Rundimahair: A new hero for a new adventure Larry Forkner (best ereader for pc TXT) 📖

that made them special. Over the centuries, many of them were mutated into the disgusting savages we were fighting. Grainne has accelerated the mutation, making them more grotesque and infinitely more dangerous.”

“Not all of her followers have the curse upon them. Many others were recruited from the mortal world, which seems to exempt them from the curse,” Eamon said.

“I thought they couldn’t compel humans to do their will,” Sean said.

“She doesn’t compel them to follow her,” Eamon said. “Her promises of wealth and fame are enough to lure them into her clutches. If they come of their own free will, then they have no protection against her powers.”

“Then what about Grainne?” Sean asked. She looks like any normal young human female.”

“Grainne is another story altogether. Somehow she has managed to elude the curse.”

“Or she’s figured out a way to hide the physical effect of the curse,” Ashling said. “Many believe that she is one of the most powerful beings of light ever created, so she may well have the power to control the less desirable side effects of the curse.”

“Don’t be forgetting that just as many–or perhaps a few more–believe that you are the most powerful of us all,” Eamon said.

Ashling shrugged and said, “It appears it won’t be too long until we’ll have to find out one way or the other.”

“My money’s on Ashling,” Sean said, smiling.

“You haven’t witnessed what Grainne is capable of,” Ashling said grimly.

“True, but you’ve got a secret weapon that she doesn’t have,” Sean said.

“I assume we’re talking about you,” Ashling said, with a tolerant smile.

“Especially when we work together,” Sean said.

“I second that notion,” Eamon said, smiling. “The way you two fought together was nothin’ short of amazing. Tis even more incredible when you realize you’ve only just started working together.”

Ashling nodded in agreement, but she also felt uncomfortable discussing it. There was no doubt that they fit together naturally on any battlefield. During the recent battle, their reactions were very well timed and in perfect harmony. Any stranger watching would indeed believe they’d been fighting side by side for many years.

“Let’s just hope we don’t have to put our fighting prowess to the test against Grainne and her warriors for some time to come,” Ashling said. “She has weapons of darkness that you’ve yet to see.”

“You say that like you have seen them,” Sean said.

The pause in the conversation was so long that Sean thought she might not respond. Finally she said, “I’ve not seen the details of all her growing powers, but I’ve seen enough to know I’m in no hurry to face them.”

As he stared into Ashling’s troubled green eyes, Sean felt his over confidence melt away. If a woman with the powers and gifts that Ashling possessed was worried, then he was going to worry twice as much.

* * *

The days and weeks that followed were spent organizing the residents of Rundimahair into fighting units. Actually, most were already divided into battle brigades, but it had been too long since they’d been put to the test. The younger residents had yet to be assigned.

Eamon and the Council realized they’d been lax in keeping everyone in fighting shape, since it had been centuries since they last fought for their very lives. They were now dedicated to making up for lost time.

The key to organizing an effective fighting force was in the blending and sharing of the right powers. Today they were focusing on cataloging the powers and gifts of their younger generations. Everyone from eighteen years of age and older would be part of the greatest fighting force they’d ever assembled.

Today, Ashling and Sean were training young men and women between the ages of eighteen and thirty. Much of the early training would involve helping them recognize powers and gifts they might have.

“We’ve been too slow to push our younger generation, Sean,” Ashling said, as they watched training begin.

“I don’t know about that, Ashling. Some of them look like they’ve got some serious powers.”

“That’s the point,” Ashling said. “We have a very gifted younger generation, but they are nowhere near their potential.”

“Can’t change the past, so let’s look to the future,” Sean said.

Ashling glanced at Sean with furrowed brows but finally smiled and said, “Well said. We enjoyed so many years of peace that we’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to be facing war in the near future. We can’t get those years back, but we’ll make the best of the time we do have.”

“You’re wise beyond your years,” Sean said, smiling. “And that’s a ton of wisdom, because you are really, really old.”

Ashling smiled sweetly and then punched his shoulder hard enough to knock him off balance. Sean managed to keep from toppling to the ground as he regained his balance.

“Oh, I think I touched a sensitive spot. A little defensive about our age, are we?” he said, laughing.

“Age is meaningless to our race, Sean. By our standard of aging I’m still a young woman and you are still a brat in diapers,” Ashling said.

Sean chuckled and said, “Fair enough, young lady. I’ll make sure to never bring the subject up again.”

“Probably for the best,” she replied. “You do have a young girl closer to your age who has a serious teenage crush on you. Maybe you should set your sights on a youngster like that,” Ashling said, arching one eyebrow.

“You mean, Albie?” Sean asked.

“Oh, so you can read her mind too,” Ashling said.

“No, I leave the mind reading to you.”

“I guess she’s not one for hiding her feelings,” Ashling said.

“You think?” Sean asked, smiling. “The first time we met she was making her interest very clear, and that was with Aengus right there beside her.”

“Well then, there you go, Sean. You’ve got your future young wife all picked out.”

“I was very careful to not encourage her at all,” he said a bit defensively. “She’s a sweet girl, but too young for me. I prefer a more mature woman but one still young enough to be interested in