I softened. I’ll be at the keep in a few hours, so let me know if you need any help with damage control in the village. I gave her a phone number to contact me on, reminding myself of my earlier thoughts. We were pack animals and had to work together.
As if echoing my sentiment, Mack’s worry was clear. How is Lucy?
I felt surprising relief that she cared enough about a member of the apparently hated Brethren to ask. I returned the favour by being truthful.
Not good. As soon as the words were finished, I realised I felt dangerously vulnerable. Pain welled up inside again so, before it become too obvious and Mack was alerted to my turmoil, I broke the link.
Albert re-appeared. ‘The mage is here already. He’s opening up the portal as we speak and Doc Fenewick is there waiting to go with you.’
I stood up, pushing back my chair. At least something was going right, even if it was only bloody transportation.
Chapter Seventeen
It was frustrating to arrive back in Cornwall when the dust was already settling. The atmosphere at the shabby keep was morose and depressing. Everywhere I looked, people’s shoulders were slumped and their expressions reflected the horrifying events of the day. There was a dark shadow cast over the entire place and I had no idea what to do about it.
Making Lucy my first port of call, I sat by her bedside for some time while she slept and the good doctor prepared a sterile room to operate on her appendix. Her face at least was relaxed, thanks to the herb concoction Julia had given her, which was acting as a mild sedative. I couldn’t help but feel tremendous guilt for leaving her and the others alone here. I wasn’t bigheaded enough to think that I could have destroyed the ispolin on my own, but I might have prevented Thomson’s death and Lucy’s pain.
‘Doctor Fenewick assures me that she’ll be back on her feet very quickly,’ Staines said from the doorway, interrupting my reverie. ‘Once her appendix is out, she’ll heal with ease.’
‘Thomson won’t.’
He sighed. ‘No. He won’t. But, Lord Corrigan, you cannot take these losses personally.’
I turned to face him, anguish ripping at my stomach. ‘How can I not, Staines? John, Annan, Shah, Thomson. When is it going to end?’
‘Pull yourself together,’ he snapped.
‘Excuse me?’
‘This is what it’s like, Corrigan. You know that. We live short, violent lives. It’s the price we pay for being the Otherworld’s protectors. Yes, a few shifters have died and, yes, it’s tragic. But you need to get over it. There is an entire building full of people here who need to feel like they can trust you and look to you for guidance.’
I was so taken aback that for a moment I didn’t speak. Emboldened, Staines continued. ‘Do you remember what happened last year? In Scotland? Twenty-three shifters killed by one crazed wyrm. Twenty-three! It was a bloody massacre and did you see Xander Brady moping around afterwards?’
I found my voice. ‘Xander Brady was a psychopath.’
‘Just so.’ His tone softened. ‘People have died. Now rally the troops and make sure no-one else does.’
I stared at him for a long moment then took a deep breath. ‘You forgot to call me Lord, you know.’
‘That’s because you weren’t acting very lordly. Sort yourself out. You can’t afford to weep by one bedside.’
I got to my feet, aware of just how much I towered over my old friend. Then I pushed past him.
Gather everyone in the hall downstairs as soon as you can.
Yes. Then Staines added pointedly, My Lord.
***
I marched to the front of the large room, folding my arms and watching them all file in. I was irritated to note that the Cornish shifters were still keeping themselves apart from the Brethren. There was far too much of an ‘us and them’ thing going on. Seemingly without discussing it, everyone formed lines. The result was akin to either an old-fashioned schoolyard or a group of soldiers. I pressed my lips together. I needed soldiers. Keeping my expression stone-faced, I swept my gaze over all of them. Then I realised someone was missing. Typical. I checked my watch, realising that dusk was already falling. Mack may have been sent on an errand to Trevathorn but she should have returned by now.
I raised my eyebrows meaningfully at Julia. One of your shifters is missing.
She didn’t look around to see who it was but her shoulders stiffened visibly. It occurred to me that