the Hearts of Stars, the sacred pools in their circle of stones, focused power like a magnifying glass concentrated light until it could burn a hole in paper.
The secret of the Old Ways was one of the most closely guarded mysteries of the Celestines. Isabeau had been taught a little, because her guardian Meghan of the Beasts had been a great friend and champion of the forest faeries. She was not permitted to reveal what she had been taught, however, and so none of the others knew why it was Cloudshadow stood before the doors, tracing one shape after another with her long, four-jointed fingers.
‘What does she do?’ Dide whispered.
‘She seeks to find the mark for the Tomb o’ Ravens,’ Isabeau whispered back. ‘We must travel there first, in this time, afore we can attempt to go back in time. One canna do both at the same time.’
Dide shifted his pack to the other shoulder. Somewhere a bird trilled. ‘It is almost dawn,’ he said and sighed.
‘Aye, it is time,’ Isabeau agreed, and was glad that he too seemed to share her anxiety to be on their way. Three days had passed since Donncan and Thunderlily had been abducted. It was no consolation at all to know that they would all be travelling back to the exact same point in time, so it made no difference if it had been days or even weeks that had passed. Apart from the sick urgency the spell of compulsion had tattooed upon her brain, Isabeau was driven by anxiety about the young rìgh and what exactly Johanna intended to do with him.
Take hands , Cloudshadow said. Remember, do not falter, do not look back, do not step off the path. Fix your eyes upon those that run before you, and do not listen to the ghosts. Run swiftly.
They all nodded. Dobhailen, the shadow-hound, growled deep in his throat, and Cailean laid his hand upon his neck.
The sun rose above the horizon and struck at the greatpillar of stone. It was three days past the summer solstice, and so they could see the great ball of fire through the hole punched in the menhir, although the miracle of the arrow of gold did not occur. Cloudshadow gently pressed one of the symbols on the pillar facing due south and then stepped through the archway. She disappeared, only the hand that held onto Stormstrider’s still showing. He followed her, drawing Isabeau after him. She took a deep breath and ducked her head instinctively as she stepped into the glimmering, silvery haze that filled the archway. She knew to expect the shock that shot through every nerve, but it did not make the pain any easier to bear. Pulling Dide behind her, she broke into an awkward, stumbling run, keeping her eyes fixed on Stormstrider’s flowing white hair. It seemed to shimmer in the strange greenish light, lifting and swirling in the lightning-charged wind that buffeted her face.
It was like trying to run through cold, rough surf. Her feet were almost swept away from under her, and she could hear the eerie wailing and sobbing of many, many ghosts, and could feel the icy clutch of their fingers. Some were bold enough to wreathe about her head, shrieking in her ear, pounding at her chest and throat, seeking to insinuate themselves into her nose and mouth. She choked, unable to breathe, and shook her head violently, throwing them aside. Give us life , one whispered in her ear. Ye have the secret. Give us life again!
‘Begone, foul spirit!’ she cried. ‘Your life is long gone!’
Behind her she could hear Dide shouting and cursing too, and Ghislaine was chanting an ancient prayer against harm. Isabeau took up the words as well, and heard Cailean and then Dide join in.
‘In the name o’ Eà, our mother, our father, our child, thee who is Spinner and Weaver and Cutter o’ the Thread;thee who sows the seed, nurtures the crop, and reaps the harvest; by the virtue o’ the four elements, wind, stone, flame and rain; by virtue o’ clear skies and storm, rainbows and hailstones, protect us this day from all harm, O Eà, mother,
The secret of the Old Ways was one of the most closely guarded mysteries of the Celestines. Isabeau had been taught a little, because her guardian Meghan of the Beasts had been a great friend and champion of the forest faeries. She was not permitted to reveal what she had been taught, however, and so none of the others knew why it was Cloudshadow stood before the doors, tracing one shape after another with her long, four-jointed fingers.
‘What does she do?’ Dide whispered.
‘She seeks to find the mark for the Tomb o’ Ravens,’ Isabeau whispered back. ‘We must travel there first, in this time, afore we can attempt to go back in time. One canna do both at the same time.’
Dide shifted his pack to the other shoulder. Somewhere a bird trilled. ‘It is almost dawn,’ he said and sighed.
‘Aye, it is time,’ Isabeau agreed, and was glad that he too seemed to share her anxiety to be on their way. Three days had passed since Donncan and Thunderlily had been abducted. It was no consolation at all to know that they would all be travelling back to the exact same point in time, so it made no difference if it had been days or even weeks that had passed. Apart from the sick urgency the spell of compulsion had tattooed upon her brain, Isabeau was driven by anxiety about the young rìgh and what exactly Johanna intended to do with him.
Take hands , Cloudshadow said. Remember, do not falter, do not look back, do not step off the path. Fix your eyes upon those that run before you, and do not listen to the ghosts. Run swiftly.
They all nodded. Dobhailen, the shadow-hound, growled deep in his throat, and Cailean laid his hand upon his neck.
The sun rose above the horizon and struck at the greatpillar of stone. It was three days past the summer solstice, and so they could see the great ball of fire through the hole punched in the menhir, although the miracle of the arrow of gold did not occur. Cloudshadow gently pressed one of the symbols on the pillar facing due south and then stepped through the archway. She disappeared, only the hand that held onto Stormstrider’s still showing. He followed her, drawing Isabeau after him. She took a deep breath and ducked her head instinctively as she stepped into the glimmering, silvery haze that filled the archway. She knew to expect the shock that shot through every nerve, but it did not make the pain any easier to bear. Pulling Dide behind her, she broke into an awkward, stumbling run, keeping her eyes fixed on Stormstrider’s flowing white hair. It seemed to shimmer in the strange greenish light, lifting and swirling in the lightning-charged wind that buffeted her face.
It was like trying to run through cold, rough surf. Her feet were almost swept away from under her, and she could hear the eerie wailing and sobbing of many, many ghosts, and could feel the icy clutch of their fingers. Some were bold enough to wreathe about her head, shrieking in her ear, pounding at her chest and throat, seeking to insinuate themselves into her nose and mouth. She choked, unable to breathe, and shook her head violently, throwing them aside. Give us life , one whispered in her ear. Ye have the secret. Give us life again!
‘Begone, foul spirit!’ she cried. ‘Your life is long gone!’
Behind her she could hear Dide shouting and cursing too, and Ghislaine was chanting an ancient prayer against harm. Isabeau took up the words as well, and heard Cailean and then Dide join in.
‘In the name o’ Eà, our mother, our father, our child, thee who is Spinner and Weaver and Cutter o’ the Thread;thee who sows the seed, nurtures the crop, and reaps the harvest; by the virtue o’ the four elements, wind, stone, flame and rain; by virtue o’ clear skies and storm, rainbows and hailstones, protect us this day from all harm, O Eà, mother,
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