A Dragon, a Gargoyle, and a Faery Steal the Show, page 6
“I’m sure they do,” she said dryly.
For whatever reason, Torloch rubbed Calwyn up the wrong way. Something about his flirty charm and insouciant manner set off all her alarms and made her think he was up to no good. Aiden knew Torloch better, but he couldn’t blame Calwyn either. After all, she had two daughters who could get their hearts broken by someone like Torloch if someone wasn’t there to watch out for them.
“How long does this thing last?” she asked.
“Why do you sound like you’re asking how long you have to keep wondering if you’ll get a call that my wings have been pulled off?” he said. “I honestly don’t think it will come to that. It goes on for a couple of days. There are some games, then a banquet and the coronation, and then I think one more party, then everyone goes home.”
“You think you can last that long?”
“Shouldn’t be a big problem. I’ll just have to stick it out until then and make sure that no one thwarts my dastardly plan to make the gargoyles reconsider their perspective on dragons,” he said, and Calwyn laughed.
“If you can make Torloch like you, I’m sure you’ll be able to win the others over,” she said.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence in my abilities,” he said. “I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get away again, so I might go radio-silent. But don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
“I’m sure it will,” Calwyn said. “I just have to report to Mum when she asks.”
“Well, give them all my love, and I promise I will come to see you soon!”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Calwyn said.
“Bye, sis,” Aiden said and hung up.
The dragon hopped off the wall, turned around the hedge corner and ran into what felt like a brick wall. He stepped back, blinking, and wondered at the familiar-looking gargoyle in front of him. The fellow towered over him and was as wide as a truck. His dark blond hair was neatly combed to one side, and he looked as though he wanted to salute or something. The memory clicked into place, and Aiden smiled up the gargoyle.
“Killian…O’Farrell, wasn’t it?” he tried, and the young gargoyle nodded, looking like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck.
“I was just going to fetch a medic,” he said hurriedly. “Sir,” he added as an afterthought.
“Well, I’d best let you get on with that,” Aiden said, wondering at the strange encounter with Torloch’s biggest fan.
He went back through the thinning crowds and found Torloch and his friends. Torloch had a deep gash down his forearm, and Flynn’s hair was all mussed up, scratches on his face. Aiden’s eyes widened.
“What happened?” the dragon demanded. “What did I miss?”
“Loch here was attacked by a bird,” Flynn laughed.
“What?”
“A giant eagle ran into the wards and got knocked out. Fortunately for the creature, it came to before hitting the ground. Unfortunately for Loch’s arm though.”
“And your face,” Torloch retorted. “Fecking thing went crazy and tried to fight us.”
“Why didn’t you go all stony?” Aiden asked.
“Gee, that’s a great idea, why didn’t I think of that?” Torloch replied with heavy sarcasm. “I wasn’t expecting to be karate chopped by a fecking bird, okay?”
That painted a funny picture, and Aiden tried not to smile. “How did a bird trigger the wards?”
“Good question, oh detective extraordinaire,” Torloch said. “It was carrying a message from the Seelie Court, and the paper was charmed.”
“Poor creature,” Aiden said. “What did the message say?”
“Feck if I know,” Torloch said. “That’s above my paygrade, and also not my problem.” He gave Aiden a stern look. “No more work, understand?”
“You’ll get no argument from me,” the dragon said. “I know when I’m beat.”
“Some excitement is good to get the blood going,” Niall said. “Time for some lunch, and then the fun really begins!”
“What’s that?”
“The obstacle course is not until the last day, you gobshite,” Patrick said, though his eyes were bright with mischief.
Niall snorted. “Only the simple-minded think that’s the best event.” He threw an arm around Aiden’s shoulder and practically began to drag him back to the castle. “Everyone knows Arial MMA is the real king of events.”
“The MMA is not until tomorrow,” Loch pointed out as he turned his arm stone and flexed just as the medic arrived.
“Sorry, mate. It was no big deal,” Flynn told the little man in white with his rather large first aid kit, his voice was deep and growly as his face went stoney and then he released it with a sigh, only the slightest red welts left.
Torloch turned his arm back and shook it. Only several thin lines showed the damage the bird had done. The medic sighed before turning around and heading back to wherever he had come from.
“What’s next?” Aiden said.
“Lunch, and then the final Game of the day - Capture the Flag.”
Aiden consulted his Schedule of Events. Torloch would think he was a gobshite, but it grounded him and gave him something to count on. Itineraries and lists he could deal with easily. Besides, how else was he supposed to remember everything that was going on during the four days?
“Commentator George McFinn and Aishilng Murphy,” he murmured to himself, and Flynn snorted.
“I had the biggest crush on her when I was a wee lad,” he said. “She wouldn’t give me the time of day, she only had eyes for Kevin Bardeen.”
“Well, you have to admit Kevin was much nicer to look at than you were. Still is, if we’re being honest,” Niall said and ducked as Flynn threw a punch at him.
As they headed out to the stadium, a familiar face came into view several rows down, and Aiden nudged Torloch.
“Isn’t that your mate Eoin?” he said.
“It is indeed,” Torloch grinned broadly. “Let’s go see if we can join him.”
The people to the left and right were more than happy to move up to make room for the reunion. Torloch introduced Eoin - whom he had met after he left the school - to his other mates and reminded him of Aiden’s name.
“Where’s Muirín?” Aiden asked, referring to the beautiful siren Eoin had married.
“Eh, she had work, and besides, she’s not really into big events like this,” Eoin said.
Aiden nodded. Sirens and crowds didn’t usually go together well.
“But you’re here!” Eoin said, his eyebrows going up as he finally put two and two together and realized the significance of running into a dragon here.
“I am, yeah, but thanks for the confirmation. I’d almost forgotten,” Aiden laughed, and Eoin grinned sheepishly.
“I think it’s great, really,” he said. “I hope people aren’t giving you too much trouble?”
“Not too much,” Aiden replied in a noncommittal tone.
“No more than Torloch usually does,” Patrick chimed in, earning a round of laughs.
Aiden looked out over the field, set up for Capture the Flag with a giant circle divided into six segments. Trees, boulders, columns and other obstacles were arranged, and the six teams were all given colored wristbands, expandable to accommodate shifting.
“How does one win?” he asked.
“The rules are about the same as you’d expect,” Niall said, more than happy to explain. “The team who collects the most of the other teams flags are the winner, and points are awarded by player for maneuvers and capturing flags.”
“So, a player on a losing team could potentially be awarded the highest points,” Patrick said, leaning over. “If he guarded exceptionally well and made the most captures.”
“If he made the most captures, wouldn’t his team win?” Aiden said, feeling like he wasn’t quite keeping up.
“Not if the flags get recaptured,” Torloch grinned.
A loud whistle sounded at the start, and the game proceeded at a fast clip, made only slightly harder to follow with a set of triplets playing, each of which were on a different team. The gargoyles spent most of the time arguing about which triplet was which and laughing with increasing volume as the orange seltzers were downed. The green team ended up winning, with four of the six flags in hand, and the highest points were scored by Brian McCarthy and Michael Ryan, one of the triplets, but no one could remember which one.
They met up with the other Doyles on their way in to dinner.
“Are we going to be seeing any more of you this weekend, or are you just off with your mates now?” Torloch’s mam asked with a pointed look at her son.
Torloch looked like a teenager being given a dressing down after getting home later than he should be out, and all the others were in stitches as he tried to reassure his mam that he had not forgotten about his family.
Dinner was a magnificent affair. Tender slices of pork roasted in a giant pit filled with glowing coals, apples baked to a caramel gold and delicately spiced with cinnamon, and mushroom pasties were served as the main. Platters of roast potatoes, parsnips, and turnips with gravy accompanied the meat. For dessert, a team of gargoyles in kitchen uniforms wheeled out a huge pudding, doused it in brandy, and flambéed it to a round of cheers. They served it with custard, and Torloch went back three times.
As the gargoyle was finishing that bowl, the others took glasses of port and whiskey, basking in the post-meal stupor.
“So, what do we do now?” Aiden said. “I’d suggest the show, but I’m a rather fast learner, and know better to follow the Schedule of Events.”
“What show?” Niall asked, but Aiden thought he was only trying to be nice.
“A Midsummer’s Night Dream,” Aiden said. “Performed by the Fae Theater Company of Ballymaguigaan.”
“They’re actually quite good,” Patrick spoke up. “I saw their rendition of Dancing at Lughnasa several years back and really enjoyed it.”
“Since when have you been a fan of the theater?” Torloch snickered.
“Since I got old and realized there’s more to life than food fights in the garden at midnight,” the gargoyle retorted.
“Now that sounds like a good play, I’d go see that,” Flynn said, and everyone at the table chortled.
“Just enjoy your drink,” Torloch advised Aiden as he stood up, taking his empty bowl in hand. “I’m going to get a smidge more, and then I’m sure we’ll find something fun to do.”
“Or something fun and trouble will find us!” Patrick called after him.
“It always does,” Aiden said softly, and the others laughed as if he had made a joke.
Chapter 8 - Loch
Fecking Eejit
Thursday, 7 July 2022, 9:33 PM
(Gargoyle Queen’s Castle, somewhere on the West Coast of Ireland)
They were some of the last to leave the dining hall, as Loch kept finding spare corners in his stomach to fit a little bit more in. No sense letting good food go to waste. Aiden was more relaxed and getting along with the other boys just fine. It was time. A wide grin spread across the gargoyle's face as he locked eyes with Flynn. “Let’s show Aiden the old book.”
Flynn matched his grin. Niall chuckled and Patrick whooped. Aiden brightened up slightly with the mention of the book. Loch chuckled as Flynn flourished his arm toward the giant doorway, and they headed off.
As Loch led them up the stairs, they passed various people in revelry, some held plates of food, others drinks, and others had clearly overly imbibed. Loch liked to drink, but he hated losing his faculties so he took orange juice, the one thing that could seriously destroy a gargoyle’s sobriety, in moderation (but he’d never share that tidbit).
With only one more flight of stairs to go, Loch was extremely annoyed when they came across Declan Conroy on the landing. He had hoped to avoid him for the entire event. The blond had been gazing out the window and turned to greet them. Tall and slender, Declan was built like a swimmer and as trustworthy as a fish out of water. A low growl ran down Loch’s throat. Aiden glanced at him, the query clear in his gaze. Loch pressed his lips together, reminding himself that throwing gasoline on a fire may not be the smartest thing to do.
“Hey, Dec,” Flynn said in a breezy tone as they passed.
Patrick gave a barely noticeable nod, and Niall didn’t even look at him.
Loch almost thought they were going to escape unscathed, but Declan stepped into the middle of the stairs to block their passage. “Flynn. Patrick. Loch. Niall. Dragon.”
Aiden stopped to avoid running into him. Declan was two steps higher, giving him a height advantage and allowing him to look down his nose at the dragon.
To his credit, Aiden didn’t seem phased. “Hello. Dec, is it?”
“Declan actually. I’m surprised they let you through the gates.” Declan’s sneer turned a handsome face into that of a first-rate arsehole.
“To be honest, so am I,” the dragon said with a pleasant smile. “But I can see they don’t have terribly high standards for who they let in, so maybe I shouldn’t be.”
“Watch yourself, dragon,” Declan said, leaning close. “You don’t belong here. I can get you kicked out like that.” He snapped his fingers.
“Come on, Declan, don’t be an arse,” Patrick said. “Just because your daddy’s rich doesn’t mean you call any shots.”
“Paddy, I thought you had better taste,” Declan said and clucked his tongue in disappointment.
“Why don’t you go tell someone who gives a shite,” Patrick said.
Loch was tired of the exchange. “My friends here and I are in a hurry,” the gargoyle said as he continued up the stairs, shoving Declan aside with a not-to-gentle shoulder.
“Have fun with your friends, Torloch.” A low chuckle followed them up the steps.
“Feckin eejit,” Loch commented as they reached the next level and headed down a hallway decorated in rich reds and golds.
Patrick grunted while Niall stayed strangely silent.
“That is true, Loch, but it doesn’t mean you need to egg him on,” Flynn commented.
“After what he did, he doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as me,” the gargoyle almost spat. “And he certainly has no right to harass my friends.” It had been a long time ago, but every time Loch saw his face, it made his blood boil.
“Yes, but-”
“Ah, this must be the library,” Aiden said in an overly loud voice that didn’t fool Loch one bit as the dragon stopped at two oversized doors carved with exquisite flourishes.
Flynn took the lead with a burst of speed, opening the door and disappearing inside. Forgetting their rude encounter, Loch laughed as both he and Patrick tried to get in the door at the same time. Loch squeezed past somehow and caught up to Flynn, shoving him as he flew past.
“Gobshite,” Flynn chuckled and tried to push past, but Loch wasn’t having it. He shouldered his friend but didn’t expect the foot that caught his shoe, and he went down in front of the last bookcase.
Flynn went to settle his arse on Loch’s back, which made him laugh as he twisted, elbowed his friend off while he grabbed a book from the bottom left of the case and stood holding it above his head. Aiden and Niall stood back, watching their antics with wry grins.
“Not bad for an accountant,” Loch said to Flynn, who was rubbing his chest where he’d been elbowed while Patrick leaned on the opposite shelves.
“I try to stay in shape,” Flynn said. “But you feckers live for this shite.”
“Some of us,” Aiden commented as Loch brought down the book and showed it off to everyone. Aiden squinted at it before frowning.
“The Hog Tying of Warlock Jeremy Fischer? This is the book you wanted to show me?” Aiden was clearly disappointed as Loch knew he would be.
The gargoyle waved a finger. “Haven’t you ever heard that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover?”
Patrick snickered. “We chose it because no one would ever pick up this book.”
“I could agree with that,” Aiden frowned further.
Loch flipped open the book. The inside had been cut out, forming a hidden storage within the book. A few pieces of yellowed paper were nestled into the space.
Flynn reached in and plucked them out. He unfolded the first one and read out loud. “Rooftop devil drops - 1 am.”
Loch peaked over his shoulder, recognizing his own less mature handwriting, and chuckled. “Haven’t done that in a while.” He glanced at Aiden, who had a brow raised, and explained further. “It’s where we leave messages to let each other know of upcoming shenanigans. We were often in separate classes, different dorms and this was a central place to exchange notes.”
“Devil drops?” Aiden asked.
“We used to jump off the roof and free fall, shifting only at the last second to land flawlessly on the ground.”
Patrick laughed. “It wasn’t always flawless.”
Loch grinned. “Nope, it sure wasn’t. Do you remember the time you made a crater, and old Sledgehammer fell in while he was chasing Flynn for something?”
Aiden was listening with a peculiar look on his face.
“Don’t even tell me that young dragons don’t do stupid shite,” Niall offered.
Aiden looked surprised, then a smile cracked his lips and Loch patted him on the shoulder.
“One day, I would love to hear a story or six.”
Aiden made a sound that might have meant he was game but also might have meant Loch should go to the devil. Loch knew he’d learn which it was sometime down the road. The other gargoyle’s, however, were ready to hear something entertaining now.
“Come on dragon, tell us a story,” Patrick said.
“Um,” Aiden said, frowning as he tried to think, but something was distracting him, and he kept looking side to side and over his shoulder.
“What’s the matter?” Loch asked.
“I think Declan might have followed us in here,” the dragon confessed in a soft voice. “I keep seeing something out of the corner of my eye.”
