ã€ŠThe Light of the Anakim - The Athlethan Chroniclesã€‹


 Prologue

    The first sun that rose over Sennol, spreading it rays across the plain. The site of the last great battle left its indelible mark on the landscape. Giant fissures lay across the ground, disappearing into ravines in the mountains. Nothing had moved since then, all people left its barren wastes, destroyed by fire and molten magma, alone. No life was there, no animals went there, because nothing grew. Where Mount Triune once stood was now a wide hill, with its centre a source of smoke and foul gases. A bubbling pit of glowing red and orange magma.

    There was some movement in the shadows. Two men, aged from their crouched walking positions, slowly climbed over the cold magma piles. One of them slipped and recovered, the other grabbing his hand and pulling him up and over the next rock.

    He pointed at a cairn along the cliff edge a league in front of them.

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    Slowly they made their way over to the spot. It took them nearly half the morning and the second sun rose, brightening the scene as they reached the landmark.

    They stood at its base and looked around. Almost hidden in the shadows of the cairn there was a rock, long and thin. The man lowered his pack to the ground and opened it. From it he withdrew a large hammer and chisel. He began to chip away some cold magma along the thin rock that was attached to the cairn. Small pieces of the rock fell away revealing a glint of shiny black steel. He kept chipping along the length till it was mostly visible, revealing that it was a sword that had been covered in molten magma. It finally fell into his hands and the man with the white beard grasped it by the hilt and raised it up in the sunshine. The Bald man with a grey beard cackled with laughter and then quickly wrapped it in cloth, strapping it to his pack. They rested a while, drinking and eating then painfully made their way back the way they had come, eventually back onto the plain and walking toward the west.

 Chapter One - Princess of Athlethan

    The boys ran through Athlethan, knocking over the market stalls and causing carts to tip as people avoided the rowdy youths running through the streets without any regard for their safety or the people. Fruit rolled across the road and the boys laughing, ran in all directions, avoiding the peacekeepers who were not dressed for chasing fast and cheeky adolescents who should have known better.

    Suddenly there was a flash of movement. One of the boys ran closely past a tall, striking, white haired young woman. She wore leather and a light armour of Scatach steel. In the tiara on her forehead was a jewel, blue and flashing. She grabbed him by the collar and lifted him into the air, his legs flailing. He tried to turn, to see who was holding him. He went still and stared. The woman was stunning, her eyes flashing with anger was overwhelming and commanding. Her skin as smooth as a millpond and as fair as freshly fallen snow. The boy could not believe what he saw. Another boy was behind her and with the other hand she grabbed him mid-stride and he was lifted off his feet also. She placed them at the feet of the sheriff, and she swiftly rounded up all the boys, carrying them to their punishment. The people who witnessed this were amazed by her speed and strength. She was not only lifting boys, but these were also heavy boys, almost men. One of the boys swung his fist toward her and immediately regretted it, his fist was caught in mid-air and painfully bent back, causing him to cry out, the boy in the other hand was dropped and landed on his buttocks with a loud grunt of pain.

    When they were all seated in a wagon, the city sheriff watching them closely, should they try to make a run for it. They looked sheepish as they sat hunched together like sacks of potatoes. Their captor finally spoke. Her voice was firm, but kind and her tone and words made even the innocent, feel ashamed for nothing.

    ¡°I am disappointed in you all, this disregard for others is not tolerated. You will report to the palace service entrance tomorrow at sunrise where you will meet me for some recrimination for your actions today.¡±

    The boys nodded in agreeance, still watching her with stunned expressions. They were secretly pleased with this, for when people met Celthair, especially young men, they wanted to see her again, regardless of the threat of punishment. ¡°But¡±, they thought, ¡°how bad can it be? We get to be with the princess for a while¡±. Celthair smiled, relishing their punishment, looking forward to their faces dropping with what she had in store for them.

    The sheriff took them, now bound, each one back to their parents where, no doubt they received some real punishment, or so they thought.

    Celthair then went to all the market stalls they had damaged and helped fix their displays and paid for the damaged fruit and market produce. The people shook their heads in wonder at the beauty of this girl, in looks yes, but more so in her kindness and care for everyone. They loved Celthair, daughter of King Tuatha and Queen Laegaire. She had the whole cities devotion and allegiance.

    Celthair, her work done, smiled to herself. She gained a lot of satisfaction from this type of work. Her mother had insisted that when she wandered through the city, she have protection from Riangbra warriors. They followed her for a time, but when she grew tired of them following, she would lose them in the crowds, or by clever trickery. The market began to pack up for the day and the two suns were now low on the horizon. So Celthair made her way back to the palace to join the evening meal.

    ¡°What did you get up to today,¡± asked Tuatha as she sat at the table, reaching for a loaf of Trias, before she was even seated. Laegaire, rolled her eyes. ¡°Celthair, for goodness sake, you are nearly eighteen cycles old, act like a princess instead of a street urchin.¡±

    ¡°Like the ones I apprehended and will be punishing tomorrow?¡± she replied cheekily.

    ¡°What do you mean? Asked Tuatha.

    ¡°Oh, nothing really, there were some boys creating havoc in the streets, and I stopped them because the peacekeepers are too slow and fat.¡±

    Laegaire looked crestfallen. Her daughter was nothing like her. She was beautiful, yes, but she did not let that stop her from acting like a soldier. She didn¡¯t stop acting like one at all.

    Laegaire had the attitude, but she could jump between the two and become a calm and regal princess when needed. Especially in official duties.

    Tuatha grinned, ¡°I love it, I have a daughter and a son in one, which is great considering Aillel is in Don Cluana!¡±

    Laegaire levelled her eyes at him sternly and Tuatha winced. ¡°Sorry, my love.¡±

    Celthair laughed happily and pranced around the table wrapping her arms around Tuatha¡¯s neck. ¡°Thank you, Daddy,¡±, she said with music in her voice.

    Laegaire tried not to grin but could not stop it, when Celthair saw the face of her mother struggling to hold it straight, she danced to her mother¡¯s side and hugged her too. Laegaire and Celthair broke out into a giggle. ¡°You will be the death of me,¡± said Laegaire.

    ¡°You will be okay, mummy, I¡¯ll protect you from me.¡± With that she danced out of the room, with a mouthful of bread, half of it still poking out of her mouth as she chewed.

    ¡°Did she eat anything?¡± asked Laegaire dolefully.

    ¡°She took some bread, I think¡±, replied Tuatha.

    Laegaire shook her head, ¡°but its dinner time,¡± then louder, ¡°Celthair, come back and have dinner¡±.

    But she was gone. Laegaire looked at Tuatha. ¡°Can¡¯t you control your daughter? She listens to you, not to me, you need to tell her to not use her strength, she might hurt someone¡±.

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    Tuatha shook his head. ¡°I can no more control her, than I can control a river, she is a free spirit, don¡¯t worry, her Riangbra lessons with Cathabad are teaching her how to be gentle with people and not to overuse her strength¡±.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand my feelings anymore, she both frustrates me and makes me love her more than anything¡±, said Laegaire.

    ¡°Let her go, my love,¡± said Tuatha. I trust her, do you forget that from a young age she was never home, but with the people, from Muinremar to Imchad and now here, she is loved and safe among her people. She is after all, seventeen cycles old¡±.

    ¡°Eighteen in two sun cycles,¡± shouted Celthair¡¯s voice, from somewhere far off down the hallway. Tuatha and Laegaire, looked at each other and laughed. ¡°I call her back to dinner and she doesn¡¯t come. I mention her age and she can hear it from the other end of the house. Oh, my heart!¡±

    Celthair, ready in minutes, ran to the palace out buildings to find her friend. Tethra answered the door. ¡°Hello Celthair, if you are looking for Mags, she went to the party early.¡±

    Mags was short for Mairghread, she was Tethra and Devorgill¡¯s daughter. She was a splitting image of Celthair¡¯s character, but not her looks. She was dark like her mother Devorgill had been. Black hair and freckles, she had a beauty that was less showy. She liked to hide it and often walked around, her hair over her face. But under the broody looks, she was as cheeky and bubbly as Celthair, her much loved and best friend.

    When they arrived at the party, it was full of young people they all knew well. As usual the boys were huddled around, ignoring the girls, and talking about battles and swords.

    ¡°If the boys don¡¯t talk to me, I¡¯m going somewhere more fun. There is a battle of Sennol, anniversary dinner on. If we time it right, we will get there when the dancing starts.¡± Said Celthair to Mags. ¡°I¡¯m over boys, I prefer men, they know how to talk to you properly. These boys just talk about one thing and it¡¯s boring.¡±

    Mags giggled as one of the boys sustained prolonged looks in her direction.

    ¡°Are you listening to me Mags?¡± asked Celthair. ¡°Oh,¡± she groaned, ¡°forget them Mags they don¡¯t want to talk to you, they only know how to look.¡±

    But Mags was gone, leaving Celthair alone, sipping an Aetherclaw juice. She watched her ignore the boy and walk past him. She rolled her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s it, play hard to get, oh how predictable, Mags¡± she said under her breath. The boy grabbed her arm and said something to her. Mags turned and smiled.

    ¡°What did you say?¡± asked a voice in her ear.

    ¡°Nothing¡±, she replied automatically.

    She turned and faced a tall dark-haired boy, slightly taller than she was.

    ¡°Oh,¡±, he said, ¡°I saw your lips move, I thought you were talking to me.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she said, I was commentating on my friends predictable behaviour¡±.

    ¡°Well, she seems to have his ear,¡± he said.

    He was sitting near her at the bar. But she had not noticed how or when he had gotten there.

    ¡°I¡¯m C¡±, he held out his hand, ¡°and you are?¡±

    Celthair looked at him, her eyebrows furrowed. This was not the approach she normally got from boys.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± she asked incredulously.

    ¡°Should I?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes,¡± she replied, but I won¡¯t tell you. You will need to find out and no cheating. You can¡¯t ask anyone.¡±

    ¡°You are on¡±, he grinned broadly and Celthair fainted slightly inside, but she did not show it.

    ¡°But do you know who I am?¡± He asked her.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe a clever imposter who was not invited to the party?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I was for sure.¡± He turned and looked across the room and waved. ¡°The girl, whose party it was, waved back, and looked like she was about to swoon.¡±

    ¡°So, you know Dare¡±.

    ¡°Well, we met once when we were little, we went to the same school¡±.

    ¡°So, you lived here once but moved away, I know everyone, so that¡¯s why I don¡¯t know you¡±.

    ¡°Well deducted¡±, Ciaran grinned again and Celthair¡¯s heart fluttered. Not a feeling she enjoyed. It was she that made boys hearts flutter, not the other way round!

    ¡°Well, I was going to go now anyway,¡± her heart fell as she said the words and she kicked herself internally.

    Ciaran looked slightly disappointed, but graciously bowed and said nothing so she could walk away without feeling awkward.

    ¡°See you again, maybe?¡± he asked as she walked away. She felt relief but did not show it, she simply turned and nodded, smiling slightly. After all, she was in control, wasn¡¯t she!

    Mags had finished talking to the boy and met her near the exit.

    ¡°You lucky thing, you were talking to him¡±.

    ¡°Who?¡± Celthair shrugged.

    ¡°Him,¡± she turned to look, ¡°Don¡¯t look, she said looking back quickly, he is looking at you.¡±

    ¡°So? everyone looks at me¡±.

    Mags looked at her incredulously. ¡°You don¡¯t know do you?¡±

    ¡°Should I¡±, asked Celthair.

    ¡°He is only the son of Ainnle and Caer Omaith of Esclarmonde. It¡¯s prince Ciaran, you Aurochs¡±, replied to Mags, shaking her head in wonder at Celthair¡¯s seeming lack of knowledge.

    Celthair thought for a moment.

    ¡°There you go, the thought will Gel¡­any¡­ moment¡­ now!¡±, said Mags facetiously.

    ¡°That¡¯s little Ciaran? He is completely different to how I remember him, he was weak and small. He used to pull my hair and trip me up. I beat him up for it and was punished. Locked in my room during the first of the great battle celebrations, he was a pain in my butt¡±.

    ¡°Well now he is a pain in girls hearts,¡± said Mags.

    ¡°Not mine,¡± said Celthair haughtily.

    ¡°Yeah right, said Mags grinning to herself.

    After chatting with Dare and the other girls, they danced together for a while. But no boys came to offer a dance with them, so they left.

    They ran to the palace and went in the service entrance. The ballroom was a lot quieter as the lords and ladies spoke gently and with respect.

    Mags grabbed Celthair and pulled her to the dance floor and they matched the rhythm and swaying of the other dancers.

    After a while, they were giggling and doing funny dance steps, exaggerating the moves, imitating the dancing of the couples who were in love. Celthair felt a tap on her shoulder.

    ¡°Can I cut in?¡± said a voice behind her. Mags nodded and let her go.

    Celthair turned.

    ¡°Uncle Teth¡±, she squealed. Using her baby name, she had for him, since she was small. She leaped into his arms, her legs high off the ground.

    The other dancers looked at her with annoyed expressions.

    ¡°Shh...¡± said Tethra, laughing at her response.

    ¡°How is my little Celt?¡± his own baby name for her.

    Celthair did not speak, she only began to cry into his shoulder with happiness.

    Tethra held her and danced with her. A little embarrassed at her reaction in the middle of the dance floor.

    When she had calmed down, she leaned back and looked at his face.

    Then she grabbed his hand and pulled him to the side so she could talk with him.

    ¡°You look older, uncle Teth,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s so good to see you. Is Aunty Caer here too?¡±

    ¡°Indeed, she is my love,¡± she really wants to see you. Why are you at a dance wearing armour?¡± Tethra asked, grinning at her.

    He asked her, already knowing the answer. She loved wearing the battle dress. Ever since she was taught to be a warrior by the Anakim in far off Imchad. She had worn these clothes. It had been another reason Laegaire was so annoyed with her.

    She spent the rest of the evening, talking of her adventures and Tethra¡¯s work in Esclarmonde.

    When her mentioned his children and said Ciaran¡¯s name. Tethra saw a small response in her, a tell that she didn¡¯t even realise she had made.

    ¡°So, you have met him already?¡± said Tethra. ¡°How did you know? Asked Celthair. ¡°Is he here¡±. She looked around eagerly and realising her mistake, looked at Tethra and blushed slightly.

    To preserve her dignity, Tethra changed the subject quickly and she looked relieved. But Tethra, the master of body language, already knew.

    They spoke for a while longer till the party began to melt away and they all went to their respective places of rest. Tethra saying farewell and hugging Celthair goodbye. She and Mag¡¯s went off to sleep before the first suns rise kept them from doing so.

 Chapter Two - Independance

    The next morning just before sunrise, Celthair dressed in her work clothes, which were still looked rather like a battle dress, and ran down to the service entrance. There was a group of boys looking miserable in the drizzly rain that fell. They had gotten out of their warm beds because of the fear of Celthair, the fact her father was king and the craving to see her again. Never have young boys hearts been so torn. There had been nine boys she had captured but there were now fifteen and she grinned at their stupidity.

    ¡°Follow me¡±, she said, and they quickly fell into a run behind her, doing their best to keep up with her, running as if they were warriors.

    They stopped when the suns were fully visible. Half the boys collapsed with pain bought on by the extreme exertion.

    ¡°You did not seem this tired when you were creating chaos at the market¡±, she said.

    ¡°Now, pick up a shovel,¡± they obeyed, and she pointed to a long row of the stables of the Rochad horses.

    ¡°I want the stables spotless.¡± Once I have inspected them and I am happy, you may go.¡± The boys groaned but submitted.

    Celthair went into her own horses stable and began to clear it herself. When the boys noticed that she too was working, doing a job below her state. Each one vowed they would never let her down again. Celthair had won the hearts of these boys. She was indeed the heir to the throne of Athlethan.

    After the boys had spread fresh straw for the horses, they left. After the stable hands had thanked her for giving them a long break. She went back to the city, riding on her horse Cethern whom had been her companion since they first left Dun Emain, when she was a young girl. She was looking for a blacksmith that was not busy, to reshoe Cethern¡¯s hooves. She did not use the palace blacksmith, but instead she chose to support the small businesses in the city who worked hard to make a living.

    As she approached the busy little trade hub of Athlethan a large muscular man greeted her, a huge smile hidden slightly by a large back beard. ¡°Hello, my princess,¡± he called. Celthair grinned as she jumped of the horse. ¡°Dear Gormlaith, skilled blacksmith of Athlethan,¡± she replied affectionately. Gormlaith came over and bent down, picking up one of Cethern¡¯s hooves. ¡°Can you leave him with me for a while? I will get onto this as soon as I can.¡±

    ¡°I know you will look after my horse first, but you must allow those before me to get theirs done before me.¡±

    Gormlaith looked at her with wonder, where was the entitlement that so many people seemed to have these days?

    ¡°Do not worry, my dear, you go and do what you must do, I should think it will be ready as the first sun sets¡±.

    Celthair waved and thanked him. Wandering through the trade stalls, smiling, and waving at those who spotted her. When she arrived at the market stalls she stopped and purchased a roll of Trias bread and a cup of Aetherclaw juice. Just as she sat down to enjoy the snack, it began to drizzle so she pulled up her hooded cloak. Just as she did so, a commotion started up at the entrance to the market and three young soldiers on horseback came through the market, causing people to jump out of the way. Celthair was angry and she jumped in front of the horses, causing them to stop suddenly and one of them shied away, snorting with surprise.

    The men shouted at her to get out of the way. ¡°Move¡±, he said ¡°or you will feel my whip.¡±

    She threw back her hood defiantly, revealing her white hair. The man who had spoken stopped.

    ¡°My Lady, if I had known it was you¡­¡±

    Ciaran reddened as he realised his mistake. He jumped down from his horse and bowed.

    Celthair feigned anger, ¡°Your disrespect of the people of Athlethan is unwelcome. The way you pushed through the crowd was both dangerous and unbecoming of the reputation of your family¡±.

    Ciaran paled; he had hoped to meet Celthair again but not like this.

    ¡°M¡­m¡­milady, he stammered. Speechless both from her fury and the affect she had on him.

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    He was feeling more and more embarrassed.

    ¡°I will not allow this to happen again,¡± he said.

    She suddenly laughed, ¡°Get up stupid¡±, she said. She offered her hand and pulled him to his feet. He winced as her grip tightened around his hand, pulling him upright. ¡°I was joking, silly,¡± she said, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Looking at his two friends who were laughing together at Ciaran¡¯s reddened face. ¡°Not used to that are you, your highness,¡± they teased. Ciaran threw his friends an annoyed look.

    It did take Ciaran a while to regain his composure, but he eventually answered, ¡°Ulric, Seamus, and I are going to the forest to see if we can catch a Coney or two. Ulric can make a mean stew¡±.

    ¡°Can I come¡±, she asked nodding to Seamus and Ulric.

    The three boys looked at each other, Seamus and Ulric nodded eagerly at Ciaran.

    Ciaran jumped onto his mount and looked at Celthair, his heart booming in his chest.

    ¡°Yes, but where is your horse?¡±

    ¡°Getting shod, but do not worry, I am not heavy.¡±

    With that she leaped up onto Ciaran¡¯s horse and put her arms around his waist. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    Ciaran froze. This had never happened before. Ulric and Seamus eyebrows rose with surprise and a hint of jealousy appeared in their eyes.

    Ciaran shook the reigns, and they trotted off toward the forests of Athlethan.

    ¡°Wait¡±, yelled Celthair into Ciaran¡¯s ear. She leapt down ran to the table she had been seated at and swallowed down the Aetherclaw juice, took a large bite of the Trias bread, broke more off putting it between her lips and jumped back on the horse behind Ciaran, chewing loudly. ¡°Let¡¯s go, she said, this time with a large mouthful of food. Ciaran, rubbed his still ringing ear, raised his eyebrows, shook his head in puzzlement at his torn feelings of admiration and revulsion, and they left.

    When they reached the streets, Ciaran and his friends encouraged the horses into a gallop. People that saw her they waved, wondering who the boy was that she was wrapped around. Smiling in pity for the boy that had become the subject of her attention.

    They arrived in the forest and split up into pairs, silently searching the forest for tasty conies, small rabbits, their meat sweet and tender.

    When Celthair and Ciaran had caught a few, Celthair found a patch of sunlight on a rock and lay down, stretching out and yawned, her eyes closed.

    Ciaran stared at Celthair, unsure what to do.

    She tapped the rock with her bare hand. ¡°Lie down silly,¡± she said. ¡°Enjoy the sunshine.¡±

    He complied and placed his hands across his chest, feeling awkward and uncomfortable. He felt her hands moving between them as if she was searching for something. She sat up and looked at him. ¡°There you are,¡± she said, grabbing his hand. She lay back down her fingers searching for his interlocking fingers, till hers were intertwined with his.

    He lay there, still unsure what was happening. She had not told him anything about her feelings, so was afraid to read something into the fact her hand was in his. He could feel her thumb, caressing his hand. It made his chest feel like exploding and his mind was numb with fear and expectation. All he could focus on was her hand, her breathing close to his ear and her smell. Sweet, like sugary Aetherclaw berries.

    ¡°Tell me about your home¡±, she said suddenly.

    Then they were talking, they had so much to say. They shared their thoughts and then their feelings came not long after. They sat on the rock, facing each other, their faces close. When they were sitting in silence for a moment, they were looking into each other¡¯s eyes. They both suddenly knew. They were soulmates. Destined to be together. They kissed for a long time and then laughed. It was from happiness and the endorphins that each of them had created in the other.

    ¡°My Mother is going to be incorrigible about this,¡± said Celthair. ¡°It will be like all her dreams for me come true. She just loves your mother and Father. I was hoping to keep up the rebelliousness, so she stays annoyed at me.¡±

    Celthair jumped up. ¡°We should go, it will be dark by the time we get back. My Mother will send out a search party if I don¡¯t come back in time,¡± she said, rolling her eyes.

    After strapping the conies to the saddle, they jumped onto Ciaran¡¯s horse and galloped back to the clearing, Celthair holding Ciaran¡¯s waist tightly, her chin on his shoulder, both of them smiling.

    In the clearing there were no longer just two boys and their horses. Holding their horses were two men, two women were standing over the seated figures of a miserable looking, Seamus and Ulrich.

    ¡°Here they are, said one of the women. They were tall and muscular, with dark hair and skin. Their accent was thick and different to the people of Athlethan. Their armour was blackened leather, with an almost black patina on their steel armour and swords.

    As they approached, the men jumped forward grabbing their horses bridle. The women also leaped forward and pull Ciaran and Celthair off the horse.

    ¡°Hey,¡± said Celthair, ¡°you can¡¯t touch us like this, what do you want?¡±

    Then the men lifted his sword and struck Ciaran on the side of the head, knocking him out cold. They did the same to Ulrich and Seamus. Celthair cried out and furiously kicked at her captors. One of the men lifted his sword, threatening the same to her, but one of the women intervened, restraining his arm from dealing the blow. ¡°Not her pretty face,¡± she snarled. ¡°We will make less if he sees she was hurt.¡±

    ¡°Who,¡± she said angrily, ¡°who are you doing this for?¡± But they ignored her and quickly stuffed her mouth with a rag and tightly gagged her, tying her hands behind her back. They lifted her unceremoniously onto the back of one of their large back mounts, tying her to the saddle then they galloped off into the forest, away from the gates of Athlethan.

    Celthair could see Ciaran lying on the ground, blood streaming down his face, she struggled frantically wanting to run to him, watching helplessly as he disappeared into the darkening forest. Then she cried with frustration and fear till she was exhausted and slept, despite the rough ride on the back of the sweating and galloping horse.

 Chapter Three - Taken

    Celthair awoke. She was still bound and gagged. The first sun was rising, and she could see they were in a camp. There were now many soldiers and horses. Lying beside her were other people, also bound and gagged.

    Some were waking and some were already sitting up, their shoulders sagging and heads down dejectedly.

    Celthair looked more carefully at the armour of the soldiers. On their breastplates there was a symbol, engraved in it of the face of a beast with fire coming from its mouth. There was only one beast like that, she had seen it, raised by Mac Roth during the great battle of Athlethan. The mighty Tor-Rigil, destroyed by the Leviathan. The dark armour and hair and skin of the people made her realise they were of the dark city, past the wastes of Sennol, far to the north-west.

    These were the fearsome remnants of the army of Mac Roth and his conquered general, Amerghin. But what were they doing in Athlethan? Celthair was certain she was witnessing the rise of a slave trade. They were capturing girls to sell as slaves and wives for the men of the black city. Bile rose in her mouth, and she felt sick as she looked at the children lying around her. Then rage began to grow in her, she hoped that the alarm had been raised and her worried mother would send the entire force of Riangbra warriors to this place to save their children. There were some young boys as well and she wondered why they had not taken Ciaran. Perhaps he was too old and strong and was a risk to them rather than a reward.

    It was not long before all the children were sitting up, about twenty of them, Celthair counted. Five or six of them were her age. One of the girls was staring at her. Her eyes flashing and angry. Celthair looked more carefully, she was wriggling and nodding her head, she was trying to speak through the gag. Then suddenly Celthair recognised her, it was Mairghread.

    She had been captured too. She wondered how they had managed to capture so many of them without raising the alarm. She nodded at Mags to let her know she recognised her.

    She looked around once more. They were on a grassy plain. It didn¡¯t take long for her school geography lessons to tell her they were on the border of Muirthemne, in the dead lands just south of the edge of the great desert.

    Soon they were loaded into wagons, five to a wagon. Celthair shuffled forward when the guards were not looking to make sure she was in the same wagon as Mags. Their gags were removed, and they were given Trias bread and water. Once seated in the covered wagons, Mags and Celthair hugged. Mags was crying and shaking. Celthair comforted her, calming her friend.

    One of the girls in another wagon began to cry out for help. No doubt hoping to raise the alarm with someone close by. But her cries became screams of pain, as she was lashed as punishment. There was not a sound after this. Everyone now knew the retaliation for making a sound.

    The wagons moved fast toward the North-west. Celthair could see flashes of countryside as the canvas sides of the wagon flapped apart as it bounced over the rough track. She saw they were keeping off the main road when they could. Several times they left the main road quickly, hiding behind bushes. No doubt people were on the road, and they were hiding, so as not to be discovered.

    The journey was uncomfortable, and they could only sleep well when they stopped to set up camp. They were left in the cramped wagons and only allowed out one by one to stretch and refresh themselves.

    After a day of travel, Celthair peered out and saw a plain, in the distance, mountains, smoke was coming from a small mountain, quite close to them. There was the skull of the un-named beast that lay in the middle of the plain. It was the plain of Sennol, the site of the great battle that Celthair had seen with her own eyes a few cycles ago. It seemed so long ago; she could not believe it had only been four cycles since they were all there last.

    After they had skirted the swamps of the dead, on the narrow hill paths of the Sennol mountains, they finally entered the Black lands. It was the coast road that led through rainforest and palm filled beaches. It became humid and oppressive and the captors, having come from the cool climate of Athlethan, became miserable in the covered wagons.

    One of the guards, checking on them noticed and whipped off the covers. Despite the hot sun, it was a lot cooler as the breeze from the carts moving along, evaporated their sweat, making them feel cooler and more comfortable.

    The girls and boys feeling better, were now standing, chattering about the scenery they could see. They were still nervous and afraid, but there was some excitement in the journey for them. It was much better than the boring sides of a canvas wagon.

    The days were better than the nights. Because the blood sucking insects went away. At night they had to wrap themselves in their clothes to prevent the biting. If any surface of their skin became uncovered, it would be red with welts the next day.

    Celthair was informed that they were two days away from the black city and the children and the older girls were taken out of the wagons, divided up into groups and taken to a place to bathe and wash their clothes. They were warned that if any of them did not wash properly, they would be punished. The pool was delightful. The water warm and sparkling. They were allowed nearly all day to splash around and have fun then relax and sleep. But they were under close guard by the women warriors in case any should try to slip away. No one did, they would not know where to go or how to survive in this unfamiliar place.

    They all groaned when it was time to be loaded into the wagons and once in, they travelled all night, arriving at the foreboding gates of the Black City, early the following morning. It did not take long, and the wagons made their way through the bustling and noisy streets, arriving at what could only be described as markets. They were selling everything, from slaves to swords, rags, fruit, and whole carcases of large bovines hung, skinned from hooks on large wooden frames. The noise was dreadful. Some of the children began to cry, unused to the raucous shouting and the Emim giants ogling them from over the top of the wagons.

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    The crowd grew, eager to see the new arrivals. Some of them, richer folk were there to buy a child. Slaves were rare and the soldiers who had captured them became rich as one by one they sold the children off to wealthy family homes. Some even were purchased as adopted children.

    Celthair was horrified, seeing her people sold in this way. She spoke to each child, instructing them that she would find a way to save them and to do as they were told.

    Not many of the people were keen to buy an older fierce eyed slave girl, so Mags and Celthair, plus a couple of other girls were soon among the last left. The crowd melted away once the stock was depleted. There was still a lot of interest in them, and people came to ogle them. Celthair was beautiful as were Mags and the other girls and groups of boys, whistled, trying to get their attention.

    Celthair looked around angrily, wiping the tears of anger from her eyes. She noticed a tall elderly man was staring at her. He looked different from the rest of the crowd. But he was forgotten for a moment as Mags cried out. A very large and cruel looking man held Mags roughly by the arm.

    ¡°How much for this one?¡± he asked one of the soldiers.

    ¡°Twenty gold pieces,¡± he said.

    ¡°I have fifteen,¡± he said, throwing a bag to the soldier.

    ¡°What do you need her for?¡± the soldier asked.

    ¡°I want to buy me a wife,¡± the man said, looking at Mags with a smirk.

    Mags groaned and struggled to free her arm.

    Celthair pulled Mags out of the man¡¯s grip and put herself between the man and Mags.

    ¡°Never,¡± said Celthair. ¡°It is against the law of Athlethan to do this.

    ¡°You aren¡¯t in Athlethan now, love, now give her here.¡± He grabbed at Mags and Celthair lashed out striking the man on the jaw.

    He grunted with pain; blood began dripping from the corner of his mouth.

    The man grabbed her and forced her down onto her knees. He grabbed Mags and pulled them apart. He threw Celthair aside and Mags screamed; her eyes full of terror as the man threw her over his massive shoulder and began to carry her away. She was helpless in his strong grasp. Celthair tried to run forward but the manacle holding her to the slave chain, painfully stopped her in her tracks.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Mags,¡± she called out to her friend. ¡°I¡¯ll come soon¡±. Celthair looked around helplessly as she pulled frantically on the manacle around her wrist.

    When the man and Mags were out of sight, she cried her head in her hands.

    ¡°How much for this one?¡± said a voice.

    Celthair looked up, the elderly man she had noticed before was now in front of her.

    ¡°I am not for sale,¡± she said angrily to the man.

    ¡°Thirty gold,¡± the slaver said.

    ¡°Done,¡± said the old man and counted out thirty gold from a purse strapped to his side.

    Once he had handed it over and Celthair was released from the chain. He beckoned to her to follow him, which she did. She watched him suspiciously as she followed him up the now almost deserted market street.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked him. He said nothing and continued to walk.

    ¡°I¡¯ll run, if you don¡¯t tell me who you are.¡± She said loudly.

    ¡°No, you won¡¯t,¡± he said. Despite her continued protestations, he did not answer her again and she decided to follow this man as he seemed sensible and confident, not at all shifty like most of the people she had seen back at the market. It was her only chance to gain some control of her situation.

    They walked till the centre of the city was well behind them. Soon the streets became dirtier and the houses more run down and old. The old man eventually stopped in front of one particularly dilapidated house and banged hard on the door.

    ¡°Azazel, get out here,¡± he shouted.

    After a few moments the door was roughly opened and the enormous man who had carried off Mags appeared at the door.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± he said, scowling at the man.

    ¡°You will release the girl to me, I will not allow you to do this.¡±

    Azazel scowled and slammed the door.

    Celthair was not sure how it happened but saw it happen. The man muttered something under his breath and his hand slapped the door, it exploded into shards of wood, there was a loud bang and a cloud of dust. The man walked into the house and disappeared. There were shouts of anger and loud thumps then a cry of pain that ended in a growl. Celthair went to walk inside, hoping to find Mags. She needed to duck suddenly as the huge man flew through the air toward her. Around his body, black lightning with purple edges crackled around him. When it stopped, he fell heavily to the ground, grunting and then laying still.

    Celthair ran inside to find the man loosening the ropes than had bound Mags to a chair. Celthair knelt down and untied the knots around her ankles. Mags sobbed and her hand reached out, grabbing Celthair¡¯s hand tightly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here with you now,¡± said Celthair comfortingly. Once loose Mags stood up and wrapped her arms around Celthair, crying with relief.

    Once they had calmed down the man offered them water from a leather canteen, and they drank thirstily.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked the man. She noticed now that his face was etched with lines that gave him a permanently sad expression.

    ¡°You are Celthair, daughter of Tuatha and Granddaughter of King Aillel of Athlethan. I have met your father. We did not agree on many matters, but he is a good man.¡±

    ¡°Can we trust you?¡± asked Celthair questioningly. ¡°I don¡¯t think I know who you are.¡±

    ¡°I am Lord Buadach. I am a distant relative of Emain the first. My ancestors were his cousins. Your mother is my niece.¡±

    ¡°You are my great uncle?¡± exclaimed Celthair. Why did my mother or my grandmother never mention you?¡±

    ¡°We had a family argument, many years ago. I left and trained with Amerghin under Mac-Roth, but I left as I didn¡¯t agree with their plans to destroy the peace of the deep lands.

    ¡°But you used elemental power here, I saw it, it is forbidden.¡± said Celthair nervously.

    Buadach replied, ¡°I have unlocked it and can control it. It will not corrupt me. Do not worry. I have no desire to start a war or take the throne from your family line.¡±

    Celthair was unsure. All she had learned in her lessons with Cathabad was that elemental power in the hands of men, was evil and corrupted them. But she had no choice but to trust this man until she was safe, and she had rescued the children from their captors.

    ¡°Now come with me,¡± he said as he got up and walked out the room.

    Celthair looked at Mags and she looked back at her. They grinned and then laughed. ¡°Feeling better, Maggie,¡± asked Celthair. Mags nodded and they followed Buadach out of the house and then out of the city.

    Outside the city there were less people. Some were behind them walking in the same direction. Suddenly there was a commotion behind them. They turned to see a scuffle in progress. Three rough looking men were accosting another man. Finally, two of them held him by his arms, his legs kicked upwards and connected with the third man¡¯s face, knocking him to the ground. He leaped up and punched the man hard in the midriff.  Celthair stared at the man, who was now doubled over in pain, clutching his stomach. She began to walk in his direction, curious as to why she felt she was drawn towards him. Mags grabbed her arm, ¡°Don¡¯t go over there¡±, she pleaded, ¡°they look dangerous, its none of our business.¡±

    Celthair turned and walked away once more, looking back over her shoulder, not sure why he seemed so familiar to her.

 Chapter 4 - Loss

    Ciaran awoke to stars floating around his head. He heard hoofbeats going off into the distance. He sat up and saw his friends, still unconscious.

    Celthair¡­ her name exploded into his mind. He looked around, but he could not see her anywhere. The hoofbeats faded. He must have only been unconscious for a short time. Ciaran groaned as he tried to stand, his head throbbing with pain. He knew he had to try and track the soldiers. He hurriedly wrote a note for his friends and tried to revive them. They groaned and rubbed their bruised skulls. Once they had recovered enough to focus on what he told them. He instructed them to go back and get help. It would be an hour before they could mount a rescue, and he feared the captors and their captives would be long gone. Ciaran decided the best thing to do was to follow them. He leaped on his horse and galloped off in the direction he had heard the horses¡¯ hooves.

    It was not hard to track the horses. By the first rising sun he had reached the camp of the soldiers, fifty leagues from Athlethan. He counted another ten men and women warriors. He saw the covered wagons and the children, bound, and gagged.

    He considered riding back to meet the rescuers that were no doubt at least a whole nights travel behind them. But it would take all day and then another night just to get back to this location. By then they could be anywhere and gone off in any direction.

    He was surprised at the speed the dark soldiers travelled, they did not stop for two days and two nights. They would have left any rescue party from Athlethan, far behind.

    Ciaran followed at a safe distance. He hunted at night for food and cooked it next morning in the fires they left burning after stopping to eat. He was thankful for his horse as the journey was long and arduous.

    The journey took him over the great barrier river and north towards the dead lands. He knew they would try to bypass Enna Aignech. The dead lands lived up to their name. Nothing lived there. By the third day in the dead lands, Ciaran was hungry and thirsty. He managed to find some scraps of meat and Trias bread near the abandoned fires of the captors. But thankfully on the evening of the third day, it rained, and he drank from the puddles on the ground as did his faithful horse.

    After many days travel, he had remained undetected. Once clear of the dead lands he once again managed to catch some Cavy, a large rodent that lived amongst rocks around the Sennol mountains and across the wastes. Cavy had particularly tender and tasty meat. He also found some fruiting trees that provided a sweet and refreshing alternative to the meat.

    Ciaran realised they were close to their destination when he saw them depart from camp and return clean from bathing. Later he found the place they had used, utilizing the time to wash himself also, from the grime of the long journey. After he was refreshed, he went back to the abductors camp to find they had already left, they had left in the evening, not what he had expected. But it was not hard to find the tracks on the road and follow them. Before long he could see the light hanging from the last wagon with a rearguard of two men on horses.

    He followed all night, keeping well back so they did not hear his horses steps in the still night air. Early the next morning, he was dozing as the horse trotted along, tired from the lack of sleep. He did not notice the last wagon had stopped and that he was almost upon them. But he did not stop, it would look suspicious if he did, so he trotted past them, his hood over his head which protected him from the cool night air. The soldiers barely glanced at him as he passed them, they had already been passed by horsemen and faster carts. There was traffic on the road and Ciaran realised they were nearing their destination. He tried to look in the carts, trying to spot Celthair. But they were well covered.

    Once he had passed by the front of the travellers, he came over a rise and saw before him the lights of a city spread out across the valley floor like reflections on black mineral oil. It was black, the lights did not show outlines of buildings, it seemed that the buildings absorbed light, and it was pitch black. As he rode down into the valley and the hint of dawn splashed across the sky behind him revealed the city as black as its name suggested. It was the Black city in name and appearance. As he rode toward the gates and joined a queue of people waiting for the gates to be opened. Not far behind him the wagons with his friends arrived as well.

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    Entering the city, he found the streets coming alive with the dawn of a new day. He found the people to be curious of his pale complexion and blonde hair. He stood out among the residents were darker in complexion and had brown hair in different shades, right up to black hair. He stopped and turned into a side alley to allow the captors carts to pass, so he could follow. It was not long before they arrived at the market, now it was bustling with activity. Shouting and cries from the stall owners, selling their wares. A soldier grabbed his horses bridle and glared up at him. ¡°No ¡®orses ¡®ere mate!¡± he said angrily. It¡¯s too dangerous, go find a stable.¡± Knowing his friends would be here for a while he quickly rode around the streets till, he found an inn that provided a stable. ¡°One spot left,¡± the woman told him. ¡°The ¡®orses ours till you pay to pick ¡®im oop, the room comes with the stable.¡± He nodded in agreement, wondering how he was going to pay.

    Once Ciaran had put his horse in a stall and brushed it down, leaving it contentedly chomping on hay, he ran back to the market.

    He arrived there and panicked slightly when he could no longer see the wagons. But it was not long before he spotted a row of people standing on a platform, dressed in the clothes of his country. He realised they were being sold as slaves, his heart raced with fear seeing Celthair standing there, he stared until he was struck from behind by a man pushing a wheelbarrow. ¡°¡¯ey git orf d¡¯ road ya¡¯ idjit¡¯¡± the man remonstrated angrily, ¡°You¡¯re blockin¡¯ the way!¡±

    His reverie broken, it struck him suddenly and Ciaran looked down at his matching clothes style, it dawned on him that it would not be long before someone spotted the likeness of his clothes to the people being sold as slaves, and he was questioned. Even his hair colour was the same. He ran away once more, frantically thinking about what he could do. He was angry and felt helpless to help his people and especially Celthair.

    Behind one of the food stalls, he saw a young couple looking at him. The woman smiled and beckoned to him. He went over to them trying to hide his nervousness.

    ¡°You look like those slaves, are you from the same place?¡± the woman asked. Knowing it would look like a lie, as he did look a lot like the captives from Athlethan, he nodded.

    ¡°Where are you from then?¡± the man asked.

    ¡°The east,¡± replied Ciaran, unwilling to give away information to these strangers.

    ¡°Yes, we know, but where?¡±

    Ciaran had now taken in their demeanour, and they were clear eyed and had lighter complexion than the majority of people in the city. He felt he could trust them and went with his feelings.

    ¡°I am from Esclarmonde, my friends who are now unjustly slaves are from Athlethan,¡± he said.

    Their eyes widened and they glanced at each other with amazed looks.

    The woman turned and looked at Ciaran with piercing eyes. ¡°Do you know of Tuatha and Laegaire and their daughter Celthair?¡±

    It was Ciaran¡¯s turn to show surprise.

    ¡°I do, he is the king of Athlethan. It is his daughter I have followed, she was kidnapped and bought here, along with others.¡±

    ¡°I told you¡±, the man said, he turned to Ciaran, ¡°I am Dom, and this is Gretta. We knew Tuatha, Laegaire and their children. I grew up with Celthair, but I did not recognise or notice her, she must have changed a lot.¡±

    Ciaran remembered his father telling him about Tuatha¡¯s son, Aillel going off to Don Cluana with a girl he loved.

    ¡°I knew Aillel, quite well,¡± he said.

    Dom, jumped about excitedly, patting Ciaran on the back. ¡°He is my brother-in-law; I really did feel we had a connection!¡±

    ¡°Then who are you?¡± Gretta asked.

    Their raised voices had gotten some attention and Dom interjected.

    ¡°Let take this somewhere more private, where you wouldn¡¯t be recognised and the alarm raised,¡± he said. ¡°You look like an escaped slave.¡±

    They led Ciaran through a maze of streets to a warehouse on the docks. There were several ships berthed there.

    ¡°That¡¯s ours,¡± said Dom proudly. Pointing to a medium sized vessel just outside the large doors of the building.

    ¡°Are you merchants?¡± asked Ciaran.

    ¡°We are, my crew are in town getting food and some of them are over there sleeping,¡± replied Dom.

    ¡°So, tell us,¡± Asked Gretta, ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°I am Ciaran, son of Ainnle and Caer Omaith, King and Queen of Esclarmonde.¡± He said, his eyes watching their reactions.

    They stared at him for what seemed like a minute.

    ¡°Nooo, said Gretta incredulously.

    ¡°Did you escape? Why are you here?¡± asked Dom.

    He recounted to them his story so far and they listened with curiosity in their faces.

    ¡°Well,¡± said Gretta slowly and thoughtfully, ¡°We must try and save her, and the others. This place is a rough and dangerous place to live.¡±

    ¡°I have a horse,¡± said Ciaran suddenly. ¡°I need to go and get him from the stable, but I don¡¯t have any money.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about that,¡± said Dom. ¡°I¡¯ll go and get it, you rest up and put on those clothes over there, you need to try to dress like the locals.¡± He disappeared and Gretta showed Ciaran a room where he could bathe and rest.

 Chapter Five - Power

    Buadach bought them to a mansion, it had massive oak doors and was run down and overgrown with vegetation. It would have been magnificent in its earlier days.

    The doors opened and a wizened old man stood there, dressed like a servant. He bowed to Buadach as they walked in and then struggled to push the massive doors back into place behind them. They boomed loudly as they closed and a beam dropped into a cradle on the door, locking them in.

    ¡°Welcome to my home,¡± said Buadach. He showed them to a room with two beds.

    ¡°I will call for you soon,¡± he said. Make yourselves comfortable. There is a hot bath for you. Victuals will be served at Sunset.¡± He disappeared down the hallway, leaving Celthair and Mags alone.

    There was dust on everything and when Mags sat on the bed a cloud of dust enveloped her, making her sneeze and cough.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a bed and bath, but it¡¯s a little dusty and smells¡± said Mags, wrinkling her nose. ¡°He must have fallen on hard times.¡±

    After they had eaten, having been served by the little old man a meal of bread and vegetable soup, they were taken to a large hall where they came before Buadach, who was now sitting on what resembled a throne. Albeit a small one, raised up slightly and leading up to it dusty yellow rugs. The throne was made of a dark coloured wood, hewn from the forests of Sennol to the south of the city.

    Celthair noticed something leaning against the throne and saw that it was a black sword. It seemed to throb slightly in her vision, like it was going in and out of focus for her.

    Her mind suddenly went to her friends whom she had been captive with, and she looked at Buadach.

    ¡°Sir, how can we rescue my friends?¡± she asked. ¡°We must start tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°You will, tomorrow,¡± said Buadach. ¡°But you will need help.¡±

    He reached down and picked up the black sword.

    ¡°Who do you say you are?¡± he asked. ¡°I want you to say it.¡±

    Celthair opened her mouth to speak, but Buadach held up his palm.

    ¡°Wait,¡± he said. He got up and walked over to her, reached out and handed her the black sword.

    It was hot where he had been holding it and it still throbbed.

    ¡°Now, he said, ¡°say who you are, your full title, stating your family name to your great grandfather¡±. His eyes watched her and flicked back and forth from the sword to her eyes.

    ¡°I am Celthair, daughter of King Tuatha De Daanan Findabair, son of King Aillel, son of Emain the third of the line of Emain.¡±

    As she spoke the sword vibrated and hummed. It was heavy to begin with, but it grew lighter, and she lifted it easily over her head. She did not know why she did it, but it felt right, she felt like all the doubts and worry for her friends lifted. She felt she could just walk to where they were and rescue them. Her shoulders went back, and she felt taller. Static filled the air around her and her hair went frizzy, rising around her like an aura.

    Buadach, his eyes bright, laughed. ¡°Amazing,¡± he said, laughing some more. ¡°You are a natural, you are indeed of the line of Emain.

    ¡°What is this?¡± asked Celthair.

    Mags had stepped back. From her perspective, Celthair had changed. Her eyes went darker, and she seemed to grow in size. The air around her hummed and when she looked at Mags and grinned, she looked wild and slightly scary.

    Buadach, finally stopped laughing and cackling.

    ¡°Celthair, you have ability, amazing abilities, you are a natural. Has your father ever let you hold the sword Salchah?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± said Celthair. ¡°I did ask once but he said no.¡±

    ¡°Tuatha is not the chosen one. Cathabad and Rhiannon, both thought so, but no, I never saw Tuatha do what you just did. Celthair, you are the chosen one, the true bearer of Salchah and the scabbard of Athlethan.¡±

    ¡°But what are you talking about?¡± asked Celthair. ¡°This is not Salchah, this is a different sword. A black sword, this is¡­¡±, and it suddenly dawned on her. ¡°Mac Roth,¡± she spat, throwing it to the ground. She stepped back looking at it in horror.

    ¡°Yes, it is,¡± said Buadach. ¡°From Mac Roth¡¯s corpse I took it at the base of Mount Triune. But I have never seen it react like this, not in Ruad or Amerghin¡¯s hands even. Celthair, you have the ability to control Elemental power and not be corrupted by it. You are too pure, too powerful.¡± Buadach licked his lips with anticipation and picked up Mac Roth. He held it toward Celthair once more, but she stepped away from him.

    ¡°You can use this to save your friends, you will not be defeated, and you will have this city at your feet. Don¡¯t be afraid of it, Celthair. In Amerghin¡¯s hands it corrupted him, his mind was already dark and lost. But it has a new owner, the pure and beautiful daughter of Emain. You will bring light to the people of all the Deep Lands. You will save all people, with this sword in the west and Salchah in the east, all will be united as one. Celthair, you will bear this sword to the white eternity, it is written.¡±

    He motioned the sword toward her, willing her to take it.

    Celthair heard the words of Buadach and the doubt she felt was fading. So, they were wrong, there was nothing to fear from this sword and Elemental power in the right hands, her hands. Her pure hands. She would use it to do good and help people.

    She stepped forward and reached out toward it.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± asked Mags nervously.

    ¡°Yes!¡± said Celthair, taking the humming and slightly throbbing sword from Buadach.

    ¡°Tomorrow, we rescue the slaves.¡± She said holding up the sword.

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    ¡°Nothing can stop us,¡± Celthair thought, ¡°I¡¯ll save everyone.¡±

    ¡°They aren¡¯t slaves,¡± said Mags under her breath, ¡°they are the good people of Athlethan!¡±

    She didn¡¯t realise, but she had found the first mistake this sword made Celthair make, it was the mistake of pride. Celthair was slightly less humble than she had been when they first arrived in Buadach¡¯ s mansion.

    In Sennol, the new and smaller Mt. Triune rumbled for the first time in twenty cycles and some magma burst out its side and landed on the cold rocks like spittle.

    The next morning Celthair and Mags awoke to a grey sky, fine misty drops of moisture floated through the air, dampening everything till it was dripping. Celthair sprang from the bed and was surprised to find she was holding the swords hilt in her grasp. When she let go her fingers felt stiff and sore. It was as if she had been holding it tightly all night and her hand was tired. She shrugged and picked it up again, strapping the scabbard to her waist and thigh.

    After breaking their fast, they left for the city. Celthair felt confident and powerful. She strode through the gates, Mags followed hesitantly, not sharing her friends enthusiasm. When they arrived at the market, Mags was horrified to see Celthair walk up to the slave merchant who had sold them on the previous day. Celthair tapped him on the shoulder with the sword. The man was large and dirty, with a messy beard and a large paunch. He turned and saw her. He stared for a few moments at the tip of the sword then followed it with his eyes to the bearer. When he saw her, he began to laugh. A group of men gathered around her.

    ¡°Ah, the slave girl, escaped, have we? Let¡¯s get you back to your owner.¡± He grabbed the end of the sword with his gloved hands and pulled it, expecting and easy removal of the sword from her grasp. Celthair pulled the sword, and it sliced through the glove and deep into the man¡¯s hand. He cried out in surprise and annoyance. He stepped back and motioned to his men. ¡°Get her,¡± he said. ¡°But don¡¯t hurt her, we don¡¯t want to have to give a refund.¡±

    The men circled her, watching the sword. Two of them attacked from the front and the back simultaneously. Celthair stepped back and slapped one of them with the flat of the sword, the other she spun and cut his arm deeply.

    ¡°Do not touch me,¡± she said menacingly, ¡°I will not hurt you if you give me a list of your clients who have my friends.¡±

    More of the men leaped at her, and stepped back or fell, wounded.

    A crowd had now gathered, and people were watching the event unfold. Soon all the men were standing back. The slave merchant glowered at her. ¡°You are in trouble,¡± he said, ¡°The enforcers are coming.¡±

    Sure enough, some soldiers appeared, bearing the plumes and standards on their shields of the Dark soldiers of the dark city. They saw Celthair with the sword and surrounded her quickly. They grabbed the merchant and spoke to Celthair.

    ¡°You are to come with us. The council will see you now.¡±

    Celthair was furious, she stood in front of the speaker and held the sword toward him. ¡°I am not going anywhere, this man must give me his client list, he sold my friends, my people and I want them back.

    ¡°I have a legitimate business here,¡± said the merchant. ¡°I want her arrested for attacking me and my men.¡±

    The leader of the soldiers looked the merchant up and down disdainfully. ¡°A woman bested you, did she? I suggest you leave before I set her on you again. I want that list bought to me now.¡±

    The soldier turned to Celthair. ¡°Now, I suggest you give me the sword. Weapons are banned in the market.¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t want to do that,¡± replied Celthair. The soldier looked annoyed. ¡°Put it away and give it to me, now!¡±

    Celthair walked away, ¡°Show me to the council, let¡¯s go.¡±

    The other soldiers blocked her way, preventing her from leaving.

    ¡°You will be sorry if you do not let me pass, and take me to this council,¡± said Celthair menacingly.

    ¡°Take her!¡± the leader said to the men. They leaped forward. It was the last thing they remembered. Celthair drew Mac Roth and held it up. Her eyes flashed and then turned dark. Lightening, purple in colour, flashed along her arm and up the hilt to the sword tip. The clouds in the sky went darker and seemed to swirl above her. There was a crash of thunder and a flash, and the soldiers were flung outwards, landing at the feet of the gathered crowd who were now running and crying out in fear.

    Celthair lowered the sword and stood, her shoulders back and head high, she looked formidable and dark. Her voice boomed out.

    ¡°I am Celthair, daughter of Tuatha De Daanan Findabair Emain. I alone wield the power and sword of Mac Roth. I am the rightful heir of Athlethan and Sennol.¡± When she finished her voice echoed and boomed off the surrounding buildings.

    There was a commotion and a group of people, richly dressed stepped out from the crowd, looking at her, appraising what they saw. They had heard her words and did not look afraid.

    ¡°Can you validate your claim?¡± a woman said, stepping forward.

    ¡°She can!¡± said a voice behind Celthair.

    She turned and Buadach stepped forward.

    ¡°She is indeed a descendant of Emain, and she will bring leadership and prosperity back to these lands. She bears the sword Mac Roth, once held by Amerghin her grandfather, Lord of Sennol.

    The crowd gasped in amazement and the councillors looked impressed but quickly changed their face when they realised it would make them look weak.

    ¡°We need more proof,¡± the woman said.

    By now the crowd was massive, it seemed as if the whole city was there.

    ¡°Kill her,¡± said Buadach in Celthair¡¯s ear. ¡°They will only try to hold you back. It will show the people you are the true heir.¡±

    Something inside Celthair groaned. A flash of conscience that her parents had instilled in her. But it did not last. The sword had done its work.

    Celthair stepped forward. Her face still black and glowering. She seemed to tower over the councillors. They stepped back nervously.

    ¡°W¡­well?¡± said the woman. ¡°Will you prove it to us?¡±

    The sword crackled and lighting went up Celthair¡¯s arm.

    She raised the sword and pointed it at the councillor. The purple lightning shot out and hit the woman in the chest. She cried out and sank to her knees falling forward onto her face. She was dead.

    The other councillors stepped back, terror on their face, as did the people. They stared at her. No one dared approach her.

    ¡°Celthair!¡± a man¡¯s voice shouted. Through the crowd a blonde head was forcing its way through till, breathless Ciaran stood before her.

    ¡°What have you done,¡± he asked breathlessly, looking at the dead woman.

    Celthair looked at him coldly. ¡°I have taken what is rightfully mine¡±.

    ¡°No, no, no¡± he said, ¡°this is not you¡±.

    ¡°I assure you; it is, I am Amerghin¡¯s granddaughter and heir of the whole of the deep lands. Step aside Ciaran, I am going to lead these people,¡± she said. ¡°You can join me or go.¡±

    Ciaran shook his head at her. ¡°I will talk with you later,¡± he said.

    ¡°You will waste your time then,¡± Celthair said haughtily.

    Celthair turned and looked at the crowd. ¡°Now bring me the slave merchant before more of you die,¡± she said.

    There was a commotion around the middle of the crowd and before long the crowd parted and two soldiers, half carrying the merchant placed him before her. He fell to his knees, looking at the ground. From his pocket he drew some paper and shaking, handed it to Celthair.

    She opened it, stared at it for a moment and spoke.

    ¡°Where are my soldiers? She asked. Before long she had fifty Black soldiers before her. ¡°Do you pledge fealty to me, the heir of Sennol?¡±

    The soldiers placed their fists on their chests slamming their breastplates in unison three times. ¡°Aye!¡± they all shouted.

    ¡°Who is the captain?¡± she asked.

    A Soldier stepped forward. ¡°I am!¡± he said.

    ¡°Take this list and bring me all my friends and countrymen. They are not slaves!¡± Celthair commanded. ¡°Ciaran, you are to go and oversee that they follow my orders quickly and that any who have mistreated them are punished.¡±

    The captain saluted and the soldiers marched off to fulfill her orders. Ciaran followed them, looking back at Celthair in wonder and fear.

    Ciaran first went to Dom and Gretta¡¯s house to thank them for their hospitality. He Told Dom that it was Celthair that had claimed the throne of The Black City. He did not act surprised. ¡°I will come to see her soon, when things have settled down,¡± he said. ¡°I have business that needs attending to first. I¡¯ll see you later.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Well done,¡± said Buadach to Celthair. ¡°You now have the peoples attention. Make me your advisor and I will help you become their leader and find ways to achieve amazing thing for this country¡±.

    Celthair looked at Buadach. ¡°You have helped me find my calling wizard, and for that I am grateful. You will be my advisor when I ask for advice. I do not want you second guessing my every move¡±.

    Buadach bowed, his face angry when she could not see it, he rose, his face smiling graciously.

    ¡°Now,¡± Celthair said, ¡°show me to the palace and make sure none of those councillors are there when I arrive¡±.

    Mairghread was stunned, she had stood back and watched from a distance, the change that came over Celthair. She was too fearful to approach her. She cried when she saw Celthair kill the woman. She knew what had happened, with good intentions, Celthair had become corrupted. Whether it was her grandfather¡¯s blood in her veins or a terrible choice, Mags did not care. She only cared for her friend.

    She followed at a distance as Celthair walked into the palace. It had been built by Amergin, her grandfather and she arrived and stared in wonder at the statue of his likeness and of her grandmother Dagemar that adorned the foyer as they entered.

    Celthair had not looked out for Mags like she always did. But Mags did, she did not take her eyes of Celthair. She vowed to follow Celthair and help her, to be there when she was needed. She waved to Ciaran when he saw her. He ran over to her, and they hugged. They were both glad to see a familiar face of their own people.

    ¡°What do we do?¡± said Ciaran. Mags looked at him and shook her head. ¡°This is where we trust Riangbra. It is a test she is going through, to find herself. We must be there for her when she comes back to us¡±.

    Ciaran looked relieved.

    ¡°I do want to punish those people who mistreated our friends, but I think I will teach them slavery is no longer tolerated and will be punished if they engage in it again.¡±

    ¡°Good idea,¡± said Mags, ¡°we don¡¯t have to be like Celthair is right now.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you back at the palace later,¡± said Ciaran and he ran off after the departing soldiers.

 Chapter 6 - Farewells and affairs

    Buadach was annoyed. He had planned his way back into power carefully. Initially on arriving in the black city he had tried many times to get on the council, but they did not accept him. When he saw the daughter of Tuatha enter the city he saw an opportunity. He wanted to see if she could wield the sword first and the results were beyond his wildest imagination. She took to it like it had been made for her and her access to the elemental power was almost unfathomable. He knew that Celthair had no idea how far she could go with it. Buadach knew that she would eventually find out and he planned to try to slow her down or she would become so corrupted she would not be able to be controlled. Her sudden abilities had almost put her over the edge, this is why Buadach was annoyed.

    But he had managed to pull her back. The way to do this was to keep her out of situations that would create opportunity for her to use her powers.

    The next day he hoped to bring her to the rulers seat, in the middle of the city and there she could meet the people and judge their disputes. This was where she would gain respect and fear, and her power would grow. The people would grow to love and fear her, they would make her queen. It would not take much for them to begin the process.

    The palace was luxurious. Celthair had softened toward her best friend and they both reclined on a leather couch in the sunshine.

    ¡°I cannot wait to see the others again,¡± said Mags, stretching her limbs.

    Celthair looked at her friend and smiled. She felt anxious and upset. Ever since she had killed the councillor, she had fought a battle in her heart. She felt powerful and confident most of the time but occasionally she felt guilt. She tried to dismiss it as weakness and tried to will the feeling away. But it haunted her.

    The pride always drove away the guilt.

    Eventually the sound of excited chatter through the hallways, met their ears from the returning captives from Athlethan. The first to appear was Ciaran. Celthair looked at him expectantly and he saw her questioning look and he nodded. ¡°They are all accounted for,¡± he said.

    ¡°Give them choice of rooms and a bed each,¡± said Celthair to Ciaran.

    ¡°Make sure they are comfortable. I will meet with them for evening victuals after the last sun is set.¡±

    Ciaran stood looking at her, surprised at her coldness toward him.

    ¡°Well, don¡¯t just stand there,¡± Celthair barked. ¡°Go do it!¡±

    Ciaran felt shocked, a change had come over Celthair that he did not recognise. She was no longer the fun-loving girl he had first met. Her eyes were dark and unfriendly. He walked away to do her bidding, feeling disappointed. It hurt him a lot, and as he searched his feelings, he realised how much he loved her. The pain was unbearable, like his heart was struggling to beat. Was it because she felt too much responsibility? Maybe she felt guilty for killing the woman. Questions floated around his head making it spin. He would have a chance to speak with her alone, he wanted to share her suffering. The weight she must be carrying.

    Buadach bowed as he walked into the room where Mags was reclining and Celthair was pacing to the door and back to the window.

    ¡°Can we discuss plans for tomorrow, my Lady,¡± he said to Celthair.

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    She stopped pacing and stood before him.

    ¡°Good,¡± she said, ¡°I need to think about these things, if I am doing things or even just talking about doing things, I don¡¯t feel quite so anxious.¡±

    ¡°I think it would be a good thing to do to introduce yourself to the people at the seat of discernment,¡± said Buadach. ¡°Tomorrow at noon I will have it announced and the people will be eating their midday meal.¡±

    Celthair thought for a moment. ¡°How do I introduce myself?¡±

    ¡°Similar to what you did today!¡± Buadach said. ¡°No, not the other thing you did,¡± he said. ¡°That was necessary at the time, not anymore, now news of you has spread and the whole city will want to come and see you.¡±

    ¡°You will display your power to them. Show them the sword and how it is part of you, it will prove to them of your lineage. They respected Amerghin and saw him as a saviour. Their hope for prosperity will rise again, and with it your popularity. They will eventually ask you to become their Queen.¡±

    The evening meal finally arrived and Celthair arrived at a table full of young people from Athlethan. They cheered when she arrived, and she smiled at their joy and praise of her.

    After the meal she stood up and addressed them.

    ¡°Thank you everyone for your patience in rescuing you, I have sent messengers on horses back to Athlethan to allay your parents fears. You may leave when you wish, you will be sent in groups with soldiers to protect you.¡±

    They all cheered, and relief filled their faces, they were excited at the prospect of seeing their homes once more.

    Celthair continued, ¡°I however will be staying, it is my destiny. Any who wish to stay with me, to support me and help me in my difficult path, you are most welcome and will be rewarded for your service.¡±

    ¡°I will stay,¡± said Mags. Another older girl called Cara stood and pledged her wish to stay with Celthair.

    Ciaran waited to see if Celthair would look at him expectantly. He had been looking for signs from her, to see if she still had any interest in him.

    A young man stood up named Darragh and announced his wish to serve as her bodyguard. Ciaran cursed his hesitancy and suddenly stood, ¡°I too will be your bodyguard!¡± he said.

    Ciaran turned to them both, Darragh first and bowed to him, her face stony, then she turned to Ciaran, not meeting his eyes, bowing and smiling slightly.

    Ciaran felt the hope crash into his chest. She had smiled at him. Something was there, inside her that remembered their times together.

    As they mingled and said their farewells to the first group who would leave in the morning. Ciaran noticed Darragh was talking with Celthair. As he watched, he saw Darragh take her hand and kiss it, bowing on one knee. She looked flattered and was smiling.

    Ciaran felt sick, and jealousy rose like bile in his throat.

    Celthair looked across the room right at him and he turned away, hoping she did not see his emotions flashing across his face.

    Celthair felt elated. Her people were bowing to her, thanking her for her rescue. They flattered her with the things she wanted to hear. The wished her success as ruler of The Dark city. The hope they felt of a better time to come where the Dark city would not longer be feared as a den of bad and ruthless people, bent on the destruction of the people of the east. They felt she could bring that, another step toward the hope of a white eternity.

    She spoke with Darragh, who was polite and charming toward her. He kissed her hand, and she was excited by it. She looked across the room where she had seen Ciaran. But every time she looked at him, she felt ashamed. She did not want this feeling, so she tried to ignore him, wanting him to leave. When Ciaran announced his wish to be with her, she was initially happy, but then annoyed. Their relationship had progressed to something deeper in their brief time together in the forest of Athlethan. But she now wanted him gone.

    As the groups dissipated, she did something she later regretted. She walked over to Darragh and asked him to escort her to her room. She linked her arm through his and they left, past a bewildered and fuming Ciaran. Celthair¡¯s heart nearly burst at the guilt she felt as she passed him. But she told herself it was for the best. Ciaran only made her feel weak and anxious.

    Darragh stopped at the entrance to her room, he took her hand and kissed it again.

    ¡°My lady,¡± he said bowing and motioning her into her room. ¡°I bid you good night.¡±

    Celthair felt an urge that she knew would help her cover up her feelings for Ciaran. She threw her arms around Darragh¡¯s neck and kissed him. He was surprised at first, but then held her around her waist, kissing her back. Celthair enjoyed it, the feelings that arose in her, covered her anxiety and fears and she pulled him backwards into the room, still kissing him, closing the door behind them.

 Chapter 7 - Elemental pandemic

    The following day Buadach, along with a hundred soldiers, led a procession that the people had not seen for many years. Amerghin himself had done something similar, along with his wife Queen Dagemar. Before he was corrupted by Mac Roth and Dagemar had left him.

    The people were in a celebratory mood. Celthair stood atop the carriage in new black armour, the style of the armies of the Black City. The sword Mac Roth was at her side. She stood upright and proud. The flags of Athlethan and the Black City were each side of her and the sense of patriotism of the people grew.

    They made their way slowly along the roads that led to the seat of discernment.

    Once there, she leaped from the carriage and walked regally up the stairs. Ciaran and Darragh were behind her watching the crowd for any threats. Ciaran¡¯s jealousy overridden by his concern for Celthair¡¯s safety.

    There were still some of the people who doubted her and might attempt a coup. Buadach followed her up and stopped short of the platform where Celthair now stood.

    Buadach raised his arms as was the way, then dropped them, the people instantly fell silent and only the odd cough or sneeze could be heard.

    Buadach spoke loudly.

    ¡°People of the Black city, I present to you an heir to the throne of this land. Many years ago, the last king was Amerghin. He failed and Sennol did not allow him to fulfill the prophecy. He promised wealth and prosperity but failed. But he did not fail, for he had a daughter, one destined to marry a king, Queen Laegaire, who should have ruled over us. But she is now queen of Athlethan. It is her blood that will unite us all with the east. It is this woman who stands before you. She is entitled to the throne. She will bring prosperity and health to us all.¡±

    There was silence for a moment. Many struggled with the fact that the east was no longer being called the enemy. But Amerghin¡¯s belief that war with the east would bring that prosperity was not popular. They had lost many families and friends in the last war with the east and now being offered the same without a need for war was good news to them. A cheer arose and became louder and louder.

    Once more Buadach raised his arms then lowered them, the cheering receded, and it was silent once more.

    ¡°She will now speak.¡± He announced.

    The crowd as one turned toward her.

    She took a breath and raised the sword. Speaking as loud as she could. But it was not needed, for they were in an amphitheatre and her voice reverberated.

    ¡°People of The Black City, I stand before you, Celthair De Daanan Findabair Emain. Daughter of Tuatha, King of Athlethan and of Queen Laegaire, daughter of Amerghin. You previous king. I alone can wield this sword. Your very own symbol of power and right to the throne.¡±

    As she spoke the last words the pride, she felt in what she had said welled up in her, she held the sword high and let it¡¯s tip fall to the ground where she thrust it at the rock she stood upon. The tip hit the rock, and the ground heaved, with an enormous crack the rock heaved and broke, the ground under the people shook and rumbled, people fell over as the ground rippled outwards. From the rock came raw elemental power, up through the crack along the sword and the purple lightning exploded from the hilt up to the sky bursting the clouds apart with a sound of thunder. Yet Celthair was unaffected by the movement and lifted the sword once more, letting out a loud cry of victory.

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    ¡°Too much, but magnificent,¡± whispered Buadach to himself. In complete and utter awe of what he had witnessed.

    Far off to the southeast, the magma pits where Mount Triune once stood, suddenly became active, lava exploded and began to flow outwards over the lip of the caldera.

    The people who were watching Ciaran, scattered in terror or fell to their knees crying. Some, like Buadach and Ciaran stood, managing to keep their feet and watched the vision of this young girl before them displaying the power, that only the aged among them had seen Amerghin wield, once before. It awed them and terrified the younger ones.

    But it was with training from Mac Roth that Amerghin was able to use this power. A gradual process that made his mind strong enough to withstand the aftereffects.

    For Celthair it was as though her head had been pounded against a stone wall several times. She collapsed holding her head in her hands.

    Buadach saw it and motioned Ciaran and Darragh to quickly and privately carry her to a lodge, used by royalty when visiting the seat of discernment.

    Not many people noticed as they were also recovering from the shock. When they had gathered their wits, Celthair and her entourage were gone.

    Later that cycle, as the last sun set, they loaded the sleeping form of Celthair into a wagon and slowly made their way back to the palace that her grandfather had built.

    Celthair awoke, her head throbbing like she had drank way too much fermented Aetherclaw juice. As usual Mags was not far away, she had slept with her, holding her hand as Celthair tossed feverishly on the bed.

    ¡°What time is it?¡± she asked.

    Mags grinned, ¡°Its Cycle eve and you have slept for three whole day cycles.¡±

    Celthair¡¯s bloodshot eyes widened, red streaks running away from her eyelids and still dark around the edges. She tried to sit up but could not.

    ¡°Stay there.¡± Said Mags, I¡¯ll get you some food and drink. Your strength will return then!¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Oh, nothing you just split a rock and caused an earthquake is all,¡± said Mags.

    ¡°I remember the sword hitting the rock, nothing after that,¡± she said, her eyebrows moving into an inquisitive position.

    Mags smiled, ¡°You have caused quite a stir; the people have unanimously requested that you be made queen. No one is against the idea. Buadach has the preparations already done. You will be crowned when you are fully recovered.¡±

    But it was not meant to be, the plans of Riangbra were different. For something was amiss in The Black City. People were dying. It was an awful death too. Veins under the skin of those who had witnessed the power of Celthair, swelled up and blackened. They went quickly, some survived but many died. The disease spread fast across the city.

    It was not long before crowds surrounded the palace, crying out. Some blamed Celthair for exposing them to the elemental powers she displayed. The idea caught on and there was a revolt. The soldiers, now loyal to Celthair, did their best to hold off the people. The heavy gates were closed, and they were shut in from the death and cries coming from all over the black City.

    It was given a name, the Elemental Pandemic.

    Buadach knew what it was, he had seen it before among novices who were being trained in the use of the elemental power. Some novices died from exposure to it. He groaned angrily. His plans fell away, and he began to look for an escape from this accursed place where his hopes for power had recently risen. He was not seen again for many days.

    Soon fires outside the city could be seen burning as people cremated their dead. Each death was paraded past the palace along with loud mourners. They would let Celthair know of their suffering. Of course, the plans for her to be made queen were gone.

    Celthair fell into a depressed reverie. She did not eat, only sipped water given to her by Mags her ever present and worried friend. Day after day the cries of the people came to her ears, causing her to feel even more miserable.

    She grew weaker and Mags feared she would die. Ciaran took the sword and hid it in the armoury under the palace, locking it away. It had done much damage, and he was not going to let Celthair use it again.

 Chapter 8 - The agony of loss

    Even though she faded physically, Celthair was healing inside, in her heart the corrupting effects of the sword no longer had a hold. It would never leave her, but she was able to think more clearly each day.

    She was sitting up in bed a few days later, having eaten under Mags loving eye and her eyes rested on a figure outside her door.

    ¡°Who is that?¡± she asked Mags.

    Mags glanced up, ¡°Oh that¡¯s just Ciaran, he has not left that door since you arrived here. He only goes to a room across the hall to sleep then comes back there all day.¡±

    Celthair began to cry.

    Her lack of emotion over the past weeks had left a massive void to fill. It was love she felt and regret at hurting his feelings with Darragh. Love was the feeling she had missed dreadfully. No longer did she want to hurt him.

    ¡°Ciaran,¡± she called out.

    Ciaran leapt into the room; sword drawn.

    ¡°What is it?¡± he cried out, ¡°tell me who it is.¡±

    Seeing him standing there, looking alarmed suddenly made Celthair giggle. Then she began to laugh, holding her stomach and pointing at Ciaran¡¯s confused face. This only served to make her laugh louder and longer.

    Before long Mags was laughing and then Ciaran stood there with a foolish and grinning expression, still confused but feeling the humour of the situation. When she had settled down, she motioned to Ciaran to sit next to her on the bed. She took his hand.

    ¡°Oh Ciaran, I am so sorry,¡± she said.

    ¡°I should hope so,¡± he said. ¡°Laughing at a man doing his job is not good for his ego.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for that too,¡± said Celthair. ¡°But I had not laughed for so long, it all just came out. I feel so much better for it. Ciaran, I do love you, but I was so ashamed of myself. Look where it got me, If I had not pushed you away, I am sure this all would have never happened.¡±

    Ciaran leaned in and kissed Celthair on the forehead. When he stopped, she leaned her head back and put her hand behind his head, pulling his lips down to hers. Ciaran melted into her, their arms wrapping around each other.

    ¡°What about Darragh?¡± asked Ciaran.

    ¡°Nothing happened there,¡± said Celthair dismissively. He is lovely and so respectful. But he lacks what you are to me.¡±

    ¡°What am I to you Celthair?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Everything,¡± she said in her warmest and softest voice.

    But Celthair¡¯s eyes grew ashen once more. She had suddenly remembered all the pain of loss and death outside. ¡°Has anyone we known died?¡± she enquired.

    Ciaran looked sad as his mind went to what was occurring outside.

    ¡°Yes, thousands, many of your soldiers have died as well. Reports are in that there are about thirty thousand dead. More die each day, only a few succumb, but the same amount each day. They are past blaming you; they are looking for answers, for a cure.¡±

    Tears spung into Celthair¡¯s eyes and she looked like she was going to be sick. She had not known these people very long, but she suddenly felt remorse and a pain in her heart, her stomach churned, for the terrible losses she had inflicted upon these people. But it was as much a lesson for her as it was for them. They trusted the power of Mac Roth a little less. But they knew nothing different. It would take someone who would be able to teach them of something better.

    ¡°Take me to the gates of the palace,¡± she ordered, ¡°I want to make an announcement.¡±

    ¡°Not a good idea, you are still weak¡± said Ciaran, Mags nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Nonsense, there is no time to waste,¡± said Celthair, ¡°We must seek a cure, and I will find it! I need to tell the people. They need to see that I care. I will not be their queen till I have done this one thing and bought them peace and health once more.¡±

    Celthair sat up and swung her legs off the bed. She felt weak and shaky. Mags helped her stand and then assisted her to slip on her leather armour, doing up the buckles and adjusting her boots. She stood and felt strength coming back to her muscles as they began to warm up with the movement.

    She painfully walked to the window and looked down at the people gathered below. They looked beaten, some of them weakly draped over fences and benches.

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    Celthair felt some compassion for them, so she made her way as quickly as she could down the stairs of the palace. She made her way through the crowd. Ciaran close behind, fearing for her life.

    Those who could, followed her curiously. Some spoke up and berated her.

    ¡°You have bought a curse on us, may you be cursed also, heir of Amerghin.¡±

    She walked over to them and took them by the hand, looking into their eyes.

    ¡°For this I am truly sorry,¡± she bowed, ¡°I will make this right, if I can, I will do my best for you.¡±

    She did this with every person she met, and she left them with a glint of hope. After they had met her, they began to believe that it could not have been her, she was too kind and beautiful of nature. This was the real Celthair. A perfect representation of the nature of both her parents. Strong, humble and compassionate.

    A warrior, dressed in dark leather, light battle armour, approached Celthair and when she saw him, she reacted instantly. ¡°Dom,¡± she said excitedly. What are you doing here?¡±

    Dom recounted how he had met Ciaran a few cycles prior. But she sensed a sadness in his disposition. ¡°I know what you have done,¡± he said, ¡°The Elemental pandemic has claimed my wife, Gretta, he paused, tear in his eyes. ¡°I blamed you Celthair, you stepped beyond your abilities and bought this on us all.¡±

    Celthair immediately felt weak, took his hand and collapsed to her knees. A wave of nausea went through her body, as more evidence of her actions came to light. Tears ran down her eyes and she looked up at him.

    ¡°I am sorry Dom, I cannot ask your forgiveness, I will seek forgiveness for my actions. I promise.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± said Dom. ¡°I do not doubt that this is what you will do, you have the honour of your Father and Mother, you always have.¡±

    He pulled Celthair to her feet.

    ¡°I will help you in your absolution,¡± he said. ¡°But first I must go and finish my business. My Crew will remain here till this Epidemic is stayed. I will meet you, wherever you are. Do not wait for me.¡±

    Celthair nodded, and she watched him leave, tears in her eyes, thankful for his forgiveness. Slightly glad that she had seen him once again after so long.

    People watched her walk past silently, sadness in their faces. She bowed respectfully as she walked past. Suddenly a man, stricken with grief, attacked her with a stave. He came fast and she saw him coming. Celthair fell to her knees, head bowed and waited for the man to hit her. But it didn¡¯t. She looked up. The man, tears in his eyes, looked shocked. Her humility had stopped his hand. ¡°You killed my children,¡± he sobbed. Celthair rose and put her arm around him, looking into his eyes. ¡°I did, and I will be punished,¡± she said. ¡°I am leaving and will find a cure.¡± She placed her hand on his shoulder, and he kneeled in sorrow.

    ¡°Come and see me when I get back,¡± she said. ¡°You will not be forgotten, neither will your children.¡±

    The man nodded. He had some hope in his eyes.

    Celthair, Ciaran and Mags made their way slowly to the seat of discernment, meeting more people who vented their anger and pain at her. A crowd followed and finally she stepped up on the raised platform where she had stood and made the dreadful mistake.

    Celthair looked around and groaned as the memories flooded back. She winced as she remembered her pride and the feeling of power. She had felt that she was a worthy queen and better than all those who had been gathered.

    She turned to take in the people¡¯s faces, slowly, one at a time. Bowing toward them. The people didn¡¯t see the same person. Before they had seen a woman, with the same golden hair, dark eyes and a sword grasped in her hand. Now they saw a young and humble woman, with a look of empathy. Those whose eyes she met, were instantly affected by her grace and demeanour. They saw a deep and fervent search for reconciliation. They saw a queen, Amerghin¡¯s heir, a sorry and now worthy queen, determined to repair her and her grandfather¡¯s wounds.

    Celthair finally spoke, her voice bright and clear, no longer loud, dark and foreboding.

    ¡°People of Black city, I am not yet worthy to be called heir of Athlethan, Riangbra, whom you do not know is calling me to right this grievous wrong I have bought upon you. I wrongly sought help from my grandfather¡¯s path. I will come back to you, and I will have a cure for this.¡±

    When she stopped, there was silence for a moment and the crowd murmured. It sounded supportive. After a few moments a man stepped forward. He was dressed in the clothes of one who sat on the council.

    ¡°My lady, daughter of Tuatha of Athlethan. We accept your offer and will await your return. Our hope rests on you.¡± He bowed. ¡°You are still our queen, and we accept your claim. Please return to us. I speak on behalf of the people here.¡±

    Celthair thought she sensed fear in the woman, she looked nervous, and she did not look at Celthair¡¯s face as she spoke. Celthair bowed once more and made her way off the platform and began to walk along the streets to the north of the city. As her, Ciaran and Mags went, along with those who said they would stay with her, from Athlethan. A man appeared with a horse. On its saddle were packs of food. He gave Celthair the reigns. ¡°My lady, you will need my horse and food.¡± Celthair was surprised at the generosity and thanked the man. ¡°You may have him back when I return,¡± she said. ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°he is a warrior¡¯s horse and always has been too good for me, but he will suit a queen perfectly,¡± he said. Again, Celthair thought she saw nervousness in this man too. Maybe he was giving this to them out of fear. She wiped away the thought. No, they wanted her to succeed, was all.

    It did not take long and soon they all had hordes and food and another horse carrying large packs full of food for a journey. Cakes and Trias bread that would not spoil for many day cycles.

    Celthair turned to Ciaran as they rode. ¡°Ciaran, I have a request for you, and you will not agree. I must take the sword with me. It is a burden I must carry; I need to learn control over it.¡±

    Ciaran shook his head. ¡°No, you must not, it is dangerous.¡±

    Celthair looked at him, her eyes pleading.

    They looked at each other for a long while, their eyes speaking unheard words.

    Finally, shaking his head, his eyes full of concern, Ciaran turned his horses head and galloped back to the palace to retrieve Mac Roth, the sword of the dark lord.

    Buadach growled under his breath. Nothing was going according to his plan. He had been greedy and power hungry. Giving the sword to a woman, not trained in the use of elemental power was a mistake he had made because he had simply forgotten the training that was required to control it. He had revelled in her raw power that she had in her, that came from her grandfather. Buadach decided he was step back and watch from a distance, to see what would happen. He hoped Celthair would learn how to control it herself. He trusted the sword would corrupt her and then he could step in as her mentor.

 Chapter 9 - Sword Mastery

    They left the city as the first sun reached its zenith and by evening they were out of sight of the Black City. They made camp and Celthair sat in front of the fire. ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± she said to Ciaran, ¡°pass me the sword.¡±

    Reluctantly Ciaran passed the sword, and its scabbard wrapped in a bundle of cloth into Celthair¡¯s hands.

    She felt its weight and stared at the bundle.

    ¡°How this has changed our fate,¡± said Celthair, ¡°I must learn to control its power. I will never use its power, but I need to learn how to prevent it from corrupting me.¡±

    She used the time to recall her lessons in Riangbra, to calm her mind and feel herself in the moment, focussed and asking Riangbra for strength.

    She knew elemental power belonged to Riangbra, it had created the world and so owned the elemental power, the unbridled force of Riangbra that was not part of it. As she meditated, she allowed the thoughts of her lessons to flow. Then it came, the lessons she had learned from old Cathabad. To not be overcome by elemental power you must be one with Riangbra. The control Riangbra gives you, will strengthen your spirit against its corrupting influence. Riangbra and elemental power can be one. We are of the earth and only Riangbra can bring us to a higher plane, capable of control.

    Alone Elemental corrupts and brings death, but along with Riangbra it brings life.

    ¡°Oh Daddy,¡± she thought, ¡°your lessons were not a waste of time after all.¡±

    Celthair unwrapped the cloth and threw it aside. She felt the heat and the throbbing power in her hands through the scabbard.

    She grasped the sword and held it as if ready to draw it from the scabbard. But she did not. She continued to breathe and listen to her breathing. She closed her eyes and imagined Riangbra, its calming influence. She imagined the world she stood on and felt it beneath her feet, she allowed her mind to rise to the stars above, to the brightest star. The feeling of the sword went away, and she dropped it, clattering to the ground, which made her jump awake.

    Ciaran looked at her. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked. ¡°You looked far away.¡±

    ¡°Oh, just meditating¡±, she said. Picking up the sword again. Nothing happened. It felt like a sword.

    Then a flash of old memories on the seat of discernment came back, not controlled thought, but the feeling of power and pride, the energy she felt fill her body, taking away pain. The sword thrummed and she shock slammed into her mind as the power flooded up her arm. She held on, determined to reverse the thought and its affect. Slowly it calmed down, till once more it was just a sword. Her mind calm again but her body aching worse than before.

    ¡°I understand it now,¡± she said tiredly to Ciaran and Mags.

    She wrapped it again and placed it alongside her body, then sleepily and silently they all watched the fire till Celthair eventually fell asleep. Ciaran carried her to her bed he had made and covered her with a warm fleecy rug against the cold night air. He lay alongside her, and she groaned and turned into his arms, her face on his chest and they all slept. Their horses standing close to the fire for warmth. Mags quietly sang a sad lullaby her mother once crooned to her when she was a child. A song of pain, loss, retribution and forgiveness. Celthair half awoke to the sound, she murmured something and slept once more.

    The next morning there was a frost on the ground, and they all emerged from under the thick blankets to an early dawn. A chittering sound had awoken them. The warm rocks around the smouldering fire had drawn some small rodents. They sat on the rocks, eating some discarded fruit from the meal they had eaten before sleeping. They were Rock Cavy, about knee high and quite intelligent.

    Celthair smiled and slowly rose, she approached them, and they looked at her with curiosity. She placed some wood on the remaining hot coals, and they scattered, twittering angrily. The smoke began to curl up into the cold air and before long a warm fire was taking the chill out of the air.

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    ¡°So where are we going?¡± asked Mags. It was a legitimate question.

    Celthair had decided that to go north would be the best thing to do. She remembered as a child meeting the Anakim giants, amazing healers, able to almost prevent death, even when it was at the door. She also wanted to find Dray Goen the Leviathan. She wanted to find out how to destroy the swords power. If it could be done and maybe even a reversal of the negative effects of the Elemental power that had bought so much destruction to the people of the Black City.

    ¡°We will go to Imchad, in Emain Macha, to ask the giants to help find a cure for the plague I bought upon the people,¡± said Celthair.

    Mags looked fearful. She had seen a giant once when she was very young, and she had received nightmares for a while after.

    Celthair noticed and put her arm around her friend.

    ¡°They are kind and gentle, do not worry, it is a time of peace, and they are only scary when they are at war. You will see!¡±

    Once they had broken their fast, they packed up the horses and prepared to leave. Celthair picked up the sword and strapped it around her waist, her hand rested on the hilt, and she was relieved it did nothing to her. It seemed to react to her extreme negative emotion, and right now she felt at peace. She felt happy and purposeful. Her friend alongside her and Ciaran holding her hand as their horses trotted alongside each other¡¯s, glancing at her adoringly every few minutes.

    Celthair thought back to the way she had treated Ciaran and felt shame.

    It came to the missile of the day cycle and the two suns were approaching the middle of the cycle, they would stop soon and eat. They had watched the landscape begin to grow rocky and vegetation was thinning. There was a row of thick woodland that they began to pass.

    Suddenly there was a cry and shouting. Out of the trees came some people on horses, their clothes dark with flashes of red capes or headcloths. They surrounded the party and Mags horse reared, whinnying in fright.

    ¡°A Tulpha gang,¡± said Celthair, instinctively drawing the sword, Mac Roth. She felt no fear as they closed ranks menacingly. Unknowingly a veil came over her eyes and she remembered little of what happened. Ciaran recounted it for her after it was over.

    Celthair felt like she had just woken up, but she was not in a bed but in her horse. Mac roth crackled and hummed slightly in her hand.

    Before her, lying scattered around, were three horsemen, groaning and writhing in pain. There were two men lying still, dead.

    Ciaran came over to her and grabbed her hand. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked. She nodded, trying to clear her head. Mags horse had bolted, and she was returning after bringing it back under control. She looked at the dead and wounded attackers.

    ¡°What happened?¡± she asked. ¡°Where are the rest of them?¡±

    Ciaran placed his own sword back in its scabbard and looked at Celthair. She looked back at him, her eyes searching for answers in his look.

    ¡°You defended us and beat them off, by yourself!¡± he told Celthair.

    You were like a warrior; I have never seen anything like it.

    Celthair felt sick and leaned over the side of her horse and vomited. She had the headache again, not as bad as the first time, but enough for waves of nausea to sweep across her stomach.

    She felt strong but her stomach was not. Neither was her head.

    ¡°The sword again,¡± she groaned to Ciaran, ¡°It helped us, I used the power again, it made me forget. It used me, it¡¯s like it wants me to do it¡¯s bidding. I need to learn to control this thing.¡±

    She slid the sword back into the scabbard and got down off her horse. Leaning over, her hands on her knees. When she had finished, she stood up. ¡°I feel better now,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s wearing off. If I must fight again, I will need to concentrate. Tomorrow I will spar with you, Ciaran, I will try to control it.¡±

    Ciaran nodded. He poured some water into a mug and passed it to her.

    ¡°There were a lot of them, and the rest fled, they looked afraid. Especially when your eyes became dark again.¡±

    ¡°Did I use elemental power again?¡± Celthair asked. ¡°Did you see any lighting, hear anything?

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Replied Ciaran, ¡°You just fought like a warrior of old, absolutely no fear. I thought it was your father I was watching; I have seen him fight in training. You were amazing!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t feel it,¡± Celthair said getting back on her horse.

    She looked down on the wounded gang members, sitting still now, helping each other wrap and patch their wounds. One soldier had lost a hand and held the stump, now wrapped, in her other hand. She looked up at Celthair, pain in her eyes, and some fear.

    ¡°We will not kill you,¡± said Celthair, ¡°your gang will come back for you, do not follow us,¡± said Celthair to her. ¡°I will return, and I suggest you leave this sort of life, because I, Celthair when I am queen, will end it. I will not allow others to bring misery on the innocent.¡± The woman nodded eagerly, her eyes wide with amazement at the grace and fury of Celthair, grateful for a second chance at life.

    They left riding for a few more leagues up into the mountains of Emain Macha till they reached the snow line. Here they set up camp for the night.

 Chapter 10 - Emim

    The next day the terrain grew rugged, and the trees were twisted and tortured by the twisting and unpredictable wind that seemed to come from everywhere.

    They all turned when they heard the sound of a horse galloping toward them. They put their hands on the hilt of their swords and waited for this new threat to appear.

    Celthair sighed with relief. ¡°It¡¯s Dom, she sighed, ¡°he has come as he said he would.¡±

    She trotted the horse forward to greet him.

    Dom was tall and dark skinned, he had short curly black hair and was muscular and charming.

    He smiled a wide grin at Celthair, and they hugged, leaning over toward each other from their riding position.

    ¡°My Lady,¡± he said, ¡°I have come as promised, I have been this way before, I can be your guide.¡± As he spoke, he looked into her eyes and her heart felt like it stopped. She looked away and saved her embarrassment by turning away and spinning the horse back toward the others.

    Celthair had seen him before, but it was at a difficult time but now, he was unexpectedly appealing and fascinating to her. Her eyes stayed on his for longer than she had anticipated because time was slowed. She looked away and caught the face of Ciaran. When she saw him looking at her, his eyes flashing with jealous anger, she felt guilty.

    ¡°I am silly,¡± she thought to herself, ¡°he has just lost his wife, and I am behaving terribly.¡± Celthair regained her composure and rode back over to Ciaran. Ciaran was now looking hard at Dom, and Celthair knew what he was thinking. That he was a threat to his feelings and connection with her.

    Celthair took his hand and waited for his eyes to meet hers once more. Then she leaped across from her horse to his, sitting astride the horse facing him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. ¡°Dom is here,¡± she said, ¡°We grew up together in Imchad, and that¡¯s where we are going.¡±

    Ciaran looked relieved.

    She hugged him and over his shoulder she saw Dom, sitting astride his horse, looking into the distance, his face sad and empty.

    Empathy for him and then memories of their childhood had flooded back into Celthair¡¯s mind. The times they had together, learning about battle and fighting on horseback. Celthair felt she knew Dom well and they had something that cemented their friendship, even after not seeing each other for years. She remembered they had even discussed getting married when they were young. She knew it was just child play and young love that could be fleeting and temporary. But now the effect it had back then, was back. Celthair pushed out of his embrace and looked at Ciaran, his eyes searching hers questioningly. He was so devoted to her, and his love for her was like the newly fallen snow, fresh and determined. She reached out and clutched his hand, her heart beating hard at the attentiveness he was showing her at this moment. He was determined to show her his loyalty. Celthair felt gratitude and decided that Dom should be forgotten about. She needed what Ciaran was giving her and she needed to show him how thankful she felt for his love and care.

    Celthair leaned against Ciaran¡¯s chest and let him hold her tight as they trotted onwards, the horses walking single file along the track toward the north.

    Dom, familiar with this road in his search for trade, warned them that the territory they were entering came with some dangers. They needed to avoid running into the giants that lived in these mountains. They were the Emim. Cousins of the Anakim. Violent and greedy, they took what they wanted and killed for it. Thankfully Dom knew how to avoid meeting them.

    As their horses trotted along, Dom talked, eager to share his thoughts after losing Gretta. He knew nothing of Celthair¡¯s awakened feelings but was aware that Ciaran did not seem to like him. His short gruff replies and the way he avoided conversation attested to that. He put it down to the fact he did not know him yet. Dom could not understand why, as he was open and trusted people quickly. He shrugged and decided to ignore it.

    They crested a rise and saw before them the sea. It was a light turquoise colour, and the view took their breath away. It was the Chalice Sea, azure waters lined with white sand. Along the shore groves of trees with large arcing fronds in shades of bright greens.

    Celthair arrived first and stopped to gaze upon it, taking in its detail. The events of the previous day had been weighing on her and the view she was taking in restored her soul. She had felt lifeless. She knew what needed to be done but it was almost automatic. Without a feeling of joy or peace. But now the energy of peace flowed through her and the weight of the burden she had lifted for a while, The sword Mac Roth no longer felt heavy on her hip.

    The others arrived behind her and silently they looked on with her.

    Mags couldn¡¯t allow the silence, and she spoke. ¡°Amazing!¡± she breathed. Everyone responded with a loud ¡°Quiet¡­¡± and Mags being Mags said, ¡°But I¡­¡± and then fell silent to a disapproving stare from Ciaran. Appreciating suddenly the reverie the others were in.

    The wind suddenly increased from behind them, and clouds went across the sun, breaking their trance. Celthair looked behind them.

    ¡°It seems we missed that!¡± she said. They all looked and saw an approaching storm, ominous and purple in colour, flashes of lightning preceded it, and it was moving fast. The wind arose and the storm was upon them, lashing them with rain as they hurried along. Celthair cursed for allowing them to be caught out like this. They would now no longer be able to build a fire or set up camp. They were in for a long night of travel, unless the rain stopped, and they could make a fire. But the rain did not cease, they could make out the path in the flashes of light which were frequent. The thunder was tremendously loud, and the horses whined in fright, prancing about, unable to be calmed by their riders. They sat huddled under their hooded cloaks and continued on as best they could. The road continued downward and then levelled out, making a slow curve to the left. It was the middle of the night before they came across a valley which narrowed slowly into a ravine. Along the path a river appeared beside them, roaring through the ravine. Thankfully they reached a part of the track that went under the cliff face, where the rain did not reach. Ciaran found a stockpile of wood and soon had a fire. They huddled around it, warming themselves while Ciaran unsaddled the horses and hobbled them. There was also some hay pushed in an alcove in the rock and soon they were contentedly chewing.

    The storm continued to roar, and the river far below the path they were on, could be seen now, as it rose, the water became white as it rushed rapidly through the ravine. But the sound did not deter them. They were all exhausted.

    ¡°We must rest,¡± said Celthair, ¡°I will keep the first watch, I will wake Mags, and she will keep the second.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be the third,¡± said Ciaran, sitting down next to Celthair.

    She shuffled over and sat between his legs, pulling his arms around her, and lay her head back on his shoulder.

    In the firelight Celthair was looking at Dom, and his face flashed disappointment as Ciaran kissed her on the ear. Then she understood.

    Mags had been watching Dom since he arrived. She was intrigued by his dark skin and black hair. But for the first time in her life, she had been too shy to approach him, a new experience for her. She felt mildly annoyed that her best friend was getting the attention of two men and the one she wanted to meet hadn¡¯t really looked at her at all. It was not something she was familiar with. She always got the attention of boys back home. She felt a little jealous and resentful.

    The others all unwrapped their beds and went off to sleep leaving Celthair and Ciaran alone, staring at the warm fire and the steaming cloaks now drying before it.

    Celthair turned her head and looked in Ciaran¡¯s eyes. ¡°I am glad you are here with me,¡± she said, ¡°I never thanked you for following me here, so thank you!¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    Ciaran grinned as she kissed him on the lips. ¡°I¡¯d do it again for just one more kiss like that,¡± he murmured.

    ¡°No need,¡± said Celthair, ¡°You are too adorable and tempting for me to resist.¡± She turned and kissed him hard, causing Ciaran to fall back. Ciaran held her tight, feeling her against him, warm and inviting. The worries and dangers of their journey forgotten.

    Dom watched them and suddenly felt like he was intruding, he turned over and thought about Gretta, tears running down his cheek. He missed her dreadfully. Tinges of jealously arose in his chest when he saw Ciaran and Celthair together. But he soon slept heavily, unaware but not wary of what the morrow would bring on them all.

    Celthair awoke, sleep slowly dissipated as she became aware of their surroundings, completely different to the darkness they had seen around them in the night. Ciaran groaned and moved, they were in each-other¡¯s arms and till he moved she did not even realise, so long had they been sleeping in the same position. They unravelled and shared a last-minute kiss before they were exposed to the fresh morning air and the cold crept in, causing them to shiver and wish they were back under the covers.

    They all stood on the edge of the path, stretching and taking in the grand view before them, of the ravine and the sheer rock walls, covered in green vines and hanging plants that hung down, nearly reaching the still roaring water. There was a mist that clung to the plants and even though the rain had stopped continued to drip so that it still looked like rain.

    Dom turned and looked upstream; he couldn¡¯t believe their luck. A mountain goat appeared from around the corner and stopped, staring at them in alarm. Dom did not hesitate he took his bow and fitted an arrow speedily firing, killing it before its muscles clenched to prepare to spring away. Breakfast was provided and they ate well, feeling ready for whatever the day would bring.

    Soon the horses were saddled, and they made their way slowly through the cold, moisture laden air along the path at the base of the ravine. When it reached its narrowest point, it suddenly widened, and the fast-flowing water gushed out into a large lake. They made their way around the edge of the lake and the land spread out before them into a large valley in the middle of the mountains that surrounded them like distant walls. There were forests and as they rode up a hill it was revealed to them that the lake fed a wide and meandering river. Off into the distance.

    Dom suddenly shouted for them to stop. They all looked to where he was pointing. A pillar of smoke rose in the cold and still morning air, off in the distance to the southwest.

    ¡°Emim,¡± he said, ¡°The giants; We must be careful to bypass them and not be seen. We should get to the mountains fast, over there.¡± He pointed to the North. ¡°We go there and then head west.¡±

    They encouraged the horses into a canter, hoping they would not be spotted by any of the Emim.

    ¡°Why do we need to avoid them?¡± asked Mags.

    Celthair and Ciaran didn¡¯t seem to hear her, but Dom did. His horse moved closer to hers and he smiled at her.

    ¡°Hi,¡± he said. ¡°Hi,¡± she replied blushing slightly.

    ¡°I know you are Mag¡¯s to your friends, but I¡¯d like to know how to address you properly Milady.¡±

    ¡°Mairghread daughter of Tethra and Devorgill of Esclarmonde,¡± she replied, feeling a little more confident.

    Dom smiled and nodded, his eyes not leaving hers.

    ¡°The Emim are giants and quite territorial. A little violent toward strangers and nothing like their cousins, the Anakim which are gentler and more kind. Sometimes they will see you and ignore you. But other times they will attack just to make a meal of your horse or for your sword, just to use it as a toothpick. So, we will try not to be seen, just to reduce the risk.¡±

    Mags listened in silence and when he had finished, they rode side by side, contemplatively.

    ¡°Does that answer your question,¡± he asked after some time had passed.

    Mags looked at Dom and nodded.

    ¡°If we see them, do we get the horses to run?¡± she asked.

    ¡°We will only run if they look like attacking us. If we run it looks like we have something to hide to them. It¡¯s best to not look fearful at all.¡±

    Mags looked around and into the distance, afraid she would see some Emim, looking at them from the rocks.

    They made their way further Northward, slowly turning toward the north-west on the narrow path they followed. As they approached a valley Celthair stopped her horse.

    ¡°Something is not right; I have a bad feeling.¡±

    Dom too, had stopped and was looking at the large boulders up the side of the hill from their position in the valley below.

    On the other side was a small forest of trees.

    They all froze in fright as there was a horn, a very loud one, blown from the direction of the trees.

    Out of the trees came running, thundering along because of their enormous lumbering strides, a fierce row of Emim giants over one hundred of them, maybe more. They were not running toward them but toward the front of them where they had been going.

    Then almost instantaneously after the horn blast, from the other side rose more giants from behind the largest boulders, about a hundred of them. Looking a little less fierce and more familiar to Dom and Celthair. They also ran down the hill toward the attacking giants.

    They clashed in a massive cacophony of noise, shields meeting with swords and giants crashing into one another falling over and roaring loudly.

    ¡°A battle,¡± said Dom ¡°Emim and Anakim.¡±

    They could do nothing, to try and assist the Anakim would have been suicidal. They decided to ride up the hill behind the boulders and watch from the top, to see the outcome of the battle and make a run for it should the Anakim lose.

    The Anakim looked better trained, and their fighting technique gave them the upper hand. The Emim used brute force and tried to overcome the Anakim, but their attacks failed, their massive hammers and axes moving slower than the Anakim swords. Where they swung the axes only found empty air or the ground. The momentum of their swings throwing them off balance.

    The Emim were losing and four of them left the few that were left and ran up the hill toward where Celthair and her company were sitting on their horses.

    They moved away from the path the Emim were travelling on toward them, but it did not change the fact that the giants had them in their sights and looked to be stalking them. They began to move the horses quicker and they rode quickly along the top of the hill till they found a path back down toward the road. The Emim were fast, faster than the horses could travel on the rocky ground. It was not long before the four giants reached them, eying off their horses hungrily.

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± said Ciaran to Celthair and Mags, jumping off their horses and giving the reigns to Mags, ¡°Dom and I will slow them down so you can get to the road and get away, we will follow you later.¡±

    ¡°There is no way,¡± said Celthair. ¡°That I am letting you die alone.¡±

    ¡°Go,¡± said Ciaran helplessly, you have a mission and a destiny.¡±

    But it was too late, as Mags rode on with the horses the giants were upon them. They drew their swords and waited.

    ¡°This is going to get nasty,¡± said Ciaran. ¡°Keep alert, move fast!¡±

    The first giant leaped toward them, swinging his massive axe toward them.

    They easily moved away as the axe smashed into a rock, glancing off it in a shower of sparks.

    The giant looked surprised to see how fast them moved and as he lifted his axe to swing again, grunted in pain and looked even more surprised as the tip of a sword appeared from his chest. He put his finger on the point, looking puzzled and then his eyes glazed over, and he toppled forward, dead. Dom appeared as it fell, standing on a rock behind where the giant had blocked the view from the others a moment before, his sword bloody.

    The other giants arrived moments later and swung in a similar fashion at Dom, but he dodged their swings and then Ciaran, choosing his timing wisely, darted in and slashed a giant¡¯s throat, before he could lift his hammer again. That giant fell too.

    The other two giants roared in fury and came at them. One swung in a broad stroke at Celthair, and she had to jump over the axe to avoid being hit. The momentum took the axe in almost a full circle around the giant and seemed to take some time to do it. Ciaran took the opportunity and ran, using a rock as a spring to leap toward the giant, his sword swinging as he did so. He missed and his body met the face of the giant in a midair collision, knocking the Emim monster off balance. He fell backwards and at the same moment, Celthair ran forward, driving her sword deep into the giant¡¯s eye socket. The Emim goliath, screamed and then gurgled, collapsing where he lay.

    Then suddenly another Emim, swung his massive hand and knocked her off her feet, before she hit the ground, she was unconscious. The remaining Emim, three of them, picked her up and ran.

    As this all happened, the victorious Anakim arrived and took down the last giant as he attempted to attack Dom. Dom had barely escaped a swing, he had heard the hammer swish past his head, so close he felt his hair contact it and the air movement it had created.

    Ciaran, exhausted turned and saw Celthair¡¯s form, carried like a rag doll, in one of the giants¡¯ arms. He tried to speak, but the wind was gone from his lungs, he took some running steps after her, but he collapsed painfully to his knees.

    They all stood panting, trying the get their breath, the Anakim looked at them in wonder also taking some time to recover. This lasted quite a long time before one of them spoke.

    But only Dom could understand what the giants were saying them having lived there many years before. It was Dom who stepped forward, speaking with them in their strange guttural dialect. Their voices were deep and resonant, pleasant to the ear. After some discussion and the giants¡¯ their eyes widening at the things he was telling them, then bowing towards Ciaran and Mags.

    Ciaran could still see the surviving Emim, running across the plain, toward the smoke of their city on the distance. Finally, his breath returned, and he shouted over the discussion between Dom and the Anakim.

    ¡°We need to help Celthair,¡± he cried out. ¡°If they get to the city, we may never see her again.¡±

    Upon hearing the name, one of the massive men, leaned in.

    ¡°That name,¡± he said. ¡°Say it again.¡±

    ¡°Say her name again¡±, translated Dom.

    ¡°Celthair,¡± he pointed, ¡°That¡¯s Celthair they have. Daughter of Tuatha, king of Athlethan.¡±

    Upon hearing the two names, The Anakim giant barked a command. Immediately they roared in anger began to run after the escaping Emim, who were carrying Celthair across one of the soldiers¡¯ broad shoulders.

    Mags had bought back the horses, and they all mounted them and began to urge the horses after the fast-running Anakim.

    To Ciaran the ride seemed eternal, the feeling in his chest of the loss of Celthair had awakened deeper feelings. Deeper than before, when she had been captured by the Dark soldiers, back in Athlethan. He felt physically sick, and feared what the Emim would do to her.

    But it was too late, they arrived within view of the city gate, a city with massive walls. The surviving Emim, disappeared through an open gate that slammed shut after them and Celthair, still unconscious, disappeared from their view.

 Chapter 11 - Strength

    Inside the city walls, Celthair awoke, rubbing her head that throbbed painfully from the rock that had been where she fell. She remembered sections of her journey there, in the grasp of the giant. She had gone in and out of consciousness and had even seen her friends behind them, running and galloping as fast as they could.

    Now she was on the floor inside a large hall, the ceiling so high it looked dark. The Emim seemed to be in council, and they were discussing her. She felt for Mac Roth in the scabbard on her side, but it was gone. She suddenly felt a great sense of loss. Like she was missing something in her very soul. She slowly got up and took a drink from her water pouch on her side, to which Mags had kindly added some Aetherclaw liquor. She felt better and looked toward the council of giants, who ignored her. She noticed one of the giants was holding Mac Roth, she felt rage rise in her. She roared and leaped at the giant, her foot connecting with his lower back. It fell forward and collapsed, dropping Mac Roth in the process. Landing on her feet, in front of the surprised giants, she leaned down and picked up Mac Roth. She looked around at each of them, her eyes flaming with anger.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know who I am?¡± she said in the language of the Anakim.

    ¡°I am Celthair, daughter of Tuatha the giant killer. Granddaughter of Lord Amergin.¡±

    The giants looked surprised to hear her speak their language in the dialect of the Anakim, which was very similar, so they could understand her.

    The giants stared at her for a moment and then one by one they began to laugh.

    ¡°You are nothing but a bug to be squashed, I¡¯m going to punish you for killing my brother.¡± said the largest Emim.

    He leaned down and put his finger toward the top of her head. She quickly dropped Mac Roth and reached up as his hand came down and she felt him try to push her into the floor. She had considered using the sword to remove his hand but did not want them getting angry, the mood of the room was not anger but frivolous. Celthair resisted and to the giants surprise he could not push against her. He pulled away but she quickly grabbed his finger and suddenly pulled, he lost his balance falling forward. As his face came closer, Celthair, punched him in the chin with her fist and he grunted in pain, his head thrown back with the force of the punch.

    The Emim soldier, lay stunned.

    Celthair leaned into the giants ear. ¡°I am sorry for your brother; it was self-defence.¡±

    The other giants guffawed at their friend¡¯s humiliation.

    Celthair knew she was strong but had never tried it out in a fight. Her Riangbra training has taught her control, but now she felt powerful, Celthair picked up Mac Roth and it hummed in her hand and her confidence hit her like a drug.

    ¡°Who is next?¡± she said. ¡°Who will take on the daughter of the great Tuatha?¡±

    They looked at her with renewed interest. Some still laughed at her bravery, believing it was luck that gave her advantage.

    ¡°I like your tenacity,¡± said another Emim. ¡°But this is your final goodbye.¡± He placed his fist above her and slammed it downwards on top of her, as if the squash her with force.

    Celthair raised her arms and took the brunt of the force in her arms, feeling it jar through her body. The Emim grunted in surprise. It was like hitting a brick wall. The giants laughed again and the Emim whose fist was above Celthair lifted his hand again. Scowling in frustration. This time he tried to grab her by the legs. She jumped and ran rapidly up his arm gaining momentum, then she leaned back and lunged at his chin with her hands clasped together in a double fist. The Emim grunted and his head spun sideways with the force of her punch. Then Celthair jumped down to the ground panting, watching the giant rubbing a large bruise forming on his chin.

    Now the Emim giants were very interested. One of them picked up a heavy hammer and placed it in front of Celthair.

    ¡°Pick it up,¡± he said.

    Celthair looked at the hammer, it stood as tall as she was and the head of it probably weighed nearly the same as she did.

    She reached out and picked it up. It took a lot for her to swing it around her head, but the giants roared, cheering and laughing at her amazing strength.

    Celthair looked around. The room was large and at one end there was an elevated platform on which was obviously a throne, ornate and very large. Sitting on that throne was a female Emim giant wearing a crown. She had been watching the proceedings with interest. When she saw Celthair looking at her she beckoned to her. The giants parted to let her through. She placed the hammer down and jumped up the steps. Each step was higher than her knees.

    When she had reached the top, she bowed and looked at her in the eyes.

    ¡°I shall call you Ekaitza which means tiny storm,¡± laughed the giantess. You are indeed a tempestuous little human. I am Queen Darya.¡±

    Celthair felt this Queen was vaguely familiar to her.

    She bowed and answered the queen, loudly, so the whole room could hear.

    ¡°I am honoured, O¡¯ Queen Darya of the Emim, to be given an honourable name of your people. I ask that I may be your servant and give fealty to you. Serving you as I journey through your lands seeking salvation for my own people.

    The Queen looked at her with suspicion having heard her words about her grandfather.

    ¡°My father sided with your grandfather in the great war. We sent our best warriors to help him fight against the kingdom of Athlethan.¡± The Queen looked at Mac Roth hanging at Celthair¡¯s side.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°I know that sword, do you come again, seeking an army to fight for you, like your grandfather once did?¡±

    ¡°It is not why I come,¡± said Celthair. ¡°War is past us now, I am merely passing through your lands, looking for a cure to save my people. I am looking for your brethren, the Anakim.¡±

    The queens face paled, and a dark cloud passed across it.

    ¡°They continue to harass us because of what happened in the past. We try to reason with them, but they do not listen. They do not trust us and find every reason to quarrel with us, picking a fight. You witnessed a battle that was meant to be a discussion about peace. We are not as intelligent as them, nor are we as strong. But we were family once. We no longer wish to fight, nor do we want to keep remembering the past. We want to move on.¡±

    Celthair listened to the Queens words carefully and her heart swelled within her chest. The words of the queen struck a chord with her and the conviction that she spoke with, melted her heart.

    ¡°Come with me,¡± said Celthair suddenly.

    ¡°Come to Imchad and meet Ariadne. She will listen to you, I am sure.¡±

    The Queens face paled. ¡°They would kill me,¡± she said.

    ¡°I would never allow that,¡± said Celthair. ¡°They know me and respect my father, every Anakim would recognise me and listen to me. As I grew up amongst them.¡±

    The queen sat back on her throne and looked up at the ceiling. Celthair could see she was thinking and remained silent. Waiting for her to speak.

    Suddenly she arose and without a word or a glance back, strode out of the giant hall and through the doors.

    Celthair shrugged and sat on the steps.

    ¡°Hey,¡± an Emim leaned over and pointed to his chin. ¡°You hit my friend, and he says you pack a punch. I don¡¯t believe him.¡±

    Celthair shook her head at his stupidity.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± she asked.

    The giant nodded, ¡°Come on, hit me, I bet it¡¯s like being hit by an insect that flies into me.¡±

    Celthair, put all her strength into a massive uppercut and the giants chin went up, he stood, tottered backwards and fell backwards, knocked out, cold.

    The rest of the giants laughed uproariously, not unable to see how stupid he had been.

    The most elaborately dressed Emim came over to her and bowed.

    ¡°I have been commanded to give you lodging. My name is Baal-Ed, captain of the queens guard.¡±

    As he spoke there was a commotion at the entrance to the hall and Baal-Ed turned.

    A giant called out to Baal-Ed.

    ¡°Sir, there is a squadron of Anakim at the gates. They are demanding to see you.¡±

    Baal-Ed quickly ordered a group of his elite guard to join him and then stormed toward the gates, looking grim.

    Celthair ran to keep up, worried that another battle involving her friends would ensue.

    She reached the gates just as they were opening them. There were nearly fifty Emim that streamed out, led by Baal-Ed.

    Celthair quickly squeezed out through a small gap and ran to get in front of the Emim giants who from their faces, looked like they were ready for a fight, snarling and growling, advancing toward the Anakim threateningly.

    Celthair ran in front of the Emim and jumped in front of Baal-Ed.

    He looked surprised to see her again.

    ¡°Stop, she commanded, ¡°wait here a moment.¡±

    He complied, holding up his hand to stop his guard¡¯s advance.

    Celthair ran toward the Anakim and held up her hand.

    The leader of the soldiers, with a large beard, his head covered with a large helmet, smiled upon seeing her. She could see his teeth through his beard.

    ¡°My dear Celthair,¡± said the Anakim, removing his helmet revealing twinkling eyes and a large red nose.

    Celthair suddenly recognised him.

    ¡°Bophorus,¡± she exclaimed. ¡°I didn¡¯t recognise you.¡± She said as she ran toward him, then she leaped into his arms. He picked her up like she was a child and spun her around.

    ¡°Did they treat you well?¡± he asked, ¡°are you okay?¡±

    ¡°They are not okay,¡± Celthair giggled. ¡°I taught the bullies a lesson.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my little Celt,¡± he laughed.

    ¡°You must not fight them; they are not like they once were. I have met their queen, and she might come with us the see Queen Ariadne.¡±

    Bophorus¡¯ eyes narrowed, ¡°They can¡¯t be trusted,¡± he began.

    ¡°Nonsense, you stinky old poo stick.¡± She interjected. You giants are so set in your ways, it¡¯s like a persistent fog to your one-track ways.¡±

    Celthair looked back at the Emim giant Baal-Ed and smiled.

    ¡°Now what I want you to do is to walk toward him, place your weapons on the ground and introduce yourself. Make sure you shake his hand.¡±

    Bophorus scowled.

    ¡°He¡¯ll chop of my head.¡± He whined.

    ¡°Shut up, no he will not! If you say that again, I¡¯ll do it for him.¡±

    Bophorus did as Celthair asked and placed his weapons on the ground. He stepped over them and walked toward Baal-Ed, his hand outstretched. Celthair walked behind him, smiling.

    Baal-Ed looked suspiciously at the massive Anakim walking toward him, a head taller than he was and no weapon, with a grumpy scowl that a child might have after being told to do a chore.

    He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and Bophorus halted.

    ¡°Hey,¡± said Celthair. The giant looked at her and she shook her head at him. He quickly removed his hand.

    Instead, he moved it to meet Bophorus¡¯ hand and for the first time in hundreds of years, and Emim and an Anakim touched with an intent of peace instead of war.

    They stood like that for a few moments, looking at each other.

    ¡°I like this,¡± said Baal-Ed.

    Bophorus nodded in agreement.

    Then, to the surprise of everyone who was there, including Queen Darya watching from atop the wall of the city, they pulled in and hugged. Patting each other on the back.

    When that was over, which wasn¡¯t long because after all, they were big tough giants and captains of their armies. They turned and commanded their soldiers to lay down their weapons and go to meet their distant family members. Soon handshakes and hugs were being shared around and Celthair ran to see her friends who looked relieved to see her again.

    She turned to Ciaran and leapt into his arms, leaning up to kiss him.

    Dom looked slightly disappointed but soon was lost in the celebrations as Anakim were led into the city by soldiers and some Emim woman who seemed to be swooning over the larger and better looking Anakim.

    When the celebrations and the late celebratory dinner was over, the darkness of night was advanced, and many had fallen asleep. Celthair was leaning against Ciaran, her head on his chest. Baal-Ed came over to her.

    ¡°The queen summons you.¡± he said.

    Celthair arose and pulled Ciaran to his feet.

    ¡°You too,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯m not wanting to be apart from you right now.¡±

    Ciaran grinned happily.

    ¡°You look stupid with that grin,¡± she scolded, ¡°Look normal...now!¡±

    Ciaran pulled his face into a stony look.

    Celthair looked at him, and grimaced.

    ¡°Now you look dumb, okay you can keep grinning.¡±

    Ciaran laughed at her attempt to control him. He pulled a face at her.

    ¡°What about this, will this do?¡±

    Celthair giggled, stopped herself and harrumphed walking off, still holding his hand and pulling him along roughly.

    ¡°Just follow me and keep quiet. I don¡¯t want you embarrassing me,¡± she tried to hide the smile on her lips as they followed Baal-Ed along the corridors.

    They arrived at the massive hall that Celthair had first been taken to. Queen Darya was once again on her throne. She smiled to see Celthair again.

    ¡°My dear,¡± she said, ¡°I have decided to come with you to see Queen Ariadne, I think it¡¯s time for us to talk of peace. Baal-Ed will come with us.¡± She said smiling. ¡°You have been a blessing to us, and we will be eternally grateful for what you did today. The whole city of the Emim is talking about it. There is hope in their hearts.¡±

    Celthair bowed and her brow furrowed.

    ¡°What is wrong?¡± asked the queen.

    ¡°Alas, I have lost time, and we must leave early tomorrow. My people are suffering with an illness of my making. I must get to the Anakim to find a cure.¡± Celthair told her.

    Queen Darya nodded.

    ¡°We shall leave as the sky lightens from the first sun.¡± she said. ¡°Goodnight, you go and rest now. I will make sure the trumpet sounds for us to awake and the second sounding we shall meet here and leave.¡±

    Celthair and Ciaran bowed and took their leave, following Baal-Ed, making their way quietly and sleepily to their beds. Celthair felt exhausted, not a feeling she was familiar with. ¡°I¡¯ll feel better after a good sleep,¡± she thought to herself.

 Chapter 12 - The darkness of Sennol

    Celthair awoke in a daze to the sound of the trumpet. Her head throbbed and her breath was short. Her chest felt tight, she realised she had kicked of the covers, and she was shivering, yet she felt hot.

    She sat up and threw her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up.

    Around her the room seemed to pulse, leaning against the wall near the bed, the sword shimmered with heat. Celthair picked up the sword and it felt hot in her grasp. She walked to the window and looked outside. It was the largest Solas that she could see. The land before her was sand as far as the eye could see. Some remnants of trees lingered, dead, bleached by the heat.

    Celthair looked back into the room. Ciaran still slept in the bed. She felt it was a little strange that they had been sleeping in the middle of the day. She walked out the room and through the city, leaving through the gates. Before her the desert stretched away into the horizon. She licked her lips and realised they were dry and cracked.

    Something was pulling her, causing her to keep walking. She did not know why.

    After a while she came to a Kopje, close around the rocks were sparse bushes and stunted trees. She sought shade from the oppressive heat, and sat down, beginning to feel hopeless. After a while she dozed off.

    Then she was back in bed, Ciaran beside her snoring happily. Celthair thought about the dream, because that was what it had felt like, vivid, but a dream, it had felt so real. She dismissed the thoughts and rolled over, deliberately poking Ciaran in the ribs. He groaned and murmured something about it being too early. But his hoped were dashed and a trumpet sounded, signalling that they were to get ready to leave.

    When Celthair and Ciaran arrived in the great hall they forgot they were still holding hands, many noticed but were not surprised at their public announcement of betrothal*.

    Dom noticed and tried to hide his disappointment and for a moment, some anger flared in his eyes. Mags saw his reaction and immediately hope rose in her chest. He was lonely and needed someone, she thought to herself. She reached out and put her hand on his arm. He turned and saw her looking at him sympathetically, their eyes met and he pulled his arm away. Embarrassed that Mags had noticed his reaction. But later it was something that never left his mind. He felt where she had touched for a long time.

    The whole travelling company had gathered, preparing for the journey to Imchad. Queen Darya was no longer in her royal clothes but was dressed for travel. Baal-ed was talking amicably with Bophorus. Baal-Ed and Celthair eyes met as she walked toward them, and he raised his arm for a friendly wave, his eyes shining with delight upon seeing her.

    ¡°You two look like a couple of old friends,¡± Celthair said as she came up to them.

    ¡°We feel like we have known each other for a lifetime,¡± chuckled Bophorus. ¡°Turns out we are related on our mothers side.¡±

    ¡°Who is this?¡± asked Baal-Ed, eyeing Ciaran and looking down at their clasped hands. Celthair had Ciaran¡¯s hand in hers as they walked into the hall and when she saw her old friend, she had forgotten and had pulled Ciaran along behind her.

    She looked at his hand and reddened very slightly. Her heart leaped as she realised what they had inadvertently done. She felt at peace with the idea that now they were committed to each other, and looked at Ciaran for reassurance, who smiled happily at her and nodded.

    Celthair introduced him, ¡°This is Ciaran, Son of Ainnle and Caer Omaith of Esclarmonde.¡±

    Ciaran bowed before the two giants.

    Bophorus roared and leaped toward Ciaran, who looked startled and stepped backwards. After a few moments Ciaran opened his eyes slowly, not having received the expected blow. Before him was the giant¡¯s hand, held toward him in a gesture of welcome. His faced beamed a huge smile. At least it could only be that as to the untrained eye, a giant¡¯s smile is more of a warlike grimace, a little like they are suffering some stomach pain.

    ¡°I knew your father; the great Ainnle taught me how to fight when I was a young recruit. He was a noble and great man. So, he married did he and you are the result. I can see the likeness.¡±

    Ciaran reached out and placed his hand on the giant¡¯s forefinger, accepting his gesture.

    Bophorus¡¯ mouth went into an even wider grimace. ¡°Tell me of your father and your mother.¡± Their conversation went to just between them as Celthair turned to Baal-Ed.

    Baal- ed looked at her with interest. ¡°Where did you get your strength from? You are as strong as a giant.¡±

    ¡°No one has been able to tell me, and no one knows.¡±

    Baal-Ed thought for a moment. ¡°Bophorus told me you were raised for many years, in Imchad. It is possible you were touched by the light of the Anakim. Many strange things have happened there. I am eager to go there.¡±

    ¡°What do you know of the light of the Anakim?¡± asked Celthair.

    ¡°It is where they get their healing powers. No one really knows what it is. But when you watch a healer, they do something no one sees because they do it so covertly. I have seen it, because nothing escapes Baal-Ed¡¯s eye. Once when I was captured by them as a young recruit, I was badly wounded, and they were healing everyone, even the enemy. The giant who healed me used a small viol which he tried to hide from me. But I saw it. I think that in that viol was the light of the Anakim. That¡¯s all I know and can surmise.¡±

    The group began to leave the hall and make its way to the gates of the city. The entire company of Anakim and a smaller contingent of Emim, along with the original group who had left the Dark City. At the gates they could see nothing except the glow of the leading torchbearer as it was still dark, the first sun would not rise for a while but there was a glow on the horizon.

    ***

    From the top of a hill in the darkness a dark and hooded figure silently and unmoving, watched the departure of the giants from the city, in the growing light he could see the smaller people walking with them. If they could see him against the black sky, they would have seen an old man with a white beard. He held a long staff and purple lightning crackled lightly over its surface. When they had disappeared over the horizon, only then did he turn and mount a horse and follow in the same direction. Buadach had been following them, like a malevolent shadow, full of dark intent.

    ***

    The journey to Imchad was uneventful. The landscape became rockier and undulating. They dismounted the horses and led them along. There was no road through the impassable mountain range. There was only one path, and it would take a newcomer a lifetime to find. Only the Anakim knew of it¡¯s existence. As they approached the secret path, Celthair could see a giant cliff face that curved slightly behind them and then off into the distance. It was a thousand feet high and below they could see the land of the Anakim stretching out before them, green and rich and very flat, till the distance was eventually hidden by the mist that was in the air.

    Eventually they were walking single file along the cliff top and the path dipped down into a small valley which narrowed and led downwards on a slight incline. Celthair looked up and saw the walls of rock over their heads with a small line of blue sky high above.  Then suddenly it widened out and the company spread out on a large flat rock. The path looked to have ended, and the edge of the cliff came up so suddenly that a bout of vertigo hit her, and she wobbled precariously.

    ¡°Watch out,¡± said Ciaran and his arms wrapped around her, pulling her back form the edge.

    ¡°Where do we go now?¡± said Mags. ¡°Do we just jump off and hope for the best? Maybe on the way down, I¡¯ll learn how to fly,¡± she said, flapping her arms like a bird.

    ¡°Go on then,¡± said Dom, ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡± He held her by the arms and pushed her toward the edge. Mags squealed in fear and turned, pushing against Dom. Somehow her arms slipped in his and she fell against him. Dom stumbled and fell back with Mags atop him. He grunted with her weight and her face was above his. They stopped and looked at each other for a moment. Celthair and Ciaran laughed aloud at their antics. Then looked at each other knowingly.

    Mags rolled off him and stood brushing herself off with her hands. Dom lay panting with the wind knocked out of him.

    ¡°Help me up,¡± he asked Mags.

    She put out her hand and allowed Dom to grab it. He suddenly pulled her down to him and she squealed again which turned into a laugh.

    Celthair left them to their frolic and turned, noting that nearly all the giants were gone. She had been unable to see where they were going but as they thinned, she saw a line of heads disappearing below the rock, seemingly over the edge of the cliff. She grabbed her horses reigns and followed the last Emim giant. Then she saw it, there was a path which became a steep line of steps, down the cliff face. There was a simple rope supported by stout logs jammed into holes along the edge of the steps which were on the edge of the precipice.

    ¡°We must leave now,¡± called out Celthair. She looked back and saw Dom and Mags kissing. She grinned and Ciaran grabbed her hand again and they left Dom and Mags alone on the flat rock.

    The steps, zig zagged down the cliff face for what seemed like an eternity. They could see the line of giants ahead of them at times and sometimes they were hidden. As they descended the air became thicker and warmer and they needed to remove their thick layers of clothes until at the bottom. All they wore was their tunics, their clothes packed in their saddle bags. The horses struggled down the steps and stumbled dangerously at times. But eventually they got to the bottom safely.

    The heat became more intense with the humidity that was in the air. The foliage was vibrant and luxurious. A multitude of bird noise filled the air. Celthair breathed it all in and sighed happily.

    ¡°It¡¯s good to be back.¡± She said taking off her tunic and putting her head back, her arms apart. She unstrapped the scabbard of the sword at her side. As she clipped it to her horses saddle, she hesitated and touched its hilt. Looking around to make sure no one was there, as if she feared it would be taken.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    Ciaran¡¯s heart nearly stopped when he saw her out of her royal robes and armour. She looked more vulnerable and her feared her a little less.

    ¡°A waterfall,¡± said Celthair, running off after the rushing sound.

    Ciaran ran after her, the horses following him obediently, also happy to go toward the sound of water. When he found her, she was standing on a rock above a pool, as clear as crystal. As Ciaran arrived, she dove in and emerged, laughing with happiness.

    Ciaran stripped down and dove in after her, swimming up to her, wanting to be a part of Celthair¡¯s enthusiasm. He grabbed her and pulled her to him, and they kissed and held each other, enjoying their shared solitude.

    Around the pool it was a forest of colour, different greens and flowers of all colours. So different from their home country and the land they had just travelled through. It was unlike anything Ciaran had ever seen. The temperate climate of Esclarmonde had its extremes of hot and cold, but the constant balmy air of Emain Macha was like a paradise. To Celthair it was home, memories flooded back of her childhood, from when she was five cycles old, to when they left and she was sixteen cycles old, it was only good memories. She had felt homesickness and mourned leaving Imchad for a long time after her family had returned to Athlethan. But she soon forgot and grew to love Athlethan. Now Celthair was back, she no longer missed her second home.

    As Celthair and Ciaran lay on a rock in the sun, Dom and Mags arrived.

    ¡°I knew we would find you here!¡± she said. ¡°As soon as I heard the waterfall, I just knew.¡± She looked about them in wonder. She, like Ciaran was dazzled by the surrounding beauty.

    It was not long before she too was in the pool, swimming along under the waterfall and laughing.

    Dom stood on the rock and watched them. He looked dejected and sad. He sat down and stared at the waterfall.

    When Mags joined them on the rock, Celthair looked at Dom and then at Mags questioningly.

    Mags shook her head and pretended to not care, changing the subject.

    As the afternoon wore on, they all dozed on the rock, the sun had gone behind the trees, but the rock was warm from being heated all day.

    They were all awoken by Thunder. The sky was dark, although it was still day. They could smell rain in the air. They began to dress and hastily pack their belongings back on the horses.

    ¡°We must find shelter; it will get cold if we get too wet.¡±

    They mounted the horses and looked back wistfully at the memories of that day and the paradise they had not wanted to leave.

    Celthair¡¯s hand brushed the hilt of the black sword, and she felt she would fail without it, she hurriedly strapped it on. Looking around as if to make sure no one saw her do so. It suddenly felt heavy and the air around her thrummed. It went dark as if the sun was covered. The horses started and snorted, rearing up, unwilling to go forward. Before them stood a black figure, a hood hiding their features.

    Celthair felt a pressure in her head. Here pulse throbbed in her neck and heaviness weighed her down.

    The figure spoke. His voice loud above the thunder that rolled constantly, waxing and waning in its volume. He held a long staff and pointed it at Celthair.

    ¡°Celthair, what are you doing? Your duty was to the people, to lead them. You must return to them now.¡±

    Celthair realised who it was.

    ¡°Buadach, I am for the people, I am finding a cure. I need the peoples trust. I need to win it back.¡±

    ¡°You do not need their trust Celthair, daughter of Amerghin. Your grandfather did not have their trust, yet they followed him without question. They are willing to sacrifice a few of their own to have you as queen. You need but return and they will follow you unquestioningly. They fear you but they love you for it.¡±

    Celthair felt his words had merit and she had trouble fighting the logic. Her head ached when she tried to reason with it and the sword thrummed again. She placed her hand on the hilt of the sword, it felt hot and was vibrating.

    Why was she going on this dangerous and unnecessary quest. She had a right to the throne. She didn¡¯t need to prove anything to them. The weakness she had felt, melted away and the sword continued to hum. She dismounted and walked toward Buadach. The power she felt, grew and the weakness she had felt a few moments before was gone. She remembered the weakness and laughed at the stupidity of it. She remembered the way the sword had drawn power from the ground and wanted it again. She remembered how and drew the sword. She needed some of it now. Celthair placed the sword tip on the ground in front of her. This time she lessened the feeling that had caused it the first time, back in Imchad.

    Ciaran was stunned and didn¡¯t know what was happening. Celthair had dismounted. The wind had come up and was pushing their nervous horses backwards. Ciaran dismounted and tried to walk toward Celthair and the hooded figure, but she seemed to grow smaller and further away.

    His cry came out of shock and disappointment, he knew what was happening was not good.

    ¡°Celthair¡± he cried, screaming her name into the now roaring wind that was increased by the wind in the trees.

    Celthair had placed the sword tip on the ground, and she heard her name, faintly, from behind her. She turned her head and saw only Ciaran, as if walking against a wind.

    The feeling of weakness returned but an emotion rose in her heart. A different kind of ache. A feeling of loss. The power that flowed through her did not only give her strength but foresight. She saw Ciaran, lost forever. Solitude and loneliness. The destiny of a dark queen, devoted to a higher power, a dark lord. Then she saw the ability she would have to forget, and she turned away. There was a flash of lighting and the crack of thunder where she had stood, and she devoted her thought to the hunger for the elemental energy that flowed through the sword. Her hair stayed white, but her eyes went dark. Once more Celthair became the dark queen of Sennol Uathach.

    ¡°Where is this?¡± asked Celthair, looking around.

    Buadach smiled. ¡°You bought us here, you tell me?¡±

    From the top of the mountain they were on, toward the now setting sun she could see a vast flat land, behind them a storm raged, she could see the massive while thunder head, reaching high into the heavens. To the south were a range of massive mountains and to the north she could see ocean. She marvelled at her own ability to do what she had just done. She had transported here, using elemental power.

    ¡°We are somewhere north of Emim city, in the mountains.¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± said Buadach. ¡°There are portals all over the deep lands. This one is on what only those who know the power we wield as the Black Mountain, these are areas of higher concentration of elemental power, like Mt. Triune. When you access the power of Mac-Roth, you can use that power to do many things. Two you have done. In Imchad, it was unused power that escaped and made up its own purpose which was the pandemic. Now you have learned how to transport, you learned that yourself.¡±

    ¡°All I thought was that I did not want to be there any-more.¡± Said Celthair.

    ¡°That is all you need to do,¡± said Buadach. ¡°You can use the power, but you must limit it, it comes at cost. Your body will age a cycle each time you use it. Use it too much and you will lose time.¡± You will outlive many men, but you will age in appearance, even your grandfather restricted his use of power, he did not want to die, he only used it when necessary.¡± He paused for a moment.

    ¡°Ask me any questions you have; I will try to answer you.¡±

    ¡°Can I reverse the pandemic?¡± I feel it will be easier if I heal them myself. I will transport there and do it, I do not care if I age two cycles.¡±

    ¡°Giving life to one is easy. But to give life to many would age you to an early grave. It is not that easy. It would be easier to rule who ever remains. They will worship you if you heal only two or three. Heal some children and they will love you and fear you enough for them to serve you.¡±

    Something twinged, deep in Celthair¡¯s heart. ¡°But I want to heal them,¡± she said.

    ¡°Remove that notion,¡± Buadach snapped, his voice suddenly snarling. ¡°It will not work, trust me!¡±

    ¡°We will stay here, and you will train under me, for as long as it takes. This place is kept stocked with food for times such as this. We have a cave, beds and firewood. We will return to the Black City when you are ready. There you will lead your people. You will rule all the deep lands.¡±

    The weeks went by and Celthair learned the use of the power, through the sword, Mac-Roth.

    Although she never shared it with Buadach, her master and teacher, Celthair had doubts. The first doubt came when the words Buadach last said to her when they arrived on the Black Mountain, ¡°you will rule the deep lands.¡±

    Yes, she desired to rule her people, but she did not want conquest or battle. Buadach, often spoke of battle strategy, how to strategize using elemental power. But her heart was not in that. Those lessons passed quickly because she already had learned battle strategy in her early years from her father.

    Her father, that was the next doubt that crept into her heart and mind. She loved him deeply and the love was strong enough for thought of him to not part from her. Buadach sensed it, when she spoke of him, and he did his best to try to teach her how to forget him and find her own path. So Celthair did not mention him, only thought of him. Ciaran was a fleeting memory because she had only spent a little time with him. But her father¡¯s memory would always be there, like a tiny spark of electricity that had the power to start a fire.

    Those doubts grew but so did her knowledge of all the things she could do with elemental power. She learned to devise strategy over people thinking, how her actions could either increase or decrease the fear in her subjects as needed. Keeping the control over them. But this power she struggled to apply to her father. She knew he was resolute in his thinking. He would never stand for her plots to control the people. This spark for good always kept the doubts fed. That perhaps this way was not right.

    She struggled with the doubts, they flared up, brighter each time as Buadach expounded his knowledge to her. The same knowledge the Dark Lord had passed on to the twelve sub lords, in the early days in the Deep Lands.

    One day, after a particularly long and hard lesson, Celthair went wandering down the mountain. To escape Buadach and his now incessant monotone voice that seemed to be wearing her nerves thin. The cloud that often shrouded the mountain was gone and the sunshine took away the cold in the air. She threw off the thick animal skins she had been wearing and looked upwards, her eyes closed. Her eyelids were bright red with the sunshine that seeped through her skin.

    Suddenly the red went black, and she opened her eyes, expecting to see a cloud across the suns. She fell back in terror. A massive black shape with wings swooped down toward her and landed heavily. /Its massive claws clattered against the rocks. A wind from its wings rushed about her. She closed her eyes again and cowered, her arm over her head, expecting death to come swiftly.

    Buit nothing happened. All she could hear was a rumbling resonant growl and breathing.

    Celthair opened one eye, looking upward. The sound was familiar, then the shape she had seen flashed through her mind. It was the sound and shape from her early childhood and again in the halls of Athlethan when she was Seventeen cycles old.

    A voice spoke, that seemed to come from somewhere deep, because it began with a rumble, like you hear before an eruption of magma.

    ¡°Hello, my little Keltie.¡±

    Only one had ever called her that. She stepped backward, several times till she could see the whole of his face, the face of Dray-Goen.

    The Leviathan, was an ancient creature, created by Riangbra to protect the first arrivals to the deep lands. Once friends with the people, then mis-treated, they retreated to the Island of Dungerness and hid for many cycles. They were befriended by Tuatha and were once more protectors of the people. They helped in the last great battle when Amerghin called the elemental creatures from deep in the earth. They guided the good and kept fear alive in the minds of those who devised evil. Dray Goen was a large leviathan, Black scales and a long neck bristling with sharp scales. Long muscular legs and a long tail. The wings had a gigantic span, and his head was fierce looking, bristling with teeth. Smoke often came from their nostrils, a warning of their fire breathing ability. They could swallow magma and spit it at their enemies. Leviathan never fought against other people. They only fought elemental powers and creatures. They did this to protect all people, good and bad from elementals destructive power. All these things can be read in the Chronicles of Athlethan the third age.

    Celthair squealed with delight, as if her childhood had come back all at once.

    ¡°Dray Goen, I have missed you so much!¡± she ran forward to his nearest leg and wrapped her arms around it. Relief flooded across her. All she had wanted was another face, someone else other than Buadach who only ever spoke to her the lessons he wished to teach her. Dray Goen provided that relief.

    Dray Goen sniffed her, his hot breath washing over her.

    ¡°You smell bad,¡± he said, ¡°what are you doing up here?¡±

    ¡°Smell bad?¡± she asked, her face reddening, ¡°I have been keeping clean. What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°That smell, the one that comes from deep in the earth. I will always know it. Are you learning of the eiliminteach?¡± He asked, using the old tongue for the elemental power.

    ¡°I am,¡± replied Celthair, worried about his response.

    Dray Goen placed his eye as low as he could she it was right next to Celthair, and peered at her. It felt as if he was looking into her very soul.

    ¡°You must be careful with it, it is dangerous and in the wrong hands....¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± said Celthair, and she began to talk fast, Dray Goen watching her carefully. She told him everything, it was what Buadach never did. He dismissed her thoughts and never listened without cutting her off and telling her to dismiss them.

    It took a whole hour of constant talk before she finished and Dray Goen never moved. Only settled his body down into a more comfortable position in the two suns rays. Celthair had sat down in one of his toes.

    Dray Goen continued to look at her after she had finished. She looked at him expectantly. She had finished telling him of all she had been taught by Buadach and of her doubts.

    Dray Goen did not ridicule her or punish her with stern words or discouraging arguments. He simply rumbled and said, ¡°If I would trust anyone with your power, it would be you, Kelpie. I have investigated your heart; you will choose right; of this I am certain!¡±

    They sat, thinking their own thoughts for a few moments. Celthair humbled by the Leviathans words to her. The doubt becoming resolve within her. She knew the power she had, of its corrupting influence. She vowed never to use it again. She would travel to Imchad and speak with Queen Ariadne.

    ¡°Can you take me to Imchad?¡± she asked. ¡°I must find this light of the Anakim.¡±

    Dray Goen nodded. ¡°Hop on!¡±

    Celthair climbed up Dray Goen, gracefully and respectfully till she was perched atop his broad neck. She strapped Mac Roth to her side, grabbed his dorsal scales and with one massive flap of his wings, Dray Goen launched upwards toward the top of the Black Mountain. Buadach roared in fury, seeing her on his back. But his frustrated cries faded away and Dray Goen glided gracefully down toward the distant hazy greenness of Emain Macha. Of course, they stopped at the lagoon where they both lay in the warm water. Celthair slept for a day and a night in the crook of Dray Goens arm. After one last swim, they left toward Imchad.

 Chapter 13 - Imchad

    Ciaran lay flat on his back, looking up at the storm. The wind was gone from his lungs, and he cried. He felt failure at preventing the loss of Celthair again. He had seen her lift the sword and plunge it into the ground.

    Gradually the storm went off to the north and the sun began to set. He did not know Celthair was watching the same setting of the two suns from the tops of the distant mountains. So, he cried some more, got up and walked back to Dom and Mags who were and brushing their horses as they grazed.

    ¡°Where is Celthair?¡± asked Mags.

    ¡°Gone,¡± Ciaran replied. ¡°She just disappeared. I have called out for her, but she is not here.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s keep trying at least,¡± said Mags, looking alarmed.

    They mounted the horses and rode to the spot where Ciaran had last seen her.

    ¡°See here.¡± He pointed to a spot on the ground where the sword had hit the ground. There was a shallow hole and a black residue fanning outward from it.

    ¡°This is where she stood, she was talking to someone. There was lightning on this spot and her and the hooded one, just disappeared.¡±

    ¡°You mean walked off?¡± asked Dom.

    ¡°No, one moment they were there, then they were gone in the next.¡± Replied Ciaran.

    ¡°How could that be?¡± said Dom.

    ¡°I have stories of the Dark Lord being able to use elemental power to do this. I think it was Buadach that used it to kidnap her. She is alive but somewhere else.¡±

    Ciaran¡¯s heart rose. ¡°She is alive, and she is strong. She will be okay, I am sure.¡±

    ¡°We must continue on to Imchad,¡± said Dom. ¡°There is nothing more we can do.¡±

    They all dejectedly agreed. Ciaran picked up the reigns of Celthair¡¯s horse and they left, looking for the road they had strayed from, that led toward Imchad.

    It was very late in the night that they came upon the camp of the Anakim and Emim they were following. After the guards confirmed their identity, he gave them the warm meaty soup that was being kept warm for them then after they had eaten, showed them their beds which had been set up in case of their return. For this they were all grateful.

    Ciaran slept fitfully, Celthair¡¯s disappearance had unsettled him. He missed her and constantly chided himself for not doing more.

    A few days later they arrived in Imchad, city of the giants.

    Every flag was flying, and the city had come out to welcome them. The three friends felt small in the middle of the large buildings. They felt as if they were in a valley with mountains each side of them, the giants were like trees in proportion. Ciaran was welcomed by Queen Ariadne as he arrived at the top step of the royal palace. He marvelled at its grandeur. Not even Celthair¡¯s description did it justice.

    The gates were not of wood but of marble. Stacked and bound with iron bands holding it together. It rode smoothly on iron tracks and opened at the slightest push.

    Celthair had told him of Queen Ariadne and her description was perfect. She was not as tall as the other giants and her face was beautiful and gentle. Which was very different to many of the other Anakim.

    ¡°Greetings Ciaran, son of Aillel. I have known your father and can see his likeness in you. I look forward to spending time with you and hearing of your father.¡±

    Ciaran bowed low, as Celthair had taught him.

    ¡°I see you have learned out ways,¡± she said, smiling.

    ¡°Celthair taught me,¡± replied Ciaran.

    ¡°I know that name,¡± the queens eyes widened. ¡°You know of her, is it Celthair of Athlethan, son of Tuatha and Laegaire?¡±

    ¡°It is, she was with us but disappeared. We do not know where she went, but we know it had something to do with Buadach.¡±

    ¡°The wizard?¡± she growled. ¡°He is not welcome in these lands.¡±

    ¡°I know she is alive,¡± said Ciaran.

    ¡°This we hope, I wish to see her again,¡± said the queen sadly.

    She looked up and Ciaran saw her countenance change. He stepped aside because she was looking beyond him. He turned as saw Queen Darya walking up the steps of the palace.

    He looked at Queen Ariadne. Changing emotions passed across her face.

    Queen Darya arrived before Queen Ariadne. She fell to her knees and bowed to the ground. Her head at Ariadnes feet.

    ¡°There is no need,¡± said the queen, ¡°rise to your feet sister.¡±

    Darya rose and Ariadne put her arms around her, and they hugged, tears in their eyes.

    Those who witnessed it, cheered at the sight. Anakim patted the Emim soldiers on the back and there were smiles all round.

    ¡°Why were they fighting?¡± Mags asked Dom.

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story, ask one of them.¡± Dom said dismissively, not looking at her. He walked away from her, leaving Mags alone and sad. Missing Celthair dreadfully, no longer wanting to be there, despite the festivities.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Many giants came to talk with her, some asked her if she knew Celthair, Tuatha and Laegaire in her own language, but it was hard to tell them. She battled on, exhausted from the past days¡¯ events.

    It was the last giant that approached her that provided relief. He was shorter than any of the others. He bowed low and spoke to her in her own language clearly and well.

    ¡°My name is Grost, I was a friend of Celthair. You look exhausted my dear, come with me I will show you your lodgings.¡±

    Mags burst into tears, finally able to release her feelings. The friendly Anakim translator ushered her quickly away from the crowds and allowed her to sob into his waist. This was where her head was in proportion, and he patted her head. ¡°There, there,¡± he murmured.

    When she was done, and she had a left a good size wet patch on Grost¡¯s shirt. They walked to a house, more like the houses in her own part of the world.

    ¡°This was Tuatha and Laegaire¡¯s home for many cycles,¡± he told her.

    He left her and she bathed and lay down in a bed and slept, she didn¡¯t know for how long, but it was longer than usual.

    She awoke to hear Dom and Ciaran arrive. Typically talking loudly and without regard for her. She thought of Dom and began to cry quietly. She heard them go past her door which was open. They saw her in the bed and suddenly they went quiet. She cried but smiled, picturing their realisation that she was there asleep, and the stupid expressions on their faces.

    Dom had hurt her badly. She had told him of her feelings when they were above the cliff face, and they had stayed behind to explore their feelings with each other. He had kissed her and suddenly pushed her away. He had not said a word after that. She saw revulsion in his eyes, and he left her alone on the top of the stairs. The way he had told her he had no feelings for her burned deep in her heart. She still admired him but this side of him she despised. They had only spoken politely since about trivial matters. She thought he would apologise at one stage, but he rudely walked away from a question she had asked him. He had ample opportunity to apologise but had not.

    Once it had gone quiet, she got up and met them in the main room. They were half asleep and she felt some compassion for them, knowing how tired she had been and realising they had been out for hours after she had gone to sleep. She found food and made three bowls up, taking it out to them. They gratefully ate the food and Ciaran smiled at her thankfully.

    Dom did not raise his eyes to even look at her and her heart ached for his friendship.

    Ciaran left to sleep but before he left, he took her hand and kissed it.

    She looked at Dom, expecting him to follow. But he sat there dejectedly looking at the floor.

    ¡°You should go and sleep,¡± said Mags.

    He glanced up quickly but looked back at the ground.

    ¡°What is wrong? She asked. ¡°Did I say something or do something that revolted you for you to treat me this way? I would be happy if we were good friends.¡±

    She knew he was tired and that it was probably not the best time, but her heart ached, and she knew she would not sleep, and he would not sleep, unless this was resolved between them.

    He sighed and shuffled up into a straighter position.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good start,¡± she thought. ¡°He at least is trying to be respectful.¡±

    ¡°I miss Gretta,¡± he said. Tears welled up in his eyes.

    Everything became clear. He did not need to say anything else. He had kissed her and felt guilt. It was nothing to do with her. The distaste he had shown was guilt. The shame of how he had treated her was the rudeness. They were adults, how could he not see it, how could she not realise it?

    ¡°I forgive you.¡± She spoke.

    Dom looked at her hopefully and then gratitude.

    ¡°I am sorry.¡± He spoke. ¡°I felt like I was cheating.¡±

    ¡°It was too close to her loss when we kissed. I understand. I want to be your friend and help you through this hard time.¡±

    ¡°I have thought about it since then,¡± he said. ¡°Gretta made me promise something. She asked me not to mourn her too long if she died and to find another like her. I dismissed it at the time as nonsense because I did not believe she could ever die, not Gretta, so full of life and love. She would punish me like I punished you these last few days if I let you go again. She would want you for me!¡±

    These last few words made Mags heart burst. She felt weak and helpless.

    Mags jumped up and fell into the chair alongside Dom hugging him hard.

    She pulled her head back looking at him in the eyes. He was grinning.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think that would work,¡± he laughed as he spoke.

    ¡°It didn¡¯t,¡± Mags said, slapping him on the face slightly too hard. ¡°I¡¯m doing this for her.¡± Then she kissed him on the lips.

    Dom closed his eyes, feeling the pressure of Mags against his chest and fell asleep.

    Mags smiled to herself and got up, placing a rug over Dom¡¯s snoring form. Then she went back to bed to sleep for the rest of the night.

    There were no major events that happened over the following weeks. Ciaran had endless official events and debriefs to go to. He spent a lot of time with the two queens. He told them of Athlethan and Esclarmonde, how they had progressed in the last few years of peace. How Tuatha and Laegaire¡¯s son Aillel had married Dreya, the daughter of Conail and Freysia of Don Cluana. Ariadne was delighted to hear all these things.

    One day, they were all reclining in the sunshine on a balcony, looking toward the East over the hazy countryside. Suddenly the alarm bells sounded from the east side of the city. Horns were blown and people began to hastily run back to their homes and families.

    Ciaran rose and looked hard to the east. It the sky there was a bird flying toward them. He realised then that it was big, and not a bird. As it got closer, it got bigger and bigger.

    ¡°It¡¯s a leviathan,¡± said Mags, who had the best eyes. ¡°What is it doing here?¡± Eventually it was over them and its shadow darkened over them for a moment. It looked silhouetted against the sun, black and ominous.

    It flew in the direction of the palace and disappeared behind the large buildings. It roared loudly and some giants cried out in trepidation.

    Ciaran, Mags and Dom ran as fast as they could for the palace.

    ¡°I can¡¯t be sure but its possible,¡± panted Ciaran as they ran. ¡°But I think its Dray Goen.¡±

    When they arrived the palace guard were around the leviathan their long staves pointed at it. It bellowed and roared again.

    Ciaran ran between the guard and into the circle standing in front of the leviathan. Now he was certain, it was Dray Goen. He saw movement at his feet and looked. Standing there in all her beauty was Celthair. Ciaran sobbed and fell to his knees. He could not believe it. He got up and ran to her, lifting her high and dropping her down into his tight embrace. She laughed and pushed him away.

    ¡°Not in front of everyone!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± he said. Grabbing her hand and pulling her close.

    The palace guard instantly raised their lances, stepping back from the huge beast that dwarfed even them.

    Dray Goen settled into a non-aggressive pose.

    The palace gates slid open, and Queen Ariadne stepped out, walking down the steps towards Dray Goen.

    When Celthair saw her, she walked quickly to meet her. The Queen was awed by the sight of the Leviathan. They knew of their existence, but she had never seen one this close. So, she did not notice the arrival of Celthair, until she spoke.

    Ariadne saw before her a young woman, white hair and the likeness of Laegaire, an old friend.

    ¡°My dear little Celthair,¡± she said with affection. She leaned down and picked up Celthair like a parent picks up a young child and held her to her chest in a warm and not too tight embrace.

    ¡°Dear Aunty Ari,¡± she said calling her by her child pet name.

    It took a long time for Celthair to recount her time with Buadach and her self-reflection.

    ¡°I was so wrong to think I could control the elemental powers this sword offered.¡± She spoke. ¡°But now, it is just a sword. My father told me how important my lessons on Riangbra were. I learned but did not feel it was important till now. Riangbra teaches another way. A better way. One of patience and trust. Not the path a was on of pride and arrogance. The love all of you offered me, never left my mind,¡± she said, looking around. ¡°I love all of you for that¡±. Her eyes finished on Ciaran and her heart thumped hard in her chest.

 Chapter 14 - Treason

    It was not long after the return of Celthair that a council was called and the Emim were invited. A pact of peace was proposed, and they were to discuss the new arrangement that would be made in the two factions that would ensure this peace would last. Celthair was also to speak her request to be allowed the learn the healing arts of the Anakim, so that she could go back and save her people.

    Preparations were made for the next day and Celthair was leaning against Ciaran going over the words she wanted to speak while he read a book on Anakim battle strategy. Dom and Mags were out, enjoying the night life of the city.

    It was getting late and almost the middle of the night when shouting began to get louder in the streets. Ciaran and Celthair leaned out the window toward the palace.

    ¡°Something is going on; it does not sound good.¡± Said Ciaran.

    They heard shouting and the sound of battle, then a horn blew.

    ¡°I think we should go and see what is wrong,¡± said Celthair.

    A loud thumping at the door made them both jump.

    At the door Grost looked worried. ¡°There has been fighting, in the palace,¡± he said breathlessly. ¡°If you are thinking of going there, I am advising you not to. It is too dangerous.¡±

    ¡°We will stay here, said Celthair, Ciaran nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Please tell us what is happening as soon as you know,¡± begged Celthair.

    ¡°I will,¡± said Grost, disappearing through the door and shutting it behind him.

    They ran up the stairs and stood on the balcony, looking worriedly toward the palace. The chaos was spreading out of the palace and into the streets. Giants were running everywhere. Some groups seemed to be searching for something or someone.

    Terrible thoughts went through Celthair¡¯s mind. Fighting and chaos. Till they were told they could only speculate. Were the Emim responsible?

    After an hour of worry and pacing, Celthair could not stand it anymore. ¡°I am going to the palace,¡± she said.

    The sound of fighting was gone but the streets were alive with soldiers and a curfew had been placed. No civilians were to be out on the streets.

    Celthair strapped on the sword and Ciaran did so as well.

    ¡°No,¡± she said, I will go alone.

    ¡°There is no way you are leaving me here to be twice as worried as you were,¡± he said determinedly.

    Celthair conceded, knowing an argument would only waste time and they left the house, making their way in the shadows toward the palace.

    They avoided the patrols and made it there without incident.

    At the gate, which was shut firm, Celthair stood there remembering her childhood, when she would sneak into the palace by bribing one of the guards with her own home made, Aetherclaw juice.

    She knocked the secret knock that she had used all those years ago.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    There was a brief moment of time, and she held her breath.

    Celthair was certain she heard an exclamation on the other side of the door. Sure enough it began to slide open and an eye appeared.

    ¡°Can oi be dreamin¡¯? said a voice, is it really you after all this time.

    ¡°It is dear Odin,¡± she said as she and Ciaran slipped through the gate and he shut it firmly once more behind them.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said. ¡°Do you know where the Queen is?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t be knowin¡¯ anytin¡¯¡± said Odin, looking at her hands expectantly.

    ¡°Fat lot of good you are then,¡± she grinned. ¡°No, I don¡¯t have Aetherclaw juice this time. But after this is over, I¡¯ll make sure a shipment comes from Athlethan straight to your home.¡± Celthair promised.

    Odin licked his lips in anticipation and grinned.

    ¡°Typical of you giants,¡± she chided, ¡°In a crisis, thinking of your bellies.¡±

    ¡®elps in a crisis, it does.¡± He replied, winking at her as they left.

    Celthair made her way to the throne room. They needed to step over two dead giants on the way there.

    Ciaran looked closely at the bodies.

    ¡°They are Emim,¡± he said in a worried voice.

    Celthair¡¯s fears were coming true. She hoped it was only a few who had rebelled against the majorities desire for peace. Celthair had grave concern for Ariadne¡¯s safety.

    She came to the throne room and a scene met their eyes. Several dead soldiers lay sprawled about. The Anakim queens guard were standing around a large group of Emim soldiers who were kneeling with their hands on their heads.

    Queen Ariadne held a long sword, and it was pointing at the throat of the Emim Queen.

    Celthair could see Baal-Ed in the group.

    ¡°Did you order my death?¡± asked Ariadne.

    Queen Darya scowled. She had dropped a sword at her side.

    ¡°I was protecting my soldiers, I do not want you dead,¡± said Darya.

    ¡°I did not know they were going to do this.¡±

    Ciaran looked at Baal Ed. She trusted him and knew she could read him like a book. She pushed her way through the guards and stood before Baal Ed.

    He saw her and grinned. Genuinely happy to see her.

    ¡°What happened here,¡± she asked him.

    ¡°There has been a coup,¡± he whispered. ¡°Some tried to kill Queen Ariadne.¡±

    ¡°Was your queen involved in the plot?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Alas, if I tell you, I commit treason against my queen.¡± He whispered quietly.

    It was all Celthair needed to hear. If Darya had not been involved, Baal Ed would have told her.

    She strode up to Queen Ariadne.

    ¡°My Queen, she has indeed plotted to kill you with a few of her soldiers. But not all of them.¡±

    Darya scowled at her.

    ¡°You, horrible little self-important brat,¡± she said nastily. ¡°I wish I had killed you when I first saw you.¡±

    Celthair walked back to Baal-Ed.

    ¡°Are any more in your group guilty of this attempt?¡± she asked him.

    Baal-ed turned and looked at his soldiers. He looked each of them in the eye and asked them. If you are guilty of this step forward.

    Two soldiers stepped forward.

    ¡°Speak for yourselves,¡± He commanded.

    The room was now quiet, everyone was focussed on the two soldiers and their captain.

    ¡°We were approached by her majesty; she asked us to join her. We refused and she commanded us to tell no one on pain of death.¡±

    ¡°We speak the truth as one,¡± said the other soldier.

    ¡°You could have told me,¡± replied Baal Ed, his tone disappointed.

    The two soldiers hung their heads.

    ¡°You will be reprimanded later.

    Baal Ed turned to Queen Darya.

    ¡°Your majesty we served you with complete obedience but this attack on our hosts was unjust. We do not condone this.¡±

    Queen Ariadne ordered the guilty prisoners taken away. They would be tried later for their crimes.

    The Court emptied and Celthair was left with Ariadne. She bowed to the queen and spoke.

    ¡°I am sorry that I bought this trouble upon you, my queen. I encouraged Darya to come and make peace. She gave me no reason to believe that she wanted to attempt to take your life.¡±

    Ariadne smiled at Celthair¡¯s attempt to accept some blame.

    ¡°Big steps have been taken towards peace, despite Darya¡¯s treachery. Baal Ed has taken temporary power and speaks for his people until they elect a new king or queen. So, my dear, do not feel bad about anything you have done. Now go and rest, we will go ahead with a meeting of council. You can make your request to our healers.¡±

    Celthair bowed and grinned at the Queen.

    ¡°Sleep well my Queen,¡± she said.

    Celthair put her hand in Ciaran¡¯s and together they walked back to their house.

    ¡°I feel betrayed by Darya, she seemed so nice.¡±

    Ciaran put his arm around Celthair¡¯s shoulders. Not many people had taken her kindness for granted. She now trusted a little less. No longer would she accept people she met for the first time as they were. They would need to prove their loyalty. Ciaran felt it was a sad day that this innocence in her nature was damaged.

 Chapter 15 - The light of the Anakim

    The day of council arrived. The city had calmed down, people were subdued and seemed to watch behind them a little more than they used to.

    Council consisted of the elected elders of the city, chosen by the people. There were four elders of the healers, four of the people and four of the royal court. The queen always attended and always had the final vote on decisions that were discussed and made.

    Visitors and requestees were given special seats and people from the city were given limited seats. Once they were full, no others were allowed in.

    ¡°Court is in session,¡± said the president.

    After a few decisions were made in the running of the city, the queen stood and introduced Celthair, stating her status and position also giving her a glowing reference. Most of the elders knew her anyway and nodded at the Queen¡¯s words, agreeing with her without and disagreement.

    The president motioned to her to rise and speak.

    Celthair bowed and spoke in their language.

    ¡°Lords and ladies¡±, she began. Celthair recounted to them her journey and how she had come to them. They listened in silence, how she had made the mistake of letting elemental power go to her head. That because of her, the people were dying. She ended with a humble plea to be shown how to heal her people using the gifts of the Anakim.

    The four healer elders looked puzzled at her question.

    One of them rose and asked her a question.

    ¡°Why do you ask how to heal, you have been trained in Riangbra and you also have a Scatach sword which is able to access the light. Your own father did it using Salchah.¡±

    Celthair suddenly laughed.

    She had gone looking in the wrong direction.

    The elders continued.

    ¡°We do have healers, but their ability lies in accessing the light from the stars. They imbue their poultices and medicine with this light which has the healing properties that derive from the very creation of this world. We call it Shekinah light.¡±

    Celthair drew Mac Roth and held it up before them. ¡°This sword is not pure Scatach metal. The maker was not able to perfectly replicate Salchah. It is corrupted and has only ever accessed elemental power. ¡°

    Another elder rose and spoke. ¡°It can access both, it is about balance. If you access both powers at the same time, there will be enough power to heal many at once. Because it is balanced, it will not age you.¡±

    ¡°I do not know how¡¯¡± said Celthair.

    ¡°We will show you after council,¡± said the elder. ¡°We do not want to hide our secret because many of your people know it already. Bring the sword and the Leviathan Dray Goen, he will be needed as well. Meet us at the golden tower. Mags and Dom must remain here, this is not for their eyes.¡±

    Celthair could not hide her excitement from Ciaran. They both ran to see Dray Goen and ask him for help. Dray Goen agreed. He offered his neck, and they climbed on.

    The golden tower was the highest building in Imchad. There was a large platform on the top and from there they had a commanding view of the whole city and the country beyond. Soon the four healers arrived. In the centre of the platform was a black rock.

    ¡°Place Mac Roth and the scabbard on this rock,¡± said an elder.

    ¡°Now we must meditate and await the night.¡±

    The leviathan leaned their heads close over the table, beneath them kneeled Ciaran and Celthair, around the table. The leviathan began to chant a song, deep, ancient and full of meaning and power. The words were in the ancient language of Emain. The Solais seemed to fall as it set and the sky went red and then dark. Time seemed to move fast, and the voices of the elders grew louder as if coming to a crescendo. The effect on their mind was almost overwhelming yet pleasant at the same time.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Finally, the eternal words of Riangbra, powerful words of prophecy. Also spoken in ancient tongue but translated as ¡°Riangbra is and will be, as always it has been, forever in life, never in pain, the cycle continues till it is broken, death, never again. The Leviathan rises, hope and deliverance, the fifth son of the good and the daughter of evil, united to bring balance and life.¡±

    This was spoken six times. After the sixth Dray Goes stretched and walked over to the black table. Looking down on the sword.

    The elders began to speak the words again, the seventh time. All went dark around them as a star, the brightest star in the sky grew brighter and brighter as if it was coming closer to them.

    ¡°Riangbra is and will be, as always it has been, forever in life, never in pain, the cycle continues till it is broken, death, never again. The Leviathan rises, hope and deliverance, the fifth son of the good and the daughter of evil, united to bring balance and life.¡±

    As they spoke the last words a beam of light came down from the star. It had been seen before travelling through Salchah in the last great battle of the Third age. Then Dray Goen roared, and his mouth glowed, suddenly from his open mouth came fire, the heat was immense and Celthair, Ciaran and the elders took shelter behind large stones set up near the edges of the platform.

    After a few moments the stars beam of light quickly withdrew; Dray Goen stopped breathing out fire onto the black rock where the sword lay. All that was left was a white-hot sword, glowing bright and white.

    ¡°This sword is no longer Mac Roth; it must be renamed for it is reforged in dragon fire and the star of Riangbra. That honour lies with Dray Goen, the oldest among us.¡±

    Dray Goen bowed his head, humbled by the honour. ¡°The name will come. Grant me time,¡± he said.

    The Elders nodded. The sword must not be used till it has a name. Use that name when Riangbra is invoked. You must use both elemental and the star to heal. You must memorise those words we spoke.

    ¡°I know them,¡± replied Celthair. ¡°They were written on Salchah. My father made me memorise them. And I must pass them on to my children also.¡±

    ¡°Wise words!¡± said an elder. ¡°They will bring you help at the hour of most need. We wish and send with you Riangbra¡¯s blessing on you and your people, Celthair, daughter of Tuatha. Now¡­¡± the elder pointed at the sword, which was now shining brightly, no longer black. ¡°Take the sword and do not allow anyone else to touch it. It is now cool enough.¡±

    Celthair picked it up and it was cool to the touch, yet it still glowed as though white hot.

    ¡°Where is the scabbard?¡± asked Celthair.

    ¡°It was not worthy to carry the sword. Have a new one made, it will take on the sword¡¯s qualities once it is inserted.¡±

    Celthair picked up the sword, it was warm and light, no longer did it hum malevolently. Rather it sang as it struck the rock slightly.  A happy sound that carried and continued for some time.

    Dray Goen cocked his head listening to the sound thoughtfully.

    ¡°S¨¬th gheal,¡± he said suddenly on old tongue.

    ¡°White peace?¡± Said Celthair, translating it into the common tongue. ¡°What is the meaning of that?¡± asked Celthair.

    ¡°The sword, when it rang out, it awoke memories of my younger days. Flashes of visions I saw when the world was young. It was peaceful then, no need for swords and weapons of war. The future I could see, frightened a young one like me, but then after those wars a feeling of peace and the visions would fade to white. This sword led my mind to these feelings of peace and the white future. From now on this sword will be called S¨¬th gheal.¡±

    Celthair held up the newly named sword and it rang again. This time it glowed and as she looked writing appeared that had not been there before.

    ¡°It is a new prophecy, send by Riangbra,¡± said Dray Goen. ¡°Do not read it yet. It will be revealed to you when to take the knowledge.¡±

    Slowly the writing faded. The sword had joined Salchah as a sword of prophecy.

    ***

    Far to the southeast, Tuatha sat on the throne of Athlethan. As a councillor droned on about policies, his mind wandered to his daughter.

    After the news of her abduction, his trust in Riangbra had been severely tested. After gathering his army of Riangbra warriors, he had planned to go after her and raze the Black city to the ground once and for all. But Cathabad had reminded him that it was at her age, he had left home and travelled north.

    When news arrived back, months later, he heard of her rise to power and could only hope that their parenting had been strong enough to teach her not to go the way of her grandfather.

    Beside Tuatha, leaning against the throne, was Salchah, bane of Sennol.

    He heard something strange. A ringing sound and from a gap in the top of the scabbard, bright light could be seen. He picked it up and pulled the blade out slightly. The blade was indeed ringing and shining.

    The ringing sound was now loud enough to be heard by everyone in the court and they stopped to listen.

    Tuatha drew the sword fully from the Scabbard and the sound was now so loud all other sound was drowned out. The brightness of the blade was such that no one could look at it for long.

    Cathabad could hear it, and his head rose, his face shining with excitement. He ran as quickly as an old man could, to the throne room. It was a sound he had not heard for many years.

    He arrived breathless and Tuatha looked at him questioningly, holding the sword out.

    ¡°Another sword has been forged by Leviathan fire and star light,¡± said Cathabad. ¡°All we need now is the third and final sword to be revealed. White Eternity is closer than we realised.¡±

    ¡°There is a third sword?¡± asked Tuatha. ¡°Has it already been made?¡±

    ¡°It was written in the Chronicles, and I have been studying this for many cycles, it was a very old text, buried and unread, but I found it. When Emain came through the vortex, he saw beings of light. They showed him a sword giving him prophecy that was unwritten and forgotten. He somehow believed it would be found one day in the far future.¡±

    Tuatha looked at Cathabad, his eyes shining. ¡°It has been found already,¡± he smiled, I was told not to say anything to anyone, but I feel the time is right.¡±

    There was a moment of silence as Tuatha wrestled with the implications of telling Cathabad. But the moment seemed right.

    ¡°The sword is named Klau Solas.¡±

    ***

    ¡°We must leave now; we cannot waste time; we must get back to the people.¡± said Celthair. ¡°First we will farewell the Anakim.¡±

    Dray Goen flew them back to the palace where they said their goodbyes to their new and old friends.

    With tears in everyone¡¯s eyes and much cheering and waving, Dray Goen lifted off the ground with his four passengers and flew off to the south-west and over the Chalice Sea back to the Black city and her grandfather¡¯s people.

 Chapter 16 - Healing

    In the Black city much had deteriorated. Many were still dying and Buadach had returned. He had forced his way into the council and taken control. First, he had promised healing which was not curing those he touched but instead used his abilities to deceive by covering the symptoms. Those people died too but he covered it up by removing whole families and locking them away. Soon he took control of the army and prepared for the return of the one he had once engendered hope in. He had lost Celthair to the Leviathan. He was not going to lose power.

    Buadach walked into the council assembly, flanked by soldiers, loyal to him along with three military generals he had promised power to. These men were cruel and fearless, desiring the power they once had under Amerghin.

    When they saw these men. There was genuine fear in the councils eyes, and they dare not speak. The Generals had been banished but were now back and had the army of the black city under their control once more.

    He strode to the top of the platform and commenced his final words to the council and the gathered people, that would finalise his plan to gain power and keep it from Celthair should she return.

    ¡°Your queen will not return,¡± he commenced. There were audible sighs and groans and some quiet exclamations of ¡°No!¡± to this.

    ¡°With my own eyes I saw her ride a leviathan to the west. She told me she had failed and asked me to return to you as your leader, to help you through this plague that is upon us. She failed to find a cure, but I believe I have found one.¡± The audible cries died away and a murmur of hope arose in the hall.

    ¡°Some of you have witnessed the cure and many are now well again.¡±

    Buadach motioned for four people to come to the platform, and they stepped forward. They were still sick, but he had wrought his elemental powers on them to make them believe they were well. They had been painted with a healthy glow to make them look sound once more.

    The speaker for the four gave an account of how well he was and endorsed Buadach and his abilities as healer, as he had been told to say.

    The people that were allowed in, all healthy, cheered. But the council seemed unimpressed.

    Buadach took note of the four councillors who were demeaning him to the others. Pointing out the faults in his argument. He took note of who they were.

    ¡°We shall allow the council to deliberate on my words,¡± he said condescendingly. ¡°We shall reconvene on the morrow.¡±

    The council disbanded and the people returned hopefully into the city, spreading the news of their new leader that bought with him a cure. Celthair was forgotten as their most recent ruler. Buadach was with them and had with him hope of a bright future. He whispered some words to one of the generals. Some councillors and their families would go missing that night, the ones who had spoken against him.

    Buadach made his way back to his lavish house, surrounded by his bodyguard, the best trained warriors of the Black City. There were many soldiers, he had instructed them that if Celthair arrived they were to kill or capture her or her friends, on sight. He also organised the training of soldiers who used large crossbows on wheels with long metal bolts that could bring down a leviathan.

    Buadach had become cruel and merciless. Gone was his pleasant demeanour. Replaced with impatience and the latent desire for power that he had planned to achieve through Celthair¡¯s claim to the throne. It was not his ideal way to rule. He wanted the peoples trust, not just to rule them with fear. The people were afraid of the illness and only came to him because they needed safety. He knew they did not want him as their ruler, but now they had no choice.

    He had already quelled an uprising of people, organised by members of the old council. But he had killed them all, secretly and covered them up by planting clever rumours. He had also managed to put together this trusted group of military commanders, to whom he gave authority to keep the people conformed to his rule. When people publicly spoke against him, they went missing and soon a pall of fear would fall over the people. They would no longer speak against him, for fear of death. It was reminiscent of the past for many of the older residents, when Amerghin ruled. Many secretly lamented the disappearance of Celthair, many still held hopes of her return. Her promises to them had been seen as genuine and contrite, her mistakes a normal result of her youth.

    Celthair spoke loudly between each stroke of Dray Goens wings. The rushing sound was loud as they travelled high above the azure water of the Chalice Sea.

    ¡°Not long now, I will not hesitate to begin the work of reversing this disease.¡±

    Dray Goen began to slowly dive as the darkening land came into view. The black city stood out like an ink blot on old parchment.

    ¡°Ciaran, you must go to the council and have them gather the people to the rulers seat.¡±

    Ciaran nodded.

    ¡°Mags, I need you with me. It will take all my energy to do what I must do.¡±

    She smiled at Mags, relieved to have the support of her friend.

    As the city drew closer and the buildings came into view, an alarm rang out through the city. Trumpets blared and town hall bells rang loudly, pealing out ahead of them toward the palace and council buildings. People stopped in the streets, some crying out in fear, some pointing in wonder at the rare sight of the great leviathan.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    As they swooped lower and Dray Goen prepared to land, Ciaran cried out in alarm. At the top of one of the buildings he happened to be looking at he saw what looked like a large crossbow. Dray Goen had seen it too and a large bolt whistled past them. Then another from another building. Dray Goen managed to dodge several more and his passengers managed to hold on tight, narrowly escaping dislodgment from their grip on his scales.

    ¡°Drop us between those buildings,¡± said Celthair, grasping Sith Gheal and pointing to a spot which looked to be safe from the crossbow bolts.

    Dray Goen plunged low and fast, and Dray Goen aimed into the gap between the taller of the buildings.

    But as he did so a bolt was missed by his keen eyes, now focussed on the landing spot. His scales were thick where it hit, the bolt went through the scale and plunged in about half its length.

    Dray Goen grunted and then roared in pain. Yet despite this, his concern was for his passengers, and he managed to land heavily.

    Celthair leaped of Dray Goens back. She was furious at the cities reception of them. At the back of her mind, she thought they may have not seen them, and this was simply a defence of the city against such attacks. But this thought was short-lived as she heard shouts of soldiers and tramping sounds of many feet coming in their direction. Words used such as ¡°them¡± and ¡°her¡± in the shouting, expelled any thoughts of a misunderstanding. ¡°Buadach has been busy,¡± she thought to herself angrily. His lies to her as she learned the elemental powers angered her further and followed by Ciaran and her friends she ran forward.

    They kept to the shadows and managed to evade the soldiers for some time.

    The loud rushing of Dray Goens wings filled the air and the roar of fire as he blew fire toward them, keeping them back. The soldiers were further distracted by Dray Goen flying vertically into the sky. Black crossbow bolts flew at him from all directions, and he managed to evade them till he was too high for them to have any effect, and he flew off toward the north. His pact with Emain still at the forefront of his actions, he was not allowed to help Celthair fight for her right to the throne. Leviathan were sworn never to have influence over the affairs of the people of the Deep Lands. Their purpose was to protect them from the use of elemental beasts used by dark forces, as had been seen in the last great battle of Sennol.

    They continued to evade the searchers for some time, but it was not long before they came face to face with a large contingent of soldiers. They quickly surrounded the four fugitives. Celthair stood defiant, her eyes flashing she walked up to their captain and looked at him in the eyes. She recognised his face, but his name escaped her.

    ¡°Why are you pursuing us?¡± she demanded angrily.

    The captains face fell. He had devoted his life to her, but the fear of Buadach¡¯s wrath had caused him to falter. The doubt Buadach had planted in his mind, like many in the city, had been strong.

    ¡°My lady,¡± he said falling to his knees. ¡°Forgive me, we thought you to be gone. I am afraid for you, not all share my faith in you. What do you want me to do? My men follow me, we will obey you.¡±

    ¡°Stand up,¡± said Celthair, relief in her voice. ¡°I am grateful for men such as you. We must find a way to get to Buadach, we need to drive him out of this city. What is your name?¡±

    ¡°I am Gannicus,¡± he said, ¡°I ask to be your personal guard, to serve and protect you.¡±

    She looked at Gannicus. ¡°Prove yourself this day and we will talk again of such matters. We have a job to do, this city needs healing and this need to remove Buadach is wasting more time.¡±

    Gannicus nodded rising and awaiting her orders.

    She beckoned to Ciaran, Dom and Mags to come over. ¡°We need to think of a way to get to the palace.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s easy,¡± said Mags. ¡°We have these soldiers, loyal to Buadach, we are their prisoners.¡±

    ¡°Brilliant,¡± said Celthair, ¡°Mags, clear headed as usual.¡±

    They were surrounded by the soldiers, Gannicus leading the way. Their hands were loosely tied. Soldiers carried their weapons close by for when they were needed.

    As they made their way through the city the shouting stopped as the message was passed on that the fugitives had been caught. Gannicus disappeared for a few moments and reappeared.

    As they approached the palace, Gannicus slowed his walk allowing Celthair to get closer behind him.

    ¡°We have more on our side. I have close friends who will take our side. They will make sure they and their men join us and guard the gate once we are inside.¡±

    Celthair was impressed at Gannicus¡¯ foresight.

    Once inside the palace, they were locked in separate rooms and a guard placed at the door and two on the balcony.

    ¡°Well done,¡± said Buadach to Gannicus. For this you will be rewarded. You have the honour of executing them all if you wish.¡±

    Gannicus bowed and left the room. In his mind it was the execution of Buadach that he wished for.

    Buadach watched him leave. Something was not right. He knew this soldier, his desire for promotion made him look eager and hungry. But this was gone. A brooding anger sat within his eyes and Buadach sensed it.

    He called in one of his generals and ordered a change of the guard. This would remove Gannicus and his men and all other possible rebels, no longer under his power.

    Gannicus groaned when the change of the guard was called and new soldier streamed in. As they arrived at various places in the palace, the replaced soldier had to leave or face punishment.

    There was no time to waste. He called his men, and they rushed the foyer of the palace, forcing back the surprised replacement soldiers and the doors were slammed and bolted. The rest of his men and the other captains quickly subdued the soldiers. Gannicus ran to the rooms and released Celthair and her entourage. Then they quickly made their way to the throne room.

    Hearing the commotion, Buadach¡¯s personal guard had shut the massive wooden doors. When Celthair arrived, she knocked the hilt of Sith Gheal hard on the door.

    ¡°Buadach, you old fool. Did you not know I would come for you. Let me in and surrender and you will only face banishment,¡± she roared.

    It was a long wait until finally after a constant barrage of knocking, the doors were opened slightly by Buadach¡¯s largest warrior a plump half Anakim who wielded a massive hammer as a weapon.

    ¡°Only Celthair may enter,¡± he growled.

    Ciaran stepped forward, ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous,¡± he said. Celthair placed her hand out preventing him from going forward.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she said. ¡°I am not afraid.¡±

    Ciaran shook his head, ¡°They will kill you for sure,¡± he said, his voice shaking with trepidation.

    ¡°Buadach will try.¡± She whispered in Ciaran¡¯s ear. Kissing him tenderly on the cheek. ¡°But I am protected. Trust Riangbra,¡± she added reassuringly.

    The chubby yet fearsome warrior stepped forward and beckoned for the sword Celthair was holding.

    Celthair glared at him.

    ¡°It stays with me,¡± she growled.

    The soldier remained obstinate and continued to hold out his hand.

    Celthair remained resolute.

    She grinned at the impatient soldier.

    ¡°Look here,¡± she said, walking toward him, leaning forward as if to share private information with him.

    The man leant in and turned his head on the side.

    Celthair leaped past him and was through the door, running up the centre of the room toward Buadach.

    He grunted and leaped after her.

    A row of armour-clad soldiers stood before her; their lances stretched out toward her menacingly.

    Buadach lifted his staff and spoke loudly in the language of Sennol. From his staff came the black lightning and it cracked loudly like the crack of lightning before the roar of thunder. Then it hit like thunder. Celthair was struck in her torso, and it threw her backwards and her limp body skidded along the floor, she lay still, falling from her grasp, Sith Gheal skidded across the floor and came to rest against the foot of a soldier.

    Buadach laughed. He had caught her unawares; his experience and treachery had defeated her.

    ¡°Tie her up,¡± he commanded, ¡°and bring that sword to me.¡±

 Chapter 17 - Celthairs bane

    Ciaran waited impatiently by the great doors that Celthair had disappeared through over five hours ago. His heart began to get heavy with dread. Gannicus arrived and motioned for him to listen to what he had to say.

    ¡°We must call a meeting of council and take full control of the city. We will guard this building, no one will be able to leave.  Once that is done, we can then concentrate on what to do about Buadach and those faithful to him.¡±

    Ciaran nodded, ¡°I agree. But I do fear Buadach will use Celthair to attempt to take back power. I am fearful as to what he will do to her.¡±

    There was a cry from one of the soldiers. From his viewpoint he could see a balcony up the side of the building. A soldier attached a rope to the stone balustrade.

    Ciaran moved back to get a better vantage point.

    He saw two more soldiers carrying Celthair to the balcony, her hands bound behind her back and her mouth gagged. Her head hung forward and Ciaran feared the worst, but her head moved back slightly of its own accord, and he breathed a sigh of relief. She was still alive.

    Then his heart stopped. A soldier placed the other end of the looped rope over her head and tightened it around her neck. Then they bought her to the edge of the balcony, ready to throw her over the edge.

    Those who saw this groaned in concern for Celthair.

    Then Buadach appeared and the murmurs of the onlookers ceased.

    When Ciaran saw this, his anger grew, and he frantically thought of ways he could save her from this inevitable death. His mind went to Dray Goen, and an idea formed in his head.

    He ran from the crowds into the now silent streets, away from the droning voice of Buadach explaining why Celthair had to die.

    Ciaran cried out Dray Goens name into the skies as he ran, he did so several times and the last time, breathless and frantic with worry his words faded out into a sob of despair.

    It did not take long for the great leviathan to appear, and he landed heavily in a rush of wind from his wings before Ciaran.

    ¡°I know why you call me,¡± said Dray Goen sadly. ¡°I have been watching. But, alas my dear Ciaran, I can do nothing, we swore to Emain that we would have nothing to do with the affairs of men. This would account for meddling in your history. We can only protect you from the dark forces of the elemental powers.¡±

    Ciaran listened helplessly. His mind trying to find reason in this great leviathan¡¯s refusal to help him.

    ¡°All I ask is that you drop me off on the balcony where she is held so I may do my best to save her. I would rather die saving her than live without her.¡±

    ¡°I cannot! Said Dray Goen, his drooping head moving heavily from side to side, his eyes sad. He prepared to take off once more.

    Ciaran was now thinking as fast as he could.

    ¡°Wait!¡± he said loudly.

    Dray Goen paused.

    ¡°Can you just happen to fly past the balcony, and I just happen to be on your back? You would not have to be involved. I will cut the rope around her neck, then she can jump onto your back with me.¡±

    Dray Goen listened to his words. Was it a loophole to this law he was made to follow? Dray Goen paused and thought for a few moments, watched breathlessly by Ciaran.

    ¡°I am involved because I am taking you there, but I am not fighting, I am simply there. It is you that will be doing the fighting.¡± He reasoned aloud.

    Ciaran nodded enthusiastically.

    ¡°Jump aboard,¡± said Dray Goen. ¡°We haven¡¯t much time.¡±

    Ciaran leaped onto Dray Goens broad shoulders, and they lifted off and up toward the sound of the crowd and the voice of Buadach.

    Dray Goen hovered, high above the building where Celthair was being held captive.

    Dray Goen with his acute hearing, recited to Ciaran the words Buadach was saying.

    ¡°You will drop all your weapons by the gate and walk away, only then will I be lenient upon you and will not punish you for your insolence.¡±

    There was silence for a time.

    ¡°No one is moving,¡± said Dray Goen.

    After a while, Buadach began once more.

    ¡°If you do not obey me, I will kill this woman you call your queen.¡±

    Ciaran tensed up. ¡°I think we must be ready to do it,¡± he said.

    ¡°Leave it to me, said Dray Goen, ¡°I will time the attack, just you be ready. Now let me listen.¡±

    Dray Goen folded his wings and dropped lower, listening the whole time.

    On the balcony Dray Goen could see the soldiers lift Celthair, placing her on the edge of the balcony, they would only need to let her go now. The crowd gasped in fear.

    ¡°If you do not comply, she will die.¡± said Buadach.

    He looked across at Celthair and nodded to the soldiers. Dray Goen had anticipated the go ahead from Buadach and he folded in his wings and plunged like a hawk hunting its prey.

    ¡°Draw your sword,¡± said Dray Goen.

    Holding on tightly with his knees and one hand, Ciaran draw his sword.

    ¡°Cut the rope,¡± said Dray Goen.

    It seemed to happen in slow motion. As if time was slowed. Celthair was falling her eyes closed, resigned to death. Dray Goen dropped like a stone and as they approached at high speed, no one saw them coming except Buadach. But he could do nothing.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    Adjusting his wings, dray Goen began to level himself out so that he would reach the falling Celthair at an angle where Ciaran¡¯s sword could cut the rope. She fell lower and lower, Dray Goen and Ciaran with his sword outstretched approached at high speed.

    Just as the rope began to tighten, they reached her, and the rope parted. Instead of the rope snapping her neck at its limit, she now continued to fall.

    Celthair might have survived the fall if the rope had parted so they had prepared a large sheet of material below the balcony, help by many hands and she landed safely in it and was lowered to the ground.

    Dray Goen swooped upwards and then settled heavily atop the building where the balcony was situated.

    The Crowd cheered to see Celthair safe.

    Buadach peered over the balcony, hoping to see a woman at the end of the rope. Instead, a very much alive Celthair, peered back up at him.

    He was furious and he picked up his staff.

    He placed his legs apart and his hands wide each side of his body, his fists clenched, and he began to chant dark words of Sennol, mustering elemental energy through his staff and into his hands. It came from all directions, black lightning, arcing from the ground. Where people stood it killed and maimed, cutting through people¡¯s limbs and leaving behind black acrid smoke. The balcony shook and cracked, falling from beneath Buadach onto the ground below. Some where caught in the falling rubble. With it fell the soldiers. Just out of reach of the falling rubble, Celthair watched with alarm as his power grew. The ground began to tear apart, leaving gaping chasms, people and buildings collapsing into it. From inside the chasm a scream of hate.

    Buadach had awakened an elemental. He felt powerful, and had never expected he could do it. The dark lord had made him think he was not strong enough, but all it needed was one to begin it and it was self-feeding and would grow exponentially, using the dark wizard to perpetuate itself.

    That was the trigger. Once Dray Goen, the great leviathan, had seen the use of this elemental power used against these people, he stepped in.

    Leaping from the roof he descended before and slightly below the now hovering Buadach. The Black and purple edged lighting glanced off his scales, having no damaging effect on him. From deep inside him a glow built up, causing him to become transparent to the white-hot fire that was within every Leviathan.

    Buadach clapped his hands together and a concentrated beam of lightning hit Dray Goen square in his chest, driving him back, his claws scraping along the ground tearing large furrows in it, pushing the cobblestones of the street sideways and bringing the ground below to the surface.

    He roared with the pain, with the roar came the white-hot fire.

    The fire roared of its own accord and the sound of the leviathans roar mixed with the sound of fire was deafening. The fire reached Buadach¡¯s form, and it seemed to go around him as if he was protected from it by some invisible force. But the fire continued and Buadach roared back, trying to double the elemental power that was coursing through his hands toward Dray Goen.

    His roar rapidly became a scream and as the fire touched him, he began to dissolve, his scream turned into a squeal and the fire overwhelmed him and all that was left of Buadach was a puff of black smoke before the fiery breath of the leviathan. His charred staff fell to the ground in front of Dray Goen and the black lightning faded away.

    It did not stop the now awakened elemental. The ground was now open, and it stepped into the middle of the black city. The noise of the earthquake and the fire and Dray Goens roar faded away leaving a profound silence, except for the occasional sound of buildings and rock crumbling into the gaping wound of the abyss through the middle of the city.

    Dray Goen was spent, it would take a few minutes for his energy to build for another bout of leviathan fire from deep within him.

    He took off into the sky, out of reach of the Elemental. He hoped it would keep looking at him and not at the people trying to flee the city.

    Celthair saw all of this from near where she had landed. When the balcony fell, along with the soldiers, one of them was holding Sith Gheal. Once more she held it tightly. She had run from the hot breath of Dray Goen and managed to jump across a widening abyss as the ground shook and parted.

    Now she was standing before the elemental, taller than the tallest building in the city. It stood on two short legs, relative to it body and stood upright like a man. It¡¯s feet and hands had long toes with claws. It had a gaping mouth lined with teeth that went in all directions out from its mouth, its tongue darted around in the space between. The end of its tongue was like the head of a serpent with its own eyes and teeth. It had no eyes of its own and Celthair realised it saw with its tongue. She could see Dray Goen far above and knew he was recovering. Lumps of molten rock fell from it, splashing around her and giving her small painful burns on her exposed skin. She looked around and found a helmet from a fallen soldier. It would protect her eyes and head from the hot splashing magma.

    The elemental was still looking upwards at Dray Goen. It lifted one of its feet, slowly manoeuvred its massive bulk to the side and lowered its foot down toward Celthair. She dived to the side, barely getting out of the way. As she looked up, she planned the attack. She knew Dray Goen would attack eventually and she needed to distract it just before Dray Goen made his move. She suddenly remembered her father Tuatha¡¯s dash across the plain of Sennol years ago when she was but a child. He had told her that he recited the words that were on Salchah, and the light of the star had come through it, weakening the Elemental that he had faced so the leviathan could destroy it.

    She looked along the blade of Sith Gheal. The words she had seen before were not there. They had faded.

    She looked up, trying to see Dray Goen. He appeared from behind the elemental, circling around and around.

    Dray Goen could see Celthair below. He knew she would work with him when he attacked.

    Celthair saw Dray Goen fly upwards and knew he was preparing to dive. She ran to the elementals massive foot and drove Sith Gheal deep into the hot hide of the beast.

    It roared and moved its head, leaning over and looking down at its foot, to see what had stung it. It must have had poor eyesight because it leaned very low, and its tongue darted out and down toward Celthair. She pulled the sword from the beasts foot and ran. The tongue, with its eyes at the end came closer and closer, she could not get away, so she turned and took the wide stance of the Riangbra warrior arts that she had learned from a little girl. It came closer and looked at her, coiling like a snake getting ready to strike. Suddenly it darted at her, its own mouth agape, attempting to grab her where she stood. But it was slow, and she dove to the side, rolled under it and went into a standing position alongside it. With all her strength in two hands she swung Sith Gheal downwards from over her head. It whistled through the air and struck deep into the beasts tongue, slicing downwards at its full length. The beast roared long and hard its voice becoming high pitched as it recoiled its broken tongue that hung by a thread of whatever its flesh was made of.

    Celthair was thrown backwards be its sudden recoil and she ended up on her back a few armlengths away. As she lay winded, so from on her back she could take in the beasts size.

    Then she saw that Dray Goen was on its neck, biting and clawing, making a hole so he could deal the death blow of the fire of the leviathan.

    Celthair got up and ran, she knew it would fall and did not want to be under it when it did. Would it fall backward or forwards? She had no idea and so just ran away from it. She ran and came across a wide abyss that she could not cross. She began to run along the edge, looking for a place to cross. As she leapt across a small crevice, her eyes caught a glimpse of Sith Gheal in her hand. It was glowing brightly, and the once invisible lettering was glowing white. The heat from the elemental had made it come alive.

    She stopped to read it ignoring the roar of the leviathans fire that Dray Goen poured into the elementals open wound. The scream of the beast was cut short as the fire destroyed its voice box and fire belched out of the other side of its neck. Its head lolled and broke away as Dray Goen sliced through the rest of its neck with the last remaining blast of fire. The beast went still for a few moments as its head fell slowly and crashed into the city below, not far from where Celthair stood.

    She was reading the words and began to speak the words aloud.  Powerful words of prophecy that spoke of the future and the white eternity. Words that were not to be heard by any other mortals ear but if heard had the power to grant immortality.

    As she spoke the last of the words, Celthair held it aloft in her two hands, the sky went dark, and a star grew larger till it was a sun and there was no more darkness. From it came the same beam of light that Tuatha had directed through Salchah. The light went through the dead body of the beast that was toppling and entered Sith Gheal. The dead elemental toppled toward her and fell with a crash that shook the ground for many leagues around them. If anyone was watching, she disappeared under the heavy torso of the beast.

    The star beam faded and receded and normal light from the two suns appeared.

    It was at that moment that those in the city lying sick and at deaths door from the illness that had plagued the city became well again, the fever lifted and despite the weakness that came from long illness, they streamed out of the hospitals and their houses. Having heard the noise of battle but having been unable to witness it. Now they stood in wonder at the destruction that lay before them.

    Someone did witness the beasts death. A man in the armour and under the colours of Athlethan had arrived along with many other horsemen. From atop the hill of decision he had a commanding view of the battle, and he knew it was his daughter that disappeared under the dead and fallen elemental.

    Tuatha cried out in pain and loss as he dismounted and ran toward the fallen beast which had begun to cool on its surface.

    He ran down the hill and toward him a young man was walking. He stopped when he recognised Ciaran. Ciaran had streaks of dirt down his face where the dust and tears had mingled and dried.

    ¡°She is gone,¡± he said falling to his knees before Tuatha. Tuatha fell to his knees, and they embraced in their grief.

    ¡°What have you told him?¡± said a voice.

    They turned and looked up. Standing atop a wall was Celthair, dishevelled and looking slightly annoyed.

    ¡°You had better not have told him we are getting married. That¡¯s why fathers usually hug their future son in laws.¡±

    They both stared at her in wonder. Their mouths agape still holding each other their cheeks side by side.

    ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± she said.

    Tuatha was the first to push Ciaran away. He was still speechless but jumped up at took his daughter in his arms, kissing her on her forehead and cheeks.

    Celthair began to laugh. She laughed hard and long, her words trying to come through the laughter.

    ¡°Oh,¡± she finally said, ¡°you thought I was dead, is that it?¡±

    Tuatha finally let her go and looked at her, shaking his head. Pride in his daughter welling up in his chest. He looked over her shoulder at Ciaran waiting patiently for him to finish his reunion with his once lost daughter.

    ¡°Someone is waiting for you, and as you have just told me, your husband.¡±

    Celthair threw an annoyed look at her father and then turned around. Ciaran was looking at her with amazement that was slowly turned into love and desire for her.

    She ran to him and hugged him tight. After about two minutes of her clamp like embrace he began to tap her on her shoulder, becoming more frantic as time went on.

    ¡°What? she asked, ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    She loosened her grip, and he breathed in deeply then breathed out the words he was not able to say.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t breathe,¡± he gasped.

    ¡°Never mind that,¡± she said and kissed him hard.

    Ciaran knew this was life with her now. Celthair loved people so hard and with so much passion it hurt. Pain would be his friend from now on, pain that he wanted above all else. The type of pain that meant he would be with his love forever. He too began to laugh with relief and love.

 Chapter 18 - Cathair Tsolais

    It took many months to repair the city from the ruin and destruction that Buadach had caused. Before long, it was done because everyone put their weight behind the work. The dead beast was broken up and pushed into the abyss. Bridges were built across it and walls around it. The city was rebuilt, and life began to return to normal in the city.

    The palace was last to be repaired and Celthair and Ciaran were presented by the council of the city to their new home.

    A few days after moving in, the whole city planned to hold a ceremony, the first of the ceremony of kings and queens in the Black city. To witness the marriage of Celthair and Ciaran and then their crowning as king and queen.

    Tuatha and Laegaire, who had arrived along with a contingent from every city in the Deep Lands, came to witness this momentous occasion. Ainnle and Caer Omaith arrived, having only recently heard of their sons adventures and his marriage to Celthair.

    Tethra and Morann arrived also, happy to see their daughter Mags safe and with purpose. With them came Ardan and Fiall from Muinremar, along with Queen Celthair, her namesake and king Furbaide Furbend. Dom had travelled to his home and bought back with him his mother and father, Conail and Freysia of Don Cluana, with them Aillel, Celthair¡¯s brother, and his wife Dreya.

    Also, Naoise and his wife Ismay. King Fernmaige of Muirthemne also came to pay homage to this new king and queen.

    From the Anakim came queen Ariadne.

    It was a reunion that could only be understood when one read the Chronicles of Athlethan, the third age.

    Tuatha was to lead the ceremony for them as a king always did when royalty was to be wed.

    The ceremony began and the whole city cheering and festive stood to witness the new chapter in the Black cities future.

    Celthair stood and held up her hand, hushing the crowd.

    She spoke aloud; her words being repeated by the criers so all could hear.

    ¡°People of the Black city.¡± She held aloft Sith Gheal so all could see it glinting in the light.

    ¡°No longer are you in darkness, but you are now under the light of Sith Gheal, the White peace!¡± she paused as the crowds cheered.

    ¡°From now till the white eternity this place shall be called Cathair Tsolais. The city of light!¡± She bowed to the people and stepped down.

    As the word spread through the criers the crowds took up the words and began to chant it aloud. ¡°Cathair Tsolais¡­ Cathair Tsolais¡­ Cathair Tsolais.¡±

    From the sky a beam of light from the now visible star shone down on her as if to support her words.

    Tuatha watched his daughter as she stepped down and bowed to him offering him the pedestal to begin the ceremony. He looked across at Laegaire, knowing she felt and thought the same. To see their daughter fulfilling part of the prophecy of the Chronicle prophetica filled their heart with pride.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    He glanced at Celthair and Ciaran, dressed in their white tunics, the royal insignia on their light armour that was made for ceremonies such as this. His daughter had the same ethereal beauty of her mother, he reached across and pulled Laegaire close to him, enjoying the moment of their daughters inauguration together.

    On Celthair¡¯s side was Sith Gheal the White peace. She was indeed a warrior queen. Behind her filling the scenery behind her was the graceful and fearsome black leviathan, Dray Goen. The picture Tuatha saw was etched on his mind forever. The leviathan and the queen. The days of Emain were back. Hope rose stronger than ever in Tuatha¡¯s mind, as well as those who had witnessed these events.

    Tuatha stepped up onto the dais and bugles blared.

    Celthair had taken her place with Ciaran, in the tradition of the Deep Lands he held her hand up in front of him, and she walked slightly ahead of him, as they mounted the stairs to the dais, he presented her to the people of Cathair Tsolais as their queen.

    Tuatha looked at Laegaire in her eyes, they smiled knowingly at each other, remembering their own wedding together long ago in Dun Emain, in their united thoughts. He nodded at Ciaran as they began the words of their private vows to each other.

    When they had finished, and the witnesses had heard their vows. Tuatha picked up the crown he had one worn.

    ¡°Lords and Ladies, Riangbra be praised. We have before us Prince Ciaran son of king Ainnle and Queen Caer Omaith of Esclarmonde and his wife, Princess Celthair De Daanan Findabair my daughter and granddaughter of Amerghin and the lady Dagemar. Ladies and Lords, I present the Queen and her consort, King of Cathair Tsolais and the western territories.

    Celthair looked at him in gratitude for mentioning her mother¡¯s side of the family.

    Laegaire stood alongside Tuatha, and they placed their own crowns on the head of their daughter and son in law.  This was a symbolic gesture that the line of Emain was in this union, and none could remove them from their status.

    Then before the people they both bowed, taking off the crowns and holding them toward the king, the true heir of Emain and his queen. They stood and placed the crown on their heads, publicly showing the people that the high king and queen, Tuatha, were indeed the true rulers of the whole of the Deep Lands and they were also subject to them and would answer their call in a time of need.

    Then walking to the two thrones of Cathair Tsolais, Celthair and Ciaran sat down. Then Mags and Dom walked up behind them placing their own crowns, symbolic of their rulership of Cathair Tsolais and all the western realms.

    Then the crowds cheered once more. Dray Goen sent a huge column of fire behind them, into the sky.

    So began the reign of Celthair and Ciaran over the city of light, Cathair Tsolais.

    Their visitors stayed for many days, spending time with them and imparting wisdom and answering many questions about rulership that the new king and queen had.  They marvelled at Celthair¡¯s wisdom from a young age. Her physical strength that she never used in all her activities. Even in training when she could have beaten so many in bouts, she allowed them to keep their dignity.

    Dray Goen took her on a flight back over the places she had been. Then he took her back to Athlethan. Much to the delight of the people of Athlethan. When Tuatha returned, he did not understand the grins and muffled laughter of his soldiers and people, he knew it was a joke but did not know what it was about for a long time. For Celthair had cheekily sat on his throne and had done an impersonation of him for their entertainment. She met with the boys she had corrected, and they bowed low in awe. After a discussion of their interests, they became her couriers between Athlethan and Cathair Tsolais. The beginnings of a very efficient postal service across all the Deep Lands.

    When she arrived back in her city, the time for her visitors to depart grew closer. She farewelled Dray Goen who went back to his Island of Dungerness. He had a lot to do over the next few cycles of the sun, but it was not something he would share. It involved Dun Emain and

    It had taken a lot of time, but eventually Mags married a man from Cathair Tsolais, a soldier she had met during the siege of the palace. She continued to be Celthair¡¯s closest friend and confidant.

    Dom loved trading and continued to do what he loved. He became the largest trader from the east to the west. He did not marry again. His heart was broken, but he was often seen entering the palace when his own ship was in Cathair Tsolais.

 Epilogue

    A young boy clambered over some rocks and stopped atop a boulder to look back from where he had come. Spread out below was a scene of ethereal beauty in the late afternoon solar light that came from two glowing orbs of fire, one slightly larger than the other. Forests in the distance bought a purple haze to the air. Below him was a city, surrounded by white walls and towers. A stream of tiny people was coming and going from the gates.

    He turned away and the city disappeared behind him. He explored the crevices in the rocks that were scattered about, picking up shiny stones and tossing them away, when a shinier one beckoned to his eye.

    Time passed but did not dampen his enthusiasm in his quest for treasure. There was a distant roar above him, and he looked up to see a black leviathan high in the sky, riding the currents of air that made it possible to seemingly hover for hours on end. He watched as it swooped down, down, down and landed on the rocks in the distance. It seemed to look at him, but he felt no fear. The boy ran toward the beast, wanting to get closer, He went down into a valley as he ran and when he reached the other side the Leviathan was gone. He surveyed the landscape with a disappointed expression and continued in the direction he had last seen it.

    When the boy reached the place where he thought it had been, he stopped and looked around. He was standing in a large basin, clear of rocks. In the centre was a large boulder. Engraved on it were pictures of human shaped figures that were depicted as having beams coming out from their centre. There was a large circle on the rock that spiralled outwards from the centre.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    The boy went over to the rock and placed his hand on the spiral, feeling its texture. As he did so it began to hum and feel warm. He withdrew his hand and watched as spots of light, spinning in a circular motion began to multiply till after a moment became a bright vortex of spinning light, hiding the rock that was behind it. Then the boy noticed that it seemed to be concaved inwards and was opening so he could see inside the rock. He peered inside. He could see a figure that was human in shape but was unusual in its appearance, it seemed to be made entirely of bright, white light. In its hand was a sword which it grasped in its left hand. It moved toward the boy, who was more curious than afraid.

    The being swung the glowing swords blade upwards into its right hand and held it like an offering toward the boy. It nodded as the boy looked questioningly at it, pointing to himself. ¡°Is it for me?¡±

    So, the boy reached out and took the sword from the being.

    Then darkness came, the type of darkness that comes from the absence of bright light.

    The boy stood there, near the boulder, which was now just a rock face once more.

    It was dark, the suns had set but the sword glowed. Bright enough for the boy to see the ground in front of him.

    ¡°A voice called for him. ¡°Niam, where are you?¡±

    A man and a woman appeared on horseback.

    What they saw shocked and frightened them.

    A man sitting astride a Leviathan, holding a glowing sword. A figure, who took them a while to recognise as their grandson, son of their daughter Celthair. But no longer a boy but a young man, now dressed in a white cloak.

    They dismounted and walked toward the imposing scene.

    ¡°Niam, is that really you?¡±

    The Leviathan spoke. ¡°Tuatha and Laegaire, your grandson has been given Klau Solas. He will be trained by me. He will return.¡±

    With massive rushing flaps of his wings, the old Leviathan, Dray Goen, took to the sky and disappeared into the distance, the boy astride his broad, scaly neck.

 Appendix

    <h2></a>Appendix</h2>

    Betrothal ¨C Betrothal is not marriage as earth tradition dictates. It is the first stage of commitment toward a loved partner. After this comes engagement and then marriage.

    <h2></a>People</h2>

    Celthair- (Selt-air)) Daughter of Tuatha and Laegaire

    Aillel ¨C Celthair¡¯s brother

    Tuatha ¨C Celthair¡¯s fatherDid you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    Laegaire (Lair-ie) ¨C Celthair¡¯s mother

    Mairghread ¨C (Mare-gred) Daughter of Tethra and Devorgill. Called Mags by her friends.

    Gormlaith ¨CBlacksmith of Athlethan, half Anakim giant

    Ciaran ¨C Son of Ainnle and Caer Omaith of Esclarmonde, Dark hair, Celthair¡¯s soulmate.

    Ulric and Seamus ¨C Ciaran¡¯s friends, from Dun Emain the city of Magach. Sons of Conrad, Lord of Dun Emain.

    Dom and Gretta Cearnach ¨C Son of Conail and Freysia of Don Cluana, a trader

    Buadach ¨C A surviving Lord of the twelve Lords of Sennol.

    Baal-Ed - Captain of the Emim queens guard

    Queen Darya (Darry- ya)¨C Emim giant queen

    Bophorus ¨C An Anakim soldier friend of Tuatha, Laegaire and Celthair

    Niam ¨C Son of Celthair and Ciaran, name means brightness or radiance

    <h2></a>Places</h2>

    Cathair Tsolais ¨C The new City of light

    The plain of Sennol ¨C The old site of Sennol Uathach and the great battle.

    <h2></a>Items</h2>

    S¨¬th Gheal ¨C translated ¡®White peace¡¯ ¨C the third sword of prophecy.

    Klau Solas ¨C translated ¡°Sword of light¡± Emain¡¯s original sword.