Page 36 of Rise of the Morrigan

Scáthach took Cú Chulainn by the hand and looked into his eyes. "Now, young would-be warrior. Let's see if you can control your rage against a woman."

"You want me to fight you?"

Scáthach laughed. "I am not going to fight you."

"You want me to... sleep with you?"

Scáthach laughed even harder. "You couldn't handle me in bed any better than you could handle me on the battlefield."

"I don't understand..."

"I have another... partner... for you to spar against today."

Scáthach placed two fingers between her lips and released an ear-piercing whistle. Cú Chulainn winced at the sound—on account of the hound within him such high-pitched sounds that most human ears casually tolerated were particularly piercing. Moments later another woman appeared—a woman smaller than the warrior-queen, her hair long and reddish-orange. Her face was freckled, as was often the case for women who had such hair. She was cute. She held a small dagger in her hand.

"Cú Chulainn, this is Aife."

"You expect me to spar her?"

"You think you can take me?" the young red-head said, defiant in tone.

"No offense," Cú Chulainn said. "I'm sure you're more than capable. But yes..."

Scáthach grinned. "Aife and I grew up together. She's the only warrior in all of Scotland who had ever bested me. Though I should say, she's only done it once."

"I'd do it again, lass, if you'd ever accepted my offer of a rematch!"

Scáthach smiled. "Aife has a certain fire in her belly..."

"Fire or not," Cú Chulainn said. "You seriously think we'd be evenly matched?"

Scáthach shook her head. "Not at all. I think, Cú Chulainn, you are no match for her at all... at least not as you are. Take your places and prepare for a match."

"What do you mean, 'not as I am?'" Cú Chulainn asked as he assumed his fighting stance and gripped his spear.

Before Scáthach answered, Aife released a howl. Cú Chulainn turned away from the warrior-queen and looked at his opponent. She'd changed. Her hair, still orange and red, had grown and now covered her whole body. Her skin had thickened and her frame had expanded. Aife had the ríastrad.

"Scáthach! You want me to faceher!"

"Not as you are. I know your secret, Cú Chulainn. I've always known. Did you think I hadn't heard the rumors that spread about you from Ulster?"

"I cannot allow it... I can't let it out..."

Scáthach ignored Cú Chulainn's protest. "That is not the only news that has reached me from Ulster. You came here, did you not, seeking to prove your worth that you might acquire Forgall's blessing to marry his daughter?"

"I did," Cú Chulainn said. "What of it?"

"I have it on good authority that Forgall has betrothed Emer to Lugaid mac Nóis, king of Munster."

"What? How do you know this!"

"It does not matter. But I can assure you it is true."

"No! Forgall... he sent me here not to earn Emer's hand but..."

"But so that he could be rid of you," Scáthach finished Cú Chulain's thought as she walked circles around him.

Aife snarled on the opposite side of the arena. Cú Chulainn shook his head, clenched his fists, and screamed.

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