No Silver Lining

No Silver Lining

Ray McCarthy

Books by Ray McCarthy

Talents Universe

The Apprentice’s Talent

The Journeyman’s Talent

The Solar Alliance

Starship Chief

The Master’s Talent

The Legal Talent

The Mission’s Talent

Tellus’s Last Talents

Celtic Otherworld

Under the Stone of Destiny

Carrying the Shining Sword

Seeking the Flaming Spear

Hero Genesis

No Silver Lining

Exiles and Rooks

Fairy Godmothers

Conspiracies and Rooks

The Fay Child

Artists and Rooks

Dwarves and Rooks

Goths and Rooks

Jewels and Rooks

The Wooing of Marion

The Ensorcelled Maid

Four Kids, one Foxe

Trader’s Isle

The Seven Talismans

The White Fire Stones

No Silver Lining

Ray McCarthy

Celtic Otherworld V

Urban fantasy mostly in Limerick. Alice (Eilis) joins the four English teenagers going to the University of Limerick, but senses a Horseman of the Apocalypse.

Kate finds that Eilis is a strange friend with many surprises.

This is the sequel to ‘Hero Genesis’ and fifth in the Celtic Otherworld series, though the books can be read as pair or even on their own. The first three books of the series are a trilogy covering Alice’s magical development for her most critical three years.

If an in-house system fails, only one bank, or one retailer or one supplier is affected, insisted Louise. If everything is outsourced to the Cloud, even if it’s a hundred times more reliable it’s an apocalyptically bad event because you lose everything at once. There are too few cloud providers, who are too similar and too big.

The cover shows a detail of ‘Apocalypse’ by Vasnetsov.

Copyright conditions: All Rights Reserved, purchases may be archived securely or converted for personal use to other ebook formats. Conversion to PDF, RTF, HTML or wordprocessor files is violation of copyright. Uploading or sharing copies is violation of copyright even if the file was obtained without cost.

Copyright © 2016, 2021 by Ray McCarthy, M. Watterson

Revision 1.18

Smashwords Edition ISBN: 9781370802807

Amazon Edition, ASIN: B06Y26M8Z6

Title: No Silver Lining

Author: Ray McCarthy

Also published by Corvids Press

Corvids Press epub ISBN: 9781801020749

Large Print ISBN: 9781801020183

Hardback ISBN: 9781801020046

Large paperback ISBN: 9781801020329

Medium paperback ISBN: 9781801020466

Pocketbook ISBN: 9781801020602

CC Audiobook ISBN: 9781801021425

BIASC: Fiction / Fantasy / General

About 65,400 words

Celtic Otherworlds

Unlike Greek and Roman myth, there are many Celtic Otherworlds that appear to be magical and often inhabited by the Fair Folk (Fay, Fairy, Elves, Sióg) or sometimes the Tuath Dé (later called Tuatha De Danann). They are not realms of the dead. The oldest Norse legends have many similar aspects to the oldest Celtic myths.

In some legends it’s told that Manannán Mac Lir led the Tuath Dé away to an Otherworld via the mounds over 2500 years ago at the end of war with the incoming Milesian Celts.

The Celtic Otherworld series has this not as world belonging to the Sióg also called the Fay, the Good Neighbours, the Fair Folk, the People of the Woods, the Elves, the Lords and Ladies and the Sidhe, but a world with Aliens that remind the humans of old stories.

https://www.corvidspress.com/

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Contents

Chapter 1: The Magic Awakes

Chapter 2: Recalled

Chapter 3: Caherbeg

Chapter 4: Horses

Chapter 5: The Ride

Chapter 6: Precautions

Chapter 7: Settling In

Chapter 8: Ties that Bind

Chapter 9: Canaries

Chapter 10: Genie-Sys Dublin

Chapter 11: The Invitation

Chapter 12: The Wedding

Chapter 13: Flinn Invites

Chapter 14: Morwenna

Chapter 15: The Birthday

Chapter 16: Cloudburst

Chapter 17: Day One

Chapter 18: Day Three

Chapter 19: Day Five

Chapter 20: Day Seven

Chapter 21: Relaxing

Other Books

The Celtic Otherworld Series

The Talent Universe Series

The Trader’s Isle Series

Chapter 1: The Magic Awakes

Magic, it’s something very bad, whispered Alice. Not regular enchantment.

Kate looked around the University of Limerick library, there was no one nearby, perhaps because it was near noon. They had all been on campus early for orientation, final sorting out of the house and sorting out Alice’s messed up documentation. Kate thought since Alice essentially had an invented identity it was miracle anything had been sorted out. They’d survived Fresher’s week, though Flinn had reminded them of Queen Oonagh’s command to have no involvement with sports or any physical activities. She wondered if the Fay had somehow created fake leaving cert results for Alice, yet it had been a fuss about a birth certificate missing.

How do you know? whispered Kate.

My gran called it An Dá Shealladh, the second sight, but it’s just a thing that some Aés Sidhe have, said Alice. It’s seeing things as they really are. She closed her new laptop and stuffed it in the backpack. She started to pack up her books. Come on!

Kate blinked in surprise at the very tall athletic girl with short ginger hair. Despite the scar down her face twisting her mouth slightly, she still looked awesome. Other than admitting it was a wound from a fight, Alice wouldn’t say how it happened or explain why it couldn’t be treated. She was sure Flinn must know. She hadn’t had it when they first met, but she did have it just over a year ago when she met Alice again. Kate had first met her at the Easter before last, about a year and a half ago, when Eilis was recognised as the Queen’s granddaughter. Alice’s unusual variegated eyes, each mostly green with a hazel wedge, looked wet as if she was about to cry. She’d never seen Alice like this. Where are we going? said Kate as she hurriedly packed her books. Kate had thought at now 6′ 1″ that she was embarrassingly tall, but Alice seemed unconscious of her 6′ 4″ height. Neither of them looked tall in the sense of long skinny limbs. Fortunately they both could afford bespoke clothes. However, as usual, Alice was wearing loose blue jeans, hiking boots and an Aran jumper. The thin satin gloves looked a little out of place, but then many students had eccentricities in their choice of clothes. Kate remembered that she had been the shrimp of the five of them at school, Jenny the werewolf had been tallest, now Kate was tallest. It was still strange being Fay and accepting she wasn’t human at all. Alice was the reverse, she obviously had to work at pretending to be human, or possibly it was the fact she had only spent days or weeks in this world since 1976 and had used a Fay made mobile and laptop before ever using the human ones.

Somewhere I can privately talk to Flinn, said Alice. You should call the other fosterlings. It’s like a horseman of the apocalypse.

Not so loud! said Kate. I thought you didn’t like Flinn, you seem to be always avoiding him.

I avoid him because I find him, um, pleasant. I’m far too young yet. Don’t you ever dare tell him I said that. I’m still very angry with him.

Why?

Because he’s on the same course. History, Politics, Sociology and Social Studies. He says because there is a year at a mainland European University. Somehow I thought I could get out of that bit of it. I’m not sure how that’s going to work for you four.

Kate said nothing, she was used to Alice’s gnomic and enigmatic comments. Well, she was also younger than her birth certificate suggested. She looked like someone in her late twenties, or older when doing magic, though was claiming to be eighteen, nearly nineteen. She realised that’s what the fuss had been, Alice hadn’t realised that UL had her as eighteen already and the birth cert had her as seventeen. Flinn mac Haggan would also pass for being in his late twenties, yet was about 1450 years old, according to Alice. She didn’t know what age he’d put when registering as a mature student. As far as Kate could make out, he was the High Queen Oonagh’s appointed bodyguard for Alice. Or something. All Fay stopped ageing before they reached their thirties. Kate watched Alice texting Reggie, Susan and Duncan that something was up. Alice texted Jenny to tell that they might not be in for tea. Jenny was a surprisingly competent housekeeper for the six of them, seven counting Jenny, and not bad at cooking; it wasn’t a skill you expected a werewolf to have. At least this week had been fine. Kate wondered how the Aés Sidhe created the fake identities. She’d actually seen Alice’s first fake birth cert. It even looked eighteen years old, but showed Alice as seventeen, only eighteen in November. Flinn had been cross, somehow it had been changed. Her real one was probably over fifty years old, assuming one of her relatives still had the original.

We’ll eat? suggested Alice, pocketing her new smart phone. Flinn’s not available for a while.

Somewhere off campus? said Kate. Depends how long we are waiting and where we will meet? She wondered what sort of allowance Alice had as she seemed to buy anything that took her fancy. It was an expensive phone, but on pay as you go, she’d seen Alice enter the receipt for call credit.

I haven’t a clue, insisted Alice. It’s very different to 1976 when I left Ireland. You decide where. Somewhere without other students.

I know a suitable place, you very hungry, Alice?

Thankfully I’ve stopped growing and I’ve not been doing much magic, well nothing obvious, so I’m not too hungry. The healing will take a few more years, so it’s not using up much.

Anyway, you’ve gone past it in the car, said Kate. It’s Café Noir at the base of Travelodge just up the main road. Flinn can easily pick us up later and it’s a short walk. Early lunch?

Kate remembered how their friendship started, at the end of summer just over a year ago, as they walked.

The five of them had left England and gone to the Hy Brasil ‘Otherworld’, it had been only a few days before they would go back to Wychavon for their last year of school. Kate, Reggie, Susan, Duncan and Jenny. Kate had been carrying a pile of books to put away, walked around a corner in the palace library at Caherknock and cannoned into Alice. The books tumbled about the aisle as did Alice’s bag. Though Kate had known her as Eilis then.

They ordered lasagne and salad in the Café Noir at the base of the Travelodge near UL. They sat in an empty corner of the café. Kate was pleased that Alice had given up the headscarf, though she only took off the gloves at the house because of the almost missing finger and scarring. After a year her hair was merely short, much shorter than she’d expected, though she thought her own hair was growing slower. Neither Flinn nor Alice had explained the finance of the house. Perhaps he had money of his own or the Queen had bought it. Certainly it had been renovated and altered since the purchase had been completed. She’d been surprised that it was officially Flinn’s house and that he was with them at all.

This is nice, said Alice. Not too busy. I suppose most people will eat on campus or go to a pub on the Dublin road. It’s still early too. You can guess which club already wanted me to join?

The basketball?

Yes, basketball, I can’t though. Too dangerous.

How do you mean?

How fast and strong are you?

Um, much more than I used to be.

I bet you I’m stronger, I’m very like Neamhain, who is one of the stronger Aés Sidhe. Are you as strong as Oonagh?

Nothing like, whispered Kate. I saw her rip out a street sign and use it like a javelin. She has the word of command too.

I’m not as disciplined as Oonagh and Neamhain, muttered Alice. I’m obviously not indestructible either. Still, I bet you wouldn’t risk any sport?

You’re right, none of us would, said Kate. We have gradually got stronger since last year. Queen Oonagh personally told us we are forbidden to get involved in any physical activity. I guess it applies to you as well.

I wonder what Flinn is doing? said Alice. I’m worried. I know I didn’t imagine it. He didn’t suggest I had either. He sensed something too.

He’s not at home? said Kate.

He didn’t say, said Alice. He’ll call back. Likely we can all meet there.

Well, you should know seeing as he’s your bodyguard or minder, muttered Kate.

Alice laughed, which was good to hear, Kate thought she was mostly too gloomy. Presumably due to whatever fight she’d lost.

I’m not important, insisted Alice, also there are few Aés Sidhe more powerful than I despite my youth. We do develop close to our full magical and physical potential by seventeen even though we are not adults till thirty-three. It’s probably true that Flinn took the job to mind you folk because I’m here, otherwise I doubt he’d have been interested, maybe I’m wrong. Neamhain and Queen Oonagh would be more worried about me happening to someone else. You’d have someone else as well as Flinn if I wasn’t here. He’s very powerful, smart, educated and experienced. You are the heir and even Susan is more important than I, even though I’m a princess and she’s not. Alice lowered her voice. Flinn’s not as strong at magic as me. I admit I used to be slower than him.

He’s not your bodyguard? said Kate. He’s ours?

Probably, said Alice. I can say you are safe from being seduced by him, otherwise there would be a married couple from court here. Certainly I can’t imagine why you thought you’d be here on your own like ordinary students.

He’s not attracted to women?

Alice doubled with laughter. He’s supposed to be a regular menace, or was till he met me. She wiped her eyes. He’s already proposed, but I said I’m not going on a date with him till I’m thirty-three, originally it was not till much later. The Sidhe raised the age for marriage to thirty-three about 1100 years ago. They banned relationships with humans 2,600 ago, but both laws get broken, though there are legal ways to get married before thirty-three. He played a childish trick on me when we first met, since then he’s behaved himself. I don’t expect though that he’d have taken the job if I wasn’t here.

What do your parents and Queen Oonagh think?

They like him! I think Queen Oonagh picked him. Of course no one is expecting me to actually date or get married any time soon. We are not like the Tuath Dé, their girls panic at the idea of being single at twenty and marry as young as fifteen for boys and fourteen for girls, though not so much now as in the past.

Certainly he’s rather older than you and I suppose if any of us got married in a few hundred years time it would still be hasty, said Kate.

Alice beckoned the waitress.

Another Americano and Cappuccino, large, please?

So why does Flinn always call you Eilis rather than Alice if you are at least friends?

I can only guess. It is after all my real and official name both here and at court. We are good friends, I suppose. It may be he just likes it better. It is just as much my name as Alice. Um, he does call me Alice privately, sometimes. Do only call me Eilis unless we are in private.

Kate wondered what Alice was like with the other students. She wasn’t this communicative in company of their own house or in Court. Stiff was an understatement. She hardly spoke to Flinn, though actually really she hardly spoke to anyone in the house. She always had her nose in a book, watching TV or a movie on disk, or listening to music. Mostly reading and listening at the same time.

Chapter 2: Recalled

The seven of them had moved in a week before orientation week to the big split level house near the golf course that Flinn had bought. Certainly the bills were addressed to Mr. F. mac Haggan. It looked like a bungalow from the road, but it was split level at the rear on the hillside overlooking Limerick city. It had five bedrooms. Flinn, Susan and Niamh had a room each, though Niamh hadn’t arrived yet. Duncan and Reggie shared an upstairs bedroom. At least Reggie was supposed to share it, but he’d temporarily taken Niamh’s room, the middle bedroom downstairs. Kate and Alice shared the largest downstairs bedroom with Jenny sleeping on the floor in a big dog basket, it was a bit cramped, but for some reason only this room suited Alice. Susan and Alice didn’t want to share with each other. Kate and Jenny both insisted Jenny had to sleep in Kate’s room. While Alice and Jenny didn’t seem to talk to each other very often, they seemed to have some understanding of each other. The downstairs bedrooms were on the rear, as was the garage. Susan took the smallest downstairs bedroom with a larger desk instead of two beds. Flinn had the second upstairs bedroom on the same level as the kitchen as well as a small room that served as a study and had a server.

~

They all met in the lounge of their house, it was after 2 pm on a Friday. Jenny was invited too.

Coffee first, insisted Flinn.

Kate looked around. The decorating was finished. It was great that the decorating was complete, though only Jenny had seen the workmen as they had been at uni during the daytime.

Is the decorating finished in the bedrooms and bathroom, Reggie? said Kate.

Reggie gave her hand a little squeeze. Just a slight smell of paint and sealant.

I’d make a loss if I sold it now, said Flinn, setting a tray on the coffee table. I’ve spent a silly amount remodelling and decorating. This is near enough the Raheen industrial estate Portals that it doesn’t need one of its own to court. Now did anyone, other than Eilis and I, sense anything this morning?

They all shook their heads. Kate thought about the expense. Flinn was paying and not the Queen, so it was his house?

I suppose you wonder were I was?

I can imagine, Flinn, said Alice. Kate thought she sounded a little cross.

I was trying to convince Queen Oonagh and Neamhain to order you all home.

I thought so, muttered Alice. You went out of coverage. So what did my mum say?

Neamhain said that if the others leave, you’d likely leave too, but if they are staying, then you and I should stay, but she’d look for permission to join Manannán. The Warband, including her sisters, are here in Ireland a lot anyway looking for the allies of Elcamar.

I thought it seemed ominous, said Kate. So what did Queen Oonagh say?

She didn’t say much, said Flinn. "Except that it was up to Donal and Neamhain to decide about Eilis. She wants the rest of you to come and discuss it. Though you all will have to leave UL if she decides it’s too dangerous to stay. She absolutely vetoed the reforming of the Morrígna, or Manannán interfering. I spoke to Manannán and he agreed, we are not to interfere. Especially if it’s a horseman of the Apocalypse. Neamhain was unusually docile about Queen