Bee drew her dagger and dropped into a crouch. The killer’s appearance changed back to the man she knew as Dornalai, his hammer vanishing and his flowery ears returning. Holding up his palms, he said, “You are not in danger from me, Bee.”

  “Who are ye?”

  “I think you already know who I am.”

  Remaining in her crouch, with the dagger angled up, Bee watched the ring fighter and thought she had recognised him during the change but could not place where from. Casting her mind back, she realised he’d been one of the Tuatha standing behind her in her dream recently, proving that dreams are quickly forgotten. This murderer before her was one of The Three. Because of his bearing, she was sure the one sitting on a rock had bee Credne, the Silversmith, leaving Luchta and Goibniu. However, the hammer he used to kill Finn put the ring fighter squarely in the realm of the blacksmith.

  “Ye’re Goibniu, The Smith,” she said.

  “See, I told you.”

  “Why did ye murder Finn?” she asked, not changing her posture. Sure that she could not beat him in a contest, dagger to hammer, she started to draw Earth Power, trying to conceal it from the Tuatha. Danu and The Chief would sense her using it, but what choice did she have?

  “You won’t need that, Bee. Like I said, I mean you no harm.”

  “Why did you kill Finn?” she repeated.

  “It was not murder, Bee. Finn was not the tracker Dagda sent. His liege is another, and whoever they are, they told him to stop you reaching Bren at all costs. As he was unable to divert you from entering the tunnels, he would have cut our throats at the first opportunity, probably while we were sleeping. I have managed to watch him up to now, but I would have closed my eyes eventually. My only choice was kill or die. Our only choice.”

  “What d'ye mean Dagda didn’t send Finn? He told me, so he did.”

  “Are you sure? Did he name him? Describe him, even? Can you be sure? If you were truthful with yourself, you would say no.”

  No, I’m not even sure of who I am. Not now, Bee thought, before asking, “Who’s his liege? I don't believe ye don't know.”

  “We do not know,” he said, his face assuming a sympathetic look. “I could guess, bit that would be a dangerous game to play. We are dealing with pride and those who take false accusations very seriously.”

  Trying to win me over with faces, are ye? she asked herself.

  “Ye expect me to believe ye after that?” she asked, nodding at Finn, shuddering at the matter seeping into the loam.

  “Let me just say, Bechuille, that if I meant you harm, I could have killed you the other night as you slept. Instead, I kept watch to make sure Finn did not decide to complete his mission by removing you. Did you know he met with Brenos in Bacca?”

  “Why?”

  “Because your brother, as is his wont, was dallying. Finn warned him that you were arriving and urged him to leave. Not the actions, I fear, of someone sent here to help you.”

  “How do ye know this?”

  “As you have witnessed, I am good with disguise. I sat beside the two in the Boiled Cock, hidden in the shadows, and listened to their whispered conversation.”

  “Why didn’t ye tell me straight away?”

  “In truth, I was hoping to remain hidden. I thought about pushing Finn off a ledge when we were in the tunnels, and you were not looking, but I realised he would be watching for it. He let down his guard just now, and I used my opportunity.”

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  “If ye were watching, ye saw Finn arrive. What was he doing behind the rock?” she asked, desperately trying to make sense of what the self-professed Smith was telling her.

  The God hesitated before finally saying, “I have no way of knowing. I suspect he was meeting his liege—”

  “If you suspected that, why not follow him to find out?” she interrupted.

  “As you know, I was on the wrong side of the straits. But not alone that, I had to watch for you.”

  “That’s convenient, so it is.”

  “My part in all this, Bee, is to keep you safe. I could not afford to lose you.”

  “If that’s yer part, ye wouldn’t have gone to the hostel to listen to them.”

  “You were yet to arrive.”

  “Ye could have told me,” Bee repeated.

  “I think not,” Dorn said, his tone one of frustration. “Would you have believed me? No. Could I risk Finn discovering my identity? No.”

  “Why didn’t he just kill me? He could’ve done it several times. He could have let the Maidens kill me at the cave.”

  “I could say many things, like he knew you are Dagda’s High Priestess, so might have feared to try. I think, though, that he was told to keep you alive, if possible. I think his master has something in mind for you.”

  Bee nodded and sheathed her dagger. Although still unconvinced, she was beginning to see the logic in the Tautha’s argument. Perhaps the most pertinent of his points was that he could have killed her while she was sleeping. What would be the point of this elaborate game in the face of that knowledge?

  None at all is the only answer, so it is.

  Staring at The Smith, standing with his arms crossed, she wanted to believe. It would be far easier than not believing. However, there was one more aspect of the story she thought needed clarity. “I’ll call ye Dorn. Can’t be dealing with Goibniu. How did you get here?”

  “I have been here for many summers. Everything I told you about Ruirech and his father was true. I came through the gate at Sliabh Culinn and took up the role of ring fighter to get close to those in Dun Ailinne. I thought it was a good way to blend in. I am not sure my face agrees,” he concluded, running a hand over his scars. “I was spying on the King of Middle Kingdom when I punched Balor in the face. I was sure King Sengann would join Myrddin in his schemes.”

  “Ye think the druid involved?” Dorn nodded, but said nothing. Bee was less sure. From the little she knew of Myrddin, he was not the type who would have the wherewithal to defy the Gods. His greatness was something created in his own head. “So, what now?”

  “Now, we continue as planned and use the tunnels to try and save your brother from the scheming druid.”

  “But why is it necessary?” Bee suddenly realised.

  “I am not sure I understand you.”

  “Ye brothers came to me in a dream. Why not warn Bren in the same way?”

  “It was only me, Bee. I needed you to accept my advice. I can project images into your sleep. Dreams, if you like. I can only do it when you are close. The tower is too far.”

  “But Bren ain’t in the tower...” Bee trailed off as she came to understand what Dorn was telling her. “He’s there already?”

  “Aye. We have been too slow. In truth, your brother can only be in the tower by now, unless he fell asleep under a bush.”

  “Just another thing ye didn’t tell me.”

  “I am telling you now, Bee, now there is no threat of being overheard.” She nodded, no more believing the God’s words than if he’d been Myrddin himself. The Smith, or maybe Danu, or maybe neither of them, was keeping something from her. She had no way of knowing what it might be, and let it drop, if only temporarily.

  “So, what’s the knowledge ye mentioned in the dream?”

  “Brenos knows where Lia Fail is hidden.”

  “The Stone of Destiny?” Bee couldn’t keep the incredulity out of her voice. “How is that a danger to the Realm?”

  “Dagda stored much of his power in the stone to help his new race thrive. Our fear is that Myrddin has aligned with the Lord of Darkness. If he gives the monster access to that power, he will have the means to escape Tech Duinn, breaking the cycle. That would be a disaster for the Kingdoms and the Fae Realm.”

  “How will it threaten the Realm?” Bee repeated.

  Dorn turned away. Bee might have read the move as a sign of a coming lie, but she suspected it had more to do with worry. She sensed that The Smith was genuinely fearful of what might happen.

  “Whoever is orchestrating everything is playing Danu and Dagda against each other. It is a strategy aimed at manoeuvring a conquest of the Realm.”

  “How could ye possibly know that?” Bee scoffed.

  “Let me just say I know and ask you to trust me.”

  “For now, I’ll trust ye. One more thing I must ask: where is Lia Fail?”

  “Ah, now, I wish I knew. Unfortunately, the only one in the Kingdoms who knows is Brenos.”

  “And he’s stuck in a tower with a necromancer,” Bee said, frowning. “We’re on an impossible mission, so we are.”

  “Do not despair, Bee. There is still hope,” Dorn said.