Lasar, Sara, Seanain, and Ian discussed the logistics that the First Blade ceremony required. 'Where' was at Connemara, 'when' was anytime after Sara had fasted for 24 hours. Lasar had the paraphernalia required and Sara had the Blade.
Sara hadn't eaten since the dinner at Seanain's the night before so the 24 hour requirement would be met soon. "Coffee doesn't count as food, does it?" Sara hoped.
Another requirement was that Sara had to avoid sexual contact 7 days before and 3 days after.
"No problem" was all she said.
They all knew that whoever was trying to sell Sara and the Witchblade on the Internet had to be near. Close enough to keep an eye on her and gather her up soon. They had to be prepared for some kind of ambush. How many others were also tracking her was unknown.
Seanain told them "I cannot be a part of this as an Irish policeman. I don't have authority to provide an escort. So I must be off duty in civilian clothes. We can take my personal car."
It was after dark when arrangements had been made and they headed out.
As they drove up the access road to Connemara they saw a figure standing in the middle of the road with his arms raised. He stood in the headlights' glare until they pulled up to him.
Sara recognized him. "That's Edward, John's brother!" Ian jumped out to confront him. Before Sara could get there Ian had seized Edward by the collar and was about to punch him in the face.
"No! Geez, Ian, find out what he's here for *before* you punch his lights out!"
"Why are you here, Edward?" Ian asked.
"I know what you need to do and I brought a few lads to do sentry duty while you are here."
"What do you know? I thought you only talked to John about his past lives that one time." Sara questioned.
"Yes, it was only once, but we were there for hours. Quite a history lesson, too bad it was wasted on me. I did learn what he held for you and what is required for you to use it."
"And you're here to help out of the goodness of your heart? I don't buy that." Sara said.
"Let's say I owe you; let's say I was touched by the story Johnny told me years ago; let's say I'm tired of things the way they are. I know you can read my heart. Here." Edward held out a fist, cautiously, with Ian still holding him.
Sara was getting wary of touching people; she realized she would have to start wearing gloves. But they needed the help and they had to be sure Edward was legit, so she reached out to touch his hand.
((Dark, darkness cut with violent flashes of light. Terror so old it had hardened into a rock like amber. Brutality that rivaled anything she had seen as a NYPD cop. Then off to the side . . . in a small protected place, hope hid, and it had John's smile.))
"He's good" she said. "He can help."
"Sara!" Ian exclaimed. His whole argument was in that one word. How could Sara trust this terrorist?
"Come on, Ian. Trust my judgement or don't. Are you in or are you out?"
"In" Ian said with ill humor, releasing Edward from his grasp.
"Edward, this is Ian Nottingham. He's the other survivor of the attempt to rescue John." Edward nodded to Ian.
Edward went to instruct his men and Ian went along to see that their placement suited him. Sara and Seanain followed Lasar who had a backpack and a tire iron. Without hesitation he headed to the ruins of the little chapel where Sara had spent 3 days. He indicated a pavement stone that needed to be pulled up. The three of them, along with the tire iron, fought with the stone until Ian came back to help. Finally they got the stone up.
Under the stone was a narrow opening that Lasar dropped through into a small chamber about 5 feet high. He called out instructions. "Sara, hand me the back pack and then jump down. Ian take that water bottle and fill it at the little stream near here and bring it back to me. Seanain, stay up there with Ian."
"How long will you be down there?" asked Ian.
"About 3 hours" was the answer. Lasar took two flashlights out of his backpack and handed one to Sara. The little chamber was actually the entrance to a tight, narrow, natural tunnel leading downward. Stairs were cut into the rock where the grade was steep. When Ian brought back the water bottle Sara and Lasar started into the tunnel, Lasar leading the way.
Sara hadn't eaten since the dinner at Seanain's the night before so the 24 hour requirement would be met soon. "Coffee doesn't count as food, does it?" Sara hoped.
Another requirement was that Sara had to avoid sexual contact 7 days before and 3 days after.
"No problem" was all she said.
They all knew that whoever was trying to sell Sara and the Witchblade on the Internet had to be near. Close enough to keep an eye on her and gather her up soon. They had to be prepared for some kind of ambush. How many others were also tracking her was unknown.
Seanain told them "I cannot be a part of this as an Irish policeman. I don't have authority to provide an escort. So I must be off duty in civilian clothes. We can take my personal car."
It was after dark when arrangements had been made and they headed out.
As they drove up the access road to Connemara they saw a figure standing in the middle of the road with his arms raised. He stood in the headlights' glare until they pulled up to him.
Sara recognized him. "That's Edward, John's brother!" Ian jumped out to confront him. Before Sara could get there Ian had seized Edward by the collar and was about to punch him in the face.
"No! Geez, Ian, find out what he's here for *before* you punch his lights out!"
"Why are you here, Edward?" Ian asked.
"I know what you need to do and I brought a few lads to do sentry duty while you are here."
"What do you know? I thought you only talked to John about his past lives that one time." Sara questioned.
"Yes, it was only once, but we were there for hours. Quite a history lesson, too bad it was wasted on me. I did learn what he held for you and what is required for you to use it."
"And you're here to help out of the goodness of your heart? I don't buy that." Sara said.
"Let's say I owe you; let's say I was touched by the story Johnny told me years ago; let's say I'm tired of things the way they are. I know you can read my heart. Here." Edward held out a fist, cautiously, with Ian still holding him.
Sara was getting wary of touching people; she realized she would have to start wearing gloves. But they needed the help and they had to be sure Edward was legit, so she reached out to touch his hand.
((Dark, darkness cut with violent flashes of light. Terror so old it had hardened into a rock like amber. Brutality that rivaled anything she had seen as a NYPD cop. Then off to the side . . . in a small protected place, hope hid, and it had John's smile.))
"He's good" she said. "He can help."
"Sara!" Ian exclaimed. His whole argument was in that one word. How could Sara trust this terrorist?
"Come on, Ian. Trust my judgement or don't. Are you in or are you out?"
"In" Ian said with ill humor, releasing Edward from his grasp.
"Edward, this is Ian Nottingham. He's the other survivor of the attempt to rescue John." Edward nodded to Ian.
Edward went to instruct his men and Ian went along to see that their placement suited him. Sara and Seanain followed Lasar who had a backpack and a tire iron. Without hesitation he headed to the ruins of the little chapel where Sara had spent 3 days. He indicated a pavement stone that needed to be pulled up. The three of them, along with the tire iron, fought with the stone until Ian came back to help. Finally they got the stone up.
Under the stone was a narrow opening that Lasar dropped through into a small chamber about 5 feet high. He called out instructions. "Sara, hand me the back pack and then jump down. Ian take that water bottle and fill it at the little stream near here and bring it back to me. Seanain, stay up there with Ian."
"How long will you be down there?" asked Ian.
"About 3 hours" was the answer. Lasar took two flashlights out of his backpack and handed one to Sara. The little chamber was actually the entrance to a tight, narrow, natural tunnel leading downward. Stairs were cut into the rock where the grade was steep. When Ian brought back the water bottle Sara and Lasar started into the tunnel, Lasar leading the way.