Chapter 29

Ian stood in the training yard looking at his remaining men. They’d lost thirty-two of their forty-eight men. More than half. Today new Crixior, Crimson Keepers, and Ocrul were coming to make up for the lost men. The werewolves were coming today as well.

It would be good to add the Ogourax to their army. The addition of the werewolves would add six men to each squadron raising each to eighteen. His small army would have a grand total of seventy-two soldiers, not including all the dragons.

He thought that was a good-sized army when you considered what the soldiers were. It wasn’t the size, he figured, as much as what these men were capable of doing together as a group. He sadly watched the remaining men in the training yard. He’d hear a command or two from one of his brothers, but for the most part the only sounds were the clang and scrapes of the swords.

Morale was low, but to be expected after the battle they just waged. He was hoping that would change soon with the new recruits arriving this morning, and the werewolves later in the day.

Tomorrow the yard would be fuller than this army has ever seen it. He planned a speech in hopes to boost morale. The battle was over, but the war wasn’t. Not until Athdar and Drakkor were dead, and he meant to see that happen, he would see that happen, he vowed.

He brushed his hands on his thighs and turned to walk inside the castle. He needed to speak to Elspeth about sharing her blood for the locator spell. There was no way around it, he’d have to bring the sore subject up again, that bairn never had a chance because of Athdar, and he hated talking about it. It always left her sad. Hadn’t she been through enough already?

He sighed and went inside the castle, and up the stairs to where Conall, Dougal and Cameron sat discussing the magic they’d use to find Merlin.

“Yes,” said Dougal, “you need tae add styrax tae the wymote and golden star root. Withoot it we canna break through the barrier.”

“I dinna read that in the book,” explained Cameron, getting exasperated. “It dinna mention that anywhere. It has tae be perfect tae work.”

“It has tae work the first time,” he interrupted, walking in, “because I’m only taking blood from Elspeth once.”

They all looked up.

“Cameron doesn’t seem tae remember what Merlin said about the book not being complete,” said Dougal. “I ken my spells, and what goes together, and you canna leave styrax oot.”

“Did you get the blood from Elspeth yet?” asked Conall.

“Nae, do you need her here? If not, one of you needs tae come with me because I doona ken how much you need. I doona want tae bleed her any more than I have tae. Besides to get it, I have tae bring up the whole subject again, I was hoping she could forget it. She doesn’t understand the details, and I doona wish tae have tae give them tae her. I’ll just tell her that her blood may help tae find Merlin. If she has questions, then I’ll just have tae address them then.”

Dougal frowned, “why doona you bring her here. With us she may not be so taken by the news. You can watch the spell and see if it works.”

He sighed, “I will talk tae her alone, then bring her here for the blood. I may need tae help her process it. She may need tae cry aboot it, you ken being with bairn and all.”

“We understand,” said Cameron, “Take your time.”

He left trying to form the words in his mind exactly what to say. In the end, he thought he’d just tell her the truth. She deserved that, no matter how bad it was.

When he went through the bedroom door to the adjoining solar, Elspeth sat at the window humming and sewing. She looked up and smiled. “What brings you here, Ian? I thought you were at the trainin’ yard.”

“What you sewin’?” he asked, avoiding the inevitable.

“I’m practicin’. I was never taught tae sew or how tae run a household. Your mither is going tae show me, and your sisters are teaching me tae sew. I want tae be able tae make nice things for the bairn and you.”

“Els, I need tae tell you some things aboot your brother, and there’s no easy way tae say it. We need a sample of your blood for the locator spell, for Merlin.”

“But Merlin said my brother was killed, sacrificed. That means my brother is dead. I doona understand how my blood can help. Of course, I would gladly give my blood to help find Merlin, but I doona understand.”

He sighed, he knew it would come to this. “Everything aboot Athdar, is your brother, the blood that runs through his veins, is your brother’s. At the time of death, your brother’s soul was released and Athdar took over the body. The body of your brother. There were ne’er two bodies, and that is where we were confused.” He sighed. “We thought all of his blood was drained, it wasn’t.

“It was true when King Rulm said he saw him die, he failed tae mention he was brought back tae life with a different soul. What he said was truth, but he didn’t tell the whole story, and he lied when he said he made the man pay for his sins, so I think he was part of it.

“Since it was your brothers blood used tae create Athdar, my brothers think if they use yours they may find where Merlin is at with a locator spell. I thought you’d be verra sad aboot it.”

Elspeth smiled, a sad smile. “You mean sob aboot it?” She answered herself, “Nae, I’ve done my crying over my brother’s death, for now anyway. Afore I was with bairn, I never cried, now it seems I do a lot. I’m trying not tae. I just wish I could’ve kenned him. Weel, you need my blood. How do you want it?”

“Come with me, sweetling. We’ll go tae the lab with Conall, Cameron and Dougal. They said we could watch the spell if we want.” He took her hand and pulled her up for a short, sweet kiss, before leading her out the door.

“Sit here, Elspeth,” said Dougal, “we need just a wee bit a blood. Your finger should do. I’m going tae nip it with the point of this knife and drop a few drops into this bowl with herbs and root. I’ve got my pendulum soakin’ in it. After we add the blood, I’ll say the incantation and hang it over the map in hopes it shows where Athdar has Merlin. Since he made the spell, your blood can maybe tell us where the cloaking spell is at, if we can break that, we will find Merlin.

“Are you ready?”

“Aye, I sure hope it works. I’m worried aboot Merlin,” she said, as she took her seat in front of the table and held her hand over the bowl.

Dougal picked up the knife. “You can close your eyes if you like.”

“Nae, doesn’t bother me ever so much. I’ve seen blood afore.”

Dougal made a very small slice and carefully pinched her finger to make the blood flow. He had a wet cloth with some herb on it to clean her finger. She sat back.

Dougal stood above the bowl with his hands over it and said an incantation. When he was finished, he pulled out his pendulum and it glowed. He held it over the map and waited as it turned in a large circle searching for what they hoped was Merlin.

It was supposed to shrink in to smaller and smaller circles before focusing on the point where Merlin was located. But, it didn’t do that. The circle ever widened. After a few minutes Dougal dropped it. “It didn’t work,” he said, disappointed. “Back tae the book.”

Cameron looked at Dougal. “There is nothing more on the subject. We’ve tried everythin’, and that was our last hope. I doona ken where tae go from here.”

He thought for a second, then said, “Are there any books listing monasteries? Maybe we can look at a list and find one in the cliffs.”

“I can look in Merlin’s library,” said Conall. “Why doona I do that while you settle in the new recruits. We can meet at dinner. If I find something afore that, I’ll let you ken. I’m sorry Elspeth, we were sure it’d work.”

“That’s okay, Conall, we all have tae do all we can think of tae find Merlin. We’re just doing our best. I’ll do anything I can tae help.”

He took her hand and helped her up. “Do you want to go back tae the room tae sew?”

“Aye, I’d like that. Then I want tae go for a walk on the beach. Maybe find those shells I lost.” She smiled, and Ian smiled back. She felt Ian’s brother’s eyes on them and smiled to herself at sharing a secret with Ian. If his brothers could only guess.