Shadowmagic - Sons of Macha by John Lenahan

worked.
    â€˜Yes sir. See you in the morning.’
    â€˜Before the morning,’ he called after me.
    So here I was, yawning while dragging my pack on the ground behind me, trying to get some kind of enthusiasm for the adventure ahead.
    Believe it or not, I was early. The only ones in the stable before me were Gerard and four brawny soldiers. I watched and yawned as they hoisted a huge wine barrel on to Gerard’s cart.
    â€˜Are we planning to get sloshed on this trip?’
    â€˜I wish,’ Gerard said. ‘There is no wine in that barrel.’
    â€˜What’s in there?’
    â€˜Salt water.’
    I was about to ask why we needed a barrel of salt water when I was blinded by a pair of hands covering my eyes from behind. ‘Guess who?’ said the unmistakable voice.
    â€˜Is it a person or a fish?’ I asked.
    â€˜Both.’
    I turned to see the ever bubbly Graysea standing behind me. She kissed me on both cheeks and said, ‘Good morning.’
    â€˜Good morning to you too – how nice of you to see me off.’
    â€˜Oh, I’m not seeing you off. I’m going with you.’
    â€˜Graysea, this is a very dangerous mission. I really don’t think you should come.’
    â€˜Think again, son,’ Dad said while arriving around the corner with his mount.
    I walked Dad out of earshot. ‘Why is Graysea coming with us?’
    â€˜Because we are going up against a tough customer and I want a healer with us, and I have never seen anything like that Mertain healing power of hers.’
    â€˜Yes, Dad, but she’s …’ I tried to remember what matron had said about Graysea. ‘She’s a sensitive fishy.’
    â€˜I think you underestimate your mermaid, son. Graysea saved your butt out there in the ocean and defied her king. She can handle a three-day hike.’
    â€˜Don’t you want me with you?’ Graysea asked when I got back to her.
    â€˜No, I … I’m just worried about you.’
    â€˜It’ll be fun.’
    â€˜Graysea, we are going into battle.’
    She put on her serious face but then smiled that room-lighting smile of hers. ‘Well, it will be fun until we get there.’
    I just couldn’t resist the infectious joy of that girl’s smile. ‘You’re right,’ I agreed, ‘welcome along.’
    Who knew what we were going into? At least until then I would have some pleasant company along the way. And luckily Essa wasn’t coming so I wouldn’t be caught in the middle of a week-long oestrogen nightmare.

    Araf showed up and I grunted at him – I’ve discovered that wordless communication is best with the taciturn Imp. Mom, Nieve and Dahy all dramatically feigned surprise at me being ready before them. I saddled up Acorn (I was tempted to take Cloud but she was Brendan’s horse now) and then helped Gerard hitch up the wagon to his monsta-horses.
    Actually it was nice being early and not having everybody scowling at me to hurry. I was mounted up, waking up and starting to feel good about this expedition when my spirits were dashed by the arrival of the last two of the party – Tuan and Essa.
    I cantered Acorn over to Dad. ‘I thought you forbade Essa from coming?’ I said in a harsh whisper.
    â€˜Gerard had forbidden her to enter the Oracle’s house on Mount Cas so she and Tuan are performing a different task.’
    â€˜You did this on purpose.’
    â€˜What, son, do you accuse me of doing on purpose?’
    â€˜You know perfectly well what you did. You invited Graysea and Essa on this trip so you could watch me suffer.’
    Dad, who had been wearing the slightest of smirks, became gravely serious. ‘Essa is a very important part of Dahy’s plan and as I said before, Graysea is the finest healer I have ever seen. The world does not revolve around you, son. I would never ask anyone to join an undertaking as perilous as this just to annoy