Read Online Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut - Free Book Online Page A

for our lives.”
    â€œStill bitter, eh, Lir? Why, I thought ye would have let go of yer anger and grief after all these years.”
    â€œWould ye?” He nudged Finn’s door open with his knee and stepped inside, Mac Roth at his heels. They stopped talking when they noticed Finn sitting cross-legged on the bed.
    â€œMac Roth, meet Finnegan MacCullen,” Gideon said. He walked around the bed and handed the tray to the boy. “Finn, this is me oldest and finest friend, Knight Mac Roth. We’ve known each other since we were both apprentices back in Ireland.”
    Finn looked up wide-eyed as the other De Danaan approached. “Uh … hello.” He nodded once. “ And fáilte ” he added, after a subtle throat-clearing from Gideon.
    Mac Roth grinned, his teeth flashing white inside his fiery beard. “Fergus MacCullen’s son. Why, I knew yer father. A formidable warrior. And I had met yer mother, Molly Rose MacCullen, once. She was a rare beauty.” Sticking out a hand, his blue eyes twinkled as he waited until the apprentice clasped his meaty forearm in the traditional greeting. Squeezing Finn’s, he added, “Ye’ve a strong arm, lad. Gideon must be feeding ye well.” Letting go, he took the chair Gideon offered and sank down. He gestured toward the food. “I’ll talk while ye eat.” He waited until Gideon perched on the edge of the bed. “As I was saying, other De Danaan are reporting more and more encounters with the Amandán. The beasties are becoming bolder.”
    â€œYe said Iona had a theory as to why?” Gideon reminded him.
    Mac Roth leaned back in the chair, the legs creaking alarmingly. “Aye—the Spear.”
    â€œYou mean the Spear of Tuatha De Danaan? We were just talking about it.” Finn asked around his sandwich.
    â€œThe very one.” Mac Roth reached over and snagged a carrot off Finn’s plate, munching it down in two bites. “It is also known as Gideon’s Spear—” He started to add more when Finn interrupted him.
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me it had another name?” He looked at Gideon. “ Your name?”
    â€œI was about to inform ye of all this when we got sidetracked by yer stomach. And stop bleedin’ interrupting.”
    â€œIona has heard a rumor,” continued Mac Roth, hiding a grin in his beard, “that the Spear may be here. In High Springs. Hidden somewhere amongst the De Danaan. She also believes that the Amandán know of this rumor and are attempting to kill as many of us as they can before we locate the weapon and use it against them.”
    Gideon sighed. “And since there are so few of us, the Amandán might prevail this time.”
    Finn frowned for a moment, then brightened. “Hey! Maybe humans might be willing to help us again. Like in the old days. I mean, if we told them what was really going on.”
    Gideon snorted. “Let me play that scenario for ye, Finn.” He gave a nod as he pretended to speak with someone in the corner. “Why, top of the day to ye, Mr. and Mrs. Twenty-first Century Human. We’ve never met, but I’m Gideon Lir. A Knight of the Tuatha De Danaan—what ye might call Fey or Fairy. No. No wings. I do use magic and medieval weapons to battle goblin-like creatures with nasty dispositions and terrible body odor. Say, would ye care to help? I’ve a spare hunting knife and… Wait! Do not run away. To be sure, I am quite harmless!”
    As Finn laughed, trying not to choke on his lunch, Mac Roth flung his head back and roared. Gasping for breath, they applauded Gideon, who rose, placed a hand on his chest, and took a bow
    â€œAnd that, me lad,” he added, “is why we don’t tell mortals. Best to keep our identity secret.”
    Still chuckling, Mac Roth stood up. “Now, ye two are closest to the mountains, and the old mining district, so be wary.” Pausing