“Three and ten.”
“Yet you know how to swing a sword that heavy?”
“I’ve been swinging a sword since I was eight. My sire insisted because of the sapphire sword.”
“The sapphire sword? What exactly is that?” Edan had heard it mentioned before but had no idea of its significance. Could it have anything to do with the Seelie and the Unseelie?
John returned, handing Edan a much larger sword. “Swing it over your head and get a feel for the hilt before you try anything else.”
“How many summers are you, John?”
“Seven and twenty. I’ve been swinging for as long as I can remember. My grandfather used to carve the finest wooden swords for us when we were toddlers, and we’ve progressed considerably since then.”
“Who is your grandfather?”
“Alexander Grant, chieftain of Clan Grant, fought in the Battle of Largs against the Norse. His sons were Jamie, Connor, and Jake. Dyna is Connor’s daughter, and my sire, Alasdair, is Jake’s son, though Jake has passed on.” John grinned. “It’s a lot to absorb. Ask anytime, I don’t mind repeating our lineage.”
“You both come from a long line of warriors then. I don’t have many skills. Be kind to me.” He moved into a small clearing, giving himself room to lift the new weapon and adjust to its weight. He thought he could handle it, grateful for allthe times he and Roger had moved boulders and stones around theirclachan, Arne often fetching the cart, but Edan preferring to carry them himself. When he was ready, he stepped closer to John, nodding his willingness to begin.
Once they’d started, John began his tale. Edan focused on his swings but listened because this was something he needed to know in order to save his sweet daughter.
“Many years ago, the queen of the fae came to Grant’s grandmother, Avelina, and gave her the sapphire sword, instructing her to protect it from evil and to marry soon after. Once married, the couple was to hide it together until it was needed in future years.”
John whirled, bringing his sword over his head, but Edan easily blocked the blow.
“Good,” John said. “Next time, turn your blade at the end of your thrust and you might be able to knock my weapon out of my hand.”
Then John continued, recounting Grant’s family history. “At that time, Grandmama had five clans come to her assistance against the evil that wished to take control of the sword. The evil failed, they hid the sword, and all was peaceful for over two decades.
After sparring for a fair amount of time, Edan finally stepped back and wiped the sweat from his brow. “I need a drink, if you don’t mind. Can we take a break? Then you can tell me about the sapphire sword.”
“Of course. You’re strong, Edan, but against an Unseelie blade, you’ll need more strength. The sapphire sword will definitely be needed if we can get it inside that hill.”
Grant ran inside and came flying back out with a skin of water and three bowls of porridge. “I’m starving,” he declared.
Edan set his bowl of porridge down. “I need the drink first,” he said. “You were going to tell me about this sapphire sword.”
John took three bites of his porridge, then sat down on a tree stump, waving for Edan to take the one next to him. “Morgan left these so we can sit out here. He loves to chop trees down. Then he uses the wood inside.”
Edan settled, then said, “I’d love to hear the rest of the story about the sapphire sword.”
John said, “Avelina came to Grandda Alex with the sword, saying it would be needed soon, and he was to choose who would guard it.”
Grant came charging back and interjected, “Whoever holds the sword must be married within a short time.”
John continued, “I had already chosen Coira as my wife-to-be, but we were too young, so Grandda gave me the sword with Coira by my side. Then we went to battle with Robert the Bruce and saved King Robert from certain death. We were instructed to hide the sword again. Erena said it would be many years before the sword would be needed.”
Edan asked, “And that time has come?”
“Aye,” John replied. “Lia told Dyna to have me bring the sword to Islay. Here we are. We don’t know who the evil force is yet, but we brought it along in case it’s needed.” He finished his porridge and handed the extra bowl to Grant. “He eats everything in sight. He may as well finish it now.”
“What exactly does the sword do?” Edan asked.
“It will overpower evil. Guaranteed,” John said. “When Grant or I hold it, it turns blue and it’s so easy to swing that it’s unbelievable, yet its strike is deadly.”
The thought of his own hand holding that weapon and cutting Gruin down so he could run inside the door to grab his daughter made him bolt off the stump, moving to the other side of the clearing. The next vision was so strong that it nearly brought him to tears. He bent over at the waist, closing his eyes.He saw the door open, the warriors falling, his daughter and Milo leaping into his arms.
“Are you hale, Edan?” John called to him.
