“Midnight,” Brann said. “Meet up at the boat at midnight.” As Weylyn and I turned to go, Dub was already trying to get back on his feet.
“Keep our lady safe,” Keegan said, waving us off. He winked at Katie, and said to Dub, “Bet you can’t catch me, you puss-dripping weasel dick.”
As Dub got to his feet, trembling with fury, Keegan grabbed Katie’s hand, running toward the forest. Brann was right behind, taunting Dub, “There’s a pot of gold riding on it, you cock walloping skeeze!”
Dub started after them in a stumbling chase. Forgetting all about Keira and the rest of us in his impulsive anger. Stumble-running into the trees after our companions, as they lead him off on a merry chase. Weylyn and the Donn ran the opposite direction, me following with Keira in my arms. We fled through town, back the way we’d come up from the beach.
We followed along that stream again. Keira was still out, but I brought her forehead to my lips and gently kissed her. “You did good princess, but don’t ever do that again.” I whispered. She didn’t awaken, but I could swear I saw a slight smile form on her lips. She is going to be the death of me.
“Do you know where to go?” I asked the Donn.
“I do not,” he said, tugging on his robe. “How is she?”
Keira’s breathing had begun to even out. “She’ll come around soon.” I fucking hope...
“I’ll scout ahead,” Weylyn said. Before I could reply, he shifted to wolf form and sprinted off ahead of us. I shrugged at the Donn, sniffed the air, and started to follow Weylyn’s scent as he scouted. After half an hour, his smell began to get closer again. We found human Weylyn, grinning at us as he sat on a log. “I found a cave. It’s close to the boat, and far enough from the city. I think we’ll be safe inside.”
“Good idea,” I agreed. “We can give Keira time to recover, before we meet up with the others.”
Weylyn led us up an old goat track, obscured by bushes and fallen rocks. Eventually, we reached a deep, dark cave. I wondered what might be living there, but kept it to myself.
Small, loose stones lined the floor of the cave, causing me to lose my balance. The Donn reached out and steadied me. He’d moved with a supernatural swiftness I’d never have expected, but he just smiled, and shrugged. Weylyn put a blanket roll down. I gently lowered Keira, then took my pack off. I lifted her head and placed a rolled shirt under it, before turning around to face the Donn. The way this cave was built into the side of a cliff, it would be difficult for anyone to spot. Vines concealed the entrance, but let in enough light that we wouldn’t end up stumbling in total darkness.
I sat watch on a rock near the entrance, making sure that we weren’t followed. Weylyn handed me a bottle of water, then moved back in the cave where Keira was resting. The Donn took a seat on one of the stones next to me and leaned wearily against the wall. I took a deep swig of water, and passed it over to him.
“Drink up. We’ll still need you before this is over.” I tell the Donn.
“Thank you,” the Donn nodded, sipping quietly.
“It is not me that you should be thanking. It’s that bold lass asleep behind you.”
“She’s many things,” old Donn said, “but she’s no mere lass, my boy.”
I nodded, but said nothing. My wolf was pacing inside of me. Wanting, needing to be released. He knew no fear and he liked it that way. When it came to Keira, there was nothing my wolf wouldn’t do to keep her safe.
“What you said, back at the temple…” The Donn looked at me, and I went on, “…about hating the Tuatha? Was that true?” I asked the Donn.
“Some...” There was a long pause and a sigh. “But it was just a part of my story.” He started off, casting his mind into the past. “Back when I was alive? As a mortal man, I mean, I wasn’t truly living. I merely passed the time. I drank too much, spent all my coin on women, and half the time I found myself waking up in a ditch the next afternoon. The truth is, I joined the army with the hope for a quick and painless death, but what I found instead was a purpose. The Tuatha may have cursed me, trapped me, so I could never leave my own island of Tech Duinn. I thought it was going to be my prison, turns it out, that it was a second chance of life.”
“As the Master of Death?”
“I awoke from mortal death, to find the Morrigan sitting on a rock, petting Omen. And like waking from a dream, I could see clearly at last. My death was not a punishment. It was an opportunity. I was given a second chance, a purpose worthy of the gods. She offered me immortality as the God of Death. I would never be able to leave that rocky wasteland, but I would be able to help maintain the balance of the universe, the cycle of life and death.”
“So you accepted?”
“Willingly, with no regrets,” he responded, nodding. “I had a propose. I had clarity. It’s not all pain and suffering. Most of the time, it’s joy and satisfaction. When you come to my house—”
“Thanks,” I broke in, “but I’m in no hurry for that.”
“The time comes. When it does, you sit before me, and I look at the life you lived. I weigh your deeds, but also your soul. From there, I guide you into the other worlds.”
“And those are…?”
“Beyond your mortal comprehension. Perhaps you’re destined to spend eternity in heavenly bliss. Others get an opportunity at rebirth. And for those wicked ones who have lived a life of sin, they go and see the Lords
