16
Long into the next day, Bres, Lir and I discussed how we would get close to Chaos. I took part in the conversations, so they wouldn’t guess what I had in mind. If they knew what I was planning they would try to stop me—and I couldn’t have that. Ashling’s life depended on it.
“I still say that we meet her head on in battle, hiding Quinn at the back,” Bres said. “We can move her forward as the battle progresses, rescue Luke and then both of us can flank her.”
Lir shook his head. “It won’t work, Chaos knows that we have to get close and she will keep Luke by her side, using him as her shield.”
It was growing late and I faked a yawn. “I need to sleep. I trust you two to decide the best course.”
I kissed Bres goodnight, then hugged Lir. They went right back to their strategies. I watched them for a minute at the door, trying to take in everything they both were. Turning, I reached out for Cora.
Steady, Quinn. You are doing the right thing. They will understand one day.
As quietly as I could, I made my way back through the straightaway that had once been the Labyrinth. At the end of it, I slipped into the dark pool of water, feeling the cold settle into my bones. A head bobbed up beside me and my Aughisky stared at me.
“Where are you going?” He asked.
“For a swim,” I whispered.
He snorted. “Hmm. Need a ride?”
I smiled and nodded. “Thanks.”
Slipping onto his back, my legs snapped to his sides once more. I clung to him, grateful for the physical company on this last portion of my journey. Any tears I cried were swept away on the current of the ocean as I said my goodbyes in my heart. I’d left letters behind, in the black box that had once been Chaos’ prison, but I still needed to let my heart grieve.
Bres.
Ashling.
Luke.
Darcy and the three Smiths. Don, Fianna, and even Gormley. Each one had played a vital part in bringing me to this point.
Cora.
I am here. I will be here when it is your time to pass, Quinn. I will not leave you to cross over alone.
My heart clenched, then slowly the fear and pain faded. I’d made my decision. I knew that Ashling would be angry, but that was better than the alternative.
Quicker than I had thought possible, we were breaking the surface and nearing the shallows. Slipping from the Aughisky’s back, I put my hand on his nose. “Thank you. I’m glad you didn’t go back to the Smiths, that you are able to be free.”
He chuckled. “Until they come and find us. This isn’t the first time they’ve let us ‘escape.’”
With a splash and a quick flip, the water horse disappeared under the waves and I was left alone treading water in the pre-dawn light. Swimming to shore, I went over my plan once more.
There was still one part that might not work, one vital part. But I had no other option.
As I stood in the shallows I pulled Carnwennan from the scabbard and spun it in my hand so that the blue gem faced outwards, then I slid the sword back into the sheath with care.
The world around me fuzzed as if I were looking through a gauzy curtain. I started to walk, keeping my steps deep enough that I didn’t make any splash that would give me away.
Quinn, I did what I did, so that the prophecy would be fulfilled. That is why your mother went along with bedding both Lir and Balor. She knew that you would need to be strong, so very strong, to face the evil that would rise.
I thought about that a moment. But, if she’d married Wil, and had children with him, there would have been no need for us to be strong. Balor wouldn’t have searched out Chaos to save Ashling. None of this would have happened.
No, you don’t know that, she said, though I heard the doubt in her voice.
I backed off, not wanting to fight with her. It doesn’t really matter now. We must deal with this as it is. I’m not angry at you, Cora, just confused.
She was silent after that, but I could feel her there. She didn’t withdraw, and that was all that I truly wanted: someone to stand with me in these last hours.
The Tuatha camp was visible from a distance, but the guards did nothing as I approached. They couldn’t see me. I placed one hand on the hilt of Carnwennan, the bone warming under my fingertips.
With great care, doing my best not to make a single splash, I made my way onto the beach. My next concern was my footprints. Checking first one way then the other, I hurried up the sand, then pulled on the ocean, using the water to wash away the prints.
Good, that will buy you more time.
I wondered why Cora hadn’t tried to talk me out of this. Of course, all along she’d been encouraging me to follow my instincts, to do what I felt was best, even when it meant jumping out of a helicopter. That memory hit me and I paused. I wanted to savor each moment of my life as best I could, now that it was near the end.