The Forgotten Ones

wild and tall around the two indents of the road. It was obvious that no vehicles had been up this way in quite some time.
    “Niamh’s house is just around that bend,” Liam said, walking along the overgrown path.
    I followed closely behind, keeping underneath the green canopy where the air was cooler. The only sounds were the chirping of songbirds and our footsteps on the earth.
    “It’s pretty here. But why are we in the middle of the woods?”
    “We’re backed up to a wildlife preserve in Wheelwright. We try to stay away from iron as much as possible, so this spot is perfect.”
    “How can you stand being in Stoneville then? Iron and steel are everywhere.”
    “We use magic,” he said, glancing at me sideways as he walked. “There is no iron in Tír na n’Óg, as you can imagine. There is a mineral known as fháillan, however. Fháillan is, in many ways, the opposite of iron.”
    He lifted the sleeve of his shirt. A silver-colored band decorated with intricate swirls and triskelions encircled his upper bicep. That’s what I must’ve seen those days ago.
    “This fháillan band repels the effects of iron for a time. It’s not complete, but it’s bearable.”
    As we walked, I thought about the dream I’d had the night before. “I dreamed of my mother last night.”
    “Oh?” he asked, waiting for me to continue.
    “She was in a room, surrounded by these women. One of them was so beautiful it practically hurt to look at her. They were all smiling and laughing.”
    Liam’s eyebrow furrowed. After a moment, he asked, “What did the woman, the one you said was beautiful, what did she look like?”
    “She had long, pale blonde hair. Her skin was equally pale, flawless. At first I thought it was Niamh, but Niamh’s hair is much more golden.”
    “That sounds like it might be Niamh’s mother, Saoirse,” Liam didn’t seem to actually be talking to me, but rather thinking out loud.
    “I hope that’s a good sign, that my mother seemed happy.”
    Liam didn’t say anything, just kept walking until we came to a vast clearing. The rolling hills were dotted with purple and yellow wildflowers. Nestled between two ancient oak trees sat a pale blue shaker-style farmhouse. It appeared to be at least two hundred years old, yet impeccably maintained.
    As we opened the front doors, we heard low voices. I widened my eyes as Liam gestured for me to follow him inside.
    The old wooden floorboards creaked under our feet, and the house smelled of wood and old, oiled leather. In the small foyer, a staircase led to a second floor. Doorways were at both sides of the room.
    Sitting at a round wooden table to the left were two young men, one I recognized as Tagdh. He didn’t seem very surprised to see us, though. He smiled tightly and glanced across at a man with shaggy black hair. It seemed as though they were expecting us, even.
    A large map lay on the table in front of them. I didn’t recognize the locations, but there were little blue beads dotted over its surface.
    The black-haired man rose to his feet. “Liam. We were wondering when you’d arrive.” He spoke with a thick Irish accent. His gazed moved past Liam to rest on me.
    “Allison, meet Diarmuid, Niamh’s advisor,” Liam said.
    Diarmuid looked at me curiously. His eyes were soft blue and gentle. “Lovely to meet you, Allison.”
    “And, you met Tagdh in Stoneville,” Liam said.
    Tagdh stood and inclined his head and looked at me with a blank expression. I tried to smile at them, but it came out more like a grimace.
    “Liam.” I turned to see a young woman with wavy, ginger hair come through a swinging door.
    She hurried to place the plate of fruit she was carrying on the table and turned to Liam. She grabbed his arms, and her gaze ran up and down the length of him.
    “I’d heard you were all right, but I’m so glad to see for myself.” She turned to me, confusion plain on her face. “And, who’s this?”
    The woman released Liam and tilted her head to the side as she appraised me. I felt heat creep up my neck.
    Diarmuid came to stand at the woman’s side. “This is Allison. Liam’s daughter.”
    “Daughter?” The woman stood frozen, looking at Liam with utter shock.
    Liam cleared his throat. “It was a surprise for me as well.”
    For an awkward moment there was only silence.
    “Forgive me, Allison. I’m Eithne. Come, sit.” Without meeting my eyes, she gestured to a chair across the table, and I sat down. Liam took the chair