Sign of the Throne: Book One in the Solas Beir Trilogy (33 page)

“A siren? Impossible. They are all dead,” insisted Cael.

“I’m not sure
what
I saw—I didn’t see the face. Only the tail as it splashed back into the ocean. It seemed like the rest of the body must be huge, though.” Abby shuddered, repulsed.

“It cannot be a good omen. You see, there
was
a consequence for using power,” Cael said.

“I don’t understand. How is that a consequence for flying? They seem unrelated,” David queried.

“Some consequences are indirect, a ripple resulting from action, seemingly removed but nevertheless connected,” Cael explained.

“Sorry, I still don’t follow,” David admitted.

“I do.” Abby chimed in. “It’s the same as a synchronicity—something that seems coincidental but is actually related.”

“So then
it’s my
fault
we may have been spied on?” David asked.

“It’s not really a matter of fault,” Abby clarified. “It’s more of a chain reaction—a series of events set into motion. It would be like dropping a pebble in a pond—I don’t have to hit the banks of the pond with the stone for them to be wet—I only need to cause a big enough wave. But I’m only in control of the stone, not what happens next.”

“So what, like karma?”

Abby nodded. “Like karma on
caffeine.”

“
Caffeine?” asked Eulalia.

David laughed and shook his head.
“Uh, never mind.” He walked back over to the bed where Nysa was resting and sat down next to her. “How are you feeling now, Nysa?”

“All better
, thanks. Sorry you got sick, too.” Nysa said. The bright amber glow had returned to her large eyes.

“It’s okay. I’m
just glad you’re all right.” David put his arm around the nixie’s tiny frame. She clasped her little arms around his bicep, nuzzling it affectionately with her cheek.

“You said Malden bit you—how did that happen?” asked Abby, sitting down next to David. “You disappeared when we were in the room with the portal—didn’t you return to the safety of the reflecting pool?”

“Abby needed help. I only took the mirror to help Abby,” Nysa insisted. She looked to Abby, her eyes wide, pleading for understanding.

Cael stiffened. “
Which
mirror?”

The nixie ducked under David’s arm, hiding behind him. “I went through the portal,” she said, “to tell Cael Abby needed help. Cael did not see me. Too busy with soldiers. I
only
took the hand mirror to help Abby.”

“The
silver
hand mirror?” Cael’s tone was stern, but he seemed angry with himself for some reason. He dropped his hand to his side, reaching for something that wasn’t there.

“What is it?” David asked. “What are you looking for?”

“My leather satchel,” Cael answered. “I thought I had it with me, but now I remember. It is in my chamber—I left it there when I dressed for the coronation. But I should have noticed that the mirror was missing. No—what I
should
have done was kept it locked away. I am so sorry, Solas Beir. I was careless.”

Eulalia put her hand on Cael’s arm. “Cael, this is not your fault.”

He looked at her, shaking his head. “It
is
my fault, Eulalia. I should have known the mirror was too dangerous—it seduced the nixie.”

“But what if we had needed it to open the portal?” Eulalia asked. “You cannot blame yourself. You acted with the

best of intentions, in an effort to protect our kingdom.”

“And now my good intentions may mean the ruin of the kingdom,” Cael said, looking pained. “No, my queen, I was a fool to think the mirror could have been used for good, even as a last resort.”

Nysa peeked out from behind David.

“Nysa, did you take the mirror from Cael’s satchel?” David asked. The nixie nodded.

“Where is it now, Nysa?” Eulalia asked gently.

“Malden was eating Calder, but then Lucia told Malden to hurt me. He bit me
, and I dropped it. I hid in the water a long time. When I peeked out, the mirror was gone. Everyone was gone. I was alone and very sick,” Nysa said.

“So you came to my room for help,” Abby finished.

“Yes,” Nysa nodded. “I help Abby, Abby helps me.”

“If Lucia has the mirror, the next thing she will do is free Tierney from the Wasteland,” Cael concluded.

“And
then
what will happen?” David asked. He took Abby’s hand. Her skin felt cold; he drew her closer, enveloping her with his warmth.

Eulalia grew pale and stepped into Cael’s arms. Cael pulled her close, protective.

When she spoke, they were all afraid. “Everything will change.”

EPILOGUE:
THE WASTELAND

U
nder the sapphire sky of his prison, Tynan Tierney sat on a desert floor, head bowed. His hands cupped the scarlet sand as he mumbled the numbers to himself, counting, counting, counting.

Far behind him, on the crest of a rust-colored dune, a lone figure in a hooded cloak was watching him. Silently the figure approached, coming to a stop a few feet behind the prisoner.

Tierney raised his head, staring out into the vast expanse of red before him. “Lucia,” he said.

“Yes, my lord.” She pushed back her hood, revealing her face.

Tierney let the last grains of sand fall from between his fingers and stood up. Lucia followed his gaze as he studied the barren landscape, the line where the cobalt sky bled and became sand. “You have failed me,” he said.

“No, my lord.” Her voice was steady.

He turned to face her, his dark eyes blazing with anger. “The boy is still alive. He has been crowned Solas Beir. How is it then, that you have
not
failed me?”

“Not me, my lord,” Lucia said. “Calder.”

Tierney raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Oh?”

“Calder disobeyed. He betrayed us,” she said. “But he has been punished.”

In an instant, Tierney crossed the distance between them, suddenly stopping short. Lucia braced herself to receive his rage. Instead, he smiled and stroked her cheek from temple to jaw, his touch firm, hungry. His face had grown gaunt from his imprisonment in the Wasteland, but he was still handsome.

She felt her pulse quicken, her skin tingling at his touch. She willed herself to stay in control, to remain guarded.

“Ah, Lucia, my love. You are well-versed in matters of disobedience and betrayal. How
does
your young nephew feel, knowing it was you who killed his father?”

Lucia remained silent. There was an accusation hidden in those mad eyes, eyes that were so frighteningly dark and angry, and she knew well to hide her fear. Tierney would equate fear with guilt, and where there was guilt, punishment was sure to follow.

He seemed unsurprised by her silence. “And now, you have come to free me?”

“Yes, my lord,” Lucia replied.

“Yes, my
love
,” he corrected. His strong fingers caressed the bare skin of her neck, tracing the line of her clavicle.

“Yes, my love.”

He looked into her eyes. “And together we will set things right? We will finish what should be finished?” he asked.

“Yes, my love,” she said.

With her confirmation, he pulled her into his embrace, kissing her hard—passionately. She let herself fall into him, giving herself over completely.

CHARACTERS

(in alphabetical order)

Abigail “Abby” Brown
: an ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny, the daughter of Frank and Bethany Brown, and sister of Matthew Brown.

Adelae Buchan
(AD-eh-lay BYOO-can): sister of Samuel and Thaddeus Buchan, the founders of Newcastle Beach. Legend says that Adelae went mad when her brother Samuel was bewitched by a magical mirror and vanished. She is rumored to be the “lady in white” who haunts the mansion ruins across from the Newcastle Beach Inn.

Amelia Gannon
: David Corbin’s long-time girlfriend, and the daughter of Philip Corbin’s British business partner, James Gannon.

Ardal of Caislucis
(AR-dahl of KASS-loo-sis): the last Solas Beir, also called the Great Bear King, and the father of Artan. (In general, people in Cai Terenmare use their city or region of origin as a surname.)

Artan
(AR-tan): son of the Solas Beir, Ardal, and his queen, Eulalia, and the lost heir to the throne.

Brarn
(rhymes with barn): the raven who guides Abby to the old mansion and a friend to Queen Eulalia. His mate is the raven, Eithne.

Cael
(kayl): Queen Eulalia’s champion and first knight of the castle, Caislucis, charged with ensuring the safety of the Solas Beir and the royal family.

Cai Aislingstraid
(KIGH AY-sling-stride): a soul
who sees, a person with the ability to see the future and communicate with others through dreams.

C’aislingaer
(KIGH-sling-ahr): the slang term for Cai
Aislingstraid.

Calder
(KAHL-der): a vicious monster loyal to Tynan Tierney.

Cassandra Buchan
(BYOO-can):  Professor of Psychology and Statistics at the University of Santa Linda, married to Riordan Buchan, and the mother of their children, Ciaran (KEER-ahn), Siobhan (sh’-VAWN), and Rowan (ROH-un).

David Corbin
:  adopted son of wealthy couple Philip and Margaret Corbin, who live in Newcastle Beach.

Erela
(eh-REL-lah): a winged woman who serves on the Solas Beir’s court council.

Eulalia
(YOO-lahl-ee-ah): Queen of Cai Terenmare, widow of the last Solas Beir, Ardal, and the mother of Artan, the heir to the throne.

Fergal
(FER-gahl)
the Valorous: 
a shape-shifting faery, loyal to the queen. His spirit animal is a frog.

Gorman
: a small indigo man who serves on the Solas Beir’s court council and is the historian and librarian for Caislucis.

Jonathon “Jon” Reyes
: Abby’s best friend and neighbor, and the son of Blanca Reyes.

Kruor um Beir
(KROO-or um BAIR): the King of Blood and Shadows, and the one who rules those who serve the Darkness.

Kruorumbrae
(KROO-or-um-bray): evil, shape-shifting creatures who feed on others, often referred to as Blood Shadows, or simply Shadows.

Lucia
(loo-SEE-ah): Queen Eulalia’s sister, accused of assassinating the Solas Beir, kidnapping his heir, and betraying her family for Tynan Tierney.

Malden
(MAHL-den): a sadistic shape-shifter loyal to Tynan Tierney, with historic ties to Newcastle Beach.

Marisol
(mah-REE-sol)
Cassidy
: daughter of Marcus Cassidy, a wealthy businessman, and Esperanza Garcia, a former supermodel. She is friends with David Corbin, Michal Sloane, and Monroe Banagher.

Michal
(MEYE-kahl)
Sloane
: a wealthy girl who is best known for being a bully. She and her friends, Marisol Cassidy and Monroe Banagher, are referred to as “M Cubed” or M³. Michal and her parents are close friends with the Corbin family.

Moira Buchan
(MOY-rah BYOO-can):  Riordan Buchan’s aunt and heir to the ruined mansion next to the Newcastle Beach Inn. She is a close friend to the Corbin family.

Monroe Banagher
: a wealthy girl who is friends with Marisol Cassidy, Michal Sloane, and David Corbin.

Nysa
(NEE-sah):  a water sprite called a
nixie, loyal to the queen. Her spirit animal is the golden koi.

Nerine
(NEER-ih-nee):  a mermaid, and daughter of the Sea King.

Northern Oracle
:  one of the four Oracles ruling the outer realms of Cai Terenmare who work in concert with the Solas Beir to keep balance between the Light and the Darkness. She governs the Gauntlet and the Ice Mountain Territories. The other Oracles are the Eastern Oracle, the Southern Oracle, and the Western Oracle.

Obelia
(oh-BEEL-ya):  head of the Solas Beir’s court council.

Phelan
(FAY-lan): a knight, and Cael’s second in command, charged with the security of Caislucis.

Riordan Buchan
(REER-den BYOO-can): a writer, mythology enthusiast, and admirer of all things Gaelic. Married to Cassandra Buchan, he’s the father of Ciaran, Siobhan, and Rowan, and the nephew of Moira Buchan.

Solas Beir
(SO-lass BAIR):  ruler of Cai Terenmare. In representing the Light, the Solas Beir is endowed with great power and is meant to be a servant to the people. Solas Beir can be translated literally as Lightbearer, but this less formal term is used to refer to a future ruler who has not yet ascended to the throne. The term Lightbearer can also be used as an insult, referring to a ruler who is weak.

Tynan Tierney
(TIGH-nan TEER-nee):  the leader of the Kruorumbrae, creatures of the Darkness. He calls himself Kruor um Beir and seeks the throne of the Solas Beir. He is often referred to simply as Tierney.

Western Oracle
:  one of the four Oracles, she governs the seas and is mother to the murderous sirens who reside near her island temple.