“You go first,” Sean said, smiling.
“Trust me, I was planning to all along. You’re sensitive to magic for a newbie. But I will sense things that would go right past you.”
“Humble and beautiful,” Sean said, smiling. “A rare and appealing combination.”
Ashling smiled. She appreciated Sean using humor to ease the extreme tension they were under. She touched the minds of each group leader and ordered them to spread out and prepare to attack.
When they reached the edge of the woods, Ashling ordered everyone to stop. She searched the ruins carefully by letting her powers slowly roll over the ancient ruins like an invisible fog. After a few minutes, she shook her head in frustration.
“What’s wrong?” Sean asked quietly.
“I’m not sure,” Ashling replied. “I can sense Grainne’s dark magic cloaked over the ruins, but I’m having a hard time finding the opening to her hidden compound.”
Sean touched her mind with his and let their powers blend together. “It’s right there,” he said, pointing to an archway off to their right.
Ashling couldn’t hide her surprise when she realized he was correct. “How can you see it if I can’t?”
“Because I have been inside once before. It was in my vision–remember?”
She nodded her understanding. Ashling continued to focus on the archway Sean had pointed out. Suddenly, she saw a dark blue, magical gate shimmering in the archway. “Okay, I see it now. It looks like the gate is protected by at least three dark spells, blended together.”
“So, it’s probably not going to want to open even if we ask nicely,” Sean said.
“We’re not going to ask nicely, but I promise you that it’s going to open,” Ashling said.
Mind to mind, she ordered their warriors to stand ready and wait for her signal to attack. When she was sure everyone understood her order, Ashling and Sean quickly covered the ground between the edge of the trees and the gate.
Ashling began pushing spells at the magically locked gate. After going through a dozen spells, she frowned and said, “Grainne’s put something diabolical into this protective spell.”
Sean could see her growing frustration. Suddenly, he felt a strong urge to reach out and touch a large stone in the support column for the entry gate. It took a moment for him to recall this stone from his vision. Without hesitating, he reached out and placed his right hand on the stone. Immediately, it began to glow a soft, white light.
“What in blue blazes do you think you’re…” Ashling’s panicked rebuke stopped when she saw the stone quickly release a blinding white light over them. Immediately, the blue, shimmering light on the gate began to blink rapidly and then go out altogether.
He pushed hard on the gate and it opened easily. Sean looked back at Ashling and said, “Beginner’s luck.”
Ashling watched in amazement while Sean pushed the heavy old gate all the way to the side. “Ladies first,” he said, smiling.
She couldn’t help but smile back as she walked past him and said, “Did I mention how happy I am that you are here with me?”
“We’re a great team,” he replied as they hurried forward.
Once they passed through the dark magical barrier at the gate, the illusion of old castle ruins began to dissipate. In its place stood a stunningly beautiful, modern-day castle of immense proportions.
When Sean saw Ashling’s reaction to the beautiful home, he said, “Pretty amazing, isn’t it?”
“It’s incredible. Can we take it home with us?” she asked.
“Wait until you see the rest of the place. It stretches out for miles. Down there are the industrial, military complexes. Over there,” he said, pointing to the apartments and barracks area, “is where they house much of her army.”
“I would have loved to see all of this in the daytime,” Ashling said. “Grainne has built an amazing home for her followers. I actually hate the thought of destroying it.”
“Let’s focus on the industrial and military areas first. Maybe we can leave the housing complexes and the castle alone,” Sean said.
Ashling stared at the castle for a long moment, before shaking her head. “I’m not sure why, but the castle has got to go. There’s something very dark and ugly in the fortified basement.”
Sean shivered as he thought of some of the ugly, terrifying creatures he’d already had to fight. He also recalled his scary visit to the basement in his spirit vision. If the basement area had anything to do with creating and housing the deadly savages, then it had to go. “I’m with you on that,” he said grimly.
Ashling nodded thoughtfully as she touched minds with her captains of one hundred. Each captain was responsible for the hundred warriors under their command.
Sean heard her mind-to-mind communication as she said, “Remember why we’re here and what has to be done. Stay connected to my mind tracks so I can contact you instantly if necessary. Susan and David, it’s time for you to join Sean and I.”
While Susan and David were hurrying to join them, Ashling continued to pass orders along to each captain. One of them was ordered to search the massive castle-like structure and to take no prisoners. She also ordered them to leave the basement area to her and Sean.
When Susan and David arrived, they all quickly transformed into their dragon selves. “Susan, you’re with me and David is with Sean. Remember your training and stick to our plan. If anything changes, Sean or I will let you know.”
Just as she was about to give the order to commence the attack, shrill sirens began going off all around them. They could see large spotlights coming on up and down the complex.
“Grainne must have a trigger warning in place if any strange dragons are sensed. Our transformation must have set off the alarm. Go, go, go!,” Ashling shouted, mind to mind.
* * *
The dragons in Grainne’s army attacked what they thought was Rundimahair. She took
