Celtic Mist: The Calm Before the Storm (Battle Raven Series) (10 page)

Aodhan laughed and said “Myself, Ruark, Devlyn and Scanlon.”

“Oh grrrrreeeeattt.” Lawler said grimaced. “Guys, we better get started. This is their game.” he watched as Aodhan walked away with a strut.

“Not for long.” Kedryn said as he grinned at Lawler and picked up the ball Scanlon had dropped. He neatly kicked the ball through the hoop.

In Laois Lord Faolan needed someone to beat on and Damon was the target. He paused at the door knowing this would infuriate Lady Paili even more. He enhanced the sound in the room and listened as he made his decision.

“Stop moving about Damon. You will injure what I have healed and it has only been a little over a week. I will retrieve your wine.”

“Stop nagging.” Damon said but let her help him walk back to his bed.

Rania walked over to the fireplace placing more logs into the fire. She took a seat by the fireplace and leaned her head back.

“You need some rest, my lady. Please go.”

“We are short of healers and help. Especially since almost all of them are with the soldiers. I truly wish Lord Faolan would take a break from the raids.”

She let out a yawn and watched as he carefully propped himself up on his bed. The door slammed open and Rania jerked up in the chair. She stood as Lord Faolan strode in.

“I am relieving you.” his eyes turned a fierce black.

“Thank you my Lord.” Rania said giving a short bow and hurried out of the room. Instead of waiting outside the room or heading home she decided to run straight down the corridor to Faolan and Paili’s chambers where she knew Aalia was also. If he inflicted more wounds she knew help would be needed.

Faolan strode over to where Damon was sitting and punched him hard in the jaw. Damon’s head jerked back as he fell back onto the bed. Faolan grabbed his arm and pushed him over on his stomach shoving his head down. He struck Damon’s back making him shout out in pain.

Damon gritted his teeth against the pain. “My sister will hear of this.”

“Your sister is of no use to me. She gave up her powers to save

you. The monk is dead because of you and she is displeased with me because of you. I may have sworn not to kill you however that does not mean that I can not make you suffer!”

Lord Faolan hit him again in the back and turned when the door opened. Tynan stood at the ready.

Faolan gave him an irritated look. “What is it?”

“You requested to address the troops. It has been some time since Firnir was sent.” General Tynan said as he looked over the situation thankful that his wife was nowhere to be seen.

Releasing Damon, Lord Faolan strode by General Tynan and out the door. Damon turned to his side letting out a moan. The General gave him a quick look over and stepped into the corridor. He felt someone push by him and turned to see Aalia and Rainia rush to Damon’s side. Aalia turned giving him a distressed look and walked back over shutting the door in his face.

Damon was trying to sit back up and Rania helped him sit up removing his blood stained shirt. He tipped forward and Aalia helped Rainia catch him just in time.

“Back on your stomach.” Aalia said and helped him roll over. She groaned when the wound came into view. “That man has undid a week’s work!”

“Apologies, my lady.” Damon said and closed his eyes as she put her hands over his back placing him into a healers sleep.

In the morning Kedryn washed up and walked out to the courtyard to the Cut Throat area to examine it yet again. He was starting to get nervous but he loved a challenge. Kedryn jumped as he heard a voice behind him.

“Nervous yet?” Aodhan asked

“Bring it on, MacCionaoith.” Kedryn said as he grinned at him.

Aodhan clasped him on the back. “Let’s go eat breakfast. We dine with your mother this morning.”

Kedryn turned and followed him to his mom’s quarters. He found that the table in her sitting area was piled with all kinds of food. He inhaled the scent of the last of her good coffee in the air.

“I hope you don’t mind but I thought we should have a small family breakfast before you head out this afternoon.” Lara said as she grinned at Kedryn who stepped over and gave her a huge hug.

“Sounds great. This will give me something to hurry back for, family dinners. Let’s eat I’m starved.” Kedryn said and he took a seat and dug into the food he piled onto his plate.

After they all finished eating Kedryn left to join his team and Aodhan led Lara to the seating area. She smiled at Lady Orla, Tara and Serina who were already seated for the event. Aodhan kissed her and quickly walked back down to prepare with his team for the match.

Kedryn was nervous just looking across the field at Ruark’s team. They were an impressive sight. Cadmon, Lawler and Niall soon joined him.

A short stocky man that looked like he could bowl over them all motioned for both teams to join him in the middle.

“Keeper?” Kedryn asked.

“Yes.” Niall said as both groups met in the middle.

The Keeper looked at both teams and held the ball in the palm of his huge hand.

“You all know the rules. Team Phoenix and Team Lion are you ready?”

Both teams shook their heads yes. Without warning the Keeper tossed the footbag high into the air and it turned into chaos as each side ran for the ball.

Aodhan and Kedryn ran and jumped at the same time crashing into each other. The ball fell beside Aodhan. He cushioned it with his foot passing it to Ruark. Ruark tossed it to Scanlon who kneed the ball past Niall. Aodhan nudged Niall aside as Kedryn ran as the ball fell in the air near Ruark and jumped into the air to kicking the ball down to Cadmon who was waiting by the squared off goal area.

Devlyn was crouched waiting near the hoop as Cadman hit the ball with his knee in the air and passed it to Niall who head butted the ball to the hoop. It bounced off the inside edge of the ring. Devlyn picked up the ball and threw it at Ruark who elbowed it straight up in the air looking for someone to hit it to. They all rushed at him as he jumped and punched the ball to Scanlon.

Niall and Scanlon both sprinted for the ball. Scanlon skidded in the grass and kicked the ball to Aodhan tripping Niall as he went to kick it. Kedryn watched as the ball flew in a straight shot and launched himself in front of Aodhan. He used his forearm and smashed the ball to Cadmon just as the keeper blew his horn. Each team walked over to a bucket of water that was placed on each side of the area.

“This game is killer.” said Kedryn as he grinned at his team mates. “I love it!”

“I’m thinking we will leave with a few well earned bruises.” Cadmon said as he handed a ladle of water to Kedryn.

“We need a plan to get Niall the ball.” Lawler said as he turned to look at their goal.

“What’s the plan?” Niall asked.

“How about we go with what we practiced. The screaming banshee.“ Kedryn said.

“Let’s do this.” Lawler said as he grinned at them all.

The Keeper blew his horn for the second quarter and the ball was put into play. Kedryn immediately sprinted to their goal. He chanced a glance behind him and saw Aodhan sprinting after him. Cadmon beat Ruark to the ball and passed a long perfectly aimed ball to Kedryn who hit it with his knee to Niall. Aodhan turned to head off Niall and Kedryn stuck his leg out tripping Aodhan. Aodhan landed with a thud on his back and swung his leg around tripping Kedryn down as he started to run.

Niall Kedryn head butted the ball high in the air and shoved Scanlon out of the way knocking him into Ruark. As the ball fell Cadmon headed in a diagonal line toward goal and Aodhan used Kedryn as leverage pushing him down as he stood and ran to intercept him. Cadmon shoved through Aodhan and Scanlon as they all watched the ball fall. Kedryn leapt just in time to kick the ball to Niall who elbowed it through the loop.

The Keeper blew his horn. “One point Phoenix.“ he bellowed as he picked up the ball and tossed it in the air.

During the last minutes of the second quarter Ruark tackled Lawler knocking the ball away from him just as he kneed it up in the air. Scanlon ran to the ball as it floated over to where the goal was. Aodhan ran after the ball and jumped in the air as he spun kicked it through the loop from the grass.

“Two points Lion.“ the Keeper yelled and grabbed the ball to restart the match.

Twice the Keeper had to stop the match because Kedryn and Aodhan were purposely tackling each other without the ball present. The horn blew signaling the end of the second quarter. As they were walking to the water bucket Kedryn overheard Ruark talking to Aodhan.

“Quit playing around.” Ruark said.

“It is just a game.” Aodhan said as he kicked a clod of dirt out of the way.

Late in the third quarter it seemed that each side was wearing down. The volume cranked up when the keeper signaled that last few minutes were left in the game.

Cadmon crossed the field to their goal avoiding trips and elbows as he ran through the other team. Kedryn kicked the ball past Scanlon to Niall. Niall forearmed the ball to Lawler who kneed the ball back to Niall. It soared high in the air and by the time is came back down Kedryn and Aodhan were shoving each other to get to it.

Kedryn squatted down confusing Aodhan and he ran a couple of steps turning to the ball to block Kedryn. As Aodhan stepped away Kedryn gave the ring a backwards glance and sprung up with his back to it. He didn’t have time to turn and sprung up using Aodhan as leverage

kicking straight up knocking the ball through Devlyn’s outstretched arms through the loop.

Aodhan looked up at Kedryn dazed “Nice.” was all he got out. Kedryn held out his arm and Aodhan took it as he stood.

The Keeper blew his horn and yelled. “Two points Phoenix!” He motioned for the teams to restart the game. As soon as he threw the ball and Aodhan and Kedryn jumped for it the keeper blew his horn.

“Phoenix three. Lion two!”

Both teams walked to the center of the area and clasped arms with each other.

“Let us go to the healers, clean up and eat!” Ruark said and headed to the castle with the men and crowds following behind him.

After being healed and cleaned up they all sat down for the noon meal. Lara and all the other ladies shook their heads amused as they watched the men wolf down their food. When they finished they walked to the stables.

Lara Hugged Kedryn and whispered in his ear “Be Safe. I love you.”

He whispered back “Love you too mom.”

Kedryn shrugged on his gear pack and walked over to where Cadmon, Niall and Lawler were waiting.

Aodhan walked up to them and clasped their forearms. “Be safe, all of you. Our scouts have informed us that Faolan has begun raids farther from the edge of the Huath mountain on the estates, farms, villages and towns.”

“He is becoming bolder.” Cadmon said as he mounted his horse.

“That he is. Take care of yourself.” Aodhan said as he patted Kedryn’s horse.

“Be careful. All of you.” Lara said.

“We will.” Kedryn said and turned his horse.

Lara watched Kedryn and the others ride away and she looked to Eion. He nodded at her and gave her a reassuring smile.

Bevin woke with a jolt. Everything was black and she felt something hard digging in her side. She reached up and felt the back of her head and as her fingers touched the tender part she winced. Trying to orient herself she tried to remember what happened.

Dillon was sitting in the living area with just a couple of candles lit. He was going over the defense plans for the surrounding area. She had kissed him good night and was settling into bed when she heard the crash. Their door shattered open and before Dillon had time to reach for his sword a Firbolg had knocked him over in his chair and ran him through. She ran to Dillon screaming ignoring the soldier with the bloodied sword standing above. Bevin pulled Dillon her as he was gasping for air and looked into her eyes.

“I love you. Do not despair and live life . . .” he coughed up blood and closed his eyes.

The soldier looked down at the woman below him cradling the man crying, screaming and rocking back and forth. He raised his sword and was about to strike her down when he heard another yell.

“Lieutenant Shea! Lord Faolan requested at least three women alive. She is all that is left.” General Tynan said ready to block the mans strike.

“Let the worm die. None can survive.” Shea rose his blade to Bevin.

Tynan kicked the blade down. “Your personal battle with Damon does not rise above Lord Faolan’s orders.”

The lieutenant lowered his sword and backed off. The General sheathed his sword and leaned over grabbing Bevin around the waist. She kicked and scratched and one of her kicks caught Shea in the side. Forgetting himself Tynan raised his dagger. He felt her relax and saw a flash of resignation in her eyes.

“No death for you, my Lady. You will join him in the future.“ He

kicked Dillon to emphasize his point and brought the hilt of his dagger down knocking her out.

Bevin shook her head to clear it and wondered how long she had been unconscious. Her vision blurred with pain as she looked around. “That was brilliant.” she said under her breath and thought of Dillon. Her heart broke again a thousand times and quietly wept. Why did they keep her alive? What did they want with her? She remembered the man saying that Faolan wanted her alive. Bile rose in her throat at the thought as she felt another stomach lurching jolt.