I hadn't seen her grab the long-knives, or the belt and bag, but once we were outside she handed them to me.
"You up for a bit of sparring?"
Starving, but I suppose so.
"Sure, but I've never fought with these before and I'm not great so don't expect a great sparring partner." I warned her.
She gave me a bright smile, "It's fine. Besides, who better to teach you how to use Irish fighting knives than a Danaann?"
I smiled back, but I was nervous. Why would Allison be concerned?
She nodded to the belt, "Put it on and draw your swords." She flicked her wrists and her own swords appeared.
They reminded me of those in the Lord of the Rings, the ones that Legolas had.
"Dual wielding is an effective technique for lone fighting, but not against a battle line like the Romans form. You have to rely on intelligence and speed, and your enemies being spread out. You have more maneuverability than someone with a shield, but you are also more vulnerable. Life is a double-edged sword, for every advantage, there is a disadvantage." She said in a bright tone, cheerful, easy. Like a friend telling a story.
I drew my long-knives, "Okay." It made sense.
She started the sparring, taking it slow while I got the hang of the weapons.
We were quiet, falling into the routine of sparring, falling into the movements. Getting more forceful, though she was also holding back quite a bit I was sure.
"Tell me about your family." She said, hitting my leg with the flat of her blade.
We separated.
I hesitated, taking up the stance again, "My grandparents died. My grandpa before I was born. My grandma when I was six or seven. I only really remember making gingerbread houses with her at Christmas. She would stay in the basement bedroom and her and my mom would make candy canes to hang on the Christmas tree." I blocked her attacks and made a swipe of my own.
She grinned, "Good! What about your mother?"
"Her name was Juliet Michele Dellaro. She was an author. She wrote somewhere around sixty books. And multiple others that aren't quite finished. She always said that she would want me to do with them as I would if something happened to her."
"But she was a good mother?"
"The best. She was the best." Almost cut her face, "Sorry!"
She grinned, "Don't be. I'm the one prying. Tell me about her lineage."
I frowned and focused on her movements, remembering them, mirroring them like she seemed to be inviting me to do. "Um, I think my grandfather was Scottish. Maybe Italian. Maybe both. My grandmother's family had been in the US for so long that I don't think there's a definitive answer anymore."
"What was her name?"
"Meave Cassandra Dellaro. I don't know her maiden name."
"Meave is an Irish name. How did she feel about Ireland?"
"She went there, her and my grandfather went to Ireland and Scotland together. She went with my Mom. Mom came back pregnant. She always said we would go back, when I graduated from high school, I guess. But she had a heart attack, died in her sleep." I parried and then lost my grip on my left hand sword.
She steadied me and held her knife at my throat at the same time, "You're not that bad. You need some work, but you've got potential. Born in Ireland, to Hermes…" She smirked, "You know, there's a celtic equivalent. Different name, but essentially the same. He crossed borders every now and then. Mostly known in Wales, but I remember the first time he showed up. His son was a courier, fell for a Danaann. During the battles. I was so young, I'm surprised I remember."
I hesitated, "What are you saying?"
"I'm asking, did your mother tell you that your father was Hermes?"
I shook my head, "I was claimed, while with Travis."
"Mmm, Travis Stoll. He's yummy." She grinned and blushed ever so slightly, "So he confirmed that it was Hermes…but he's familiar with the world of the Dans. Has been his whole life."
I stopped, "What?"
"His family comes from a long line from Ireland, Rome, and Greece." She shrugged, "His Grandfather is a historian, a librarian of sorts. He keeps artifacts from all worlds."
I dropped my gaze to the ground, "Why did you want to speak to me alone? And why would Allison look so concerned about it?"
She grinned, "I can be a little…unpredictable. Besides, I probably sounded serious for the first time in my life. I'm trying a few new things. To try and prove that I'm strong enough to fight the monsters of my world. Someone has to. Faolan can't do it alone."
"So…" I frowned, trying to figure out what she wanted with me.
"You've got Danaann in you. I can feel it. All Danaann with any abilities could. You must be descended of Gwyddion as he was known in Wales, or Ogma as he was known in Ireland. He was also known as Math ap Mathonwy in Wales." She gazed at me was a slight smile, "You're technically related to me. Anyway, you've got the skills I need. I need your help for my speech. It's for my parents."
I smirked, "Seriously? We're sparring so you can ask me to help with your speech?"
"It's an important speech. And such things are best discussed over a friendly sparring match. Besides, you've already improved. It's true about you demigods, you learn movements quickly. You're well-balanced. Dancer?"
I nodded a bit, "Hip hop and ballroom. Did jazz for a while, Mom thought I should take up Irish step dancing, but that was a little…too much for me."
She laughed, "I get it. I love dancing. And music. And singing. It's fallen into a rut in Tír na nÓg, the same music all the time. More and more I find myself sneaking away here. To the mortal realm. Seeking something…more. It's changed so much over the years."
I pursed my lips, "Tell me about my father's Welsh and Irish qualities."
She made her weapons disappear, and dropped into the grass pretzel style, patting the spot beside her. "Sit."
I sat beside her.
She looked at the sky, "Gwyddion was known to mortals as a cunning enchanter and patron of the arts and education. He taught Merlin."
I felt my eyes widen, "He was real?"
"Yes, maybe someday I'll take you to Camelot. It's beautiful in the summer." She said in an offhand tone, "As Math ap Mathonwy, he was known as a god of prosperity, coinage, acute hearing, and magic. The hearing was what got him in trouble the most."
I picked at the grass.
"And as Ogma, he was known as the god of letters and learning who invented an alphabet, eloquence, speech, and language. A son of the Dagda, or at least accepted by the Dagda. Which was a major thing way back when. Nowadays…" She shrugged. "He was well known amongst the Dans for his athletic and martial prowess."
I nodded, "Let me hear the speech. Or read it."
She looked at me for a moment, then pulled out a parchment and handed it to me. "Take your time. I'm supposed to be here for a while, I guess."
"Time is strange in Tír na nÓg, isn't it?"
She nodded, "It fluctuates slightly. One day there is about twelve here, sometimes a little more. Sometimes a little less."
"Ever throw you off?"
She shook her head, "I like it. I can do a bunch here and still make it home for dinner."
Allison was approaching with confidence, "Eithne, I hope I'm not interrupting."
Eithne shook her head, "Of course not, Lison, your input is welcome actually. I was asking Cassie to look over a speech I've prepared for my parents telling them of my intentions to help the fight to safeguard my people."
"A wise choice in the assistance you've chosen." Allison said simply, sitting down and quickly looking me over as if to make sure I was fully intact. "And I assume you've been guarding your tongue?"
"Do I ever? What was I not supposed to speak of?"
Allison pursed her lips, "Nothing. It doesn't matter now. However, her friends are growing more concerned by the minute so I suggest we all head back toward the lodge."
Eithne nodded, "Alright." She basically disappeared.
I flinched, "Dang it she's fast."
Allison nodded, "And more ADHD than most demigods I know of. I'd be surprised if she stuck to a single topic for very long."
"She definitely wasn't very direct." I played with my ring. "Allison, when you sold my mother this ring…"
She met my gaze, then looked toward the lodge.
"What did my mom say that made you sell her this ring in particular?"
She sighed, "A few things, actually."
"It's a powerful protection spell. Why would I need such a strong spell? I'd never received much attention."
"Your mom could see through the mist. She saw something was following you. It scared her. She was worried about you. It's not just a protection spell, though."
"But the Hecate cabin…"
She shook her head, "It's woven into the metal. Your mom knew who I was. Your father told her to seek me out for protection for you."
My heart skipped a beat, "What?"
"Do you honestly think it's a coincidence that someone actually found you and saved you? The problem with protection spells of this magnitude is that they can also make you unnoticeable to Satyrs and mortals unless they're specifically looking for you or know you're there. So, how did Travis find you?" Allison asked. Her whole demeanor was gentle.
I dropped my gaze to the grass, "The ring…"
"Gets the nearest person able to help you to come to your aid."
I remembered the way Jason came and got me away from the other campers. And Travis dropping in like that…
"Your mom wanted you to be safe. That was the best thing I had."
I could barely breathe, "You…knew…what would happen?"
Allison closed her eyes, pain and sorrow crossing her face.
I gasped, and got to my feet, stumbling away from her.
"I'm sorry, Cassandra. If I could have prevented it…"
I shook my head. Fate could not be messed with. It would have happened no matter what she had done.
I managed to get to the lodge and get through the door.
"Cassie?" Travis stood.
I stumbled to the water pitcher and shakily poured myself a glass, then drank it, trying to breathe. Trying to think.
Mom knew.
I know she knew.
I couldn't breathe, and I felt like my limbs had gone limp.
"Cassie?" Will turned me and took my weight, helping me over to a seat. "I think it's just a panic attack." He lifted the glass to my lips again.
I drank, but choked a bit, "Can't breathe…"
"You're breathing." Will told me, "Take another drink."
I did, managing to swallow.
Nico glared first at Eithne—who looked truly concerned—and then at Allison as she came in, "What'd you do?"
Allison sighed, "I answered a question."
I gripped Nico's hand, trying to calm down.
Him or me…well, that's a good question.
Mom prepared by getting me a protection charm? What was she hiding from me? Why did she expect to die? What was she doing? Why wouldn't she just tell me?
What was she afraid of?
"Care to elaborate?" Someone—I couldn't even tell who anymore—asked in a harsh tone.
All before the trip that got us kidnapped, Mom had been normal. The trip had been normal. She was always a little nervous when we first started out. How was I supposed to know that she was nervous because she was going to die? She had been a little nostalgic, but it was about the time that Grandma died and she always got a little nostalgic then. And it's not like she became more of a teacher or anything because she was always teaching me about how she runs our life. It wouldn't have been a change if she had started doing it more or less. I wouldn't have noticed if she had gotten me more involved one way or another because that's what she did to make sure she got to spend time with me.
Why did she not prepare me more?
"About her mother."
It got really quiet for a moment.
I closed my eyes, "Why didn't she…how could she not…tell me or prepare me for this? How could she know and not do anything?!" I hit the table.
Nico squeezed my other hand, but didn't say anything.
Allison didn't look at me.
My group was gathered around me, almost protectively.
"She did."
It was quiet. Almost lost in the large room, but sounded so loud in my ears…
I turned toward Eric, wondering how he could even say that.
He had this firm look about him, "Of course she did something. She left you a will, and a legacy. She made sure you would be provided for for years. Centuries even. Right, Travis?"
My gaze shifted to my older brother.
He nodded, "She did. And…it's not exactly a coincidence that I happened to be in town. Your mom wanted to introduce us, so I could take you to camp. I was supposed to meet you guys the day I rescued you. But you all weren't there."
I looked down at my hand. My ring. "And you had a bad feeling about it."
"We're demigods. There's always something bad happening. But for your mother to be missing, and the way she had spoken…I figured the worst." Travis took my hand from the table and held it in his. "There are no such things as coincidences."
I closed my eyes again, "So why did they take us, then? They didn't ask for money, they had no hesitation killing my mom. They acted like they were going to kill me."
"I don't know. I wish I did, Cass. The police didn't find anything either. We'll figure it out though."
I looked at the table, nodding a bit.
What the hell did my mom die for?
