Carrier 02: Shadow of the Mark (12 page)

“Rían, Adam, Áine, and Megan, you are very welcome.” He bowed his head. “Come. Let us talk as friends.”

“Friends?” Rían barked. “We are not friends.”

“True, Rían, but we should be. Now please, join us.”

We didn’t move.

“How did you know we were coming?” Adam demanded.

“Our job is to know where you are at all times. We have been tracking you since you left Ireland.”

“Who are you?” Adam asked.

The man turned his head to the side and muttered to a Knight behind him. The Knight moved out from the shadows and emerged into the candlelight. It was Chloe. A bitter feeling twisted inside me.

“Please talk to us. We need to explain,” she pleaded. Rían moved away from the edge and stood against the wall, the look on his face betraying his anger. I hadn’t realized the depth of his feelings until just then.

“Please,” Chloe said. Her velvety brown eyes met mine. They were desperate and slightly panicked.

The man in the center spoke again. “You four are the reason for our existence, and you honor us with your presence. I beg of you—join us and let us talk.”

Adam peered at him. “Tell us who you are.”

“I am Cú Christenson, Grand Master of the Knights.”

I could see Adam’s brows furrow as he studied the man.

“I look familiar to you, don’t I? That’s because you are very close to my brother.”

Adam’s mouth dropped open. “You’re Fionn’s brother!”

“I am.”

Adam took a second to steady himself. “Fionn never mentioned he had a brother.”

“Adam, please join us and we will explain everything.”

Adam eyed Áine and me before we all turned to Rían, who nodded slowly. We made our way down the curving, narrow stone steps that hugged the cavern wall. The Knights’ eyes followed us, a myriad of faces respectfully keeping their distance. The foxes settled down and curled themselves into comfortable sleeping positions.

“Thank you.” Cú approached me, and I let him take my hands in his. “Megan, I’ve heard much of you and your talents. It’s an honor to meet you.” Then he moved to Áine and smiled warmly. “Your powers were not exaggerated. I’ve never seen our foxes so content.”

Rían rather pointedly stepped back.

Cú registered the movement and focused on Adam. “You’re so like your father. It’s a privilege to finally meet you. All of you,” he added, looking at Rían. “Please sit with us.” He gestured in the direction of a banquet table at the back of the cavern.

We walked with him, passing Chloe where she stood in formation at the end of the line. She kept her head bowed and made no more contact. Rían’s eyes never left her. As we moved toward the table, Chloe and the Knight beside her broke rank, following us, on either side of Cú. He indicated for us to sit and lowered himself at the head of the table. As soon as the four of us were seated, Chloe and the other Knight sat down, immediately followed by the rest of them.

“Some introductions are in order—proper ones, that is.” Cú spoke lightly as he poured some wine into a silver goblet. He tasted it and nodded to another Knight behind him, who promptly came around and filled our glasses. “You know my daughter, Chloe. She’s my second in command and self-appointed Guardian Knight to the Marked.”

I took a sip and winced at the bitter contents. Ugh!

A rumble of laughter escaped from Cú. “Give it time to breathe,” he suggested. “This is Sebastian Sveningson, third in command and the Knights’ chief of security.”

Sebastian stood and half bowed in our direction before sitting back down. He was probably in his late twenties, with a large, stocky build, and white-blond hair that fell over a somewhat unattractive face. His big blue eyes had a softness to them, like they belonged in the body of someone who had a less kick-butt job.

Adam took the lead once more. “I guess there’s no point in introducing ourselves, since everyone here seems well acquainted with us.”

“This is true, Adam, so let us speak. We owe you an apology. Isn’t that right, Chloe?” Cú glanced to his right.

Chloe looked up sheepishly from under her long eyelashes. “Yes, we do.” She met Rían’s eyes before he dropped his again.

“It was unprofessional of my daughter to befriend you,” Cú continued. “Our code is strict and clear; the Knights are not meant to interact with the Marked. But now is neither the time nor the place to discuss our internal affairs.” Cú paused, looking at each of us in turn. “We find ourselves in the very unusual position of having all four Marked at our Trohet banquet; never before has this occurred. Regardless of how it came to be, we’re all here now, so let us enjoy it.”

Adam must have decided he liked Cù, as he let go of his tight grip on my hand and raised his goblet. “To our future.”

“To the dawn of a new chapter in the lives of the Marked and the Knights,” Cú said, clinking his goblet with Adam’s.

Adam seemed encouraged by the toast. “Why hasn’t Fionn ever mentioned you?”

A shadow seemed to pass over Cú’s eyes. “When your parents died, Fionn cut off all communication to the Order. As a guardian, it was the right thing to do.”

Adam leaned into Cú and spoke quietly for a moment. “Does Fionn know he has a niece?” He looked at Chloe, but she was sipping her wine and watching Rían.

“No. I didn’t know about her myself until she was nearly eight, when her mother could no longer care for her. I raised her as a Knight. She excelled in all aspects, climbing the ranks at amazing speed, but I fear now that might have been a mistake.” He raised his voice, so Chloe and Sebastian looked toward him. “She lacked female companionship growing up. It’s the only excuse I can think of as to why she’d get too close to you. Again, it’s not the Knights’ way.”

Chloe glared at him. My mind raced; something wasn’t adding up. Cú’s apparent dismay over Chloe being discovered and us having followed her here didn’t quite cut it. And judging from Chloe’s reaction to Cú’s comments, she wasn’t too worried about it either. She only seemed concerned that Rían was annoyed at her.

“Enough of me and my family problems. This evening is traditionally a night of enjoyment for the Knights. Let us celebrate.”

Cú stood up. “My friends,” he addressed the enraptured audience. “We celebrate our Knighthoods, who we are and those we serve.” He turned and looked at the DeRíses and me. “The Marked Ones sit here amongst us as our friends, as our family. Let us raise our glasses to a future that is set out before us, more luminescent now than ever before.” He raised his goblet. “To honor!
För att hedra!
”

“För att hedra!”
the Knights repeated joyfully. Chloe stood with them, but her face was drawn, and her eyes kept flicking to Rían. More Knights entered the great hall, carrying a freshly roasted full pig. A delicious smell filled the air, and my stomach growled. I usually avoided eating anything with a face still attached, but I’d make an exception tonight.

Cú turned back to us. “Enjoy the feast with us. Now we celebrate—later we will talk.”

“För att hedra means ‘to honor,’ right?” Adam asked.

“Yes. To the Knights, honor is everything.” Cú bowed his head and reverently picked up the medallion that hung from a blue-and-black ornate ribbon around his neck. It was a fist-sized star made up of hundreds of little stars all intricately woven together. At the center was a royal blue Celtic knot, supported on each side by a golden lion. “This is the Star of the Mark. It represents a Knight’s honor. When we die, it comes with us to the grave. This particular star has been in my family for generations and is the only remaining original star in existence. The rest were destroyed by the Order after the Knights were disbanded.”

Adam raised his eyebrows. “I thought you said a Knight is buried with his star?”

“Only if he takes his honor to the grave. The Knight who owned this one was denied that.” Cú’s face hardened for a moment, and then he continued. “New stars are crafted each time a Knight completes his extensive training and five years in residence. Even then, only the very truest of our members will receive the accolade. It’s an honor we take very seriously.” Cú ran his finger around the edge of the gold star and placed it gently down to his chest. “So you see, you’re in safe hands.”

The Knights near us hovered a few feet away until Cú invited them forward. They lay platters of the most exquisite food at our table with a flourish while careful to keep their distance. I noticed the Knights serving us wore robes of lighter blue. Cú dismissed them, and they disappeared into the shadows as silently as they had come.

“Juniors,” Cú explained. “They are eager to earn their colors. Only the senior ranks will remain overnight for Trohet. The rest will be back on watch and dispersing through Europe tonight.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Trohet is only for the truly committed. When a Knight is ready for his colors, he comes forward to take the Test of Truth.”

I leaned in. “What is that?”

“You’ll see it during the ceremony. It’s a test of a Knight’s purity, their belief in themselves and the greater good. If there were any cause for doubt, it would be foolish to drink from the cup. Any darkness, doubt, or fear is exposed, and it leaves its mark. Once a Knight is sure that his heart is true, he is ready for Trohet. Until then, he must be patient.”

I felt myself paling. “What do you mean ‘leaves its mark’?”

Cú held my gaze for a moment. “Don’t worry about that, Megan. It’s been a long time since a Knight has failed the Test of Truth.”

Cú called for another platter to be brought to the table. The foxes that were obediently snoozing in huddles around the wall perked up their heads as the plate of meat passed by. “Áine, would you mind releasing my foxes? I’m sure they would like to join in the feast.”

“Oh, sorry,” she said, dragging her eyes away from Chloe. She’d been staring daggers at her since we sat down. “I’d forgotten I still had them in my head.” She smiled apologetically, closed her eyes, and whispered something. The foxes promptly stretched and ran to Cú’s side, forming a big circle around him.

“Amazing animals, foxes,” said Cú. “When the Knights disbanded, the foxes remained here at our ancestral home awaiting our return, and are as loyal now as they were to our forefathers. It’s beyond understanding, really.” He rubbed the heads of the adoring animals and then dispersed the platter of meat among them.

Áine smiled and looked up at Cú. “They feel compelled to be near you. It’s strange for such a solitary animal. It’s like they’re connected by the echoes of their past.”

Cú’s eyes widened, and he appeared speechless for a moment. “We have much to learn from each other.” Áine, unfazed by Cú’s awe, went back to staring at Chloe.

I was just about to dig her in the ribs when I realized she wasn’t looking at Chloe at all. Her eyes were fixed on the third in command, Sebastian, who was focused on his food.

I leaned into Áine and whispered in her ear. “Of all the times and places to start drooling over a guy!”

“I’m not drooling,” she replied. “He’s just so . . . I don’t know, he has . . .”

“A ginormous appetite?” I offered.

“No! He’s sort of beautiful; he seems so pure, clear. Look at those eyes,” she said dreamily. “I feel like I can see into his soul. And I have to admit, it’s nice to finally be attracted to a guy.”

“What?” I whispered back at her, still looking at Sebastian’s far-from-beautiful face as he gnawed on a big bone.

“It’s just that I’ve been feeling strangely attracted to you lately. You know . . . the hand-holding and stuff.”

You’re not the only one
. I laughed nervously. “You are seriously weird.”

I was relieved that her misplaced affections were now directed at Sebastian, but I was pretty sure she had picked the wrong guy to crush on. He was looking loyally at Cú, and I got the feeling there was no way this guy would break the Knights’ “no interaction” rule.

Adam nudged me. “Cú was just saying that we should join them for Trohet and stay here tonight. He has plenty of room and would feel a lot happier if we were under his roof instead of unprotected in Gothenburg.”

Rían turned slowly and let his eyes fall on Adam. They were dark and still tinged with orange. “We don’t need protection. We are perfectly fine staying in a hotel.” His voice was deliberately slow and pointed.

Cú glanced nervously at Chloe, then back at Rían. “Please, Rían. I know you are upset right now, and rightly so. I can explain, but it has to be in private.” I looked at the three of them and felt everything clicking into place. Cú wanted Chloe’s relationship with Rían to stay a secret.

Adam and Áine gave Rían pleading looks too, but each for very different reasons.

Rían stood up, pushing his chair back sharply. “This is bullshit! You guys might have bought into this love-fest, but I’m not forgetting the real reason we came here. I need some air.” He stalked off toward the steps. The foxes all jumped up and watched his hasty exit with sharp eyes.

“No!” Chloe was standing up with her hands on the table. She leaned forward, her face torn. “Rían, don’t go. Just let me explain.” She followed him up the stone steps that hugged the wall.

Rían’s glowing eyes turned to her. “Then explain,” he growled.

“Not here, Rían.” She angled her head away from the Knights, but I could see her mouth. “They can’t know about us.” Her eyes pleaded with him. “Please, just come with me. We can go up to the house.”

“Why not here?” he demanded. “I’m sure everyone wants to know the full story.”

Cú banged his fist on the table. His expression changed to one of outrage. “Chloe, I’m warning you as your father and as your Grand Master, end your conversation now.”

“Please,” she repeated to Rían, her face now deathly pale. Her almond eyes didn’t blink.

Rían’s glare faltered a little, and the amber glow dulled back to his usual soft green. He ran his fingers through his hair. “Oh, whatever. I don’t give a toss,” he spat, brushing past her and walking back down the curving stone steps to the floor level.

Chloe stared at the spot where Rían had been standing. She took a deep breath and surreptitiously wiped away the glistening path that a tear had left on her cheek.