The Druid

Chapter 11

"We came to Ireland seeking, not a new home or a new beginning as history writes, but to defend your world against the enemies of ours--the Fomorians."

"Since the genesis of the Tuatha Dé Danann, we were able to contain the Fomorians in the Forever Hills. The Fomorian king Elatha and our king, Nuada, were men of justice. Although Elatha was avaricious and ill-tempered, he was a good and fair king for his people, ruling over the Fomorian clans with an iron hand, but a forgiving heart. We lived in peace."

"Once a year we celebrated the Samhain, a day dedicated to giving thanks to the Fomorians for their willingness to commit to peace. In your world, it is called Halloween. Our people would meet at the foothills and exchange prized gifts. Nuada was a great king, but he trusted too easily. It was his idea to gift them with the Hunter's Box, one of our Talismans of extraordinary power. The Talisman was a portal to a different world, a world of unmatched savagery, where giant beasts walked. Only the greatest of our warriors were permitted entry."

"Why would anyone want to enter?" Alan interjected.

"Because, if you survived, you returned as an even mightier warrior and with great wisdom and heart--gifts that could not be wrapped, even by Druid hands. By leasing Elatha the box, Nuada believed, through the spirit of the warrior, the Fomorians could save their condemned souls. Elatha accepted our gift with great excitement, and gave his word the artifact would be returned next Samhain."

"Let me guess," Callum said, "they didn't return the Box?"

Maggie shook her head. "No. When it was time for our exchange the following Samhain, they never showed. Nuada hand selected nine warriors from his kingsguard, which eventually evolved into the Red Branch, to send into the Forever Hills. They never returned. Against Nuada's wishes, the Council declared war. Within a day's time, an army was assembled, led by Nuada himself. They marched into the Forever Hills, returning that same day. The Fomorians were gone. Their city had been completely vacated, their homes stripped of everything. It was then Nuada knew he had been betrayed. A Council meeting was called immediately at his return. He waited in his King's Hall for hours before he grew too angry to wait any longer. Never before had the Council refused his call. He sent men from the Red Branch to each of the Council members' homes, demanding an explanation. They were all found dead, poisoned by drink."

"When his men returned with their findings, a messenger arrived from Murias, one of our four cities. He reported that the city had been razed by the Fomorians, led by Elatha's son, Bres. He told of a giant taller than any man or beast with one red eye. We would soon learn this giant's name was Balor, and his red eye was the most powerful weapon we had ever seen."

"Nuada quickly assembled his men and marched through the portals to Murias and found the messenger's word true. The city had been obliterated, hundreds of bodies lay scattered throughout the streets. Never had so much Druid blood been shed."

"At the time, before we discovered the Oak's powers of travel, Murias was the only city that had access to the Surfaceworld. So it was immediately obvious to Nuada why the Fomorians vacated their city to raze Murias--they planned to conquer the Surfaceworld, or at least inhabit it. Nuada needed to act, to lead his men to the Surfaceworld and destroy the Fomorian army before their strength could grow. But it was forbidden by our law, for only the Council could provide a Declaration of Transverse to other realms. So, Nuada returned to Falias and was forced to wait three years before he could enter the Surfaceworld."

"Why did he have to wait three years?" Callum asked. "Don't kings call the shots?"

"Our system of government was an oligarchy, two ruling bodies--the King and the Council. Only the Council could permit entry to the Surfaceworld, and thus it took three years for the people to elect seven new Council members, as well as for a declaration to be decreed."