FATE/CURADH BEAG
"Little Champion"
Chapter 32: Connacht Reclamation War
Galway, Connacht
Sunlight dappled through the sheer curtains draping the windows in the queen's royal suite. Medb sat up in her bed, completely nude. She stared in sheer disappointment at the comatose Lugaid who lay next to her in the same bed, his arms and legs splayed outward in exhaustion. His skin was pale, and sweat drenched him so much that it stained the sheets.
"Hmph. Guess it was too much for a little boy like you to handle," Medb scoffed. "It'd take a hundred weaklings of your caliber to satisfy me."
She got up and started to get dressed, as she continued murmuring, "But that's fine. Thanks to that, you told me everything I wanted to know. Honestly… you humans truly are fragile creatures when pushed to the brink, aren't you?"
She left Lugaid sleeping in her quarters and strode to the throne room. She had already summoned several of her Red Branch Braves through a psychic signal, and they stood at the ready to greet her. They simultaneously genuflected as she made her entrance, and she gazed upon her loyal followers with a delighted smile.
"You may rise, my sons," Medb commanded, and they stood back up. "I have called you here for a very important reason – I have attained valuable information that suggests Fergus and Cuchulainn are about to wage war upon this country."
"Lord Fergus, my queen?" Maine Lasta wondered.
"Yes. We were led to believe he and his companions died during the parting of Sgaradh, but not only did they survive, they also formed a coalition with the God of Destruction. That is nothing short of high treason, and thus a suitable punishment is most appropriate for these circumstances."
Maine Faireach seemed genuinely surprised as he said, "Even if you were to decree a punishment, both Fergus and Cuchulainn would likely have had enough time to rally sizeable armies of their own. Remiss as I am to say this, the political situation throughout Ireland has not been favorable for you, and discontent amongst the citizenry has grown exponentially just within the last few years. In contrast, we have only enough time to gather the other Braves and the guards stationed throughout the city. I see little point in defending Galway if the numbers are heavily skewed in the enemy's favor."
"Defend Galway?" Medb frowned for a moment. Then she started laughing. "Ah ha ha ha! Who said anything about protecting this dump? I fear you are rushing to conclusions too soon, my darling Faireach."
"Then do you have a different strategy in mind, my lady?"
"But of course! If you cannot win through brute force, strike their morale as hard as you can instead!"
"Their morale, hm?" Maine Dian murmured. "I see… So that's what you have in mind."
"Precisely. I knew you'd understand the first of any of my sons."
"Understood. I will deal with the guards. They won't know what hit them."
"Oooooh!" Maine Glorach shouted uncontrollably and shot onto his feet. "Take me with you, Dian! I have thirsted for blood, but I fear I have reached my limit! I cannot control these murderous urges any longer! If only I had been allowed to partake in the Queen's Champion tournament, I would have been able to sate my hunger a good while longer!"
"Patience, my brother. First we must summon them to the execution square, so that they are isolated from the citizens."
"Why bother!? Their screams shall pierce the air and resound throughout the entire city! Fear, uncertainty, and panic will set in! Oooooh! Surrounded by an enemy army, betrayed by their own kin! I could not ask for a more exhilarating thrill!"
"That is a fair point. Perhaps bringing them to the dungeons will be more appropriate. That way their screams will be silenced long enough for the other Maines to barricade the city before proceeding with the cleanup."
"Ah hah hah hah hah hah hah! I like how you think, brother!"
The stoic Dian and the frenzied Glorach left the throne room, their plan set as they headed for the guard tower. Faireach watched them depart in silence. At the same time, Maine Matan asked Medb, "What shall you be doing in the meantime, my queen?"
She strode towards a statue of a thorny dragon behind the throne, and she pushed her fingers into its eye sockets to press a concealed button. A camouflaged door slid open within the nearby stone wall, and she replied, "Galway was a lost cause even before I took complete control of it from Ailill. Crime and corruption is so rife in this fetid cesspool of a city that it's a wonder I called it home for 15 whole years. Fergus and Cuchulainn aren't really interested in the town anyway – their goal is to kill me. I can't let that happen. Not when I'm so close!"
"Then it is time for you to depart?"
"Yes. They can have this useless Lostbelt for all I care. My eyes are on bigger prizes. The lot of you can handle the rest in my absence."
"As you wish, my queen."
With that, Medb headed through the secret passage, the previously hidden door sliding back shut and disguising itself as a stone wall once again. Once their liege was gone, Matan asked Lasta, "What do you propose we do? Dian and Glorach have the soldiers taken care of, so that leaves the citizens. No doubt, once it begins, many people will begin rushing for the exits."
"We should use the fort's arrows and catapults to snipe as many as we can when they least expect it, then swarm the exits. If needed, we can always assume our true forms for greater destructive output. From there, it would just be a matter of killing the stragglers."
Faireach stood up and said, "I will watch over the front gates."
"Staying far away from the action?" Lasta taunted. "You always were the most passive of us Maines."
"I am the Watchful Maine. Medb created me for the sole purpose of observation. I will not hinder your efforts, but I will not assist with them either."
"You're sounding almost traitorous there, brother."
"I am merely performing to my specifications."
Matan shrugged as he watched Faireach leave, then said to Lasta, "Forget about him. At the very least, no one will be getting past him. Come, let us summon the other Maines at once."
Lasta nodded and muttered, "Very well."
Northern Ulster
Liath Macha galloped along Lough Neagh's dried up lakebed and about halfway through Antrim county for the remainder of the night, only pausing to get some rest at the former lake's northernmost coast once the first signs of sunlight started to brighten the sky. Connla dismounted and inspected the horse to make sure he wasn't sick or injured, feeding him some food she brought with her.
"How are you holding up?" she asked.
Liath neighed a little, signifying he was okay. She examined his hooves and remarked, "It looks like Lord Manannan's Runes are working just fine. At this rate, you have more than enough stamina to reach the Tree. All I'd have to worry about is the timing."
As she sat on the grass and ate some bread, she pondered, Cuchulainn should be moving Scotland past here anytime soon. I do want to hurry, but if he catches sight of me at Ulster's northern coast, he might try to interfere. At the same time though, once Emer wakes up, she'll realize I'm gone and try to look for me. I'm sure Cuchulainn left some means to communicate with her should anything happen to me.
It was certainly troubling for her. She wanted to complete the mission Scathach left for her, but she also felt guilty for going against Cuchulainn and Emer's wishes. Nevertheless, her heart was set. Even though everyone had their own intentions for her, she also had to be true to herself. Otherwise, she doubted she would be able to live a fulfilling life if she didn't stand up for herself like this.
Suddenly, Liath made an unusual yelping noise. Connla widened her eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"
He stood up and stared in the northeastern distance. She did so as well, and exhaled a startled cry.
"Whoa!?"
It had been hard to see at first due to the dark sky, but as the morning sun lit the world up, the duo were finally able to see something most unbelievable. The floating island of Scotland was fast approaching from the northeast and barreling towards Ireland's northern coastline. Fortunately, the incoming landmass made plenty of space between its southern border and Ireland, intent on passing by Ulster on its way to northwestern Connacht. Despite the distance between the two islands, the ground rumbled a little, forcing both girl and horse to buckle down on their knees.
"Incredible… Cuchulainn is moving it all by himself?" Connla breathed in astonishment. For the first time, she was finally starting to understand just how unbelievably powerful he was as a god. He wasn't just an unstoppable warrior boasting multiple layers of strength and invincibility; he could command the very elements themselves, shaping the very planet to suit his desires. Suddenly, she didn't feel so bad for losing against him back when they fought in Glasgow.
She and Liath watched in stunned silence as Scotland gradually moved past Ulster. The child warrior held her breath, daring to not so much as gasp. As she watched this unusual spectacle, she was also nervous about Cuchulainn being able to see her, hoping that he wouldn't stop and suddenly show up to chastise her for leaving Emer behind. It took about ten minutes for the passing island to move a far enough distance that she was certain she wouldn't be within the god's influence.
As the ground stopped shaking and the world returned to its silent morning routine, Connla closed her eyes and exhaled the long breath she had been holding in.
"Haaa~aaah… Wow. That was something."
That was really the only thing she could say about such an outrageous phenomenon. Even so, she knew it was time for her to move on. Now that she was certain the war in Connacht was about to begin, everyone's attention would be focused away from her. More than ever, she had to be quick and decisive. She mounted on Liath's back and said, "Let's go."
The grey steed acknowledged his owner's command and resuming galloping northward. The trip was uneventful for the next few hours, and morning gradually turned into early afternoon. All the while, she couldn't stop glancing at the Tree of Emptiness looming far in the distance of the ocean. Even though she made a lot of progress in the last 12 hours, it still felt like it wasn't getting any closer. She really had no idea how far away it was, so it was difficult to judge how long the journey would take before even getting to fight it. Manannan did give her and Liath plenty of Runes to boost their strength and endurance, but it still worried Connla.
Maybe I should've asked Lord Manannan how far Circinus is from here…
It was too late for such regrets though, so she just pressed on and hoped for the best. As the pair reached the desolate area where the town of Ballycastle normally would be, she decided to have Liath take another break. This would be the last time they'd get to rest before venturing out into the wild ocean, and she knew the Oillipheist lurking beneath the waves would not allow them to slow down for even a moment. She decided for them to eat every last scrap of food and discard any unnecessary items so they wouldn't be weighed down.
As she guzzled some water from a clay bottle, she noticed a familiar black bird circling around her. The avian made its descent in a careful spiraling motion before gliding along the ground and landing in front of her.
"Lady Morrigan…" Connla murmured.
"Hello again, my dear. Has life been treating you well?"
"It could be better, but at least things have calmed down… Well, other than seeing Scotland rushing past us."
"That's good," the raven said, then noticed the medallion around the girl's neck. "I see. So Manannan managed to deliver his gifts to you without Cuchulainn noticing."
She glanced away uneasily. "I just know Cuchulainn's going to be extremely upset with me if he found out I was doing this."
"He certainly will be. But you have a right to decide what to do with your life."
"Yeah," Connla agreed. She stared at the Tree of Emptiness, then said, "The fact is that this world has no future. But it is also a cancer threatening the sanctity of other worlds. I just want to do what's right for everyone, even if it's hard to do so…"
"Scathach would be proud of you."
"…"
"Connla, my child," Morrigan suddenly spoke in an urging voice. "Give me your armor."
"My armor? What for?"
"I would like to polish it."
The girl appeared perplexed, but nevertheless took off her small breastplate and placed it on the ground before the crow. She raised one of her wings and used some form of Runecraft to make it glow bright white. When the light dissipated, the armor was now gleaming and free of nicks, as if it was just brand new in the blacksmith's hands. It also seemed to be fortified with a new layer of magic, and Connla noticed that it barely felt like she was wearing anything.
"That is the most I can offer you," Morrigan admitted. "Go forth bravely, and know that you have the full support of the goddess of war, death and fate."
Connla appeared resolute, and said, "I'll do my best not to let you down."
"Good. You should get going now. It won't be long before Scotland reaches Connacht. Once they make contact, that is your time to move."
Connla got back on Liath's back and commanded him to gallop forth, leaving Morrigan behind to watch their departure. The goddess remained silent, but she wasn't feeling any semblance of grief. If anything, a new kind of excitement started to well within her.
"… Ha ha ha," she chuckled bitterly. "Though it may be for the greater good, I also have my own lingering grudge against you, Cuchulainn. This is what you get for rejecting my affection all those years ago."
Morrigan's offering to polish Connla's armor wasn't just out of goodwill. Unbeknownst to the child warrior, it was the goddess exercising her power over one's fate. By cleaning a warrior's own armor, she was ensuring that an omen of death on the battlefield would be guaranteed to occur. In Proper Human History, she had done this with Cuchulainn's armor shortly before Medb's forces killed him. In the Lostbelt however, Morrigan decided to be more indirect with fulfilling her grudge toward the man she tried so many times to court. She truly harbored no ill will towards Connla, but the child was practically born to be a convenient tool for Cuchulainn's enemies to use against him.
There was more than that reason for it though. Morrigan also derived an uncanny sort of pleasure from watching great warriors fight near-impossible battles with all their might. The situation that this Lostbelt presented was a once in a billion chance for her to witness what would perhaps be humanity's greatest battle before its light flickered out of existence. She knew that the greatest men of the sword always shone the brightest when they had little to lose except their lives, and Connla was precisely in the sort of situation that Morrigan favored the most. At the very least, even though Morrigan bestowed certain doom upon Connla, she would ensure her death was a peaceful one as a reward for all of her hard work.
Northern Connacht
Far in the remote reaches of northeastern Roscommon county, near the border of southern Sligo, an old woman clad in heavy robes and a hood sauntered along the disused dirt road. Her elongated walking stick smacked the ground each time she needed to take a step, yet her gait seemed unusually brisk and healthy for someone of her hunched stature. If anyone had been accompanying her, they would have been shocked by how quickly she had traveled all the way through Galway and Roscommon within a single day, without even relying on a horse or carriage for assistance.
That… or they would have been incredibly suspicious of her.
That was precisely the reason why the elderly crone ventured along abandoned highways and withered stone roads disappearing beneath years upon years of rain and mud. The farther away she was from society, the better. As she no doubt learned back in Galway, Scotland would soon be arriving at northwestern Connacht, initiating the first war since Dublin's Fall put an end to all of the infighting eight years ago. She had chosen this path much further east in Connacht to hopefully slip past the imminent chaos and confusion.
As she was crossing over from Roscommon into Sligo, she spotted two men riding on horses in the opposite direction. One was older while the other was noticeably younger, and from their similar features, she could assume they were father and son. They noticed her as well and approached.
"Well met, madam!" the father exclaimed. "Are you on your way to Sligo?"
"Why yes, my good man," the old woman remarked in a hoarse but friendly tone. "I have family in Collooney, and they were urging me to visit."
His expression turned dire, and he murmured, "Hmm… I'd hate to say this, but I strongly suggest you turn back, or at least stay in Tubbercurry for a while."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"My son was out plowing the fields this morning, and he saw something most unbelievable. When I saw it for myself, I knew I had to hurry to Galway and warn the queen."
"And what exactly is this 'unbelievable' thing you speak of?"
"It's the island of Scotland!" the younger man exclaimed. "It's moving past Ulster and making its way around northwestern Connacht!"
"Oh ho ho ho!" the woman seemed more amused than distraught by this news. "Quite the world we live in, isn't it?"
"This is no laughing matter! Don't you know what that means!? It is nothing short of Cuchulainn declaring war on us!"
"So it would seem. That blasphemous cur who calls himself the God of Destruction is not satisfied with submerging the rest of the world. He wants this entire planet to fall into eternal silence. My word… it is as though he derives pleasure from taking away humanity's hope for survival."
The father declared, "We won't let it come to that. Queen Medb will protect us from Taoide Olc's wrath and lead us into the future. That is why we must hurry and inform her before it is too late."
"I see," the woman murmured. "Then do not trouble yourselves with me further. I shall heed your advice and seek refuge in Tubbercurry."
"Very good. But before we leave, may I have the pleasure of learning your name? Once we are finished in Galway, perhaps we will stop by and do a welfare check on you before returning home."
"My name?"
She asked this, then paused for an unusually long time. They thought she was having some kind of memory lapse, but she then smiled a little and replied, "You may refer to me as… Cnoc na Riabh."
"Madam Cnoc na Riabh? All right. Take care now, and wait for us in Tubbercurry."
Satisfied, the two men commanded their steeds to gallop onward, while the woman continued walking further into the county. As the duo ventured closer to Galway, the son seemed to have a realization as he asked, "Wait a minute… Wasn't there something strange about that woman?"
"What about her?" the father asked.
"Her name, Cnoc na Riabh. Haven't I heard it somewhere before?"
"Hmm… Now that you mention it, I think I have."
"So it's not just me. Where did you hear of it?"
The older man pondered his son's question for a moment, then realized, "Oh! That's it! It's the name of the hill where Queen Medb's sacred cairn is!"
At the same time they noticed this discrepancy, the old woman was already climbing up that very same hill she named herself after. Although it would be an arduous journey for any regular woman her age, this lady was obviously not normal, as she climbed the steady incline with incredible ease. Soon, she reached Cnoc na Riabh's peak and approached the ancient tomb. Her feet hovered off the ground, and she floated high enough that her boots landed upon the top of the massive mound of stones, allowing her a magnificent view of the surrounding county and the white alien tree in the horizon.
"The Tree of Emptiness, Circinus," she murmured.
She lowered her hood to finally reveal herself as Medb. Her long rose-colored hair fluttered in the hollow breeze as she stared in excitement at the foreign structure.
"You're all I have left now. You're my one and only ticket to getting out of this worthless Lostbelt."
The Scottish Borders, Scotland
Even though the island of Scotland was practically hurtling itself past Ulster and into Connacht, the air felt incredibly still and tense. Ewan, his fellow generals from different Scottish territories, and all of their soldiers waited with bated breath for the right moment to make their advance. Everyone's eyes were transfixed on Ireland's northern lands as they passed by like scenery witnessed from within a rushing train. Many of Scotland's most gallant men were enthralled by this godly display of power that their king was capable of, hardly believing they were being ruled by someone who could shape and move the very land they stood on.
Gradually, Scotland began to turn itself southward toward Connacht's northwestern boundary. It took several anxious minutes for the island to change course, but once it did, it wouldn't even be an hour before the moment of impact.
"Brace yourselves, everyone!" Ewan called out. "Keep a firm grasp on your steeds, and ensure your chariots will not be damaged! The moment the islands settle, that is when we march!"
Hundreds of armored men grunted in acknowledgement and followed his instructions, scrambling around to spread the word to their allies. Any druids participating in the battle erected small Runic fields around their most important animals and cargo to protect them. Ewan observed Ireland's coastline as it rapidly inched closer and closer to Scotland's.
50 kilometers…
25 kilometers…
10 kilometers…
5 kilometers…
SLAAA~AAA~AAAMMM!
The earth buckled uncontrollably. Countless soldiers cried out in shock as they lost their footing, and the horses and oxen brayed in fear from the startling tremors. Ewan collapsed to one knee and squeezed his eyes shut, praying that the incredible collision would not jeopardize the structural integrity of the earth beneath their feet. The cacophony lasted for about three minutes, but it soon calmed down and returned to silence. He looked around and saw that no one was seriously injured beyond some scrapes and bruises.
With that, Scotland's invasion of Ireland had officially begun. The southern regions of Edinburgh, the Borders, and the South Province were now merged with western Connacht, primarily squeezing in the empty space where Clew Bay and Clare Island formerly were. The space between the two countries meshed together to form a brand new Sgaradh. Thanks to this new geographical formation, all the Scottish forces had to do was advance southeast for a short while past the two loughs Mask and Corrib before reaching Galway proper.
Satisfied that everyone was safe and the lands were secure enough to march on, Ewan finally blew into his war horn to signify that it was time to move out. Thousands of pairs of feet mingled with the distinct galloping of hooves and the groaning of chariot wheels. He remained stationed at his post though, since he was responsible for carting the king's chariot in the rear guard. He waited anxiously, until his patience was rewarded when the air seemed to ripple on its own volition. Some mist spontaneously poured through the immediate vicinity, and a familiar tall man with a long spiked tail sauntered toward his general.
Ewan didn't need to ask who it was, as he said to the figure, "Well done, sir."
Cuchulainn nodded, then asked, "Has the vanguard gone on ahead?"
"Without a moment's hesitation."
"Good. So long as we get the drop on Medb, we shouldn't expect much resistance beyond dealing with her Braves. Beyond that, she'll have no time to organize her forces."
"Has Lord Fergus been notified?"
"I would think the impact caused some minor earthquakes in Leinster. He'll know just from that alone."
Ewan was about to acknowledge him, but Cuchulainn suddenly lost his balance for a moment and firmly grasped the chariot's wheel to steady himself. The general asked, "Are you all right, sir?"
"Ugh… Damn it. That took more out of me than I thought…"
"You should take this time to rest. I will personally escort you to Galway in the meantime."
"Right," the exhausted king murmured and took his seat in the carriage. "I'm going to need all the strength I can muster if I am to challenge Medb directly. I'll leave it in your hands until then."
"Roger," Ewan replied, then snapped the reigns and commanded his horses to gallop forth.
Longford province, Leinster
Just as Cuchulainn predicted, Fergus and his troops felt slight tremors ebbing under their feet. Rather than be surprised, the king jubilantly grinned and declared, "He did it."
"It be time to advance?" Laeg asked, with Conall and Ferdiad standing next to him.
"Damn straight it is. All right, you boys know the plan. Since Lugaid's currently absent, I'll take command of Munster's battalion. Conall, you're responsible for Ulster's. Ferdiad and Laeg, you two handle Leinster's since it's the largest group. We're going to rendezvous with Setanta's army and bust into Galway! No detours, you hear!?"
"All right! Time for some real action!" Conall exclaimed, punching his fist in excitement.
"Aye!" Laeg agreed. "If all goes well, we may even be enjoyin' dinner in the castle by nightfall!"
Ferdiad didn't seem as enthusiastic as the others, still deeply concerned with Lugaid's safety. Even so, he kept his concerns to himself and ran off to gather his battalion. Once everyone was ready, Ireland's army proceeded southwest through southern Roscommon territory before reaching the Galway province proper. The two armies were essentially forming a V-shaped pincer attack from the north, barely giving any room for either Medb or Galway's citizens to flee before they were surrounded. Since both sides were well-prepared and unimpeded by any enemy forces, it wouldn't take them even half a day to reach their destination.
Sligo province, Connacht
From atop the hilltop Cnoc na Riabh, Medb turned her sight south as she noticed peculiar movement. Unbeknownst to many other than her most trusted advisors, she had such impeccable eyesight that she could focus on a particular point and zoom in on it like a telescope. This wasn't an ability she had been born with, however. It was something she gained after becoming what Manannan referred to as the entity representing Domination.
"My, my, my, my. Look at them go," she remarked to herself, then laughed. "Ha ha ha ha! It's almost hilarious that they think such a paltry force would be enough to defeat my Braves. Well, there's nothing wrong with humoring an enemy's delusion, especially since I'm somewhere nice and safe to enjoy the show from."
Despite her bemused attitude, she turned away and murmured, "Still, I shouldn't dawdle for too long. Once Cu finds out I'm gone, he's going to be tearing the islands themselves apart to get to me. I better make myself scarce before that happens."
Medb tapped her heel on the ground, generating a series of pink-colored Runic glyphs that shimmered for a few seconds. Then they extended themselves into the sky, forming a very long bridge that curved and undulated. Its path stretched on for miles and miles, with its final destination being the Tree of Emptiness. She didn't have to walk that entire distance though. The magical path allowed her to float just a couple of inches off the ground so she could fly all the way there. She smiled wickedly and let the energy carry her away.
Not once did she even have an inkling to look back at Ireland as it grew smaller and smaller behind her.
Antrim province, Ulster
Connla and Liath finally reached the edge of the county's northernmost coast. What was once beach and reefs were now eroding rocks and crumbling sand. Despite being so close to her goal, Connla couldn't help but think about when she first arrived in Ireland and witnessed the woman Eabha jumping off of the island's edge to her death. She couldn't believe she was in the same position as her now. Even so, she hadn't come all this way to die.
Besides, Connla had a valuable tool in her arsenal to help her and Liath survive the jump into the ocean. She thought back to when she encountered Manannan near Emer's cottage.
Two days ago…
After Manannan intercepted Connla in the forest, they had set up camp and ate supper there for the night. The goddess erected a much larger Runic cover over the immediate vicinity to protect them from the vicious rainfall, giving them a chance to relax and talk about various things. One such topic that came up genuinely surprised the child warrior.
"Eh? What did you say?" Connla uttered. "You're giving me something?"
"Multiple 'somethings', actually," Manannan replied with an impish smile. "They're gifts of mine. Rewards, you could say, for all of the work you put into resolving the Three Blights for Cathbad."
"Oh no, I couldn't take anything valuable from you. I was doing it because I wanted the Grand Servant summoning to be successful."
"Now, now, this is not the time to be shy. They're not just ordinary baubles or trinkets. They are actual weapons and tools you can use when it is time for you to challenge Circinus."
Connla's trepidation settled as she asked, "Weapons and tools?"
"Yes, indeed. There's no way you can fight such an important battle with the skills and weapons you currently have at your disposal. I'm going to bolster your armaments both as my personal thanks for your efforts, and for you to meet Scathach's expectations. Besides, this was a request she made of me a long time ago in exchange for an unrelated favor from her. I'm simply fulfilling my end of the deal."
"I see…"
Manannan stood up and approached Liath as she said, "First off is your transportation. I cannot loan you my horse Aonbharr nor my currach Sguaba Tuinne, as both are lost to me. What I can do is have this fella here function as a substitute Aonbharr."
"You mean the legendary horse that can run atop the sea as swiftly as he can on land?"
"That's right. All I have to do is slap a bunch of Runes on his hooves, and he'll have all the speed and stamina in the world to rush along the waves. The very ocean will continuously be converted into energy every time he gallops on its surface, feeding him with limitless amounts of mana."
Connla watched as Manannan weaved an incredibly intricate series of Runic formulas onto Liath's hooves, enchanting him with a tremendous quantity of mana. She was awestruck by how complicated the glyphs appeared – there was no way she could replicate such an inscription with the rudimentary level of knowledge she possessed.
"There we go," Manannan said as she finished her work. "That's Liath's gift. Now then, this one is yours."
She reached into her satchel and revealed a silver medallion affixed to a long chain so it could be worn as a pendant. She draped the chain around Connla's neck, and the girl examined the bizarre medal. She looked a little annoyed while muttering, "I thought you weren't going to give me baubles or trinkets. I'm pretty sure this qualifies as one."
"Don't you worry. It's not just some meaningless decoration."
"No? Then what is it?"
"Well…" the goddess put a finger to her lips in contemplation. "Think of it as a catalyst for a summoning."
Connla's eyes widened. "A… catalyst?"
"More or less. This is actually one of a pair, but I lost the other medallion a while back."
"I think I'm starting to see why Cuchulainn was irritated with you being so careless with your treasures."
"Oh, don't be like that! It's not my fault I lost it! Before I realized it, Medb had it stolen from me! I tell you, that little mishap caused me a lot of problems!"
"Just like how Lady Fand stole the Cloak of Mists, which also caused a lot of problems?"
"Ooooh… Okay, I'll admit that I'm a bit of a klutz with my possessions… But really! This time, I can trust you to use my gifts for the sake of good!"
"If you say so," Connla shot a flat gaze at the goddess and grumbled. "So what exactly am I supposed to be summoning with this thing? Is it a Servant, like what Lord Cathbad is doing?"
"Close, but not quite," Manannan waved her finger dismissively. "The truth is that there isn't enough magical energy within the Leyline to summon any Servants other than the one Cathbad has in mind. If you tried to use your own body's mana as a source of magical energy, you'll be too drained to fight Circinus at the same time. However, if you summon a different being and command it to fight alongside you, then you'll have a much fairer shot at destroying the Tree of Emptiness."
"So this medal and the missing one were both capable of calling forth this type of being?"
"Right. This one is the Medallion of Swells, while the one I lost was the Medallion of Billows."
Connla paused for a moment. "Swells… Billows… I think I've heard those terms before. If Queen Medb used the Medallion of Billows to summon something, and I used this Medallion of Swells to summon something similar…"
"Exactly. I think you understand where I'm getting at."
"…"
The present…
The child warrior rubbed the silver medal between her fingers, pondering long and hard on what it meant to be given possession of such an important object. Could she really do it? Could she really be entrusted to handle an impromptu summoning of such magnitude? Furthermore, why was it necessary for Manannan to give this to her in the first place?
"Ugh. No point in dwelling too hard on it," Connla uttered. "Come on, Liath. We've got a job to do. Are you ready?"
The horse responded with an enthusiastic neigh.
"All right, then…" she murmured, then brandished her spear in her right hand. "Let's go!"
Upon her command, Liath loudly whinnied and leapt off the edge without hesitation. As the pair plummeted to the harsh ocean far below, a plethora of glowing blue platform Runes generated beneath the steed's hooves, allowing him to land and gallop forth safely in midair. The Runes formed a shallow but gradual incline down for him to run along. With each step forward, the deep blue sea and crashing white waves grew larger and larger in their sights. During their advance, any Runes that had been run on quickly disappeared, meaning there was no way for them to return to the Celtic Isles.
The only thing they could do now was push their fears aside and press on toward the Tree of Emptiness.
Galway, Connacht
As the two armies began to unite and encroach on Galway's sealed gates, both kings commanded their generals to halt the troops. Cuchulainn clenched his teeth and widened his eyes. Ewan noticed the dramatic change in his sovereign's expression and realized something was wrong. He asked him, "Is something the matter, sir?"
"… I don't like this," Cuchulainn growled in a deep voice. "It's too quiet."
"How true. There doesn't seem to be any semblance of resistance from Medb's forces. Even if she didn't have time to prepare an offensive strategy, she could've at least bolstered Galway's defenses. Or could this possibly be a trap?"
"Yeah, I think so. But that can't be right. Medb should have no idea that we were coming."
Before they could wonder what was happening, that was when they started hearing the first signs of distress emanating from within Galway's walls. To everyone's unexpected shock, terrified screams and panicked wails resounded throughout the area.
Fergus' heart clenched with terror as he yelped, "What's going on in there?"
"I don't know, but it sounds bad," Conall grimaced.
Ferdiad's eyes widened in horror as he blurted, "Lugaid! I have to find him at once!"
"'Old yer 'orses, lad!" Laeg exclaimed, grabbing Ferdiad's arm before he could run off. "Can't ye 'ear dem screams!? Tuatha knows what genuine 'ell be goin' on in dere! Dun go riskin' yer life so callously, mate!"
"Don't try to stop me! I can't begin to imagine what Medb must have done to him! I have to make sure he's safe, or else I will never be able to face Lord Cu Roi and his predecessors ever again!"
"Dun be a fool! Ye need t'calm yerself!"
"Tch…" Fergus clenched his teeth. "Nevertheless, someone needs to get in there and scout the area. Until we have an understanding of what's happening, we cannot step foot inside Galway."
"Then I'll go!" Ferdiad eagerly volunteered himself.
"Don't be insane! At least let me accompany you!" Conall offered.
Before their argument could escalate beyond Fergus' control, that was when they heard an unfamiliar man's voice bellow from the other side of the front gates, "That won't be necessary. As you no doubt can hear, you have arrived too late."
Everyone stared agape as the heavy wooden doors cracked open and parted ways to reveal the entrance to Galway's marketplace. A single burly man garbed in bright red Celtic armor stood between them, but his calm expression suggested that he did not pose an immediate threat to them.
Fergus exclaimed, "You're one of the Maines! If I recall correctly, your individual name is Maine Faireach, correct?"
"Yes, sir," Faireach acknowledged.
"What's the situation? Why are we hearing so many bloodcurdling screams?"
"About half a day ago, Queen Medb commanded us Maines to turn our blades on Galway's citizenry."
No one could believe what they were hearing. Many of the soldiers cried out in anguish as they realized they were hearing the cries of their friends and loved ones being mercilessly slaughtered by their own allies. The news was so devastating, even the usually amicable Fergus seethed with rage. Cuchulainn likewise heard this, and his fury intensified so exponentially that it was beyond mortal comprehension. His expression twisted so hard that it looked like blood vessels would erupt at any moment.
"MEEE~EEE~EEE~EEEDB!" he screamed and charged into the city at top speed.
Ferdiad saw this and blurted to Fergus, "Sorry, but I'm going after him!"
"So am I!" Conall followed them.
Fergus could only stand there with his jaw dropped. How did everything go so horribly wrong this rapidly? He was certain that Medb had been tipped off about the coup, yet this was her response? He ominously snarled at Faireach, "What is the meaning of this? Explain yourself at once."
"Certainly," the Brave replied. "Sir Lugaid arrived to make his report, but Queen Medb managed to coerce some intel out of him regarding your alliance with Cuchulainn."
"Shit… I knew it. She used her pheromones on him."
"Not just that. One of my brothers overheard him speaking with Lord Cathbad regarding your war efforts. Needless to say, it didn't take much for the queen to torture the info out of Sir Lugaid."
"Damn it all to Tuatha… How could Cathbad and Lugaid mess this up so badly!? They should have waited to leave the city before discussing anything about the coup!"
"Nonetheless, that is what transpired with Sir Lugaid. Once she learned of your plans, Queen Medb gathered us Braves together and commanded us to execute the soldiers and townsfolk before your forces arrived."
"Why!? What would she gain from doing something so cruel!?"
"Nothing more than to spite you and Cuchulainn for taking up arms against her."
Fergus wanted to curse a blue streak at how insidious and inhumane this whole thing was. This was definitely not what he wanted. He wished to free all of Connacht's citizens from Medb's oppressive rule, yet all he accomplished was a pyrrhic victory. Even if he claimed Galway as his own, the stain of allowing so many people to die would never be washed away from his soul. Forcing him to carry such shame was precisely the kind of blow to his morale that Medb sought, and it was definitely working. Who knew how the rest of Ireland would react if the people learned that everyone in the nation's most wealthiest city had been slaughtered at their own ruler's behest? The weight of such a betrayal would cause so many spirits to break under the weight of such hopelessness.
Despite all of these concerns welling up within him, there was one crucial question that Fergus had to ask:
"What about Medb!? Where is she right now!?"
Faireach shook his head. "After issuing that order to us Braves, the queen abandoned the city."
"Shit! Which way was she headed!?"
"I'm not certain. However, I strongly suspect she is venturing toward Crann Ban, far to the north of the Celtic Isles."
Laeg heard this and looked over at the Tree of Emptiness as he asked, "The White Tree? Why she be goin' dere, of all places? 'Ell, 'ow she gonna git dere when it be in the midst o'the ocean?"
The Brave shifted his eyes to the side and murmured, "I doubt you would be able to understand. This world is far past salvation, after all. She believes it's better to cut her losses and run while she can."
"What that s'posed t'mean?"
Fergus growled, "Fuck it! We're wasting time asking questions! Ewan!"
The Scottish general ran up to him and said, "I'm here, sir. I have my troops on standby."
"I'm going to take Laeg and a battalion of my best men into the city to investigate. You take the rest of my soldiers and have them join your forces to surround the entire perimeter. If you see any of Medb's Red Branch Braves escaping the city, kill them on sight! Otherwise, no one comes in or leaves without my say so!"
"What about that Brave?" Ewan asked, gesturing to Faireach.
"Don't worry, he's not hostile. He will accompany me."
"Understood, sir."
Now that he had issued his orders, Fergus took Laeg, Faireach, and several of his best warriors into the city. Several men retched at the sight of countless women and children, including babies, lying dead all along the dusty streets. Laeg noticed their looks of displeasure and exclaimed, "Stay strong, lads! If dere be survivors, dey be countin' on us t'save 'em! Dun lose 'ope when we only just take one step into the monster's lair!"
"Sir!" the soldiers barked resolutely and scattered about, searching through homes and shops for any signs of life.
Fergus turned his gaze toward the castle and murmured, "Crann Ban… What is the truth regarding the White Tree's existence? And why is Medb in such a hurry to reach it?"
Faireach said nothing. Connacht's king sighed, then murmured in an angry tone, "I'm going to catch up with Setanta. He's got a lot of explaining to do."