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

to his waist, when he threw back the covers, she started to turn away. Then she caught sight of his Batman pajamas and relaxed as she said, “Batman-very stylish.”

“Hey, Batman is cool,” he said defensively. “Besides, they were a gift from a friend.”

Ashling couldn’t help but appreciate that Sean had filled out and added a lot of muscle. His upper body was lean, hard, and trim. “Put a shirt on you naked heathen,” she said.

“You like it” he said, as he grabbed a t-shirt off his dresser and put it on.

“Yes, I do,” she agreed. “Now tell me about the vision.”

“How did you even know I had a vision? You ran in here a few seconds after it was over.”

“I know everything. Now tell me the details of the vision.”

“If you know everything, then I don’t need to tell you the details. You already know,” Sean said, smiling.

Ashling rolled her eyes and smiled as she said, “Tell me everything.”

Sean yawned mightily and then began telling her everything he recalled about the vision. When he was finished, they were both silent for a few moments. She needed time to ponder all he’d said.

“This isn’t where all of her people live,” Ashling finally said. “It isn’t nearly large enough to hold them all.”

“That was the feeling I got too. This was more like a military base,” Sean agreed.

“I’ve always believed that the majority of Grainne’s people are still in Ireland. From what we’ve learned over the years, she has several bases like the one you saw in your vision. Although this is by far the largest,” Ashling said.

“I suppose she’s always suspected that you fled to America when you left Ireland,” Sean said. “That’s why her best warriors are over here.”

“Unfortunately, that is true. What we need to do now is plan a strategy around your visions. They will be the key to our success in the coming battles.”

“Not to upset you or anything, but why is it I am getting the visions since my dragon appeared? It was always you before,” Sean said.

“To tell you the truth, that kind of bothered me too. Why bother to change the conduit for visions now? I suppose that as long as the visions come, it doesn’t really matter who receives them.”

“Probably has to do with my brilliant mind,” Sean said, smiling.

“You wish,” Ashling said, punching him on his shoulder.

“What is it with you and hitting people?”

“I don’t hit people–just you,” she said, leaning in to give Sean a kiss.

The kiss led to an embrace and gradually, much more passionate kissing. Ashling leaned into Sean until he gradually lay down on the bed, with Ashling on top of him. She felt a stir of passion and love that almost frightened her with its intensity.

They stopped kissing for a moment and just looked into each other’s eyes. “This could get serious,” Sean said, barely above a whisper.

“It already is Sean,” Ashling said, leaning forward for another kiss.

Sean closed his eyes as their lips touched, and then something totally unexpected occurred. He felt Ashling’s weight suddenly lift off him. He opened his eyes to see if she decided to calm things down a bit. To his great surprise and concern, Ashling wasn’t in the room.

Sean knew she hadn’t run out of his room because she hadn’t made a sound. He’d also opened his eyes seconds after her weight lifted off him. He still got to his feet and rushed to the door.

When he swung the door open and rushed into the hall, Ashling was nowhere in sight, nor could he hear the sound of running feet–hers or anyone else’s.

Chapter Sixteen

Count your smiles instead of your tears;

Count your courage instead of your fears.

~ Old Irish Saying ~

“It’s been a long, long time, Lady Ashling,” an aged voice said from the thick, black darkness.

Ashling was silent for a moment, while she composed herself. She knew this was outer darkness, where only the vilest spirits dwelled. It had been over a hundred years since she’d been here, and it was the same dark spirit that had called her from the mortal world a century ago.

“It has been a long time since you invited me to join you here,” Ashling calmly replied.

“I’m sure the decades have passed much more pleasantly for you than for me,” the scratchy, aged voice said.

“No doubt, grandmother,” Ashling said. “We all make choices and sooner or later we all live with the consequences.”

“You were always good with words, dear Granddaughter. It’s one of the many things I admire most about you.”

Ashling could hear the bitter tone in her aged relative’s voice. She wasn’t Ashling’s grandmother. The old hag was her great grandmother, many times removed. Her given name was Cassiday.

Cassiday had been gifted with many talents and powers when she was called to go to the mortal world. At that time, only Grainne could match her powers.

Many generations later, Ashling was born into the mortal world. When she grew into her teen years, Ashling’s powers began to blossom and grow. By the time she reached her thirtieth year, Ashling’s powers rivaled both powerful women.

Grainne had long ago rebelled against the light and chose the powers of darkness as her path. When she realized how great Cassiday’s powers would become, Grainne began a long, challenging process, which eventually corrupted Cassiday completely.

Cassiday was always drawn to the powers of darkness. For a time she managed to stay away from completely embracing them. She loved her daughter and grandchildren enough to keep her from falling completely away from the light. She also knew if she embraced the darkness, her family would be lost to her.

When Grainne openly recruited her to join the followers of Donal, Cassiday resisted for many long years. In the end, her desire to gain more and more power took control of her.

She joined Grainne with the promise that she would stand with her in defeating and ruling all of the Sidhe. This included Eamon, Ashling and all of the descendants of