Chapter 26
“Mix one part shining star, one part dew, one part flower essence, one part sunlight, and one part hope. Then stir slowly and breathe into the mixture of wishes.”
Journeying farther north in the great glen, Duncan shook his head.
The gods can be cruel
.
He should have
never
touched her.
His feelings went beyond simply bedding the lass, and there’s where the thorn lay. She opened a door inside him, and he willingly stepped through. It was as if his soul possessed a mind of its own.
Now, he had to close it firmly tight.
He would do all he could to protect her, and when their quest was over he would make sure Conn returned her to her own time, a time he could not fathom. Of all the Fenian warriors, Conn was their elite. He guarded and made sure any human traveling the veils of time returned to their own.
He also was not on the best of terms with the warrior.
He lifted the breeze with a thought, a whiff of her scent brushed gently against his face, and he inhaled. Clutching Brandubh’s reins more tightly, he swore under his breath. “What am I doing?” He needed distance and others around her to keep himself in order. There was only one place safe enough, he thought. After the sword was cleansed, he would take Brigid to Castle Creag. There, she could get some proper clothing that would hide those curves and keep him at a distance from her.
Aye, it is what he would do.
If only he knew how long this quest would take. Cathal was of no help. Only telling him, they would both know the moment. The druid was a sly one, even his denial of the Fenian warrior, which did not sit well with Duncan.
Raking a hand across his face, he felt the growth of a beard, one that sorely needed shaving. “Humph! Very cruel indeed.”
****
Brigid was numb, letting Roan set the pace. The past few days she had been on this magical journey. In the beginning, she was afraid, fearful she would never return home.
Yet, what
was
waiting for her in the twenty-first century? She had always felt out of sync in her own time. Always longing for the far off past, collecting old and sometimes rare antiques, reminding her of places that spoke to her spirit. All of her family was gone, except if you count Lisa, but even she was not enough of a pull to go back.
Her life tipped over the edge when she met Duncan. Watching him, she was fascinated how he held himself on Brandubh. Rider and horse as one, the warrior always alert. His ebony locks glistened in the sun, and she noticed his muscular legs, as if she hadn’t seen enough of them earlier.
She’d never forget how magnificent he was standing in the glade with nothing but his boots and torc on. It had been an afternoon that had ended too soon with a startling revelation—one where it would take her away from this place and
him
. Her heart told her that this was her home in Scotland of the past. It was her
feelings
, not only for the land, but also for the warrior with the dark and twisted soul.
There was more to his story, and she intended to get to the bottom of it.
The warmth of the sun brushed past her cheeks, and Brigid noticed they had emerged from the trees and were moving down toward the water. The loch shimmered with sunlight giving an effect of fractured jewels dancing on its surface. She could feel its energy ease away her worries as it hummed through her veins. The water called to her, beckoning her to touch and play, and the mountains loomed high as if they were guarding mystical waters.
She smiled. “Faery magic.”
Roan snorted, and Brigid giggled, patting his mane with her hand. Looking up, she saw Duncan had stopped. “Let’s not keep
him
waiting.”
When they approached, Brigid noticed Duncan kept his focus out toward the water, and she let her gaze travel out there, too.
“We are at the northern end of the great glen. Here is where the last dragon slumbers beneath the loch. I will take ye down to the water’s edge and call forth the dragon. Ye will then present the sword to her.”
Feeling spellbound by the beauty of the loch, she almost didn’t hear what Duncan was saying until she heard the word
dragon
. Snapping her head back out of her trance, her mouth dropped open in shock.
“Ummmm, did I hear you say
dragon
?”
“Aye.” Duncan dismounted from Brandubh, leading him away from the water’s edge.
“Oh no, no, no!” She shook her head, eyes wide with fear. “I thought you were teasing earlier.”
“Do not come out from the trees, Brandubh.” With a pat on his rump, Duncan sent the horse trotting away from the water.
In two strides, he was at her side and proceeded to whisk Brigid off Roan.
“I can’t do this, Duncan,” she protested. “I’ve only heard the stories. Now you want me to come face to face with a dragon? I just can’t!” She started shaking again. “I know the sword is in my possession, but
you
do it.”
“Brigid, lass, hear me, please,” his tone laced with agony. “Ye must have courage. Only
ye
can do this.”
Slowly, she stopped shaking her head and cast her gaze up into his eyes. His expression was one of hurt, and she noted his hands were fisted at his sides. He had become this stranger in just a few hours with his pain wound tightly around himself. She thought she had broken through with their lovemaking and yes, perhaps a bit more on her part, but she would never tell him that. No, she would not tell him she had feelings,
feelings
she still did not understand in just a short time.
Could he be upset that she had to leave when all was said and done?
Closing her eyes and clasping her hands in a silent prayer, she nodded her head in agreement. Hearing a sigh escape from Duncan, she softly asked, “Tell me what to do.”
He hesitated slightly, but removed the sword from its pouch on Roan. Then doing the same with Roan as he had with Brandubh, he watched as the two horses were nestled safely among the trees.
The thought of Nessie as an actual dragon was one Brigid had heard in stories...stories she would have preferred to read or hear about. Now, she had to come face to face with it. She watched as Duncan took the sword near the water. For a brief moment, she thought of taking off and standing with the horses.
Duncan turned toward Brigid, a look of sadness passing over his face. “I will call for the great dragon, and when I am done, ye will come forth and touch the stone on the sword’s hilt. She will recognize ye as the guardian of the relic. Ye may speak to her outright or with the words in your head.” Duncan glanced back toward the water. “If I am correct, she will ken why ye are here. Her words will tell ye what to do.”
“I am ready.” Wrapping her arms around herself, Brigid watched as Duncan lifted the sword up toward the sky, and she felt his energy start to pulsate, a tingling sensation under her skin. The wind spun, sending leaves fluttering past, and she lifted her head to the loch beyond him.
His voice was low and melodic as if he was singing a song. Brigid crept closer to hear.
“
Hail the north. I call upon thee from the mother that will set us free.”
“
Hail the east. There are those I seek who will help with the peace
.”
“
Hail the south. The fire that will forge the bond
.”
“
Hail the west. Where all will journey to the next realm
.”
“
From the four quarters, I, Duncan Alexander Mackay, call upon the one who came from the stars with the Tuatha De Danann
.”
He lifted the sword high on the last word and with one swift movement, pierced the ground. The hilt bobbed gently as one with the lapping of the waves.
Brigid stood transfixed after listening to his words. As he walked passed her, she grasped for his hand. “Where are you going?”
Duncan cast his eyes to where she had placed her hand against his. Refusing to meet her eyes he spoke low. “I cannot be in the dragon’s presence, for I am not worthy, nor a knight. Dinnae fear the dragon, Brigid. Ye are safer with her than with
me
.” Squeezing her hand slightly, he let her go, slowly making his way to the horses and trees.
The music of the loch chimed in Brigid’s ears causing her to turn away from Duncan. Her heart ached at his words. She wanted nothing more than to pull the sword from the ground and run after him, telling him the sword was his.
However, she couldn’t. He wasn’t ready to hold and possess it.
A sense of peace wrapped around her as she continued to watch the mists form around and within the loch.
Could the cleansing of the sword bring a sense of peace to him, she wondered? There were so many questions and simply no answers. The more she thought, the more that were added to the list.
A wisp of the mist brushed past her and Brigid felt...
warmth
. Remembering Duncan’s words that she was safer with the dragon, she gave pause for a weak smile. “I will do it for you, Duncan. This time my actions will be for you.” Lifting her head high, she stepped near the water’s edge.
Grasping the hilt of the sword, Brigid ran her palm against the cool stone in the hilt. She swallowed the fear, needing her voice strong. “I am here, great dragon.”
The air cooled slightly, but Brigid remained calm. There was no room for fear. On the contrary, it was as if she was floating on the mists, light and carefree. Light splintered through, casting a hue of multi-colored lights, and she gasped at their beauty. The water continued its rhythmic tune, reminding her of a harp.
Then the mists parted.
Brigid stared in awe as the dragon emerged from the depths of the loch, crystals of water streaming from her head. It was
incredible
. There was no other word to describe it. Her head was as big as a house, and it swayed with the movement of the water causing the color of her skin to change in iridescent shades of green and blue. Eyes the color of quartz sparkled and blinked, as if studying her.
How could she ever fear this creature? She felt as if she had known her all her life, only to be reunited after a very long time apart. “The last dragon,” she murmured.
A thread of song filled her thoughts until she could hear the words clearly and understood it to be from the dragon.
“Greetings, Brigid Moira O’Neill, from the Clan O’Neill, descended from the order, who protected our kind a millennium ago. It has been eons since I have come upon your people. How do they fare?”
Brigid smiled. “Greetings to you, great dragon. Well, how do they fare? Honestly, I don’t know much about my people, which I am sorry to admit. Perhaps it is one I can rectify when I return home.” A wave of sadness passed through her at the thought of returning to her own time.
The melodic voice of the dragon filled her mind again.
“You have the sword of the Order of the Dragon Knights. It is tainted with the blood of an innocent.”
“How do you know?”
“I have read your thoughts and know why and how you came to me. You have traveled far within the realm, Brigid. You do your clan great honor.”
“That’s right. He told me you could hear my mind,” her voice soft.
Clasping her hands behind her back to keep them from trembling, Brigid tilted her head up further to look into the eyes of the dragon. “Then you know what I am asking of you?”
There was a pause, and the flow of the water had a soothing effect on Brigid.
“Yes, Brigid, I do know what you ask, and I will purify the sword and purge it of its evil. However, the knight must also cleanse himself before the sword becomes one with him.
“Thank you.” She let out a long held sigh.
If the dragon could read her thoughts, there was no harm in asking her next question. “Then you know what
I
seek, too?”
A tinkling of laughter echoed throughout Brigid’s mind.
“Why do you think you were chosen, great warrior lady? I believe you have already found the key to unlock the darkness within his soul.”
Brigid clutched a fist to her chest as she spoke. “I’m afraid.”
“I have never understood why humans fear more from love than when they face an enemy. So, nothing has changed much in the last millennium. My spirit is sad.”
“Perhaps, it is because love is the most powerful weapon of all. It is known to rip apart a body and soul. You might have underestimated the power of love, great one.” She cringed, realizing she should not have chastised.
As the minutes passed, Brigid feared she offended the dragon. After what seemed to be an eternity, she thought she heard the dragon sigh.
“You have spoken truth, Brigid, but remember this, love is the greatest instrument of healing, and before your journey’s end you will truly understand its power.”
Biting her bottom lip, she nodded in agreement.
“Blessings of light and love, Brigid Moira O’Neill.”
With the dragon’s final words, the light and mist exploded in one shattering blast. The ground shook beneath Brigid, causing her to collapse. She fought to regain her breathing, noticing the sword was no longer next to her, but hovering above the water as if it was its protector. A bright flash of light seared across it, and she closed her eyes from the intensity. Her head was pounding, and she fought to stand.
Suddenly, all went still.
Breathing deeply, she dug her fingers into her thighs and tried to find her heartbeat. With great effort, she looked up to find the loch void of the dragon, and the shimmering lights only a memory. A bird’s caw brought her back to her senses. Not only was Sorcha perched on a rock, but the sword was also lying majestically against it.
“You know, Sorcha, my grandmother told me when I can’t hear my heart, it’s because the cogs in my head have taken over.”
Laughter burst forth from Brigid as she rocked back and forth upon the ground.
Chapter 27
“A knight’s code of honor will be his shield until the day his heart is hardened into steel.”
Duncan’s heart pounded against his chest when the blast of energy shattered earth and sky, shaking him to his soul. The force of the blast had slammed him against the tree, causing his legs to buckle and collapse beneath him. He heard Brandubh and Roan snorting and stomping, but knew the great one would never harm any animal. He had been unable to see the great dragon speaking with Brigid. She was shrouded in the mist, and he was not permitted to witness their meeting.