Her father yelled, “Go get those bairns up the stairs, Ailith. Then bring Grant! We can’t hold them off much longer. Magni was injured. Take him up with you.”
The wind whipped through, the bairns screaming as miniature hills popped up in front of them, trying to stop their movement. Clumps of leaves fell from the trees, scaring the wee ones.
“Ailith, we have to get them up.” Dyna pulled her back as a clump nearly hit them, and the group huddled together. Ailith glanced over Dyna’s shoulder and pointed. “Dyna, look.”
The two peered at a cage a distance away, where a golden-haired man was locked inside. He was not dressed as a warrior but in royal clothing.
“Taranis,” Dyna mumbled. Beyond Taranis, deeper in the dark, she thought there was something else, but the shadows didn’t move, and they had no time. But the voice froze Dyna, and she reached for Ailith, who turned her head toward the dark shadows.
Aunt Gwyneth. “Bring him down here and finish these bastards.”
“Hurry, Ailith!” Her father’s voice echoed in the strange land.
Ailith picked up one of the smallest bairns while Dyna did the same, and the group tore up the stairs where the creatures couldn’t follow. She threw the door open and fell out, the bairns running out crying, searching for open arms. Magni limped out behind them, and Sylvi rushed to his side.
“Grant, John needs you!” Magni shouted.
Grant ran through the door without hesitation, Maitland following. Ailith’s mother greeted her, taking the wee bairn from her, Edan was right behind her. “Heilyn? Where is she?”
Weakened, Ailith panted, “I couldn’t get her out. I found her, but I couldn’t break the cage.”
“Take me to her, Ailith.”
“Nay, you’ll kill the others,” her mother whispered.
Edan argued, determined to go in. “If it starts to collapse, I’ll send the warriors out, but I have to try. I’m not staying back. The other ones are safe. I’m going with you, Ailith.”
Ailith looked at Dyna. “I don’t know what to do. Lia said don’t allow him in, yet another voice said bring him down. Who is him?”
“Me. I’m the one who should be down there. You’ll not hold me back, Ailith. Please come with me.”
Dyna fussed outside with the bairns, trying to calm them with bread Emmalin had brought. Two men came forward, grabbing their bairns with relief. Just before Ailith was to go in, Dyna reached for her arm. “That was Aunt Gwyneth I saw. Surely you saw her image too. She said take him in.”
Ailith’s gaze locked on his, knowing he would probably hate her after this awful situation, but she would do what she could to save Heilyn. Sensing something, she reached for Edan. “Then hold my hand. It’s the only way.” She looked at Lia, who nodded in agreement.
“Don’t let go of him, Ailith.”
Ailith hugged Dyna and said, “Come with us.” Then she took Edan’s hand, and a power shot through her.
“Did you feel that?” she whispered to Edan.
“Aye. Lead me to my daughter. I want you to meet her.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Edan
Edan entered the hill, clutching Ailith’s hand as she led him down the awkward staircase. The hill screamed, a sound that echoed and vibrated the ground and the stone walls.
“What is happening?” he shouted over the din.
“It’s the claiming spell,” Dyna said, coming down the steps behind them. “It’s pulling at your iron blood, trying to overtake it and take you with it. Don’t let it, keep moving.”
A sudden wail split them apart as soon as they stepped off the bottom stair. A bird flew, hitting him square in the chest, almost knocking him to the ground and breaking his link with Ailith. His blood began to boil, burning him from the inside out, and blood leaked from his ears.
“Edan, grab my hand!” Ailith shouted, the entire area trembling as if it were about to split apart.
He reached for her hand and she clasped it, cooling his blood instantly. The land warped beneath his feet as they crept past the still-fighting warriors. Grant stood close to John, both hands on the sapphire sword and lighting up the area. A thick mist descended on the Dark Hollow, making their visibility difficult.
