The Peacekeeper Read online

  His mother smiled and leaned to kiss Merlin affectionately on his cheek. Leaning back her smile died. “Merlin, you retired my son and his brothers when Lachlan and Eoghan were killed in your last battle, by that black hearted leader of the Asurads, Drakkor, Remember? What brings you here?”

  “Can’t I visit my extended family and share the love?” He winked with a wide grin.

  “That would truly be wonderful if it were so, but I think that’s not the case,” said Moira. She smiled, the love she had for Merlin showing brightly on her face.

  Turning from him she called for her maid. “Bradana, please bring mead for all now, and make sure cook adds the cream covered with the fennel seeds and sugar, and plums stewed in rose water to our feast this evening, along with stuffed capon. Add two more pheasant and sturgeon cooked in parsley and vinegar as weel. Those are your favorite dishes, right Merlin?”

  “Ah you haven’t lost your touch my lady, or your memory I see.” Merlin gave a short bow and a grin broadened his old wrinkled face, placing a small kiss on her hand.

  “Right away my lady,” replied the maid, hurrying toward the kitchens.

  “Now Merlin, we shall sit, and you will tell us why you’re here, and this mission that my boys will be sent on. How have you been? You’ve been away quite a while.”

  “I was down for a bit but am fine now.”

  “Och my, I thought wizards never get tired? What happened?”

  “You know me I forget to eat. That is, unless, I am at the McGregor Keep.” Merlin winked and grinned. Turning serious once again, Merlin looked about nervously. “Where are the sisters, Brenna, Fiona, Catriona, and Akira?”

  “Not tae worry, they are in the solarium sewing new gowns, since the fabric merchant stopped two days past they have sequestered themselves there. We will be lucky tae see them before next week.”

  In the few hours they had before dinner, they talked about how they were going to deal with the Drakkor situation. In between arguments from the boys, which was a daily occurrence, and one Ian’s mother would never let come to the dinner table, Ian let his brothers go at it. After all they were hot-headed McGregors, they needed their outlet.

  However, Merlin saw it differently. “Stop! Now! This is serious.”

  The place became dead silent. “I have amassed a new group called “The Myraid Army.” They consist of the Ocrul, Crimson Keepers, and Crixior. Ian here is going to be their leader.”

  The boys all started shouting at once. “Not the damn Crixior! No way tae lead the black bastards! Bastard killed my father and…”

  “Stop!” said Merlin, “and listen! Ian, we need stealth.” Merlin continued, “If you’re found, I don’t want them to know about your brother’s. I need surveillance and I need you to find out as much as you can. Even though I can see in their world, Drakkor is somehow blocking me from their planning and how he’s changing the Ocrul and Crimson Keepers, what the kings have to do with it, all things we need to know. We need to get a handle on it, before these people with their eclectic ideas, interfere with the ecliptic nature of things on a grandiose negative scale. Get me?”

  “Weel that got my attention,” said Taryn, the ever logical one. “What the bullocks did you jest say? What the hell does that mean?”

  “Sorry living in the future, past, and present all the time, sometimes, somethings, can get mixed up. Needless to say, we’re in some mighty big trouble,” mumbled Merlin. “Ian find out what you can about the king’s, why Drakkor wants them, but stay back, don’t let him discover you, if you can. I’ll watch what I can, work with the angels, and see what we can figure out.

  “I can open a portal at any time if you need it, and I can send your brothers, but for now let’s just get information. Then we’ll plan for attack and do it right. After we get information, Ian will work with the Myraid Army. Oh, and King Arthur needs protection. I won’t have him in on this at all.

  “It seems Drakkor is after kings, and it’s only a matter of time before he goes after Arthur and his army. If Arthur even thinks there’s a problem, he’ll head long into it, swords a blazing. We can’t have him captured. He has the largest army, he’s my king as well as yours, he must be protected at all cost. That is why I’m sending Connor, Finn, Angus, and Taryn to watch over him.”

  “Why them?” asked Cameron. “The rest of us just supposed tae sit on our fingers and wait it all oot? Bullocks!”

  “Angus is the meanest son off a…” Merlin looked at Moira and didn’t finish. She smiled. “He’s an ambitious fighter, smart and deadly. Taryn is level headed and logical, easily breaks up fights. Connor is a strategist, he could place and lead a dozen armies. And Finn, King Arthur loves Finn, he makes him laugh. Everyone needs some happiness in the middle of trouble.”

  “Hey,” said Finn. “I’m an excellent soldier why I’ve—”

  Merlin cut him off. “Yes, you are an excellent soldier. I remember the battle at Bundaberg and Chriss Hall, and I can go on about your skills, but you make King Arthur laugh. Make sure you do so, fight if you have to, but bring that boy his laughs.”

  “Again!” said Cameron, “What exactly is our position in this?”

  “You, Conall, Dougal, and Lauren with me. You’ll be working with the angels. Cameron, you remember everything you have ever read. I have grimoires I want you to look at and see if there is anything that is in them that could help us in our fight against the Kearals. I would like to try and save the fae and vampire that are being changed if we can, as many as we can. Any spell to reverse what is being done will be helpful. Conall, you see what’s there, that’s not there, even spirits. Dougal, a mage and my master in magic…self-explanatory. Lauren, you have premonitions, and dreams of future events. Very helpful.”

  Angus cleared his throat. “Soldiers tae King Arthur, gifted tae you. I see.”

  “Shite,” said Merlin. “Sorry Moira, lost myself again.” She tilted her head. “You’re all gifted!” Merlin finished. “Different powers to each brother.”

  “Shall dinner be served now. my lady?” interrupted Bradana.

  “Please now would be a fine time. Och, Bradana please have someone deliver meals tae the girls in the solarium. They’re busy sewing, and I think they’d like tae stay there. Thank you.”

  Bradana bowed and skittered away.

  Conversation changed drastically during dinner. No talk of missions, no arguing. Moira smiled at her boys and Merlin, but Ian noticed the faraway look that came in to her eyes and it made him feel uneasy. He knew that when one of their kind mated that if one died the other was quick to follow.

  He didn’t understand it, but the way his mother explained it to him, once they found their mate their souls wove together, bound together tight. If one should die, it was inevitable the other was right behind. The longer they fought against it the more their mind would deteriorate.

  He was proud of his mother and knew the sacrifice she made, forcing herself to remain alive for the love of her children. Somehow, she kept her mind. He didn’t know how, but figured it was pure stubbornness on her part, and her love for her family. She continued to take the blood that kept her young. But he was seeing the affects that staying alive was having on her.

  He knew how difficult it was on her. Perhaps when or if he ever found his true mate, he would truly understand, but it had been eight hundred years, he wasn’t sure he ever would. Of late his mother had drifted in and out of another world and he had seen it get progressively worse since his father and brother had been killed. He only hoped she wouldn’t take the route that many took when they lost their mate. Perhaps he was selfish in that, he didn’t want to lose her too. Angus’s loud voice brought him abruptly back to the conversation at hand.

  “Och, tae hear Finn tell the story you’d think he caught Nessie the Lochness! It was a turtle, not an ancient monster the size of the loch, and it bumped the boat, didn’t almost turn it over.” Angus shoved more worogild in his mouth laughing, then choking.

  “Serves yo
u right!” said Finn. He slapped his back and handed him his mead. “You weren’t there, you doona ken what happened.”

  “Och,” said Taryn, “you were tuppin’ the blacksmiths daughter at the cottage. Remember? Cute lil’ thing too.”

  “Taryn!” reprimanded Moira.

  “Sorry Mither.”

  He was quiet listening to his brothers. This was home with the banter and the laughter, but he once again glanced toward Moira as she leaned back and became distant again, until Merlin mentioned Lachlan’s name. Her eyes cleared, and she leaned forward to catch what was being said. Yes, he was definitely getting worried about her.

  “And he shot another arrow into that worogild for the third time before it went down,” continued Merlin. “Biggest damn, sorry Moira, biggest worogild to have ever been caught, and many hunted that giant one. If memory serves me, that’s him hanging on that wall over there.” He pointed toward the wall with his knife, sweet potatoes dripping off.

  Connor laughed, and said, “Hey remember the herd of worogilds that came crashing through at the Battle of Drummond Bay?”

  “Those men who were hidin’ ready tae attack us?” Dougal laughed with a mouthful. “They were runnin’ oot and aboot like they’d been caught with their pants down. Easy victory that was.”

  Talk and laughter remained throughout the meal and dessert. Finally, things quieted down and their thoughts were brought back to the mission. Ian glanced around the table, they were all looking at Merlin, waiting for him to speak.

  “I guess I’ve explained our situation as best as I can,” said Merlin.

  He saw Merlin look at each of them in turn, pride in his eyes. It was good they’d had time to heal over Lachlan and Eoghan’s death, he thought. He knew Merlin was going to bring them all out of retirement, and he sighed.

  “It’s time,” said Merlin. “I’ve said my piece, so all prepare, and I’ll ready the portal.”

  Ian watched as Merlin grabbed his mother’s hand and bent to kiss it. She smiled and it warmed his heart. Merlin seemed to always have that effect on his mother, he thought. He’d have to make sure Merlin spent more time at McGregor Keep.

  “Moira, my dear,” said Merlin. He smiled at her, “you’ve outdone yourself. Dinner was excellent and company suburb. It would have been nice to see the girls, but under the circumstances, thank you for sending up their dinner and not mentioning I’m here. I’ll see them soon, I’m sure.”

  Merlin leaned in and whispered. “If you hadn’t been married to Lachlan, still married to Lachlan, always be married to Lachlan, soul mates for eternity, I’d marry you myself.”

  “Shush.” She blushed. “You’re like the brother I never had.”

  Merlin smiled, eyes twinkling. “Never the less, my lady, oh, I’ll have some soldiers watch over you and your lovely daughters while your sons are away. You will always be well guarded. Now I must take my leave.”

  “Thank you, Merlin. Protect my boys, and you, take care of yourself. We are family you ken,” she said, and Merlin smiled.

  Chapter 2

  Elspeth McLellan lifted her face to the sun and smiled. Walks in the garden courtyard, of the inner-city castle walls always uplifted her, and she enjoyed every second she could steal away to be here. She enjoyed life here, albeit she’d only arrived a short year ago, returning only after her brother Athdar found her at the convent she was taken to and raised after her parents died. She had lived here prior to her mother’s death and her father’s alleged abandonment, but that fateful year she’d been whisked away to the convent.

  Memories flooded her mind. She looked around deep in thought. The monastery was okay to grow up in, but her freedom in Mystic Kingdom made her ecstatic. Home, and she did feel at home, so familiar yet so foreign. She had never wanted for anything but her mother. She had her father’s red hair and coloring, but inherited her mother’s temperament and good heart. She also wore her mother’s soft features, beautiful smile, and sparkling eyes. She missed her so.

  She sighed, and frowned at the thought of her death, bringing back the unwanted feelings of losing her at seven winters. The echo of giggles and her mother’s bright face as she swung her around in circles, brought the ache in her heart back. She never saw her laughing-eyed father after that. Many said he fought in the king’s army relentlessly, and ultimately died of a broken heart. She never forgave him for leaving, she wanted to, maybe even understood it, but the hole in her heart remained.

  Her thoughts turned to being taken to Northern England to be raised in the monastery. There she healed the sick and injured. Mother Thomas Adley, an odd name which no one discussed, took her under her wing and raised her like a mother hen. She was her mentor, her teacher, her guardian, and her friend. She remembered her with a smile and sadness, as she’d died two winters past of old age.

  The place was never the same afterward, it was a place of emptiness and sadness, once again Elspeth felt the loneliness of losing someone she loved, so she was glad her brother, Athdar McLellan, discovered her on a reprieve from their arduous journey.

  It was the first time she’d seen him since she’d arrived at the monastery. When she was first taken to the convent to be raised, the king took her older brother to live with him. When he found her, he’d talked her in to going back home to the place her life began. Elspeth shook herself, would she never get those last moments of her mother and the sudden change in her life from her mind? She sighed and continued her walk toward the woods. She ventured to her favorite path amongst the giant oaks of the park.

  Coming to the bridge, she sat on a white stone bench, and watched as the crystal water of the lazy river flowed beneath it. Small ribbons of sunlight hit upon the water, and it sparkled like jewels upon a crown. Colorful fish flitted in and out of the bolts of sunshine and made her laugh. She loved it here.

  She liked being alone, in this spot, with her thoughts to herself. She was busy as a healer, being able to find this time of relaxation, was priceless. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy being the healer for the kingdom because she most certainly did. People loved her and she them. The children were such a joy to her.

  She thought back to when she found out she was born a healer. At six winters, their family hunting dog came back from a hunting trip with serious injuries. How she loved Wiley. Caelan, her father carried the limp animal upon his lap into the court yard, shouting for Athdar to take him to a healer.

  Without thinking, Elspeth ran to him as her brother took the pup in his arms. She grabbed onto Wiley with tears flowing down her cheeks. Her hands became warm and a green glow surrounded her. The light and warmth from her hands entered her whimpering friend. He yelped, and her brother feeling a jolt of the healing heat, dropped the dog, but she grabbed on and wouldn’t let go. Finally, Wiley wiggled, and she freed him. He was completely healed.

  She smiled thinking about his short brown haired, lanky body, and when he shook his tail, his whole behind wiggled. The people in the courtyard had been rendered speechless. That was when she was told that healers were born with the gift and were extremely rare. She was told by the kingdom’s elderly healer that only the pure of heart could use the gift.

  One could learn the healing herbs for illness and sores, but a magical healer had to be born with the gift, it could not be learned. Since then she studied as much about healers as she could. Chanting in the old Gods language brought more energy from the Gods to add to her powers. She spoke the ancient language well, praying to them while healing.

  The severity of the injury determined the amount of energy needed to heal the wound or illness. Sometimes she felt drained to the point of fainting, having given all she had to give. She couldn’t bring someone back from the dead, but close to it. She enjoyed who and what she was, taking care of the sick, the injured, anyone who needed her gifts. She was very busy in her kingdom, and she loved the people.

  A muffled sound brought her out of her thoughts. Again, a cry came and a plea. Elspeth got to her feet and followed the sound
. She was going to call out when she heard an angry man’s voice.

  “You whore!” she heard, and a slap. The woman cried out. “Please don’t!”

  She heard another slap. Elspeth’s heart raced, and she ran toward the clearing, in the direction of the sounds. When she rounded the trees, she stopped, shocked and immobile, she stood frozen to the spot.

  There was her king, King Rulm, assaulting a poor bloody faced young woman with wild tresses of raven hair soaked wet with blood. Her eye was swollen shut and blood pouring from her nose. Her jaw crooked and obviously broken. “Fight me whore, I like it when you fight!” The girl whimpered and grew lax, her eyes shining over. She was in shock.

  Without thinking Elspeth screamed, “Stop!” and ran toward them. The king raised his head and turned toward her. The evil she saw in his black eyes turned her stomach, and she took a step back in fear.

  “Stop,” she said again, though this time her voice was quieter, smaller somehow. The king moved away from the young woman. “You’ll pay for that Elspeth,” he spat through gritted teeth. “You think your brother will save you?” He laughed. “You are wrong, and you are next.”

  Elspeth shook her head and backed away. She looked at the girl who now lay dead. The king started for Elspeth, his anger apparent, breaking her fear she began to run. “No!” she screamed.

  The king’s laughter rang in her ears. “Your brother won’t save you!” he shouted. “Who do you think ruts beside me in battle!” King Rulm roared again in laughter, and she ran faster.

  Where could she go? The gates would be locked, the king would find her, and she’d be dead. Her brother, Athdar? She felt sick. She came to the river. “The cliffs!”

  If she could get to the cliffs she could climb. King Rulm would think her trapped there. It was forbidden to climb the cliffs because of the dragons, she had climbed there when she was little. It had been years. Could she do it again? The dragons should be out hunting and she could hide in an empty cave. She would have time to think about what to do next.