All Hallow's Eve 2: Memories

Chapter 11

Copyright ©️ 2023 all rights reserved. This book is only available on Wattpad.

"I feel a lot better now Red. I feel more positive." The cathartic effect of mentally fighting against my demonic squatter and inadvertently letting my emotions escape through my eyes was quite an experience.
"What do you mean?"
"Aw, never mind."

"Can I carry the torch? I'd feel safer if I was holding it." I looked down at my burned side and then looked at her forlorn from under my eyes.
"Oh, you are such a big baby. Here." Niamh's tone was intended to humiliate as she handed it over.

I slung my shield across my shoulder and firmly grasped the burning torch.
"I'm thirsty." I reached for my waterskin and found that it was almost empty with the remaining water leaking out the bottom. "Have you still got your skin? Mine seems to have sprung a leak!"

"Aye, but I don't know how much is left." It hung around her neck and sat on her hip like a handbag. She squeezed it and then shook it. "Just less than half full."
Niamh lifted the strap across her head and offered the waterskin to me.

I took a long refreshing drink and then wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
"Aaah, good stuff," I said. "The water must have dried up in the dragon's place."
I gave it back to her and discarded mine on the ground.

"We should keep moving," I suggested as I watched Niamh finish her drink.
"Do you think we will find your parents?"
"I don't know, I hope so."
"Don't worry, we'll find them." She said with a smile.

Suddenly a blustering wind forced us back and knocked Niamh on her arse.
"What the f-?"
"YOU WILL NEVER RETRIEVE THEM...., ALIVE!" A deep booming voice reverberated through the underground and ended with a maniacal laugh.

"Who was that?" Niamh asked dubiously.
"That, my dear, was the voice of *Aodh!"
"You mean, *Aed is, really here?"
"Of course, he is the Lord of the Underworld!"
"We haven't, really thought this through, have we?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"How are we supposed to defeat him?"
"Uh?" I scratched my head.

"Look Red, we'll worry about that even the time comes." I pointed the torch at her.
We continued forward and still in a downward direction. The sickening stench of rancid flesh filled the air. I lowered the torch and saw that hundreds of mutilated rotting corpses carpeted the ground.

"This is not looking good!" Niamh tried to hold her breath.
"I know, cover your nose and mouth with your clothes."
She did so.
"It might help a bit." I continued.
The heat from my breath mixed with the smell did strange things to my stomach.

"Just let's keep moving, for now." The effort of speaking caused an eruption of pre-regurgitation in my throat.
"You all right?" Niamh asked with concern.
"Yes, it's just this *ojus smell, it's- auuh!" I gagged but thankfully nothing came up.
Niamh's stomach heaved at the sound and she dry-gagged also.

"Let's get out of here as quick as we can!" She spat the words out.
"Agreed!"
Bodies of different degrees of rot and decay lay scattered across the area. Some are dismembered, most with armor and some with weapons still in hand.

"It must have been a legendary battle, but who could have done this?" I pondered.
"Maybe they killed each other! They might have been controlled, the way you were!"
"Maybe! Let's just keep m-" Something caught my eye.

"Let's just keep what?" Niamh snipped.
"Shush, I saw something over there!" I said pointing with the torch. "There!"
"Yes, I saw it too." Niamh was unable to contain her excitement.
Something reflected the light, something small and sparkling. We hurried over to where it was.

When we reached the area we couldn't see anything, only dried husks of warriors from the past.
"Well, now what?" Niamh complained, "There's nothing here!"
"I'm sure I saw something. You did too." I said and Niamh nodded in agreement. "Wait, what if we....?

"Here, take this!" I handed her the torch and then began removing the corpses.
Niamh positioned the flaming torch so I could see more clearly.
"Ah ha!" I cheered when I discovered something very unexpected.
There in front of me was a jewel-encrusted crown of gold.

I grabbed it carefully in both hands but it wouldn't budge. Using more force, I heard a crack and it finally came free. The motion unbalanced me, resulting in me falling backwards and landing on my arse. When I looked at my prize I noticed it came with a passenger. The skull of its owner stuck firmly inside.

"Well, would you look at that!" I smiled, "Wait a minute!" I started to rummage around the corpses.
"What are ya up to now?" Niamh asked.
"Just wait." I kept searching.
Then my shin hit something metallic. I pulled it free from the bodies. It was a gold and pewter shield.
"There it is, all I need now is-"

I continued looking.
"I'm sorry, but we're not on some sort of treasure hunt!" Niamh complained.
"Just wait," I said as I continued looking.
As I lowered a higher pile of cadavers than the rest, I finally found what I was looking for standing upright from the ground.
"Oh yes!"

"I was right, say hello my dear, to King Lugh of the Tuatha Danann!"
"Hello, wait, what de ya mean King? I thought he was a god?"
"I heard that too. But I also heard he was a mortal king first!"
"And how do you know that's him?"
"Because this there....," I pulled the object out of the ground, "....is *Freagarach, his sword!"

"He also had a spear called *Gae Assail! The head is supposed to be able to ignite into flame. And when thrown it always hits its target and returns to its owner!"
"So, is there any sign of this spear?"
"I don't know, I can't seem to find it. Maybe whoever killed him took it."
"Maybe!"

"So, what now?" Niamh asked.
"Well, I'm keeping this. It's said to be able to cut through anything!"
"Can I take the shield?" Niamh asked.
"No, I'm afraid not. It's cursed, only the king can use it!"
"Cursed? Really?" Niamh didn't believe me.

"We have to go." I said, "You can have my old sword if you want." I suggested as I walked on.
"Bone Breaker? No, I'll keep me own, thank you very much." Sarcasm behind every syllable. "Speaking of which, I left mine back there."

Niamh ran back to get it and then quickly caught up with me.
"What kept you?" I laughed.
"You just watch your mouth!" And she punched me in the arm.

*Aodh/Aed (Pronounced Ay-ah) - Lord of the Underworld

*Ojus - Awful/Terrible

*Freagarach - The Whisperer

*Gae Assail - Spear of Assal