Stone of Destiny (The Danaan Trilogy) (14 page)

Once the feeling had ebbed, I glanced around the room. Ethan turned his head toward me. His eyes were wide and he shook his head.

“That was pretty intense,” he said as his fingers found mine.

I laughed under my breath. “You could say that.”

“How are you feeling?” Liam asked, leaning on the table beside me.

I swallowed. “I feel better than last time.” Maybe knowing what to expect made it a little easier to accept the loss of equilibrium.

“That’s good. How about you Ethan?”

“Honestly, I feel like I have a pretty good buzz,” Ethan said.

“That’s completely normal,” Niamh said from across the table.

“Just give us a minute and we can go talk to Saoirse,” I said, rubbing a hand across my eyes.

“Of course,” Niamh said. “I have a few things to take care of. Would you like to lie down for a while?”

I looked at Ethan who shook his head. “No, that’s not necessary. I could use some water, though.”

Leaving Ethan and Liam at the table, Niamh led me down a hall and up a winding staircase. We passed the weapons room I’d stopped in with Aodhan on my last trip to Tír na n’Óg.

When I thought his name, Niamh’s shoulders stiffened. She turned toward an arch and stopped, then stared at me for a moment like she was making a decision.

I haven’t said this to anyone else. But Aodhan’s absence from this journey has me worried.

She walked into the archway without waiting for me to respond. It led down a long, narrow stone passage. I heard the gurgling sound of water as we walked around a wide corner. At the end, the passageway opened into a cavern. I sucked in a breath. On one side, an underground stream bubbled past. From somewhere above, natural light poured in, casting the water a sparkling turquoise. Rocks formed a smooth ridge above the river that looked like the perfect place to sit and dip your feet in. And I was so entranced by it, I almost did.

Niamh stopped, gesturing for me to wait. I shook my head to clear it. The beauty of this place had put me under a spell.

This is where we bathe. The falls are up the river. Grab a pitcher and we’ll get some fresh water for everyone to drink.

What do you think is going on with Aodhan?

She took a deep breath and met my eyes.

I don’t know. But he was committed to making things right for you and your mother. Something is keeping him, but I haven’t any idea what it is.

I was sure Aodhan had gained several enemies over the years. His entire life was spent protecting humans from Danaans. My mind went to Aengus. When we were in Thunder Bay, Aodhan had put him into submission and ordered Niamh’s guards to “take care of him.” I assumed that meant kill him, but I never asked.

Could Aengus be alive and had he tracked Aodhan down to Liam’s house?

Aengus is dead.

Niamh answered so confidently, I knew she was certain.

But what about the others? Beside Aengus and Ciarán, weren’t there more of Aoife’s guards in Thunder Bay?

Yes, two others. I wish we saw Aodhan before we left. Something feels wrong about him not being here with you.

She led me up a narrow, snaking lip between the stream and the cavern wall. Dappled light came from high above in what appeared to be naturally formed skylights. The echoing roar of a waterfall became louder each step we took.

I think he’s done more than enough for me. More than I ever hoped for. I wouldn’t blame him if he just wanted a little break.

As we rounded the next bend, the entire cavern opened to the sky about thirty feet up. The water poured from the top of one of the moss-covered walls into a clear pool.

Niamh held out her hand and I gave her the pitcher I carried in. It floated just above her hands and she stared at it as it flew across the pool and filled with water from the falls. With a tiny flick of her wrist the pitcher returned to hover in front of me.

“I try not to do things like that when we’re in your world. But since we’re here, I don’t have any reason to hide what I really am.”

I reached out and grabbed the pitcher and cradled it in my arms.

“That must be strange,” I said. “To have to hide so many things. Wouldn’t you be happier if you could just seal the portals and leave our world behind forever?”

“Yes and no,” Niamh said, as we picked our way back toward the heart of the cavern.

“What if Aodhan came back here with you?” I asked, surprised at my boldness.

“Before I met you, that was all I dreamed of.”

“Do you think you two will ever work things out?”

Her smile was sad. “I’ve been hoping he would forgive me for a long time. I haven’t given up, but I don’t see it happening any time soon.”

We walked up the stone steps back into the main part of Niamh’s house. She pointed down the hall past the weapons room. “Just down there are the guest quarters. If you’d like, you may stay here this evening.”

Back down in the dining room Ethan was laughing at something Liam said. Watching the two of them was like looking at a couple of old friends. It was completely surreal.

Niamh closed her eyes and some drinking cups floated into the room and landed on the table. Ethan’s eyes widened and he slid me a questioning look.

“Oh, didn’t I mention the telekinesis?” I said, laughing. “Up until today I’ve only seen it a couple times.”

“That’s pretty cool. Can you do that Liam?”

Instead of answering, Liam focused on the pitcher full of water. Nothing happened at first, but after a minute, it levitated and tipped enough to fill one of the cups before setting back down.

“Whoa, nice,” Ethan said, clapping Liam on the back.

The cool water helped clear my head and I was ready for the next move. We would walk to the Bruidhean to talk to Saoirse. Like Deaghlan, Saoirse didn’t even try to mask her otherness. She was incredibly beautiful and just looking at her was like staring into the sun.

She was too alluring, too much for one person to take in.

That first step outside in Tír na n’Óg felt like walking into a fairytale. I don’t think words can describe the way everything comes to life before your eyes. It’s like being legally blind your entire life and then you put on super strength glasses and everything comes into Technicolor focus.

Niamh and Liam walked ahead of us, and I could tell it was difficult for them to keep our slow human pace.

Ethan reached over and grasped my hand. I looked up at his face and he was grinning like he was punch-drunk. I choked on my laugh.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing,” I said. “I just recognize that look on your face.”

“Yeah?” he asked, tipping his head to the side. “What look would that be?”

I shrugged. “You look like I felt the first time I was here. Overwhelmed, awestruck.”

“Uh-huh,” he said, yanking me closer as we walked. “Don’t forget this is my second time here.”

I peeked at him, knowing he was teasing me. “So none of this affects you this time?”

He lowered his head and whispered in my ear. “Some things always affect me.”

“Hmm,” I said blushing. He was still just as cocky in this world as any other.

Bright light filtered through countless trees surrounding the path to the Bruidhean. I smoothed my hair back with my free hand as we walked.

“Wait!” I turned around just as Samantha ran up to us. Her eyes were wide and she wrapped her arms around her sides.

“I thought of something else I needed to tell you,” she said as Niamh and Liam walked back to us.

My brows rose. “Okay.”

“Aoife had this necklace she kept rubbing between her fingers while she talked to the others. She said it wasn’t enough, but she knew where to find more. Something about a falling mine?”

Niamh’s eyes narrowed as she listened to Samantha. “Not falling mines. Fháillan mines. But no more fháillan mines are left in Tír na n’Óg.”

“I’m sorry,” Samantha said, fidgeting. “That’s all I remember. But it seemed important.”

“Where’s Ciarán?” Liam asked.

Samantha looked down at the ground, wringing her hands. “I left him back at the house. He wouldn’t agree I should come, but I
needed
to.”

I looked at Ethan, who just shrugged. “Does that mean he’ll be right behind you?” I asked.

“I don’t think so. They were all sleeping when I left.”

“I’m glad to see you’ve removed the steel from your body. Is it all gone?” Niamh asked.

“Uh, yeah. Ciarán and I had a talk about that. I honestly had no idea. I don’t know why he never told me that iron was like kryptonite to all of you.”

I started to ask her how she got through the portal, but she beat me to it.

“I looked in your thoughts while you were going. I saw Niamh put her hand up on the wall in the root cellar, so that’s what I did.”

Niamh looked uneasy, but Liam looked impressed. I didn’t know what to think.

“We’re on our way to see my mother,” Niamh said as she started walking. Samantha hesitated. Niamh glanced over her shoulder. “Come along.”

`

Samantha looked so relieved I thought she’d burst. She scampered over to my side and gave me a tentative smile.

“It’s really cool here,” she said, a grin peeking through.

“It’s incredible,” I said, looking at her. She was at least two inches shorter than me. I realized I didn’t even know how old she was.

“Twenty-three,” she said, walking along.

I rolled my eyes at Ethan and laughed. “It was bad enough having Niamh answer my thoughts out loud, now I have you doing it too.”

Samantha’s hand flew up to her mouth, eyes wide. “Sorry about that,” she said. “I’ve really gotten a lot better at not doing it, I swear.”

“I was just teasing. So, you’re twenty-three and so am I. That’s pretty weird. For sisters.”

“Yeah, I guess. I’ll be twenty-four next month, so we’re almost a year apart,” she said.

“How did you know how old I am?” I asked.

“Oh, when you were telling me how old you were, you were thinking about your birthday and how it’s in June,” she said, shrugging as though this happened all the time.

“It
does
happen all the time,” she said, giving me an apologetic glance. “I mean, I don’t really have many friends. People are always weirded out by me. My parents can’t even stand being in the same room as me. So, yeah I try not to answer thoughts out loud, but it doesn’t always work.”

My heart did a little flip-flop. Aside from the whole answering people’s unspoken questions, I could totally relate to what she’d just said. It might have been for different reasons, but my whole life most people never felt comfortable around me. A lot of that had to do with not knowing what to say to the daughter of a schizophrenic. But it had been a while since I’d let it bother me.

Ethan was quiet as we walked. I glanced at him and he was transfixed looking at the flowers and trees, taking it all in. I did feel much more lucid during this trip to Tír na n’Óg. Samantha seemed to be fine, too. I assumed it was her Danaan blood that kept her from being affected.

Without turning around, Niamh said, “That’s right, Allison. You have some too, which makes the transition between worlds a little easier.”

“Have some what?” Ethan said, looking at me with a lopsided grin.

“Danaan blood,” I said. He might not admit it, but I could tell he was feeling it. His eyes were just a little shinier than usual and his smile was just a little goofier. “I was thinking about Samantha being part Danaan and that’s why she isn’t overwhelmed by the differences here.”

No matter what my frame of mind was, Tír na n’Óg was magnificent. I took in the cornflower blue sky. Here, it only rained at night. Fluffy white clouds had just started floating in overhead, which told me it was late afternoon.

We reached the top of a hill, which held a spectacular view of a river valley below. Just beyond that river, a mountain range stretched up and along as far as the eye could see. Within the tallest mountain lay the Bruidhean. Hundreds of Danaan lived in its walls. At the heart of the palace was where the king and queen lived.

“Whoa,” Samantha said as we made our way down toward the river. “It’s like we’re stepping onto the set of
The Fellowship of the Ring
.”

“That’s funny. I thought the same thing the first time I saw it. Those movies were fantastic, but of course the books were better.”

Samantha looked horrified. “You actually read all of those?”

I was going to defend my love of all things Tolkien, but Ethan spoke up. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? You can’t tease Allison about books or you’ll get the Look of Death.”

My eyes narrowed, and for a minute I considered pushing him into the river. But instead, I had to laugh. “Hey, say whatever you want. I’m a proud book nerd.”

Samantha laughed too. “Books aren’t really my thing,” she said, and quickly added, “no offense.”

“None taken,” I said, shrugging. “It’s fine. Different strokes and whatever.”

The smile Samantha gave me was shy. “I’m more of a visual person. Painting, photography. I would love to shoot this place with a camera,” she said, looking around.

Several yards up the river, an outcropping of large, flat stones extended from one side of the river to the other, forming a natural bridge. Waterfowl in otherworldly shades of indigo and chartreuse dotted the pools around the stones. They watched as we crossed the river, bowing their slender necks, it seemed, in greeting.

“This must be what Snow White felt like,” Samantha said under her breath as she hopped from stone to stone.

I laughed. “Just wait ‘til you see the squirrels.”

She whipped around, her eyes huge.

“I’m just kidding,” I said, pressing my lips together to keep from laughing.

She studied me for a second before moving forward.

From the river, a stone path led to the base of the mountain. It eventually became a staircase that wove its way up through the trees to the entrance of the Bruidhean. The sky was darkening and small spheres of light, known as fey lights dotted the path.

Niamh led us into the large entryway. The heavy wooden door closing behind us echoed in the empty hall.

“Strange that I can’t hear anyone,” Niamh said, frowning.