The voices came muffled and indistinguishable through the heavy wooden door, Michaél stood to the left with Ardgal directly in front. Subduing the guards and crossing the now deserted courtyard had been the easy part, now came the real test, getting into the room and taking out the others before they could react or call out for aid.

“Remember our goal, to apprehend and subdue. Use ice if you can, let us freeze them before they can muster any defence.”

Ardgal spoke as if to both of them but Dagda knew who it was to his ears only he spoke. He stared unblinkingly, “I will not kill any Druaidíi in Dún na Rí. I would not forsake my vow within its walls.”

Ardgal nodded satisfied, “Ready?” He raised his hands in unison.

“Gaoth”

The oaken wood was made to last but at Ardgal’s words it was flung clean off its hinges and went arrowing across the council room.

Michaél went first, charging in claíomh in one hand and his preferred ice Omen primed in the other, he was focused on those furthest from the door still sat across the Council table.

Dagda turned his attention towards Airebheall, Davain and Farda. Taking Michaél’s lead the first two were trapped in ice before they could offer up any resistance, Farda to his credit reacted quicker. Dagda saw the wind beginning to form in his hands but not before he was slammed backwards, his head bouncing with a satisfying crunch off the chamber's walls, undone by the very Omen he sought to attack them with.

It was all over in seconds, Michaél and Ardgal had frozen the others and had already begun to shackle them. Dagda began to do likewise, accidentally stepping repeatedly on Farda’s face as he did so. Throughout all of it Fiona, Connor and Maire had remained at their seats, frozen in place by the suddenness and unexpectedness of the attack. Fiona had a nasty cut over her left eye and Connor and Maire both sported the beginnings of black eyes.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Maire was first to react, quickly bowing at Ardgals’ feet, following her lead the others did likewise, “Leader. Please believe us when we say we played no part in this. We would have moved to aid you were it not for the blades being pressed against our throats.”

Ardgal pulled Maire to her feet and motioned Fiona and Connor to do the same, “There is nothing for you to explain, the blame for this lies with Farda and all those which followed and encouraged him. Indeed I fear to think of what it was that he had intended for you also. What deceit or blackmail he had in mind to ensure your silence would be guaranteed. That he has stooped so low as to attack and imprison his own people only shows to reveal his descent into madness.”

Ardgal sighed and turned slowly to face Farda. Grabbing him by his head he dragged him to his knees and bent down beside him. Farda didn’t make any effort to resist, instead he merely looked on at Ardgal dispassionately, his head bloody and torn from where he had struck the wall.

“You would stab me when my back was turned and then pose as if it was you that was suffering. You would have given me up as sacrifice to the men under a false pretence of keeping our people alive. But you and I both know the truth,” Ardgal paused, he took a deep breath, “you have betrayed my trust and friendship for an imaginary title you would never have even had. I trusted you all these years and this is how you repay me. Death is too kind a mercy for you. You will live with your shame and treachery for the remainder of your days, your family will weep to hear your accursed name and Farda shall be forever damned in the minds of all Druaidíi, now and always.”

Ardgal stood his eyes closed, rubbing his face he turned back to the others, “Have the guards taken down to the cells, Farda, Aireabhall and Davain can stay here, we are not done with them yet.”

Dagda stepped up beside him, he could not shake his own mind, “When they chose to betray our trust they signed their own death wish, that they raised their blades against us is enough. We should kill them now and be done with it.”

Ardgal looked down on Farda, “No we have our oaths Dagda, same as them, what they would or would not do does not concern me, we hold our own standards, our own code, we will not break ours. Do not be so quick to kill those which you can still use.”

“Use? How?”

“Farda and his two friends have another purpose, they will be the light which guides us out of our trouble and allows us to escape to start anew. They were so determined to ensure the survival of the Druaidíi, and now they will do so. Though not quite in the manner they intended. Go, rouse the others from their sleep, tonight we break free of our cage.”