“I think those wolves are getting even closer,” said Ainnle nervously. “I was hoping they had gone off in another direction”.
But it seemed the howling was getting louder; the wolves had caught their scent; it was inevitable that they would catch up. They all didn’t want to think about what would happen when they did.
As they made haste, the plain gradually became increasingly filled with trees, till eventually they were in a forest that hid the dark mountains from their view.
They began to spring lightly from rock to rock, silently using them and the larger fallen trees and tree branches to hide the sound of their tread.
They had spread some citrus juice on their shoes and leggings, hoping to mask their scent from the wolves’ powerful senses. “We can’t keep this up for much longer,” said Tuatha, panting lightly between words. “We may have to stand and fight.”
“How far do you think it is to Dun Emain?” asked Ardan. Tuatha turned his head toward his friends. “I was told it was five days with rest stops from Port Usnach. We still have not reached the mountain path. I can see the top of some mountains over the trees now. We must be close.”
Even as he finished speaking the forest opened to fields of long swaying grass. Large Aurochs stuck out like blobs of black granite above the fields where they grazed. Further past them Tuatha could see the base of the hills that formed the base of the mountains behind them.
They set out across the fields. The howling now quite loud behind them.
The Aurochs ignored the men but snorted and looked agitated at the baying wolves.
“I could do with a nice young Auroch roasted on an open fire,” said
Ainnle morosely. Naoise nodded in agreement, taking nervous glances behind him as he walked. “We really need to think of something fast, I don’t want to fight these wolves.”
Ardan stopped and looked at the herd. His eyes brightened. “I have an idea,” he said. “If we kill an Aurochs the wolves will stop to feast. We can take some meat and run to the mountains and have a meal there without the wolves following us.”
They all looked at the herd and baulked. Aurochs were large bovines with massive horns. Tuatha reasoned out loud, “Unless you kill one quickly it can do a lot of damage. They also protect each other. So, we could be attacked, and we will become an easy meal for the wolves.”
Ardan responded, “I would rather risk this than face the wolves. What if we spook them and take one out as they stampede, so they don’t know what’s happening?”
“Like we did with the goats near home as kids,” Ainnle reminisced.
“You two go around that way and drive them down that small valley, I’ll wait behind that old tree over there, and kill one as they go past.” said Tuatha.
With the plan clearly in their minds, Ainnle, Naoise and Ardan dropped down on the grass and began to crouch walk in the direction Tuatha had instructed. Tuatha did the same.
When Tuatha reached the old tree stump in the middle of the gully, he slid Salchah from its scabbard and lifted it up high, reflecting the light from the dim sun toward Ainnle, Naoise and Ardan.
He knew they had seen it because he heard their commotion. They hammered their swords together and yelled for all they were worth. Tuatha saw the largest Auroch, the leader of the herd, was the quickest to raise its head. Then it bellowed, and the other Aurochs followed as it began to pound its way along the valley toward him.
As their stampede grew in speed, the herd’s hooves created a thunderous shaking in the ground. Tuatha prepared himself and stiffened, something was not right. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf in the air coming toward him, mouth agape. In an instant, thanks to his training, the blade tip met it in the air, and the wolf slid full length onto the sword like a giant steak on a skewer. The force drove Tuatha back on his heels, grunting with the pain of his shoulder as it took the weight of the dead wolf. The wolf fell to the ground, and Tuatha had to step backwards to pull the sword out. Even as he did so another wolf leapt toward him growling and slavering. Salchah flashed and Tuatha removed its head, then more wolves were on him. At the same time, he could sense the Aurochs herd were close. Tuatha could sense it would be only a few tics before they were past and an opportunity for meat was gone. The long grass hid the wolves encircling him from the Aurochs, who came on fast, still spooked from the now fast pursuing Ainnle and his brothers, who had no idea of the events unfolding around their friend.
Then all Sennol Uathach broke loose.
The wolves suddenly realised the herd was coming fast but it was too late. The lead Bull bellowed and the Aurochs’ heads went down. They came through the grass and hit the wolves hard, several lifting two of them on the tips of their sharp pointy horns. There was yowling and screams of pain, hoof beats and thumping of bodies hitting bodies. Tuatha sat behind the stump breathing hard and covered in wolf blood. He peered around the side of the stump, waiting for the stragglers of the herd to come. He saw one and prepared to leap out onto its back and deal a death blow to its neck. Even as his legs bent down, the world exploded. The stump protecting him became flying shards of wood as a massive male Auroch’s head hit the stump and began to flip over its own body, its neck broken from the massive force of momentum behind it. Tuatha, used to seeing things move slower than they were from his training, flung his arms over his head, feeling splinters enter his skin around his upper torso. Finally, the herd passed and left behind flattened grass, twitching dead wolves and a large dead Auroch lying just beyond where Tuatha lay.
He leapt up and stood on the giant Auroch’s back, sword raised, just as Ainnle and Ardan arrived. What met them was a blood covered form, screaming a battle cry, sword aloft, standing on the Auroch like a battle warrior of old.
Ainnle looked at Tuatha and shook his head. “Trust you to find the hardest way to do it and still come out on top.” He looked around at the dead or dying wolves.
“I barely did anything, except kill a wolf,” said Tuatha. “The Auroch died by accident.”
They quickly put to rest the remaining wounded wolves and sent two packing with a story for their future young.
As Tuatha washed off the blood in a nearby pond, Ainnle and Ardan prepared a giant feast of Auroch steak. And salted enough meat to keep them energised for a good many meals afterwards.
Later in the evening, as Naoise helped pull splinters of wood out of Tuatha, Ardan enquired about the mountain path. “Do we know what to expect from the people?”
“I have only read some instructions on where it is. Maybe we need to find a river that flows through the mountains. I’m as green as you when it comes to this area. So little is known, I feel like an explorer mapping uncharted territory.”
They slept peacefully that night and well into the next day, after the first sun had risen. As the second smaller sun rose, they finished packing up. They left and walked sedately toward the mountains, still tired from the Auroch hunt and their bellies full of meat.
After a while they felt better and their walking became brisk, until the day ended once more. Dusk fell as their feet touched the rocks at the base of some hills. They found a flat spot halfway up a hill that had some sulphurous steam vents hissing not far off and set up camp.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
The last of the light flashed away and the stars seemed to pop from the inky blackness of the sky. Bats appeared and flitted silently against the starlit heavens. They lay back on the short grass and used rocks to rest their heads against.
“We have come a long way since we left Esclarmonde,” sighed Ainnle, looking intently at the sky. He sat up and pointed. “What star is that?” he asked. He pointed at a star that’s brightness made it more noticeable than its fellows.
“I have no idea” said Tuatha. “I have never seen it before. I think it may be a new one. My master Cathabad told me that stars do occasionally appear. He told me that light travels to our eyes at some speed, so he guessed that the stars are so far away their light takes thousands or even millions of cycles to get to us. The light we see appear is the moment of their creation. If we were able to know the distance and speed of the light, we would be able to know when creation of that star happened.”
“It is said by the ancients that creation occurred in stages, and that the creator did everything for a purpose.” said Ardan. “You are telling me the creator still has a purpose?” asked Ainnle. “Does the creator know what we are doing, is it in the plan?”
“Many masters before mine spoke of the purpose of the creator being invariably linked to the ten Scatach swords of Riangbra,” continued Tuatha. “Only one sword was made from pure Scatach metal. But there was another sword with only the blade made of Scatach steel. It was a copy made by Mac Roth. It was melted down and mixed with normal steel to make twelve swords for the twelve kings, who were lured by Mac Roth to be his sub-Lords and rule the entire world. One of those kings was Amerghin, and his wife was Queen Dagemar.”
“Those swords were later captured in battle and destroyed and shards that were found were melted down and remade in the fires of Sennol Uathac into a sword called MacRoth. They lost their true power, but the Dark Lord imbued them with elemental power from deep underground which is dark and uncontrollable. It tends to make people’s minds become irrational.”
Tuatha pulled Salchah, the bane of Sennol Uathach from the Scabbard and held it aloft. “This sword has been handed down to me from my father and all before me all the way back to Emain the first Riangbra warrior. It is said that he conversed with the creator and was given this sword.”
The time had come and Tuatha felt he could now tell these three men who he was.
“My full name is Tuatha Daanan Findabair, son of Aillel king of Athlethan.”
The three brothers sat up as he said this, eyes wide with surprise, mouths slightly agape. “You are the heir of Athlethan?”
He nodded. “Please don’t treat me any different brothers!” said Tuatha. “I am like you, but I do hold a destiny that bears heavy on our family line. I didn’t choose it, but nevertheless I bear it in my name. I choose you, my three trusted friends, to help me on this quest to fulfill a destiny as prophesied.”
The brothers realised the man they had pledged fealty to was in fact the subject of the very mission they had set out to achieve. They were confounded, their eyes alight with wonder.
“We had discussed this before and we agreed there was something you were not telling us,” said Naoise.
After a few minutes of silent thought and reflection at this revelation, Ardan suddenly exclaimed out loud, making his brothers jump. “Hang on a minute! Are you saying Laegaire is Amerghin’s daughter?”
Tuatha laughed at his random question, completely off the subject he thought he was reflecting on.
“Yes,” said Tuatha, “but she does not support their father. He left them both, to join Mac Roth. They did not want to go with him, so he disowned them, Laegaire and her mother.”
“You say Laegaire in a soft and tender way,” said Naoise, teasing him.
Tuatha grinned. If it was lighter they could have seen some redness flash across his cheeks.
“Tuatha, warrior of Athlethan, made speechless by a simple name!” taunted Ainnle.
The three brothers laughed, poking Tuatha in the ribs and teasing him at his silence on the matter.
They sat watching the stars, their minds wandering through history and connecting the events of the past, till a chill in the air reached their bones. Then the brothers set about building a fire and cooking fresh Aurochs roasted meat. Then they fell asleep, which only felt for a moment. They awoke to the sun breaking the shadow of the mountains’ edge. The remarkable Dun Emain mountains that stretch across the Deep Lands, from sea to sea.
Day slowly turned into night as they travelled on and found themselves entering the mountains which were covered in thick cloud at the peaks. Numerous paths led up into the crags. They always chose the largest ones, paths made by the rock goats as they travelled down in the daytime to eat the grass of the plains. Ainnle managed to kill one that was startled and ran straight into them on the narrow path.
As they began to climb, they could smell smoke in the air. Arriving at a small plateau they came upon a large, bearded man sitting near a fire in front of a canvas tent. He turned to see who was coming and looked back at the fire.
They approached the silent man.
“Greetings,” said Tuatha, as they drew closer to him. “Can we share your fire?”
The stranger slowly turned toward them and grinned. “Ahh... make yourself part of this camp. I would enjoy the company.” His voice was deep and resonated off the side of the rock wall behind him.
They all sat down and warmed their fingers.
“Who are you?” enquired Tuatha. “Before you begin, I am...”
“The man raised his hand. “Tuatha, son of Ainnle, son of Emain.” He smiled at the amazement on Tuatha’s face.
“Weeks spent with him, and we had no idea, and this man works it out in a second,” muttered Ardan, shaking his head.
The man smiled and answered, “That’s because I knew his father well. I was his guide many times across these mountains. My job is to stop people who are not descendants of Emain from passing these mountains. Rather, I protect them from certain death because were they to try alone, they would not get through.” He turned and addressed Tuatha. “I can see your father in your countenance. You look alike him, also your mother whom I met when she came from Dun Emain.”
Tuatha stepped back in shock. “You knew my mother; she was from Dun Emain? She told me wonderful stories about her family and the people.”
“Indeed”, the man continued. “How is Felicia of the Emain?”
Tuatha’s face fell. “She died two cycles ago.”
The man’s face darkened, and he went silent, looking into the fire for a few moments.
“I loved your mother too. Many people loved her, she was like the morning light glow after rain.” Tuatha’s heart swelled to hear his mother spoken of in this way. He liked this man and at once felt he could trust him.
Tuatha had a sudden thought come to him. “I know who you are now,” said Tuatha. “It just came to me. Father told some stories about you in my childhood. You are Fergus, son of Rogh. He called you the Rogue!”
“Correct,” Fergus laughed out loud. “You have a good memory Tuatha!”
They talked long into the night of many things. His three friends fell asleep to their voices and finally exhausted, Tuatha fell asleep to the deep tones of Fergus voice.
Tuatha awoke to a large hand firmly grasping his shoulder and shaking it. His friends had received the same treatment already and were stirring, packing up bed rolls and drinking water. It was still dark, but a glow was forming over the mountains above their heads.
“It’s time to go. We need to start early to get the first crossing done in the daylight,” said Fergus.
Then Tuatha noticed something. It suddenly felt a little more crowded on the plateau. There was someone slight in stature, with long light brown hair, also rolling up bedding. Their back towards him. He counted quickly, Naoise, Ardan, Ainnle, Fergus and….
Fergus saw him looking confused. “You had another of your group join late last night” he said. “She claims to be a friend of yours.”
“Who?” Tuarth exclaimed.
“She” turned around and saw Tuatha looking. Her face reddened and she went back to what she was doing. She was unsure if Tuatha would be happy to see her.
“Laegaire,” said Tuatha, “What are you doing here?” He started running over to her, then feeling a little foolish he went to a walk. Trying to seem nonchalant when his heart was booming loudly in his chest.
His three friends enjoyed watching his reaction, sniggering at each other.
Laegaire stood and turned toward Tuatha as he walked over to her. Her head was lowered. She looked thinner and had bruising on her face. She wore a white tunic and leggings with light leather armour, a small sword strapped to her side. Tuatha noticed the bruising and concern rose in his chest. He suddenly felt like he needed to care for her for the rest of his life.
He hugged her and she hugged him back. He stood back looking at her. “Tell me what happened, why are you wounded?”
“Oh Tuatha,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes. “My mother was taken by men sent by my father. He said she was needed to be his queen, and to aid him in a battle for Muirthemne. I managed to escape and tracked you here. I need your help.” Tuatha took her hands and pulled her into an embrace. “My lady, you are with me now, join us,” he said. She stood shaking in his arms, but soon it calmed as he continued to hold her. Feelings went through Tuatha that he had not felt before. He had seen her and wanted to spend more time with her when he was on Mt. Dagemar but had been unable to because they could not stay any longer. Now he realised he had missed her. It was like a hole in his heart had been filled.
Laegaire’s emotions went between fear, then relief and finally joy and she grinned into his shoulder, she was where she wanted to be. But the fear of what she had seen would stay with her.
“Come on you two,” said Ainnle as he rolled up Tuatha’s blankets. “We need to get moving.”
Tuatha helped Laegaire with her bedding and they started off. Ainnle threw Tuatha’s bedding into his arms. “Who is the rogue now?” he snickered.
“Cease your observations Ainnle or I’ll take you down a peg!” Ainnle glanced across at Laegaire who reddened again but could not wipe the smile she had for Tuatha from her face. Tuatha thought about her father and groaned inside, as he realised what his father might say about this girl, daughter of Amerghin, Sub- Lord of Sennol Uathach.
They had reached the top of the first mountain range, now there was a larger one beyond it. A large plain separated the two curving off into the distance. As they walked, Tuatha had drifted toward Laegaire and was alongside her. They slowed and the others went on ahead. Their hands touched lightly and jerked away from each other. Then Tuatha, sensing her desire, grabbed her hand and held it tight as they walked. His heart was light and his head was spinning from his rapid breathing and racing heart. She glanced at him as he was doing the same, they both looked away quickly.
“I’m glad you came” said Tuatha, “I hope it was a safe trip for you”
“I was chased by two Tulpha gangs”, she said. “But I’m a good runner and outpaced them, they were quite unfit.” Tuatha grinned. “I’m glad you were not caught.” He shuddered inwardly imagining what might have been… No I’m not thinking about that, he said to himself. He gripped her hand tighter and they walked across the plain.