How long before he ended up with two much venom to overcome?
Having been a druid in the Treoir realm for many centuries, Garwyli had warned Daegan the rift in the hidden death wall imprisoning Imortiks would crack in other areas of the world. When new cracks occurred, Imortiks that escaped would be drawn to the venom still inside his body.
Daegan tested his power. He teleported the two bodies, along with the disembodied heads, heartened to see them reappear on the ground outside when he stepped from the cottage.
Pointing his finger at the bodies, he called up his dragon fire. Flames burst across the cadavers. Their nasty odor of sulfur and burned skin rose with the smoke as the corpses sizzled in the fire.
To clear his head of that smell and try to find Luigsech at the same time, he teleported around the area surrounding the cottage. He made a wider circle each time until he’d reached a mile out in all directions.
Every time he teleported, it took him longer to reappear.
More frustrated than before with no result, he returned to the cottage.
Tristan’s last telepathic words to Daegan haunted him. His second-in-command seemed to have only an instant to shout that Cavan had him. But recalling the sound of Tristan’s agony gripped his heart and twisted his insides into a mangled mess.
Daegan’s dragon rumbled, angry and ready to break free to hunt Tristan. His dragon had accepted Tristan’s gryphon flying with them and recognized the young man’s loyalty.
He had to calm his dragon. I want to find our friend, too, Ruadh. When we do, the one who kidnapped him will pay. Until then, we must focus on huntin’ the Luigsech woman.
The silence that answered burned his chest.
There had been a time when Daegan would have known who had captured his people. A time when he would have shifted into his dragon form and flown to the enemy’s hold. Just the sight of the feared red dragon of Treoir bearing down on a castle would have been enough to hand over any captives.
Daegan ran his hand over his hair, gripping his head.
One day, his enemies today would know the penalty of touching his people. One day, the red dragon would be enough to hold peace again.
He could do nothing about finding the grimoire volumes or locating Cavan without that woman. Night had dragged into early morning with his circular search around the cottage. Daegan had no choice but to teleport to the ancestral research centre and watch for Cavan, who was to meet Luigsech there this morning, according to her.
With a last look at the house, Daegan flicked a finger to shut the door. Then he teleported to the village in County Galway, a small place on the outskirts of the larger city. He returned to the very spot he and Tristan had teleported to less than a day ago.
With daylight approaching, no one stirred as yet in the quaint community. Daegan cloaked himself and settled in where he could observe the ancestral centre.
Swinging his gaze down the narrow street bordered by attractive buildings, Daegan recalled Tristan’s first question upon arrival and smiled.
“Are these buildings really old, boss? Like 1500s?”
Daegan had chuckled at him. “1500s ’tis not old.”
Where was his friend?
By the time daylight broke, Daegan noted how the villagers smiled and chatted with one another. It reminded him of the people who had lived on his father’s land. He longed to see their faces again, to remember a happier time.
The sound of someone knocking on the door of the ancestral centre pulled Daegan from his musings. Sunshine slowly burned away the early-morning mist and shadows began to lighten.
A boy of thirteen or fourteen stood there. He carried an armful of newspapers and knocked again. “Miss Fenella? Hello, Miss Fenella?”
Appearing confused, he stood there another minute then left a rolled-up paper beside the door and continued down the street. His next stop was the grocery building where Daegan had observed Cavan talking to Luigsech yesterday.
That boy had expected a woman named Fenella to be at the ancestral research centre this morning. That must be the woman Daegan and Tristan observed yesterday, too, who left not long after Luigsech showed up.
Daegan called telepathically to Tristan again. Tristan, say anythin’, any sound, to let me know ya live. Once again, his words met with the same disappointing result.
Silence.
At separate times, two shopkeepers from nearby stores knocked on the door of the ancestral centre. Both also called out to Fenella. The female shopkeeper walked away, muttering, “Don’t be blamin’ me when ya don’t get yer hot turnover this mornin’.”
She must be the one baking up heavenly smells nearby.
Unease crawled up Daegan’s neck.
Had Luigsech met with Cavan somewhere else?
If so, why wasn’t Fenella here?
Daegan stood from where he’d leaned against a tree, still cloaked to prevent from being seen. He called telepathically to his Belador Maistir over North America. I need your help, Quinn.
Yes, Daegan. Where are you?
County Galway in Ireland.
What do you need me to do?
Daegan explained, ’Tis close to daylight here. Tristan and I arrived yesterday. We observed a bein’ who calls himself Cavan, but he wore a glamour. Tristan and I split up. He followed Cavan and I followed the Luigsech woman we had been watchin’ who works at an ancestral research centre. Cavan captured Tristan. When Tristan called to me telepathically, all I heard was that he had been captured and what sounded as if he tried to tell me the identity of Cavan.
Then we may know this Cavan? Quinn asked.
I feel ’tis a strong possibility.
What else can you tell me about him, Daegan?
Not much. Daegan explained how he and Tristan had followed Luigsech when she left work and her encounter with Cavan, who cloaked their conversation as well as his identity.
Quinn grumbled, We definitely need more. What can I do right now?
First, how are things in Atlanta?
Humans are frantic over monsters in the city. Fights have broken out at UnVeilCon, because they mistook someone in costume
