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It was Daigh’s only chance.
Even as St. John screamed his victory, Daigh
released the billhook with a whiplike snap. Sent it thudding hilt-deep into the Amhas-draoi’s chest.
The man toppled to one side, eyes glazing in death, mouth twisted in a cruel rictus.
Without pausing for breath, Daigh threw himself at the door. Máelodor couldn’t be far ahead. He could still catch him. Still retrieve the tapestry.
“Brendan!” Sabrina cried.
Daigh spun around in time to see the snake once more lunging for Douglas, who scrambled to escape. Thrusting himself between predator and prey, Daigh felt the pierce of the snake’s fangs in his chest and back like a fiery double punch. As he was pulled from his feet, feeling flowed from his body with his blood.
But this time and this death there was light rather than darkness filling his vision. It spread over him. Burned through him. He knew his name. Knew his life. Heard his comrades’ fond welcome.
He was finally going home.
“Dehwelana dhil’a islongh. Pádraic eskask.”
Arrayed like bandraoi of old in gowns of ceremonial white, gold torques encircling their throats, heavy gold cuffs upon their wrists, the carved lines of their faces frightening in their solemnity, Ard-siúr and Sister Brigh stood in the doorway, voices lifted in challenge.
“Boesesh nesh fellesh.” The chant seemed to reverberate in the air like a rumble of summer thunder. “Dehwelana dhil’a islongh. Pádraic eskask.” Louder. Stronger. Each syllable storm-edged and hurricane fierce.
The serpent froze, its glittering, maddened gaze focused upon the two women approaching it with slow, even steps. Yet it made no move, as if they’d charmed it into submission.
“Boesesh nesh fellesh!” The words splitting the air with lightning ferocity.
The great snake dropped Daigh to the floor on a shuddering, writhing, hissing scream. Its tail lashing furiously from side to side. Smoke billowing from its mouth, flesh melting from its bones until naught remained but ash drifting upon an oily breeze.
Sabrina wasted not a second, ripping free Daigh’s shirt, laying bare long twin gashes slicing through muscle and bone. Blood bubbled with every panting breath, his skin a sickly pale green. “It’s not working. He’s not . . . why isn’t he healing? What’s wrong?”
“He’s free of Máelodor’s taint.” Brendan lent the last of his feeble strength to her frantic attempts to keep Daigh from slipping back to Annwn’s underworld. “Free of his mage energy. And free of his protections.”
“He’ll die.” Her hands hovered above his chest as she sought to calm the frantic race of her heart. Concentrate upon the surge of the mage energy within her. Shape it to her needs.
“Your powers saved him once,” Brendan urged.
Daigh’s breathing slowed then stopped, the silence deafening. “I’m not strong enough,” Sabrina gasped, weeping. “I’m not—”
“You’re more than strong enough,” Ard-siúr replied sternly. “More than ready. A true High Danu bandraoi forged in fire and blood and magic.”
“Do it, girl, or he’s dead,” came Sister Brigh’s scold.
Drawing upon her training and her love, she concentrated on the mage energy. Felt it seep into every cell and nerve. Every corner of her mind and body infused with Brighid’s healing fire.
Behind her, voices floated through her consciousness.
“. . . do not run . . . confess . . . protect you . . .”
“can’t . . . Sabrina thinks . . . she’ll hate me . . . flee . . .”
A loud clatter in the passage then a voice from the grave, sardonic as ever. “Brendan . . . look bloody awful . . . passed them outside Glenlorgan . . . no more dallying.”
Wouldn’t Aunt Delia and the tragic Miss Rollins-Smith be surprised? But Sabrina dared not turn around. Not even to confirm her guess.
The mage energy poured like water from her hands. Filled Daigh with a shimmer of Fey-wrought healing. He jerked once, inhaling on a shallow, gurgling breath. The way to Annwn closed and barred. Though not forever. Mortality was his once more. He would die. But not today.
A fluttering roll quickened her womb. Not butterflies this time. But something infinitely more precious. Conceived in one life to be brought forth in another.
