Budding Magic

  Chapter Three

  Kellan was surprised to notice a flicker of animosity in Aunt Caryn's eyes when she opened the door for Priestess Glenna. She hid it swiftly as she greeted the priestess with open arms. She and Glenna were upstairs with Haley and Aine. Glenna always came to dedicate the babies. She would bless Haley and place Druantia's protections on her. This time she would also be praying the last rights to Mama and Papa, Kellan reflected—a task which Glenna hated.

  "We will be cremating their bodies together." Kane said quietly, "That is why mama didn't have papa consumed—she knew." Her hands were clinched in her lap. Her face was strained. She was only eight, but had grown up a lot since their father's death.

  "I need to go hit something," Rae got up to leave. She squeezed Kellan's hand on her way out.

  "Mother handed these to me a few days ago," Rhoswen entered the room with a large stack of papers, "she told me to hand them out on this day—and at this time."

  Rhoswen's eyes were red from crying. The intense emotions caused the amethyst in her eye's to change to a deep purple, a color which others rarely saw.

  :Damn, she looks scary,: Dara sent to Alana.

  :I heard that,: Rhoswen responded and handed them each a set of papers.

  Both twins started with surprise. Their little sister had never responded to their voices before. The twins had been able to communicate like this before they could even talk.

  "Mama told me to tell you that we can either help you to read these, or you could wait until you've learned on your own." Rhoswen told Kane and Vevila. "I have something for you too, Terah."

  "I can't read them," Terah said with disappointment as she peered over her papers.

  "You will be staying with us for quite a while, right?" Kellan asked.

  "Aine asked me to stay for at least two years," Terah told them, "it seemed rather long for a wet nurse, but I was fine with that."

  "We will teach you how to read your letter," Kellan looked at Terah's letter with surprise, "it's in English."

  The letters were written on fine paper with expensive ink. They were spelled to not age or tear. All but Terah's were written in Gaelic—their mother's native language. Education was highly important to the O'Byrne's, and the girls tutored during the winter months. This had been so for many years. They had learned how to speak, read, and write English a long time ago. They had also studied math, science, philosophy, and politics (English and Irish).

  They had learned to speak Gaelic at their mother's knee, but the reading and writing of the language was a little more complicated, and was still being worked on. Most of the spells handed down were written in Gaelic. These would probably never to be translated into English. Aine told them that someday that might happen, but not as long as they could be used to condemn the O'Byrne family.

  Each daughter held her papers as if they were treasures—the last gift of comfort and love from their mother.

  "Where did you get those?" Caryn asked as she entered the room and saw what they were reading. "Give those to me right now! You weren't to get those until I deemed you were ready!"

  Caryn tried to take Kane's from her hand. Kane's eyes flared from blue to vivid purple and Caryn was launched across the room. They all blinked in surprise. Strong magic usually came upon a person when they were close to fourteen—an adult.

  "Aunt Caryn! I'm so sorry," Kane rushed over to her.

  "That's okay, dear," she patted Kane's hand but continued to sit on the floor, "she told me, but I wouldn't listen to her. She told me that your gifts started budding prematurely with the death of your father. She told me a lot of things. I need to think about all that she said. If you will excuse me…"

  She gathered herself up and left the room. Silence was broken only by a few sniffles as they all just stared at each other. They felt lost with their mama and papa gone. Kellan started reading her papers. Her face turned pale.

  "What is it?" Alana asked.

  "She says that we have to leave here. That we have to go to the America's and restart the O'Byrne line," Kellan answered appalled.

  "America? We get to go to America?" Vevila said with excitement, her green eyes flashing. "Where all the new lands are being found—and the explorers are finding treasures every day?"

  "Druantia told me that it was getting harder and harder for her to visit here," Rhoswen shared, "almost as if a barrier was being formed. She also said that magic was disappearing and that all the killings were causing people's hearts to grow hard."

  "I can see that," Kane said quietly. "So why doesn't she stop all this?"

  "There's always been killing going on," Dara sighed. "According to our tutors, we've always been fighting over something—or our men folk anyway. Men fight over really dumb things."

  "All this is caused from the choices of people. Which is like stopping a river from flowing to the ocean," Kellan explained. "Would it be right for her to crush the free will of everyone who had an unkind thought, or to stop the thoughts of greed when they surpassed the desire to just keep their family fed? She doesn't work that way."

  "I guess," Kane wasn't convinced. It seemed that there should be a time for God or Goddess intervention. What better time than now with everyone killing everyone, and everyone being so hungry. "It's just not fair that the English gave our peoples land away."

  "She told me a story once," Rhoswen told them. "I was complaining about life not being fair, and she told me life was not supposed to be fair."

  Kane rolled her eyes and prepared to listen. There was no stopping Rhoswen when she got into this mood.

  "There were two brothers and each had twelve sons. Each brother had his own estate—both estates were much the same. When one brother died he left a will which divided the estate equally into twelve sections. Each son got a paltry little piece of the inheritance, but it was fair. No son got more than any other.

  The second brother left the whole estate to his middle son—not fair to the others at all. But the brother knew that the middle son was very smart. He took his inheritance and tripled it. He was not a greedy man and shared the wealth with his siblings. Who ended up better for the decisions of the brothers? The one who treated all the sons fairly, or the one who knew his sons?"

  "Point?" Kane asked. Sometimes Rhoswen drove her nuts with all her little philosophies.

  "Sometimes fair—just isn't smart," Rhoswen went on, "and who are we to judge what is right for others? We know right from wrong and can definitely make our own choices on that, but can we make judgments for the better of the whole. Some think they can. That's why they keep fighting about religion."

  "I don't think they are really fighting over religion. I think that is just an excuse to fight and steal the land. Greed wins again," Vevila's lip curled.

  "I think it's both, that's why it gets so confusing," Kellan stated. "There are enough who really believe that their way is the only way. They have great convictions. It can either make them shove their ways on others, or it makes them vulnerable—to be used by others. They have buttons exposed and ready just for the pushing."

  "Stealing is stealing and it's wrong," Kane said stoutly. "Especially when it means that whole families get tossed out of their homes."

  "No one here is contesting that," Dara said quickly, "it's just that if people understand the motivations, sometimes they can prevent the occurrences. It's not the English coming in which caused the problem. It's that people came over with promises of land, only to find the land promised was already occupied. Now, we have too many people, and not enough land."

  "The English don't care or understand our land and are stripping it bare," Alana stated angrily, "I get sick when we take the wagon out and see all the mining and timber clearing. They've taught their people that we Irish are sinners and are more animal than human undeserving of anything! They've created self-righteous monsters. All the people, Irish and English, are bitterly angry. I don't see how this mess can be stopped. If we want to blame it on any one person, blame
it on the King or Queen of England—quietly of course—lest they chop off our heads."

  "We would have lost our land long ago if we hadn't been able to protect it with magic," Vevila insisted, "all the philosophy aside—we are here because we had a weapon which they couldn't beat. It looks like mama set it up again. There's no way anyone will be trying to steal our land now!"

  "That's true, but even the O'Byrne cannot win against what is to come."

  They all looked up with a start and jumped to their feet. Druantia was standing beside Glenna. The only sister who had previously met Druantia was Rhoswen. The others had not been ready.

  There was no mistaking Druantia. She always wove her fiery red hair into twenty-two braids. Her eyes were a very intense green with white pupils. Most people could not hold her gaze. She wore a gold band which circled her forehead with a large multicolored stone that radiated all the colors of the rainbow. She was lean and warrior strong. Her clothes were designed for comfort and flexibility. She was currently wearing dark suede pants and a long sleeved multicolored shirt which would fade into the background of the forest. Her fingers were bare of rings. Her skin was pale and silky. There were no discernable marks, natural or from ink anywhere on her porcelain skin.

  "I see that you have started to read your letters," Druantia came into the room and settled onto one of the couches. "Could you make us some tea, Glenna?"

  "Of course, Druantia." Glenna walked sedately out of the room.

  Druantia studied the girls. They were so young. She had been watching over them since they were born. She reminded herself that humans grew very rapidly once they started into the adolescence stage.

  "Terah, you will be staying in Ireland, but know this, I will be watching out for you and your little Caitrina. You will never suffer the starvation and disease which will befall this land." She stood and handed four amulets to Terah. "One is for you, and the others are for your children. You do not have the type of magic to work a more powerful amulet, but these have my protections on them. Learn what they mean and how to operate them. The knowledge is within this house. I know these ladies will help you."

  "Thank you," Terah acknowledged, flustered. She didn't know what else to say.

  "It is traditional for the O'Byrne parent to make an amulet for the child once the child shows some type of magical gift." Druantia told them. "They are created with wards and helpful spells which enhance the child's magic. Your father was taken before his time, and your mother was unable to make them because of the pregnancy. I have made these for you. They look simple, but have very complex spells. Again, learn what they mean and how to use them."

  She walked around and gave each sister an amulet. When she came to Kane, Kane did not instinctively reach out to take it.

  "Why can't we just stay here?" Kane asked her. "Why can't you just stop all this?"

  "Ah, Kane." She smiled at Kane—delighted by her boldness. "I would if I could, but it would be like a butterfly trying to stop an army of ants."

  "You mean you can't then." Kane made it a statement.

  "I could." Druantia told her. "But can the butterfly discern the difference between the good little worker ant and the mean old predator ant? I choose not to. The affliction which will hit this land comes from the very ships which bring in necessaries from America. It will be the greed and selfishness that actually destroys the people. I choose that we prepare our people as best as we can."

  Kane stared at her for a few minutes thinking about things. Druantia watched proudly as Kane drew her own conclusion, and then held out her hand to accept the amulet.

  "But why are we going to America?" Dara asked "Shouldn't we stay here and help?"

  Druantia looked at them sadly. She had news which they did not know. It hurt her terribly that it was true.

  "The O'Byrne conclave in Scotland has been destroyed. Who will you marry with and bring in children? The marauding English? The defeated Irishmen? As you know this country has been ripped apart. A lot of good people have died, or fled. All of you carry the seed of magic. America has potential. It has its own type of magic. The O'Byrne family can become stronger, larger than before. It's a new world out there with new possibilities."

  "What happened?" Kellan exclaimed. She had visited just this last summer. She had been delighted by that line of the family. She particularly liked Malvin. "Are they all dead?"

  "Most, I'm sorry." Druantia said with tears in her eyes. "They didn't watch the registry close enough—or didn't wish to meddle. A child was born wrong and was hidden—even from me. When the baby cried out—her furious anger roused the house into a murdering rage. She was an emoting empath. One incensed deed, begat another, and then another."

  She turned her head and they saw the charred remains of one of her braids. She didn't mention the evil, malevolent creature she had glimpsed on her arrival. She was so angry with herself! That thing just kept slipping through her fingers. She wasn't even sure what it was, but it was menacing her people. She had pleaded with the Seraphim to intercede. Their reply was just to sing, We Are. Her children were still in harm's way, and she didn't know how to protect them. She looked at these daughters with loving concern. She would do all within her power to keep them safe.

  "Their braid burned away, only single strands of hair remain. It happened very fast. I heard the uproar and went to see what was going on. They were mostly dead. I have people there now to tend to the survivors. Those who weren't bloodied—were driven insane."

  "What about Malvin's family?" Kellan whispered.

  "I'm sorry," Druantia told her. "The young men were affected the most. Their family had four boys driven into a zealous rage."

  Kellan nodded sadly. Malvin and his brothers were naturally competitive. She could just imagine what that kind of pressure would have done to them.

  "Born wrong—what do you mean?" Alana asked.

  "Too much inbreeding," Kellan answered softly. "I heard someone talking about that a long time ago. I guess if we marry too close to our own—we can breed up monsters."

  "Is that true?" Dara asked Druantia, stunned.

  "Yes. That is why the priestess must be involved with an O'Byrne-to-O'Byrne match." Druantia answered.

  "Mama and papa are both O'Byrne's," Alana frowned.

  "They are," Kellan nodded, "but I've seen the marriage ledger, Glenna blessed their union. Besides, mama would have seen if there was a problem with papa."

  "Which also means that the Scotland couple didn't do a marriage binding," Rhoswen said surprised. "That was foolish."

  "Which is our braid," Kane asked inquisitively.

  Druantia reached into her hair. Their braid was more complex and grew together with other braids. Kane rose up to watch her. She pulled forth a fiery red blade.

  "It's thin!" Kane said surprised.

  "Yes." Druantia said simply as she realigned it back within the others.

  "How can we possibly do all this?" Kellan asked anxiously.

  "You have a few years yet to prepare, to build your magic and to make the best arrangements to avoid unnecessary hardships. I have another group in China, which is where I'll be sending the Scottish archives. At some point, we may consolidate them in America."

  Kellan could see the mixed feelings between her sisters. She felt that this task was going to be a huge undertaking—and probably a mistake. So much had happened in just a short amount of time. She just didn't know if she could handle any of this. Her heart ached with the thought of Malvin and his family being dead. She was already missing mama and papa. If they were here, she wouldn't even doubt about them moving to America. Without them—she felt lost.

  "Just who are you?" Kane asked Druantia.

  Everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at her in shock—all but Druantia herself. She took the question very calmly.

  "There is a very complex answer to your simple question. I am a lot of things. I am one of the deities. There are several of us. I was once human, died, was awoken and given a
choice. I was then changed. I am as you see me. I can also be just moving energy. I am most aware of births and deaths. That is why I was shocked by what had happened in Scotland. I have feelings as I did when I was mortal. I enjoy humanity. Now, who are you?" She asked Kane.

  Kane paused and thought about the question. Her first instinct was to say that she was an O'Byrne, but as she thought about that answer, it seemed awfully unsatisfying. She was a lot more than just an O'Byrne—she was—herself.

  "That's okay." Druantia told her. "I just wanted you to think about the question you asked me. There is a higher order of being above me. They are hard to explain. They are not male or female. They are pure energy and spirit. The best description I can give is that they are conscious energy. They are aware of themselves and all of creation. They have their own code for what is and what is not, one that I usually don't understand."

  "I've brought tea and biscuits." Glenna came into the room. "Is it okay for Caryn and me to join you?"

  "Yes." Druantia answered her. "Tea would be lovely. I wanted time alone with the girls, thank you."

  Glenna poured tea for everyone while Caryn passed around the biscuits. It was strangely quiet for such a rambunctious group of girls. She was glad to see that they weren't intimidated by the presence of Druantia. She suspected that they were just shocked by all that had happened, and all which was yet to come. She was still reeling from the shock herself.

  "How long do you think mama knew she was going to die?" Alana asked quietly.

  "She always knew she would die during childbirth." Kellan answered. "She knew that with every birth she was taking a risk. I heard her and papa fighting about it when she got pregnant with Haley. She could have prevented the conception, but choose not to. She always thought she would go before papa. I think outliving him was a shock."

  "She knew when she was around twelve that she would die during childbirth." Druantia looked at Aine's daughters. "That was one of her first visions. During initiation she talked about wanting children above all else in this world. I promised to be here during every one of the births of her children, to do everything in my power to make sure you were all whole and healthy."

  "She kept her word, too." Rae returned to the room. "Kane, look at your hands."

  Kane held out her hands. They looked the same as they always had.

  "You were born with three fingers missing on your left hand and missing most all of your right hand." Rae told her.

  Kane stared at her hands. She had a hard time imagining them as Rae had described them. Druantia sat quietly watching her. She really wanted Kane to believe in her.

  "Thank you." Kane raised her eyes to Druantia. "I like my hands."

  "You're welcome. I like your hands, too." Druantia stood up. "I'll be leaving now, but I'll be close. There is a lot to be doing."

  Druantia was pleased when Kane stood to hug her. She held her tight. The other sisters came to hug her, too. She appreciated every one of them and held them in a way that they knew the hug was for them alone. She then stood away and glimmered, disappearing from their house.

  "Wow!" Kellan blinked at Rhoswen. "Is she always so intense?"

  "Mostly," Rhoswen murmured.

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