Doctor Who_ Cats Cradle_ Witch Mark - Andrew Hunt [42]
'And so the first stage of this great plan of yours has failed. What do we do now? I have stated my opinion. If we delay too long and do not change our ways then we shall surely be overrun and it will be by Dagda's will.'
Nuada rose from his seat, twisting his heavy frame as he did so in order to face the Sister. His head was covered by a thick mane of dark brown hair and in the profile which this position afforded Dryfid, his craggy broken nose was most prominent, replacing the livid scar across his forehead as his most notable feature. He grinned at Sister Keli's sour face and offered a slight bow, at most an inclination of the head, in her direction.
'Sister, much though we appreciate your ... uh, that is, Dagda' s point of view, at present there is no danger. Only this morning I received word from Chulainn of the Clyr that the demons had not advanced beyond his furthest outposts which means that it will probably be weeks before they even approach Dinorben. They will ravage the Fomoir and Sidhe settlements before their hunger draws them here.'
Dryfid interrupted him. 'General, that is hardly an admirable attitude to take. The Fomoir and the Sidhe were our friends, our allies for centuries. We should be sending help to them.’
'Need I point out that their armies batter at our gates even now? This is not the action of a friend.'
'We have blocked them from a chance of salvation that we have kept for ourselves alone. We have not behaved in a friendly fashion either,' Dryfid reminded him.
Barras of Teirion rose to his feet, his lip curled into a sneer. 'They have never been our friends. When we first arrived they fought us and the battle lasted for a millennium. They are the traitor Goibhnie's servants. They do his bidding and seek, as they always have, to destroy us. In recent years their plans have merely been more covert, but now they reveal their true colours.’
Barras;' Dryfid said, shaking his head, 'your long feud with the Firbolg over the farm lands in the mountains is well, known. Do not let it cloud your judgement of this situation.’
‘If I may continue?' Nuada asked. 'I was answering Sister Keli’s objections. There is no present danger, for we still have plentiful supplies of gold and Emrys will quickly be able to accomplish his side of the operation. Before the demons can reach us we will be through the circle and have destroyed it.’
His eyes ran round the faces of the entire Tuatha. 'The evacuation will proceed as planned, and it shall proceed exactly as the Tuatha itself agreed it should proceed.'
‘Not a unanimous decision,' Dryfid murmured. 'Certainly not the route I have advised, as you all know.'
‘The majority agreed, and I am merely carrying out their wishes.'
‘The majority are fools,' said Keli bitterly, 'you all are. I refuse to associate myself with this ridiculous scheme. I shall return to the Marches and await your destruction. Dagda shall protect me.' She pushed her chair back from the table and rose.
‘Shall I provide an escort, Sister Keli?' Nuada asked. 'Just in case Dagda really has deserted us?'
‘You utter fool,' Keli spat and strode round the perimeter of the room to the double doors. As she reached out to open them, they were pulled open from without and Caeryon entered.
'Thithter,' he greeted her, 'I bring thtrangerth to ... '
'What?' she asked harshly.
'I thaid that I bring thtra ... '
She gave an exasperated exclamation and pushed past him.
'Well, I . . . ' began Caeryon.
'What do you want, Caeryon?' asked Dryfid wearily. His fingers idly ran round Cyllell's ears in a double loop, ruffling the hair slightly.
‘All yeth.' Caeryon ushered Rhys, a young girl with a pack on her back and a small dark-eyed man into the room. 'More people from the other world have come thr ... '
‘And that's not all, sir,'