Page 65 of Rise of the Morrigan

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War was coming. Maybe not today. Probably not tomorrow. But Cú Chulainn knew it was an inevitability, eventually. So long as Donn Cúailnge remained in Ulster's possession and King Conchobar was unwilling to negotiate with Mebd's requests, it was only a matter of time before her armies would attack.

For nearly ten years Queen Mebd made her petition to King Connacht and each year the king declined her invitation. But the king, whose mental faculties had been declining steadily for the better part of a decade, had nearly lost his memories entirely. Mebd was simply waiting for her chance... a time when she could exploit Ulster's weakness under a senile king but before Ulster could replace him with a younger king who had his wits all about him.

Queen Mebd was just waiting for an opportunity.

Cú Chulainn had always trained with spears rather than blades. He found them easier to wield. His agility was one of his greatest assets. But it struck him as he got older that as his agility declined he remained strong. The spear had always treated him well. But it was time he refined his abilities with the blade.

Spears are wonderful—they can be thrown and take down an opponent from a distance. But spears are also easily broken. And, if he throws it, he'd be unarmed aside from a small dagger, if needed. So, Cú Chulainn took up Forgall's broadsword. Emer's late father had trained him with it before but, before he'd sent him away to Scotland, he'd always resisted practicing with it. Still, it seemed wise he at least develop some competency with the blade. Even with the ríastrad, he needed to be sure he'd mastered every skill possible.

Thankfully, King Conchobar was willing to send for his old sparring partner. It didn't take much convincing. Conchobar had never met Ferdiad but, to hide his senility, the king acted like anyone whom he thought he was supposed to know was like an old friend.

Ferdiad, whom the warrior-queen Scáthach had paired him with when he used to train in Scotland, was quite the bladesman. There wasn't a warrior in all the kingdom better suited to help Cú Chulainn master the broadsword than Ferdiad.

"How has Scáthach been?" Cú Chulainn asked as he shook his old friend's hand.

"As ruthless as ever," Ferdiad said. "Though she no longer trains me. She's been busy with your former lover and her child..."

"Her child..." Not a day had passed when Cú Chulainn hadn't thought about the child he'd had with Aife. How much time had passed since that affair? It seemed just like yesterday.

"He's a good kid," Ferdiad said. "Quite the warrior. And he seems to have acquired his mother's... abilities..."

Cú Chulainn shook his head. "Emer and I are unable to produce children. I wonder, to this day still, if it was only because of the fact that Aife and I..."

"Because you were both... wolves?" Feridad asked.

Cú Chulainn nodded. "I wonder if that's why we were able to produce a child... if for some reason I cannot breed with other, you know, normal humans."

Feridad shrugged. "It's possible, I suppose."

"But the boy is now training with Scáthach, too? Isn't he too young for that?"

Feridad laughed. "By his appearance, you'd think he twice his age. Your son is taller than you, Cú Chulainn."

Cú Chulainn cocked his head. "How is that even possible..."

"Maybe it has to do with the blessing of the ríastrad. But that boy has grown more quickly than any child I've ever seen."

Cú Chulainn smiled. "A part of me wishes to meet him. But Aife would never allow it. And I don't know how Emer would feel about that."

Feridad nodded. "Probably best you never meet him. That woman... she's poisoned him against you, Cú Chulainn. She's used her hatred of you to fuel him, to make him as fierce and ruthless as she ever was."

"I really wish you hadn't told me that, my friend."

"It's best you never know and avoid the boy, Cú Chulainn. Take my word for it."

Cú Chulainn nodded. "Anyway, I could use some help mastering the broadsword. It's never been my weapon of choice."

"Well that's why I came from Scotland, isn't it?" Feridad smirked, "I should say, it's about time you've come around. Spears are for pansies."

"Excuse me? I've taken you down with my spear alone more times than I could count."

"Correction. Youusedto... but since you've left, I've had no one to train with aside from Aife..."

"And my son?"

Feridad nodded. "And training with the likes of them... it makes you better."

"And training with me didn't make you better?

Feridad smiled widely. "You always held back. When I sparred with Aife it always felt like I was genuinely fighting for my life."

"Restraint was never one of her virtues," Cú Chulainn smirked. "But let's see if you're better for it. Take up your arms. Let's see if I've still got what it takes to drop you in less than a ten count."

Feridad scrunched his brow. "How about a fifteen count?"

"You would grant me a handicap on account of my age? I can still down you in ten."

"I'm suggesting how much time I'll give you to try and take me down before I downyouin five!"

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