by C.S. Fanning
sang against one another.
“Mind if I have a go?” Aeden asked.
“Not with that blade cousin” the twin replied.
“Do you have a problem with my weapon, or the one I serve?” Aeden asked, irrational anger welling up within.
“I have an issue with dying” the twin remarked with a smirk. “Let me show you something.”
Extending his hand silently he waited until Aeden reluctantly passed over the sword. Walking over to a large stone table he set the tip against the stone and pushed. Aeden and Faolan watched in wonder as the sword slid right through the stone like it was made of soft butter.
“I get the feeling this may not be the last time this sword will be buried in stone” the twin said thoughtfully. “Faolan, come pull this back out.”
Faolan looked at Aeden, clearly in awe of his friend’s magnificent weapon and strode over to take a firm grip on the pommel. Faolan was known as the strongest young man in Bretharc, often besting boys and men much older than him in feats of strength. Aeden watched as Faolan’s muscles bunched with effort, struggling with all his might to loose the blade from the stone table to no avail.
Aeden was growing angry, feeling that the twin had somehow duped him into sacrificing the Morrighan’s gift. “What have you done?” he asked venomously.
“Calmly there cousin, this is a lesson not a robbery. See for yourself” he said gesturing toward the sword. Aeden walked to the table stiffly, obviously not mollified. Clamping the handle of his sword firmly, he pulled, and the blade slid as freely from the stone as it might its own scabbard.
“See cousin, nothing to fear” the twin chimed.
“I am not your cousin” Aeden replied petulantly.
“Yes, actually you are, but if it bothers you I shall call you Aeden. Would you like another example of why no sane person would spar against you while you hold that blade?”
“I don’t know” he replied, chagrined at his own ire, but unwilling to apologize for being so rash.
“It’s a simple thing” the twin said, going over to one of the practice dummies and pushing the sword he carried pommel first into dummies wooden arm. “Take a swing at this.”
Aeden shrugged and did as the twin suggested. It should not have surprised him when his enchanted weapon cleaved the other blade with the whine of shearing metal.
“Not so easy to block that blade as others” the twin remarked leaving Aeden and Faolan to marvel anew. “The weapon you just cut through like air was forged by my father. No ordinary weapon could even scratch it.”
Aeden carefully inspected the blade of his sword and realized that it was as sharp as ever and had not a scratch upon it.
Einegen’s Gifts
When the trio returned from the armory they found the remainder of their group in Ogma’s massive library. Aeden had never known that so many books existed much less that any one place might have so many. From the looks on Fianna and Faolan’s faces suggested that they hadn’t either. All three of their companions sat around a low table reading from various tomes. Ogma was seated on a stool a few feet away whittling on a long stick in a bored fashion.
Ogma gave them a nod when they walked in but it took some time before the readers became aware of their return. Quinn was ecstatic, he seemed utterly convinced that Ogma’s library was the grandest thing imaginable, and Aeden and Faolan were given the grand tour as their excited friend prattled on about the various sections of the library.
“Really, he had everything! There are books on flora, fauna, magic, and faraway lands. I could spend a lifetime in here!” Quinn informed them, more excited than either of them had ever seen him.
Faolan looked at his friend in mock disgust. “Seems a terrible waste of a lifetime to me” he said.
Ogma interjected, “you are both right, learning without living and living without learning are neither one a good use of one’s years. Let us feast and we shall set you upon your path once again. The Sidhe realm is treacherous for mortals, even without the games the fair ones like to play.”
It took some effort to convince Quinn to leave the great library, but soon all were making merry once again in Ogma’s feast hall. Again the meal was surreal in abundance and variety. Though none of them had slept since the last feast, all felt as rested as though they spent days in feather beds. When the feasting ended, Ogma called them all together for a final farewell. “It is the tradition of the fair ones to impart gifts upon their guests before parting, and I would honor that tradition.”
Calling them up one by one he gave each a gift. Teagan was first and to her a satchel which was decorated with the most intricate of designs which reminded Aeden of a snake in continuous motion, winding its way around and around the bag. “In this bag you will find the herbs you need for the healing of those in need. Use them wisely” Ogma told her as he handed her the bag.
Calling Fianna and Faolan up together he presented each with a corselet of chain. “Your future lies with these Druids. It will become apparent to the future of the order that your skills are needful. These rings were forged by my own kin, and will turn aside almost any blow while their weight is such that you will find them not a burden. “
As the two donned their new armor, they turned to face their friends, and Aeden could see that among the shiny silver ringlets were a number of bright golden links that formed a symbol like a three pointed star which curled at the tips like waves. Within the center were the three staves which formed the symbol of Druid knowledge. Faolan was beaming in appreciation at the fine gift, but the ever thoughtful Fianna wore a guarded expression as she joined the others.
Quinn went next and Ogma presented him with three tomes, each gilded in silver. The glittering letters upon the covers were in a language that Aeden had never seen before, but the awe and reverence with which he held the tomes told Aeden that Quinn understood the language and that at least in Quinn’s eyes this was a mighty gift.
Aeden felt mild surprise when Riordan was called up next. So much had revolved around his friend that he had assumed that Ogma would give him the honor of going last. Ogma said nothing to Riordan, merely handing him a simple staff seemingly made of a gnarled tree branch. Atop its twisted length sat a stone which looked like a piece of green glass in the shape of an egg. Aeden thought that it was poor gift even compared to Quinn’s books but the way that the color drained from Riordan’s face and the sudden gasp from Quinn told Aeden that this gift had meaning that was both important and unwelcome.
Riordan hung his head as he turned, walking toward the others. Aeden thought his friend resembled an old man bearing the weight of a world upon his frail shoulders. No one spoke until he had resumed his place among his friends and protectors where Quinn put a supportive arm around his shoulders. Aeden knew that something was going on that he should know about but he was soon distracted when Ogma called him forward.
“What gift would I give my Nephew?” he said, again referring to Aeden as his own kin. Aeden had though this merely a courtesy, but the familiar term “nephew” made him wonder. He did not fully comprehend what status accepting the Morrighan’s offer to become her champion entailed, but clearly it gave him some form of heightened status among the gods.
“I believe that I shall give you that which has always haunted you, yet has been denied to you all of your short life” Ogma continued.
Aeden stood his ground as the god extended his fingers, placing the tips upon Aeden’s brow. As he made contact, a vision like a waking dream filled Aeden’s mind. In the vision a woman, tall and eloquent, stood holding a child to her breast. Two men stood flanking her, one obviously a younger version of his father, the other looked like the old man who had led the hounds away from them at the river the night that the Morrighan had made him her champion. As the woman gently kissed his father placing the baby, that he now realized as himself as an infant, into her fathers’ arms, the old man led her away.
Tears streaked the woman’s face and the old man appeared sad but determined.
As Ogma pulled his fingers back, Aeden grasped out wildly seeking to see more but the vision faded. “Was it really her?” he begged to know.
“Yes, that was exactly as it happened the last time your mother held you Aeden. I was there, and in all the long years I have reigned I’ve not seen a more touching site. She loved you and your father but her father would not allow that to be.”
Indeed, Ogma had given him precisely what he wanted most without realizing it all these years. “What become of her?” he asked.
Ogma himself looked chagrined at the question. “That is not for me to say Aeden.”
Before Aeden could respond, the twins came into the hall noisily. “I have their cold weather gear ready” said the first; “their horses are laden with provisions for their journey” said the other.
With more urgency than they had experienced since their arrival in the home of Ogma, they were escorted to an exit. It was high summer when they had entered but now a cold wind drove snow before the opening. The brisk air had everyone shivering until the twins handed out heavy winter cloaks which would protect them from the cold and moisture alike.
“One last thing before you go” Ogma said. “Things have changed since last you spoke with the druid council, as
