Finn Finnegan (19 page)

“Make up yer bleedin' mind, ye manky bird,” Gideon said, under his breath. He relaxed when the bird heaved itself into the night and flapped away. “Stay here, Finn.” He walked toward the far edge of the yard, his knife gleaming softly in the starlight. Reaching the wall, he paused, then leaned over it.

Finn gasped as Gideon hoisted himself up on the wall and swung a leg over. Before he could move, the Knight disappeared on the other side. Twigs snapped and leaves rustled as he tracked back and forth, then the noise ceased. Silence filled the night.

“Gideon?” Finn whispered. On shaky legs, he crept forward; the woods beyond seemed crammed with goblin-shaped shadows. His pulse hammered in his ears. Reaching the wall, he laid his palm hesitantly along the top.

A hand reached out of the darkness and grabbed his wrist.

Finn yelped and swung his knife. It was deflected with a clang and a twist, sending a shower of sparks into the air. Gideon's grinning face appeared a moment later. He let go of Finn's arm and jumped back over the wall, landing next to the apprentice.

“Now, I'll place a fair bet that ye just wet yer trousers.”

The Journal of Finnegan MacCullen: July 2

What I Learned
Today
Yesterday:

Man, am I tired. We were up all night, but nothing ever happened.

Between all the stuff about the Spear, the fight with Asher, Rafe catching me doing my De Danaan thing, and the Amandán trying to get us all night, I don't know where to start.

I can't even think what I really learned. Except that Gideon thinks it's funny to scare the piss out of me.

Literally. (I just didn't tell him that.)

“And, with yer own knee,” Gideon said, trying to control a smile as he crouched down on the front lawn next to Finn. He held a handkerchief to Finn's injured nose, the apprentice's blood already smeared across his knuckles. “‘Tis a pity. Yer bruises were just starting to fade from the fight with Asher two days ago, too.” His lips twitched as he readjusted the cloth; his morning mug of tea sat abandoned on the edge of their porch.

“Stop laughing at me. It hurts!” Finn leaned back on his hands, legs stuck out in front of him. He tilted his head forward as Gideon pinched gently. “I feel so stupid,” he said, voice muffled by the Knight's hand.

“And why is that? Any apprentice could knock himself in the face with his knee whilst demonstrating a back flip off the porch. It's perfectly normal.”

“Really? Did your other apprentice ever do it?”

“Well, no.”

Finn rolled his eyes.

After a few minutes, the Knight pulled the cloth away. “The gush has slowed to a trickle.” He ran a bloodstained finger along the bridge of Finn's nose. “I don't believe it's broken.” Wiping his hands clean as best he could, he rose and grabbed Finn under the arm and hauled him to his feet. “Up ye get. Take a seat and I'll fetch yet another poultice for ye. We might need to plant a second hedge of the
slainte
nettle, at this rate.”

“That's
so
not funny.”

As Gideon disappeared inside the house, Finn walked over and sank down on the middle step. He wiggled his nose gingerly and winced.
I'm glad Rafe didn't see that
.

A movement across the street caught his eyes. “Son of a goat,” he whispered, watching as Mr. Steel and Rafe strolled toward him.

“Hey, Finn,” Rafe called as they reached the gate. “We were just—holy moly, what happened?” He gazed wide-eyed at the blood drying on Finn's upper lip and chin.

Finn grinned sheepishly. “Oh, I was trying to show Gideon how I can do this move off the top step and I hit myself in the face with my knee.” He shook his head. “Talk about a klutz,” he said as they pushed through the gate and walked up to the porch.

Mr. Steel frowned; his lips pressed into a thin line. He began to say something, but Gideon stepped out, a damp cloth in either hand. One was stained a dark greenish brown.

“Good morning, Rufus. Rafe.” Gideon nodded politely, then handed the stained cloth down to Finn. “Hold it on for at least ten minutes, lad.” Turning to the Steels, he asked, “Did he tell ye what happened?” His blue eyes twinkled.

“He did.” Rufus Steel stared back, eying the blood on Gideon's knuckles. “It seems a bit farfetched.”

“Oh, ye don't know the boyo. He can injure himself sitting in a chair, reading.”

“Hey! I'm not
that
clumsy!” Finn peered up at the Knight, his face partially obscured by the cloth.

“Actually, ye are,” Gideon said.

“I came over to ask if Finn would be able to collect our mail and newspapers for the next week,” Mr. Steel said. “We're going camping over the Fourth of July holiday.” He studied Finn, his face thoughtful. “We'll pay you, of course.”

“No problem. And you don't need to pay me, Mr. Steel. I want to help.”

“Well, I appreciate it. We'll be back on the sixth.” He gazed at Finn for another moment. “Unless you would like to come with us? I know it's short notice, but—”

“No, we've plans of our own, but many thanks,” Gideon interrupted.

“I see.” Mr. Steel started to speak, then stopped. “Perhaps another time. Well, come on, Rafe. Better go load up the car. Thanks again, Finn.” With a nod, he headed back across the street.

“Camping. With my family,” Rafe said, making a face. “Kill me now.” He trudged away with a wave of his hand.

“So what
are
we doing for the holiday?” Finn took the clean, damp cloth Gideon handed him and wiped his face. “Did I get all the blood?”

Plucking the washcloth from the boy's hand, Gideon swiped at a few missed streaks, then tossed it to one side. “There's a pack of troublesome Amandán several miles back in the hills west of here. I thought we might do a bit of hunting tomorrow night—”

“Yes!” Finn pumped his fist into the air.

“—with Mac Roth and Asher.”

“No!”

Green stars burst in the night sky over the tree tops. The fireworks tinted the faces of the four De Danaan with a mossy light as they made their way through the woods. Purple and red and blue flashes followed. The thunder of the neighborhood fireworks show was magnified by the hills.

“Now, do ye see why this is such a splendid night to hunt?” Mac Roth spoke over his shoulder to the two apprentices following him. Gideon stalked a few yards behind the party as rear guard. “The noise and activity covers up anything we do, while the fireworks confuse the beasties.”

“I sure hope so,” Finn said. He dug in his pocket for his moonstone as they hiked along the narrow trail. In tugging the stone free, his elbow caught Asher in the ribs.

Asher stumbled. “Hey, watch it!” He shoved back.

Finn staggered sideways, dropping the stone. “You son of a goat.” He squatted down, patting the ground as he attempted to locate the rock.

Looking down at Finn, Asher smirked. “Oops.”

Gideon appeared behind the boys. “Finn, what are ye doing?”

“I dropped my moonstone.” He ran his hands over the rocky trail, trying to find it by touch.
I knew I should have left it at home
, he thought.
It's not like it works or anything
. Scooping up handfuls of pebbles, he held them close to his face, hoping to spot the familiar shape.
Crap, I'll never find it in the dark
. Dismay flooded him.

Gideon crouched down beside him. “Let me help.” He dragged his fingers slowly over the area, until a pale light flickered by his left hand. He stilled his movement. A milky radiance swelled under his palm. “Success,” he said. Picking up the moonstone, he handed it to Finn. It winked out as he released it. “Carrying it for luck, eh?” Gideon said, in an undertone.

Finn nodded. He stood up and ran a thumb across it, then tucked it back into his deepest pocket. Before Gideon could stop him, he marched over to Asher and crowded him, chest to chest. “You always got to be a jerk?”

“What's the big deal? They're easy enough to find,” Asher replied, standing his ground. “Oh. Wait. That's right. Moonstones don't light for halfers. Only real De Danaan.”

Finn pointed to his torc. “I'm more De Danaan than you'll ever be.”

Mac Roth stepped out of the darkness. They both yelped when heavy hands clamped down on the scruffs of their necks.

“Keep it up, lads, and I'll feed the pair of ye to the first Amandán I can invite to supper,” Mac Roth growled, shaking them roughly. He let go, cuffing first Asher, then Finn, with equal force, nearly knocking them off their feet. “Asher. Up front with me.” He continued along the trail, his apprentice on his heels.

Ears ringing, Finn fell in beside an amused Gideon. He took a deep breath, then another, counting silently to ten.
Ye gods, he hits hard
.

Watching Mac Roth drape a thick arm across Asher's shoulder as he spoke to his apprentice, Finn shook his head. “I don't see how a Knight like Mac Roth can stand being around someone like Ass-her. I mean, Asher.”

The corner of Gideon's mouth quirked. “And there be the kettle calling the pot black.”

“What the heck does that mean?”

“Finn, ye're not perfect yerself. And the expression means ye mustn't criticize someone for doing things you do. Ye have yer moments, just as Asher does.”

“You mean, like my temper?”

“Aye, like yer temper. And stubbornness. Yer less than stellar table manners. And—”

“Okay—I get it already,” He peeked at his master out of the corner of his eye. “So, are you sorry you took me on as your apprentice?”

Gideon scanned the woods before answering. “I am. Ye've been a pain in the arse since the very first day. I only keep ye around for the free labor.”

“Hey!”

With a chuckle, he glanced over. “Explain something to me, boyo. Why does it bother ye so when Asher taunts ye about being half mortal, yet ye've a good friend who's human?” He looked up, as another rocket exploded over the hills. “Are ye ashamed of yer mother?”

“What? No! It's just the way Asher says it. Like I'm dirt.”

“Finnegan MacCullen, ‘twill always be Tuatha De Danaan who will look down on ye for being part mortal. Just as there are humans who will look down on Rafe for being black. Savannah for being a female. Meself for being a foreigner. Even ye and I because of our lack of money. Such is the nature of this round world.”

“Yeah, and it sucks.”

“Aye, it does. I should teach ye to say that in Gaelic.” He started to add something, then froze. “Mac Roth,” he called, in warning.

“Aye, I heard them, Lir.”

Gideon and Finn slipped forward on silent feet and joined the other two De Danaan at the foot of a towering outcropping of rock. The trail wound through a small clearing at the cliff's base.

Pushing Finn and Asher closer to the rock, Gideon stood in the middle of the clearing, head cocked as he listened. Mac Roth edged further up the path, his bulk punishing the vegetation as he cast about.
They're like a wolf and a bear
, Finn thought, as he watched the two Knights.

After a few minutes, Mac Roth returned. “Gideon, there's only a couple of the beasties, about halfway down the hill. We'll split up and circle around. Attack them in the classic hammer and anvil move.”

“Finally—some action.” Asher said with glee. He tossed his knife into the air with a flip of a wrist and caught it by its handle. He started to join his master, when Mac Roth stopped him.

“Asher, I want ye to remain here. This rock face will give ye some protection.”

“Oh, come on, Mac Roth.” Asher spread his arms wide. “I can do this.”

“Not this time, boyo.” He caught his apprentice by the arm before he could storm off in frustration. “Now, lad,” he said softly. He waited until Asher looked up at him. “Ye know how delicate I am, and how ‘twould break me heart if something happened to ye. I'll not have ye getting killed in front of me old friend. Just think how embarrassed I would be.”