MANAWYDDAN - CULLEN PART 9

CHAPTER SEVEN
MANAWYDDAN

It was mid summer and hot even in the morning as Cullen walked with Tris’tan across fields and hills towards the coast. Sonia walked beside the two listening to their conversation. Arthur seemed to be getting friendlier with Tik now that Dragos was gone.
In the morning, as Cullen trained with Tris’tan, Arthur worked with Tik. Cullen noticed Grimm never worked through forms, but he supposed using an axe that size didn’t call for specialized attacks, just swing and hit.
The Asrai twins were far ahead, running at a jog that they seemed to be able to keep for miles. The Dreamweaver walked with Grimm, keeping mostly silent, but listening to Tris’tan talk.
“The Selkie Queen is Seithenin,” he said, explaining what they could expect when they reached the island. “Her fortress is built into the island, but below the surface.”
“What is a Selkie Tris’tan,” Sonia asked curiously.
“A Selkie is a Faery that looks like us when they are out of their skins, but looks like a seal when they put their seal skins on.”
“Oh,” Sonia said. “So they can transform like you can?”
“Slightly different magic but yes, it’s transformative. If you find a Selkie’s skin and bury it where she can’t find it, she will live with you as a wife until she finds it again. Some fishermen have been lucky enough to have Selkie wives.”
“What is she like, this Queen?” Cullen asked.
They walked among rolling hills, past little copses of trees, with the sky spread out above them with bid clouds blowing by on the warm wind.
“She is a Queen, regal, demanding, beautiful,” Tris’tan answered. “I only saw her once, when my own mother went to visit her.”
“Who is your mother?” Sonia asked.
“Her name is Gwyddneu and she is Queen of the Asrai,” the elf answered. “She looks like us, pale and tattooed and she turns into the most beautiful wolf you ever saw. She lived among human once, some years ago.”
“She did? What for?” Cullen prompted.
“I don’t know. She’s very close to Cernunnous and they plan things together often. I assume it was something he asked her to do. It would have been important, but we never asked.”
“I wish I knew my parents,” Cullen said sadly. “I must remember to ask Cernunnous when we see him next. I think he knows.”
Sonia grabbed Cullen’s hand as they walked, squeezed gently to support him. He looked at her fondly and smiled. They had grown so close since the rescue. They slept together every night now, wrapped in each others arms.
“Can you tell me about your birth?” Tris’tan asked.
“I can only tell you that I was found by that little waterfall near my village. The Dreamweaver could tell you more than me, I was juts born.”
Cullen turned back to catch the attention of the old man. “Dreamweaver! Tell us about when you found me!” he called.
The Dreamweaver walked a little faster to catch up and then they walked together. Grimm caught up to, suddenly interested in the content of the conversation.
“You were found by a village woman, in a basket with a blanket, a honeycomb, an orchid and the little carved wolf,” the Dreamweaver said, remembering the fortunate day.
“Was it the same honeycomb and orchid that were in your house, next to the wolf carving?” Cullen asked, remembering seeing the items when he was looking for the old man after he had been taken by the soldiers.
“Yes, the same, and the wolf is here with me,” the Dreamweaver answered, producing the little wooden carving from one of his pouches.
“They must have been enchanted, because they haven’t rotted at all,” Cullen remembered.
“That’s what I thought as well,” the Dreamweaver said in return. “And the very same orchids were used to put the soldiers to sleep when I left their custody, so I know Cernunnous has some knowledge of your birth Cullen.”
Cullen took the little wooden wolf and handed it to Tris’tan. The Asrai warrior stopped walking suddenly and looked up at the humans.
“This was found in your basket?” he asked, his shoulders tight.
“Yes, what is it Tris’tan?” Cullen asked, seeing the strange look in the elf’s eye.
“My mother had a wolf that looked just like this in her home. It was only there for a little while, but I’m sure its this very carving!”
“Where did it come from?” Sonia asked, interested.
“I don’t know. She had it when she returned from living with the humans, and then she secluded herself for almost a year and then after that, everything went back to the way it was. I don’t know what this means”
Tris’tan handed the wolf back to Cullen, and Cullen automatically handed it to the Dreamweaver, but he motioned for Cullen to keep it. It was his after all.
“We’ll find out more when we see Cernunnous again Tris’tan,” Cullen assured him. “I won’t forget to ask this time. Let’s keep going.”
Everyone started walking again, with strange ideas in their heads. They all wondered what this meant, this revelation that the Asrai had the wolf at one point, but included it in Cullen’s basket.
As they walked, Cullen asked the Asrai more questions about the Faeries. He learned that the Daoine Sidhe had once been mighty warriors, but as they grew more ancient, and the threat of the Host was gone, they became tired and bored with life. Their passion for things started to wane.
Tris’tan didn’t want war, but he knew it was just the thing to bring the elves out of their depression and back to living. The Dwarves used to make all their weapons and armor, and many of them had magical weapons because of Mabon, the great wizard of the Seelie Court.
No one had seen Mabon in many years though and the last of his Creations were the Four. The Daoine Sidhe were living in the far side of the Danann Forest and they led a secretive life there.
The Dwarves lived in their mountain fortress and the Sea Faeries lived near the underwater castle of the Selkies. Their people were the Mermaids, and Merrows, which were male Mermaids, and Selkies.
Mermaid and Merrows were fierce protectors of their waters and Tris’tan warned they would have to get past them to see the Queen. He hoped that they would be given safe passage since Cernunnous sent them. He worried because he didn’t know what Cullen would have to do to receive the Bow.
Tris’tan talked for hours about Faery and the different peoples and cultures of the different races. He told Cullen about the Pixies that ran errands for Cernunnous, and the Forest God’s own warriors, the Greenmen that wandered the forest, keeping intruders away.
They were gentle during spring and summer, but during fall and winter, when their foliage fell away, they could become unruly and dangerous. They were well camouflaged within the trees and it was rare you would see one coming.
He talked about Spriggans, the notorious guardians of treasure, but also infamous villains, skilled thieves and fighters. Many believe them to be the souls of lost giants because they can inflate themselves into monstrous forms.
He told them about the Fir Darrig, a trickster who lived in the darkest corners of the world, delighting in practical jokes of a gruesome twist. Everyone believed it was safer to humor him than to see him truly angry.
He talked about the Duergar and even rarer, the Wichtlein, another race of small men that dug into the earth, looking for precious metals and jewels.
He described the Phooka, a Faery that liked to transform himself into a donkey or an eagle and take men on night rides across the wettest and thorniest land, eventually dumping them in a ditch and laughing as he runs away.
He told them about Hags and Trows and Jimmy Squarefoot. He described the Bean Nighe and how if you saw her washing bloody rags in a stream it meant you were sure to die. He told them about the Leanan Sidhe, a vampiric elf that haunted poets and artists.
He told them that primroses make the invisible visible again, that Ragwort could be used to fly, that wild thyme was dangerous to bring into your house and that pansies could be used in love potions.
He said rowan trees were a good guard against evil and that Oakmen guarded fallen oaks in the forest. He said elder trees were sometimes witches and that druids made wands out of ash. He said blackthorn, hazel, alder, elder and oak were sacred to Faeries and a twig from each bound with red thread would protect you from harm.
Tris’tan filled their heads with Faery knowledge and made the walking easier. The Dreamweaver was taking notes while he walked and Tik had to keep guiding him in the right direction.
They had found a road, a dirt road that led west and soon the brothers came back to say a town was up ahead. They started to see farms rise up all around them, with many dirt roads crisscrossing that land, with plenty of farmers out tilling, planting or harvesting.
“This is Many Farms up ahead,” Grimm finally revealed, having knowledge about much of Holdfast as a Kingdom. “Its ruled over by a Baron named Bogdan and a Priest named Decebal. We should be careful through here.”
“Won’t being with you mean something to them?” Tik asked Grimm pointedly.
“I am alone, without my soldiers. They may not believe I am who I say I am, or they may not care. We should be careful, to be safest.” The soldier hefted his axe onto his shoulder and Cullen wondered how anyone would think he was someone else.
As they got closer to the center of the town, they began to see the buildings of businesses as they passed them. There was a building making ceramics, with dishes and urns and cups all lined up for sale and for shipping.
Next door was a glassblower, creating window panes and more items for rich households that could afford all glassware. Cullen could see the men working inside, with a kiln and fire and liquid glass.
He saw three different blacksmiths, each with a different specialty, one creating farm tools, another supplying armor and weapons, and another making small items, like silverware.
There was a carpenter shop, a tanner and a set of clothing stores, making many different kinds of clothes, from silk items to linen to leather in tandem with the tanner.
It was a bustling town, with many hundreds of people working and shopping and eating at the many eateries sprinkled around the village center. As they walked, they began to notice commotion, as people ran up to other people and hurried to share some secret.
Arthur reached out to stop a young boy and ask what was happening. “They’re gonna burn a witch!” he said, breathless with excitement.
Cullen looked at Sonia, alarmed, and the two of them started off for the village square in the center of town.
“We shouldn’t go looking!” Grimm shouted after them, but once they started moving, Tik and Arthur quickly raced after them and of course everyone followed after that. The Dreamweaver looked especially upset and worried.
They ran into a growing crowd that was surrounding a wooden platform in the very center of town. They could see two men standing on the platform, near a post piled high with piles of brush, preparations for a fire. On the edge of the stage were two more people, a man and a woman, both tied up with shackles.
What Tik and Cullen noticed immediately was the two people that were being charged with witchcraft were both Rom. They shared a look between them, and Sonia noticed and caught on quickly.
“We have to do something!” she said in a hush. Cullen looked back at the stage. He started muscling his way through the crowd to get closer to the action. Because he was part of a group, with mostly men and Grimm, people moved out of their way once they turned to look at them.
“I’ve watched over this town for many years, and I’ve always kept it safe from harm or trouble!” the man dressed in silk was saying. He had pressed linen pants and a silk shirt with ruffle that stuck to him in the heat.
His hair was perfectly trimmed and he had a small mustache that was greased to points. He was of average height, but a little overweight. Cullen guessed quickly that he was the noble Baron that ruled the town.
The man next to him in the white robe with the red lightening bolt down the side, must be the High Priest. He was standing guard over the two trembling prisoners. They were searching the crowd for sympathy.
As Cullen was watching, he got bumped by the man next to him. While the Baron was talking about his love for the town of Many Farms, Cullen took a glance at the man who had bumped him.
He was taller than culled, had long hair and thick sideburns. He wore a vest and had a scarf wrapped around his upper arm. Cullen realized he was Rom too.
“Hey, do you know those two up there?” he asked, making sure to face the man with his own scarf showing.
“Who?” the man asked, but then he saw the scarf. “You are a friend to the Rom? You must help us! Those two did no harm to anyone! But the Baron will burn them both!”
Cullen grabbed hold of the man to calm him down before his urgent whispering became shouting. “I will do what I can, but what happened?”
“We came into town looking to make some money. Those two, Filip and Ilie went to the baron’s house, thinking he would have more to offer for a pair of workers. And then I hear that they’ve been captured. The rest of our tribe left town, but I am here to try and help.”
“Ok, let me hear what the baron says and I’ll try to help,” Cullen said quickly, still gripping the man’s arm.
“You are fighters, I can tell! Please help them, they are good people!”
Cullen turned back to the stage to hear the baron who was still talking.
“This is a town with God fearing people in it! We know that God doesn’t allow for false worship or witchcraft! These two people have been tested and they have been found guilty!” The Baron had a strong clear voice that carried over the growing crowd.
Some of the crowd hollered back, in support of punishing the Rom. Cullen’s anger began to grow, his vision grew thinner and he focused on the two men on the stage. He growled to himself as his mind raced to find a solution.
Two other men climbed up the steps on the side and grabbed the female Rom and dragged her to the pole. They forced her to stand among the bunches of wood scraps and they tied her to the pole.
“God says we must love Him and no other!” the Priest cried out as the two men worked. “We cannot abide witchcraft and sorcery in our villages! The punishment is death! And we must use fire!”
One of the two men let and flaming brand and held it high. Half the crowd seemed excited, but Cullen could only hear the Rom next to him praying to Cernunnous to rescue his friends. Cullen knew the God would not come, but he had sent Cullen to do his work and maybe he had to do more of that work now.
Cullen leaped onto the stage in front of the Baron and the Priest. He kept his back to the crowd and stepped between the man with the torch and the captured woman.
“You say you tested these people,” Cullen said loud enough for the crowd to hear. “What tests did you use?”
The Baron looked outraged but nervous, seeing the young man with a sword and a brilliant shield standing before him. He looked down and saw the group Cullen had come from. They were all armed and then he saw Grimm.
The Priest saw none of that, just a boy confronting him. “I don’t need to explain myself to you boy!” he shouted.
“You will,” Cullen said in a low growling voice that carried threat in it.
The Priest took a step back. “We had the man try to hold a pipe that had been heated in a fire. If he was not guilty, God would have protected his hands! But instead they burned!”
“And the woman?” Cullen asked, beginning to seethe with rage.
“We threw her in the pond. If she had sunk she would have been free of guilt, but she floated and so we know she is guilty!”
“Do you people actually believe this?” Cullen shouted, facing the crowd now. There were some confused shouts thrown back at him but people looked a little embarrassed now.
“Do you believe that if I couldn’t hold a hot iron bar that I am guilty of practicing witchcraft? Of if I float in water, as all humans do, that I would be guilty? These are your tests?”
The Priest took a step forward and opened his mouth to protest but Cullen shouted over him.
“I lived among the Rom for years as a child!” he shouted to them all. “They are the most peaceful, kindest people I have ever met! They do not practice witchcraft in any way and these tests are false!”
“Right after they came into town the Baron’s daughter grew sick! This woman was seen near her! She used the evil eye on her!” the Priest yelled back, trying to incite the crowd once again. “Who are you anyway?”
“I am a man who believes anyone holding a hot iron would burn! I am a man who believes that all people float in a pond! I am a man that will not stand by and let you hurt these people!” Cullen said in a voice that made it clear he wouldn’t accept an argument. The Baron motioned to the man standing by with the torch and the man dropped it into the bundles of sticks at the woman’s feet. She screamed.
Cullen took a step towards her and the two men who had tied the woman to the post moved to intercept him. He felt the magic of the Shield pulse once and he pushed with his mind. The two men flew back away from him and fell off the back of the stage.
Cullen leaped into the sticks and flames and used his knife to cut the woman free. The Baron and the Priest both stepped forward to stop him as he pushed her down the steps into the waiting arms of the Asrai and the Rom man that had asked for help.
The Baron pulled his rapier free from his belt and pointed it at Cullen. Cullen raised his Shield again and gave a push with his mind. The Shield’s energy pushed outward and the two men flew off the stage into the crowd.
Cullen went to the Rom man that was still tied up and he released him. Cullen escorted him to the stairs and down the steps into his friend’s arms. Cullen walked to where the Baron and the Priest were trying to get back up.
“I am taking these people out of your town now, but if I ever hear that you try to burn someone again, I will be back and I will burn your house down!” Cullen shouted and glared at the crow who hurried to get out of his way.
His friends guarded the three Rom as they walked away and Cullen didn’t even turned back as he followed them. The crowd was silent and amazed, watching the group walk right back out if town, headed west.
The Rom man who had been in the crowd couldn’t stop thanking Cullen, but Cullen brushed it off. “I couldn’t watch that happen and not step in,” he said for explanation.
Sonia grabbed his arm and threw her arms around him stopping him to kiss him in front of everyone. “You were amazing Cullen! You saved them!”
Cullen grinned and looked at the others. Tik was beaming at him, proud that he had helped another tribe of Rom. Arthur looked impressed, the Dreamweaver was helping the Rom but smiling and even Grimm had a small smirk on his face.
The group kept walking until they had left the towns behind. Beyond the borders of the farms they found the tribe these Rom were from and there was a small celebration for the return of their members.
Cullen’s group stayed to eat with them and decided to spend the night, camping out with the Rom, sleeping by the large fire and surrounded by colorful wagons.
Cullen went to sleep glad that he could use his new found powers for good. He wanted to help people and he had and it made him feel good, to his very soul. He wasn’t thinking about the consequences of his actions or how it might affect him later, he was just happy that he had saved two people from ignorance.

***

Connon and his twenty men had reached the deep forest where trees were bigger than most houses. They had made a base camp where they finally rested after marching for days. Most of them were fiercely loyal to Connon and had been chosen because of that loyalty.
Connon explained to them that they would be camping there for some time while they waited for a possible future confrontation. Connon went into the surrounding forest everyday to pray. He prayed that the angel would return to him.
On the fourth day he got his wish. He was kneeling before a particularly enormous tree where he had carved a cross into its roots. He was in the middle of his daily prayer when he felt the heat and light of the angel’s return. Even before he opened his eyes he could feel its presence.
Connon opened his eyes slightly, to diminish the glare from the angels beautiful skin that glowed like a small sun. He saw a halo of light around its head and he could almost make out its features. The wings, snow white and feathered were spread out behind its back.
“YOU HAVE SUMMONED ME AGAIN CONNON, BUT I AM NOT PLEASED,” the angel said in his golden voice, so crystal clear and pure. Connon shuddered with joy.
“Why are you not pleased?” he asked. “I have won the first Creation!”
“YOU NEED THEM ALL HUMAN!” the angel voice carried thunder in it now and Connon’s ears hurt. He cringed among the roots of the tree.
“Yes, and I will have them all! I promise! I’m letting someone else collect them and then I will take them from him, just as I took the Sword!” Connon’s voice carried pleading in it, begging, but he wouldn’t have labeled it that way himself.
“WHO WILL GET THEM? WHO WILL YOU TAKE THEM FROM?” The angel glowed brighter, and colored an new shade of gold, with red in it for anger. He was not pleased at all.
“There is a boy, I don’t know who he is, but he had the Sword. He is obviously getting the Creations and I can just take them from him. It’ll be easier that way. I have someone watching him now!”
“A BOY? A BOY THAT CAN CARRY THE CREATIONS? YOU MUST FIND OUT WHO THIS BOY IS CONNON! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, VITAL TO ME AND TO YOU.”
“Yes, of course your Lordship! I will discover who he is and we will take the Creations from him. He is just a boy, he won’t be any trouble.” Connon felt sure about this even as he said it.
“YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND CONNON. ONLY A SELECT FEW CAN HANDLE THE CREATIONS. THEY MUST BE OF ROYAL DESCENT, OR THEY MUST HAVE PERMISSION FROM THE MAKER. YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION, SO YOU MAY CARRY THE SWORD. WHO IS THIS BOY, WHO DOES NOT HAVE MY PERMISSION TO CARRY ANYTHING?”
Connon squinted his eyes to look at the angel, but his eyes teared up as he looked at his brilliance.
“You are the maker of the Creations? They are weapons of Heaven?” Connon asked, even more excited.
“OF COURSE. ONLY WITH THE FOUR CREATIONS CAN YOU DEFEAT THE DEMONS OF THE FOREST AND THE SEA. YOU ARE HEAVEN’S WARRIOR, MY PERFECT SOLDIER. I WILL RETURN TO YOU WHEN YOU ARE READY TO TAK THE OTHER TWO. WITH MY POWER, WE SHALL BE VICTORIOUS NO MATTER WHO THE BOY IS.”
“Yes! If you are there, no one can stand against us! We will lure him back here, to the forest, and together we shall take the other Creations from him. We will set up the battleground and he will walk right into our trap!”
“I WILL GO NOW. BUT I WILL HEAR YOUR PRAYERS, CALL FOR ME WHEN THE BOY IS CLOSE AND I WILL COME AGAIN.”
Connon lowered his head in supplication and whispered his thanks for true power. He closed his eyes and waited until he felt the warmth and glare disappear again. Tears had run down his face from trying to look at the blinding figure.
Connon could no be happier. He felt no worry at all about the boy or where he came from. Anton would discover what they needed to know and then they would lure him back here where they would trap him and take the other items from him. And if Grimm or anyone else stood in their way, they would kill him!
The Church would rise up to true power and take over the Kingdom. Every land would have a church and Godsmen soldiers and Connon would know glory like no man had ever known before. And he would erase all trace of the demon Faeries.
He returned to his camp grinning like a fool, but his men, followed his every order, slowly preparing the land around them for attack. Soon they would be ready for the boy and his group. They would all die in the forest.
All of them.

***

Dragos rode towards the gate in the wall that surrounded Holdfast. When they had escaped there were no guards posted there. But no he could see Kingsguard standing near the entrance. He took a deep breath and kept riding forward.
The six soldiers stood in a line in front of the entrance until he stopped moving and then they surrounded his horse.
“Oy! I recognize this horse!” one man said to another.
“And that sword!” said the second man. “What are you doing with Vlad’s horse and sword?”
“I need to see the High King,” Dragos said plainly.
“Oh you’ll see the King alright!” the first man laughed. “Now get down off that horse and we’ll straighten this all out.”
Dragos knew fighting would get him nowhere, so he slid off the tall dark horse and kept his hands where the soldiers could see them. Two of them roughly grabbed him and tied his hands behind his back and moved him ahead.
Another soldier took the reins of the horse and started leading him into Holdfast. The two holding Dragos walked him behind the horse. He noticed they didn’t remove the sword, but he said nothing and walked with them.
He caught a lot of curious stares as they walked down the King’s Road towards the castle, as shop keepers and townsfolk came out to see what the fuss was. Dragos kept his eyes forward, not wanting to look at anyone that saw him being handled.
When they reached the next gate, that were built into the wall that surrounded the castle, the soldiers had a conversation amongst themselves while one man held him. Soon they figured out who was staying and who was going back to the front gate and two new men grabbed hold of him and marched him through the gatehouse.
It had been a long walk up the dirt ramp to the gatehouse and now Dragos got a good look at the defenses of the castle. He had never been inside before and he took a look around.
There were two large towers on either side of the gate and he walked into a tunnel that had murder holes in the ceiling where he could see other soldiers were stationed. There were arrow slit all around the walls, and an enemy were be sorely pressed to walk through this section of defenses.
The soldiers walked him through the Outer Ward and in between another two towers that held another gate into the castle itself. They passed quickly through another well defended area and into the Inner Ward. From there Dragos could see the entire castle surrounding him, as well as the soldier’s barracks and the massive Church that stood within the Inner Ward.
The soldiers directed him towards the barracks where they had a holding cell set up for occasions like these. They untied him thankfully, but they took his weapons including Vlad’s beautifully jeweled sword and they put him in a small wooden room with a bench and a pot to piss in.
He heard the soldiers talking about what a well known swordsmen Vlad was and how this young man could have killed him, but it was all speculation since they didn’t talk to him at all.
It was a few boring hours later that someone came to feed him. He was served stew and a dry piece of bread and a mug of water. He ate it gratefully and passed the bowl and clay mug back out of the bars when he was done.
He couldn’t tell how many hours past, but it was dark when two soldiers led him back out of the cell and into the castle. They did not tie him up again, but the two men stayed by his side and he observed many other soldiers in the halls as they walked to their destination.
Finally he was led into a room that seemed rather small and he realized he was meeting the High King privately and not surrounded by nobles or others that might hang around the King.
The King was seated high up on a fine chair that was gilded in gold and silver. The back was quite high and showed a relief sculpture of bees and bee hives, which were the King’s symbol of course.
The King was dressed in black as though he were in mourning and Dragos wondered if that was for Vlad. The King smiled coldly when Dragos was brought in and the two men beside him shoved him to his knees. As combative as Dragos was, being before the King brought unexpected emotion to the surface and he bowed deeply to the floor.
“You arrived here in possession of a horse and Sword belonging to Vlad Longtooth. Vlad was very dear to me and I wonder about his death, for I assume he is dead if someone like you came to be holding his belongings.” The King’s voice was proud and clear.
Dragos looked up but remained kneeling. “I was there when he died Sire and I volunteered to return here to inform you of his passing,” he said in a fairly weak voice. He trembled now that he was within the High King’s power and alone.
“But it was not you that killed him then?” the King asked, frowning at the idea.
“It was not me Sire. It was a man named Cullen.” Dragos was glad to finally give up Cullen’s name and he hoped he got what he deserved, at least as far as Dragos was concerned.
“Cullen you say. Is that not the same boy that Vlad was chasing?” the King asked again, his voice growing tight with anger.
“The same I would assume Sire. Vlad attacked Cullen’s father and took his memory. Cullen killed him in anger.”
The King stared at the kneeling young man and his finger tapped his chin as he thought.
“Took his memory how?”
“Vlad hit him in the head. He cannot recall raising Cullen at all. Cullen was very angry.” Dragos kept his eyes downcast while we waiting for the King’s responses but he looked at him while he spoke.
“Are there witnesses to these events? Besides yourself and Cullen?” the King asked, still patiently but clearly angry as well.
“Yes Sire. There were a few of us traveling with Cullen, my friend Arthur, a Rom boy named Tik, a girl, Sonia, an old man called the Dreamweaver, some Faeries and your man Grimm.” This time he kept his eyes on the King to see his reaction to the news.
“The King’s eyes widened in alarm. “Grimm was there and did not step in?” he asked in a rush, his voice getting louder.
“That is the truth Sire. Cullen asked him if he would stand aside and he said it was not his battle.” Dragos was very interested in how the King would react to that bit of news.
The King went silent again for more than a few minutes. Finally he stirred himself as if waking again and asked another question.
“So you have been with Cullen since you all escaped the acceptance ceremony in my city, is that right?”
Dragos swallowed and began to sweat. This was the hard part, trying to convince the King that he did not mean to be on the run.
“I went with my friend Arthur because he wanted to go with Cullen. I couldn’t dissuade him and I thought it best to look out for him. I only want to be a soldier in your army Sire, but I had to look out for my friend. He’s confused and easily led astray.”
The King smirked. “So you didn’t want to run, you just went after your friend?” the King asked incredulously.
“Yes Sire, that’s the truth. And now we have been swept up in affairs that are beyond us. I have seen Faeries and they have given Cullen weapons to wield, although he lost the first one to the High Priest Connon.”
“What?” the King shouted, leaning forward in his seat. “Weapons? Enchanted weapons I suppose? And Connon has one but has not come back to report?”
“He ran off into the woods Sire and we haven’t seen him since. Cullen has a magical Shield; I think that’s how he beat Vlad. And he’s going to find a Bow as well. Grimm is with him and the Faeries.”
“Explain all of this to me boy, from beginning to end. Tell the truth and I’ll spare your life,” the King said threateningly.
Dragos told his tale starting from when he learned Arthur wanted to run off with Cullen and Tik. He talked about escaping, about meeting the Rom, about convincing Costin to stop building the church and about Cullen’s father.
He told the King about the Dreamweaver and Grimm, about the Dwarves and Cullen. He talked about Cernunnous and the Creations and everything he had seen and learned while on the run. He told the truth as he understood it, trying to make himself look good and make Arthur seem caught up in affairs beyond his scope.
Dragos finished talking when a soldier burst into the room startling everyone. The soldier looked like he had run all the way there, looking slightly disheveled and tired.
“My King! I have an urgent report!” he cried as he skidded to a stop in the small room. The King waved his hand for him to continue.
“All of the fifty men you sent to Boulder are dead. And now Hillside has been sacked as well. Two survivors just arrived from the village and they witnessed the attack!”
“Send them in! Move this young man aside,” the King motioned towards the soldiers guarding Dragos.
A moment after a large well muscled man came into the room, looking exhausted from getting to Holdfast. Beside him was a thin woman, pretty but aged. Dragos recognized him as Costin the blacksmith from Hillside.
“My King,” Costin said with a bow, “We come from the village of Hillside. It was attacked by demons or dark Faeries. We watched from outside the village, since we had gone on a late walk into the woods together.”
“They destroyed the entire village, knocked the buildings down and set fires! Everyone was killed except us! It was horrifying. We came straight here to warn you!”
“I just heard this information only minutes ago blacksmith. What is your name?” the King asked kindly.
“My name is Costin, and this is Adelina,” the big man replied.
“I have a question Costin. Do you know a young man named Cullen?” the King asked, still smiling nicely.
“I do!” Costin exclaimed. “He’s a good boy, helped me out of a jam once. He would have fought if he had been in the village, but he was gone by then. I would trust Cullen with my life!”
“Is that so?” the King murmured. “Please escort good Costin to the guest rooms for the night, feed them and make them welcome. We shall find housing for them tomorrow.”
Costin and Adelina bowed again as they left, extremely grateful to the King. The King motioned for Dragos to come forward again. This time no one made him kneel.
“I trust Grimm with my life. But I want to meet this boy Cullen and see for myself. I am going to send soldiers to guard the roads from the mountains against this force that has destroyed two of my villages so far.”
“You Dragos, will go with other soldiers, as a guide, to find Grimm and Cullen and bring them back here. I will not accept excuses! They must be brought to Holdfast to meet with me before they do anything else! Find them and bring them back and we shall see if you have a place in my army.”
“Thank you my Lord, thank you,” Dragos said quickly.
“You sleep in the barracks tonight and leave tomorrow. Find them!” The King stood abruptly and walked down the steps from his chair. He turned the corner and left through another door, leaving Dragos to be escorted back to the barracks, this time as a free man.
Dragos grinned. Now he would see how Arthur felt about Cullen once Dragos arrive with soldiers!

***

Anton rode into Many Farms soon after Cullen’s party had left. People were still milling around the town center and he quickly heard versions of events as people remembered them.
“A whole group of armed soldiers of some kind snatched the two on stage and took them out of town! It was amazing!” one farmer said in passing.
“They must have been some new Rom army! Why else would people attack the Priest and the Baron?” a woman asked when Anton asked her about the incident.
People seemed opinionated and confused about what they had seen. It was clear that the group Anton was following had intervened in something in Many Farms. People remembered them as armored and armed, said that people had been attacked but it was to save the Rom on trial.
Anton went to the church to find the High Priest. The church was small, considering the size of the town, but it good hold a fair number of people for worship. Anton found the High Priest Decebal praying in the main room.
“Excuse me ser, I wonder if I could have a moment of your time?” Anton asked as he approached from behind the kneeling man.
Decebal stood and spun around as if to confront Anton but he stopped when he saw another High Priest stood before him.
“Ah, yes, yes of course you may!” he stammered. “What can I do for you?”
Anton sat down in one of the pews that were in rows along both sides of the room. He folded his hands in his lap and smiled warmly.
“I was sent by High Priest Connon to learn more about the people that just came through your town. I wondered if you could tell me what happened?”
Decebal’s eyes widened at the mention of Connon who was quite well known throughout the Kingdom. “We had discovered two of the filthy Rom had practiced witchcraft in our town. We used the hot iron bar on the man and we dunked the female.”
“I see. And those old techniques worked?” Anton said, barely keeping the disbelief out of his voice.
“Yes, by those methods we found them guilty. We planned to burn them at the post. We presented them to the town and were about to start the burning when we were attacked by a young man!”
Anton leaned forward. “Can you describe him to me?”
“He was about my height, fit, with long hair. He wore a strange sword that was curved and he carried a massive shield that was crenulated all the way around.”
“I’ve seen him. And he attacked you?” Anton asked.
“Yes, with magic of his own!” Decebal cried. “He waved his shield at us and me were pushed off the stage by some force! It was very strong, knocking us both off our feet!”
“I see. No one stopped them from leaving town?” Anton asked next.
“How could they? There were eight of them all together, most of them armed and they seem vicious. Three of them were stark white! I’ve never seen the like. They could be Rom themselves, now that I think on it, a Rom army!”
“Oh I don’t know about that,” Anton tried to calm the man. “Certainly free soldiers, but I don’t think the Rom are a violent people really.”
“You wouldn’t say that if you were attacked!”
“No I suppose I wouldn’t. Thank you for your time, and rest assured, we will find out who they are and what they want soon enough. Your town should be safe now.”
“You’re going after them?” the Priest asked.
“I am, right away. Can’t let them get too far ahead.” Anton gave a little bow and walked back out of the church, mounting his horse quickly and leaving town headed west again just like the ones he was after.
He saw the Rom camp early on and realized the group was staying the night, so he found a little hill he could rest on and he ate a cold meal without a fire. Fortunately the weather was warm. He would resume following them in the morning.

***

Cullen rose early and practiced fighting with Tris’tan. They experimented with the Shield some and Cullen became more proficient with it, learning how to push and pull with the magical energy that the Shield possessed.
Tris’tan had heard legends about the Creations but that hadn’t been used in centuries. To witness its use the previous day, to see such power, the elf felt much better about fighting the Host with such weapons.
His brothers went ahead, hunting, trying to find more food for everyone to eat. They were getting low on supplies and the Rom weren’t in a position to help. The twins took half a day to hunt and came back with quite a bit of food.
They found pheasant and rabbits and a deer that could be divided well for everyone. The Rom were very grateful. Cullen advised them to go east and find Alex’s tribe, thinking people should band together if the Host was rampaging through the land now.
It was late afternoon when they all divided and Cullen’s group went west again. They walked well into the night, finally stopping late to get some rest.
They were up again early the next day, and got started right away. The Asrai jogged ahead once again and Cullen set an easy pace. The Dreamweaver was their oldest member and they tried to walk at a pace he could tolerate, but he seemed energized by the events happening and he seemed to have found a good companion in Grimm, even if the old warrior didn’t talk much.
It was another day and some miles before the finally reached Ship’s Landing, the last village on the coast where they would find sea faring people and possibly a ship that would take them to the island.
There were a few small farms on the outskirts of the town, on the land side of its borders. High upon a hill nearby was a large house that must belong to the noble family that ruled the moderately sized village.
As they entered the town they found all the buildings devoted to seafaring jobs. Men making and repairing nets and fishing lines, a blacksmith making hooks and javelins, all things that Sonia recognized and pointed out.
Cullen saw he come alive when she smelled the sea. She smiled and held his hand and walked briskly towards the ocean. They passed a fish market where all kinds of seafood were being sold. They saw a variety of fish, and different shellfish in crates and buckets.
And there, at the shore were long docks that stretched out into the sea where big boats were docked, swaying gently in the breeze. Cullen counted ten ships in port and Sonia described the different vessels, telling him which one fished for what kind of seafood.
Cullen realized this was a whole life that Sonia had led as a child and she would probably know more about shipping than he ever might. He asked her to try and find a ship to go to the island that was just visible on the horizon.
The sun was starting to go down and they would need a place to sleep for the night. Surprisingly Grimm offered to put them all up in the local tavern for the night, dinner included. Cullen looked him over wondering why he would make such an offer.
“I haven’t slept in a bed in weeks! That’s the only reason I need!” he barked at Cullen when he asked. Cullen laughed and nodded his agreement.
They found the tavern, a big three story tall building, made of stone and timber. They walked into the large common room and found it full of seamen and sailors. They found a few tables they could push together and they sat as a group, with only Sonia missing.
Grimm, since he was paying, ordered food and drink for all of them. The tavern keeper’s wife was suspicious of their group and seemed hesitant to take their coin, but the amount of money pleased her and she relented after a moment.
Cullen went up to their rooms and took off his sword and lowered his shield to the bed. He stripped out of his armor and went back downstairs in just his linens, feeling comfortable again.
The other did the same, following his example, except for the Asrai. They stayed armored and armed throughout the night. The meal was served and it was hot and wonderful.
They ate a fish chowder first, followed by a platter of sweet fish and cockles, with ale for everyone, even Sonia when she finally joined them. There was even sweet fruit at the end as a dessert.
The tavern got lively at night and the boys enjoyed hearing the sailors talk about local storms and fishing. There was someone playing a set of pipes, making music for most of the night.
Everything was enjoyable until a bedraggled man stumbled in and called for a drink. He stood at the bar and quickly drank a mug of ale and then turned to face the room.
“Drink while ye can boys! The end of the world is comin!” he said, before asking for another drink and slapping his coin on the bar.
“What do ye mean by that man?” one of the sailors called.
The man took another swing of his second drink and peered around the room, looking over everyone. “I mean the end of the world! Demons have been killing folk! Coming up out of the ground and destroyin’ towns! Boulder is gone! Hillside Gone! I’m sure Many Farms is next, and then us here!”
“You’re talking crazy! What are ye saying?” the sailor called again, in disbelief.
“I come form Holdfast, where the King has sent out soldiers to guard against the demons, but they was all killed! He’s sending out more you can be sure, but the demons come in a black cloud and they kill everyone!”
“Ah, I don’t believe ye!” the sailor said back, shaking his head.
Cullen took a good look around his own tables. None of them were smiling now. Cullen suddenly felt awkward without his weapons and Shield. He saw Arthur glance upstairs as if he felt the same way.
“Did you find us a ship?” he asked Sonia.
“None of them want to go to the island,” she answered. “They know there’s something strange about it.”
“I’ll go looking in the morning boy,” Grimm suddenly offered. “We’ve got to get there and back and then find that bastard Connon. If the Host is already destroying villages, we’ve got no time to waste.”
Cullen nodded solemnly and pushed his chair back to go to bed. Sonia hurried to follow him and take a look at their room. All the others lined up behind them, making their way up the stairs and into their rooms.

The next morning Cullen came downstairs to find some breakfast and he found a well dressed gentlemen waiting for him. Then man wore fine linen breeches, a thin silk shirt, obvious jewelry and a rapier, the chosen sword for nobles.
“Could I please have a moment of your time ser?” he asked politely.
“Yes,” Cullen answered, “But who are you?”
“I am Baron Loredana and this is my town,” he said with no malice.
“My name is Cullen and we are just here to find a ship.” Cullen found a chair and sat, motioning for the Baron to do the same.
“I have heard some rumors that an armed group came into town last night. I have also heard an armed group attacked some people in Many Farms recently.”
Cullen looked over the man and took a moment to decide what he wanted to say.
“I can’t speak to rumors ser, but my group is armed. But I assure you we mean no one any harm.”
The Baron also took some time to look over Cullen before he spoke. “That’s excellent. We don’t want any trouble here. I don’t know what happened in Many Farms, but this is a peaceful town and we just do our part for the Kingdom.”
“Then I’m glad to have met you Baron,” Cullen replied. “Can you tell me anything about the island off the coast?”
The Baron’s eyes widened in surprise. “That’s where you mean to go? That island is haunted or enchanted. Ships steer clear of the waters nearby, its best you avoid it.”
“Unfortunately we have to go there. My friend Grimm is looking for a ship this morning in fact and I hope we can set sail soon.” Cullen took a sip of his morning juice.
“Grimm? Would that be the same Grimm from Holdfast?” the Baron asked, clearly interested.
“Yes he is. He has been with us for some time now,” Cullen informed the man.
“I have a ship myself you know,” the Baron revealed.
“We would be very grateful if we could get to the island today.” Cullen said quickly, smiling at the man.
“Would you be leaving after your trip out there, or will you be staying in Ship’s Landing for some time?” the Baron asked next.
“Oh, our business will take us back out of town immediately ser. We would be well on our way quickly,” Cullen told him honestly.
“Then perhaps I could help you along. I could take you to the island, or at least near enough that you could row a boat there. Would you be ready to leave in an hour?”
Cullen nodded and smiled again, pleased to have met the man. He clearly wanted them gone and was willing to do something uncomfortable to get them going soon. But that was just what they needed.
“We shall be ready,” he said, happily. The Baron was gone a few seconds later and Cullen ran back up the stairs to get everyone up and ready.
Within an hour the whole group was aboard a large ship that seemed made just for sailing, not for fishing or any kind or labor. It was a long smooth vessel, with one mast and a large canvas sail that billowed out when the wind took it.
It took a few hours to sail out to the distant island but after some time it became clearer to Cullen and the others. It was a flat surface with what appeared to be layers of rock that just barely topped the surface of the ocean.
One side of it towered up, a great piece of stone that rose above the rest of it. That’s what he has seen from shore, but the whole of the island was the flat surfaces that spread out for a few hundred feet beyond the tower of rock at one end.
Grimm, the twins, Arthur and Tik all stayed on the ship, to ensure that the Baron would stay regardless of being so near the island.
Cullen, Tris’tan, Sonia and the Dreamweaver got into the small rowboat and rowed over to the island. They pulled the boat onto the rocks and stepped out to walk around.
The ship was quite far from the island and they couldn’t have shouted to each other even if they wanted to. Tris’tan walked around the edges for a bit then led them all to the center of the island where there was a small pool of water.
“I think there’s an entrance here, but I don’t know how to get in,” he told them. All four of them crouched down and peered into the pool of water. Cullen ran his finger around one edge of it, but felt no difference at all.
Then he thought he heard shouting, from the ship possibly, distant and carried on the breeze. He looked up and almost fell back in surprise at how the surrounding had changed.
All around the edges of the island, Merrows, with half a torso made for swimming and the other half heavily muscled and holding spears, were perched, ready to fight. Standing a few feet away was a beautiful woman, nude, with long black silky hair covering her nudity with a piled skin at her feet.
“Who are you that you come to my island?” the woman asked in a strong, clear and fierce voice.
“My name is Tris’tan, a warrior of the Asrai,” the elf responded before Cullen could speak. “I have brought one chosen by Lord Cernunnous to claim the Creation you have here. By your leave of course, Lady Seithenin.”
Cullen realized they were looking at the Queen herself and he averted his eyes quickly. Sonia was already facing down but the Dreamweaver, in rapt amazement, was still staring at her.
“What is the name of the Chosen One?” the Selkie asked in her fluid deep voice.
“My name is Cullen!” Cullen said clearly, letting his own voice carry across the island.
“Son of the Hound,” she said quietly. “A good name for a warrior.”
She gathered her seal skin and wrapped it around herself. She walked delicately towards them where they essentially were kneeling before her.
“You may enter,” she said as she arrived. The pool of water suddenly dropped and Cullen looked to the side to see it disappearing below him, revealing steps down into the island. Seithenin walked down the curving stairs into the depths of the island.
“Come along,” she called.
Cullen helped Sonia to her feet, and then helped the Dreamweaver, while Tris’tan followed the Selkie into the castle below. Cullen walked down the stairs into a small chamber that had a single arched doorway that led into another room that was brightly lit by some unseen power.
The next room was large and had more Selkies in it, out of their skins and dressed in filmy dresses that hugged their forms and made Cullen blush to see. There were windows that showed the Merrows and Mermaids swimming all around the castle that spread out underneath the island.
The walls were decorated with shells and silver, in beautiful soft blues and pinks like a perfect sunrise. The floor was marble, white with pink steaks in it and the doorways were open arches that you could glance through and see more treasured rooms beyond.
“So this is the Chosen One then?” Seithenin said, covering her smile with a delicate hand. She was pale and had purple eyes that glowed in the soft light of the marble underwater castle.
“Lord Cernunnous sent me,” Cullen said a little too quickly. “And you can see I have the Wall,” he said as he lifted the large Shield to show.
“But where is the Protector? Surely you should have that already?” she said, teasingly.
“I will have it,” Cullen said, suddenly sullen. “But I need Seeker to get it. Is it here?”
“Of course it is here human,” Seithenin said, her voice smooth and laughing. “We said we should keep it until the Chosen One came. But I don’t know if you look like the Chosen One to me.”
Cullen took a breath to give a retort, but Tris’tan grabbed his arm and stopped him. With just a look he showed Cullen he was being baited by the woman and he took another breath to calm himself.
“What is required of me to receive the Bow?” he asked, back in control of himself.
“Oh it is simple,” she replied, still teasing. “You just have to take it from Manawyddan.”