Her Sacrifice

Prologue

1341 Scotland

Screams of pain and agony echoed through the smoke filled skies. Every direction one looked was filled with fighting and bloodshed. A pained whimper choked out of a small child's throat as her father was slaughtered before her eyes. In the opposite direction an entire family was being barricaded in their home as the roof was set aflame. Merciless. In the center of it all a sole figure stood. Basking in the chaos and suffering of the innocent.

His maddening laughter pierced through the screams and cries for mercy. He was enjoying every moment of this. As the invasion came to its height his laughter cut off and he turned to the only one not meant to be there. Her body froze in terror under his gaze. As he began his approach ice traveled through her veins. A wicked grin crinkled the skin around his amber eyes that glowed in the fire light.

She could do nothing more than hold back the bile rising in her throat. She knew exactly what she was witnessing. The twisted dreams of a deranged man. Somehow she has been thrown into his dreams many times since learning her own clan was one of his many targets.

“Ye can have all of t’is in te wakin’ realm.” He cooed. “Just tell me where yer clan be hidden an’ I’ll spare ye.”

“Neva!”

He grabbed her chin harshly and glared down his nose at her. This was his dream. His domain. He could do whatever he pleased to her and she would be powerless to stop it, and they both knew this. Her fears sent another wave of ice coursing through her veins as she glared back at him, waiting for his move.

With a dismissive shove he walked away from her and to a beheaded body a few paces away. He crouched to examine the corpse before grabbing the decapitated head and beginning to toss it from hand to hand. He played with it like nothing more than a child’s toy for a few unnerving heartbeats before chucking it at her feet. The horrified yelp ripped from her lips drew out the crazed laughter from his.

“Come, wee lass. Join me an’ te darkness we all hold. I can give ye anything ye desire. All for just te wee price of a location.”

“I’ll sooner join te Fae t’en ye.” She spat at him, earning herself a hard punch to the gut. Dream or not it knocked the wind out of her.

“I’m comin’, lass. Ye cannae hide from me. I'm comin’.”

Chapter one

‘I’m comin.’

Those words echoed through her mind as her soul was pulled back into her body. Cold sweat matted her hair against her forehead and caused her shift to stick to her flesh as she sat up in bed. Her breathing was ragged and labored as she tried to calm her nerves. Unbaringly slow her eyes started to adjust to the dim morning light filtering through her window. She was safe in her own bed. No trace of bloodshed or death lingered except behind her eyelids.

After a few moments to completely settle her rapid breathing, she scooted to the edge of her bed and set her feet on the fur that warmed the floor beneath her. The winter chill was starting to set in and she dreaded the areas of her room that did not have the comfort of fun. Quickly, she stood and looped across the freezing flagstones to where another fur was along with a simple chair draped with a thick wool robe. She slipped into the garment and rubbed her arms to warm her before locating a pair of wool stockings and slipping them on as well. Once she was cozy and warm she made her way out of her room, being sure to shut the heavy oak door as quietly as possible. The hallway was lit by nothing more than a few dying candles along the wall, but it was enough for her to see her steps as she made her way from her door to that of her younger sister’s. She barely had her hand in the air to start knocking when she heard a soft rustle from the other side and the door began to open. Her sister had the gift of foresight and must have sensed she was coming even before she got out of her own bed.

“Sorcha? Ye couldnae sleep?” Arabella questioned as she rubbed sleep from her sapphire blue eyes.

“Nay I did. It is sleep that plagues me.”

After a moment to digest what her sister was saying Arabella gasped and opened her door wider, usering Sorcha in. She looked up and down the hall before closing the door securely and turning back to gesture towards the bed. Both girls made themselves comfy on the edge before either began speaking.

“What’s happened?”

“I saw te mad mon again…” With those few words the winter chill somehow became colder. The air thick in both girl’s lungs. Sorcha pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “He wanted me to tell him where we are in exchange for my own safety.”

Both of their faces twisted into disgust and unease as the idea of the vile man finding them settled into their hearts. This was not the first time Sorcha had been drug into his nightmarish dreams. She had been pulled in so often she had come to learn much about the man hunting them down. Padruig. A madman bent on snuffing out the light magic in the world. He has been traveling the highlands, hunting down the few remaining druid clans and slaughtering them. The only lives he spared were those willing to betray their clan and join him. Sorcha still remembered the first time she was forced to see the aftermath of his bloodshed. He acted like a hound showing off his kill to his master. He laid it all at her feet and cooed at her to join him as if he was proposing a sweet life together. It made bile rise to her throat once more. She woke that morning thinking it was nothing but an awful nightmare, just to overhear her father and his men talking about the extinction of an entire clan. not even the babes were spared. Months have passed and every time Sorcha witnesses his dreams she learns shortly after of yet another clan desecrated by his men.

“What will we do, Sorcha?” Arabella’s voice drew her back to the present, reminding her of what was at stake. “He will neva stop.”

There was no easy answer Sorcha could give. No matter what they would have to fight or lose. However she had been thinking of a way to ensure they won the fight. An old ritual that had long since been abandoned as barbaric and outdated. Back when druids first filled the highlands with their magic they often gave sacrifices to the fae and dragons of the lands in hopes of strengthening their clans' magic or ensuring their safety. Many found it an honor to become a servant to a dragon, even if it meant never seeing their beloved kin again. She knew that the pain of leaving behind her family would be like burning daggers in her heart, but it was nothing compared to leaving them defenseless to the likes of Padruig. So she had decided to talk to her father about it. Show him that this was the only way and then give herself as a sacrifice to the one creature not even the Olc could hope to stop. With the aid of even one dragon her people would be safe.

Eventually the conversation turned towards happier topics. Neither girl wanted to dwell on the fear and worry of what was to come. Talking about everyday life and the gossip of their clan eased both of them. Now Arabella sat at the edge of her bed chattering about a love affair between the blacksmith’s daughter and the stableboy as Sorcha sat behind her running a comb through her sister’s thick, golden curls. Giggles burst from their lips and echoed around the stone room moments before Arabella jumped to her feet and glided to the door. As she opened it a warm smile greeted them from their beloved mother. She padded into the room and looked between the two girls, her hazel eyes sparkling with joy and pride.

“I thought I heard two wee mice rustling about up here.” A warm chuckle trickled from her lips as both girls eamed at her. “Now a bhobains, it be time for ye both to dress for the day. Hurry now.”

She made shooing motions with her hands as she hurried them into action. Sorcha laid the comb down in Arabella’s pillow before hugging her little sister and following her mother out of the room. The two women walked in comfortable silence to her room before hugging and parting ways. Inside her chambers Sorcha was greeted by two maids already preparing her gown for the day. She greeted them rightly and walked to the bed where a sapphire wool gown lay out with her stays, stockings, and ribbons for her hair. The maids wasted no time beginning their work on her. They quickly stripped her of her robe and started lacing her stays into place. Sorcha was thankful one had already lit a fire to chase the chill she had felt when she first woke. After fitting all of her under garments into place the older maid, Old Mairi, pulled her gown over her head, pulling and tugging the thick fabric to be smooth against her. Once finished, Old Mairi dismissed the other handmaid and ushered Sorcha to the chair so that she could begin work on her hair.

“Yer hair be as tangled as the weeds me lads refuse ta pluck, wee lass.” The old woman smiled down at her as she gently pulled the comb through the tangles of Sorcha’s honey waves.

“That is why I let no one but you help me with it. Everyone else just tears through me poor head.”

The older woman chuckles as she begins pulling strands of hair together to create intricate braids at the back of Sorcha’s head. Weaving multiple small braids together to make a work of art only Mairi could make. After a while of enjoying the feeling of fingers through her hair, Sorcha was tapped on the shoulder and handed a polished piece of metal to look at herself in.

“There, me wee lass.”

“Thank ye, Mairi.” Sorcha hugged the maid tightly before pulling back and taking her hands in her own. “Where be my da? I must speak with him before his duties of the day begin.”

“Te Laird be in his study still.”

With a bright smile, Sorcha placed a kiss on Old Mairi’s cheek before turning to leave and making her way through the many halls of her home. She knew each corridor well and could find her father’s study with her eyes closed. Within only a few minutes she had made her way to the bottom floor of the keep and to the large, carved oak doors she needed. She knocked gently as she opened the doors slightly, peeking in. Her father sat in his favorite chair next to the warm fireplace. A large leather bound tome laid in his hands, but his eyes were focused on her instead of the well read pages before him. She smiled before stepping into the room and closing the door, gaining her an even brighter smile from her father.

“Wot do I owe such an early greeting for?” Iagon cooed sweetly.

Sorcha took many deep breaths as she readied her responses. She knew all too well her father would not be willing to let her give herself away to the realm of the fae. He would likely fight every stance she gave him. She needed to be prepared and ready. When he noticed his daughter taking her time to speak, Iagon set his book aside and straightened his back, knowing her as well as she knew him. The look on her face told him everything he needed to know to prepare for what lay ahead. He wouldn’t like it either.

“Aye, a bhobain?” His deep voice broke her thoughts. Beckoning her closer, he pulled a nearby chair closer and patted it for her to sit. “Are ye well, dear one?”

“Aye, da. I am fine.” She took her seat and smoothed her skirts before taking his weathered hands in her own and taking one final deep breath. “I need ye tae hear me out. I have a plan that could help us protect our people from the olc.”

Iagon began worrying as Sorcha explained her plan in full detail. She had done her research and it had shown. For the briefest moments he regretted allowing his daughters to be well read, but only for a moment. He could never truly regret allowing his daughters the same privileges any sons he would have had would be blessed with. Still perhaps he should have hid the books on their ancient rituals. His daughter countered him on every point he tried against her. She knew all of the risks and benefits of this ritual, and sadly, was prepared to take them on. Steadily she started slowing down. Started allowing him time to think and speak up. however there was not much else he could say. He had always made it clear he would support his daughters on whatever they wished. He was raising them to be strong so when they had to marry they would not be fooled into a loveless, cold marriage bed. Something he would never regret. But how did one approve of their own child giving herself over to violent beasts known for treating mortals like them as nothing more than toys?

“Lass do ye understand wot ye are asking me? Wot ye wish me to allow happen?” He had stopped looking at her a bit ago, prefering to stare into the dancing flames within the fireplace instead.

“Aye, da.” I knoa…. But we don’t have too many options left to us.”

“We can fight. Our men are strong and our magic stronger.”

“I’ve seen his numbers da. Strength doesn’t matter when each of our men are outnumbered by ten.”

Iagon knew this well. He has been corresponding with the other clans for months. Each time an attack happened word spread like wildfire among the few remaining druids. Padruig’s numbers grew each time too. There was always at least one so scared of death they would give in to him just to breathe another day. Their sister clan the Craobh had just as many abled bodied men as they do and their chieftain's head sat on a pike outside the ruins of their homes as they spoke. The Olc have spared neither woman nor child and often even slayed the livestock, proving they only killed to kill and not for any gain. As they stood now, Iagon and his men stood no more a chance than any other clan that fell before them. Their options were slim to none.

And no other clan would come to their aid. He had hoped when it started that the remaining clans would come together and fight off the darkness rising, however as more and more fell the remaining clans have shut themselves away. Only sending out messengers as more news befalls of their kin being slain.

“Give me a day tae think over wot all ye have said, dear one.”

“Aye, of course.” Sorcha stood and curtsied before kissing his cheek and letting herself out of the study. She leaded her back against the cool, hard wood of the doors and sighed. She has done all she could at this point and will just have to pray that her father sees the same light she has and allows her to be the sacrifice to save their people.