Emerald Isle (26 page)

Maybe I did belong here after all.

Then the gleam of my sword as the sunlight bounced off it through the open curtain caught my eye, and another, chilling thought crept through my mind.

Badb’s words.
It’s fully charged, so long as no one else ever touches it. Just wave it when the spirit is near, and the apparition will be visible to you.

But Pearce had touched my sword.

Had it been an innocent gesture? Or had he known that his touch would neutralize the charge?

The argument on the field had halted any further discussions regarding Birdie’s confirmation as Mage, but Birdie knew that the truth was, Tallulah didn’t want this mission. She wanted the prestige, the power of her status as Mage and council member, not the dangerous work it brought. While destiny, nominations, and confirmations were one thing, talent was quite another. It would take powerful magic to accomplish what they were asked to do. Deep down, Birdie was certain that Tabby knew she didn’t have that. But her name—and her station—could prove useful. If only she would agree to Birdie’s plan.

Birdie said, “I will accompany my granddaughter and the Guardian on this quest. I believe it best that Tallulah remain here. Should we need assistance from the council, Tallulah will serve us far better as our point of contact. Any decisions we make regarding the retrieval of the cauldron can filter through her.” Birdie glanced at Tabby. “She also knows the ancient sites well, their locations, their histories. If the mission should take us into unchartered territory, Tallulah would be our navigational guide. With the clout
of the O’Conor name backing her, she may be able to open doors that we might not otherwise gain access to.”

Tabby looked at Birdie, contemplating this proposal. She seemed pleased with the idea.

“What of Ethan?” Tallulah asked. “I would like him to join you.”

Birdie looked at Anastasia. The girl shrugged.

“I believe that would be up to the boy,” said Birdie.

Aedon agreed to the arrangement, and the three of them exchanged their cell phone information. Anastasia also jotted down John’s number for them.

Aedon reminded them that the Warrior was unavailable until tomorrow. Then he gave them his blessing and left the room.

Birdie stared at her old rival. The two women sized each other up for a few beats, until Anastasia broke the silence.

She said, “Tallulah, do you really have that kind of pull? Was Birdie right about that?”

Birdie watched as Tallulah raised one eyebrow, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “Of course I do. I’m an O’Conor.”

Anastasia said, “Excellent. We need you to break out the Warrior.”

Tallulah frowned.

“Is that a problem, Tabby?” Birdie asked.

Immediately, the woman who was now romancing Birdie’s ex-husband said, “Absolutely not.”

Anastasia bounced over to Tabby. “Then it’s settled. We leave now.”

“Now?” Tabby asked.

Birdie’s granddaughter sheathed her sword and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll bring you back a hat.”

Birdie said, “And keep an eye on the girl’s grandfather.”

Tallulah looked as if she’d just been through a windstorm as Birdie and her granddaughter rushed out of the room.

A short while later, they were standing in the entranceway of the castle. Lolly had just equipped Anastasia for battle. The girl was wearing a long leather coat lined with enchanted herbs and crystals, an athame strapped to her thigh, leather riding boots, with the broom tucked inside, and, of course, the sword.

She drew the line at the graveyard dirt.

“You’re not dousing me with dirt, Aunt Lolly, especially not maggot dirt,” she said.

Lolly explained what it was for, that Chance had called and told them about what he’d seen. Anastasia confirmed her experience with the malevolent spirit, and Lolly said that they wanted to protect her from it, and hopefully keep her from entering the web again.

She thought about it, then said, “Okay, but later, when we return. I haven’t seen Ivy in a while, and I don’t want her to lay eyes on a dirt dauber.”

Ethan and John came in through the door then, arguing.

John said, “I always drive, kid.”

Ethan said, “Have you driven in Ireland before?”

“I drive in Chicago. Trust me. This’ll be a cakewalk.”

“Have you ever been stuck in a roundabout?”

John knotted his brow. “What’s a roundabout?”

Ethan crossed his arms. “Can you speak Gaelic?”

“No.”

“Do they have sheep jams led by angry farmers toting shotguns in Chicago?”

John rolled his eyes. “Fine, kid, you drive.”

Ethan grinned, tossed his keys in the air, and said, “Let the games begin.”

Thor and Gretchen trotted happily alongside their witch and wizard.

John said, “Whoa, where do you think you’re going?” He was looking at the dogs. Then he looked at Ethan. “Unless you got an RV, the pooches stay put.”

Ethan said, “I was going to take the Escalade. It’s quite roomy.”

“I’m sure we could all fit,” Anastasia said.

John balked. “Yeah? And if we find the cauldron, where the heck do you think we’re going to put it? In the glove compartment?”

“Good point,” said Anastasia.

Fiona offered to keep an eye on the familiars. Anastasia and Ethan both agreed, although Ethan eyed Thor and said, “Keep your paws to yourself, lover boy.”

With that, three of the four corners headed off on a mission from a goddess.

I wasn’t too happy about leaving Thor behind, with his raging hormones and broken heart, but there wasn’t much choice in the matter.

Two and a half hours later, past miles of bright green pasture, endless sheep, and crumbled ruins, we arrived at the Academy of Sorcery, in Kildare, to collect Ivy.

I hopped out, jogged up the wide cement steps of the school, and pressed a buzzer.

“Yes?”

“Tallulah O’Conor called ahead. My name is Stacy Justice. I’m here for Ivy Delaney,” I said into the small intercom.

The door hissed open, and I entered the mammoth stone building. The hall was smaller than the castle’s foyer, but just as impressive, with elaborately papered walls, trophy cases, and portraits of graduating classes that spanned a hundred years.

Tallulah had texted me instructions to walk through a white archway, turn right, and knock on the third door on the left, so I did just that.

“Come in.”

The woman sitting behind the desk was about 180 years old. Minimum.

She lifted her gaze, trained it on me. Her chin couldn’t keep up with the rest of her face, so it sagged into a pile of paperwork for about two seconds longer than it should have.

I had been in a hurry before I opened the door. Now I just wanted to beat it out of there before she flatlined.

Ivy was nowhere in sight.

“Hello, I’m here to pick up Ivy Delaney.”

The woman glared at me. I think she was trying to give me the evil eye, but she couldn’t decide which one was stronger.

The left side won.

“No absences during exams! No exceptions.” Her lips curled over her teeth like she had left something there for later.

“I’m sure if you check your notes, you’ll see that Ivy is excused. She’s needed for an important, er, mission.”

I shimmied my sword at her.

The woman scowled, took about five minutes to stand, although she wasn’t much taller after the effort, and croaked at me. “You think that sword gives you the right to break rules? Hogwash. I’ve given lickings to bigger witches than you, missy.”

Where had I heard that expression before?

She pointed a gnarled finger at my boobs because she couldn’t reach any higher. “Get out of my school.”

Why was every old person I met so goddamn ornery? Where were all the matronly grandmothers who baked cookies and knitted scarves? If there was some sort of adoption program for that group of folks, I wanted a piece of it.

“Okay, look, Mrs.…” I flashed my eyes to the nameplate on her desk. “Doherty. I only need Ivy for—”

Wait a minute. Doherty. Why did I know that name?

Before I could place it, she cracked me across the knee with a sharp wand.

“Yow! Jesus, lady. Take it easy.”

I was doing a bee-sting dance when she came at me again. I blocked the blow with my right arm, and then something about her eyes, her hair, and that god-awful puke-beige pantsuit set off an alarm in my head.

Doherty. This was the woman who led the field trip to Tara. The one who threatened to strike Birdie.

I disarmed her and advanced until she was forced back into her chair. It wasn’t as cool as it seemed in the movies. Mostly because she looked like Yoda and moved like a freight train at a cross light.

I leaned in. “Mrs. Doherty. We meet again.”

“What?” she squawked. “I don’t know you.” She gnashed her teeth.

“Sure you do. Take a good look.” I held my head steady, because her eyeballs looked wobbly.

She squinted at me. “Nope. Maybe if you hand me my glasses.”

Oh, for crying out loud.
“My name is Stacy Justice.” I said it very slowly, a shroud of danger in my voice. “I told you that if you so much as touched the hair on another kid’s head, I’d be coming back for you.” I cocked my chin, and a flint of recognition sparkled in her eyes.

“No,” she whispered. “It can’t be. You…you look exactly the same.”

“I moisturize.” I unsheathed my sword and said, “Now get me Ivy or I call in my flying friend.”

Horror settled into her face for an extended stay. She moved a lot faster then, punching buttons on her phone, signing paperwork, all while keeping her good eye on me, making sure I didn’t lunge, I suppose. Within minutes, Ivy was by my side.

I waved to Mrs. Doherty on the way out of her office.

She still looked mystified.

Ivy hugged me as we got to the front door. She shoved her way through and bounded down the steps, hopped into the car.

Once inside, she was all business.

“What’s the plan, people?” she asked.

Birdie handed her a spell that she and the aunts had constructed earlier to sync our psyches so that we could better connect to the image, or, rather, the messages, the cauldron would hopefully send once we were on top of the mound.

“There are a few things we need to do first, before we head to the hill,” I said.

I explained that Ivy needed to get to the spear at the Royal Irish Academy, and that John would have to visit Howth Castle for the sword.

Ethan said, “I believe the place is closed for renovations. It’s a private residence, mostly; they only open to large groups.”

I frowned, looked at John. “Call Tallulah, see if she can get you in. If that doesn’t work, mention Grace O’Malley.”

John gave me a sly smile.

Ivy said, “So we’re splitting up?”

“I think that’s best. The Stone of Destiny isn’t far from here, so Ethan can drive Birdie and me there. You and John can pair up, take the train from Kildare to Dublin, hit the Academy, then head north to Howth on the DART rail.”

Ethan said, “’Tis Saturday. The Royal Irish Academy is closed.”

I looked at Ivy, questioning.

She patted her bag. “Piece of cake.”

The kid was equipped with all kinds of measures for breaking and entering.

“Call Tallulah if you get into a jam,” I said.

Ivy gave me a thumbs-up.

I took a deep breath. “Okay, so whatever sort of spell you need to connect with your treasure is up to you guys. You don’t have to bring them with you or anything; just set your power in tune with your talisman.” I flicked a glance to Birdie. She gave me a cool stare of confidence. “Right. So, John, Ivy, you good with that?”

“I think I can handle it,” John said.

Ivy said, “Roger, sister.”

“Perfect.” I checked the time on my phone. “We’ll pick you up from the train in three hours.”

Ethan whistled. “Not a lot of legroom there.”

That was true. It would take them forty-five minutes to get to Dublin alone, but I wanted this over and done with tonight.

John saw my concern. “We’ve got everyone we need. All the power running at full throttle. We’ll get it done.”

His confidence seeped over to me.

But what he didn’t know—what none of us realized until it was too late—was that when the spell broke, one of the four corners would be dead.