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With the sword safely back on the table, and Abilynn and Lona safely ensconced in their grandmother Iolena’s sitting room with a pot of hot tea and sweet biscuits, Padraigh and Thallan attempted to pursue the rest of the mystery of An Anotais.
“So, the Anotais responds to Fiona, and Abilynn, but not Lona. Why do we think that is the case?” Thallan asked.
Menta Kai ventured an answer, even though it wouldn’t please her uncle. “Perhaps you need to give us time to translate these documents, and we can come up with some of the answers that we are all seeking.” While she was talking, Fiona was leafing through the documents and let out a low whistle. Kailee looked at her sister. “What is it?”
“Kai,” she held up several sheets of paper with strange markings on them. “This isn’t Tengwar or Valarian. This is Ogham, an ancient alphabet from Ireland and Wales that was falling into disuse when I lived there in the sixth century.”
“Ogham?” Connor asked. “May I look at that, Fiona?” She handed the papers to her father. “Do you know how to read this?” Connor asked his daughter.
“I do, but it is not an easy read, and it’s been many years since I have even seen anything written in the ancient text of the Irish.” She smiled at her Da. “The good news is that it translates very easily into Tengwar, as if they may have had a common root.”
“Fi, if you can translate those pages into Tengwar, Amil and I can translate them into common Elven,” Menta Kai offered. “Padraigh, you were in Ireland when this form of writing was in use. Can you help translate?”
“I can, but like Fiona, my memory of it is very rusty.” He indicated the knives and coins that had also come out of the pouch. “What about these other items?”
Fiona picked up one of the gold coins and looked at it closely. “I know what this is,” she told the others and pulled a gold coin out of a pocket in her dress. She held it up with the other coin. “This is leprechaun gold. Fillian gave me this gold piece after our flight to Kildare Abbey, and she gave another to Mother Bridget to hold for me when I reached the Age of Accountability.”
“Wouldn’t you also have the second one as well then?” Lord Thallan asked.
Fiona nodded. “I do, or more correctly I did. I gave one of the coins to Abilynn earlier this year. Fillian gave it to me so that if I came back to Ireland later, I could show it to any leprechaun and they would help me. Since I’ve been allowing Abilynn to go into Ireland through the portal on her own, she carries the other one with her for the same reason.”
“What about the knives?” Connor inquired. Fiona and Menta Kai each picked up and examined one of the knives. They were identical except for the crown, which was gold on one of the knives, and palladium on the other. They bore the same delicately engraved lettering on each blade.
“They both have Eyru on the blade in Valarian, but the rest of this is in Ogham, but this is a saying I recognize,” Fiona told the others. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
“Close enough to use a knife on them?” Menta Kai asked.
“That could be what it means,” her sister replied.
Their inquiry was interrupted by a double blast of a horn from out in the courtyard. The others around the table looked at Fiona for an explanation.
“The main gate is opening,” Fiona replied to the unspoken question. “One sound of the horn means that whoever is on the opposite side is unknown or unfriendly. When the horn is blown twice, it means that the gate is being opened for a friend. I wasn’t expecting anybody yet, but if the Officer of the Day recognizes the person, it is my place to go out and greet them.” Fiona picked up her cloak, threw it over her shoulders and left the room, followed by Menta Kai. From the next door down, they saw Lona run out, with her sister Abilynn, Alistronia, and Iolena walking behind. They all stopped in the center of the courtyard, facing the gate, with Fiona and Alistronia standing slightly in front of the two girls, one hand on the short swords at their belts. Iolena noticed that Abilynn took the same stance, a little in front of her sister, while Menta Kai stood behind Lona, with both hands on her daughter’s shoulders. She smiled at the recognition that the first mission of Fiona’s entire household was the protection of the High Princess if the guards were wrong about who was coming through the gate.
The precautions, however, were unnecessary. As the great gate to Caer Aerie swung open, two riders entered, and, recognizing them, Lona shot forward and leapt up into the waiting arms of Joseph Spotted Eagle, and behind him, Abrallan Yalerius. “Uncle Joe!” Lona hugged the big Native American. “Did you bring me something special?”
“Well, Princess, there is your Uncle Abrallan. Your Aunt Alenia thinks he’s pretty special.” Seeing the pouty look starting on Lona’s face, he added, “Look behind Abrallan, Sweetheart.” The girl looked beyond the second horseman to see a large fir tree being towed on a sleigh.
Lona grinned. “You brought the Christmas tree! Are you going to help decorate the Caer?”
Abrallan, who had dismounted at this point, reached up and took the girl from Joseph, and swung her around as he set her down. Abrallan had been gravely injured during a battle in the Great Goblin Wars and had been rescued and nursed back to health by his cousin, Alenia, Fiona and Menta Kai’s oldest sister. Crippled and disfigured, he and Alenia had grown as close as any married couple. It was only in recent years with the help of magical therapy developed and administered by Talia and Taeral Nichanova, that Abrallan was even able to walk without crutches, ride a horse, and care for the Great Eagles he loved. It was also his cousin Talia’s care that prompted Abrallan to become a healer, himself.
“We’ve heard, Princess, all up and down the Borderlands Range, that your Amil Fi needs help getting ready for company. If she’ll have us, we’re willing to help. And you can help us with the Christmas tree, Pumpkin.” Lona blushed at the nickname she had carried for the past few years, but in her excitement, she didn’t protest.
Joseph called up to Caldar on the wall, “Alenia, Anyon, and Glynis were about an hour behind us, so they should be along shortly. The other Rangers probably won’t be here until tomorrow night or the following morning.” The Fianna Captain waved in acknowledgment.
Fiona hugged Joseph and Abrallan and asked them, “Why is everyone coming so early? I just asked Mum and Da for some help, and soon the whole family is here two weeks before Christmas.” She smiled. “You two will have to fend for yourselves as far as sleeping space until we get more guest rooms finished.”
“Not a problem, Fi,” Abrallan answered. “We’ll just throw our bags in the Rangers’ waystation for now.” He lowered his voice conspiratorially. “I understand that you have an additional reason to go home now, and Joe and I thought you might want to do it before your hubby gets back.”
Fiona nodded and switched to mind-speaking. “You’ve been speaking with Menta Kai.” Abrallan nodded. “We’ll get you two settled, and dinner set out. I’ll talk with Ali and Abilynn, but Lona is sleeping with Kailee so we should be able to sneak out first thing in the morning.” Her cousin agreed.
At dinner that evening Fiona laid out to the family members everything that needed to be done in the ensuing two weeks. Alenia, who had arrived just before the meal, said that she would rotate the other Rangers out on patrol from the waystation, but the three that remained would help with the work that needed to be done. Early in the evening, Lona started to nod off, so Kailee picked her up and carried her to their rooms. She returned shortly after the girl was asleep.
“When are you going to leave, Fi?”
“By daybreak tomorrow. It will be myself, Abilynn and Ali, and since Zar and Zara are both here, we’ll take both Zed and Zedra with us. I’m not sure how long it will take us to find Fillian.”
“Are you going to take An Anotais with you?” Padraigh asked.
Fiona shook her head. “It’s very difficult to fly carrying any weapons other than the stylized talons that Berian made for us. We always carry those, and he’s made a set for Abilynn as well. We can always magically enhance them into sabers. Besides, I have a feeling that if Abilynn or I summon An Anotais, it will be there when we need it. We will take the two knives and the gold coins, though,” she added as she pocketed them.
“Would Fillian be fluent in Ogham?” Iolena asked.
Fiona thought about that for a couple seconds. “If she isn’t, I’m sure she knows someone who is. Maybe Seamus, if he’s still around. We’ll take the three letters written in Ogham, just in case.”
Abilynn yawned, and Fiona took that as a chance for them to go to bed early. “My girl and I are going to hit the hay. The rest of you know where everything is if you want to make a snack, or coffee or something. Debra, the cook, left things out for you.” She hugged her mother and father and Menta Kai, and Abilynn did the same and then followed her mother up to her bedroom. Alistronia followed them, promising to return in a few minutes.
“Okay, girlfriend, what are we really planning?” Alistronia asked Fiona bluntly.
“Ali, I’m sorry I couldn’t share with you earlier,” Fiona told her. “It’s gotten kind of hectic here with everyone arriving. Abilynn wants to get a couple hours sleep, and I’ll probably join her. But as soon as the crowd disperses down below, we will head over there. Caldar will be on watch tonight, and he knows what’s going on.”
“About five minutes after I go downstairs, open your window,” Alistronia told Fiona. “I’ll join you in here, and the three of us can catch a nap and then can shift here, go out the window and fly to the portal room, just in case there any stragglers downstairs.” She nodded at Abilynn, who was already asleep on Fiona’s bed. “Get some rest, Love. We’re gonna need it.”
Three hours later, the three shape-shifters shifted back into biped form in a shadowed spot near the portal room door. Emerging from the darkness, Fiona and Ali looked up at Caldar, who acknowledged them with a slight nod. They went in, Fiona opened the portal, and they crossed over into the deep well in Eyru’s Rock. Once again in the lead, Ali flexed her hand to reveal the staircase, and they climbed out of the deep well. Once again as her head rose above the top of the stairs, Fillian greeted her with a kiss on the nose. Alistronia sneezed.
“Hello there, tall, blonde and beautiful,” Fillian greeted Ali. “I see you still have the same leprechaun allergy.”
Alistronia grinned. “It’s not leprechauns in general, Filley. It’s just you.” She scooped the little Fae up, hugged her, and sneezed again. “I’ve learned to ignore it because you are a very special friend.”
“I love you too, Alistronia Skystormer,” Fillian quipped. “How’s your boyfriend, that lucky elf, doing?”
“He is doing much better, now,” Ali replied. The year before, Alistronia’s boyfriend, Caldar, had been framed for murder by the Druidess, Achtan, but had been saved through Fiona’s advocacy for him before the Brehon Court of Ireland.
Abilynn emerged from the well, followed by her mother. Fillian grinned at the sight of her dear friends. “Well if it isn’t my two favorite Short Tips!” She jumped up, and Abilynn caught Fillian, hugged her, and held out her arm for the leprechaun to swing over to Fiona.
Fiona hugged and kissed Fillian. “I’ve heard it’s good luck if you kiss a leprechaun. Is that true, and what do you mean by ‘Short Tips?’”
“I think you’re confusing me with the Blarney Stone,” Fillian replied. “As for the Short Tips, she fingered the points on her own ears, “Long Tips,” and then traced the more rounded tips of Fiona’s semi-pointed, half-elf ears. “Short Tips. Both you and your little girl, who isn’t really that little anymore. Speaking of that, where’s Princess Fireball?”
Fiona set Fillian on the ground. “Well, to be honest, that’s part of the reason we’re here, and if it were the only thing, this would be the shortest trip we’ve made back here. But, what are you doing at Eyru’s Rock waiting for us?”
“I think maybe your mission may be a lot simpler. Fiona, I have somebody with me who needs to talk to you. She gestured in the darkness, and the familiar figure approached. Fiona, Alistronia and Abilynn’s eyes widened as they recognized the new arrival.
“Hello Fiona Yaleria-Brice,” she said.
“Hello, Fiona McDonagh.”
“You’re welcome to fly up with us, Berian,” Talia mind-spoke with her cousin’s husband. “It has to be warmer than riding on the back of a Great Eagle through the mountains in the winter.”
“You’re probably right, but I’m planning on going up early to help Fiona and your grandparents get the Caer ready for company.” He grinned to himself. “My little sister-slash-Fiona’s daughter has created a guest list over forty names long.”
“Oh no,” Talia replied. “And last time we were up there you only had three guest quarters set up, not counting the Rangers and the staff.” She paused. “We plan on going up early, also. My dad is pretty sure that we can leave Gewellyn City for a couple weeks without it disintegrating into the mire like it did before. He has safeguards set up also. My mother-in-law is coming up from South Gewellyn to see Estella, and she will stay here until we get back, unless we have the baby baptized. She’ll make a quick trip up to the Aerielands for that.”
Taeral’s mother, Hannah Nichanova, was the President of South Gewellyn. Under the new Constitution of the Realm of Gewellyn passed almost unanimously by the High Councils of Gewellyn City, South Gewellyn, Beldar, and Polana, she was fourth in line to ascend to the throne after Lochlain, Shannon, and Tanya Joy. Talia had taken herself out of the order of ascension to concentrate on her work as a healer.
“Bear, can I ask you something as one of your wife’s best friends?” Talia was a member of the HAGS, the close circle of young women who were each other’s best friends, supporters, and when called upon, warriors together.
“Of course you can, Tal,” Berian replied.
“Is Fiona’s magic still growing? Is she still becoming more powerful?”
“It is,” Berian answered. “Between you and me, it’s part of the reason that she spends most of her time in Caer Aerie. She can control it, but she worries about the time that she can’t.”
“Good to know. I think I may be able to help her some. I’ve developed some new therapies that seem to be working successfully to help other magic users.” Talia paused. “What do you say, cousin-in-law? We’re going to make a stop at both the Golden Swan and Aerielands Castle. Will you meet us at one of the stops?”
Berian was quiet for a second. “When were you thinking of going up?”
“About three days from now,” Talia told him. “Amil Hannah is supposed to arrive sometime tomorrow, and we want to give her some time with the baby.” She chuckled. “If my little sister were running the show, we’d all be up there already.”
It was Berian’s turn to chuckle. “Well, you tell your little sister to keep a firm grip on my little brother, because my daughter is in that same age group, and I think she’s every bit as attractive as TJ, although I may be a bit biased. But yes, Tali, I will meet you at Aerielands, and I’ll help Tarbitha get together the things she needs.” TJ, Crown Princess Tanya Joy had been in a relationship with Berian’s brother, Penant, since Fiona’s wedding, two years before.
“Perfect. We’ll see you in a couple of days. “I’ll mind-speak with you when we’re getting ready to leave.”
“What are you doing here, Bridget?” Fiona had reverted back to the name she had used for her younger self before and immediately after her wedding to Berian.
“I need some advice, Fiona, and Fillian thought you were the only one who might be able to help me.”
“You do realize that I have somewhat of an unfair advantage since I’ve already lived the life you are about to live. I’d have to couch any advice that I can give you with that knowledge.” She looked at her younger self, “I don’t remember you meeting with me or vice versa. What year is it now?”
“No, because I am going to have you erase everything except the pertinent information from my memory when we part company. I want to keep the memories you gave me, and I have Fillian to help me with that.” Young Fiona looked at her older persona. “It’s 1920, and Ian and I have just been told to assassinate the Big Fella.”
“You can’t do that, Bridget,” Fiona told her emphatically.
“I know that, but I don’t know why I know that. Tell me what I need to know, what I am safe remembering. And tell me how I convince Ian that we shouldn’t do that,” Bridget told Fiona.
“First of all, you can’t do that, because that’s not how he is going to die. Second of all, by refusing this assignment, you will put the wheels in motion that will bring you to a place called Bolandria, and a tavern called the Laughing Traveler. You will recognize and know your target as soon as you see him, and from that moment until now, you will become his daughter again.”
Young Fiona’s jaw dropped. “Da? I could never... I will never... Please tell me we don’t hurt him.” Her eyes were desperate because the one constant in Fiona’s entire life had been her passionate, fierce devotion and love for her father, Connor Clark, even before she had ever met him.
“You know that I could never have forgiven myself if Ian had succeeded. I’ll leave you with that thought, but the first thing you have to do is convince Ian to not accept the assignment to kill Michael Collins. I can give you two more reasons for that if you would like?”
Her younger self nodded. “Please, tell me anything that will help me to convince my adoptive brother.”
“First of all, as you will learn soon, Da is a huge admirer of the Big Fella.” She looked back at Abilynn. “Second of all, he is the reincarnation, or more appropriately, the restoration of Abilynn’s father, Cormac Mac Art.”
“Mama?” Abilynn stepped up next to her mother, out of the shadows.
“You’re my daughter, aren’t you?” Young Fiona asked. Abilynn nodded in reply.
“When we parted company, after my wedding, Cormac told me that whenever Ireland is in danger, he would return to protect it,” Fiona told the two young women. “He said he would return as Brian Boru, and later he would be back as the Big Fella.” Seeing young Fiona’s questioning look toward Abilynn, the older Fiona continued, “You met her late last year in our time when you came through the portal before you left for Shanghai. She is our daughter whom we dearly and deeply love with all our hearts, and that’s all I’m going to tell you about her right now. I promise she is going to be an absolute delight in your life in a few years.” Fiona took her daughter’s hand. “Actually, Bridget, she already is.”
Changing the topic, Fiona looked at Fillian and Bridget. “Bridget, how well do you read and write in Ogham?”
“Until I entered Trinity College, Ogham and Latin were the primary languages I worked in. That was why it was so difficult to understand the Bible that Da sent along with me when Padraigh brought me to Cill Dara. It was written in common English.” She looked at her older self. “Why?”
She shook her head. “We have some documents that may date all the way back to Eyru, and I can read them, but I don’t trust myself to translate them.”
“Most of my kind still use Ogham in everyday use,” Fillian spoke up. “Let’s get somewhere where we have some better light, and we can take a look at the documents you have.”
“Bridget, do you still remember how to fly?”
The younger Fiona nodded. “You made sure that I wouldn’t forget, remember? And it was reinforced at Nandar Parbat.” She looked at Abilynn questioningly.
Fiona nodded. “She is. Both Cormac and Eithne were shapeshifters. She shifts into a beautiful snowy owl. Does Ian know that you can do that?”
“Oh yes,” Bridget grimaced. “Ian is not very big on magic anyhow, and the fact that I’m a shapeshifter does not sit well with my brother.”
“Mum?” Both Fiona and Bridget turned and looked at Abilynn. “We don’t know if we’ll have time when we get where we’re going, so is it okay if I ask her now?”
Fiona nodded, and Abilynn bent down, so she was at eye level with Fillian. “Fillian, you remember Lona don’t you?”
“Of course I remember Lona, Sweetie. I wish she was here with you. Why?”
“Lona really misses you, too. I was thinking that if we were to bring you through the portal in contemporary time, you would be able to go through safely, and Amil’s Deep Magic would protect you anyhow.” The girl paused and seemed to be gathering her resolve. “I would like to invite you to spend Christmas with us at Caer Aerie, as my Christmas present to Lona.”
Fillian rocked back on her heels and looked from Abilynn to Fiona to Alistronia, who had been quiet during the entire exchange. She now spoke up. “Fil, you yourself said that Fiona’s magic is the most powerful in the Nine Worlds. We go back and forth through the portal without any problems, and I know Lona would be absolutely thrilled to see you and spend Rising Day, what you call Christmas, with you.”
“I love little Lona,” Fillian replied, “but this is a very scary proposition for me. Let’s go to Dublin and see if we can understand these documents, stop Ian from making a terrible mistake, and whatever other things you need to do, and I’ll give you my answer before you leave.” She looked at the two Fionas. “You know that you are my very best friend in the whole wide worlds, and I trust you more than I trust anybody at all. I’m just scared, but I’ll confess, I’d love to see Lona, and I’d really love to see your mother. She is, like you and the blessed woman who raised you, the most gracious person I have ever known.” She smiled. “It would help if you would be praying for me, on the way to Dublin.” Fillian looked from one Fiona to the other. Addressing the elder Fi, she said, “I really need to talk to you. May I ride with you to Dublin?”
“Hop on,” Fiona replied with a smile. The leprechaun jumped up, and Fiona caught her and swung Fillian onto her back, took two running steps and leapt skyward. The kestrel, the two eagles, and the second white owl followed her.
“We have gone from a handful of helpers,” Berian looked around the crowded living room, “to more than enough. You’ve all heard what Joseph and Adda Connor told us has been completed since they got here. With this many people, we should be able to get everything ready for Christmas before Fiona, Abilynn, and Ali return from Ireland. I believe that Caldar and my father, Cadel, have the most experience at construction and Adda Cadel went through everything with Adda Connor after they got here. I am going to ask them and Tia Leni to make the assignments, and Leni and Caldar can work around duty assignments for the Rangers and Fianna. Any questions?”
“What do you want Lona to do, Berian?”
“I have a very special assignment for her, Kailee,” her brother-in-law answered. “Once Joe and Abrallan get the tree up in the courtyard, Lona is in charge of decorating it, under your supervision.”
“Berian, if I may,” Connor asked. His son-in-law nodded. “Tomorrow morning, at daybreak I want Joseph, Menta Kai, and Anyon to go with me as we start gathering the birds and venison for the banquet.”
“Connor,” Gwynlyn spoke up. “If we’re going to have fish for this dinner, with the three shapeshifters on the other side of the portal, can we have Zar and Zara start looking for our trout and salmon?”
“That’s an excellent idea, Gwyn,” Connor replied. Glancing at Caldar, he continued, “Since everyone is reasonably secure here inside the Caer, the eagles can take as much time as they need looking for good sized fish.”
“If there are no other questions, we start first thing tomorrow,” Berian told them. “Debra said she will have breakfast for thirty available at 7 o’clock tomorrow morning in the banquet hall. Don’t be late, or it will be cold. For those of you who are tired,” he said, “feel free to go to bed now. Otherwise, you’re welcome to use this room or the banquet hall to socialize.”
“Mountain Fianna and Rangers, we’ll have a short meeting in the waystation, immediately after we leave here to set up the schedules and rotation,” Alenia told them. “Everyone else, have a good evening. Abrallan and I will join you for breakfast.”
Iolena was with Menta Kai, who had retrieved Lona from her room. The little girl was falling asleep anyhow, so Kailee laid her down on the couch. Shannon and Alenia came up to them. “Should we be concerned about Fiona’s absence?” Alenia asked.
Menta Kai put her finger to her lips, and pointed at Lona and then indicated they should mind-speak. “Berian says he trusts her judgment, that she and Abilynn go over there all the time, and he sees no point in worrying. We’ll be ready in case anything does go wrong, and pray that nothing bad happens.”
“Okay,” her oldest sister replied. “Just keep me posted on what’s happening. I’m going to talk to Adda about the Rangers helping with the hunt as well. I know Fi only expected a half dozen helpers this week, so I doubt they have enough stored up for thirty of us for two weeks.”
“I would talk to Berian about that, as well,” Iolena advised. “They have a huge ice cooler room behind the kitchen, and between the guards and the Rangers it stays pretty well stocked.”
“Not to mention the eagles and the shape-shifters,” Menta Kai added with a grin.
“What did you want to talk about, Filley?” Fiona asked the leprechaun on her back as they flew from Slane north to Dublin Town.
“Two things now, really,” the leprechaun replied. “First things first, how sure are you that I could go from Ireland to the Aerielands safely?”
“Fillian, you remember the story of how Eyru first tested the portal? How she put her hand through, and then brought it back, put her arm through, and then brought it back?”
“I do, but Eyru was an elf and a High Elf at that.”
“Yes, she was,” Fiona mind-spoke. “But we’re going to do the exact same thing. You’ll put one hand through the portal, and bring it back. If that works, you’ll put one full arm through the portal and bring it back. If that’s successful, you will step through the portal, count to five, and step back. If you feel any pain, any discomfort, at all, we will bring Lona through the portal to see you. If it works, like Abilynn and I believe it will, we will sneak you over in the evening after Lona goes to bed and you’ll be waiting for her when she wakes up.”
“Sweetheart, you know I would not do this for anyone else in the worlds but you. As I said before, you’re my very closest friend, and I love you and trust you dearly. I want to see Lona, and I want to see your Mum, but most of all I really want to spend time with you and,” she nodded toward the kestrel, “your big blonde buddy over there. It amazes me that they fit all that woman into such a little bird.”
Fiona laughed in an owlish way. “What was the other thing you wanted to talk about?”
“Fiona, there are over a half million volumes in the Long Hall of the Trinity Library, including the Book of Kells and a number of other sacred texts. There is a lot of information contained there. A lot, including things that you may not want to know, yet. How do you plan to find what you’re looking for and filter out what you’re not?”
“Filley, what are you trying to tell me?” Fiona asked.
“Last time you were in Ireland for more than a social visit, you were battling with Achtan the Druidess. As you know, all magic has consequences, including your combat with that woman. You may find some surprises in the annals of Cill Dara.”
“Such as?” Fiona asked. She felt Fillian move, and said to her, “If you’re shaking your head, I don’t have eyes in the back of mine.”
“I’ll tell you, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. In defeating Achtan, you changed the entire course of Irish history. You set it back on its original course, and in grateful appreciation, the Brehon court and the Church of Blessed Colum Cille made you the High Bishop over all of Ireland, the successor to the Blessed Bridget of Cill Dara.”