Rundimahair: A new hero for a new adventure by Larry Forkner (dark books to read .txt) 📕

“Here’s the rub with that, Granda. When I try to use my mind-to-mind communication, it weakens my ability to move us physically from one space to another.”

“And we might need that ability if things get too difficult out here,” he said, nodding his head. “Very well, then. Let’s keep moving and put as much distance as we can between us and them.”

* * *

When Ashling, Sean and Eamon arrived at the crash site, Ailbe and Aengus were nowhere in sight. There was a smoldering fire still burning around the remains of a large truck and two other vehicles. There were also several bodies, or at least the burned-out remains of bodies. Two of them appeared to be human corpses. In the back of the truck there were a dozen more. They were obviously the remains of the grotesque creatures Grainne had created to do her bidding.

“It appears that Aengus rammed his truck into the police car and the truck,” Eamon said, thoughtfully.

“But there are no bodies in his pickup,” Sean said.

“These tracks make it clear that whoever was following them was able to avoid the deadly fireball from the crash. A vehicle moved off into the brush this way. That tells me that Ailbe and Aengus are still alive and fleeing on foot.”

“It looks like they were going to try to trap them on the road and force them to stop,” Sean said. “But Aengus surprised them by slamming his truck into the police car at high speed. How could they have survived that?”

“Ailbe has been working on her powers to quickly move from one location to another,” Ashling said. “I suspect that she took hold of Aengus and moved them away just before they rammed the police car.”

“I didn’t realize she’d developed that power so well,” Sean said.

“She and I have been working on it very hard for the past couple of months. I knew it would be a power that would come in very handy if a battle ever occurred,” Ashling said.

“Maybe they are already back at Rundimahair,” Eamon said hopefully.

“I wish that could be so, Da. Unfortunately, she hasn’t progressed that far. She can move a mile or two at a time. She’s also still limited on how often she can use this power. It takes a tremendous toll on her physically and mentally.”

“Then she moved them out of the truck and off into the distance,” Sean said. “But she was reluctant to move them again in case they needed a quick escape later.”

“That’s the way I see it,” Eamon said. They are somewhere out there on foot, and whoever survived the crash will still be after them.”

“Why can’t you reach her mind to mind?,” Sean asked.

“I’m not sure, but I suspect that when she moved them both out of danger, it taxed all of her powers a great deal. We had only just begun to work on her ability to move others with her. If she moved them any distance at all, she’s fortunate if she didn’t pass out from the effort,” Ashling said.

“We can only hope that as her mind recovers from the strain, that you’ll be able to reach her mind to mind,” Eamon said.

“In the meantime, let’s follow the vehicle tracks into the brush. They are the best hope of knowing which direction Ailbe and Aengus are running,” Sean said.

* * *

It was only a couple of hours from sunrise when Aengus and Ailbe stopped to rest for a few minutes. They’d climbed to the top of a small hill and leaned back against the trunks of two fir trees.

“Do you think they are still on our trail?” Albie asked.

“I’d like to believe we’ve lost them, but it’s pure wishful thinking. These creatures have been bred for generations as trackers. They aren’t going to be easily mislead or outmaneuvered. My guess is they are just keeping us on the run until the warriors arrive.”

“Makes sense,” Ailbe agreed. “That way we’re worn down and exhausted when the fighting begins.”

“It wasn’t going to be much of a fight to begin with. I think they’re just enjoying keeping us on the run. They might as well just show up and get to business,” Aengus said quietly.

As if in answer to his soft-spoken summons, a dozen grotesquely misshapen warriors dropped to the ground around them. A quick glance showed Ailbe that they were completely surrounded. Ailbe locked eyes with Aengus and could see that he was worn out. She had two options left to her, and she had to make a choice in seconds.

She could grab Aengus and move them somewhere farther away. It would remove the immediate danger but would only be postponing the inevitable conclusion. The enemy would certainly find them much faster next time.

Her second choice was to throw all of her restored energy into a last-ditch mental cry for help. If Ashling had picked up on her last call, she would be close by. They might be able to arrive to time to save them.

In the end, she knew there was only one choice. She jumped to her feet and rushed toward Aengus. One of the creatures managed to get his slimy paw on her foot, causing her to fall face first at Aengus’ feet. She reached out and touched his leg, hoping and praying she’d made the correct choice.

“Stay behind me, Ailbe,” Aengus said, as he got to his feet. “If you’ve got enough energy left to take yourself away, then I’m begging you to do it now. I’d give up anything to see you safe and far away from these crazed killers.

“I’ve got nothing left to take either of us away, Granda. Even if I did, I’d not be able to leave you here to fight the devil and his followers alone.”

They were standing atop the tree-covered hill, side by side. Twelve massive, deformed dark warriors had them surrounded. As they slowly closed the circle around them, Ailbe took hold of her grandfather’s hand and hoped