FATE/CURADH BEAG

"Little Champion"

Chapter 25: The Boundary Between Reality and Folklore

Once Connla had recovered enough that she could get out of bed without being sick, the group gathered their belongings and prepared to set out. The previous day, Naoise and Deirdre informed her of their intention to return to Leabharcham's home. Just as they expected, Connla understood Deirdre's condition better than anyone else, and assured them not to worry about her. Although it was difficult for the couple to part ways with their friends, they knew it was for Deirdre's sake, and that they would be happy to see her again once everything settled down.

Now that their business in Emain Macha had concluded, it was time for Connla, Conall, Mini Cu and Morrigan to reunite with Fergus at the base of the town's main hill. Connla and Mini Cu got on Liath Macha's back, while Morrigan hitched a ride on the rump of Conall's horse Deirg nDruchtaig. As the two steed strode along the roads, Mini Cu implored to Connla, "Now you listen to me good. Even though you're much better now, I don't want you doing anything reckless during this mission. Just because you're healthy enough to walk around doesn't mean you should take it for granted."

"Yes, I know," Connla nodded. "To be honest, I still don't feel like I'm 100% yet. I doubt I would be of much help should we get into a battle at this very moment."

"Don't worry. I'll be extra sure to look after her," Conall said.

"You better," Mini Cu grumbled. "If you don't, I'll do something much worse to you than I did to Cu Roi."

"Ugh… If you're trying to be funny, then I'm not laughing."

"I wasn't. I'm being dead serious here."

"Oh ho ho ho," Morrigan chuckled. She then said to Conall, "I bet seeing this side of Cu is quite the surprise for you, isn't it?"

"W-What side of him!? He's still the same womanizing brute that I remember!"

"Oh, ho. So you're not familiar with how much he guards those he cares about with his very life? Why, he changed his birth name to the moniker Cuchulainn, or Culann's Hound, because he wanted to keep Culann safe while a new guard dog was being reared. What is that, if not a reflection of his overprotective nature?"

"That was because he wanted to make up for the mistake he made…"

"Is that any different now?"

Conall raised an eyebrow as he asked, "What do you mean?"

"Think about it. He was never there for the little one. Instead, he became consumed with his hatred for Medb and destroyed the rest of the world over it. Now even Ireland and Scotland have a limited time before they wither away and condemn the last of humanity to the hostile ocean. It may not happen tomorrow, but I'm willing to bet it will occur before the child can live a full human lifespan. You know what that means to Cu, right?"

"…"

"I'm just saying not to be too hard on him if he's all foul-mannered and defensive while around her. He realizes how much he screwed up and wants to help her in any way he can. You understand?"

"Well…" Conall murmured solemnly. "Yeah, I kind of get it… It's hard to imagine, but the pieces do add up. I just find it difficult to believe that he was being generous towards her even before discovering their relationship. I can't help but wonder when that change occurred in him."

"This is just an educated guess," Morrigan said, "but I think it was when Cuchulainn was hunting down Scathach for her authority over the Land of Shadows. Connla said she met him there while he was suffering from amnesia, right?"

"Yeah. She looked after him for a little bit until Scathach returned. I thought he'd be violent towards everyone he met after becoming Taoide Olc, but apparently they just talked for a while. I can't buy the idea that he was too weak to strike her down whenever he wanted either."

"Then wouldn't it be logical to think that a senior student of Scathach's would be curious about how a junior's training is coming along?"

"Oh…"

"Especially considering how vicious and strict that woman can be, he definitely would be worried about how a child warrior could survive against such a brutal regimen for 15 years when it was difficult for him during the single year he was under her tutelage. If Connla also told him that her mother was Scathach's sister, then that'd make him doubly anxious. You have to remember how unhinged Scotland's warrior women can be when it comes to raising their daughters. Add all of that on top of Cu violating Aife's physical dignity and forcing her to raise a child she didn't want, and you can see why he would be genuinely afraid for Connla's very life."

"Shit," Conall gasped a heartbroken sigh, finally realizing Morrigan's point. It was no wonder Cuchulainn's behavior was so strange while around Connla. A sobering thought crossed his mind:

Regardless of how much he's been corrupted, he must've realized that he was the first person in her entire life who gave any semblance of a damn about her. For it to be a destructive god rather than a fellow human to finally care about her definitely would've disgusted him even more.

Mini Cu glared back at them and uttered, "What the hell are you two whispering about?"

"Nothing important," Conall replied. He cast his eyes away from his foster brother, and the annoyed doll returned his attention to the road. The swordsman cracked a tiny smile in secret – there was still a modicum of respect he harbored for Cuchulainn, which he thought he had thoroughly discarded so many years ago. He couldn't say it was an unpleasant feeling either, given their current circumstances. It was going to be a huge help in making this journey easier for him.

As the two horses trotted further and further down Emain Macha's hills, their riders spotted a familiar black steed approaching from an innocuous animal trail. Dubh Sainglend's dark features sharply contrasted with the pale reeds swaying in the breeze, just as much as Fergus' unwavering smile clashed with the gloomy mood surrounding his fellow travelers.

"There you are," Fergus greeted them. He rubbed Connla's head, nearly matting her hair as he bellowed, "Good to see you again, my girl! Morrigan's been keeping me informed about everything you've been up to. Seeing you alive and well is all I need to brighten my day."

"Mm," Connla nodded meekly.

"Hmm… Are you still under the weather, my dear? Should we consider making camp early today?"

"No, that's not it. It's just that… well… I just have a lot on my mind."

"Such as?"

"Even though two of the blights have been resolved, they both required great sacrifices."

"I see. Are you afraid it will be the same for this one?"

"Yeah… But I'm also still thinking about those who died. I guess I'm in a bit of shock, if you know what I mean."

"I understand," Fergus said. "You would've had no opportunity to learn how to cope with the loss of close allies while under Scathach's tutelage. But don't forget; no matter how difficult it is to carry those feelings around, you have to keep living for the sake of those who are still with you, such as all of us in this very moment. Keep your chin high and walk forward as best as you can, okay?"

"I will."

"Good girl," the king smiled. "Now, as for you…"

He shifted his eyes upon the doll resting on Connla's lap. Mini Cu had been quietly listening to the conversation, but grunted once he realized Fergus' attention on him. The swordsman appeared unamused for a second, then said, "Morrigan told me that you've been accompanying Connla on her journey, Setanta. I take it that you've been using that form as a disguise of some sort?"

"If it's that obvious to you, then I don't need to explain myself further," Mini Cu grumbled. "Can't say it was the same when Conall saw me for the first time."

"Heh heh heh. Yes, I bet that would've been quite the surprise for him."

Conall exhaled an exasperated sigh and said, "Oh, great. Am I going to be the butt of all of your jokes now?"

"Come now, it's all merely good-natured ribbing," Fergus assured. "If this blight really is as grim as Morrigan claims it is, then we'll need all the merriment we can get to pull us through."

"Yeah, whatever."

"But in all sincerity, this journey's purpose is not just to find out what's going on with Lord Manannan."

"I know," Mini Cu said. "Conall told me that you're willing to negotiate with me regarding the war. I'm not adverse to the idea, but we also need to be absolutely careful not to attract Medb's attention. If she gets wind of any of this, she could very well destroy any chances we have for victory."

Connla became curious as she asked, "How could she do that? We're pretty far away from her, and she can't dispatch her Red Branch Braves outside of Galway due to her limited range of influence."

"Creating soldiers out of her blood isn't the only method she uses to control the populace. Speaking from personal experience, she can convert her own aura into a 'perfume' of sorts that entrances both men and women into doing and saying what she wants. Her eau de toilette, as she likes to call it, is potent enough to make anyone confess their secrets to her, meaning she could make a witness tell her that they had seen us in Ireland's outskirts. Of course, the confession has to have merit of its own, since her aura doesn't force people to lie – its purpose is to extract the wholehearted truth."

"I guess that makes sense. But what do you mean by 'personal experience'?"

"How else do you think Medb could've captured me during the Cattle Raid? She drugged me with that sickly sweet aura of hers while I was in my duel with Ferdiad."

"Oh."

Mini Cu became serious as he said, "What we need is a neutral zone, where we don't have to worry about Medb and her brainwashing body odor ruining our plans. I would prefer it to be somewhere not in this realm, but given our limited options, just finding some obscure cave or hole in the ground will be enough for me."

Morrigan's eyes seemed to light up as she interjected, "Say, I just had an idea, fellas. Why don't we ask Manannan for help?"

"Manannan?" Conall asked. "How would he be able to do anything?"

"It's quite simple, my boy. He's the keeper of the otherworldly dimension known as Emhain of the Apples, or in your human tongue, Emain Ablach. Since it's detached from the mortal world the same way Dun Scaith is, Medb's brainwashing would not be able to reach you while you have your top secret negotiations."

"But we're going to see Manannan because of the blight."

"Precisely. If you demonstrate your good faith to him by resolving whatever is going on, he'd be more than happy to lend you some space in Emain Ablach for the war effort."

"Hmm," Fergus folded his arms in contemplation. "Not a bad idea. I have heard tales of Lord Manannan's numerous treasures, but he is more well-known for his boundless generosity, provided that it is within reason. If the rewards will be worth the effort, then I see little reason to ignore Morrigan's advice."

Mini Cu narrowed his eyes. "Emain Ablach, huh? I thought that world was completely sealed off somewhere in the Isle of Man. Since that island was located far out in the sea between southeastern Ireland and western Britain, that means it wouldn't have survived my rampage across the planet because it wasn't included in the raising of the Celtic Isles."

"True, the Isle of Man itself is no longer around," Morrigan agreed with him. "But that doesn't apply to the gateway between Ireland and Emain Ablach."

"You mean it's still around?"

"It is a gateway of mist, controlled by Manannan's cloak. It isn't a literal, physical entry to Emain Ablach, but rather a conceptual one. It's hardly as easy for some unsuspecting human to stumble into that dimension compared to finding Dun Scaith's entry by accident. That makes it easier for Manannan to decide where to position it so he can maintain his connection with this world."

Connla's eyes appeared distant as she whispered, "The stolen Cloak of Mists… Emain Ablach's gateway… Manannan's Parted Mists…"

"Oh ho ho," Morrigan chuckled. "I think you're starting to see a correlation here, missy."

"Maybe, but I'm not so sure. From what I can understand, are you saying that Emain Ablach has somehow become accessible when it shouldn't be?"

"Certainly seems that way. Manannan would never allow this to happen on his watch."

"And somehow it's related to the Leyline being usurped for someone else's purposes."

The raven shuffled her wings in a shrugging motion and sighed, "Phew. I must say, this is going to get mighty complicated. Emain Ablach is certainly a paradise in its own right, but the citizens who have chosen to isolate themselves from mankind aren't the brightest of characters, let me tell you."

Connla tilted her head. "Why do you say that?"

"It's one of several domains under Manannan's stewardship, designed to allow the most innocent and naïve creatures of folklore to live there, fully cut off from the humans they once co-existed with. I'm sure Scathach has told you about the Tuatha de Danann's descendants?"

"Yes. They're known as the aos si, who live within isolated worlds known as sidhe. I guess Emain Ablach is one of those worlds, but Teacher didn't really elaborate much more than that."

"Well…" Morrigan murmured, then glared her beady red eyes practically straight into Connla's soul. "The aos si, as you known them, are referred to in other languages as fairies."

Once she said the word 'fairies', the three men seemed to grumble in collective disdain, which befuddled Connla. Mini Cu scratched his head and bitterly mumbled, "Can't believe we've gotta deal with fairies, of all things. I'd sooner slit my wrist and bleed out to death than try to rationalize with even one of those freaks."

Connla frowned and asked, "Are they really that bad? Most stories I've heard of portray the aos si as rather whimsical or charming. There have been plenty of tales of creatures like the puca, cait sidhe and leprechaun."

"You're thinking of children's stories. Real fairies are nothing like that."

"Hmmm… From the way you're talking, it sounds like you met one or two in your time."

He shot her a dirty glare. "Are you kidding? In case you've forgotten, Morrigan herself can be considered a faerie!"

"But, isn't she a goddess?"

"Goddess, faerie, aos si, it's all the same! The point is that she doesn't think like a human, so she's thoroughly incompatible with our kind! That's exactly why they've been cut off from the human world!"

"Oh, Cu. The way you're saying that makes me sound like some kind of delinquent," Morrigan muttered. "I could forgive you if you decide to annul your marriage with Emer and take my hand instead."

"Ugh. See what I mean, kid? Faeries love to force irrational conditions on humans for their own entertainment. That whole notion of them being whimsical isn't too far from the truth, but only because they don't understand this little concept called 'consequences'. Those creatures you mentioned before? Puca decide for themselves if they want to bring good or bad fortune to humans, without any semblance of rhyme or reason; cait sidhe will curse cows to not give milk if a saucer of milk is not left for them outside; and leprechauns live only to cause mischief while luring humans in with promises of pots of gold. Do you really want the mortal realm to be overrun with such supernatural beings who serve no purpose other than to toy with human lives unless they are constantly appeased with silly rituals?"

"Um… I suppose not…" Connla sheepishly admitted.

Morrigan then remarked, "But Cu, since you've become a god yourself, doesn't that make you a faerie in your own right? You really shouldn't be demeaning your own kind like that."

Mini Cu fiercely glared at the raven and snapped, "Shut up. I never chose to become such a monstrosity. It was Medb who forcefully bonded me with Curruid."

"Calm down, you irritable hunk of a man - I was just teasing you. Gosh, with that plush body of yours, you're a thousand times more adorable than you were as a human. Seriously, I could peck those cute beady eyes of yours out dozens of times and never get bored of it."

"Same goes for me slicing you into millions and millions of pieces of avian meat, wench. Keep goading me like that, and I may just be tempted to do so."

"Oh ho ho ho!"

Fergus and Conall appeared visibly uncomfortable as they watched the pair bicker with each other. However, Connla seemed to have an epiphany as she asked, "Sorry to interrupt… But speaking of Curruid, I don't think I've heard any explanation for why Queen Medb was able to summon him from the Reverse Side of the World. But now that we're talking about faeries and isolated dimensions, is it possible that Queen Medb herself is a faerie of some kind?"

The two gods glanced at her, sharing in simultaneous astonishment at her insight. Mini Cu obviously became distressed once the subjected shifted to Medb, but he admitted, "Well… That may not be too farfetched of an idea."

"You mean she's not? But her blood-soldier creation and manipulating perfume sound faerie-like to me."

"That is true…"

Morrigan patted Connla's shoulder with her wing and told her, "You're forgetting something important though, dearie. Medb was originally born human, just as much as Cu was. Somewhere along the way, she lost that humanity and became something else."

"She lost her humanity? You mean in a similar way that Cuchulainn did? But if he's a god, wouldn't that make her a goddess instead?"

"My goodness, Cu. You certainly sired a precocious one, didn't you?"

Mini Cu crossed his arms and pouted, "Be quiet."

The raven chuckled again, then said to Connla, "That may be a more accurate assessment of what Medb is. I wouldn't say it's 100% the same as what happened with Cu, but it's pretty close."

The child warrior became pensive as she pondered to herself, So the question is, when and why did Queen Medb lose her humanity? I have a hunch that her secret is the whole crux to this Lostbelt, but no one wants to tell me anything. I get the feeling that Morrigan won't want to tell me either.

With that thought dwelling in her mind, the group proceeded onward to the far northeastern reaches of Ulster. It took about half a day for the group to venture into the vast glens and hills of Antrim county, now almost all but abandoned by the populace due to the violent separation of Ireland from Scotland, as well as the rapidly deteriorating coastline. This would be the third time that Connla traveled to this area of Ulster, but the eerie silence never made it easier for her to endure.

"You okay, kid? You're looking a little pale there," Mini Cu said.

"I'm fine," she replied in a half-hearted murmur.

Fergus then asked Morrigan, "Why exactly are we coming way out here? There isn't anyone around for miles."

"That's the point, big guy," she told him. "Manannan wouldn't want to situate the entrance to Emain Ablach near any sort of human cities."

"Yes, I figured that. But where are we supposed to find him?"

"I sense him nearby. We just need to go down this hill for a bit."

They did so, dismounting the horses once the terrain became too rough for them to descend. Once they stood upon some craggy rocks that were once at the bottom of a river, Morrigan unleashed a few shrill cawing sounds that echoed throughout the empty wasteland. The others figured this was some kind of signal she was making for Manannan, so they kept silent and waited for a response.

After several minutes of tense silence, an unfamiliar lady's voice questioned in a soft-spoken tone, "Are these the ones you've brought, Morrigan?"

Everyone glanced around in confusion until they finally spotted their mystery guest emerging from around a series of tumbled rocks. The woman who stood before them was a genuine beauty, donning long dark red hair that flowed down her back like a waterfall. She wore a slightly revealing outfit consisting of a pair of white strips of fabric criss-crossing over her otherwise exposed cleavage, long white gloves, an elegant white dress that showed off her bare legs, and white high heels.

"Oh ho," Fergus crooned, approaching her without any hesitation and taking her hand not in casual greeting, but as how a gentleman would behave around a beautiful woman he wanted to impress.

Conall rolled his eyes and whispered to Connla, "Oh boy, here we go again."

"Hm? Is something wrong with Uncle Fergus? Is he under some kind of enchantment that needs to be dispelled?" she wondered.

"Nah, this is how he always behaves around women. Better get used to it, 'cause you're going to be seeing this side of him a lot."

She tilted her head, then asked, "Does that mean he'll act that way around me when I grow up?"

Mini Cu scowled, "Not if I have something to say about it."

"Huh…"

"Eh heh heh heh…" Conall forced a nervous chuckle.

Meanwhile, Fergus said to the unknown lady, "What have I done to deserve being around the presence of such a beauty? Is this a reward for my life of bravery and service to the people? Perchance this is a test to judge the worthiness of my character? Or is this the deception of demons? I care not for the answer, so long as I get to be within your company."

"Oh, you mustn't flatter a person you've only just met, Fergus mac Roich," the woman remarked. "If you're not careful, it may very well lose its sincerity."

"Ahh, so you are aware of my identity. I must admit, while it is good etiquette for both parties to know each other's names before meeting, I'm afraid I have not been informed of your identity. For that, I must apologize for my rudeness."

Morrigan landed on his shoulder and chuckled, "You silly cad. This is the one we've been looking for – Manannan mac Lir, the god of the sea and keeper of the otherworld Emain Ablach."

"Bwuh!?" he choked, nearly coughing on his own saliva. Behind him, Mini Cu and Conall couldn't hold back their chuckling, while Connla just stood there with the same puzzled look on her face. Fergus lost his composure and exclaimed, "T-This is Lord Manannan!?"

"Yes, indeed," the red-haired woman replied. "I am Manannan. I asked both Morrigan and Cathbad to bring me a group of heroes willing to assist me with the troubles brewing within my realm."

"W-W-Well now…" Fergus scratched his head sheepishly. "Pardon me if I'm being a little blunt here, but I recall Lord Manannan being male. Can I ask what you are doing inhabiting the body of a woman, when you are a married man yourself?"

"Certainly. Just as with Morrigan, the power of the Tuatha de Danann has been dwindling rapidly even in the few years since the Celtic Isles rose from the sea. To preserve what little power I still possess, I decided to perform the summoning ritual to call forth a Servant body that I could inhabit. The woman I summoned possesses a spiritual wavelength similar to mine, and is of Irish descent herself, so we were compatible enough to unite into one entity known as a Pseudo-Servant."

"I see. So the situation is that bad even for the few remaining gods, huh?"

"I'm afraid so. If I didn't know any better, I would say this world is being shaped to fit the ideals of the long-lost Fomorians, rather than one that is suitable for mankind to flourish. Coupled with what is going on in Emain Ablach, and you can see why I had to resort to such drastic measures to make this meeting possible."

"Well, setting aside the state of the world for the moment, we would like to have a better understanding of what we need to contend with in your realm. Morrigan was rather vague with the details, other than that your Cloak of Mists has been stolen from you."

"Then I suggest we set camp here so I can explain the details to you all, as well as getting properly acquainted with your allies."

"All right. But before we do, I really should apologize for being so boorish around you," Fergus frowned in visible remorse. "I had no idea I was being so rude towards the god of the seas himself."

Manannan chuckled and said, "It's all right. It was an honest mistake, and I am already aware of your propensity for unhinged philandering. I fully expected that this would be the greeting I'd receive from you."

"Ah hah hah hah… I'm really sorry… 'Unhinged philandering' really is the most apt description for me, isn't it?"

"If it's towards me, then I'll excuse it. However…" the god suddenly murmured in a low voice, and her eyes quickly changed from a soft wine red hue to a sharp golden glow. "Do not approach my wife with that same attitude. Do you understand?"

Fergus shuddered and replied, "Y-Yes, sir. Duly noted, sir."

That night, the group worked together to establish a small camp before it got too dark. Manannan had already hunted some animals for them to eat, so they enjoyed a hearty dinner before settling in for what was clearly going to be a serious discussion. During that time, Manannan got to know Conall and Connla better, but she didn't say much to Mini Cu for the time being. Connla noticed how silent the two seemed to be toward each other, even going so far as to not make eye contact as much as they could. For some inexplicable reason, she was starting to get a bad feeling about all of this.

Finally, the sun started to set as everyone sat around the bonfire and began listening to what Manannan had to say. The chirping of distant crickets felt like raucous clamor as they anticipated what she was going to reveal.

"… I suppose I should start with the theft of my Cloak of Mists," she eventually said, her stoic features accentuated by the glowing fire. "In all honesty, I already know who the thief is."

"Well that's a first," Morrigan said. "If you already know who it is, why not deal with them yourself?"

"It's not that simple. The culprit is none other than my wife, Fand."

"Oh my. Is this some kind of divine-class lover's quarrel?"

"Don't joke with me. This is much more serious than you can imagine. Though my affection for Fand is unfaltering and everlasting, I feel she has not been reciprocating my love for her over the last few years. Although she seems reluctant to go against me, I fear it's culminated in her stealing the Cloak of Mists so she could return to the mortal world."

"How many years are we talking about here?"

"Ever since the Cattle Raid of Cooley went disastrously awry 15 years ago."

"Hmm… Yes, that could be a problem…"

Fergus interjected, "I'm afraid the rest of us are a little out of the loop concerning these issues surrounding your wife. Could you please enlighten us as to why Fand would want to come to this world in the first place? More than that though, it seems she had once shown herself in the human realm sometime in the past."

"You're right. I really should tell you everything about Fand," Manannan admitted. "She is a faerie capable of transforming into a sea bird, alongside her sister Li Ban. A long time before the Cattle Raid began, Fand and Li Ban took flight in this world in their sea bird forms, joined together by a golden chain in contrast with similar flocks of birds connected by silver chains. This must have attracted the attention of a certain warrior, for he hurled stones at the birds, one which clipped Fand's wing. In retaliation, she and Li Ban returned to punish the lad, whipping him so severely that he was bedridden for an entire year."

"Wait a minute," Conall blurted. "That sounds a lot like what happened to my brother a long time ago."

"That's right. The perpetrator was none other than Setanta… Or rather Cuchulainn, as he had come to be known throughout all of Ireland."

"Huh!?" Mini Cu yelped in shock. "That's insane! I don't remember being confined to bed for a whole year!"

Manannan's eyes shone bright yellow, and her curt stare practically bore into the astonished doll's soul. Connla grew uneasy when she saw the Pseudo-Servant's sharp glare, now realizing that her hunch was proving to be right all along. The child warrior was so nervous that she struggled to maintain a calm façade. It obviously didn't work, for Manannan realized she was making her upset with her foul gaze, and so softened her eyes a bit.

"Anyway," the god muttered, "Li Ban and Cuchulainn's charioteer Laeg negotiated a deal – Fand would heal Cuchulainn, in exchange for his help with resolving a minor conflict amongst the faeries in Emain Ablach. Somewhere along the way however, it seems the two of them fell in love with each other. I was certainly displeased when I found out about the affair, but Cuchulainn's wife Emer was even more furious about it. She rounded an army of women and threatened to kill the couple with knives and short swords if they didn't break off the relationship."

Connla's eyes widened slightly when she heard this. She couldn't imagine the gentle-natured woman who had housed her, Fir and Fial to be so vicious as to endanger her own husband like that.

Manannan continued, "Upon seeing how upset she had made Emer, along with understanding how disappointed I was, Fand decided to cease the affair and part ways with Cuchulainn. She returned to Emain Ablach with me, and I used the Cloak of Mists to seal off the path between the two worlds, so that they may never meet again."

She turned her eyes toward Mini Cu and said, "The reason you don't remember anything about Fand is because you and Emer drank a druid's potion designed to make you both forget about the whole thing."

His jaw dropped a bit, and he wondered, "I really did that?"

"I guess I can't prove it, since one who drinks a potion of forgetfulness will not remember doing so in the first place. A perplexing paradox, wouldn't you say?"

"…"

"But it's true that Cuchulainn was badly beaten by two faerie women," Conall said. "I remember having to help him walk around and change his bandages for the first few months, before one of those women arrived and offered to help my folks and Emer nurse him back to health. I didn't get to know her personally since I had left to undergo more training, but I'm guessing she was Fand."

"That's right. Your testimony is proof positive that Fand and Cuchulainn encountered each other."

"Ahhh, I think I see where this is going," Fergus remarked. "Our little issue with the Cloak of Mists is all because Fand still yearns for Cuchulainn. He and Emer may have consumed the potion of forgetfulness, but she never did, which means her memories of the affair are still intact. Is that an accurate assumption?"

Manannan sighed, then said, "More or less. The only thing I should correct is the notion of Fand still wanting to be with Cuchulainn as his lover."

"You mean she has a different motive for wanting to see him?"

"Think about it. What would you do if you found out that someone you once had affection for transformed into a god capable of destroying human civilization? Wouldn't you want to confront him about it? Wouldn't you want to satisfy your curiosity as to how and why such a thing would occur? Furthermore, wouldn't you think that there'd be something you could do about it?"

Fergus' expression became taut and grim as he mumbled, "Hmm… I see. So Fand's acting irrational due to her concern about Cuchulainn becoming the feared god of destruction Taoide Olc. She stole the Cloak of Mists from you so she could enter this world and confront him about it."

"Yes. That about sums up the first part of the problem," Manannan said.

"Uh oh… You mean there's more?" Conall cringed.

"Sadly, there is. The true reason I need your help is because the Cloak was similarly stolen from Fand before she could leave Emain Ablach."

Mini Cu couldn't believe what he was hearing, and he expressed it by uttering, "You've got to be kidding me."

"I'm afraid not. One of Emain Ablach's faeries took it from her after they had gotten her drunk at one of their nightly parties."

"See, that's the problem with you generous types - you don't take care of your possessions the way you should. None of this would be happening if you weren't so lackadaisical with all of those treasures you keep around."

"Excuse me, but who was responsible for nearly stealing my most important treasure away from me?" Manannan retorted. "None of this would be happening if you hadn't slung those stones at Fand's wings all those years ago."

"Oh, like I knew any of this was going to happen just from a harmless bit of playing around!"

"All right, all right, I think that's enough!" Fergus bellowed, standing between the irate gods before their argument could escalate any further. "I understand that you two don't like each other, but we need to work together if we are to retrieve the Cloak of Mists for Lord Manannan. We still need all the information we can get from him concerning the faeries involved in this so-call party of theirs before we can begin the investigation. Can we at least tolerate each other until we solve this case?"

"Tch, fine," Mini Cu grunted. "I don't have a particular beef with Manannan anyway, but I don't like the way he's accusing me of things I can't remember."

"Very well," Manannan similarly relented. "If things work out, your presence in Emain Ablach may give Fand little reason to want to leave anyway. This could be an opportunity for her to make peace with you, considering that you've become someone that she may no longer recognize."

"Maybe. It's true that I'm completely different from who I used to be. The last thing I need is some heartbroken woman getting on my case while I'm busy trying to destroy Medb. Maybe Fand seeing me for the monster I am now will be the dose of reality she needs to snap out of her delusions."

"…"

"Good enough for me," Fergus sat back down on the grass and drank some alcohol to calm his nerves. "Now then, Lord Manannan, how exactly do Conall, Connla and I fit into this picture? I'm not sure I understand how us humans should resolve any sort of issue that was started by faeries. From the way you're picturing it, it seems you want us to act as detectives rather than as warriors."

She nodded and said, "That's right. I fear I won't be able to do much since it was my own property that was stolen from me. However, I think the faeries will lower their guard if they are in the presence of humans who 'wandered in by accident', if you get my meaning. They may be more open to your company, meaning the culprit could give themselves away if they brag about the crime enough."

"You really think it'll be that easy?"

Mini Cu said, "He's got a point. Faeries have isolated themselves from humans for so long that they would act like total simpletons if they made contact with a species they hadn't seen in centuries. Loose lips sink ships, as they say."

"I guess so," Fergus said. "Conall and I could handle them if they became dangerous. But what about Connla? She's still under the weather, no thanks to that whole business in Emain Macha."

"He he," Manannan chuckled. "I wouldn't worry about her too much. If adult humans spark a faerie's curiosity, then a child would definitely attract their notice. They'd think she's completely harmless and reveal many secrets to her, not realizing she actually has the mind of an adult due to her training in Dun Scaith."

"What the hell, man? Are you treating her like a flame so the moths will gather around her?" Mini Cu snapped. "Do you realize that's my own daughter you're putting at risk here?"

"Yes, I realize that. I also know it's the only chance we've got at catching the thief. How about it, Connla? Are you willing to help us out?"

Without hesitation, the child warrior said, "I wouldn't have come with all of you if I didn't want to. Besides, Lord Cathbad told me that this incident could threaten the Leyline somehow. I don't understand how that factors in, but I want to do what I can to protect it."

"The Leyline… Yes, of course. You want the Grand Servant summoning to succeed that much, don't you?"

"Yeah. Would the faeries endanger it somehow if nothing is done about this?"

"You could say that," Manannan replied. "With the Cloak of Mists in their possession, there isn't much stopping them from escaping into the human world and causing all sorts of trouble for your kind. Furthermore, faeries consume magical energy to maintain their existences."

"Don't they get enough of it in Emain Ablach?"

"They do, but their innocent and curious nature prevents them from thinking rationally. The moment they escape, they'll start feeding off of the Leyline until it runs dry, and they would have no choice but to return to Emain Ablach to survive. Considering how precious the mortal realm's supply of mana is, that would be a death sentence for Cathbad's endeavors. It'd be a complete waste, all because the faeries just wanted to see some humans."

"Nothing but a bunch of goddamn leeches," Mini Cu scoffed. "If it were up to me, I'd go there personally and slaughter every last one of them."

Manannan retorted, "I'd never let you do that. However different the faeries may be from humans, they still have a right to live."

"For the god of the seas, you're way too soft for your own good."

"I don't want to hear that from someone who forcefully wrested my dominion of the ocean away from me."

"Um," Connla uttered, "so the long and short of it is that you want Uncle Fergus, Conall and I to act as distractions for the faeries while we search for the Cloak of Mists. Once we find it, we get out of there and return it to you."

Manannan calmed down and told her, "Yes. You could say that if the first two blights involved using brawn, this one's going to rely more on brains."

"As long as there isn't going to be any fighting involved, I can definitely manage that."

"Excellent. We'll get an early start tomorrow. I want to get you three to the faerie village before nightfall tomorrow so you can partake in their evening banquet."

"Mmmm, a faerie banquet in the Land of Apples. I'm getting excited just thinking about it," Fergus eagerly smiled.

"Oh ho ho," Morrigan chuckled. "There's nothing else quite like it, I can assure you. Your drunken merriment should provide the entertainment the faeries have been craving for so long."

"Guess I better get ready for it, then!"