(eng) M. R. Forbes - Ghosts & Magic 04 by Dead End

Author:Dead End [End, Dead]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

27

Macha Macha Macha.

The person sitting on the throne was most definitely a female. And she sure as hell didn’t look like an old, farty British wizard. She had long red hair tied in a thick braid that hung over her shoulder. She was wearing a long skirt that fell to her ankles, with a chest plate over her upper half, the shape of ample breasts obvious in the molding of the metal. Her face was young, pale, and freckled.

She eyed us with a serious expression, like a hunter sizing up their prey. I was both instantly attracted to and terrified of her.

“You aren’t Samedi,” she said.

“You aren’t Merlin,” I replied. “I don’t think.”

Her face softened. She smiled, revealing a row of perfect white teeth.

“Would a Merlin by any other name be as impressive to you, necromancer?” she asked. “We are Morrigan.”

“We?” I asked.

“You must have already become acquainted with my sisters, Badb and Nemain,” she said, her eyes settling on my coat.

“The crows?” Ashiira said.

She looked at him, tilting her head slightly to the side. “You have the blood of the Old Ones in you. Show us your true form.”

“That’s not a good -”

I didn’t get to finish the sentence. Ashiira cried out, falling to his hands and knees as his form shifted, growing and stretching, flesh hardening to scales. Even at his age, he was nearly sixteen feet long. He spread his wings, flapping them a few times as if stretching.

“Tarakona,” she said.

“No,” Ashiira replied. “His son. How dare you do this to me.”

She laughed. “Calm yourself, wyrm. If you wish to hide, so be it. Now is a good time for many to choose that path.”

He shifted again, back into human form. He stood and glared at her, angry.

“Could someone please explain to me what the heck is going on?” Frank said.

“Why were you expecting Samedi?” I asked. “And, oh yeah, who the hell are you?”

“I told you, we are the Morrigan. I am Macha.”

“And you know my father?” Ash said. “How?”

“We have lived for longer than he has lived. We never met face to face, but dragons do not hide themselves well.” She paused and smiled again. “Or maybe they do?”

“Tarakona is dead,” I said. “Samedi killed him.”

“I’m sorry,” Macha said.

“He would have killed me, too, if I hadn’t hidden in this form,” Ash said.

“I felt the ripples in the ley,” she said. “I was afraid Samedi had finally returned.”

“You helped put him away?”

“I did. A long time ago.”

“Then you know Death.”

“Who?”

“Death? The guy in charge of the afterlife? He was Samedi’s friend, once.”

“Yes, I know of who you speak, but by another name.” She shook her head. “This puts us in an unusual position.”

“What do you mean?”

“I helped Death trap Samedi in the artifacts. But I also helped him imprison my sisters. You see, they betrayed us, and were aiding Samedi in his plans.”

“Imprison?” Frank said. “Do you mean-”

“Yes,” she replied. “The barrier you saw was made of magic. Pure magic.” She looked at Ash. “Didn’t you sense it?” She paused.

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