We take the souls to the woods, where the faeries will care for them in their afterlives. I stare at the orb that had been Rogan for a long time before handing it to a small, mouse-like sprite with green skin. "Care for it. Please." It winks and nods at me.
The sisters allow me to stop in my village before we move on. Everyone is celebrating the victory, but Brendolyn is waiting for me alone at the edge of the village. When she sees me, without hesitation she runs and embraces me, and I hold her so tightly I think we will never become unstuck.
"I will come back, I promise you."
She nods against my shoulder; I can feel her tears on my skin. "I'll hold ya to that."
Da is not there, but it is for the best. I cannot handle his strange looks and the fear that boils off him. Eventually I have to leave my birth sister for my immortal ones. We wander away through the wood, and I ask listlessly, "Where do we go?"
"Ready ta move on so soon?" Babd croaks, but Nemain throws her a glare and wraps an arm around me.
"Yer hurt will heal. Tis one o' tha beauties of immortality; ya have eternity. But heed what we told ya. Mortals will bring ya pain. They always do."
"Jus' don' worry o'er it, lil one." Babd pinches my cheek. "Soon ya will be occupied. There'll be prayers fer ya yet. And ever more battles fer ya ta win."
My lips perk up. I like the sound of that. Already my fingers itch for my blade, for the surge of Battle.
---------------------------------------------------
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.
Please don't forget to vote!
YOU ARE READING
The Morrigan Sisters
FantasyWhen the Celtic Dáirine village is attacked in the night and half of its people lay slain or captured, the young druidess Aife takes matters into her own hands. She sets off in search of the Morrigan Sisters - two deities with power over death and f...
