Tír na nÓg Trilogy, Book II: The Rising Dark

Nessa

They were back in Dun-Dealgan within twenty minutes, after Cathbad used some sort of magic to turn Carman's body to ash (though not before Emery retrieved her dagger). They hadn't been able to return earlier because the druid had been too afraid to move Emery. Even when he did at last wrap her in his cloak and whisk them away, he expressed far more concern than he needed to. Emery felt great other than some stiffness from spending hours on the forest floor, and she told him as much. The Dark Man's claw pressing against her seemed to have left no mark beyond the memory of it. But in spite of her relief at that, Emery's spirits were down. She dreaded telling Tess about Charlie, and she dreaded, too, a conversation with Cullen. On top of that was the message Cathbad had received about Munster. He'd said a few nights ago that they'd come for revenge, but what exactly did it mean for Dun-Dealgan? Would the people all stay inside, protected, while the Munstermen laid siege to the walls? That was just as terrifying a prospect as was the notion that the men of Dun-Dealgan would go out to fight. As conflicted as Emery had felt toward Cullen, she absolutely did not want him to die or get injured. Of that, she was sure.

When they arrived within the gates of the hillfort, the place was buzzing with action. No doubt everyone knew what she and Cathbad knew--Munster was coming.

"Emery, we must part. Please go to Tess." Cathbad appeared to want to say more but not know how to say it.

Taking his hands, Emery gave him a sad smile. "I'll tell her."

He nodded in appreciation, then tightened his hands around hers. "You are very dear to me, my friend. My Lord or I will speak to you before the day is out. Be at ease."

"I'll try."

They released one another and went their separate ways, he to find Cuchulain, and she to find Tess. As Emery hurried through the pathways of the hillfort, she received many a curious look, no doubt due to the crusted blood across her face and neck and clothing. But everyone was too busy to question her, and she was glad of that. It appeared men and women, young boys and even young girls were aiding with fortifications, taking to the walls to examine and strengthen the structure. Many were altering their clothing to include leather and metal, tying back hair and adding lyme to push it up and stiffen it. Children were penning and calming animals, horses were being led from place to place, and the sounds of clanking as well as the smithy's roaring flames indicated the readying of many weapons.

All of it worried her. This level of activity indicated the threat was serious. But before she could concern herself with any of it, she had to get to Tess.

When she reached her own roundhouse, Emery glanced up at Cullen's, wondering if he were inside. Something told her he wasn't. Surely he was in the feasting hall, meeting with the Red Branch, doing something useful. Their last encounter had been . . . fraught. She was afraid of seeing him again, unsure of the feelings either of them would have, and yet she couldn't sit around worrying about such things.

Turning to her own doorway, Emery went inside. Tess was thankfully there, lying on her bed, awake but anxious, and the minute the two saw one another, they hurried to embrace. Emery hadn't seen Tess since they'd returned from Cathair Chon-Raoí; her friend had been ill from all that had happened. "I'm so happy to see you awake and well," Emery said to Tess. "I was so worried about you."

While Tess was indeed awake and appeared physically well, Emery could tell that her friend's gentle nature had been shaken. Somehow, the warmth that seemed always to follow Tess, to radiate from her smile, had cooled. Her eyes had dulled. The last thing Emery wanted to do was tell her about Charlie, and yet, she couldn't keep such information from her friend. So, for the second time in several hours, Emery recounted all that had happened with Oongah-who-was-Carman, with Peadar, with The Dark Man. Tess clung to every word, her fearfulness as real as if all of what Emery detailed was still taking place. But when the end of the story came, when Emery described Cathbad coming to her aid, Tess sensed there was something missing, and as much as Emery was trying to avoid the topic, Tess herself brought it up: