Deleted Scenes

Whatever the Sabhamir was going to say in response to that was stopped by the ringing of the phone. Maggie answered.

‘O’Hara residence, Mag-’

‘Margaret, it’s me. Get your grandfather.’

‘Lucas, what-’

‘Now, Margaret, there’s something- shit.’ Then the line went dead.

Maggie spun around. ‘Grandpa, something’s happened to Lucas.’

The Sabhamir stood. ‘I can feel it.’ He was gone.

‘Grandpa!’

‘I’m sure it’s nothing, Maggie-kins.’ John patted her hand. ‘He probably gave himself a scare and overextended his power.’

Maggie opened her mouth to say that Lucas wouldn’t ever do such a thing, but then the Sabhamir reappeared, with Lucas in his arms. Maggie gasped and ran over to him.

‘I need a bed to put him on, Margaret,’ the Sabhamir said, his voice strained.

‘The spare room. This way.’ Maggie led them down the hall. The moment the Sabhamir put Lucas down and stepped away, Maggie climbed onto the bed next to him.

‘What happened?’ She said, stroking Lucas’s forehead. He felt disturbingly cold.

‘This.’

Maggie spun around, amazed to hear her father’s voice. Then her eyes boggled as she took in the tiny, green-skinned creature in his arms. What was her father doing holding a leprechaun? They never left Ireland.

‘Lucas will be fine, Margaret. He simply needs his power restored. The Heasimir will be here in a moment,’ the Sabhamir assured her.

As he spoke, she felt a tingling on the back of her neck and she turned to see the Heasimir appear.

‘Is there something else I can do for you, Sabhamir?’ Her tone made it quite clear she felt she was doing all the hard work.

The Sabhamir bowed his head. ‘Lucas Manly attempted to fight this leprechaun and lost a great deal of his power to the creature.’

The Heasimir walked around the bed and pressed her fingers against Lucas’s forehead. She looked at the Sabhamir. ‘Someone has given him access to his power.’

‘If you could heal him, we can discover whether to be concerned about it,’ the Sabhamir said calmly. The Heasimir’s eyes narrowed and Maggie shivered. Then she nodded to Peter. ‘Bring the leprechaun forward.’ Peter gently carried the little creature to the side of the bed.

The Heasimir kept one hand on Lucas’s forehead and placed the other on the leprechaun’s forehead. She closed her eyes, then opened them again. ‘All is well. I am surprised to find that he has access to his power.’

Maggie didn’t listen to her father’s reply to this comment. She leant over Lucas, brushing his dark hair from his forehead. ‘Lucas. Are you all right?’

He groaned then opened his eyes. ‘Bloody hell.’

Maggie smiled. ‘Close your eyes and rest. It will take you a while to adjust to the power loss you had.’

He squirmed a little. ‘My God, I feel strange.’

‘The Heasimir’s given you back your power. But your body has been through a huge change and you need to give it time to recover.’

‘Heasimir?’ He lifted his head and looked at the Council’s chief healer. ‘Bloody hell, more gadda?’

The Heasimir lifted one precisely plucked eyebrow. ‘Indeed.’

‘Lucas, just lie down and rest.’ Maggie pushed at his shoulder.

Lucas slumped back onto the pillow and closed his eyes again. ‘You won’t have to tell me twice. Boy, that little sucker packs a punch.’

Maggie kept stroking his forehead, to keep him calm she told herself. ‘What happened?’

‘I was on my way here when I saw something skulking around the University. I was sure it wasn’t human, so I followed. It wasn’t human all right,’ he muttered.

Maggie looked over her shoulder. Her father, the Heasimir and the Sabhamir were bent over the small green man that lay on the carpet. ‘You gave it a good wack, that’s for certain.’

‘Don’t think I did anything. Snuck up behind it, it turned, and pow. Next thing I remember, I’m waking up here.’ Maggie turned back to Lucas to see his eyes were open again and looking at her with a warmth that sent shivers down her spine.

‘Well, you aren’t going to sneak up on a leprechaun again, are you?’ She forced gaiety into her voice, to halt the overwhelming emotions that filled her.

Lucas frowned. ‘A leprechaun? I thought they were just legend.’

‘Oh, they’re real, all right. Huge reserves of power. They’re generally very sweet, but they’re skittish. This one’s probably been coerced into coming here. They don’t leave Ireland if they can at all avoid it.’

Lucas struggled to sit up. Maggie considered forcing him to remain lying down, but recognised his curiosity was in control. So she helped him to sit.

Lucas swung his legs over the side of the bed and stared down at the leprechaun. ‘So, that’s a leprechaun. I would’ve thought they were more impressive than that.’

Maggie looked down at the little man. With his dark hair all knotted up and his face streaked with dirt, she had to admit he looked very disreputable. ‘They really are very pretty. There’s not a finer sight than a band of leprechaun dancing around a green paddock.’

As she spoke, she put her arm around Lucas’s back and leant her cheek against his shoulder. She wasn’t going to fight her desire to be near him, not when she’d had such a shock.

The Heasimir passed a hand over the leprechaun’s forehead and the little man’s eyes suddenly popped open. They were bright green, wide as pools and at the moment, full of fear.

The leprechaun’s head swung from side to side, focussing first on the Sabhamir, then the Heasimir, then on Peter. ‘Blimey. I’ve gone and done it this time and that’s no mistake.’

His brogue was incredibly thick and he spoke so quickly Maggie could barely make out his words. She looked at Lucas and saw his face creased in a frown of concentration.

‘It would seem so,’ the Heasimir said.

The Sabhamir turned to her and bowed his head. ‘I thank you for your assistance, Heasimir.’

It was clear he was dismissing her. Judging by the stiffness that entered her frame, Maggie thought it just as clear that the Heasimir wasn’t happy about it. After a pause, she nodded her head. She turned and studied Lucas for a moment before she transferred.

Maggie looked at the Sabhamir and almost swore the gadma rolled his eyes. Then he crouched down beside the leprechaun, smiling. ‘Your name, my good man?’

The leprechaun sat up, shook his head as if to clear it, then bowed. ‘Padraig Shamus, my Lord. A most loyal and true servant of the gadda.’ He then bowed his head to everyone else in the room.

‘Padraig, do you know where you are?’

The leprechaun shook his head. ‘Not a clue, sir, but since you’re here, I’ll wager it’s not good.’

‘You are in Australia. You-’ The Sabhamir got no further. Padraig jumped to his feet, wrapped his arms around his waist and looked around.

‘Australia? Ach, no, sir, I canna be. That’s most clear around the world, sir.’

‘I’m afraid it is, Padraig.’ The Sabhamir’s expression softened, his voice showing his concern. ‘Take a good sniff and you’ll see.’

The leprechaun took a great breath in through his long, pointed nose. Then his eyes widened before he burst into tears. ‘Australia. How can I be so far from home? Mary’s waiting for me.’

‘I promise I will take you home, Padraig Shamus, and explain all to Mary. But first, can you answer some questions for me?’ The leprechaun was too upset to answer, he simply nodded. The Sabhamir looked over his shoulder. ‘Margaret, can you get the poor fellow a dram of your finest whisky?’

‘Only Irish.’ The leprechaun suddenly found his voice. ‘None of that harsh Scottish stuff.’

Maggie assured the little man that the O’Hara’s wouldn’t dream of serving Scottish whisky, trying to hold back her giggle. Leprechauns were resilient, if nothing else.

There was a moment of reluctance in releasing Lucas, but then Maggie dashed from the room to the kitchen, and stopped when she saw her grandfather still sitting at the table.

‘Grandpa, do you want me to help you into the room?’ She put her hand on his shoulder.

John shook his head. ‘I’m perfectly happy here, Maggie. You go ahead.’

Maggie frowned, then realised why he was refusing to move. ‘Lucas will find out sooner or later.’

‘Well, I’d rather it was later. Now, run along.’ He waved her away. Shaking her head, Maggie went to the liquor cabinet and grabbed the whisky, along with a glass. Then she grabbed some more glasses. They’d probably all need a drink by the time this was over.

She took it back to the bedroom, poured a glass and passed it to the Sabhamir, who passed it to the leprechaun, who downed it quickly and politely asked for more. Maggie poured another, then it was the most natural thing in the world to again join Lucas on the bed, again lean against him, only this time he took hold of her hand and held it tight within his grasp. Warmth and comfort wrapped around her.

Padraig drained the second glass and then announced he was ready to answer the Sabhamir’s questions.

‘What do I remember? Well, I was hurrying home, 'cause Mary was cooking up a Kilkenny pie. I swear, Mary makes the best Kilkenny pie in all county Cork. Then a young man comes along the road. I recognise him as gadda, so I stop to share greetings. He told me a terrible story, he did, of his poor pa robbed and justice not done. Of course, I offered to help. He took me to his place and I met his da…’ Padraig frowned. ‘He offered me a good whisky, and I began drinking it and then…’ He shook his head. ‘Can’t remember a blasted thing, ‘til I opened my eyes and saw you, sir.’

‘Can you describe the young man for me?’

Padraig screwed up his face. ‘Tall, slender, red hair, blue eyes. Baring of a king, I’d say. He was awful well dressed and spoke very posh, almost like an Englishman.’ The leprechaun turned his head to one side and spat.

‘And his da?’

‘Pale skin, really grey hair. Old. But he’s got these eyes, you ken? Look straight into your soul, they will.’

‘Padraig, I believe a gadda has taken advantage of your generous nature. He has drawn on your power to send you here and I believe, with the purpose of doing harm.’

‘Oh no, sir.’ The leprechaun shook his head vigorously. ‘I wouldn’t hurt no one, sir. It’s not in my nature.’

‘I don’t doubt that for a moment, old man.’ The Sabhamir patted Padraig’s arm affectionately. ‘I’ll take you home now, and hopefully Mary’s Kilkenny pie hasn’t spoiled for the wait.’

Padraig’s face lit up. ‘Ambrosia, sir. You’ll have to try it. You’ll never want another, I swear it.’

The Sabhamir stood and nodded to Peter. ‘I’ll take Padraig home and ensure he is safe, then I’ll return.’ He held his hand out to Padraig. The leprechaun nodded to Maggie.

‘Pleasure, miss, which I hope to see repeated when you return home.’ Then he put his hand in the Sabhamir’s and they were gone.

The scene in the small room was like a nightmare. The first thing she saw was Sean on the ground, Owen and Kenyon bent over him. Then she looked across his body and screamed as she realised the bloody mess that the Heasimir and Wilma were bending over was Lucas.

‘Please, please, he can’t be dead, tell me he’s not dead.’ She flew across the room and fell to her knees at Lucas’s feet. He had been bound to a chair and, it seemed, beaten until he was pulp.

‘He’s not dead, but it’s very close. I need to get him to the healer’s wing right now.’ The Heasimir nodded at Wilma, the two of them touched Lucas’ shoulder and he was gone.

‘Please don’t let him die, please don’t let him die.’ Maggie buried her face in her hands, sobs racking her body. She couldn’t lose him, not now, not ever.

‘They won’t.’ Hampton knelt next to her and wrapped his arms around her. ‘The Heasimir is a truly gifted healer. She’ll save him.’

Maggie leant against him and sobbed. As the tears began to ease, the anger started to grow. This was Sean Flaherty’s fault. Sean and his bloody obsession. She pushed back from Hampton and looked over her shoulder, but he was already gone.

‘I’m going to kill him,’ she growled. ‘I’m going to rip him apart, limb from limb.’

‘I can’t let you do that, Maggie,’ Hampton said. ‘Hurt him, sure, I’ll even hold him down for you, but you can’t kill him.’

She swung around and glared at him. ‘Why not?’

‘Too easy for him. I’m thinking we banish him, but make him stay in Sclossin, so he has to live the rest of his life watching you and Lucas be happy. Now, that’s real torture.’

Maggie blinked and then, to her surprise, laughed. ‘I had been worried you were a bit too nice to be Sabhamir, but now I can see you’re as heartlessly ruthless as any.’

‘Thank you.’ Hampton stood and bowed. ‘Now, how about you go back to the council and see how Lucas is coming along.’

With her spirit a little lighter, and some hope still alive, Maggie transferred back to her office. Then she made her way to the healer’s wing.

Madge Quentin, the head of the healer’s wing, was waiting for her at the door. ‘Don’t you dare go in there disturbing them when they’re at work, Margaret Shaunessy.’ She wiggled her finger in Maggie’s face. ‘I won’t have you jeopardising that boy.’

‘I’ll be quiet.’ Maggie pressed her hands together, tears welling in her eyes. She needed to see Lucas. She needed to see he was okay.

Madge rolled her eyes. ‘You can stand at the doorway, for a couple of minutes, but put one foot over and I’m banning you from here for a week. Understand?’

Maggie pressed a kiss to the healer’s cheek. ‘You are a wonderful woman, Madge Quentin.’

‘Don’t try your whiles on me, Margaret Shaunessy. Just save them up for when that man of yours is okay again.’

‘So he is going to make it?’

‘It’s touch and go, but from what I’ve heard, the man’s a fighter. I’m sure he’ll be fine.’

‘Thank you.’

Madge led her down the hall and along one of the branches until they stopped in front of a closed door. Madge turned and looked at her, then took hold of Maggie’s hand before she opened the door.

They’d cleaned Lucas up, but Maggie still had to press her knuckles into her mouth to stop from screaming. Lucas’s nose was flat and one of his cheeks was caved into his face. Multiple cuts ran across the surface of his skin. There was a massive bruise on the side of his chest, and all his fingers were at strange angles – obviously broken.

The pain he must have been in was apparent, and Maggie felt her heart break. This was all her fault. If he hadn’t met her, if she hadn’t been stupid enough to sleep with Sean, if she hadn’t accepted the position of Ceamir…

The Heasimir walked over, her expression probably as gentle as she could manage. She put her hand on Maggie’s shoulder.

‘We’ve sent for your mother. We don’t have the knowledge to do a great deal.’

Maggie frowned. ‘Why do you need my mother?’

The Heasimir’s mouth twisted. ‘The council has decreed that because Lucas Valeroso is not gadda, he is not to be treated with gadda means.’

‘What!’ The two young healers in the room looked up and frowned at her. The Heasimir pushed Maggie back into the corridor and closed the door behind them.

‘The Firimir reported to the caelleach, and the caelleach directed that the council would not accept a non-gadda receiving gadda treatment,’ she said.

‘But that’s stupid. We use gadda treatment on humans all the time, so we can hide what’s happened to them.’

The Heasimir nodded. ‘It helps us keep the secret. However, we aren’t a secret from Lucas, so some do not see the need to waste our precious gadda resources on him.’

‘And you agree?’

‘I do what I am told.’

‘Well, I’m telling you to get back in there and to bloody well heal him.’

The Heasimir raised an eyebrow. ‘You are my equal, Ceamir, not my better. I do not answer to you. If you want to argue this, argue it with the caelleach.’

‘You can bet your sweet arse I will.’ Maggie turned around and began to march down the corridor. It was, beyond any doubt, the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. How could they leave Lucas to suffer, when it was easy to save him, to end his suffering and to heal him?

She didn’t bother knocking at the caelleach’s door, but just barged in. The sight of Hampton sitting in the chair brought her up short for just a moment, but then she continued.

‘I’ve just been told that you’ve directed that our healers not work on Lucas Valeroso.’ She spat the words at the caelleach. ‘Is that true?’

‘Ceamir, I can understand you are upset, but-’

‘Can you? Can you?’ Maggie leant on the table. ‘Have you seen him? Do you have any comprehension of the pain he went through, that he’s continuing to go through because of your stupid ruling.’ She heard Hampton sigh, knew he was trying to warn her to calm down, but it was impossible.

‘No, I have not seen him, obviously,’ Cormac said. ‘Yes, I do comprehend the pain that this will cause him. But I cannot govern for just one person, Ceamir. I govern for all gadda, including those who are right now probably cheering that this has happened to the son of Rogan Connor. I cannot insult those people by treating him as a gadda when he is not yet.’

Maggie threw her hands in the air. ‘Oh well, that’s fine, let’s not insult a few people. It doesn’t matter that Lucas is in agony, that keeping the treatment from him could end his life. None of that matters as long as we keep the status quo, right?’

‘I know it’s hard, but I have to do it.’ Cormac’s voice became harsh. ‘Your mother is on her way, she’ll help the healers and-’

‘She can’t do a bloody thing without her equipment, and you won’t let her have that dirty human stuff in here, will you?’

‘There is another way.’ Hampton’s calm voice cut into the escalating tension.

‘Don’t,’ Cormac said.

Maggie spun around to face the Sabhamir. ‘What other way?’

‘The gadda cannot say no to the properly phrased request of a guardian. Just tell Madge the right way to heal Lucas and she has to do it.’

‘Damn it, Sabhamir, we don’t need the girl to know how much power she really has,’ Cormac said. ‘She’s enough of a troublemaker as it is.’

Maggie glared at Cormac, then looked at Hampton. ‘How do I properly phrase it?’

‘First, you have to swear that you won’t misuse it. This is part of your commitment, Ceamir. It must be for the good of the gadda-’

‘Which this isn’t,’ Cormac cut in.

Hampton ignored him. ‘Misuse it, and you will suffer.’

‘I do so swear, and I think you are wrong, Caelleach. The gadda don’t treat humans like this, we don’t treat our animals like this. To leave Lucas Valeroso to suffer so reflects badly on all of us, especially those who enjoy it. It doesn’t make them that much better than his father.’ Maggie tilted her chin and looked at Hampton. ‘Tell me what to say.’

Within moments, she was back in the healers’ wing. ‘Madge Quentin, as a guardian of the gadda, I direct you to use all the power available to you to heal Lucas Valeroso. I accept all responsibility for your actions.’

‘About time,’ Madge sighed, then she rushed away. ‘You stay there, don’t go anywhere my girl,’ she called over her shoulder.

Maggie felt as though a weight was lifted from her shoulders, and with it came a dizzy spell that had her rocking on her feet.

‘Ceamir.’ She felt arms around her; warm, comforting and familiar arms.

‘Mum.’ Stuff the conventions, she thought as she turned and let her mother hug her. It didn’t matter how powerful you became, sometimes you needed your mum. ‘They’ve just agreed to use gadda power to heal him.’

Siobhan nodded. ‘I’ll go and see what’s happening. You stay here.’ She forced Maggie into a chair and then took off down the hall, the heels of her shoes clacking determinedly against the tile floors.

Maggie leant her head back against the wall, closed her eyes and allowed herself a smile. Perhaps now it would be all right.

Next thing she was aware of was her mother shaking her awake. ‘Ceamir? Lucas is now well on the way to recovery. He needs to rest, so he’s been put under a stillness resolution, but the prognosis is good. So there’s no reason for you not to go to bed and rest up.’

If she hadn’t already been asleep, Maggie would have argued she didn’t need it. Instead, she smiled sheepishly and said, ‘Sounds a good idea. Do you need to go back home?’

Siobhan shook her head. ‘I can stay for a while. Come on, show me this swanky flat you’ve manage to inherit.’

It was an enjoyable half an hour, showing her mother around and catching up on the news from Winton. When she finally crawled into her bed, Maggie fell asleep with a smile on her face.