Read Protector of the Light (Champion of the Sidhe urban fantasy series) for Free Online Page B

myself." Cai indicated the three other elves. "King Mckenna and my protégés, Lee and Tadhg."
    Another dozen elves loitered around the chamber, observing from the periphery. The magicraft would no doubt be an impressive sight, even to the talented elves. For the lead enchanter's ears only, Lugh murmured, "I wished not to begrudge anyone the opportunity to witness the work we're to perform, but I am concerned about the possibility of distraction. Perhaps you can encourage the onlookers to wait downstairs?"
    Cai needed no more encouragement than this to herd the other elves from the enchantment room. The room was itself round, as was the tower, constructed with the permanence of stone and masonry. The strong fragrance of the ocean washed with the sounds of the waves through the open balcony doors. Besides a fountain offset from the center of the room, statuary was the only decoration, ringing the perimeter. These commemorated those Sidhe that fashioned this section of the Veil hundreds of years prior. The aged marble figures seemed to watch him with the cold indifference of shades. Aine, one of the Leannan Sidhe, had been here. As had her closest friend Bridhid, one of Dagda's daughters. Taranis, another storm Sidhe as the lost Rico had been. Druantia, the Sidhe after whom the term 'druid' had been coined for her love of captivating humans. And even Tailtiu, Lugh's own foster mother, had been here that day. He'd not known that. And seeing their faces threatened to bring on a melancholy of memories, so he resolutely cast his gaze away from them so that he might fully focus on the task before him.
    Addressing the four enchantment weavers, Lugh asked, "Have you experience with complex interlacing connections?"
    "We use the Dara Knot in the Grove's Glamour with a Clove Hitch for the interlacing." Lee met Lugh's gaze with nervous bravery that didn't quite forestall his need to fidget. "In the Veil, you used a Dragonscale Seizing Knot?"
    "It is not so simple as that. There is an extra quaternary of Open Inward-Twisting Clover Knots for interlacing. The threads can foul into tangles if not cradled through the inner twisting. You can't lay the twists of the clover one at a time. They must be laid simultaneously, engaging all the fingers on both hands while controlling the outer knotwork."
    "You're yanking me!" Tadhg, the youngest of the lads popped off, earning a cuffing swat on the back of the head from Cai.
    "Watch your tongue before the Sidhe, cub."
    Lugh waved off the concern for the sensitivity of his ears. "Are any of you familiar with the Blind Journeyman Technique?"
    "I am," the king answered. Knowing what was required, Mckenna drew off his robe and tunic, folded them, and set them to the side. Beneath the elegant clothing, he wore only a simple cotton undershirt and breeches that laced up the front in the old fashion. The undershirt he also cast aside, so like Lugh, he was bared to the waist.
    "I've heard of it." Cai followed the lead of his king, removing his garments until he wore nothing but his pants and soft leather boots. Both Lee and Tadhg followed suit at Cai's nod.
    More so for the lads, Lugh prepared them for what he meant to do. "You four shall work in a tight circle, knee to knee. I will Touch you all at once. Thoughts and images move only in the direction of the Touch, so from me to you. I will not see your thoughts in return, so speak if you have something to share. Using the Touch, I will guide you all to work in unison and show you each move in turn. Go slow and follow my instructions precisely."
    Lugh arranged the four so that Mckenna and Cai, the more experienced of the weavers, sat opposite each other. On the stone floor, each man sat cross-legged with their knees touching. The space between them was sufficient for the repair work. Lugh knelt just behind Mckenna and Tadhg. Leaning forward, Lugh wrapped his arms across their shoulders and reached a hand to both Cai's and Lee's shoulders. The Touch required