Day 5 of Midwinter, Sunrise

Castle Arrow, Gorias

Annwn

One constant in my life is that I never seem to get enough sleep. I’m always being woken up well before I would naturally awaken. The next morning was no different. Brigid had called an early meeting with Fí, Tadg, Morias, Ruadan, and me.

While I imagined I looked like I’d been dragged from a fresh grave, Ruadan looked his usual spunky self. Seeing him looking so fresh and invigorated somehow only made me feel more tired.

“How was everyone’s evening?” Roo asked the group and winked at me.

“We were in meetings most of the day.” Tadg replied.

“But we missed you at supper,” Morias added, looking from Ruadan to me.

Brigid, who clearly knew her son and his mischievous ways, cleared her throat. “Ruadan, I am told you were kind enough to show Bren around our fair city last evening. And where yesterday was a time for introductions and discourse, I’m afraid today is one for action.”

She continued speaking, but I found myself mentally drifting, poking at the food on the plate in front of me and sipping at my mint tea. I found myself thinking about the former night’s activities. I remembered saying goodbye to Fern…and realizing she was a selkie.

Morias had once told me a story of a selkie who had married a human man. She lived with the man for many years and bore him many children. One day, her son noticed she looked unhappy. She told him that his father had stolen her magical pelt or coat, I can’t remember which, and that is why she had to stay on land. Apparently, the magical coat allowed her to transform into a seal-like creature that lived in the ocean.

I thought back to when Fern had rescued me from the water, and how she was able to swim in the tumultuous water, even as I was dragged to the bottom. It was so dark, I don’t remember seeing the form she was in, just the feeling of the pull on my clothes to the rocky shoal.

“Bren…” Morias’s impatient voice shook me out of my thoughts. “Bren!”

“What?” I tried to shake off the thoughts of the night before.

“The lady asked if you are injured,” he repeated.

I looked down at my body and flipped over my hands, wondering what Morias was talking about. Then I remembered my right forearm. I lifted my arm and studied the large gash in my clothing. Now that I looked at it, I could see the dried blood along the lower edge of my sleeve. Had I slept in my clothes or put them back on? I couldn’t remember.

Even weirder, my forearm didn’t hurt. I rolled up the sleeve and unrolled the cloth Fern had used to bandage the wound. Underneath the fabric was a scar where the dagger had bit into my skin. It had completely healed during the night!

“Is that from last night?” Morias asked.

“Did you two get into trouble without me?” Fí gave me a disgruntled look.

Brigid studied me. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but her brows contracted just a bit and her eyes flicked to the scar.

“Let me start again,” Brigid said, looking around the table. “Four days ago, my husband’s body was found on the beaches here in Flamebright. It was the same day Father sent Fí to find Bren.”

“A coincidence?” Tadg asked.

“Nothing that Father does happens by chance.” Brigid’s eyes grew sad again. “But without being able to question him, we don’t know his reasons for sending for Bren.”

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“He knew something was going on.” Fí started running her hands over her Silverwhite blades. “I think The Dagda believed Bren and the Stone could help.”

Ruadan coughed at that. I had a feeling that was a reference to my giving one of the Stones to Fern. He didn’t make eye contact with me, but the message was clear enough.

“Indeed, my dear Fíadan,” Brigid replied. “The pieces seem to be moving in some unseen game.”

“A game where gods CAN die,” Morias added.

“I believe I know what must be done.” We hung on Brigid’s words, but she paused, appearing to need a moment to find the strength to continue. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I believe Cai Maccán killed my husband.”

Ruadan looked taken aback. “What?”

“Please let me explain, son. Last Imbolc, during my festival, King Nuada discussed the state of things regarding the Fae and the Fomorians at the annual gathering in Hightower.”

Seeing my confusion, Ruadan leaned in close to whisper in my ear. “Mother’s domain encompasses flames of the heart, not just physical fire.”

I looked at him with the universal sign of “What the hell are you talking about?” eyebrows.

“She can kindle passion and creativity inside us, and even sway the heart and mind of High King Nuada. That is why he holds the gathering when she is indisposed.”

Brigid looked in our direction and Roo leaned back, casually. “My husband was conflicted…for, as you know, he is both Tuatha and Fomorian. He spent his free hours after the summit walking the beaches of Murias. During those walks, he met and befriended the adopted Fomorian, Cai Maccán.”

“But you said…” Fí blurted.

“Patience, Fí.” Morias placed his thick hand on the fairy’s arm.

Ruadan fidgeted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable with this conversation. However, in a rare moment of restraint, he sat quietly, waiting for his mother to continue.

“Bres continued to communicate with Cai even after he came home to Gorias.” Brigid stood and began to pace around the table. “Bres told me that they spoke often of King Neit and Prince Elatha…”

“With respect, cousin,” Tadg interrupted. “We hold no such titles as legitimate at court.”

“That, cousin, is precisely what Cai and Bres bonded over. Their friendship progressed. Eventually, Bres invited him to Flamebright. I met the man, and he seemed charming, sincere… and dangerous.”

“Mother, if I could…” Ruadan began.

Brigid cut him off before he could get any further. “Please, son. I am nearly finished.” She straightened her dress. “One visit turned into two. His final trip was on the day of Bres’s death, four days ago. When Bres was discovered on the beach, Cai was nowhere to be found.”

Tadg began to nod, as if piecing together other pieces of information. “Later that day, the Fomorian raids began on multiple encampments, including at the Heart-shaped Pool.”

“Yes. And the very next day, we heard that Cai had reclaimed the Deep Realm.”

“Then High King Nuada responded with this…” Morias slid a piece of paper across the table to Ruadan and me.

Roo picked it up and read it silently.

“What is it?” I asked.

Roo tossed the paper on the table. “A declaration of war.”

“But not just on the Fomorians,” Morias added. “The declaration mentions a word I have not seen in some time.”

Brigid nodded. “Yes. Hightower has also declared war on what they refer to as the ‘Slaugh’.”

“It means ‘Army of the Unclean’” Morias said, with a disgusted look.

Fí jerked back. “It means the High King has decided that whole races of the Fae are now enemies of Falias.”

Tadg looked flustered. He had been out of touch with his people since the Fomorian attack and, it appeared, was receiving all of this information for the first time. “I don’t understand,” he said weakly.

“It’s not particularly complicated,” Fí sneered. "Your dad is using the Fomorian attacks to exterminate the Fae he doesn’t like.”

Tadg shot to his feet, drawing his sword. “That is the High King you are speaking of!”

Fí rose to her feet in a motion that reminded me of a jungle cat preparing to pounce. “Be careful, sweetheart.” Her hands moved closer to her weapons. “I like to bite back.”

“Sit down,” Brigid said in a calm, commanding voice. Fí sat, still scowling, and completely turned her back on Tadg and his drawn sword. “As I have said, now is a time of action, but not against each other. I have tasks for each of you that will bring us closer to understanding the unseen game that my father must have identified.”

We sat, motionless, waiting for her directions. Hearing no objection, Brigid continued. “Tadg, I will travel with you to Falias to take council with your father. We must share all that we have discussed with him. And I wish to find out more about this war upon the Fae.”

Tadg nodded and slowly lowered his blade. “I agree to this task.”

Brigid looked to Fíadan. “For you, my most loyal friend…”

“You want me to go find your dad… right?” Fí had a sour look on her face.

Brigid looked puzzled. “How did you know?”

“Because if you had wanted me to go kill Cai, you wouldn’t have had to say anything at all.”

“And you agree to this request?” Brigid looked like she had anticipated more push-back.

Fí shrugged. “As long as I get to kill Cai eventually, yeah, I’ll go find your dad.”

Brigid nodded and turned her attention to Ruadan and me. “Bren Búachaill. Your role in all of this remains unclear. But my father sent for you. You are the keeper of the Stone of Destiny.” She motioned to my healed forearm. “But you are well outside your depths in this fight.”

She nodded to Ruadan, who stood up and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Come on, Runt,” he said with his usual sly smile. “It’s time for a training montage.”