The distant hammering was a continuous sound, so when it stopped I sat up with a bolt. I’d fallen asleep in Bres’ arms and the night sky had faded to early dawn, the last of the stars winking out above the clearing.
I touched his face gently, waking him. “They’ve stopped,” I whispered, not wanting to break the spell that had stolen us from the world of battles and death for a short time.
Bres sat up and ran his hand through his hair. Giving me a last lingering kiss, he stood, holding his hand out to me. “Let’s go see what they’ve got for you.”
We made our way back down the path, the way lit by fireflies and the faded, distant twinkling of the stars above our heads. I could see my mother here, could see her living out her days in this peace and stillness away from the troubles of the world. I only hoped she would come here and not make me give some other form of payment to the Smiths.
The forge fire was still lit, and its light filled the main clearing like a bonfire. In front, stood the three Smiths, Angus just ahead of Wil and Paddy. Across his arms lay a sword covered by a white cloth.
“Quinn, daughter of ta oracle.”
I walked towards him, stopping only a few feet away. This had the feeling of a ceremony, something I didn’t want to screw up. “I am here.”
“We have forged for you a sword of power. Wield it wit honour and justice, do only ta harm you must and no more. This is the creed of the blade. Carnwennan.” He spoke the name as he placed the hilt into my hand and the cover was drawn from it.
It was still the hilt that my dagger had borne, bone, nearly white with wear. That was where the similarities ended. Just above the handle, set into the cross guard of the blade, was Aednat’s stone. The gem was inset so that it was showing blue on one side and green on the other. The actual length of the sword was just enough for me, not the massive blades that Luke and Bres carried.
I held it lightly, feeling the weight of it, feeling the connection between me and it. Lifting my eyes, I couldn’t stop the tears that fell. This was the weapon I would kill Ashling with, that Aednat’s soul now resided in. Bres came up behind me and circled me with his arms.
“There’s still a chance. You have to believe, Quinn.” He whispered into my ear.
Wil stepped forward. “He be right. Don’t give up. Not on love. Your mama, she had you and Ashling because she believed in ta prophecy and knew it needed to come to pass, if our worlds would be mended. She laid her heart on ta altar of sacrifice, to save ta world. Can you do any less?”
My throat closed up. I knew he spoke true and it shamed me to know how Darcy had been forced to give up her own dreams and the love of a man who cared for her, to fill a stupid prophecy.
“No, I won’t do any less,” I said.
It was Paddy’s turn. He came forward with a belt and scabbard. “Here you go. Put this on. When ta blade’s gem shows blue, you’ll be cloaked in shadow, unseen by friend or foe. Pull ta blade and the shadow will be lifted.”
He cinched the belt around my waist, helping me adjust it. Turning the blade so the green gem winked outwards, I slid it into the scabbard.
“Thank you,” I said, running my hand over the hilt. Gods, how was I going to do this? How was I going to kill Ashling, even if it was just her body?
Wil took my hand and slipped a ring over my right thumb. “Give this to Darcy. She’ll know what it means.”
I nodded. “Of course.”
On an impulse, I hugged each one of the three Smiths, catching them by surprise. Angus cleared his throat as I stepped back. “Well then, I guess we’d best be seeing you two off. Come on to ta stables round back. There’s no way you’ll get past that army wit out a little speed.”
Leading the way, Angus marched around to the back of the house where indeed there was a stable, like any other. The creatures inside, however, were another matter all together.
They looked to be two large black horses, but they had fangs and their eyes were more like a cat’s than a horse’s, with a vertical slit that narrowed as we came into sight.
“They’re mean bastards,” Paddy said. “But they be fast, and they’ll kill anyting tat is in your way.”
“What are they?” I asked.
It was Bres who answered me. “Aughisky. I thought they were all dead, died out in ta last great battle between Fomorii and Tuatha. They’re like ta kelpie only more vicious. I don’t know that this is a good idea.” His tone was enough to make me back away from the big black beasts.
Angus let out a breath. “Phaw, don’t be a sissy boy. These two know that their lives depend on coming back here. It’s ta only safe haven tat they have. Right my lads?” He swatted one on the rump.