Sara didn't stay in her room long. It was only polite to talk to the people that had taken care of her. Besides she had to deal this new problem - new to her - of Ian's disappearance.
In the main room Niamh was waiting along with Constable Seanain. He had just come in after getting off work.
"Niamh, Seanain, I really appreciate what you've done for me. I am in your debt."
Seanain answered "Think nothing of it. It's been fun."
Niamh answered " There is something you can do for me but we'll talk about it later. Right now supper is ready."
During supper Seanain filled Sara in on the very little they knew about Ian's disappearance. Since then nobody had heard of someone like Ian showing up someplace or being held by someone. It looked like Irons' information was the only information to be had. To get what Irons had, Sara had to go to Belfast. They discussed the options for Sara - rent a car, take a bus, but then Seanain mentioned he had a motorcycle she could borrow. Without a second's hesitation Sara took him up on the offer. Quickly they settled the plan for Sara to ride to Belfast in the morning. It was the best thing she had heard in a long time.
After supper Niamh asked Sara to walk with her. They walked in the long evening twilight that northern latitudes enjoy. At first they talked of small things - chitchat - until they came to a quiet spot where they couldn't be overheard.
Niamh took Sara's hand and said "I do believe that if John had lived he would have married you." Sara blushed. "And I do believe that you would have had children by him." Now Sara was really embarrassed. Sara looked down to the ground and Niamh moved to be in her line of sight.
"So this is the boon I ask of you, Sara. If you do find another love, and do have children, would you allow me to be a grandmother to them?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sara welcomed being on a motorcycle again. It wasn't her Buell but ...
She let the feeling of gliding effortlessly through country lanes lift her out of her anxieties. Flying, she was flying. Nothing could touch her as long as she didn't come back down to land.
Her problems wouldn't disappear that easily but they moved further away. She could get some perspective on things.
"Flesh and blood". She had relatives! When her father died she got used to the idea that there was no family left to grieve for her when she was gone. No one to take the family albums and past them onto future generations. No future kids to say "Who is that? Why is she dressed funny?"
Now she had relatives! Karen Bronte and whoever remained of her family. And Ian! Related to Ian? What kind of sick joke was that. Now she couldn't dismiss him as a nutcase that she met on the job. He was family! She had a family complete with black sheep. She didn't whether to laugh or be insulted. That thought was mellowed by the realization that the Ian she was looking for was not the only one. Apparently Irons had a store of replicates to pull from when one died. That was really sick!
This was going to take some getting used to.
Along with the fact that her existence was entirely based on Irons' whim to create a clone of Elizabeth Bronte. She could guess why he wanted a clone and the bits of information that came with the toy pistol seemed to confirm it. Irons wanted a wielder and the surest way to get one was to duplicate a wielder. But what did he want her for? She could bet that the answer wasn't simple. If Dominique Bouchet didn't fill the bill that showed that just being able to use the Witchblade was not enough to meet Irons' needs.
And he killed Elizabeth Bronte! Nothing could justify that! Sara was sure that John and Elizabeth were not the only victims of Irons' schemes. What was she going to do about Irons? She knew he was too rich to stand trial. She couldn't deal out the death sentence on him. What kind of revenge was she capable of?
So here she was going back to Irons in order to find Ian. When did she start to care about what happened to Ian? Even before she knew he was related she had begun to think of him as a comrade, with possibilities of friendship. How did that happen?
Unfortunately it was hard to talk to Danny on the motorcycle. She laughed, imagining him traveling along beside her, suspended in mid air. But she didn't say anything out loud for fear he would manage to do just that. She would pile up for sure if she had to watch him stand beside her with the scenery whipping through him.
..........
It was early afternoon when Sara got to Belfast and found the address of Irons' offices, opulent of course, in the financial district.
"Yes, I have heard about Ian's disappearance. Someone has contacted me. I didn't tell them that I am no longer responsible for Ian. I just accepted the information to give to you."
"You're a cold-hearted bastard, Irons."
"I could be induced to act on Ian's behalf in exchange for something I . . . need."
"What could you possibly need from me?"
Irons countered with a question of his own. "How did you sever my link to the Witchblade?"
"I don't know - I didn't you had a link. At the time I was being initiated to the First Blade. At the same time we were attacked by someone who wanted to auction off me and the Witchblade on the internet. "
Irons took Sara's hands in his own, as if they were close relatives, but with that familiarity he turned Sara's hands over so he could see her wrists. There was the ridged scar of a jagged line and the tattoo of 3 concentric circles, normally invisible, darkened at his touch. Irons dropped Sara's hands and walked around to sit behind the desk.
"The First Blade is a legend that I never took seriously. It was seldom associated with the Witchblade."
"Yeah, well, I've got it, and listen to this Irons. If there is any justice in the world it's this."
Sara leaned across Irons' desk and said in a menacing tone. "You. You! lured Conchobar to New York and then threw him to the goons that killed him. Ian did the dirty work but it was your game! Well guess what, if I hadn't met John, and hadn't come to Ireland, I never would have acquired the First Blade, and never would have learned some very interesting things that I'm sure you don't want me to know."
"So what can you tell me about Ian's disappearance?" Sara goaded him.
Irons said "Ian is in the possession of Neit, an Irish war god."
"Come on Irons, that's ridiculous . . ."
"Sara, you channel Cathain. How can you scoff at the existence of Neit. He was called by a terrorist group that wanted his help. Of course he has taken over the group for his own purposes."
Irons picked up a 'thank you' card and read "'Have captured your Knight. Looking forward to taking your Queen. Neit.' Polite chap." Irons dropped the card.
"What does he want with Ian?"
"Ian is a . . . genetically enhanced warrior. Neit will inhabit his body and raise an army after Ian's model."
"What does he want me for?"
"Besides the Witchblade? As I said, you embody Cathain. Neit wants a mate that equals him in strength and potential."
"I think I can say for sure that Cathain is no more interested in that than I am." Sara scoffed.
"Cathain and Neit; you and Ian? It would be an unbeatable alliance. I wish that I had thought of it." Irons leaned back and steepled his fingers in thought.
.........................................
A/N. Sorry to ask but now I know why other authors beg and plead for reviews. I really want to know what you like and don't like. Please?
On another note I might have to leave my iBook at a repair shop and might not be able to post over the weekend. (OK I could but don't want to use the old computer.)
In the main room Niamh was waiting along with Constable Seanain. He had just come in after getting off work.
"Niamh, Seanain, I really appreciate what you've done for me. I am in your debt."
Seanain answered "Think nothing of it. It's been fun."
Niamh answered " There is something you can do for me but we'll talk about it later. Right now supper is ready."
During supper Seanain filled Sara in on the very little they knew about Ian's disappearance. Since then nobody had heard of someone like Ian showing up someplace or being held by someone. It looked like Irons' information was the only information to be had. To get what Irons had, Sara had to go to Belfast. They discussed the options for Sara - rent a car, take a bus, but then Seanain mentioned he had a motorcycle she could borrow. Without a second's hesitation Sara took him up on the offer. Quickly they settled the plan for Sara to ride to Belfast in the morning. It was the best thing she had heard in a long time.
After supper Niamh asked Sara to walk with her. They walked in the long evening twilight that northern latitudes enjoy. At first they talked of small things - chitchat - until they came to a quiet spot where they couldn't be overheard.
Niamh took Sara's hand and said "I do believe that if John had lived he would have married you." Sara blushed. "And I do believe that you would have had children by him." Now Sara was really embarrassed. Sara looked down to the ground and Niamh moved to be in her line of sight.
"So this is the boon I ask of you, Sara. If you do find another love, and do have children, would you allow me to be a grandmother to them?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sara welcomed being on a motorcycle again. It wasn't her Buell but ...
She let the feeling of gliding effortlessly through country lanes lift her out of her anxieties. Flying, she was flying. Nothing could touch her as long as she didn't come back down to land.
Her problems wouldn't disappear that easily but they moved further away. She could get some perspective on things.
"Flesh and blood". She had relatives! When her father died she got used to the idea that there was no family left to grieve for her when she was gone. No one to take the family albums and past them onto future generations. No future kids to say "Who is that? Why is she dressed funny?"
Now she had relatives! Karen Bronte and whoever remained of her family. And Ian! Related to Ian? What kind of sick joke was that. Now she couldn't dismiss him as a nutcase that she met on the job. He was family! She had a family complete with black sheep. She didn't whether to laugh or be insulted. That thought was mellowed by the realization that the Ian she was looking for was not the only one. Apparently Irons had a store of replicates to pull from when one died. That was really sick!
This was going to take some getting used to.
Along with the fact that her existence was entirely based on Irons' whim to create a clone of Elizabeth Bronte. She could guess why he wanted a clone and the bits of information that came with the toy pistol seemed to confirm it. Irons wanted a wielder and the surest way to get one was to duplicate a wielder. But what did he want her for? She could bet that the answer wasn't simple. If Dominique Bouchet didn't fill the bill that showed that just being able to use the Witchblade was not enough to meet Irons' needs.
And he killed Elizabeth Bronte! Nothing could justify that! Sara was sure that John and Elizabeth were not the only victims of Irons' schemes. What was she going to do about Irons? She knew he was too rich to stand trial. She couldn't deal out the death sentence on him. What kind of revenge was she capable of?
So here she was going back to Irons in order to find Ian. When did she start to care about what happened to Ian? Even before she knew he was related she had begun to think of him as a comrade, with possibilities of friendship. How did that happen?
Unfortunately it was hard to talk to Danny on the motorcycle. She laughed, imagining him traveling along beside her, suspended in mid air. But she didn't say anything out loud for fear he would manage to do just that. She would pile up for sure if she had to watch him stand beside her with the scenery whipping through him.
..........
It was early afternoon when Sara got to Belfast and found the address of Irons' offices, opulent of course, in the financial district.
"Yes, I have heard about Ian's disappearance. Someone has contacted me. I didn't tell them that I am no longer responsible for Ian. I just accepted the information to give to you."
"You're a cold-hearted bastard, Irons."
"I could be induced to act on Ian's behalf in exchange for something I . . . need."
"What could you possibly need from me?"
Irons countered with a question of his own. "How did you sever my link to the Witchblade?"
"I don't know - I didn't you had a link. At the time I was being initiated to the First Blade. At the same time we were attacked by someone who wanted to auction off me and the Witchblade on the internet. "
Irons took Sara's hands in his own, as if they were close relatives, but with that familiarity he turned Sara's hands over so he could see her wrists. There was the ridged scar of a jagged line and the tattoo of 3 concentric circles, normally invisible, darkened at his touch. Irons dropped Sara's hands and walked around to sit behind the desk.
"The First Blade is a legend that I never took seriously. It was seldom associated with the Witchblade."
"Yeah, well, I've got it, and listen to this Irons. If there is any justice in the world it's this."
Sara leaned across Irons' desk and said in a menacing tone. "You. You! lured Conchobar to New York and then threw him to the goons that killed him. Ian did the dirty work but it was your game! Well guess what, if I hadn't met John, and hadn't come to Ireland, I never would have acquired the First Blade, and never would have learned some very interesting things that I'm sure you don't want me to know."
"So what can you tell me about Ian's disappearance?" Sara goaded him.
Irons said "Ian is in the possession of Neit, an Irish war god."
"Come on Irons, that's ridiculous . . ."
"Sara, you channel Cathain. How can you scoff at the existence of Neit. He was called by a terrorist group that wanted his help. Of course he has taken over the group for his own purposes."
Irons picked up a 'thank you' card and read "'Have captured your Knight. Looking forward to taking your Queen. Neit.' Polite chap." Irons dropped the card.
"What does he want with Ian?"
"Ian is a . . . genetically enhanced warrior. Neit will inhabit his body and raise an army after Ian's model."
"What does he want me for?"
"Besides the Witchblade? As I said, you embody Cathain. Neit wants a mate that equals him in strength and potential."
"I think I can say for sure that Cathain is no more interested in that than I am." Sara scoffed.
"Cathain and Neit; you and Ian? It would be an unbeatable alliance. I wish that I had thought of it." Irons leaned back and steepled his fingers in thought.
.........................................
A/N. Sorry to ask but now I know why other authors beg and plead for reviews. I really want to know what you like and don't like. Please?
On another note I might have to leave my iBook at a repair shop and might not be able to post over the weekend. (OK I could but don't want to use the old computer.)