Day 14 of Midwinter, Sunset

Outer Wall, Inis Fer Falga

Annwn

Everyone made it back to the archipelago without incident on the Well of Wisdom. We had spent several hours unloading the ships, burned our dead, and collectively licked our wounds.

I had left the masses then, making my way along the outer wall of the island. Ruadan had offered to come with me, but I declined. He could see that I needed some space. Cai and Tethra were preparing the services for her father and the transition of power ceremony that would follow.

Despite my resolve to assist in the Fomorian war, I was unsure about the path forward. The might of the Tuatha Dé Danann, their Ellyllon, and their changeling armies appeared set on destroying the Fomorians. For their part, the Fomorians had struck a blow on the mainland and the Overking himself. I was certain that nothing would settle this debt save the blood of every last Fomorian on Annwn.

I thought more about the might of the gods of Annwn and the cities they ruled. There were four cities in question, each bringing its own politics and history into the war. I hadn’t yet been to Murias or Falias. I wondered whether Findrias or Gorias would answer the call to war. Certainly not Gorias, if they knew the truth. But what of Cian and Ernmas and their offspring? What of The Morrigan?

As if on cue, I heard a bird land behind me. Not this again. I sighed. “Hello again, birdbrain.”

To my shock, an amused voice replied. “Is that any way to speak to a goddess?”

I jumped to my feet, turning to find Nemain standing before me in all of her black leathery glory. “Are you actually here?”

“Fortunately, no. What a boon that would be.”

“So is being able to control and see through the eyes of all ravens in Annwn.” I was teasing her, but I was totally serious.

She nodded her agreement. “I have been watching you, Bren, since your regenesis… regeneses.”

Regeneses? Oh. The ogre. “When you say it like that it sounds creepy.”

She laughed at my snarky tone. “Even after all you have been through, you manage to keep the most annoying parts of yourself.”

“You've never liked what I've had to say. But maybe now you at least believe me when I say something.”

She nodded again. “That I do. What you did on that parapet may have saved Castle Arrow.”

“What about…” I paused, suddenly afraid to ask what I most wanted to know.

“Morias and Fíadan are alive if that is what you are wondering.”

My body shuddered with a spasm, releasing stress I hadn’t known I had been holding onto. Tears filled my eyes and I found myself shaking. I reached out to the wall to steady myself.

Nemain watched me. “Your love for them is reciprocated. They have been asking me for updates on your progress through this world.”

“What did you tell them?”

Her face became an expressionless mask. “That you had aligned yourself with your brother.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

That sobered me up. “That’s it!” I said. “Did you at least tell them that Neit and Cai didn’t order the taking of Gorias? Or that King Nuada holds Brigid captive in Falias?”

“I didn’t know either of those things.” She seemed to be considering my words.

“What parts of my trip DID you spy on?”

“I can’t be everywhere, Bren. Believe it or not, there were things to put back together in Gorias after you died. Many of the retreating Fomorians were captured by our armies, but some managed to evade us. Corb escaped with the Evil Eyes.”

“Did you retake the castle?”

“We did, thanks to you and Fíadan.” She paused, looking at me with a level of respect that I had never seen in her eyes. “And we found the rings that Balor had taken from Morias’ clasp. I have to say, I’m not sure how you were able to defeat him.”

“You can thank Badb for that. Without her athame, I wouldn’t have survived.”

She smiled a knowing grin. “Badb has that effect on people.”

We both chuckled. The moment stretched, but it was clear that one thing nagged at both of us. It was the elephant in the room, as they say, and it seemed neither of us wanted to come right out with it. Impatient, I finally blurted, “Are you being called to the capital to support King Nuada?”

“We all are.”

“He had the nerve to ask Gorias for troops?” I couldn’t believe the audacity of Nuada. “And…” I trailed off, leaving the question unsaid.

“And what?”

“Are you going to go? Will Gorias send an army?”

Nemain held my gaze. “You and I have had this conversation before, Bren.”

“But you are more than just a sword,” I said. My voice came out louder than I had intended.

“Am I?” she asked. She looked genuinely curious. “Are you?”

“We aren’t just cogs in a system. We can make moral decisions.”

“My morality is set fast. Yours seems to be the one changing with the tide.”

We were just going to go around in circles over and over again. It was as if we each saw an objective world but in different shades and colors. Nemain’s worldview had been forged in the hundreds and thousands of years of her life in Annwn.

“So, are we enemies now?” I asked, trying to bury my emotions. I readied myself for a disappointing answer, but none came. Instead, Nemain placed something on the top of the wall. She gave me a sharp look before transforming back into a raven and shooting into the air.

“Will you at least tell them about Brigid?” I yelled after the bird. “Tell them that we're not with Corb!”

I wasn’t sure any of that information would make it back to my friends in Gorias. If Nemain did support the crown, then anything that would prevent Nuada from swelling his army would most likely be withheld from any of the Tuatha on Emain Ablach.

My eyes fell on the object Nemain had left, and my breath caught. I cradled the precious object in my hand. Was this Nemain’s way to relieve her own conscious for present and future atrocities? Did she even know what possibilities it presented? I thought not. I certainly hadn’t told her. Nemain may have inadvertently delivered a lifeline to us in our time of need.

I climbed down the stairwell to the ground below, making my way to the opening in the wall. The smell of the sea hit my nose and I instinctively closed my eyes, breathing deeply. The air was cool and fresh but carried with it the reminder of the cycle of life and death that felt so tangible in the middle of the ocean. I was a part of this cycle more now than ever I had been, despite what I knew would be only a short lull in the fighting. The cycle would begin again soon enough.

The first of the waves lapped over my feet. I stepped further into the edge of the waves, the object pressed firmly in my hand. I knelt, ready to submerge it into the salt water of the Well of Wisdom when I noticed a curious thing. Before me, the blue-green of the water grew up and into the robe of a familiar bearded man. He had a spear with a curved blade and looked remarkably the same out of the water as he did in the water, his body and clothing moving independently of the wind.

“Greetings once again, Stone bearer,” the Cupbearer of Lir said.

“Hello, Nechtan,” I responded in proper Seinfeld fashion, trying to disguise my shock and surprise. “What can I do for you?”

“My lord wishes to offer his condolences on the passing of King Neit.”

“I will pass along his message. Please send Lir our thanks.”

“You may do that yourself,” he replied, gesturing to the sea with his spear. It looked as if he wanted me to go for a swim. “My lord, Lir, wishes to speak with you about the coming war with his brother.”

I shook my head at everything that had happened in the last two weeks. I was in a magic world, with magic powers of my own. I had a brother I hadn't known existed, and on top of being united, it turned out we were immortals in an undying world. We were engaged in a war with gods from Irish myth, and we desperately needed allies.

I knew there was only one thing I could do in this situation. I would go to meet Lir, the long-lost god of the sea, but for the moment I paused, glancing down at the Shell of Promise held fast in my hand. I smiled. Somewhere out there was Fern...and the remaining Stone of Destiny.