Page 66 of Rise of the Morrigan

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Everything was goingaccording to plan.

My beloved had trained for war. He expected it. He obsessed over the possibility...

Meanwhile, his marriage was strained. No children. He hardly had time for Emer. Not that he was busy fighting wars or battles—not a single army had dared attack Ulster. It wasn't that other kings and queens didn't want to take the stud bull from Ulster. Many did, though only one of them was gaining power and strength relative to Ulster that she might rival Ulster.

I first appeared in Queen Mebd's chambers, taking the solitary queen by surprise.

"Guards!" the queen shouted.

I raised my hand and maintained my composure. "There is no need for that. I am not a threat to you."

"Who are you?" Mebd asked. Connacht wasn't, traditionally, a pious kingdom. Few in Connacht believed in the gods at all. It was no surprise the queen would think I was but a common intruder, despite my divine appearance.

"I am the Morrigan, goddess of death and war."

Mebd sighed and her shoulders sank. "And you've come for me..."

I cocked my head. "It is not your time to die. I've come to aid you in your quest to overcome Ulster."

Mebd took a deep breath, likely out of relief that I hadn't come to claim her life. "How might you help? Ever since King Conchobar acquired Donn Cúailnge Ulster's wealth has grown beyond compare in all the Isles. And more than that, he has a warrior who has been blessed with the ríastrad. Even if I raised up an army to rival Ulster's, how would I ever acquire a champion to rival theirs?"

I heard several footsteps echoing outside Mebd's quarters. "I'll tell you. But you must send your guards away."

I quickly shifted into the shape of a fly and buzzed around the room.

Three men, spears in hand, burst into the room. "You've called us, my queen?"

"False alarm," the queen said. "I thought I'd heard an intruder but have now realized it was but a dream. My apologies, good sirs..."

"It is always an honor, your Highness," one of the soldiers replied.

Queen Mebd nodded and the three men left.

I resumed my natural form.

"You were saying?" Mebd asked.

I nodded. "I will handle Ulster's champion. Do not worry about him. But King Conchobar is reckless with his wealth, and he trusts that none of his enemies would dare attack him so long as Cú Chulainn remains his champion. He has neglected his armies who, now a generation removed from any meaningful battle and hardly trained at all, lack the skill to match your warriors."

"It is not a question of skill, Divine Morrigan. It is a question of numbers. Even if he has no army of his own he has the wealth to acquire whatever mercenaries he requires."

"But such takes time. If you were to develop an army capable of assaulting Ulster's walls, if you took them by surprise you could claim the city before he had the chance to bolster his numbers with hired warriors."

Mebd shook her head. "Our scouts watch Ulster constantly. And every day their champion, Cú Chulainn, patrols the city's perimeter. And still, supposing you managed to remove Cú Chulainn from the city for a time, even if I raised up every male of age in all of Connacht we wouldn't have enough men to conquer Ulster's walls."

"He is not the only monarch who might hire mercenaries."

"But he is the only one who can afford to."

I grinned widely. "As I said, he is reckless with his wealth. He sells off the bulls of his herds, the bulls who come from Donn Cúailnge's stock."

"But he would never sell those bulls to me. He sells them only to roving herders, men without aspirations to ever challenge his dominance over the Isles."

I quickly changed shape—I took the form of a man, dressed in humble rags, and carrying a single staff. "Indeed, he does sell his bulls to roving herders... those who might appear likethis..."

Queen Mebd smiled slyly. "And you will purchase the bulls from Donn Cúailnge's stock on my behalf?"

"I will," I said. "While you may not accumulate wealth in the sort of excess that Ulster boasts, if you invest your proceeds wisely, you can raise up the army you require."

"Very well," Queen Mebd said. "But I must ask, why would you come to our aid? Our people have never revered you, or any of the gods for that matter."

"Suffice it to say, good queen, that I care little for your success as a kingdom. But I do have reasons that are my own to see Ulster challenged and fall. It just so happens, I believe, that you are the monarch in all the Isles best suited to accomplish what I desire."

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