‘One old line of my family tree comes from theArd Ollam,’ Remi said.
Kyan’s arms unfolded. ‘What?’
Remi explained for Nicole and her siblings. ‘They were the most renowned musicians in ancient Ireland.’
‘They were more than that,’ Kyan said. ‘They were some of the most powerful people in court. If any of them travelled, the royalty they visited had to offer the best place at their table. Their songs and stories had the power to make or break a kingdom and its ruler.’
‘You sayfoundit,’ Callum began, something darker than curiosity and intrigue in his tone. Concern. ‘Where?’
‘I can’t reveal that.’
‘Fine,’ Callum said. ‘Smart girl. Just tell me three things: have you touched it, have you hidden it again, and what colour was the string?’
‘I touched it once. Why?’ The fingers of Remi’s right hand curled, but Nicole noted no new mark or scar.
Callum made a thoughtful noise.
‘Don’t be so mysterious,’ Dylan said.
Callum gave him a look. ‘I live to be mysterious. I just wonder if touching such a divine instrument would … awaken something, perhaps.’
‘Awaken what?’ Lawna asked sharply.
‘Something in the blood, maybe. Siren song isn’t justvocal, sometimes it can pull on older things. Things we might suppress, or might not even know are there. Even revive lost music.’
‘Ancestral songs,’ Remi realised.
He inclined his head.
‘Yes, it’s hidden,’ she added. ‘And … it was an iron string.’
The string of sorrow and death.
Dylan sighed deeply. ‘Okay, so when we get the Muse’s clue on the next goddess-blessed item, we go to Ireland and check out this harp. We don’t need to steal it, we just need to get it in Remi’s hands.’
‘I have a meeting in the Speakeasy with someone who might know more,’ she said.
Nicole rose. ‘I’ll come with you.’
‘You meanwewill,’ Dylan said.
‘I can come,’ Kyan added.
‘Er – no offence.’ Remi looked between the Empyreals. ‘But if all of you show up, no one is going to talk to us. Besides, the Speakeasy isn’t open until tomorrow night.’
‘Are you sure it’s wise to go?’ Bells asked. ‘If we need to take the harp and you’ve spoken to people about it, then they’d know we had something to do with it. Right?’
‘Exactly why we don’t want to take it, ideally,’ Lawna said. ‘And why we need discreet people.’
‘But how do we use it?’ Dylan asked. ‘Do you just play it? Do you have to use the death string to … stop the Wake? Or would using it alert the gods somehow, wherever they are? Mum’s message mentioned this God of Oaths – Lug? Would this draw him?’
‘Not possible,’ Callum cut in. ‘Immortals have been theorising for millennia why the gods left us. If they might come back. What went wrong. The harmony of the spheres being off would explain why the gods haven’t been seen for all that time. They wouldn’t be able to return until the harmonies are realigned.’
‘I think Freya’s next clues will show us what to do with everything we find,’ Remi said.
‘That sounds like her,’ Nicole’s father added with a soft nod, but his eyes were distant, mind calculating.
‘I’m not exactly sure I’d be able to play it,’ Remi added. ‘It’s said only a god can play it to its full potential without dying in the process.’
