Page 59 of Crownless Heirs

And with that, the lesson began.

27

Fight harder

As the hours passed, late afternoon arrived, and Goibniu decided it was time for lunch and to give Sorcha, Maelan, and Kyron a break from their training. He led them outside the Forge to a large courtyard where Harebells, Heather, Mountain Avens and Bog Asphodel stood in beautiful arrangements. Then there were flowers Sorcha had never seen before, as she ran her fingers over the scarlet and gold flecked flowers, it felt warm to touch and glowed a faint orange hue and another flower that looked similar to a three-leaf clover but its veins were etched in silver as if it had been struck by lightning.

Goibniu led them to a place under a large tree whose bark sparked like flints of fire, as beautiful foliage adorned its top, colors of impossible red, golds, where an unknown fruit bloomed. The smell of citrus familiar, yet something about the fruit was different, gold sap oozed from the ripened fruit, which looked similar to a lemon. Beyond its hardened exterior, the city revealed itself. Warm and inviting, a place suspended in never-ending autumn.

They plopped themselves down beneath a large oak, placing themselves in its shade, the breeze kissing away the sweat they had accumulated working inside that inferno. Sorcha exhaled loudly, leaning back against the tree. She stretched out her legs, wiggling her toes to free herself from the lingering cramps. Maelan sprawled onto the grass, arms behind his head, as Kyron leaned against the tree, his gaze turned skyward. Goibniu disappeared for a moment but soon returned, carrying a platter of fruits, meats, and cheeses, along with mugs of fresh squeezed juice that shimmered like liquid sunlight. Sorcha knew she was going to miss this place. It almost felt like home: the warmth of smiles, the heat of the forge, Goibniu’s steady mentoring, the way his laughter filled the space in her heart her father left. She tried to take in every detail, memorizing them, painting a vivid picture in her mind.

And for the first time, she understood why her father had wanted to bring her here. The Tuatha were untouched by the weight of mortal suffering. There was no hunger, no war torn cries, no homes reduced to ash. Here, she would never have to worry about running out of food or warmth, never have to fear what lurked beyond the Veil. The land itself was alive, cradling its people in a way the mortal world never could. It was beautiful. Safe. A world suspended in eternity, one that would never ask her to suffer the way mortals did.

And yet… she knew she couldn’t stay.

No matter how much warmth surrounded her, no matter how much she longed to, her home was suffering. Its people, its land, everything she held dear. She couldn’t understand how the Tuatha could turn their backs on the world they had borne their children in, but not one worth saving. She exhaled, gripping the edge of her cup as she looked out over the golden autumn stretching before her.

She pushed the thoughts aside as they all delved into conversation, Goibniu speaking to them with heart “I’ve seen your willingness to persevere no matter the weight I put on all of you, the strength to see fault and the courage to accept it and build yourselves up again.”

Scanning their faces, he continued. “I am still torn about involving myself and my people of this city into a war for mortals. I’ve seen the worst of them more than not, but…” his eyes looking at Sorcha,“ I’ve also seen the courage and heart they possess as well. If you can unite them and if you will fight, then I will see to your aid when the time comes.”

Maelan sat up and looked at the God with weariness.

Goibniu caught his gaze. “As for you, King of the Cait Sith, you’ll need your people in this war to shift the tides. Be the king they need you to be, speak from the heart, Maelan and they will follow.”

Maelan nodded slowly as his gaze lowered to the ground.

Sorcha looked to Goibniu ”I will make them listen; we will fight together.”

Goibniu looked into Sorcha’s eyes, his face flickering with a hint of sadness. “I know this, that is why I volunteered my steel. What is the point of being warriors if we sit idly by?”

Silence enveloped the air for a long time, letting the winds carry their words on the wind.

Sorcha stood first, as the others followed. Goibniu hugged Sorcha, said quietly, “I’m sorry for your loss, but know this, gods truly never die.”

Sorcha’s eyes widened, confusion growing across her face, but before she could ask, Goibniu pressed a bag into her hands. It was heavy with food and supplies, the scent of fresh bread and dried herbs curling into the air. She blinked down at it, then back up at him.

He smiled and turning and disappearing into the forge once more.

“What did he say?” Kyron asked, watching as Sorcha watched his figure fade into the forge.

“Nothing, just wishing us good luck,” she lied, as she tried to set aside her confusion.

Kyron eyed her carefully, almost knowingly, but instead said, “Alright, well we better get going before it gets too late.”

Maelan noticed Sorcha was obviously shaken, but knew better than to press the matter right now.

“Like he said, Sunshine, off we go,” he placed his arm around her shoulder, the other around Kyron and began pushing them forward, Sorcha chuckling as Kyron groaned.

28

Bog

As the City of Gorias disappeared into the background with the sun still high in the sky, Noctis flickered back beside Sorcha, prancing along beside them as they traveled through the rocky terrain. The land took shape once again into a dense forest nestled between the mountain crevices. The canopy above cast shifting shadows, filtering beams of gold through the leaves. The birds had ceased; the wind died. Maelan froze, his blood turning to ice as a deep howl reverberated through the air.

One.

Through the shifting shadows, a shape coalesced against the ridge. It was massive, the size of a young bull, its coat the color of deep, rotting moss, blending so perfectly with the lichen that it seemed carved from the stone itself.