Gideon's Spear (19 page)

“And if we refuse?” Gideon asked.

“Then we
accidentally
forgets our bargain with her and we kills the pup here.” It grabbed Gideon. The Knight winced when the goblin jerked his arms back. It bound Gideon first, then Finn. “Now, get up. Me mates are tired of carrying you.”

Master and apprentice struggled to their feet. Around them, the pack settled down. A few sported wounds and bald patches on their pelts. One goblin, its nose smashed and bleeding, glared at Finn. Finn grinned back through a mask of muck and goblin leftovers. His grin faded when the Amandán leader stepped in front of them. Even with the rain, the stench of the beast made Finn wrinkle his nose. It shoved its face into Gideon's.

“Try anything and…” It cracked its knuckles meaningfully.

“What—you'll kill us? And risk the sorceress' wrath? Not bleedin' likely.”

It snorted. “
Nar
, we won't kill you.” Its piggy eyes slid toward Finn. “Buts we can hurts this one. Bad. We'll make him scream in agony like a banshee.”

“Yeah, bring it.” Finn squared his shoulders. He prayed the Amandán wouldn't notice his knees knocking together. The goblin spat to one side.
We're lucky he didn't lob a glob at Gideon
, Finn thought.

“Move.” It shoved them forward along the path. Amandán jostled for position around them.

Stumbling along in Gideon's wake, Finn labored to keep up with the pace. The stink of the beasts coated his tongue. He found it hard to draw a deep breath without gagging. For what seemed like hours, he marched along, the mud threatening to suck his shoes off with every other step.

Suddenly, his feet slipped in the muck. Unable to balance because of his bound arms, he fell heavily. Hairy feet kicked at him before paws yanked him upright. They shoved him over next to his master, waiting nearby.

“Chant the Song, Finn, if you're able,” Gideon murmured. “It will help.”

“I can either sing,” Finn said between gasps, his chest heaving, “or breathe. Can't do both.”

Wearily, they looked around. Nearby, a pair of enormous boulders leaned against each other; darkness oozed from the space between. The Amandáns' den. As Finn watched, Amandán started disappearing inside the cave, pushing and shoving like it was a middle-school hallway.

The pack leader shuffled over. Squinting at Gideon's blood-smeared face and mud-covered clothes, the goblin sneered. “You be not so high and mighty now.” It turned to the two goblins remaining. “Untie them. They'll needs their hands to crawl through the Gullet. Bring the whelp first. Then the old one.” One of the guards stepped around behind Finn. He winced as the Amandán yanked at the cords and found the wet knots stubborn. With a laugh, the goblin yanked harder.

Sighing with relief as his arms fell free, Finn glared up at the guard. He rubbed his wrists, wincing at the painful tingling as the blood flowed back into the tips of his fingers. At a snarl from his captor, he began edging reluctantly toward the cave. The thought of crawling into that black hole made his stomach churn. He dragged his feet.

“She promised you the Spear, eh? If you captured us alive?” Gideon said, suddenly, to the leader. “How do you know she even has it?”

The Amandán narrowed its eyes. “Whats do ya mean?”

Massaging his now-freed arms, Gideon shrugged. “I happen to know that Iona does
not
have the Spear in her possession.”

“But she swore—”

Gideon snorted. “And you believed her, then? Why, you Bog-born are more daft than I thought.” He locked eyes with the leader. “I, on the other hand, know who has the Spear.”

“Who?”

“I have it.”

Finn's heart slammed into his ribs so hard he staggered a step.
What the heck is he doing
? Before he could say anything, the Knight continued.

“I'll make you a deal, beastie. A better deal than the one you have with Iona. I'll send my apprentice home for it.” He waited a beat, then added. “And I will stay as hostage to ensure he returns. With the Spear.”

Finn opened his mouth to protest. Then comprehension slapped him upside the head. He almost cheered in admiration. “No, master. Please don't send me away,” he whined instead, playing along with Gideon. He struggled not to laugh.

Gideon spun on him. “Silence, boy! You'll do what you're told.” He cuffed him with a trace of a wink, then turned back to the pack leader. “So, do we have a deal?”

“How do I knows he won't bring back a whole army of Tuatha De Danaan, eh?”

Taking a seat on a nearby rock, Gideon waved a hand in dismissal. “Send one of your own along with him, if you like.”

“And how do I knows ya even gots it?”

“Just why else would I be so willing to offer myself up as hostage if I didn't have it?” He settled back and made himself comfortable. “Home, boyo, and make sure you bring back the correct one.”

“Yes, sir.” Finn hesitated, then continued. “The
big
one with the
red
handle, right?”

“Aye.” The Knight glanced at the Amandán. “And you are still welcome to send one of your own with him.”

Finn held his breath, wondering if they would call Gideon's bluff. When the other two goblins curled their lips at the thought of another trip through the woods, the leader shrugged.

“No need.” It stepped closer, crowding Finn. “You know whats will happen to your master if you don't come back, don't you?” At Finn's nod, it jerked its head eastward. “Run. I wants that Spear in me hand by nightfall.”

Before Finn could leave, Gideon cleared his throat. “If you cannot find it, then do not bother to return. You understand what I am saying, Finnegan MacCullen? Do
not
come back.” His eyes bored into Finn's.

“Yes, sir, I understand.” He raised his chin.
But I will come back. I promise
.

Twenty-Six

F
inn ran for his master's life. Mud sprayed from beneath his feet as he pounded down the trail toward home. Each stride sent jolts of pain along his various bruises. Ignoring the growing stitch in his side, he panted the words to the Song. It helped. But not enough.

With heavy legs, he crested the last hill as the rain finally stopped. Clouds hung low overhead, casting the neighborhood and the city beyond into gloom. A slight breeze came up. Finn shivered, both from cold and dread of being too late.

Reduced to a shambling jog, he reached the back gate. For a moment, he sagged against it, gasping for air, then he pushed it opened and hurried toward the house.

Once inside, he snatched the phone from its cradle. Dialing Mac Roth's number with trembling hands, he muttered to himself as it began ringing. “See? This is exactly why cell phones were invented. To call another Knight when your master gets captured by goblins.” He paced back and forth, leaving muddy footprints across the linoleum.
Come on, come on. Pick up
. He slumped in relief against the counter when he heard Mac Roth's voice.

“Thank Danu you're home—” He stopped when he realized he was listening to an answering machine. “Son of a goat!” He slammed the receiver down. In desperation, he hurried across the living room to the fireplace. Grabbing another knife from the rack, he bent over and shoved the weapon into his ankle sheath as he tried to think what to do. Wild schemes came and went.
I need something else to take back. Some blade that could pass for the Spear. The Amandán don't know what it looks like. For all they know, it is…

The solution exploded in his head.

“That's it!” With a whoop, he bolted toward the front door, then skidded to a stop. Racing back into the kitchen, he dialed Mac Roth's number again. After garbling out a frantic message, he ran out the door.

Splashing through puddles, he raced across the street to the Steels'. Out of breath, he knocked, jiggling from one foot to the other. Suddenly, he froze.
Oh, crap! What if Mr. Steel sees me like this? I know what he's going to think
. The sound of footsteps echoed dimly. He sagged in relief when his friend opened the door.

Rafe stared at Finn. “What the heck?” His gaze swept up and down.

“Our truck rolled off the high road. Gideon's hurt and the Amandán have him. I can't get a hold of Mac Roth. I need your spear to take back so they'll let him go. Can I have it?” Even as the words spilled out in a jumble, Finn realized how crazy they sounded.

Rafe hesitated for a moment. “No.” Before Finn could plead, he added. “I mean, yes, you can have it, but I'm coming, too.”

“No way. It's too dangerous.”

“Whatever. Come inside while I get it. You're lucky Mom and Dad are picking up my grandfather at the airport.”

“But…but…”

“Shut up,” Rafe said with a grin, taking the sting out of it. “I'll be right back.” He dashed down the hall to the stairs.

“What's going on?” Savannah walked toward them from the kitchen, a bottle of water in one hand. She froze at the sight of Finn dripping water and mud all over the entryway floor.

He hastily told her what happened. “So Rafe's getting his spear for me,” he finished explaining. “I don't know what'll happen, but at least Gideon and I'll have a couple of weapons.” He licked his lips, aware of a sudden raging thirst. “Hey, can I have a drink?”

Savannah thrust the bottle at him. “Here, have it all. I'll be right back.” She ran down the hall, darting around her brother as he reappeared.

“What are you doing?” Rafe shouted at her as she dashed past. He carried the spear in one hand and a bronze blade in the other.

“Getting
my
knife—I'm going with you guys.” Her voice faded as she pounded up the stairs.

“No, you're not,” both boys yelled back.

“Just watch me.”

A few moments later, she joined them. “Okay,” she panted. “All set. I left a note for Mom.”

“Neither of you are coming.” Finn glanced around, then set the empty plastic bottle on the entry table. With speed born of hours of training, he snatched the spear from Rafe's hand before the boy could move. “Thanks, Rafe. With any luck, I'll get this back to you.” Spinning on the balls of his feet, he left.

Cutting across the lawn, he ran back toward his house. He glanced up as sunbeams broke through between shreds of clouds. A band of fresh-washed blue, the last of the day, showed above the western mountaintops. He picked up the pace at the sight and hurried through the front gate.

Jogging around the side of the house to the back yard, he paused at the picnic table and gazed back. The house was dark and empty and
not-home
. It was simply a house. Gideon made it
home
.

Tightening his jaw, he shook off the sense of foreboding and squared his shoulders. The thought of charging back into those woods, by himself, and with his master's life depending on him, made him want to throw up. “Move yer arse, boyo,” he whispered in unconscious imitation of his master, took a deep breath, then sprinted toward the back wall. He began chanting. With a leap, he cleared the top stones.

Two figures stepped directly in his path.

“Hey, watch it!” Rafe yelled, pushing his sister to one side for safety.

Finn landed between them, almost going down. Rafe grabbed his arm and saved him from a faceplant.

“Couldn't have just used the gate, could you?” Savannah shook her head. “Boys.”

“How did you get back here?” Finn looked from one to the other.

“We cut through the empty lot next door.” Rafe held up his knife. “Since you can't reach Mac Roth, it would make the most sense for us to come with you. We may not be Tuatha De Danaan, but we do know
something
about fighting. We're backup, you see,” he said in his calm, practical way, as if explaining a science experiment.

“But—” Even as Finn protested, hope flooded his chest at his friend's words.

“And you said Mr. Lir was hurt.” Savannah interrupted. “How are you going to help him home if you don't have a rear guard?” She flipped her blade up in the air. It flashed in the light of the setting sun before landing in her palm with a
slap
. “Look, we're wasting time. So you better stop arguing and getting busy chanting.” Her dimples danced. “Cause it's going to take all you got to keep up with
me
on a cross-country course.”

* * *

Gideon shifted on the rock, more weary from the wait than he would admit, as the daylight slowly faded around him.
Well, at least the lad is safe. Now I best get myself out of this situation before Mac Roth arrives, or I'll not hear the end of it
. He hissed when cracked ribs protested the movement. Any movement. Like breathing.

Blinking, he tried to focus through the concussion caused by his head hitting the steering wheel. And the side window. And then the steering wheel again. Fighting the overwhelming desire to simply topple over onto the ground and fall asleep, he glanced at the two goblins squatting in the mouth of the cave. They stared back.

“Looks like yer whelp ain't going to make it by sunset,” one of them growled. It smacked its lips. “I be guessing fresh meat's on the menu for tonight.” They elbowed each other with delight.

Gideon tightened his jaw, secretly agreeing with them.
But, if this is to be my last battle, I'll go to my long sleep knowing the boy will be well cared for—Mac Roth will see to that. Finn will become a clever hunter and stalwart warrior, to be sure. Still, I wish I could have watched him grow into manhood
. Regret pulled at the corners of his mouth.
Ah, well. Danu did not promise us the easy life, just the warrior's life
.

“‘Course, if the pup does show up, then we gets a main course
and
dessert.” They hooted again.

The Knight raised an eyebrow. “Or ye gets a Spear in yer chest,” he said, mocking his enemy. Pushing off the rock, he stood up, then swayed. The nearby trees faded in and out of focus. He waited until he was certain he wouldn't fall face-down in the mud, then began pacing back and forth.