her eyes are looked at him. “Have you ever expected to be in one for real?”

Aodhan walked up a small path to them. “Time to go.”

They were led single file down a small winding game trail. Further down the mountain the pine trees thinned out and the trail widened turning onto a sloped hill. The hill led down to rocky foothills with a mixture of different sizes and colors of granite and limestone boulders. Aodhan stopped for a second, hopped onto several different sized rocks that led to a large boulder. He looked around and gave the signal for everyone to move on.

The rocky land turned into grassy slopes that merged into a strip of thick meadow with a colorful mixture of wildflowers and berry bushes. Beyond the meadow lie a colorful forest with green, yellow orange and even a touch of purple and pink in the trees.

While they were walking through the tall grass Lara turned and looked to make sure Kedryn was still behind her. The grass was so thick it muffled the sound of their footsteps. Kedryn stepped up beside her and pointed over to something to their side.