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

to the woman’s power that she could even faintly touch her mind from outer darkness.

“What do you seek, old friend?” Grainne asked, mind-to-mind.

Grainne waited for a response, but it felt like static on an old telephone line. Finally, she heard a very soft, almost imperceptible message playing over and over in her mind.

“…found Rundi…I know…I can lead you…come to me…found Rundimahair!”

Grainne instantly threw back her covers and sat up in bed. Could it be possible that Cassiday had somehow located her hidden enemy? The odds against it were astronomical, but if anyone, other than herself, could locate their enemy it would be Cassiday.

She had extrasensory powers second only to her own. In some ways, Cassiday was even stronger. The fact that she was able to push through any type of message-from outer darkness-only proved her powers were still formidable in short bursts.

It would mean going through the terrible journey from here to outer darkness. Even someone with Grainne’s great powers feared what waited there. It wasn’t likely, but still possible that she could be trapped there. Was it worth the risk for what was likely the rantings of a deranged mind?

There were many enemies she’d destroyed who’d lost their souls to outer darkness. She was sure that Donal and Roderick were there, along with others she’d killed on her way to taking over the Danu’s rebels. If they realized she was there and banded together against her… the thought made her shiver with disgust.

“Too dangerous. It’s not worth the risk,” she mumbled, as she lay back in bed. “Cassiday is likely in league with my enemies there, and they are waiting for me to fall into their trap.”

Grainne rolled onto her side and closed her eyes, intent on forgetting about it altogether. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she heard it again. “Grainne…time is short…come now or never…”

* * *

Despite her very fierce, confident demeanor, Grainne couldn’t help the shiver of fear and disgust that struck her. It had been centuries since she’d first entered the realm of outer darkness. It was one of the very few things that could still strike dread in her heart and mind.

Her fear arose from the fact that in outer darkness, she had little control. It was the great Creator of everyone and everything who had fashioned this dismal place. It was set aside for those who’d become so evil that there was no longer any hope of redemption for them. Grainne felt a shiver of fear and revulsion when she realized that description fit her perfectly.

It was why she’d set herself up to never leave the realm of the mortal world. If her physical body was ever destroyed, there was no doubt that her black spirit would spend endless eternities suffering in outer darkness. Being forced to pay for her terrible sins was the one thing that she truly feared.

Grainne forced herself to refocus on why she was here. She had to find Cassiday, finish their business quickly and leave this mournful plane of existence. When she forced her fears and uncertainties away, and focused on Cassiday, Grainne felt her presence immediately.

It only took her a couple of minutes to reach her. She’d ignored the other dark creatures lurking in the murky shadows. They all knew who she was and were wise enough to shy away from her as she passed by.

It was a shock to see how shriveled and emaciated Cassiday had become. Even though the sprits here were immortal by nature, the darkness had eaten away at them, leaving a sunken shell of what they had once been.

“I’m here, Cassiday. Let’s get this over with as quickly as possible,” Grainne said. She impatiently nudged Cassiday with her foot. Like many of the troubled spirits here, Cassiday was sitting on the hard ground, slumped against a rocky wall.

It took a few moments for Cassiday to gather her wits about her and struggle to her feet. “Sorry, I didn’t sense your approach. The senses become dull and numb after existing in profound darkness forever,” she said quietly.

“It hasn’t been forever yet, Cassiday. If you are trying to deceive me in any way; I’ll make sure that your suffering is compounded beyond your wildest fears.”

Cassiday dropped to her knees and groveled at Grainne’s feet, as she said, “No one knows better than me that I could not mislead you, even if I wanted to.”

Without any warning, Grainne pushed into Cassiday’s mind tracks with vicious power. The emaciated spirit, cringing at her feet, cried out in fear and pain. Grainne only pushed harder until she reached the core of Cassiday’s mind tracks. It only took a few minutes to find what she was looking for. Grainne couldn’t help but smile, even in this dark and sorrowful place.

“You see now that I spoke the truth,” Cassiday said shakily. “Keep your part of our bargain.”

“I see that you believe it is true,” Grainne said. “If your information turns out to be good, then I will see what I can do to help you.”

“But you said you would take me away from this place,” Cassiday whimpered miserably.

“You should know by now that I lie much more often than I tell the truth. There is no way to leave this place once the Creator sends you here. There are things I can do to make your existence here more tolerable, if your information turns out to be true.”

Cassiday began to wail and howl like a mortally wounded animal. Grainne pulled away from the grip she had on her leg and disappeared. She couldn’t stand another moment in this place, and she vowed that she’d never return.

* * *

“It appears that Grainne believes what she took from Cassiday’s mind,” Ashling said, as she joined Eamon and Sean in the living room.

“How will we know for certain?” Eamon asked.

“When she attacks the false location we’ve established,” Ashling said.

“But we hope to attack her own compound,” Sean said. “We can’t wait to see if she attacks