Gifted Thief (Highland Magic #1)(52)

It might have been only three trees that had been struck but the ferocity of the flames licking at the dry branches meant that more of them were catching fire. Before my very eyes, the flames danced, attacking another one, blackening the bark and crackling with intensity. In less than five minutes the entire grove would be alight. The entire sacred grove that was so special some of the Sidhe thought I shouldn’t be allowed inside to taint it.

Cursing loudly, I uncoiled my scarf and ran towards the nearest tree, using it to whip at the flames and contain the fire. My movements were curtailed by my previous injuries and I couldn’t move as fast as I normally did. When I managed to stamp out one section of burning wood, another started up at the side of me. I ran from tree to tree and branch to branch, doing what I could. Shite, shite, shite.

With no water and no help, I was fighting a losing battle. Screw my stupid true name: I should have brought Bob along after all. Instead I’d thrown him into the hands of the man who might end up being my greatest enemy. Yet again, it was damned good luck that I was still alive. If I had died and Bob’s wishes were passed along to Byron – the villain – then goodness knows what might have happened.

I continued to fling myself from tree to tree, fighting the fire. The heat was tremendous and it was getting harder and harder to reach the flames, let alone douse them. Soon I’d have to abandon the grove altogether if I wanted to save myself. The sacred grove was screwed.

Making one last effort, I let out a war whoop and threw myself towards the flames, praying that the velocity of my body would do something to stamp them out. Before I reached them, however, something knocked into me and I was shoved aside rudely. I blinked teary eyes against the now billowing smoke, my mouth dropping open when I realised who it was.

‘Stay the hell back, Tegs!’ Brochan shouted. ‘I’ve got this!’

He raised both his hands. I was beyond glad to see him but I wasn’t sure what he could do to help. He might be a merman but, as the stoor worm had already attested, we were a long way from the sea. The sea that Brochan was terrified of.

I tried to rush forward to help but I was beaten back. The fire was too strong. I stumbled backwards, unable to do anything more than watch as Brochan grasped at air as if he were pulling it down. The atmosphere felt heavy and unnatural and I jumped as thunder rolled across the sky. Brochan didn’t react; he simply continued to yank at the air.

And then I felt it. One little drop splashed on my cheek. I gasped as hope sprang anew. The drop turned to a drizzle. Before I could blink again, it became a deluge.

The rain sizzled on the fire, steam flying up as the weaker flames were extinguished. More and more water fell until Brochan and I, and all the trees around us, were soaking wet.

I ran over and wrapped my arms around him. ‘You did it!’ I croaked. ‘How did you do it? Thank God, Brochan. This place is important.’ It really was. After what I’d experienced in the clearing, I was no longer the blithe and dismissive person I was before I’d entered.

‘I’m a merman, Tegs, you know that. It’s a simple matter of the water cycle.’

His face was wan and drawn and I realised that it wasn’t a ‘simple matter’ at all. ‘Thank you,’ I said into his ear. ‘Thank you.’

‘Someone’s really got it in for you.’

‘You can say that again.’

‘Someone’s really…’

I smirked. ‘Yeah, yeah. Come on. Let’s get out of here before they try again.’

Foregoing the path in order to keep ourselves safe – and Brochan’s presence hidden ? we tramped through the trees while he filled me in on his news. It was slow going because I was hurting all over now, but at least it allowed Brochan plenty of time to cover all the details.

As the trumped-up charges against both him and Speck were entirely false, it wasn’t difficult to get them released. Of course, the sizeable wad from the sale of the Lia Saifire had helped. Money talks. Taylor had stayed behind in Aberdeen to ensure there was no further fall-out while the rest of the gang vamoosed over here.

‘You had no problem getting through the magical barrier?’ I enquired, stepping over loose bracken.

‘Your friend came through.’

I snorted. ‘Charlie? He’s not what I’d call a friend. He does have his uses, though.’ I shot Brochan a curious, albeit grateful, look. ‘How did you know I was in the grove?’

He shrugged. ‘We have got ourselves a prime piece of real estate. Some disused tower towards the east side. It’s got great views. We were able to watch you walking with that Sidhe guy then entering the spooky forest.’

‘It’s a grove.’

‘Whatever it is, it’s not natural. Even from our vantage point we couldn’t see anything. It’s all obscured by these damn trees.’ He poked one as if scolding it for existing.

I was puzzled. ‘Then how did you know I was in trouble?’

‘I didn’t. We only knew you were alone. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to come and talk to you.’ He looked troubled. ‘It’s just as well I did.’

I nodded fervently. ‘Amen to that.’

Going by what Byron had said, only one person was ever allowed into the grove at any one time. I wondered if that was merely tradition or if Brochan had gained access because he wasn’t Sidhe. Either way it gave me an edge on all these Fey wankers. Doing the unexpected and the unthinkable seemed to be the only way I’d have of surviving this stint.