Firebrand (24 page)

“Never,” David roared.

Swords clashed as blow after below was exchanged, the thrusts coming so fast that blue streaks of light filled the air as metal met metal. Stroke after stroke met defensive parries as both men refused to yield.

David staggered backward in response to a hard hit from Sinclair’s sword. Pain knifed through him as his full weight transferred to his wounded leg. He buckled and dropped to one knee, moving one hand to the blade of his sword while keeping the other on the hilt to try to gain some leverage against the downward force of Sinclair’s sword. The muscles of his arms quivered but he did not give ground.

As he continued to hold off Sinclair, David felt the edge of Sinclair’s blade slice through the skin of his hand. A rivulet of blood ran down his arm as he continued to meet each blow of the attack with a defensive block of his own. The last blow shoved his back against the stone walls of the corridor, giving him precious little room to maneuver. Blades met in a rapid fire clang of metal upon metal and, as Sinclair seemed to gain the upper hand, the strikes came faster and harder.

Once more David was forced to his knees by a double handed strike from Sinclair. But just as he summoned the last of his failing strength, he sensed rather than heard footsteps right before Sinclair’s dark eyes widened and the thrust of his blade stopped. In the next instant, Sinclair’s’ eyes rolled backward and he slumped to the floor.

Behind him, barely conscious, stood Amber, hair tangled and damp with sweat. She swayed and David sprang to his feet, taking her in his arms.

She sagged against him for a moment before raising her head. “We have to get out of here,” she said in a voice barely a whisper. She looked down at Sinclair. “Before he wakes up.”

David followed her gaze. In the center of Sinclair’s back was a syringe.

Amber swayed. Ignoring the pain in his leg, David scooped her up into his arms just before her knees buckled.

“The Sword,” she whispered. “Get the sword.”

David dropped to one knee and gently sat Amber against the wall. He rolled Sinclair onto his back and unwrapped his fingers from around the hilt of the sword in his hand. The light was completely gone, leaving only a plain silver blade in its place. Ripping a piece of material from his shirt, he fashioned a make-shift carrier and fastened them to his belt. He returned to Amber, picked her up and turned to take her out the way he came.

“No,” she whispered.

He stopped. She was pointing behind him. “We have to get her out too.”

“Who?”

“Barbara.”

“Sinclair’s assistant?”

Amber nodded.

“What is she doing here?”

“Helping him.”

“Screw her then.” David carried her through the doorway and to the bottom step of the long staircase.

“David, please. She had no choice. She helped me, she gave me the syringe I stuck him with,” Amber pleaded in a voice barely above a whisper. She closed her eyes as she fought off the lingering power of the juice inside her veins. “When he revives, he’ll kill her.”

“Where is she?”

Amber lifted a weak hand and pointed. “Back there.”

With Amber in his arms, he entered the hallway once more. He walked in the direction Amber pointed until he came to another door and kicked it open. Inside Barbara crouched next to the bed, her hand wound in her hair, her eyes as large as saucers. When Barbara saw them, she began screaming.

“Put me down, David,” Amber said, her voice still shaky. David looked at her for a long moment before settling her on her feet.

With slow steps, Amber walked to Barbara. Stooping, she ran her hands over Barbara’s face and stroked her hair until her screams stopped. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. But you have to come with us before he wakes.”

Barbara’s gaze darted between Amber and David. “I’m so sorry. It was a mistake. I’d undo it all if I could.” Wide eyed, she turned to gaze to Amber. “I gave you the needle. It worked, right?”

Amber nodded. “He’s asleep for now. But we have to go.” She looked back at David over her shoulder. “All of us.”

David nodded and helped the women to their feet. With one on either side of him, they walked to the door.

“I couldn’t stop it, Amber,” Barbara said, her voiced bordering on hysteria. “He has this power. I tried to resist, I really did. But I couldn’t.”

“He’s purebred. Very powerful,” Amber replied. “Nothing is your fault. It’s the way it has to be.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Barbara went on. “You have to believe me. I would have never let him have the baby.”

David stopped dead in his tracks. “Baby?”

Amber felt the color leave her face, feeling much the same as she had when the juice of the lemon was injected into her veins. “There’s no baby, David. Sinclair made it all up.”

Barbara stepped away from David. “Eric said the father had to be a human. It’s you?”

Amber reacted quickly, pulling on all the strength rebuilding inside her. She stepped in front of David. “She’s delirious, David.”

Barbara reached down and touched Amber’s stomach. “But you can feel it. Inside you. I know you can. A child like no other.”

Amber felt David spin her to him. “Look at me Amber. Is it true?”

Amber raised her eyes and with every ounce of control she could muster looked to David’s beautiful, concerned eyes and lied. “No. I am the child of which she speaks. The Child of Promise.” She took a deep breath and prayed the deception did not show on her face. “There is no baby.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

The icy Nordic wind rose in a howl that nearly deafened as the remaining trolls stared at the bloodied head of their leader, then at the women with their gleaming swords. They slowly moved back when they saw the fierce look of anticipation in the Valkyries’ eyes at the thought of a good kill.

A forward troll looked at the sacred relic once more, as he thought to rush them. But he knew they hadn’t a chance against this Nordic pack, especially with the aid of the fairy woman and the hulking brute by her side. They would never make it back alive if they engaged in battle. “We have no quarrel with you, ice queen. We only make sport with the humans,” the troll said.

“Then I suggest you frolic elsewhere, lest you wish your head to lie alongside that of your captain,” Brunhild said circling her sword over her head.

The other Valkyries began to wave their long handled axes and battle lances. The weapons sang out a shrill song that overpowered the sound of the wind. Everyone but the snow horde covered their ears against the reverberation. The trolls screeched and howled, backing away as blood spilled from their ears and snouts. Turning on their heels they ran back toward the low snow caves.

“Tell your Master we are coming…” Teezal shouted after them, “and death will be riding with us.”

Kubla looked at the angry woman beside him. Her faith in the cause was strong and he knew that in the end it would take that and all her strength to accept what had to be done. He strode to Brunhild. “You have our thanks my Queen. We must return to the Gisparry Glen with the sacred sword. The time of the Triad is upon us.”

“Go then and prepare. We will come when summoned and it will be a glorious battle…” she beamed, “and only the bravest will be taken to Valhalla.”

With her eyes on Teezal, she leaned forward and kissed Kubla full on the mouth, then whispered in his ear. “You are a formidable warrior Kubla but you will have your hands full with that one.” She winked at Teezal, who appeared to be holding back a whirlwind of fury.

The Nordic queen turned, her golden cape billowing about her legs like a sunburst and ran to her steed, jumping astride it with the ease of water sliding down a mountain. “Sisters!” she shouted, “We ride!” Clouds of snow and ice encircled the small band in a cyclonic whirlwind as the women took flight, their banshee screams filling the air before disappearing into the blue heavens.

The air was uncannily still, the only sound, being the crunch of Kubla’s boots on the snow as he walked over to help Marcus with a weakened Brian. Taking the Sword of Shadows, he handed it over to Teezal.

“Come…” he said to them, “We’re going home.”

* * * * *

Back in Everwood, Amber looked around her room in her grandfather’s castle. She felt as if she should be in a state of panic but instead she felt nothing close. She closed her eyes but the memory of her dreams returned. When she snapped them open, she realized she was in bed nestled into the curve of her mother’s arms.

Alara shifted closer when Amber stirred. “Feeling better?”

“Where’s David?”

Her mother looked at her, one hand stoking her hair. “He’s taken the Sword of Light to your grandfather. He should be along shortly.”

“And,” Amber hesitated. “Eric Sinclair. Did I kill him?”

“Oh, darling, I doubt it. I fear the troll king is back in the caves, waiting. Destiny whispers in the ear of the First One. She will not be cheated her grand finale,” Alara said. “And you must rest and recover from your ordeal.”

Amber sat up. “The tranquilizer Sinclair shot into me is wearing off. I’m fine.”

“Are you?”

Amber swung her legs off the bed. Her feet hit the floor about the same time a wave of nausea hit her stomach. “Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be? I am this all-powerful being, remember?”

“You’re also pregnant, Amber.”

Amber swung around to face her mother, feeling the blood drain from her face.

“Did you think I would not know?” Alara asked.

“I barely know you.”

“But I know you. You’re a part of me and, no matter what you think, I was always with you. When you were inside me, I spoke to you and you spoke back. We formed a bond that no length of time or distance could ever break.”

“No,” Amber countered, shaking her head. She rose and walked away. “It can’t be true.”

Alara followed her. When she reached Amber, she spun her around and touched her belly. “You can feel it Amber. Just as I could feel you from the first moment you were conceived when your father, Brian McKenna and I gave each other the most beautiful gift of love.” She took Amber’s hand and placed it on her stomach. “There’s life inside you. I know you can feel it.”

“I can’t be. Not with what I have to do.” Tears rimmed her large eyes. “Not with what I know.”

“And David. He is the father?”

Amber nodded.

She sighed with relief when Amber confirmed the fact that the Troll King was not the baby’s sire. “Does David know?”

“I think he suspects.”

“You should tell him.”

“I’m afraid he would try to do something noble.”

Amber turned and frowned at the darkening sky as her mother’s hand lightly rested on her shoulder. She looked from the hand to her mother’s eyes and then back out at the night.

Twenty-five years had gone by since they had last been this close. But now, it seemed, Amber was also destined to share the pain of her mother’s past.

* * * * *

As soon as they exited the trod into the world of the humans, Kubla and Teezal sensed something was wrong. The air had a slight sulfuric odor that tingled their skin. The worlds were melding.

When his foot struck solid ground, Brian McKenna opened his eyes slowly. Tears formed and slid down his face as he looked around. The lush green, the high stony hillocks were a sight to his sore eyes. This was Ireland, the country of his ancestors, the land he loved, a land where he’d found love even if that love could never again be.

He slumped to his knees and threw his head back. Twenty-five years. Slowly dropping forward, he lowered himself down on stiff arms and kissed the ground.

He was home.

A small, glittery dot buzzed about rapidly then came to an abrupt halt in front of Teezal. The dot slowed its droning wings, little by little materializing into a tiny fairy. Teezal leaned forward and whispered to it. The fairyling shook its head and with a high pitched buzz flew off down the glen.

Teezal turned to Marcus and Brian. “You will be safe here for a time. I have alerted a human watcher, Sean McKenna. You must wait here until his forces arrive to give you refuge until the gathering time.”

“You aren’t staying with us?” Marcus asked.

Kubla answered him. “No.” Staring at the murky sky, his pointed ears moved back and forth slowly like antennae measuring the low pitched intonations of their surroundings. “Time is running out. We must hasten and take the sword of Shadows to the Mage.”

“And Amber? Will she know that I…” Marcus faltered as he glanced at Brian who had settled his back against a giant oak, “that we have been saved?”

“She will be told. But her path is set and nothing may distract her from that end.”

Marcus nodded solemnly then watched as Kubla wrapped the Sword of Shadows in moss obscuring its shape. “Thank you both, for saving us and for returning us to our world, to everything we love.”

Both Kubla and Teezal touched their hands to their hearts and nodded, then turned from him and headed back to the trod-way. As they entered, a split of light brightened outward, encompassing the two fairy beings and Marcus waved one last time as they disappeared into the land of the fae.

* * * * *

Amber listened to her heartbeat. Was it her imagination or was there a soft echo? Could it be the baby?

The door to the room opened and she looked up. David stood in the entrance outlined in the muted light from the hall. She drank in the sight of him so eagerly that it stunned her. Would she ever get tired of just looking at him?

“How are you feeling?” he asked, closing the door behind him.

Amber wrapped her arms around her stomach as he approached. “Kind of weird.” David encircled her with his arms. “Superheroes never feel normal.” He kissed the top of her head before taking her arm and leading her to the ornate double bench out on the balcony. “I went back to Donahyde Castle.”

Amber’s body jerked and her head whipped toward him. “Sinclair?” The word came out in a rush of air.

“Gone.”

She turned away so he would not see the fear in her eyes. “You shouldn’t have gone alone. I couldn’t bear to lose you.” She did not turn back to him. “Especially now,” she said softly, unsure if he had even heard her.

He stared at her back. “Teezal has sent word. The Sword of Shadows has been recovered.”

“And my father?”

“Safe.” He heard a sigh of relief but sensed something else. Fear? Grief? He couldn’t discern one from the other. He raised a hand to touch her but thought better of it. “I won’t leave you, Amber. Never doubt my love. I’ll be right there beside you. Believe me.”

“It’s not that. It’s…” Her shoulders slumped and she dropped her chin. She had waited too long. The moment was gone. She couldn’t tell him.

David stood and walked around to face her. He took her hands and pulled her to standing. “What are you keeping from me?”

“Nothing.”

That she refused to look him in the eye confirmed what he suspected. He touched her chin and tipped it up. The tears that glistened in her eyes made his heart turn over. “Say it.”

She looked down at the floor to gather her thoughts before looking back up into his eyes. “It’s true, David. Apparently I’m pregnant.” She began to pace. “You were my first, my only. It was only that one time. I don’t know how this could have happened. But I just thought you should know. It’s better to be prepared. You know, for the end.”

He followed behind her, taking her shoulder and spinning her to face him. “Stop it, Amber.”

She kept talking even as he pulled her into his arms. “Maybe it’s for the best. We don’t even know what it would be. You’ve seen some of the blends. The phantoms, the ogres. Monsters, half human, half…”

He silenced her with a kiss. “It’s our baby. Yours and mine. He or she will be like us.”

She bit down on her lip. “I’m scared.”

He pulled her closer to him. “Don’t be. I’m not letting you go through with the Triad. I will not let this thing kill our child.” He released her and began gathering her things. “We’re leaving. Now. We’ll find a place in a world where no one knows us.”

Amber’s hand on his arm stopped him. “If the Triad does not take place there will be no world for this child to be born in David. Don’t you understand? If I don’t fulfill my destiny, darkness will rule. Nothing good will survive. We will be slaves, your kind and mine.”

His broad shoulders heaved. “Maybe better a slave so the baby can be born rather than free living with the guilt and pain of doing nothing to make sure that he could be.”

“Do you think for a second they will let our child live? They will kill it before your eyes and roast it over a pit as you watch helplessly. We are dealing with the cruelest and most evil of things. We are dealing with the ancestors and followers of the first evil from the garden.” She touched his face. “We’ve come too far, done too much. We have to trust the prophecy. It’s our only hope.”

When she kissed him, he felt a power pass through him unlike none he had ever felt before. Pleasure became pain, fear became awe. They wrapped around him until he could no longer tell one from the other as he saw and sensed and felt everything that she was. The floodgates of her mind opened swamping him with her hopes, her fears and her dreams. Light and dark. Life and death. He saw it all and finally understood.

* * * * *

Kubla’s ears perked up when he heard falling of marching feet and a smile slashed across his face. “That sound, I know it. The forces have gathered,” he said and ran to the top of the hill. There before him lay the legions of the continents. Thousands of them from each direction of the Earth and they had all come to aid in the time of the Triad.

Teezal joined him, her twinkling eyes bright. Together they turned and looked up at the castle parapet where a lone figure stood looking down.

Kubla reached into the pack on his belt. Slowly he raised his hand. As the matted moss fell away revealing the Sword of Shadows to the Mage, the sound that rose from those who understood roared like endless thunder in the moonless night.

At the rise of the next full moon, the Triad would begin.