Finn's Choice (4 page)

Face and clothes dusted with powder, Gideon was battling the remaining two, his back against the garden shed situated off to one side of the yard. Even in the growing dark, Finn could see the look of grim pleasure on his master's face.

“Come on, ye foul beasties. I'm missing me supper dealing with the likes of ye.” He wagged his weapons at them, his brogue breaking free from the joy of battle.

“Hey, save one of those stinkies for me,” Finn called. He took a stance behind the Amandán, careful to stay a goblin-arm's length back, and readied his knives. The goblins jerked back and forth, unsure which foe to watch out for. They scrambled, standing back to back.

“What, and give ye the chance to out-score me?” Gideon snorted. “Not bleedin' likely. Ye're too cocky as it is.”

“Scared of a little competition?”

“
Little
is right. Ye need more height and more meat on yer bones to compete with a Knight, me fine boyo.”

“More years, too.” Finn grinned at Gideon's look of mock indignation.

“Why, I be not a month over three hundred or so. In the prime of me life, I am.” He raised his weapon, stopping one of the goblins from making a run for it. “Now, ye just hold fast there, beastie. I dinna give ye leave to go.”

Behind Finn, one of the French doors swung open. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a tall, lanky man edging out onto the patio: Rufus Steel, armed.

Shotgun carried in a manner that suggested he was not only comfortable using it, but eager to do so, Rufus Steel loaded the second barrel with a
chk-chk
. “Nice of you two to stop by.” His grin, as grim as Gideon's, flashed white against his black skin.

“A fine evening to ye,” Gideon called. “And how is yer lovely wife? And the bairns?”

Another figure joined Rufus. Tall, slender, and with ebony skin, high cheekbones, and a natural grace that always reminded Finn of a queen, Susanna Steel joined her husband. In the porch light, the knife in her hand flashed with bronze flame. For a split second, Finn marveled at the manner in which she held it. Not like the surgeon she was, but rather like a warrior who had been trained to hunt.

“Hello, Gideon. Finn.” Susanna Steel's voice held the rhythmic cadence of South Africa. “Have you had dinner yet? And would you care to join us this evening? Once we're finished with these pests, of course.”

“Why, we'd be delighted, madam. Finn, go along and—”

At that moment, both goblins charged. Finn stumbled backwards
a step, but caught himself in time to slash at the paws reaching for his head. Howling from the burn of the bronze weapon, the goblin charged again. This time, Finn nailed it in the chest with both blades. He yanked them out as the Amandán disintegrated.

A few yards away, Gideon stood over the remaining goblin cowering on the ground. The tip of his knife was less than an inch from the goblin's nose. “Tell yer pack that this family is well protected by me and mine. And that yer belief that we Tuatha De Danaan were part of the sorceress Iona's underhanded dealings with ye is wrong.” He kicked out a booted foot. “Now, flee. Before I weary of yer ugly mug and decided to use this blade to improve it.”

Mouth agape with fear, the goblin slunk past the Knight; once clear, it bolted to the far side of the house and disappeared. Gideon followed, watching from the corner. After a moment, he nodded in satisfaction and returned. “Surprising how swiftly those beasties can run on all fours.”

“
Bleh
!” Finn spat to one side; the taste of Amandán was worse than its smell. He swiped at his watering eyes. “Why did you let that one go? Do you really think the others are going to believe what you said?”

“Probably not. But I wanted to plant a seed of doubt.” He eyed Finn as he walked closer and pulled out a handkerchief from his back pocket. “Let me.” He started to wipe Finn's face.

“Don't!” Aware of Rafe and Savannah joining their parents on the patio, his friend with a spear in his hand, Finn jerked his head
back. “Sheesh, Gideon.” He snatched the cloth from his master's hand. “When are you going to stop treating me like a first-month apprentice?” He cleaned his face with savage swipes. He knew his tone and actions were borderline disrespectful.
But, come on! In front of everyone? Really?

Gideon raised an eyebrow, then leaned in, crowding Finn's personal space. Finn tensed.

“Sorry. I didn't quite catch that.” His master's tone was flat and low and made Finn gulp. “Did you say, ‘why, Gideon, thank you for being so solicitous about my well-being? And may I compliment you on the skill and boldness you just displayed in battle?' At which time, Finnegan MacCullen, I would thank you for your gracious words.” He leaned even closer. “Instead of offering a clip on the ear to a cheeky apprentice who has only been with me for five months.”

Finn swallowed around a dry mouth. “Um…you did good, Gideon.” He pasted on the most innocent expression he could manage. “And I'm cool, thanks for asking.” He grinned sheepishly when Gideon cuffed him on the head.

“That's what I thought you said.” Sheathing his weapon, he walked over to speak with Rufus and Susanna Steel.

Making a face
after
he was sure Gideon's back was turned, Finn brightened when his friends edged around their parents and joined him. He nodded at the spear in Rafe's hand. “You should've loaned
that
to your dad.”

“I tried.” Rafe's dark skin contrasted with his white T-shirt
adorned with a faded picture of Albert Einstein. He planted the thick, wooden haft of the assegai against the ground and twirled it around. Its broad, leaf-shaped blade winked with an orange flicker. “But he wanted to try an experiment. Too bad he didn't get the chance.”

“What experiment?”

“Dad and I came up with the idea of using bronze shot in his gun. Thought it might work on the Amandán.”

Finn scratched his head.
Why haven't we tried anything like that? I mean, we've known about gunpowder since humans brought it from China to Europe. I wonder if Mac Roth knows—

“Hey, Finn?” Savannah interrupted his thoughts. “Do you think Gideon's got an extra knife he could loan my mom? Otherwise, me and Mom are going to be arguing who gets to carry mine.” She grinned, her dimples making Finn's pulse pick up speed again. He forgot about Rafe's gun idea. For a moment, he found himself studying the way her eyelashes curled almost completely around. He blinked when she reached over and snapped her fingers in front of his nose.

“Sorry.” Finn shook his head. “What?”

“I
said
, why do you think those orc wannabes decided to attack us? I thought they were leery of humans.”

Before Finn could answer, Susanna Steel called to them. “It's getting chilly out here. Let's go inside, shall we? Finn, are you hungry?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“I hope you like salmon.” She smiled at him in that special way that always made him feel self-conscious and welcomed at the same time.

Rafe and Savannah are so lucky
. He tried not to think about his dead mom and dad, mentally shrugging away the old sorrow.
At least I've got Gideon
. A secret wish, one that he kept well-buried because it made Finn feel like some sniveling little kid, rose to the surface before he could stomp it back down. The wish that somehow, he and Gideon were family.
Real
family.

After Gideon and Finn dusted themselves clean with a whisk broom and a vigorous shaking of jackets, they all gathered in the kitchen. Finn took a seat between Rafe and Savannah. In spite of the
Scáthach's
visit and the subsequent fight with the Amandán, his mouth watered at the aroma of grilled salmon. A warrior eats when he can, he recalled the Knight telling him just last month. He loaded his plate with a thick fillet and wild rice, selected enough asparagus to keep his master off his back, then dug in. Chewing, he listened as Gideon told Rufus and Susanna about the goddess and the trials.

“Now, in addition to the troubles with the goddess,” Gideon added, “the Amandán have declared war on you and your children in retaliation for your help this summer.” He looked at Susanna, then Rufus. “And, even though I will be preparing Finn for the trials, I promise to protect your family. In fact, I've already set a plan in motion to help me do so.”

“Gideon, I don't think we need—” Rufus began.

“But
I
do.” Susanna placed a hand on his arm, interrupting her
husband. “What do you have in mind, Gideon?”

“It is fortunate that two unrelated events have come together at the same time. Kel O'Shea has offered to help us both guard you and keep the number of goblins in this area under control.” Gideon paused and glanced at Finn with an odd, almost apologetic, expression. “And, with our neighbor moving away, it provides a place for the Knight and her apprentice to live. They will be renting Mrs. Martinez's home. For now.”

Finn spewed water and a few kernels of rice. “
What
?” he croaked. Drying his chin, he stared at his master in disbelief. “Why didn't you tell me?” His voice rose to an awkward level.

“Because I had just returned from Mac Roth, who has been the coordinator behind much of this. I dinna have time to tell you, since we've been a wee bit preoccupied this last hour.”

Like that's a reason
, Finn thought. As the adults continued their discussion, he pushed his plate away, appetite gone, and slumped back in his chair.
My life stinks like wet goblin
.

Savannah leaned over, her shoulder pressing against his. “Finn, I know you're worried about the Sca-thee. The Sky-ha. However you say her name.”

“
Ska-ha
,” Finn supplied, vaguely wondering why he even cared.

“
Ska-ha
,” she repeated. “But like we said when you came back from the Festival, we've got your back in this. Fellow warriors, remember?” She tapped the woven lion's-hair bracelet on his wrist, a match to the ones she and Rafe wore. Her grandfather had given all three of them the traditional Zulu symbols of bravery
in commemoration of their victory over the Amandán. Then, she squeezed his hand, holding it long enough for Finn to wish she would never let go. When she did, he almost reached for it again. He jumped when Rafe nudged him in the ribs.

“Knight O'Shea was the one from the Festival, right?” Rafe asked. “The one with apprentice what's-her-name? The one that doesn't like you and Lochlan much?”

“Tara Butler.” The thought of living next door to Tara and her master, even temporarily, made Finn wish that the
Scáthach
had taken him after all. “It gets worse.”

“How could it?”

Keeping one eye on the adults still deep in discussion, and with the twins leaning in from both sides, Finn explained in a low voice about the attraction between Gideon and Kel O'Shea.

“You're right,” Rafe said. “It's worse.”

Finn nodded. “Talk about awkward.”

“No kidding. I mean, we practically gag whenever Mom and Dad get all smoochy in front of us. It's got to be worse when it's… you know.” Rafe pointed at the adult end of the table.

“Really, guys? You can't handle a little romance?” Savannah said with a superior tone. “So what if Mr. Lir and another Knight like each other as more than friends? They're entitled, you know.”

“But…but…” Finn sputtered like their truck starting up on a cold winter morning. “It's
Gideon
! He's not supposed to…to…”

“To what? Be happy? Have a friend?” Savannah pressed him. “Find love after all these years?” She sighed. “I think it's romantic.”

“I think it's weird,” Rafe said.

I don't know what I think
, Finn mused.

The Journal of Finnegan MacCullen: Tuesday, October 15

I really thought I would have more time. I mean, it's only been three weeks since the Festival. I guess the
Scáthach's
on a tight schedule, screwing up people's lives, that sort of thing.

Talk about a tight schedule? Yeah, here's mine:

1. I have to figure out how to command the elements, starting with fire. In nine days. No pressure there.

2. I have to keep Rafe and Savannah and their parents alive in the meantime.

3. I have to learn how to avoid Tara Butler.

4. I have to work with Iona of the Hills.

With a sigh, Finn closed his journal and tossed it on the coffee table. He slumped deeper into the worn, leather sofa, propped his feet on the table, and let his head drop back. He watched the firelight as it flickered along the ceiling; the scent of burning wood blessed the room as it popped and crackled away with a joyful sound. Rolling his head, he gazed at the flames.
I wonder what it would feel like to control fire
.

In a nearby chair, Gideon peered over the top of the book he had been reading. “Now, that is a surprise.”

“What is?”

The Knight nodded toward the journal on the table. “I thought
I would be nagging you day after day to write in that. Yet you seem to enjoy the task.”

I do, but how'd he know that
? “It's okay.” He shifted on the sofa, uncomfortable with the admission. “Kind of fun to record all the craziness we go through. I mean, when there's nothing else to do.”

“Well, perhaps, one day, you would want to write your own tale.”

Finn blinked. “You mean like a
book
?”
Me? Write a book?

“Certainly. You mentioned to me just recently you wondered what you were good at, besides hunting. Not that you're that fine a hunter, mind you.” A corner of Gideon's mouth twitched. “Perhaps your gift is of a literary nature. You would be following in the footsteps of many an Irish novelist and poet and playwright. Storytelling in our blood, you might say.”