Chapter 12 Good Fences...

Chapter 12 Good Fences...

In which we learn of the fate of Aoibheann and Aoife but there is a betrayal.


As Cúan was making his way back to the Cailleach’s hearth an altogether different journey was about to take place for Aoibheann and Aoife. It was a hard time they had of it, gagged and bound securely in the back of the stolen van and being driven God knows where by Philly and Alex. When Aoibheann was thrown in the back of the van she managed to maneuver Aoife’s head into her lap until she regained consciousness. Aoife’s eyes eventually fluttered open in the opaque darkness of the van and looked up at Aoibheann. Somehow the sharing of the terror of their captivity made everything a bit easier. Aoibheann was astounded by the extremity that Maeve Naughten was prepared to go to to acquire Leah or to wreak her revenge upon Aoibheann herself.


For Aoife it was a more sinister story. She realised that Alex, possessed by Fergus Mac Roich, had used the Tarnhelm to subdue her so that now she was incapable of protecting Aoibheann or herself. Wryly she realised that Maedhbh would use them both to bring Cúan to her into whatever trap she could weave. Her duty was clear, she must escape and free Aoibheann in order to save the warrior of light. Her best hope lay in deceiving the arch deceiver Maedhbh that Aoife wasn’t any threat to her.


The rumble of the motor was underscored by many other sounds. The blaring of car horns, the swoosh and click of city cyclists, the wash of wind through the trees and the vain far off chatter of the voices of unaware bystanders at traffic lights only inches away from the two young girls who lay in the bed of an innocuous van, tied and gagged to be delivered to a hostile iron age queen. The smell of diesel and the scent of sweating sewers permeated the city air and seeped even through the secured doors of the van.


They had travelled no more than five minutes before the sounds abated behind a facade of birdsong and the innocent lowing of cattle somewhere near the centre of the city. Some discreet farm or park appeared to be their final destination near Drumcondra judging by the lowing of cattle. Upon opening of the double doors the two girls looked out on a makeshift camp in some copse or wood staring at the very schoolboy gang who had confronted them earlier. The motley crew was supplemented by Mountjoy Prison’s latest escapee and extramural murderer and the even deadlier possessed Maeve Naughten presently having a royal hissy fit.


“Why am I looking at two girls when I expressly asked you to kidnap Aoibheann Cullen only?” Maedhbh ranted, “I’m sure with a double decker bus you could have brought her whole class and a brass band to entertain us.” Philly looked down at his feet. “ She was not alone when we took her and this other one put up some resistance so we had to take her too after all she saw my face and I’m trying to keep a low profile.”


Maedhbh moved in closely and studied Aoife carefully. Aoife looked back with an appearance of fright but really trying to take in the surroundings to get some clue about where they were. If Maedhbh had a weakness it was her arrogance, and as usual in someone so arrogant she had a tendency to underestimate others. Maedhbh spun around and threw up her hands theatrically “It is no longer safe for us here, Philly. I want these prisoners somewhere I can control better, a cave or a mountain ..no better still an island surrounded by magical mists and protected from prying eyes..hmm prying eyes. I think I know just the place not twenty kilometres from here. Pack up we’re going to Beann Eadair. You will be safer on Ireland’s Eye too.”


As Philly closed the doors on the two girls he caught Maedhbh giving a summoning gesture to Alex as she beckoned him to follow her deeper into the wood. He looked at the five lamp boys gawking after Alex and he thought about how they were caught up in something more than they understood. He felt a twinge of sorrow at how they had become accessories to kidnapping and possibly worse just because they followed his son. He felt stronger than ever the desire to escape Maedhbh’s clutches and he knew that he would have to free Alex from the spirit possessing him. The Tarnhelm was the ace up his sleeve if only he could think of the best way to use it.


“You heard her lads, it looks like we’re striking camp. Spitzy, put out the fire, Noddy collect up the sleeping bags and rucksacks, and put them up on the roof rack of the van. Here you Lawless', take down the tent and put it on the van too. Hop to it because we’re off to the seaside for the day!”


Once away from the others Maedhbh took Alex’s hand, “Fergus my love, you know I have to kill Cúan as only he stands in our way.” “Let me find him again and I’ll gladly bathe in his blood and grind his bones” growled Alex. “ Not a hair of your head will I risk , Fergus. What use is it to me to be Queen with servants at my command if I cannot protect those that I love? No this time I will send Philly who is more familiar with the ways of cars and of killing. I have another task for you which will require a very delicate touch. Don’t frown so it does not become you to be jealous. I will let you have Aoibheann for your own to kill in any manner you wish. See how generous and caring I am, now kiss me as passionately as if your life were dependant upon it.”







As Cúan made his way out of the woods and took the path towards the cave he was aware of the jovial bickering and banter between the two happy scots brothers. Despite their royal blood and unending competitive rivalry he got the sense of a deep loyalty and affection behind their mock hostility. As he swung idly at some ferns with the Gaebolg an electric jolt from the hurley ran up his left hand and shocked him. Then to two ‘wows’ from Lochlann and Malachi the Gaebolg elongated rapidly into its spear form without any apparent reason.


Just as Cúan was about to get angry,a huge tattooed warrior stepped out of the woods in front of them. The warrior was scarred and bald with a huge double headed axe in his right hand and a rounded wooden shield on his shield arm. He roared at them a massive “yaaah,” and swung at Lochlann as if to behead him but Cúan was already there blocking the swing that would have decapitated the young prince. He then rammed the jewelled base of the Gaebolg onto the besandalled toes of the warrior. He caught Malachi winking at him for using the same move by which he had bested Lochlann earlier . Then fixing his eyes on the devilishly sharp axe Cúan heaved his right shoulder at the wooden shield using the warrior’s shield as protection and relying on the fact that the man was hopping on one foot. Down went the warrior sprawling on his back with his arms akimbo because he was unbalanced on one foot. The point of the Gaebolg swung down and Cúan thrust it deep into the warrior’s chest only to see crimson blood gurgling from his blue lips. Then the Gaebolg’s emerald flashed and the barbs in the head deployed with a smooth click. As Cúan withdrew the weapon it took a huge bite of the man’s flesh back with it.

The man’s eyes fluttered once and he went “aaagh!” and died.


Cúan stood transfixed. He had just survived an attack on his life and he had just killed a man. Malachi and Lochlann dragged him along the path towards the jetty and the cave shouting “help help!”.


Upon clearing the woods Cúan was struck by an awesome sight. The entire bay below was filled with hundreds of longships sailing swiftly towards them beneath swelling dark sails depicting ferocious creatures and monsters of the deep. The clinker built longships bore prominent prows with dragon’s heads rearing up out of the water. Each ship was bristling with heavily armed warriors clutching spears, axes, shields and fearsome looking warhammers.


However what struck Cúan the most was how swiftly and silently the horde moved as some were shipping their oars or already plunging waist deep into the surf to wade ashore with mayhem and murder, plunder and pillage in mind.


Cúan raced to the mouth of the nearby cave shouting “Help, Help, Raiders, Raiders.”

The old man came out from an outcrop in the passageway and looked. His brows knit in consternation and his fists clenched as he spat “ Fomorians, it is too soon … we are not gathered… Maedhbh has raised Balor of the Mighty Blows and his marauders and we are not ready. Quickly now , into the cave and hide before we are seen.”


As they rushed into the cave, the old man began to mutter a druidical spell . He led them deeper into the cave before the outer cave walls began to crumble and then toppling with an almighty crash they collapsed completely sealing the mouth of the cave.


“That should gain us some time,” he commented, “ Queen Maedhbh must be desperate if she has thrown her lot in with those murderers. Her power over the magical spells guarding the portals between the worlds has grown to rival my own. If she has released the Fomorians from Donn Tétscorach, the house of the dead, it can only mean she intends to reopen the war between the De Danann and Fomorians we finished at Moytura.”


He led them into a much larger cavern lit with many candles and glistening all around with rough red and green crystal walls. On one wall a large tapestry of a roaring red fire breathing dragon hung in a prominent place. Scattered around were rough hewn tables and chairs dressed in expensive embroidered cloths of silk and wool. Floor to ceiling shelving lay packed with scrolls and parchment. On a nearby trestle table Cúan saw a pigskin stretched over its surface.


In the centre of the cavern a large metal tripod suspended a huge and ornate cauldron carved with lifelike faces and grotesque depictions of war and death over a blazing log fire. It was a dark and blackened iron colour with a width of about one metre across. Within the cauldron a shimmering green liquid bubbled and steamed. Its steam combined with the smoke from the fire and rose lazily towards a hole set thirty metres above the cavern into some crack or crevice allowing it to escape. They appeared trapped.


The Druid whirled around suddenly and stared wildly at Cúan. “Scátha, where is she? “ Cúan and the two princes suddenly realised she had been left alone to face the enemy. “She retired deeper into the woods, she was heading for her treehouse when we last saw her just before the raid.” Cúan blurted, “ She will be safe, won’t she?” he asked regretting his earlier negative attitude towards the tough warrior.

“ I don’t know,” said the druid shaking his head, “there were too many of them for her to fight alone. However it is her island and she has filled it with traps and concealments. If there were any battlefield where she could take on an army and win it would be here. Even Cúchulainn himself would find her a formidable foe.”


Then he froze and turning around whispered “ where is cúchulainn’s mighty sword ,where is an claiomh solais which I entrusted to you, warrior of the light?” Cúan replied, “At the end of the lesson Scátha took it saying ‘ leave this to me for your time has not yet come’ so she still has it. That is a good thing that she has it in her safe keeping isn’t it?”


The druid looked into the cauldron, he took a ladle and stirred the potion. When he spoke his voice seemed to come from very far away. “Either it is a stroke of luck that the mightiest weapon is in the hands of such a cunning and capable warrior woman or it is the worst misfortune and no accident that the moment Scátha has regained Cúchulainn’s weapon is the same moment Emain Ablach was attacked. The hosting of the Sidhe must be summoned and the army of the Tuatha De Danann must be gathered to defend us all. Now is the time for the warrior of light to light the Bone-fire of the Sidhe.”


At that moment thick smoke began to pour into the cave from the passageway. “ They are trying to smoke us out . Listen Cúan there are things I can’t tell you yet but there are three tasks I place you under geasa to complete. The first is you must bring Lochlann and Malachi through the Béal Tine to Eriu and get them to the Cailleach. She will protect them until it is safe to return. Secondly you must get to the Hill of Howth and light an enormous fire by passing the Sun’s rays through the crystal of the Gaebolg. That will raise the Sidhe.”


Here the druid paused and looked uncertain.“What is it, what’s the third task?” pressed Cúan. “You must find Scátha and take the Claiomh Solais from her. She is not the warrior of light and if Queen Maedhbh or King Balor of the Evil Eye gain the Claiomh Solais it will mean disaster. You may have to fight Scátha if she has turned to the dark. You may have to kill her.” Cúan nodded and then the Druid threw some powder upon the fire. Flames sprang up licking five feet up into the air. “Wait,” cried Cúan “what about you? Aren’t you going to follow us to escape?” The old druid smiled kindly and said “ I think I’ll be able to escape their attention.”


Cúan looked at Lochlann and Malachi and realised that they were hanging back in fear of the flames. “Here,” he said gently “ take my hand Malachi, sure this is a great adventure altogether. Wait till you see my world. Are you ready Lochlann?” In his hand the Gaebolg transformed back into to the hurley before passing through the fire.


As he stepped through the flames back out of the Cailleach’s stone circle the Cailleach spotted the two iron age princes Malachi and Lochlann coming with him.

“Who is it you’re after bringing back with you from Emain Ablach? The likes of these young men have no place in your world.” “Fomorians, ” answered Cúan “ it was this or leave them to die. A druid told me to bring them and raise the Sidhe. “

“The fences between this world and the house of Donn Tétscórach must have been broken down by Maedhbh.” Concluded the Cailleach shaking her grey head, “ It was only the Tuatha de Danann sealing those fences that saved the Fomorians being executed and burned on the bone fires after the battle of Moytura. Even the evil Balor, their King, was allowed a semblance of existence. Now my bones tell me his evil again walks the soil and stones of my Eriú. If good fences make good neighbours, no fences bring back the bitterest enemies of all. This is Maedhbh’s handiwork and I will not suffer her arrogance or malice in any world I hold in my heart.“ The Cailleach spat into the fire and immediately it was doused without spark or smoke. “ Now ,” she grimaced “it’s time to tell your grandfather who you are!”