Bres tried to calm me. Don’t fight them, Quinn. Luke will get us out. They don’t call him the Charmer for nothing.
His words didn’t soothe my anger, but they kept me from lashing out, which would have been a disaster with the strength of not only my power, but Card’s too.
They hauled us off down the beach, over a sand dune and into the sparse edge of the forest. Carnwennan was taken from me, but I wasn’t too worried. I could feel the bond with it even more strongly than I had when it was only a dagger. I had no doubt I could Call the weapon to my hand when I needed to.
We were tossed onto a rough patch of dirt and sand; individual Barriers were put around us, each with our own guards.
“Well ain’t this a kick in the ass,” I muttered. So much for being the Chosen one.
I looked over at Bres, who just smiled. “This isn’t my first time in trouble with Nuadha. He’ll come around.”
Laughing, I said, “Somehow it doesn’t surprise me that this isn’t your first time.”
He leaned back against the Barrier, his eyes sparkling with devilry.“First time with you.”
Heat rushed up my face and I shook my head. Flirting at a time like this? What was wrong with us?
The guards turned their backs to us, taking their watch seriously. Of course, I took the opportunity to Call Carnwennan to me the moment they turned around, and bury it under a thin layer of sand. The sun continued to rise, and the heat in my Barrier was increasing faster than it should have been, as if I was in a hot house and not just sitting on the sandy beach. By noon, I was panting; the need for water was beyond anything I’d previously experienced.
A thought trickled through my mind like the water I so desperately craved. Reaching out with my senses and Card’s power, I found a seam of water deep below me. Calling it upwards, I coaxed the fresh water into my prison until I had a bubbling spring that I could drink from. The water was icy cold, a bit gritty from coming through the sand, and the best thing I’d ever drunk in my life. Drinking my fill, I splashed the water over my face, the back of my neck and chest. My guard glanced at me once, frowned, and then looked away. All the better. Now it was time for Bres. Pulling on the water again, I coaxed and cajoled it into rising below Bres, creating a spring for him.
His eyes widened. I gave him a nod. At least we wouldn’t die of dehydration. Dying of something else, say a sword thrust from Nuadha —that, I wasn’t so sure we’d be able to avoid.
Down the beach I could hear shouting—screaming actually. I rolled to my side, my head propped up on my arm, my fingers resting just over the hilt of Carnwennan. It was the most effort I was willing to make, even for a scuffle.
A petite figure was screaming into Nuadha’s face, body cloaked, but obviously feminine. I sat up. Twice she screamed my name, asking where I was, and what had been done to me.
“Mom?” Her hood slipped back revealing the curls both Ashling and I had inherited. I stood up. “MOM!”
She spun, saw me and started to run across the sand. Even at this distance, I could see tears tracking down her face.
Nuadha yelled at her to stop, but she didn’t listen. I had a split second to see and understand what was about to happen. Nuadha raised his hand, with power circling around him as he prepped a power bolt.
I Called Carnwennan to my hand, sliced through the Barrier and ran towards Darcy. “Get down!” I yelled. The glint in Nuadha’s eye told me everything. This was a setup. Darcy dropped to the ground as Nuadha’s power bolt skimmed over her head and straight to me.
With everything I had, I threw a flat Barrier up, deflecting the power bolt, bouncing it back towards a wide-eyed Nuadha. He dropped to the ground, the bolt whipping out past him and into the ocean with a tremendous thump of water and air.
Running to my mom’s side, I helped her stand. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you. The visions, they’ve changed,” she whispered. “There is a chance that you can still save Ashling.”
Her eyes were as wide and as sincere as I’d ever seen them.
Nuadha broke the moment. “Traitor! Give me that sword!” I could see the hunger in his eyes and I stepped back, taking my mother with me. “Nope, can’t do that. It’s mine.”
He snarled, “Give it to me now!”
Darcy and I scrambled back, Nuadha following. I didn’t want to have to fight him, I knew I couldn’t win on skill alone, and I’d kill him if I just used my powers.
“Nuadha, stand down!” An older man stepped into sight, Luke at his side. I couldn’t stop the grin that split my face when I saw him. He gave me a salute and a wink.