Dullahan sat on his demon steed awaiting word from Elathan. The giants were beginning to get antsy and he assumed he was going to have to start cracking some of their heads, but D’Quall turned out to be a quality leader, able to redirect their attention when needed.
“Look,” said D’Quall, pointing into the distant sky. “Something approaches.”
Dullahan turned his attention to where all of the giants were looking and noticed the streak of gold rocketing in his direction. He held out his hand and the small Niseag made completely from energy landed with grace. The little spell shimmered out of existence as Elathan’s words filled the air.
“Go. Begin your assault on Corways.”
“You heard the master!” bellowed Dullahan, raising his ax high above his shoulders. “To Corways!”
The megaliths in Leeds were put to use transporting a ruthless army on the Druid tether to the hidden village in Ireland.
…
“So, how are we supposed to find this Bibe person?” Frank asked.
“We go north,” Brendan answered. “I can’t explain how I know.”
Dorian checked her small satchel one last time as the group exited Corways through the northern pathway. She had brought purple and red vials for Lizzie, Frank, and herself. She had no idea what they were going to encounter on the way to finding Bibe, but she was prepared for anything.
Lizzie and Frank walked beside one another in the rear of the pack with Frank carrying Garnash on his shoulder. Brendan, Dorian, and Meghan were in the front chatting quietly.
“I don’t trust Meghan,” Lizzie declared to Frank and Garnash.
“Why do you say that?” Frank asked. “I think she’s nice.”
“You just think she’s pretty,” Lizzie said with a sideways grin.
“She’s pretty,” Frank replied, “but she’s the second or third prettiest girl here.”
Garnash nudged Frank on the ear. “Very smooth.”
“I don’t know what it is, but she gives me an uneasy feeling. I’m trying to remember when I last felt this way.”
“We’ll keep an eye on her if that will make you feel better,” Garnash assured.
Lizzie hoped she was wrong about Meghan, but her intuition was sending up a major red flag.
…
The Niseag soared high above the landscape, giving a breathtaking view of the Celtic Isles. It skimmed the clouds and rode the winds with the greatest of ease. Elathan could sense the sheer pleasure his creature was feeling after being trapped for so long by Nuada. He even allowed it a quick snack on the way home when a flock of Black Brant Geese happened to be flying in the some air space.
The Niseag landed gently on the ground just outside Elathan’s castle, allowing its master to dismount. It slunk back into the moat and disappeared beneath the surface. Elathan’s eyelids dropped and then almost immediately shot back open exposing his solid gold orbs. The golden god gently began to lift off of the ground. He willed his body higher and higher until he cleared the railing of his tower balcony and landed safely on the icy stone floor.
Elathan marched over to his throne and opened its concealed panel. He hung his final charm within and stood back to admire his collection.
“Not only could Nuada not stop me,” he mused. “But now he’s given me the tools to take the Earth along with all of the Otherworld Realms!”
…
It was difficult for Dullahan to be patient when death was soon to be wrought, but commanding the Magogs demanded patience. He and D’Quall set their warriors into units and organized waves of attacks. This was necessary since the path to Corways was narrow and thick with obstacles. Strategically, the Leprechaun village was well placed to keep unwanted visitors away, but the Descendents of Magog would not be deterred.
Dullahan led the march of the giants and Oscar to the outskirts of the small forest that concealed Corways. The pounding of the Magog’s massive feet on the ground must have been terrifying for the little fools in Corways. The thunderous sound echoed throughout the valley for miles, accentuating the size and power of the Magogs. Dullahan pressed his army closer and closer to the Leprechaun stronghold. Then with a raised fist he brought the mighty group to a halt.
“Cowards of Corways,” the headless demon began, “your lives are about to end and your village will be destroyed. You are helpless to defend yourselves.” The headless murderer paused for dramatic effect. “Your wicked trickster ways have brought the wrath of Dullahan and the Magogs upon you! We will smite your flimsy bodies and crush your fragile bones and tear your souls asunder!”
Dullahan rounded his steed and faced D’Quall and Revern, his selected unit leaders. “Kill them all.”
D’Quall held up his club and addressed his people. “We honor the Magogs that came before us.” The Bloodright Lord of the Magogs bellowed a low note and began a haunting chant. His brethren joined their leader, and the song grew into a massive sound. It was as if a thousand choirs rang out as one. It was a heavy song that would surely have every living creature on edge.
…
The chanting wafted through the air and found Brendan and his group even though they had been walking for a couple of hours.
“What is that?” Frank asked.
“That’s the Magog’s war chant,” explained Garnash, recognizing it from past experience. “They honor their fallen Magogs before they go to war.”
“I bet my people are terrified right now,” Dorian said with tears in her eyes.
“I bet Dad is, too,” Lizzie suggested. “I don’t feel good about this. We abandoned everyone!”
Brendan was conflicted. Toren was very clear when he said that Brendan and the others should not be there. If he failed, then everything would be lost, but then again, Toren said they may never get another chance to save his father. Should he listen to Toren or should he do what his heart was telling him to do?
…
Rory stood atop of the statue in the town’s center and looked out at the hundreds of Leprechauns before him. They were frightened, and he didn’t blame them. The sound of approaching giants, Dullahan’s promise of death, and the infernal chanting were all enough to make anyone scared. Biddy stood by his side while the Blanchs sat on the edge of the statue with their wands held tightly.
“I know that you are frightened. Our enemies are large, powerful, and vicious beyond compare, but we can be victorious. We are Leprechauns, a proud and strong race! Our enemies are attacking our home, our beloved Corways.” Rory gazed out at his fellow Leprechauns, each gripping a vial of brightly colored magic from the rainbow. “We must defend our home! There is no better place on Earth for a Leprechaun than Corways. Her magic will be your weapon.”
Biddy popped the top off her vial and dumped the contents into her palms. Almost instantly, her orange wings sprouted and she began to flutter and hover. Rory was next and his familiar blue bow and quiver of arrows appeared.
“Arm yourselves, Leprechauns,” Biddy encouraged.
All over Corways, weapons of all the colors of the rainbow shimmered into existence. Daggers, staffs, swords, bows, axes, maces, wings, and even a few glowing hands like Dorian’s surfaced to help protect the village.
“Steel your hearts and your resolve, my fellow Leprechauns! Evil approaches and it wishes to destroy you. Have no hesitation, no mercy, and offer no solace!” shouted Rory as the giants’ chanting stopped. “They are coming.”
…
The chanting ended with the Magogs screaming at the top of their lungs and raising their weapons in the air.
“Now Leprechaun blood will spill!” Dullahan raised his own ax in the air and pointed towards Corways. “Destroy the village; leave no one alive!”
The Magogs and their Alphyns left in waves with the first wave intent on clearing a path through the trees that protected Corways. They sprinted ahead smashing through the trees, ripping the roots from their hold in the Irish dirt.
Dullahan ordered that all of the Magogs enter Corways first. He wanted plenty of mayhem so that he and Oscar might enter the village under the cover of destruction so that the Seeker could find the final coffer.
In the distance, the destruction of the trees signaled the impending battle.
…
Rory and Biddy looked deeply into each other’s eyes. “Well, Bid, this could be it.”
She touched his face and they shared a brief kiss. “If it is, then I’m so happy that I got to spend my last moments with you.” She wiped his messy hair out of his eyes. “I’m just sorry that your band won’t get to play at the celebration, dear.”
“Now there’s the silver lining,” he chuckled. “They never did improve, did they?”
“No,” Biddy answered. They touched their foreheads together and held each other’s hands.
Rory pulled back and felt the strength of the bond between them. That would have to carry them through. “It’s time.”
Biddy took to the air and ordered the other winged Leprechauns to follow. The others weren’t as comfortable as Biddy when it came to flying and it showed. Colym hovered next to Biddy, moving in a tight circle since one of his wings was flapping a little bit faster than the other.
“How do you work these things?” the nearly-sober Leprechaun asked. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“You are in control of your wings, Colym,” Biddy encouraged. “You can do it, just concentrate.”
A younger Leprechaun who hovered nearby pointed to the trees. “Look!” she shouted as the tree line began to shake.
The tops of the trees in the distance began to collapse like a row of dominoes. The pattern continued as the giants moved closer to the village.
“Ready yourselves!” shouted Biddy.
The first big, ugly giant’s head showed itself just as a tree on the edge of the village toppled over, and Biddy wasted no time in peppering his eyes with orange darts from her wings. The Magog’s eyes closed, and he lost his balance. The giant tripped over the Alphyn that was running alongside of him and hit the ground hard.
The flying Leprechauns cheered, but that was short-lived as more giants and Alphyns broke through the tree line and entered the village.
War had come to Corways.