The Morrigan Sisters

Part 8

We leave before the morning sun rises, many of us on chariots, the rest on horseback or on foot. My sisters stand at my sides as I lead, heading to the west. We will not fail. Not this time.

In all the preparations of battle, I had not been able to steal a moment with Rogan, although I had seen him in passing. I wonder what he thinks of me now that everyone knows what I am. I hope he is not frightened like my father, or angry as my uncle.

With blue on our bodies, swords and spears in our hands, we march on until the sun is well above the horizon, blocked by the thick curtain of clouds overhead. Nemain holds out her hand to stop our progress, and with the flap of wings, flies as a raven over the crest of the hills before us, before swooping back to land as a woman.

"The Cruithni lay ahead, sister," she report. I nod and turn to face my people.

"Our enemies lay just beyond this hill," I cry, my hooded cloak snapping in the misty breeze. "They don' expect us, nor do they fear us. But that will be their fatal mistake!"

A cheer rises up.

"They will regret their actions those last days. They will rue takin' our people. They will rue killin' our children!"

Another cheer rises. My pulse roars in my ears.

"Chariots!" At the word, the chariots climb the hill.

"Archers at tha ready!"

A group carrying bows breaks off and mounts the hill, spreading out in a line behind the chariots and warriors on foot. I make my way to the front of the group, where I mount my new horse. "We will not lose today, my friends!" I glance at my sisters, now circling in the sky above us. Power courses through my body. "The Cruithni don' stand a chance."

We charge. The tents of the Cruithni camp lay on a small hill, smoke rising from cooking fires. They are nomads, passing through and raiding as they do so. No more, I think. They will be no more. A horn sounds from the camp as my warriors ride down the hill: they see us, but it is too late. A few heartbeats later, and we are among them, running through the vast camp. Shouts ring out as we swing sword and staff, cutting down enemy after enemy.

I plow through a cluster of men, shouting out as I do so, my sword wedging through armor and cloth and bone. We have caught them during a meal; food plates and fires are trampled as chariots crush everything in their paths.

And then come the armed warriors, having reached their swords and bows. An arrow is sent straight to my horse's heart, and I am flung off as he falls. Shaking off the dirt and the daze, I stand, surrounded by the enemy.

"Come on!" I shriek. And they come. But I am faster than they – stronger, too. I dodge and swing, cut and jab. One after another, they fall before me. Untouchable, I tell myself. And so I move on, finishing off each of the warriors I face – it is a dance between my sword and I, perfect partners in perfect sync. Dozens, hundreds of them fall victim to my sword, and with each felled enemy, the strength in my arms only grows and grows. I can feel the fury of my people, a physical heat surging through my veins, and the fear of the Cruithni as they are slain. It only fuels my fire. My vision turns red, each new enemy a smear before me before they are cut down by my sword.

Then I hear a cry that shakes me from my rage; "I found tha prisoners!"

I run to the crier, and there they are, all the children and women who were taken, tied up to trees and gagged. The men and women guarding them fall to my sword, and then I turn my blade on the ropes holding my people captive. More warriors come to help me. "Get 'em out of 'ere an' to tha archers! Stay in a group!"

And I dive back into battle, spinning, dashing, unstoppable. We are winning. I hear many of the Cruithni shouting orders to run. We are beating them off!

I climb onto an empty chariot, the horses lying dead before it. And I crow, feeling the red-hot energy of Battle within me. "Let this be a lesson ta any clan that dares attack the Dáirine! You will be destroyed!"

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Thank you for reading!

This short story has been published, among others, in an anthology titled New Legends: Caster, Castle and Creature, which is available online for purchase, as well as in major bookstores.

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