A dark mirthless laugh came from Julian. His gaze dipped to Tom’s sword. “You best tame your intentions, as my power is still ten times more than all of you put together while we’re in the passageway.”
“Release Marin,” Tom said, “and we’ll give it a go.” Flint edged his voice, and he adjusted his grip on the sword hilt.
Julian clucked his tongue as though reprimanding a child. “I’ve not come this far to be goaded into a fight.”
“Then I fear we’ve come to a standstill.”
“Don’t count on it.” Julian waved his hand, and green fire sprang to life all around us.
I twisted from left to right to find a score of torches mounted around the cavern. The space was much bigger than I expected, measuring the size of a small circular ballroom. Half a dozen archways led deeper into the hillside.
Julian remained motionless for a moment, his neck coiled like a snake about to strike. Then, raising his free hand, he cupped his mouth and his voice rang through the cavern. “Oh, Deri...”
Chapter Twenty-One
The Descendants
The name slithered over me, each drawn out syllable passing like smooth scales over my skin.
“Deri...” Julian called again, with a hint of singsong in his raised voice. “Please join us, sister. Some old friends have come to visit.” His gaze rested over my shoulder. I spun around and stared at the specific archway that fell in his line of sight, my blood racing with anticipation.
“The space is much larger than I imagined,” Cate said in the same conversational tone.
“Aye, Carmen retained sufficient power to make her prison more comfortable.”
“Is that how you controlled the torches?”
Julian clucked his tongue. “For shame, my lady, sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Well, I’ll not explain what I can and cannot do, so keep your questions to yourself. Do you understand?”
“Pray forgive me, I was just intrigued by how you needed contact with Marin and Sean, yet could summon the torches to life by a mere wave of your—”
“Silence!” Julian roared. “Another word and the lass will be bleeding from her ears.”
Cate said nothing more. I kept my eyes pinned to the archway, desperate for any sight or sound to indicate life.
“Deri!” Julian called a third time, though without the previous singsong. “Stop hiding, you little brat, before I come and get you.”
The threat had the desired effect, bringing the first stirrings of life just out of sight.
I strained my ear toward the sound. A moment later, shadows spilled into the cavern. They lengthened, and the stirrings turned to the soft patter of footsteps that echoed across the stone. The next few seconds stretched beyond their natural duration as I stared so hard my eyes ached from the effort.
Two figures appeared beneath the archway, one a good head taller than the other, and I pressed a hand to my chest to help counter the sudden swell that threatened to crack my sternum. Nora was alive, and after six days and hundreds of miles, only a dozen strides stood between us.
As she drew nearer I scoured her for answers, taking in the neat dark hair and somber expression. Her neck and back retained the customary straightness, her head level, and her eyes...
Warmth and familiarity met me, and I clasped my hands together in quiet supplication. “Thank you, Lord...” I whispered.
“Still alive, eh, Biddie girl,” a young voice chirruped. “Yeh’ve more luck than a stubbin cat.”
The prayer died on my lips as my gaze dipped to Deri. Frost-blue eyes met mine, equal in cruelty to the smile that twitched on her pale mouth. Revulsion clawed at my joy seeing her next to Nora, their hands linked together just like before. A simple woolen frock replaced the beggar’s rags, and a new black shawl draped her thin shoulders. The dirt smudges had been washed from her face and her white-blonde hair fell in a neat braid to one side.
Had Nora cared for her? Brushed her hair and scrubbed the grime away? Despite her unusual coloring, she could have passed as an ordinary child, if I hadn’t known of the madness that raged inside her.
“Hello, Selah,” Nora said, in a strong voice that assured me further of her sanity.
“Oh, Nora...” Her name spilled from me, and it took every bit of restraint not to rush to her.
“Stay away from me goody lady,” Deri warned. Small fingers plucked the air in my direction.
Henry’s watchful gaze rested on the wretch. No emotion showed on his face, and only the slight shift of his sword hand hinted at his intentions.
“Allow me to introduce my sister. She prefers Deri, but her given name is Crá ó Dair.”
“Torment from the oak,” Cate said. “How very droll of your mother.”
Carmen had gone from naming her children Death, Evil and Violence to Vengeance and Torment. Droll indeed. Two more offspring, and she could have added Insanity and Devastation to the lovely family.