Chapter 11

Holy shit, is that who I think it is?

"Yes, Brigid, I'm exactly who you think I am." Even through her amazement, Brigid couldn't help but wonder if her expression had been so transparent that Morrigan guessed what she was thinking or if she had actually read her mind.

Brandon, who was usually the more composed one of the group, was just as flummoxed as his sister this time. Here he was sitting in a world he hadn't even known existed, having a meeting with a freaking princess when a goddess just shows up. As avid a reader as Brandon was, he knew he'd developed a very active imagination. But never in all of his 18 years had he imagined a scene such as this. I guess Maimeó actually knew what she was talking about when she talked about Morrigan and Brighid and Lugh all of those other gods and goddesses she used to tell us stories about.

Aidan, too, was astonished to see her. But, as he hadn't grown up listening to stories about her and other Celtic gods and goddess, he didn't find it as big of a deal as the others. He was more shocked by the fact that she had appeared out of thin air than by the fact that she was a goddess.

But none of them were more amazed than Kellen; practical, unflappable Kellen. As much as Princess Rhiannon told him about her dreams of Morrigan and the "warriors," Kellen had a hard time believing what he couldn't see right in front of him. Even after the "warriors" showed up, he didn't fully believe that they were actually sent by the Goddess. But with Morrigan and the "warriors" actually being in the room with him, he could no longer deny that either existed. It was almost enough to give him hope that Taldor could be saved. Because no matter how many times Rhia told him this was about more than Taldor; that all the worlds were at stake, Kellen was most concerned about Taldor. He may not have had the best life here, but after coming to work at the castle, he had (against his will) begun to build relationships with people and had come to care deeply for them. He didn't want to see any more of them hurt.

"My children," her eyes were just as full of love as they had been when she had shown up in Hayley's dream. "I am so pleased to see the six of you together. You have much work ahead of you." Morrigan could tell by looking at their faces that they were full of questions. All but Aidan were too afraid to speak them aloud.

"Can you tell us what exactly is going on here?"

She sent him a smile of indulgence and affection. She was pleased to see Aidan actually speaking his mind for once. Even if it was considered a bit disrespectful to question a goddess.

"For the most part, Hayley was right. Although, Hayley, the goddess from which your family descends may be a little more powerful and well known than your family thinks." The look she gave Hayley was clearly amused, but Hayley couldn't fathom the source of her amusement.

"A few minutes ago, Brandon asked who 'She' is. Well, many years ago, members of Tuatha De Danann defeated Carman, an evil witch goddess, when she and her sons tried to destroy Ireland. However, Carman was powerful enough to hide the fact that she had become pregnant by a mortal Irishman. She had the baby the night before she was killed. Brea, a minor god of Tuatha de Danann who had been charged to guard her, took the baby home to his wife who could not have children and they raised the child as their own. That child was Daianira. Unfortunately, their goodness did not rub off on the baby and she inherited the desire to devastate and destroy from her mother.

"For centuries, she strengthened her powers, waiting for the day that she would be strong enough to finish the destruction her mother and brothers had started in Ireland and to obliterate all of Tuatha Dè Danann. We were able to protect Ireland for the most part. But before we could finish her off, we were defeated by the Milesians and retreated to Tir na n-Og. And while Daianira is unable to reach us there, we are also unable to reach her.

Yet, we foolishly believed that we had weakened her enough that she would no longer be able to cause much trouble. We were wrong. As she grew in power and knowledge, she eventually discovered Taldor—a world created by the Tuatha de Danann to honor one of our beloved kings, Lugh. And as her power grows, so does her desire for more power and her need to destroy. Recently, she has decided that just getting vengeance is not enough for her. If she destroys Taldor, she won't stop until she has destroyed all worlds."

"I'm not saying I don't want to help or anything, but I'm not sure I understand what the six of us are supposed to do. Why can't the Tuatha de Danann fight her? I mean, you guys are gods and we're just human." Aidan was having a hard time wrapping his mind around the idea that they were supposed to somehow save the world. Or worlds. Whatever. Crestwood was a good school, but he was pretty sure it had not prepared him, or any of them, for that.

"The Tuatha De Danann are now confined, for the most part, to Tir na n-Og. We can venture out on occasion to interact with humans, but we are no long able to fight. All we can do is find humans who can fight for us and give them a little extra to fight with. There has never before been the right group of humans strong enough to defeat her."

"What is it exactly, that makes us the 'right group of humans?'"

"You'll know that soon enough." While initially amused, Morrigan had begun to grow irritated by their barrage of questions. She was a goddess after all.

"Wait a minute, what happens when none of us show up to class tomorrow? Won't the teachers and, eventually, our parents freak out a little bit when they notice we've dropped off the face of the earth?" Trust Brandon to bring them back to practicalities in the midst of all the magic mumbo-jumbo.

"Time moves more quickly here than it does where you four come from. So one year in Taldor is like one minute there. So if you make it back, no one will even notice that you were gone."