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.