Chapter Eleven #5
Brogan nodded. “They were supposed to have come in cloud ships. I suppose that’s the only way they could describe a spaceship at the time. They weren’t describing seagoing ships, they were sky ships.”
Camber shook her head. “I never knew the Tuatha De Danann went to your planet. Maybe it was to try to control this Balor creature your friends were trying to get rid of.”
“It sounds right,” Brogan said. “Balor is part of the same mythological story.”
“Can you remember anything else?”
Brogan ran her hand through her hair. “Yeah. A light sword, a spear that shot fire bolts, a shield, and an axe. Before the Tua left, they asked each wolf pack in the British Isles to protect a weapon. My pack protected the axe. The weapons needed protection because together they could help banish Balor.”
Camber sat back and sighed. “I wonder, after everything that happened with the Tua and other species that went through and made your world a home, if they thought they were dangerous to the human population? So they wiped the map clean.”
“Sounds right.”
“Once the portal was hidden, only the Tua knew where it was—oh, and Morrigan,” Camber said.
“I bet your Abnobians would like to know where Earth is. They could destroy us.”
“That’s why they want me, for planets like yours. Abnobia used to control this entire realm and many others. Then there was a rebellion in ancient times. Their empire was reduced to only a few isolated planets of their own, like Abnobia and its moons. They’ve been building back up since.”
“Seems like they’re doing a good job,” Brogan said.
“Yes, but they don’t have me yet.”
Brogan squeezed her hand. “And they won’t. So is that why you’re the only one who knows where all the portals are?”
“Yes, Danu and her people made the map and gave to the first Map Keeper. Only some of the more well-known portals were passed down from generation to generation.”
“I wonder why no one has found the portal on GallowGlas,” Brogan asked.
Camber shrugged. “They are extremely private. It was probably that portal that your ancestors went through to your Earth.”
“You think the wolves will allow me down, or even talk to me, if we are to go there?” Brogan said.
“They are wolves too. Why wouldn’t they?” Camber asked.
“Wolves are more complex than that. They see any new person as a threat to their family and lands.”
Camber started to fold up her map. “It’s the only choice we have at the moment.”
“I suppose.”
Once the map was back in the satchel, Camber said, “I’ll go and put my satchel away safely.”
Brogan waited for Camber to come back. When she did, Brogan immediately sensed a change in Camber’s mood.
“I think I’m just going to go to bed. I’m tired,” Camber said.
Brogan walked over to Camber. She wished she could hold Camber close and take away any unsettling emotions she had.
“It’s more than tiredness. I can hear the change in your breathing, your heartbeat, the tension, and your shoulders.”
Camber sighed. “Sometimes I get sick of running and knowing that I’ll be running for the rest of my life. Either that or serving the Abnobians as their slave.”
Brogan took her hands in hers. “That won’t happen. Your rebels will win out.”
“The rebellion thought they had won against them and broken their empire, but here they are, back and getting stronger by the day. Tonight, I had a glimpse of what a normal life could be like, with a friend, and it made me mourn for what I was missing.”
Brogan didn’t know what to say, so she pulled her into her arms. Camber was tense at first but then relaxed and threw her arms around Brogan’s neck. She began to sob and clung ever tighter, like holding on to a life raft.
Brogan ran her hands up and down Camber’s back, trying to soothe her. “It’s okay. I’ve got you, Camber.”
Brogan’s senses were going crazy being this close to Camber. The scent from her neck was beautiful. Wet rain in the morning, rolling in a meadow, and darker layers of shifting to skin.
The scent made her heart hammer as it made her think of kissing every part of Camber. She heard Camber moan as if it was happening now.
She pressed her nose into Camber’s hair. “I’m here, okay? We had a nice time tonight, and we’ll have one tomorrow with Ziggy.”
Camber pulled back, and Brogan cupped Camber’s cheek and ran her thumb over her cheekbone.
“Your presence makes me feel safer. I’ve never felt that before,” Camber said.
Then Camber inched slowly forwards until her lips pressed against Brogan’s. Brogan was shocked that Camber made this first step, but Brogan then pressed back and kissed her so softly.
Brogan kept the kiss soft even though she wanted to deepen it, because she was aware of not wanting to spook her.
And she was right to, because as bold as Camber started, she retreated quickly.
“Thanks for a nice night, Brogan. It’s special having you with me. I’m going to go to bed.”
“Okay. Have a restful sleep.”
As Camber walked away, Brogan said, “Camber, it was special having you with me too.”
Camber smiled and her body loosened up, Bragan could tell, as she skipped away to bed.