Sean shook his head. “Men don’t get lost while traveling in a line like pack mules.” He looked to Julian. “Did you see anything unusual?”
“I saw nothing.” His face appeared paler than usual. “They were behind me when we entered the grove, and then the next I checked, they had vanished.”
Henry stared into the darkened woods. “Is there a chance they returned to the inn?”
Anger flashed in Sean’s eyes. “I know these men sure as myself, and there’re no weak hearts amongst them.” His grip tightened on the reins, and his horse pranced nervously.
Cate nudged her horse into our huddle. The crease returned to her brows as she moved her gaze from Julian to Sean and then back again.
Henry’s voice turned hard. “Where are they then if they haven’t returned to town?”
“Do I look like a bleeding oracle?” Sean spat on the ground. “They didn’t abandon us, if that’s your meaning.”
James leveled a stare at my brother. “There’s no sense picking a fight with his lordship when we’re all wondering where they went.”
Sean’s hand strayed to his sword hilt. “I’ll not have it said that they tucked tail and ran.”
“Now, now, children,” Justine tutted, “let’s all play nice.”
A jagged crack sounded high overhead as the storm broke a tree branch free. It crashed to the ground not too far from us. Several of the horses whinnied and pawed at the dirt.
Tom nodded at Sean in a show of patient understanding. “No one’s saying otherwise, lad. But we’ve more pressing matters now that we’ve found the dolmen.”
I whipped around as several lanterns rose in near unison. An earthen ridge rose sharply from the ground to tower over us. Three giant rock slabs stood at its base, stacked into the shape of a doorway. It stood near to Tom’s height and twice his width, appearing an elongated mouth that led straight into the hillside.
Marin paled in the lantern light. “It’s the witch’s doing. She made them lose their way.”
“I’ll wager there’s some truth in that,” Tom said. “Her presence has been growing stronger since we entered the grove. Puts my teeth on edge being this close to her.”
He swung down from the saddle, then reached over to help Cate. Henry did the same, and I found myself on the ground, wrapped in his arms. The remaining riders followed suit, and we were soon standing in a loose huddle surrounded by the horses.
Sean exchanged a dark look with Marin before addressing the rest of our party. “Are we to abandon our friends?”
Cate shook out the folds of her cloak. “If you’re concerned for their safety, rest assured they’re better lost than entering the dolmen.” She gestured toward the trail. “You are free to do as you choose, but know that we’ve no time to lose in searching for five grown men.”
Marin seemed somewhat mollified by Cate’s words. My brother glowered toward the trail, his allegiance torn. A moment passed when he squared his shoulders back to our party.
Another moan keened through the trees. Wind dipped into the lower branches this time and ruffled my hair. My teeth came together hard as a shiver rocked me.
“Could the witch be causing the storm?” Justine asked.
Tom tipped his head toward the thickly clouded sky. Rain pelted his face, and he squinted against the onslaught. “That I don’t know—”
Lightning flashed, and for a split second, the dolmen stood awash in white light, along with a small cloaked figure seeking cover beneath the overhang of the top stone.
Thunder boomed a report as she stepped into the ring of lantern light. “The witch has no hand in the weather,” she said in the gruff Irish lilt I’d recognize anywhere.
“Ailish!” I cried. “Where have you been? Why did you leave without telling me?”
Water dripped from the hood of her brown cloak. She looked at me in silence, her mouth set in a sullen frown.
Unease rolled in my stomach. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
Cate moved closer to Ailish and peered into her face. “Who’s controlling the storm, Miss O’Bearra?”
“That be Deidre Byrne, milady. She has the gift from Cailleach, but I think it’s got away from her.”
“Why is that?”
“She be birthing a wee babe tonight.”
“I thought it was something of the sort, except my first guess was that you had the gift.”
“No, milady. I came to the world with Cailleach’s voice.”
“That’s a rare gift indeed,” Cate marveled. “I’ve not known anyone to have it since...” She caught herself just in time. “For a very long time.”
“Me da said there’s only ever one in the mortal world at a time. And more often than not, there be no one at all.”
I looked between the two of them, confused by their easy banter when Ailish had yet to even speak to me. “Why are you here?” I asked again, though with a sharpness to my voice this time.
Neither responded at first. Ailish kept her eyes steadfast on Cate’s in what seemed a silent plea. My confusion grew tenfold when Cate nodded ever so slightly. After a moment Ailish’s gaze slipped to the ground as Cate turned to me.