Darkthunder's Way Read Online Free PDF

kin.”
    “And if you defy Finvarra?” The Morrigu’s question hung in the air like one of her crows at hover.
    “He will attack. He will have no other choice. His ships have already passed onto the Sea Road—a wise thing, considering the Roads’ condition.”
    “Such would be a grievous thing,” Nuada said. “I know Finvarra is your friend.”
    Lugh sighed wearily. “Do friends let spies creep into their brothers’ kingdoms and stir up trouble? Not by my thinking—nor do kings, at least not those who have any right to their crowns. A strong king would either have known Ailill for what he was before he sent him here as Ambassador—which Finvarra did not, I would stake my throne on it. Or else he would himself have encouraged sedition, and we know Ailill acted of his own volition.”
    “Finvarra must therefore be a weak king,” Nuada said. “By your logic.”
    “Which he is not,” Oisin inserted.
    “Deluded, then,” the Morrigu spat. “—or mad; it runs in the family. You have only to look at Ailill and Fionna.”
    “They had different mothers,” Oisin pointed out. “Finvarra’s mother—”
    “He is also arrogant,” Lugh interrupted. “Had Finvarra couched his demands in less forceful words, I might have accepted them. At least I would have considered. But they were demands, and stated so, and demands I will not countenance—not from anyone. Certainly not from one who cannot even master his own subjects!”
    “They are still here, too,” the Morrigu noted. “We have not yet discovered everyone Ailill corrupted.”
    “War he wanted,” Lugh said bitterly. “War with mankind.”
    Nuada looked down at the table. “And now we face war with our brothers in Faerie—war with Erenn if we do not accept Finvarra’s demands, and war with Arawn and probably the Powersmiths if we do.”
    “Alas, that is true,” Lugh replied, rising. “Whatever choice we take, I see all roads leading to slaughter.”
    “Only the crows will be happy,” the Morrigu said flatly.
    “Not even you, Great Queen?”
    “No single person is worth a kingdom’s honor. Not when we still have the Mortal problem to consider.”
    “What is your counsel, then?”
    “That you get Morwyn back to her own country as soon as possible, and preferably on her own vessel. Failing that, that you make ready to take war to Finvarra. War on someone else’s soil—or seas—is always preferable to war on one’s own.”
    “You think we will not win?”
    “I have never lost a war,” she said. “But all things have an ending.”
    “So be it, then,” Lugh sighed. “You have heard my thinking. I go now to send my reply. One word will I tell Finvarra: never .”
    Nuada rose to follow. “And what of a certain young human, who has the vessel Morrigu mentioned—that might prove very useful, if things reach the end we foresee.”
    Lugh turned in place. “What of him?”
    “Oisin and I were just on our way to meet with him, to begin what once we spoke of.”
    Lugh’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully, but he nodded. “It would serve us well, if it comes to that eventuality. In any event, he will have to be contacted, though perhaps we should wait until we see our way clearer. For myself, I go to speak with the Lady Morwyn.” And with that, he stalked from the chamber.
    His counselors followed him until they, too, went their own ways: the Morrigu to inspect Lugh’s forces, Oisin and Nuada by the shortest route to a certain place that was neither in the Lands of Men nor in Faerie, but closer to the latter.
    The young guardswoman also went with them, but turned down another way as soon as it became convenient. A moment later she ducked through an archway and removed her golden helmet, then reached for her ear and popped out the golden spiral she had set there. Ailill had given it to her before he was murdered. Poor Ailill—poor, loving Master. She remembered the feel of his body against hers and allowed herself a single tear—and then a