Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

“ Y ou didn’t join us for the evening meal,” Padraig said, planting himself directly in front of Tristan.

“Everything okay?” Padraig’s use of modern English was a common occurrence, as he frequently visited his ancestral home, which was now divided into what Padraig called apartments .

The fact didn’t seem to bother the young knight, who was forever entertained by the different people that moved in and out of the house. Of all of them, Padraig was the most in tune with current customs and language.

“Yes, I’m well. Would you please move aside, you’re blocking my light.” Tristan turned the page in the book he read and ignored Padraig’s stare.

“Gavin and Liam fought. Liam attacked Gavin, effectively clearing the table of all of our food and dishes. You missed a good fight.”

Padraig sank into a chair, and began to toss his dirk into the air, catching it by the handle as it fell. “Are you leaving again tonight?”

Not able to concentrate, Tristan put his book aside after marking the page. “Yes, of course. I will go as often as I can. We are running out of time.” He stretched and yawned.

He’d been sitting for hours, reading books he’d taken from his house over the years, books different people had brought to Edith in hopes of helping with the enchantment. He’d read each one many times over the years, each time hoping to find something he’d missed somehow.

Padraig, usually light of heart, seemed troubled. His anxious gaze looked past Tristan to the fireplace. “In two years the enchantment will end. One way or another, we’ll finally be free.”

“In death, there is freedom,” Tristan replied, without emotion. “Paddy, we have lived almost four hundred years. Most would welcome death.”

The young knight became angered. “We haven’t lived, Tristan, we’ve been existing . In a state of suspended animation,” his said, bright-blue eyes blazing.

“Anima… what?” Tristan shrugged. “Never mind, you’re correct, we stopped living when we came here. Nonetheless, the outcome will be what fate decides—fret nor worry can change that.”

“Have you told the enchantress about the deadline?”

“No, not yet. I see a sense of urgency in her. Gwyneth is working steadfastly towards finding the spell to break the enchantment.”

“What of the other part? Are you working your wiles on the wench?” Padraig’s humor returned.

Tristan shook his head but remained serious. “That, my friend, is the not going to be a problem. She is attracted to me. She has a hard time remaining aloof when I am present.”

“Good,” Padraig replied. “I wonder what her sacrifice is going to be.”

“Let us not get ahead of ourselves. For now we must remain on alert. Meliot won’t sit by idly, allowing me so much freedom.”

As if on cue, the ground shook. Padraig went to the window. “Horses. From the sound of it, a large army approaches.” Harnessing his magical powers, his eyes glowed and he spread his arms, sending pulses of energy from his palms, toward the protective magic wall.

“I must ensure the keep is well protected.” The young knight flew from the room. Tristan followed to find the others.

The great room was full of activity when he entered, Niall and Gavin donning armor and strapping daggers to their bodies. Liam stood facing the fire, his pose still as he looked into the flames, seeking a vision.

Padraig rushed in, his long red hair loosened out of its strap from all the energy he’d expended. “They’ve surrounded the keep, about a hundred horsemen. From the looks of it, they are not approaching past the line of my ward. If they attack, it may not be until sundown.”

“They won’t attack.” Liam turned to face them. Lines of worry etched around his mouth as he looked at Tristan. “They are here to ensure we do not leave the keep. We are trapped inside. So that we cannot will ourselves to the other side.”

Anger shook him, and Tristan threw a chair across the room. Immediately he felt bad. Niall worked hard to make each piece of furniture, to give them a semblance of a normal home. He went to pick up the chair and assess the damage.

“We will figure out a way to get you out,” Niall told him, taking the chair and then bending to pick up a leg that had broken off.

“This gives me something to do.” He gave Tristan a rare smile.

Niall turned to Padraig. “Figure something out.”

“Oookay, right. Like, why don’t I just wave a fairy wand and magically transport us to the forest behind the hundreds of blood-thirsty killers out there.” The men all stared at him, not speaking.

“Great idea,” Liam exclaimed. “Great idea indeed.”

At sundown, some hours later, the men were in a clearing inside the forest. Tristan studied each of the knights before him. They were the bravest men he’d ever had the honor of knowing. Dressed in full armor, he could only see their eyes. “I will try not to be long.”

“We’ll be here when you return,” Gavin replied, and placed his hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “Paddy will return us to the garden behind the keep; once we sense your return, we’ll be here to meet you.”

“Now go,” Niall insisted.