Earth's Requiem(100)

Arawn and Bran were outfitted similarly to Fionn. Gwydion wore his trademark robe, red this time. His staff leaned off to one side. Aislinn wondered if he was still barefoot. Fionn trotted toward the other Celts. She followed, looked around for Dewi, and was relieved to not find her.

“About half the humans are here,” Gwydion informed them.

“So soon?” Aislinn felt stunned. Had their magic been that much weaker than everyone else’s?

“Surprised us, too.” Arawn told her. “’Tis all the magic directed at one place. Apparently, it eases the journey, though we have lost the element of surprise—if we ever had it in the first place.”



I need to remember that Fionn’s not the only one who can read my mind. Aislinn nodded, while trying to maintain a neutral expression. She wanted to tell him to stay out of her head, but figured they’d be wasted words.

“Listen up, lass,” Gwydion said. Something in his tone made her glance sharply at him. “Slototh is holed up in the remains of a prison in Yuma, surrounded by human shades and Bal’ta. Because he absorbs everything that has been discarded, the shades cling to him, drawn like lodestones, hoping to recover something of themselves. ’Tis possible there will be some you recognize. Do not let yourself be distracted from your task.”

“To me, Daughter.”

Aislinn’s head whipped around. Dewi. But where was she?

“Right here. I have been here all along. We must refine your eyesight.”



Sure enough, when Aislinn focused her Mage senses, she saw the dragon. Seemingly satisfied, Dewi withdrew whatever spell had kept her hidden.

Aislinn turned to Fionn. “Take care of Rune.”

“Aye, that I will.” He bent to kiss her.

“I will watch over your bond animal as well.” Arawn nodded curtly.

Moving away from Fionn, Aislinn squatted next to Rune. “I will only ride until we get to the battlefield. Then I will fight by your side.” The wolf leaned into her, and she hugged him.

Aislinn waved to Dewi. “Be right there,” she called brightly. The antagonism between dragon and wolf felt wrong to her. She really did not like being in the middle, and she felt protective of Rune.

“How many are here?” she asked Gwydion.

“Better than twelve hundred, but it’s finally slowing down.” He spread his arms wide. “Thank you. This was your idea.”

Her mouth split into a crooked smile. “I had no idea it would work out so well. How soon before we leave? And how far is it from here to that prison?”

“Less than a mile. We are splitting into four companies, one led by each of us.” Gwydion’s gaze swept over the mass of humanity gathered into four camps and at the few still signing in. Getting up, he tapped Arawn and Bran on the shoulder. “Marshal your companies and leave. Fionn and I will do the same as soon as we are done here.”

“Why did you get everyone’s names?” Aislinn asked. “Most people’s families are dead, so what difference do names make anymore?”

He gave her a sad, slow smile. “Ye have never truly been in wartime afore, lass. We do it to keep track of the living—and the dead.”

“MacLochlainn!”

“Whoops, Dewi is not happy.” Blowing a kiss to Fionn and Rune, Aislinn took off at a dead run for the dragon, a plethora of excuses running through her head.

Smoke plumed from the dragon’s nostrils. “I told you it was time for us to go. Why did you not heed me? Next time, I will make you sorry you disobeyed.”

Aislinn stood in front of Dewi, the palliatory words she’d planned lost in a rush of anger. Seething, she crossed her arms over her chest. “Now you look here,” she snapped. “We’re supposed to be partners. You think you call the shots and I jump to your whistle—and maybe that’s how things were in the Middle Ages—but I can’t operate like that. I’m nobody’s lackey. Not even yours. So, either we come up with some way we can make this work, or I’m going to the battle with Fionn. Your choice.”



Something like a growl came from the dragon. It was so loud, the packed dirt beneath Aislinn’s feet vibrated, but she stood her ground. If she backed down now, she’d be no better than a slave.

“You dare to speak thus to me?” Dewi spoke very clearly, enunciating each word.

“I guess so. I just did.” Aislinn spread her hands in front of her. “I’d like to make this work. You’re old and powerful, and I could learn a lot from you, but you can’t treat me like a child, even if that’s what I seem like to you.”

Dewi huffed. Smoke blanketed Aislinn so thickly that she began to cough. “Stop that,” she gasped, spitting black-flecked phlegm. “I need to leave. Am I flying with you or not?”