Rundimahair: A new hero for a new adventure by Larry Forkner (summer books .TXT) 📗

“I know I’m older than the hills, but I prefer to be called by my God-given name,” Aengus said while he walked out to meet Sean.

“Aengus, it is,” Sean said.

The look on Aengus’ face sobered when he saw the concerned look in Sean’s eyes. “I’m thinkin’ you didn’t drive out here for a social call. Am I right, Sean?”

“I’m afraid so,” Sean said, as he followed Aengus and Ailbe into the house.

The interior of the home was furnished in surprisingly contemporary design. Somehow Sean was thinking it would look like something out of the late 1800s.

“It’s Ashling, isn’t it?,” Ailbe said.

Sean looked over at the pretty teenager and saw her eyes were closed, and she appeared to be concentrating on something far away.

“It’s Ashling and Eamon. When Ashling and I returned to their home, they both just disappeared right before my eyes.”

Aengus cut in before Ailbe could respond, and said, “Am I correct to be thinkin’ that you are now aware of their unusual abilities?”

“Yes, I’ve seen Ashling’s magical gifts at work several times. The last time was when she was busy saving my life,” Sean said.

Ailbe looked like she wanted to hear a lot more about that, but to her credit, she focused on the problem at hand. “Did she say anything at all before she left?”

“Nothing,” Sean said. “I was reaching to shake Eamon’s hand when he disappeared. When I turned to ask Ashling what happened, she was also gone.”

“And so, you thought you’d come here?” Aengus

asked.

“Actually, I was frantically thinking of who I’d met who might be able to help and Ailbe came to mind. I’m not sure why I thought a teenage girl might know what to do, but I decided to follow that feeling.”

“Very interesting,” Aengus said, softly. He was giving Sean a thoughtful look, as though he was trying to read his mind.

“You’re right, Daideo,” Ailbe said softly. “Sean’s got the gift too. If I’m not mistaken, he’ll one day be a mighty wizard.”

Aengus looked at her for several moments before he said, “You’re not often mistaken about such things, my dear girl.”

“I think you were guided here because of Ailbe,” Aengus said. “Ashling has been teaching her since she turned twelve. It seems that Ailbe has many of the same gifts Ashling does, though not at the same level.”

“Not yet,” Ailbe said, grinning. “Ashling tells me that one day I may be as strong in the gifts as her.”

“May well be,” Aengus said, smiling fondly at his granddaughter. “But keep in mind, my dear girl, what she often tells you; with great power comes great responsibility.”

Ailbe rolled her eyes and said, “How can I forget, when she reminds me constantly?”

A soft warmth came into Aengus’ normally cautious eyes as he said, “It’s only because she loves you like you were her own young lass. She can see what you’re able to become. She won’t let you fall short of that potential. Our people need you too much to allow that.”

Tears welled up in Ailbe’s soft, brown eyes, as she said, “I know, Daideo, I know. I may be a silly girl at times, but I won’t let you or Ashling down.”

Sean felt awkward having to interrupt this tender exchange, but he felt a sense of urgency in trying to find Ashling and Eamon. “You think you can help find them?” he asked Ailbe.

“Is it all right?” she asked her grandfather.

“Do what you’ve got to do, Ailbe dear,” he responded.

Suddenly, Ailbe threw her arms around Sean, and they both disappeared from the farmhouse living room. Aengus sighed deeply, while gazing up to the heavens, as he said, “You know she’s all I have left. I’ll be grateful if you can bring her back safe and sound,” he whispered. “And the young fella too,” he added hastily.

* * *

It seemed to be no more than a few seconds before Sean found himself standing on a mountain top. Ailbe was still holding him close, as though she feared he might disappear too.

“What are we doing here?” he asked, as he gently pulled back from her embrace.

“Sorry to grip you so tight, Sean. I’m still new at much of this magic and I didn’t want to lose you,” Ailbe said sheepishly.

“Not a problem,” Sean said, smiling. “I too would prefer you didn’t drop me somewhere along the way. So, what now?”

“I’m not sure about that exactly,” Ailbe said nervously. “I followed her magic pathway to this spot. I was hoping she’d be here.”

Sean sighed and nodded, as he said, “Well I suppose–”

An earsplitting series of shrieks pierced the air. It sounded like it was coming from the other side of the mountain. “Take us there!” Sean said urgently.

This time Ailbe grabbed onto his hands tightly and they vanished, only to reappear on the back side of the mountain seconds later.

The reason Sean had told her to go to where the harsh shrieks were sounding, was because he’d heard them before. Actually, he’d only heard one before. That was in Ashling’s kitchen when the dragon creature had been busy destroying everything in sight.

“These are much bigger than the one I saw in Ashling’s kitchen,” Sean said, looking at several much larger versions of the dragon, or whatever it was, which had nearly killed him.

“They’re Tatsu,” Ailbe said, looking fearful. “Female dragons are the worst, and that’s no lie.”

“Tatsu means female dragon?” Sean asked.

“It means a world full of trouble, is what it means,” Ailbe said. “I have no notion at all about how to destroy the likes of these.”

“Maybe we don’t have to fight them,” Sean said. We just need to find Ashling and Eamon and get out of here.”

“We’ve already found them, Sean,” she said, looking up into the sky. “You see that large one with the blue scales?”

“I do,” Sean said.

“That’s Eamon in his gifted, natural dragon form.”

Sean was too stunned to speak. When he saw another, slightly smaller dragon with a fiery, red mane, he tried to articulate his worst fear.