The Chieftain's Daughter Read online

  “Your other sister?” she questioned and then heard the loud flapping above once more.

  “The veil ensures my earth brother and water sister are kept within, but because my air sister and I can fly, we have been further imprisoned.”

  “You can fly, how truly wonderful. I have always yearned to be capable of flight. How might I free the two of you?” Alainn asked without hesitation.

  The creature eyed her suspiciously for the first time.

  “Why would you feel compelled to free us?”

  “No creature should be so imprisoned, ’tis sorely wrong! And I bare no loyalty to the gods, the Tuatha De Danann, or the Fomorians.”

  “And what if when I am freed I do you unspeakable harm?”

  “I do not sense you would do so.”

  “And does your intuition never steer you wrong?”

  “Seldom.”

  The creature looked at her intently and seemed to be assessing her abilities. “If you are so inclined to assist me, I might instruct you on how it might be done. You do not seem adversely affected by the magical crystal. It is apparently only harmful to dragons.”

  “Dragons?” Alainn repeated in disbelief. “You are a dragon; all of you are dragons?”

  The beast before her looked at her with some annoyance and for the first time its voice held a hint of impatience. “You have premonitory abilities, yet you do not have the foresight to determine we are dragons?”

  “Well, in my own defense, I have never laid eyes upon an actual dragon before and until this very moment I believed you were only creatures of myth. Though I am capable of magical abilities, I am human and in the human world, dragons do not exist.”

  “Is that truth?” The dragon seemed saddened by this, and he spoke in a somber tone. “Perhaps it is so, then, but at one time dragons existed in every realm, even that of humans. I am long since out of touch of the human realm and every other, but for this dismal cave and these formidable crystal walls. Where then in the human world do you lay claim to be your home.’

  “I am from Ireland,” she said her voice steeped in both pride and longing.

  “Ah, the land of the endless enchanting green hills; I have a distinct fondness for that location. I often took much joy in flying above that magical land. Perhaps if you agree to free me, I might return there one day, after my brother and sisters and I first see to it each one of the Fomorians’ bodies lie mangled, charred, and blackened beyond recognition.”

  Alainn noted the deep contempt and loathing the dragon held for its captors and though she understood the reasoning, she remained hesitant to free the beast.

  “Tell me fire-dragon, if I free you what of the gods that still exist in this realm, will they be in peril as well?”

  “Not if they do not interfere with our vengeful intentions, no harm shall befall them.”

  One of the hellhounds grazed her hand and she could clearly hear its worrisome thoughts.

  “And what of the hellhounds, would they be free from your wrathful ways?”

  “We would cause no ill will to the hounds that have shared this location with us for so many millennia. It is certain if the Celtic god Arawan still lives, he will be searching for his thirteen hellhounds. He is their handler. They aid him in tracking down lost souls and taking them to the Otherworld.”

  She wasn’t certain that would be proper inducement to free the hounds either, but she spoke further to the dragon. “If no harm should befall me or the hellhounds then, aye, I shall assist you, dragon!” she agreed.

  He was about to further instruct her on how she might accomplish just that, when she instinctively placed her hand to the crystal wall and began to speak in the language he well knew to be that of the ancient druids. She continued to strategically move her hands along the crystal and she traced the outline of a large portal. That done, the portal began glowing brightly and soon the entire doorway burst into flames. She jumped backward to avoid the scorching heat. As quickly as it had begun the fire was extinguished and the crystal crumbled to the ground in thousands of jagged pieces.

  The dragon within screeched distinctively and immediately burst forth through the now open portal. Its eyes glowed bright red and it shrieked loudly, rejoicing in his freedom and at stretching his wings and flying after having been prevented from doing so for an eternity. It flew upward, backward, and upside down. It flapped and squawked and roared disturbingly. Alainn watched on in fascination, which swiftly turned to horror as it widely opened its mouth and breathed a long stream of fire that nearly filled the cavern. She backed up to avoid the flames and fell over one of the hellhounds who were also obviously fearful of the newly released creature. It glanced back down at Alainn, flapped its enormous wings, breathed fire from both its nose and its mouth and dove wildly at a rapid speed directly toward her where she remained lying on the floor of the cave.

  Chapter Six

  Alainn huddled close to the hellhounds, who now encircled her, as they snarled at the dragon in attempt to protect her.

  When the flying beast drew perilously close to her, Alainn glared at the creature and screamed. “This is the appreciation you would show me for freeing you?”

  “One should never trust a dragon entirely, young witch, Alainn.”

  “One should never trust a witch entirely either!” she said as she stood threateningly holding tight to a large shard of crystal in her hands.

  The dragon lurched back and then flew upward where Alainn could hear the loud flapping of wings and then muffled voices. She strained her eyes and she could just make out the beautiful bluish gray shape of the dragon above. She flapped frantically and Alainn watched as the fire-breathing dragon attempted to use its fire to burn through the tether that held his sister. But nothing the dragon did proved effective in severing the magical rope.

  Alainn had thought to leave the cave immediately and to wish herself back to the castle before the unpredictable and dangerous red dragon returned, but he flew back down and landed beside her once more, this time more slowly and carefully.

  “I must ask for your assistance once more, young witch!” he humbly said.

  “After you nearly frightened me half to death and created perilous flames all around me, you would dare to ask me for further aid?”

  “Not for me, but for our sister,” he admitted.

  The other two dragons looked on, silently requesting she help the air dragon as well.

  She huffed aloud and rolled her eyes, yet she couldn’t abide the poor dragon being incapable of moving for even one moment longer if she was able to prevent it, so she agreed.

  “But how am I to assist your sister in any way when she is tethered so high within the cavern. I am not capable of flying and if you can’t sever the tether with your fire, I won’t be capable of slicing through it. ’Tis doubtful I will be of any use to you.”

  “But you were able to enter the cave, and the tether appears to be charmed magically, so no creature of this realm can break the tie that binds her. If you could find an object that would possibly sever the binding then you may be capable of cutting through it.”

  Alainn glanced down at the many shards of crystal upon the floor of the cave and the earth dragon’s broken tooth as well. She placed several of the sharpest pieces and the earth dragon’s tooth within the pocket of her frock.

  “And however do you suggest I reach your sister? I am of fairy lineage, but I bear no wings!”

  “You must climb upon my back and I will take you up to where you can hopefully cut through the tether. But you must not allow the crystal to touch my skin or we may both fall to our deaths.”

  She placed her hands upon her hips and eyed the dragon with fury in her eyes.

  “And you believe I should trust you when you yourself advised me not to do so? And it is not only me I must consider, you must assure me the child I carry within me remains safe as well.”

  He nodded his head in agreement and she intuitively sensed she would not be in danger. Alainn pul
led the crystals from her pocket, tore a strip from her gown and wrapped them several times, then placed them back within. The dragon lowered itself so she could climb on its back and she attempted to avoid the many sharp and pointed scales.

  Her excitement soared along with the dragon as she felt herself being carried upward inside the cave. She was exalted at the magnificence of flight. When they nearly reached the top, she saw the beautiful sleek feminine air dragon. She gazed at Alainn with apparent gratitude and lowered her head as if to bow to her. Alainn nodded back and smiled. She saw the tether looped around her neck and the other end was tied to a spiraled formation on the side of the cave wall.

  The fire dragon flew nearer to the tether and Alainn leaned over with the crystal in her hand and attempted to cut through the strands. As soon as she did so the air dragon shrieked painfully and the tether began to glow around her neck. Alainn stopped immediately and dropped the crystal back in her pocket. She pulled out the tooth and attempted the same with it. This time there was no shrieking or glowing, but after what seemed to be an insufferably long time, she still only managed to saw through a portion of the tether.

  Calling upon her powers, she created a small fireball of her own that capably burned through the remainder of the magical thread. The air dragon shrieked once more, but this time in delight as she darted and soared freely about the cavern and she flew toward her brother, who remained hovering in midair. She nudged his nose in joyful reunion after such a lengthy time apart and then she whispered in a voice clearly much quieter and more feminine.

  “I thank you, Alainn, young witch. My brothers and my sister and I all thank you, and we shall truly remain indebted to you for all time!”

  “I was happy to assist you.” Alainn whispered back and then the two dragons flew downward, settled on the floor of the cave, where Alainn climbed down. All four of the dragons frolicked together for a time, clearly pleased at finally being together once more. When the air dragon drew near to Alainn she found since the tether was no longer connected to the wall it held no magic and she was simply able to untie it and remove it from the dragon’s neck.

  As she stood looking at the sight before her, she beamed and realization finally dawned on her.

  “You are the powerful magical dragons that once belonged to the ancient druids, the dragons of the four elements: fire, water, earth and air! I often used to dream of you when I was a child and sometimes I felt it was more of a memory than a dream.”

  “If you are of the line of Aine, and you possess knowledge of magic, perhaps then it is a memory passed down from her for Aine was once our designated keeper for a time, or perhaps indeed you have lived before!” The air dragon explained with a mysterious and unreadable expression in her long-lashed eyes.

  Alainn turned when they were interrupted by a loud pounding outside the entrance of the cave and then she heard a high-pitched whistle. The hellhounds all eagerly bounded toward the entrance, but stopped short unable to pass through. She followed the canines and when she got to the portal she saw a large male outside the door. The hellhounds appeared as happy as young puppies as they stared at the being outside the entrance. They barked and howled, clearly wanting to get to him and by the longing expression on his face, he was just as eager to get to them.

  Alainn walked past the hellhounds and easily stepped through the portal. “You must be Arawan?”

  He cast a wary glance in her direction, nodded politely, but did not speak.

  She tried to call out the hounds and get them to follow her, but they came against an invisible barrier and when the god attempted to enter, it was clear he could not. Alainn wasn’t certain how to reunite the hounds with their owner if neither could penetrate the veil.

  She reached within her pocket once more and with the magical crystal she tossed it against the open air and the entire entrance glowed brightly. Within moments the hellhounds leapt out to their handler and it was clear they were well pleased to once more be together as they tumbled about joyfully reunited.

  Alainn’s heart caught in her throat though, when she saw the entire lot of them roll over the edge of the mountain. She screamed out in dismay, but then looked on with relief as the god and the beasts disbelievingly ambled happily across the clouds. The first hellhound she had encountered momentarily returned to her and affectionately licked her hand once more and wagged its tail before joining the others and disappearing amongst the clouds entirely.

  When she went back within the cave all four dragons remained, but she knew they were excited to be free to do what they would. She mentally noted how happy she was that the dragons had been freed and most especially that she was not a Fomorain, for together the four of them would surely be an unstoppable force.

  “I’ll say farewell then.” She smiled though admittedly she felt an undeniable and unexplainable sadness at knowing it was unlikely she would ever see them again.

  “Magical creatures of all varieties share a bond that makes parting difficult!” The most emotional of the four, the air dragon said, for she had surely heard Alainn’s thoughts.

  “Aye!” she whispered as she gently touched each of the four creatures, the fire dragon last for she still harbored some displeasure at his earlier fiery display.

  “You fear fire, young witch Alainn, but you can create it as well. Perhaps you lived during the times of the great druids when dragons were commonplace, for we each feel the same connection you now feel.”

  “Perhaps,” she agreed. “Now be off with you then,” she whispered, not wishing to prolong their parting. “But how will the earth dragon move down the side of the mountain and will the water dragon not remain confined to water at all time?”

  “We are magical, Alainn, anything is possible with magic!” The fire dragon almost smiled and then winked at her as he spoke.

  And, as if to confirm this, Alainn rubbed her eyes disbelievingly as the fire dragon dove beneath the water, the earth dragon presented wings and flew upward, the air dragon lowered her head and capably dug down into the earth, and the water dragon blew fire out of its nostrils, immediately sprouted wings and also flew away through the now open portal.

  She shook her head at all the wondrous events that had transpired, sighed reflectively at all she had witnessed, and then finally once and for all knelt down and stared into the now quiet water.

  Chapter Seven

  Alainn cleared her mind of all the recent tumultuous happenings and finally forced her conscious mind to envision only Killian. She was quickly rewarded with a clear image, but her relief was soon changed to horror as she witnessed Killian and Danhoul rushing toward their horses. She gasped aloud as she saw the despicably malevolent beings chasing them and the churchyard behind them caving into the ground. Then the vision grew cloudy and was returned once more only to water. She reasoned she must discover a way to leave this realm at once. Regretfully, she mused, perhaps appeasing Lugh by revealing her powers would truly be the very measure needed to ensure she could return to Killian. She imagined the bedchamber within the castle walls in the realm of the gods and within little time the walls of the cave faded behind her and she was magically carried back to the castle.

  After calming her usual dizziness over moving from one location to another, she attempted to form a strategy. She needed to know that Killian was well, that he had escaped the perilous time at the churchyard. Surely, if she was able to remain unharmed amongst hellhounds and capable of freeing mythical dragons, she could do other remarkable magical feats here in this realm as well. Since she’d had no success in transporting herself back to her own world through all of her numerous attempts, she resorted to an entirely different strategy, one she’d never dared to consider before. She concentrated on the memory of the last image she recalled of Killian and Danhoul racing toward their horses, and calling upon all the powers she could summon within her, all the abilities she had ever known to be hers and beyond, she willed Killian to come to her.

  Alainn felt her stomach grow que
asy and her head spin; she gasped for air as she fell back upon the bed. She believed she might fall unconscious, for this time the dizziness refused to abate. As the room spun round and round unrelentingly, she heard the voice beside her.

  “Alainn, what has happened to you?”

  Though the voice was familiar to her, and certainly welcomed, she despaired at knowing it was not Killian whom she’d summoned. She felt the gentle touch upon her arm and she slowly opened her blue eyes to look into the face of the young druid, Danhoul Calhoun.

  She forced a smile and slowly moved to a sitting position before she spoke.

  “Is Killian well?” she finally managed as she tried to right the dizziness.

  “Aye, he’s well enough, but for his concern for you.”

  “The two of you escaped those hideous creatures at the churchyard?”

  “Aye, just barely,” Danhoul admitted, “They did not seem able to follow us far beyond the graveyard.”

  “I am much relieved,” she said with a voice that trembled.

  “But how did you manage to bring me to this realm, Alainn? And why do you look so unusually pale; are you unwell?”

  Before she had a chance to reply he noticed the many dark bruises on her arms and the angry reddened welt of the burn.

  “What has happened to you?”

  Frustrated tears began to slide down her cheeks and the calamity of her day, combined with the relief of finally seeing a familiar human face got the better of her. She began to weep in earnest. The young man unsurely sat down beside her on the bed and put his arm around her shoulder till her sadness appeared to ebb.

  “I was attempting to call Killian to me, but it seems I was incapable of accomplishing that feat.” She informed him, but avoided his queries regarding her injuries.