“Coming,” she called. We helped each other stand and went to the door. Brogan and Keefe stood there together.
“We found McKale,” Brogan said. “He and Rock both made their way to Clourichaun land. They’re fine and safe fer now.”
I let out a loud breath.
“Aye, fine if you count the bloody pixie tailing ‘im,” Keefe clarified.
That gave me goose bumps.
“It would seem the Shoe Mistress is keeping an eye on ‘im by leaving her pet behind,” Brogan explained. He sounded tired. Mom must have noticed, too.
“Thank you, Brogan. And Keefe. Please thank all the boys for us. I’m glad McKale’s okay. Let’s all get some rest so we can do everything that needs to be done tomorrow.”
Brogan stroked his beard and nodded. “I’ve sent a message for McKale to stay over there until after dark tomorrow so the blasted pixie won’t be able to see any of the goings on over here.”
“Good idea,” Mom said.
Sadness weighed heavy inside me. I wouldn’t get to see him at all tomorrow? Mom rubbed a hand over my back and said good night to the men as they left.
We climbed back into her and Dad’s bed and prepared for a long, fitful night of sleep.
I took extra time doing my morning chores. The animals had a calming effect. The chickens pecked at their feed and the goats nudged my hands without any idea that today was different from any other day.
Afterward I went down to the clearing and pretended to eat breakfast. I noticed Mom only took a few bites as well. Word traveled fast through the clan. They may not have known the details, but they knew there was a threat at hand. Gone was yesterday’s playfulness. People gave me respectful nods to let me know they were there for us and I returned the gesture.
Mom and I spent the early part of the day pacing, accompanied by whispers and murmurs from the clan. I kept eyeing the sun, watching for it to get high in the sky. Dad and Cassidy were supposed to return mid-afternoon.
Leilah approached me in the middle of the clearing with a hot cup of honeyed tea. I took it and thanked her.
“Is it true then?” she asked. “About the Shoe Mistress claiming yer McKale for herself?”
Her words hurt my stomach, but I nodded. “It’s true.”
“Och! The brazen cow. Ye’ll tell me if ye need anything from me, love?”
“Yes, Leilah. Thank you.” I bent and we shared a hug before she left me standing in the middle of the clearing with my hands around the ceramic mug. I kept watching the tree line, half-expecting McKale to come walking through.
I was nearly finished with my tea when I heard the rumble of an engine over the hills. Everyone in the clearing stilled to listen. I set my mug on the table. Mom came running down from the huts. We grabbed hands and took off toward the side of the village with everyone following. Excitement rippled through the clan as a small van came barreling down the hill.
“Keep it down!” Brogan reminded everyone as the voices began to reach a crescendo. Everyone quieted.
Yes, we needed to stay low-key today and not gain the attention of the pixie on the other side of the forest.
Dad and Cassidy jumped out, coming first to give hugs to Mom and me. The four of us went around back of the van where Dad opened it to reveal a hodgepodge of techy equipment—everything from a generator and projector to a giant, white pull-down screen. Clan members jostled to get a view of the foreign objects.
“What is all that?” one of them asked.
Daddy smiled and answered loud enough for everyone to hear. “This is what I like to call human magic. Technology.”
A line of helpers assembled, lifting and carrying the heavy items as a group. Everything was brought down to the bottom of the clearing where Dad calculated the best angle for the movie screen, based on where the late afternoon sun would be at the time of the binding. They set up and tested the equipment before the sun set. When Dad gave a sample run of the technology, eliciting gasps and delighted chatter, Brogan had to remind everyone to quiet down again.
It was all starting to come together. We had the technology. Now we needed four more main components to make this a success: McKale, the FFG, the Summer King, and other Fae witnesses. Please let them come. Brogan gave the official invitation last night. We could only hope they’d accept. And if they didn’t, Dad alluded to the idea of going into Faerie to speak to the Summer King himself. I did not like that idea. None of us did.
Human workers only entered Faerie when they were summoned for purposes of giving their reports. They did not seek out the Fae. Humans who entered Faerie of their own accord were not guaranteed safe passage back to the earthly realm.