Day 18 of Midwinter, Sunrise

Túr Crochta, The Deep Realm

Annwn

I had easily dispatched the remaining two Fomorians. I didn’t hesitate, even as one of the men had begged me to stop. There were still hearts and minds to win over if I was to do as Tethra asked, and none of Corb’s generals or closest allies would find a place in the general population where their whispers and deceit could root.

I glanced briefly into the Blaze Diviner and smiled at what I saw. Pieces moved in other parts of Annwn that would help our war efforts. Corb had been right in one respect. War would find us, regardless of when we chose to assemble. Corb couldn’t have done it alone, but now…with Bren and his allies, perhaps there was a chance for us.

Pushing the power rank notification to the side, I quickly gathered my stolen belongings, including Fragarach and Neit’s brooch. I worked quickly to gather the other things I needed, leaving the throne room even more gruesome than it had been only moments before.

Finally ready, I gathered the heads of the seven men, grabbing their hair in my hand. I made my way out of Túr Crochta, toward the training ground. I was painted in blood, and more blood followed me, the severed heads leaving a trail behind me.

As I walked, I passed many citizens on the way from the Hanging Tower. Many merely stopped and stared, but others, including the members of the Mná na Mara, fell in behind me as I walked through the underground streets.

Ethlinn, Morvra, and Dubhlinn walked in step just behind me. To someone who knew them as deeply as I did, Morvra and Dubhlinn were clearly grieving and sleep-deprived. To most, however, they showed no outward sign of turmoil or pain. These women were incredibly strong, and their quiet presence gave me strength.

To my surprise, before we had descended too far down into the city, the army came to meet us. In the lead stood Indech. His mouth gaped when he saw the bloody, dirt-covered heads of his friends.

“What have you done?” he whispered.

The streets were full now. It seemed that every citizen of the Deep Realm gazed upon the carnage that I held in my hands. I ignored the question and spoke in a voice amplified to reach each ear in the assembled crowd.

“I came to you as Cai Maccán, an outsider taken in by a great king. I became a friend, a general, and a servant of the Deep Realm. Here, I have lived… and loved.”

The crowd didn’t make a sound, not even Indech. They listened with rapt attention. I couldn’t blame them, knowing I had presented them with quite a scene. Granted, I had also activated my Empathic Influence boon at the beginning of the march. That boon worked much in the same way as my other energy boons, only with it, I was able to manipulate internal processes to better connect with the people gathered on an emotional level.

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“War will find us,” I finally said. “The question is when and where. Corb would have marched you to your death against the four armies of the Tuatha. You would have faced that onslaught alone.”

“You are a coward!” Indech yelled, trying to muster support from the army behind him.

I tossed the heads to the ground before him. “I am Cai O’ Elatha, son of Briomhaith. I am the rightful king of the Deep Realm.”

I raised my hand to touch the brooch I had discovered so recently in the wreckage of Neit’s ancient ship. I activated the Eye-to-Eye ability, feeling myself grow two feet in seconds. My new size put me even with Indech.

The crowd began to murmur. Some were angry, I knew, some relieved, and some confused.

“I will not alter our course in this war,” I said. “Nor could I if I wanted to. We are Fomorian, and we will answer the call of war, but we will also not hesitate to change our odds for the better.”

Indech reached for his blade but stopped as quickly as he started. His mouth opened, dark blood running out of it. He looked down as if surprised to see the sword that had burst through his chest. Oirneth, one of Tethra’s closest friends, slid closer, wrapping her arm around his throat as she whispered in his ear. His eyes widened in fear before glazing over.

Oirneth slid her blade from the dead general’s back, letting his body fall to the ground in a heap. She stepped forward to stand in front of me and paused for a moment, searching my face for something. Apparently satisfied, she dropped to her knees in front of me.

I felt movement behind me and turned to see that the rest of the Mná na Mara had also taken a knee. A great wave spread forth through the crowd as each Fomorian took a knee.

I looked across the masses of my people, feeling the realization set in that I would be the one to march them to war. Despite the weight of that knowledge, I allowed myself to relax slightly and pulled up the power rank notification I had been avoiding.

Name: Cai Maccán

Race: Síorláidir

Current Power Rank - Level 17

Current Progression Status:

Physical Progression +48

Mental Progression +57

Spiritual Progression +54

Domains: Harmony and Harvest

Domain Classification: Mancer Savant

You have been gifted with the following Harmony boons:

Control Energy

Graceful Agility

Dark Vision

Energy Resonance

Empathic Influence

Spiritual Augur

Transform Energy

Divination of Balance

You have been gifted with the following Harvest boons:

Maximum Yield

Perfect Aim

You have one blood-borne curse:

Life Leak (Permanent)

Innate Racial Abilities:

Rapid Regeneration

Advanced Identification

Magic Sense

Three magic items is in your possession.

Fragarach

Orna

Bull Brooch of the Fomorian

Item abilities unlocked:

Trust Tongue (Fragarach)

Battle Herald (Orna)

Eye to Eye (Bull Brooch of the Fomorian)

One relic is in your possession.

You have acquired:

The Spear of Victory

Relic abilities unlocked: The most update n0vels are published on novel•fire.net

Armor Piercing

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