Page 15 of Rise of the Morrigan
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Grainne was gonealmost as quickly as she'd arrived. A shape-shifter, most likely a druid, fled with her at his arm. There was no mistaking it—when he looked at her, his love for her was unmistakable. He was the one from whom Babd's father, Fionn, had taken Grainne—Babd was sure of it—and now the mysterious dryad was gone.
Together, she and her druid lover fled through the forests, escaping Fionn's rage. Babd watched the whole episode from her window. And then... somewhere in the forest, a giant cone of magic emerged, something powerful, something she'd never seen before. Whatever it was, Grainne had done it.
And, while Babd had no idea what kind of magic it was, she sensed that Grainne was gone. Perhaps it was her gift, her sense of perception—but Grainne wasn't coming back. She'd never see her again.
A tear cascaded down Babd's cheek.
Grainne had barely been there a month. But in that time Babd felt like she'd finally met someone who understood her, who saw her for something more than a girl suited for chores. Not that Babd was opposed to doing chores—all young ladies had chores—but she did more than her share, twice what either of her sisters did. And still, her father hardly appreciated her.
Fionn burst into the room, anger consuming his face as he tossed his magical Oxter bag into the corner. "Diarmid Ua Duibhne! I curse the day you were born!"
Anand followed closely behind her father. "If it were not for him, father, you would not have defeated the Fomorians."
"Is that what you believe, daughter? You and everyone else! But it is a lie!" Fionn was shouting as loudly as he ever had.
Babd lowered her eyes—the last thing she wanted to do when her father was in such rage was give him a reason to acknowledge her existence. He'd probably take his rage out on her if he noticed her.
"My apologies, father," Anand said, second-guessing her momentary boldness. "I am just a girl. Pay my words no heed."
"A girl and a fool! I nearly killed Diarmid Ua Duibhne once! It is he who would be nothing were it not for me!"
Anand shrugged. "Then go after him, again."
Babd shot daggers at her sister through her eyes—going after Diarmid meant going after Grainne. While Babd wished Grainne never had to leave, the dryad had been a prisoner, a creature of beauty Fionn had hoped would eventually develop affection for him. Or, at least, he'd beat her down until she was resigned to accept her lot as his next wife. Either way, it wasgoodGrainne had escaped.
"Your Oxter bag," Macha piped up." You can pull anything from the bag." Babd pulled at her hair. Now Macha was helping him?
Fionn took a deep breath. "I can retrieve whatever I desire from the Oxter. But it cannot changeme...but perhaps... yes, that's it! Girls, prepare yourselves for a journey. Ensure you are well fed and bathed. This time, all three of you will be coming with me."
"Will you take us to mother?" Babd asked.
"To your mother," Fionn said, hanging his head. "I'll take you to the one who knows where your mother might be."
Babd nodded. A small consolation—but if there was a chance they might recover their mother, then what harm was there to allow Fionn to chance some fantasy of being able to catch up to Diarmid and Grainne? Babd knew the truth—they'd fled, not just the countryside, but they'd fled to some other world. If Fionn figured out some way to pursue them, at the very least, it would mean that he would be gone. Not a bad thing in Babd's mind. But why did he want Babd and her sisters to go with him? Sure, if daddy dearest disappeared it wouldn't be the end of the world. But what in the name of the gods did he have planned for them?
Babd tossed and turned all night trying to imagine what in the world her father had planned. Usually, following her gifts, she anticipated what he was up to. She found most people's behaviors predictable. But on this occasion, she was completely stumped.
Babd forced her eyes shut.Just stop thinking!She told herself. That's why she couldn't sleep. She didn't have answers but she couldn't stop concocting theories. Someone grabbed Babd by the arm, yanking her out of her bed.
"What are you doing!" Babd protested.
She wasn't sure who the man was—probably one of her father's lackeys. He had a hood over his head, the sort a thief might wear. Two other men stormed into the room and grabbed Anand and Macha. Both girls shrieked as the men who'd broken into their bedroom carried them out of the room.
Babd didn't struggle. What was the point? She was just a young girl—not even a full-grown woman—her chances of overpowering an adult man were slim to none. The man holding her covered her eyes with his hand. What's the purpose of that? No sooner did she think it and something squeaked—something like a door on hinges. Babd felt her body tumble onto a cold, hard surface. Opening her eyes she saw another man throw Anand inside and then a third man toss in Macha. The last man slammed the cage door shut.
"What is going on!?" Babd shouted at the three men as they walked away, ignoring her question.
The sound of a cracking whip startled the attentions of all three sisters. The next thing Babd realized they were moving—caged like slaves when they traveled by carriage. As moonlight struck the carriage she noticed her father holding the reigns... where was he taking them?
"Dad!" Babd screamed. "Why are we caged! We aren't slaves! We're your daughters!"
Anand nudged Babd, hinting that she best shut her mouth. Fionn ignored Babd's protest, cracked the reigns again. The carriage picked up speed. Moving faster meant a louder thud of hooves, more squealing from a poorly oiled axle.
The planks of the carriage rattled against each other. All sounds that likely made it easier for Fionn to ignore his daughters' screams. After a while, even Anand who'd had the utmost faith in her father's intentions began demanding answers.
All three girls knew better than to speak to their father in such a tone. But how many hours had passed? Most of the night... the sun was likely to rise soon. The longer the ride went, the more anxious Babd felt. The more her sisters, too, were emboldened to protest. After all, the most Fionn had ever done to his daughters for addressing him in such a tone before was give them a whipping.
