TUS NUA - ch 28

TUS NUA – ch 28

New Beginnings – Mia and Midnight

(*)(*)(*)

Finola looked around at Tus Nua and smiled. Dara placed an arm around her cousin’s waist and said, “Cousin, dearest, looks like everything is under control until the next crisis.”

Finola laughed, “Oh, dearest Dara, that could be at any moment. We’ve yet to get Ali and Ana back to America. We’ll contact Ali’s sister in the morning and hopefully make the arrangements. Ana is another problem. She has goals in mind but no one in New York to help her.”

“Finola, what about Cousin Luna? I have a feeling she might appreciate something important to do. Can we scrye her?”

“Dara, that’s an excellent idea but you know, she hasn’t seriously used her witchcraft in a long time. She preferred to open an occult shop where she sells amulets and what-not. Last time we spoke, she said she was having fun and making money but refuses to use her magic for self gratification. But, well, let’s go into my office and see if she’ll answer.”

They entered her private office and Finola pulled out her scrying mirror.

“Mirror, my friend, allow us to see

Cousin Luna and where she might be.

Allow conversation between her and me.

So, I ask it. So, mote it be.”

The mirror’s glass misted with swirling smoke then cleared as the image of a young woman with straight black hair that fell down the length of her back came into view. Her eyes were sparkling but the color of a shamrock. She looked up from whatever it was Finola saw her doing.

“Oh, Finola, Dara. Thought I felt an itch coming. Before you ask, I’m really enjoying New York and see no reason to travel to Ireland. So, what is it you need? I’m assuming you need something, am I right?”

Finola kept her temper down. “Luna, there’s no need to be snippy. I know better than to ask you to come home but in case you haven’t bothered to listen in lately, things have been going on here ..”

Before she finished, Luna spoke but a bit more quietly. In a somber tone, she said, “I know, Finola. You’ve had your hands full. I’m sorry I snapped at you but I’m working on a new potion and well, I keep getting distracted and can’t seem to get the ingredients right. So, enough about that. Can I safely assume what you need has something to do with Tus Nua?”

Finola’s eyes widened a bit with realization that her cousin’s daughter knew about Tus Nua. “In directly. I have a young woman who wishes to return to New York. She wants to go back to school and become a Paramwedic but her education stopped when she was taken at the age of sixteen. That was seven years ago. We’ve had her in school to catch up as much as she can but she’ll need her New York certificates before they’d even consider her for Paramedic school. That’s only half of it. She has nowhere to go. No family and after seven years, we’re assuming her friends moved away. I haven’t been able to find them. Dara and I wondered if you’d like to have a roommate for a bit. She’s a wonderful and hardworking young woman, but as I said, she has no one in New York. Would you consider helping her? And I’ll understand completely if you say no. I’m asking a lot of you.”

Finola and Dara heard a very loud audible sigh from their cousin who pushed aside her potions book.

Sitting back in her chair, she replied, “Ok, I’ll tell you this much. We’ll make a deal. I’ll come to you and meet this young woman. If I feel we can get along and she’s the pleasant hard-working person you say she is, I’ll take her back with me and try her out. If things go sour, I’ll be bringing her back!”

Finola smiled. “Luna, I can’t and won’t ask for more. You’ve taken a large worry off my mind. Whenever you can get here, just let me know.”

They watched as Luna begun to laugh. “Oh, Finola, you’re still a sly one, aren’t you? I’ll be there in an hour and I’m staying overnight. I want to get a look at your Tus Nua. By the way, what is this woman’s name?”

“Her name is Ana Doyle.”

Without another word, Luna disconneted and the mirror went dark.

Dara crossed her arms. “Well, she certainly hasn’t changed much, has she?”

She watched as Finola walked to a table and began writing. After she handed the note to Dara, she said, “Let’s go out and ask Tauri to prepare lamb stew for supper. Dara read the note in silence. “Dara, I know Luna and although she’s quieted the mirror, she still has ears on Tus Nua. She’s not really as disconnected from the family as she pretends and if she didn’t want to bother helping us, she wouldn’t. She like to pretend she has no interest in anyone but herself. Think about what she said. She knew about Tus Nua and what’s been happening here before I said anything. She only wants her independence. But, trust me, she will help.”

After leaving the office, she asked Tauri to prepare the lamb, “Luna’s coming.”

Tauri almost spit out the iced tea she’d just put in her mouth. “And to what do we owe this miraculous visit?”

Finola explained and Tauri read the note Dara handed her.

Tauri nodded. “Well, she’ll have a good feast. Maybe we can convince her to stay until tomorrow when we celebrate Mia’s eightteenth birthday.”

Evangeline, Alistar’s wife, walked through the front door. “Good afternoon, everyone.”

Finola smiled and said, “I’m going to assume you’re here to say hello to Luna?”

“My daughter? Wouldn’t miss it!”

“Is Alistar and Ivy coming, also?”

“Any minute, now. I see you were able to convince Mia to go home. She still has no idea, does she?”

Finola laughed and said, “No, she doesn’t but she’ll know by four tomorrow afternoon!”

She turned to the door and gasped. ‘Oh my! Dara, use the portal. Go to the clinic and get Morena. Quickly.”

Alistar burst into the Tus Nua. “Finola, get the infirmary ready. Neil is coming with his wagon. He found two children, looks like half beaten, half starved. Must be around six or seven years old.”