The Forgotten Ones

and she held me in her gaze as I approached.
    Follow me.
    I didn’t want to, but without hesitating, I followed her to the path leading up to Liam’s property. My feet felt like they were moving without my consent.
    I gave my word to protect your mother, Allison. No harm will come to her.
    I shook my head, not understanding how she could promise that. Or why she would even want to. I got the impression humans meant very little to the Danaans.
    I swore to help your father. We will return your mother unharmed.
    I sighed. This mind reading thing was already getting annoying.
    Niamh smiled wryly. “I can speak aloud if you’d like.”
    “Thanks,” I muttered as we walked farther up the path into the trees.
    It was fully dark now, and the moon was waning. The flashlight helped a little, but I still managed to trip over a rock hidden under some leaves. I blew out a frustrated breath and felt someone grab my elbow to steady me. But when I looked over, no one was there.
    “Allison, meet Tagdh.”
    “What?” I asked, looking at Niamh.
    “Tagdh is Niamh’s guardian,” Liam explained. “He’s wearing a glamour to stay hidden from human eyes.”
    My eyebrows shot up. “What does that even mean?”
    “A glamour is an enchantment,” Niamh said. “It’s like a cloak of magic that keeps your mind from registering his presence.”
    I rolled my eyes, but nodded as if I heard this kind of thing all the time. “I see.”
    The air shimmered in front of me, and a young man slowly came into focus. He bowed his head, raising his solemn eyes to meet mine. Their color reminded me of the bright green buds of early spring, and his auburn hair curled around his ears.
    “Tagdh was able to use glamour to keep hidden.” Liam gestured for me to stop walking now that we were away from the others. “And we have news. The birds we’ve been seeing around your house are confirmed as Breanh’s spies.”
    Liam watched for my reaction, but I was determined to keep a straight face. “Breanh is able to control the minds of all creatures, including humans.”
    “Your mother could have easily been coerced to walk right out the front door,” Niamh said. “Your grandmother might have seen the whole thing and not remember a bit of it if Breanh wiped her memory.”
    “So what are we looking for exactly then?”
    “Right now, we’re keeping up appearances, for your family. Wherever your mother truly is, she’s far, far away from here.”
    Time stopped, and my mouth dropped open. “Keeping up appearances?”
    “Your family would think it was strange if you weren’t taking part in the search.” Niamh shrugged, the slightest pull of her shoulder upward.
    “How can you be positive it was Breanh that took my mother? How do you know she didn’t just wander off?” I glared at Niamh, but she remained unaffected.
    “The chances that she is still in this world are very small,” Liam began. “We will go to Tír na n’Óg and see Niamh’s mother, Saoirse. She is a Seer, able to see many paths into the future.”
    I shook my head. “Okay,” I said, though I didn’t comprehend what that actually meant.
    “You will stay here,” Niamh added. “Your father and I will go to my mother.”
    I threw out my hands, breathing hard. “You expect me to sit around and wait?”
    “Taking you would be too big of a risk,” Liam said.
    I gritted my teeth and glared at him. “I need to find my mother.”
    “I know you’re frustrated,” he said. “But what’s important is that we keep you and your mother safe.”
    “Obviously our ideas of keeping her safe are very different,” I said, spinning on my heel and marching back down the path without sparing another glance at either of them.
    I could hear Liam’s footsteps behind me as I walked up the sidewalk. I tried to ignore him for as long as possible, but when I stopped he came around to stand in front of me.
    “What?” I snapped.
    He chuckled a little under his breath as he shook his head. “I’ve never seen anyone talk to Niamh like that.”
    I snorted. “Just wait ‘til she finds out that I’m going with you.”
    “Absolutely not,” he said, his posture rigid. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Don’t you see? Niamh doesn’t care about my mother—I don’t even understand why she’s helping you in the first place.” I walked around him, heading toward where the crowd still gathered in our front yard. “But if you care about her, you’ll take me