Page 75 of Crownless Heirs

Maelan and Kyron rushed behind her.

“Why are we running?” Maelan huffed out beside Sorcha.

“Because we can’t lose him.” She replied, picking up her pace.

As they approached the mines, there was more commotion. Lightning shot out of the mouth of the cave as an overgrown bat-like creature was launched, smashing into the mountainside. Circle members all stood outside, murmurs filling the air as Niall appeared at the entrance in a show of smoke, his hammer hanging across his shoulder.

“Niall!” Sorcha called, and he turned, following her voice.

“Who the hell are you?” He blurted out, confusion on his face.

Sorcha met his eyes. “Someone who’s been looking for you.”

Niall didn’t answer right away. He stared at her as if she’d grown another head.

Sorcha looked at Kyron and Maelan, “I’m going for a walk,” she announced.

She walked up Niall and placed a hand on his arm, “Join me.”

Niall watched her small frame turn and walk into the distance, Kyron and Maelan standing awkwardly off to the side of him.

“You two are from the tavern,” He pointed and before he could say anything further to two of them disappeared into the crowd of workers.

Niall could just barely see Sorcha’s hair in the distance like embers burning into the afternoon haze.

Curiously nagged at him, “Fuck it.” He thought as he chased after her.

The afternoon sun was setting in, heat gathering on their skin.

“I know who your father is,” she said without looking at him.

That earned a short laugh. “Do you?”

She nodded. “The Dagda told me.”

He stopped walking. “The Dagda?”

“Yes.” She replied bluntly.

He barked out a louder laugh, rubbing his jaw where Maelan had caught him. “Right…”

Niall turned to walk away; over his shoulder he yelled. “No offense lady, but you sound crazy. I’ve got work to get to.”

“We only just got back, and this is important. I’m not crazy.”

“Oh,” he said, walking again. “So the gods just pointed their shiny fingers and dropped you here? For..?”

“To find their children, here in Eadartha,” she muttered.

Niall scoffed. “Have a great life.” He called out while still walking away.

Suddenly, a murder of crows appeared in the sky above circling overhead, One dove at Niall, stopping short of his face and just watched him. Niall stumbled back as the crow returned overhead, the birds staying low. Sorcha didn’t respond right away. Her gaze drifted to the trees, where mist curled along the ground.

“There’s a blight spreading,” she said. “The Veil is unraveling. The fomorians are returning with a dark druid leading them.“ She motioned toward him, “Our power, it’s the only thing that can stop it.

He tilted his head, giving her a long look. “You don’t sound very sure.”

“I’m not,” she said honestly. “But I know enough to know I can’t do it alone.”