The Obsidian Dagger (18 page)

“You talk too much for someone without a head. Seriously, that's creepy.”

Dullahan roared and attacked. Brendan was more than ready and rushed to meet the challenge. Metal clanged on metal. Demon strength met resistance from some newfound strength within the American. Strike for strike, the boy parried and blocked and was up to the challenge. It didn't matter if the headless demon used the ax or the blade, the boy countered. Brendan sidestepped a frontal attack and spun into the air and placed a roundhouse kick squarely into the demon's sternum. Dullahan flew backwards and skidded into the middle of the tower floor.

In the meantime, Dorian reached inside the cage and lifted Duncan out. She got to her feet and began to limp across the room. Morna blasted Dorian with an enormous amount of energy from the middle of the room. Dorian was smashed into the wall and pinned there until she collapsed unconsciously to the ground. Duncan fell from her arms and bounced off the floor.

…

Wardicon and Usis advanced on Rory, Biddy, and Lizzie. This was not at all what Lizzie had in mind when her father suggested going to Ireland for a little family time. He never said anything about dying during a quest.

“This may be the last time I have a chance to say this,” began Rory. “But I love you, Biddy.”

“I love you, too, Rory,” she gushed. “Why did we waste so much time in our lives ignoring what was right in front of us?”

“I don't know, but at least if we die, we'll die with love in our heart,” he finished.

“I think that's sweet and all, but let's focus less on the dying part and more on getting through this,” suggested Lizzie. “You two take the dragon and I'll take Wardicon.”

Wardicon ran at the group and Lizzie ran forward to meet him. She spun her staff in front of her to make it hard for Wardicon to reach her. He didn't bother. Instead, he tackled her and broke her magical staff in two. He drove her into the ground and rolled end over end with her in his clutches. His momentum took him to his feet and he flung her towards the trees.

Biddy and Rory cried out in horror, but to their amazement, the griffin swooped out of nowhere and snatched her out of the sky. She hung limply in its clutches as it brought her gently to the ground, laying her by her companions.

Wardicon leapt into the air and the griffin jumped up to challenge him. Rory and Biddy looked at each other. Both shrugged and looked back at Usis.

She advanced and roared, snapping her jaws with the full intention of devouring the Leprechauns. Rory started firing his arrows and Biddy shot daggers at the beast, but that did little more than make it sneeze. Usis began to lunge at the pair but pulled up short.

The Leprechauns looked at one another again.

“Your magic is fading, Bid,” Rory pointed out.

“Your's, too, love,” she replied.

They each fell to the ground while their consciousness began to slip away.

…

“Do me a favor, Duncan, and get on with it,” Morna commanded to the small heap on the floor.

On command, Duncan convulsed and grew paler. His limbs stiffened, and his face contorted. The last of his will broke and the magic that was in his charge left him.

Morna breathed in the cool air in the tower as she absorbed the final energies from the fallen king of the Leprechauns. She looked down at Duncan and smirked. He wasn't moving.

“Hmmm. It looks as though you have outlived your usefulness, Duncan.” Morna levitated Duncan to the altar and then glanced back at Dorian. “Well, Duncan, since your next in line is already here and in my possession, I no longer need you.”

Duncan roused a little, his features mostly staying his own, and looked over at the witch. Morna reached down and snatched the dagger from the surface of the altar and looked at it admiringly. She sent a charge of magic through the weapon, released it, and made it hover above the little king. “Good-bye, Duncan. It's been a real blast.”

She drove the dagger down and slammed it into the center of Duncan's chest. The energy incinerated the unfortunate king, leaving behind ashes that were blown from the table by the wind.

 

Chapter 20

Strength Within

A huge flash of energy caught Brendan's eye during his battle with Dullahan. He felt the power shift in the room and he knew what had happened.

“My master has won, fool,” taunted Dullahan. “Give up.”

“Go to hell!” demanded Brendan.

Dullahan charged forward, but Brendan was infuriated. He didn't even bother to raise his sword at the advancing demon, instead choosing to lift a single hand causing Dullahan to freeze in mid-stride. If he would have had a face, Brendan was sure that he would have seen absolute shock on it.

“Let me help you get there.” Brendan sent Dullahan straight into the wall and the demon vanished in a cloud of smoke.

He turned back to Morna and cocked his head to one side and cracked his neck. Morna stood near the altar, smiling with her arms folded into her robes.

“What now, boy?” she asked. “Do you expect to defeat me when I have the power of the Merrows, the Sidhes, and the Leprechauns added to my own? It's laughable!” She plucked the obsidian dagger from the altar and blew the ashes away from the edge.

“What makes you think that all that magic's going to save you?” asked Brendan to her surprise.

The witch cackled again. Brendan couldn't help but think about the Wizard of Oz. He doubted water was going to melt this witch, though.

“I think I'll let my new slave take care of you.” She flicked her finger in Dorian's direction and instantly she began to change. She rose to her feet a mutated form of herself.

When Dorian was fully upright, she turned to face Brendan. She had porcelain skin and pointy fangs that protruded from her lips. Her eyes were gold and her hair had a mind of its own, as if she was floating underwater. She had black claws at the ends of her boney fingers. She resembled the scariest goth chick ever. Brendan was always a little afraid of those girls back at home. He never quite knew why until this moment.

“Quite fetching, isn't she?” Morna said laughing. She turned to Dorian. “Queen Dorian, destroy your betrothed.”

“Betrothed?” asked Brendan in surprise.

Dorian charged forward with her fangs bared and claws slashing. Brendan dodged and moved but didn't strike back. Dorian was way quicker than he remembered, though, and she caught his cheek with a left claw. Hot, painful blood dripped down out of the wound. She also threw kicks and punches and objects at him. She even released a pulse of red energy, and it drove him into the altar, causing it to tip over. His weight, making it tip forward, tilted the opposite end into the air.

“Owww,” he said.

Dorian was relentless and ran in and kicked him in the chest causing the altar to slide into the wall. The legs of the altar came off like shrapnel. She kicked again, but this time he caught her foot and flipped her away from him. She crashed to the floor, but quickly sprang to her feet.

“Give it up, witch, before you are destroyed.” Brendan kept one eye on Dorian and one on Morna. The witch was content to watch Dorian do her dirty work.

“What do you owe the Leprechauns, boy?”

“My name is Brendan,” he replied in a shout. “I think you should know who's going to defeat you.”

“You mean your name is Nuada, don't you?” she grinned maliciously.

Brendan didn't have a clue as to what she was talking about, nor the time to respond because Dorian was on him in a second. She grabbed him and hoisted him into the air and flung him across the room towards the balcony. She ran and grabbed him by the throat off of the floor and arched him over the railing. She was strong and held him in place.

Morna stepped into Brendan's line of sight and stood in front of the altar. She flipped the obsidian dagger in the air like a chef. “Looks like Nuada's chosen warrior has failed just as he did long ago.”

“What are you talking about?” grunted Brendan.

“So long, Brendan. Thanks for making this all so exciting.”

The witch held the dagger by the handle and hurled it end over end at Brendan's face. Brendan pushed Dorian away and spun to the left. He reached out with his right hand and snatched the dagger out of the air by the handle. He rotated it back to his right and let the dagger fly back at Morna. The witch was so surprised that the dagger had penetrated her chest through the heart and pinned her to the altar before she recognized what had happened.

Dorian made to attack but collapsed to the floor. Brendan ignored her for the moment and stalked cautiously towards Morna.

“I warned you,” he said.

Blood trickled out of the corner of Morna's mouth and fell onto her robes. Despite the fact that she was dying, she smiled. “Something worse is coming, Nuada's champion, and you have wrought it upon this world. I see now what my master had planned.“ She was lost for the briefest of moments in reverie before turning her dying attention to Brendan. “Prepare yourself for war.”

Brendan allowed her to hang limply on the dagger and ran over to Dorian's side. He turned her over and held her head. The pale color darkened to her normal skin tone, her fangs receded into her mouth, and her black claws retreated into her fingers as everything went back to normal.

“Dorian?”

She moved slightly and her eyelids fluttered opened. “What… what happened?”

Brendan pursed his lips at what he was going to have to tell her. “It's over.”

He helped her get to a sitting position and brushed the hair out of her eyes. She stared up at him and asked, “My father?”

Brendan shook his head and pulled her close when she began to cry. He held her tightly because he felt the waves of pain coming off of her. “Even after the power left him, he was never really hers, Dorian. That's why she killed him.” With tear filled eyes, she looked up. “He died because she couldn't break him.”

She smiled weakly and laid her head upon his chest.

 

 

Chapter 21

Homecoming

A few minutes later Rory, Biddy, and Lizzie flew in through the balcony atop of the griffin. Wardicon, who had also returned to his old form, followed them inside.

Lizzie got down quickly and ran over to hug Brendan and Dorian. “I thought I'd lost you!” she cried.

“I'm like a bad penny, Liz. I always turn up.”

“I don't even know what that means, but I don't care.” Lizzie realized at that moment how much her brother meant to her, but there was no way in the world that she was going to let him know it—especially not in public. She pulled out of the hug and slugged him on the arm. “Don't ever scare me like that again, stupid.”

“Ouch,” he said with a knowing smile while he rubbed his arm.

They were joined by Rory and Biddy as Wardicon and the griffin watched from a respectful distance.

Wardicon landed softly near the group hug and cleared his throat. “I must offer my thanks to you all and especially to your father. Usis sends her regards as well.”

Dorian nodded. “He hung on bravely, but in the end…” her voice trailed off.

“I know he's gone, but without him delaying the witch, you would have never made it here to foil her plans.” Wardicon looked at her with wise eyes. “It's hard to understand, but he will be remembered as a hero. That is his legacy.”

Brendan nodded and Wardicon nodded in return and took to the skies. “My Sidhes await my return. Know that we are at your beck and call, Queen Dorian.” The Sidhe King took to the air and flew off the balcony.

They waved goodbye and watched as the magic they had absorbed faded away.

“Huh,” laughed Biddy, landing gracefully on the stone floor after her wings were gone. “Looks like the magic held up just long enough.”

Rory's bow vanished. Lizzie's staff turned to a haze of purple smoke. Dorian's red glow and gold shield blinked out of existence. Only Brendan's sword remained.

“No fair!” protested Lizzie. “Why does he get to keep his?”

Brendan leaned in close to Lizzie and whispered. “Because I'm cool like that.”

She slugged him again.

When Dorian had recovered enough, the group mounted the griffin and took to the skies. Gorgoch caught up with them somewhere between Scotland and Ireland.

“I see that you prevailed,” he said as his features shifted to something like a smile.

“It was at a cost,” replied Dorian. “My father was lost to us.”

“Take it from me, Dorian; he's never really gone.”

“Thanks for all your help, Artie,” said Brendan.

Gorgoch stared at him for a moment and then nodded. “You're welcome. Something's different about you, my friend.” Brendan didn't quite understand, and his face must have shown it. “Just be careful.” Gorgoch faded from sight.

Dorian glanced at Brendan. “What was he talking about?”

“I don't know,” he replied. Before he had too much time to think about it, his pocket vibrated.

He pulled his cell phone out. “Hello?”

“Uh, Brendan?” hiccupped Oscar. “I think I've made a very important, if not odd, discovery.”

“What are you looking at?” howled Colym from the top of his favorite sitting rock.

Oscar turned back to his phone. “I think I've either discovered Leprechauns or I discovered that I should never, ever drink.”

Colym stood up and tried to shoo Oscar away. “Be gone with you, figment.”

Oscar stared at the little green-clad fellow in absolute confusion. “I think I need help, Brendan.”

Brendan chuckled. “Just find a nice spot to lay down and we'll be there in a little bit.” He ended the call and laughed. “My dad is in Corways.”

“Oh?” replied Dorian.

“Yeah, and I think he just met Colym.” Brendan smiled.

Dorian had to smile back. “Then let's hurry so Colym doesn't ruin our reputation any more than he already has.”

Riding on the griffin was a much different ride than with Gorgoch. It was the difference between a speedboat and a sailboat. Gorgoch was careful to not make anyone sick or to scare any of the passengers, but the griffin seemed to make that its priority. Thankfully, the beast's back was large enough to house all three of the full sized passengers and the two carry-ons.

Lizzie tried to peer through the wind to find out where they were, but even if she had been able to see anything, it was doubtful that she would have recognized any landmarks. So she decided to ask instead. “Are we there yet?”

Both Dorian and Brendan scowled at her and she chuckled. “Just kidding, but seriously, how long until we're there?”

Dorian had the best view since she was in the front. “Judging by the speed of our new friend, I'd say we'll be there in less than an hour.

True to her prediction, the griffin touched down in the center of Corways in fifty-three minutes. Of course, when it landed, the Leprechauns in town scattered and screamed and it was a scene of general terror, but after a little assurance from Dorian, the little people came out of hiding.

The griffin pawed the ground as if to say sorry.

“Dorian!” cooed the crowd. They shouted out greetings and good cheer, but inevitably someone asked about Duncan.

“He… ” was all she managed to say.

Brendan held her hand and took it from there. “King Duncan died a hero.”

Biddy stood proudly on the griffin's back. “It is a tale for another time, my friends.”

Rory walked up behind her and put his arm around her shoulders. “Dorian is now queen.” He struggled with his words and everyone in town knew why. Duncan had been loved, and he would be missed. “Please, allow us to settle in and there will be time to tell our adventure.”

“Oh,” remembered Lizzie. “Has anyone seen a tall human around here?” After a few smart alecks pointed at her, a few others pointed down the trail. “Thanks.”

Dorian, Lizzie, and Brendan walked down the path until they came upon Colym's sitting rock. Colym wasn't currently perched on his rock in a drunken stupor. He was actually curled up next to Oscar beneath a tall, thick trunk in a drunken stupor.

“Colym, you lazy bum, get up and get into town,” suggested Dorian.

The stereotypical Leprechaun roused and protested. “But why? This human is so warm, and he smells like my favorite drinks.”

“Get moving.”

“Fine.” Colym got to his feet and staggered across Oscar's chest. He reached the end of Oscar and fell into a small growth of grass. A giant
Burp!
sounded from the patch, which was then followed by the distinct sound of snoring.

Dorian shrugged and Brendan leaned down and poked Oscar on the arm. “Wake up, Dad.”

“Huh?” He smacked his lips with the thirsty sounds of waking from a nap.

“Come on, Dad, get up,” prodded Lizzie.

Oscar opened one eye, feeling out the environment. “Brendan! Lizzie! It's you!” He tried to scramble to his feet but the pounding headache behind his eyes wouldn't allow that to happen.

“Easy now. I got you.” Brendan put an arm under his dad's arm and hoisted him up.

Oscar noticed Dorian and smiled.

“Oh, Dad,” began Brendan. “This is Dorian.”

“She's his girlfriend,” teased Lizzie. Both Dorian and Brendan blushed giving Lizzie great satisfaction.

“Shut up, Liz,” Brendan replied playfully.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, young lady.” Oscar shook Dorian's hand.

The O'Neals and Dorian took their time walking back to the village. Oscar went on and on about his crazy dream and Leprechauns—remembering nothing of his encounter in Wales or the fact that he had stowed the music box deep in his suitcase—but when they entered the town square he abruptly stopped talking.

“Are you seeing this, too?” he asked the others.

“Seeing what?” teased Lizzie again. Brendan shot her a sour look, but she kept the smile plastered on her face.

“The… the… the Leprechauns,” Oscar shouted. The griffin spread its wings and stomped the ground. “And whatever that is!”

“Yes, Dad, we see them, too,” Brendan said, assuring his father.

“Oh, okay. So this means?”

“Basically it means all that stuff that we think of as magic and myth are real,” confirmed Lizzie. “Kind of freaky, huh?”

Oscar agreed and then asked for two aspirin and a glass of water.

…

The Leprechauns were some sort of clan, thought Brendan. They had found the torn up little rental car and had magically mended it to its original crappy self. Magic could only do so much, it seemed. It was in that little car that Dorian drove the O'Neals to the airport.

Screeeech!

After sliding to a stop at the curb, Oscar threw his door open and bent down to put his head between his legs to keep from vomiting.

“Did I do something wrong?” Dorian smiled shyly.

“Nope, he's just fired up about how great of a driver you are,” lied Brendan.

Oscar took the car and drove it around to the rental place and left instructions for the kids to meet him at Gate 4 in twenty minutes.

“Thanks for all your help, Lizzie.”

Lizzie shook off the thanks. “It was my pleasure, Dorian. I learned a lot on this little trip.”

“Do you think your dad was okay with what he found out about your ancestors?”

Brendan shrugged. “I think so. Just knowing that the O'Neals had lived in that area before they came to the States seemed to satisfy him.” Brendan scratched his head. “Though, I'm a little disappointed that it turns out we aren't descended from Leprechauns.”

“Well, you performed as admirably as any Leprechaun,” smiled Dorian. “And besides, your clan worked side by side with my ancestors all throughout the Magick Wars, and you continued their legacy.”

Lizzie looked up at the sight of a red sports car zooming their direction. “That's the chump who splashed us.”

“Oh yeah.” Brendan held out his palm and the front tire blew apart, sending the red car into a spin. It spun all the way into a small retention pond where the water was just up to the half way mark on the door. The sunglasses-wearing dude inside tried to wipe all the muck off his face.

“Cool,” said Lizzie. “Hey, wait a minute. You get to have magic powers to take home? No fair!”

“I already told you, I'm cool like that,” he smirked.

“Bye, Dorian.” She hugged the Irish girl and stuck her tongue out at Brendan before walking away, talking to herself about how ridiculous it was that Brendan had magic and…

Dorian fixed Brendan with a stare. “Why is it that you still have your power long after the rest of us lost ours?”

“I don't know.” He shrugged. The name Nauda ran through his mind. Morna had called him Nauda's champion, but he still didn't know the name, and he was too afraid to ask Dorian about it. He knew he had Google on his phone, and he told himself to take some time to learn all about this Nauda.

She stared at him again.

“Honest,” he said holding up his hands to display his innocence. “Luck of the Irish, I suppose.” He gave her his most charming smile. “Oh, thanks for hanging onto my sword for me. I don't think they would have let me on the plane with it.”

“It will hold a place of honor in Corways, but,“ Dorian smirked in a sultry way. “I want you to take this back to America with you.”

Brendan's heart leapt to his throat as Dorian wrapped her arms around his neck. He could barely breathe when she smiled and leaned in for a kiss that was truly magical.