Tor, Rainn, and Shay took off, swimming over the bridge to the city as fast as they could. Rainn’s body twisted, mid-kick, as he took his seal form.
The Oilliphéist unfurled its body; each coil of its monstrous body was larger than the entirety of the castle. It was not like the dragons painted in his storybooks. It had no eyes, just a mouth within a mouth. Teeth upon teeth, jagged and facing all directions.
The staff in his pocket grew warm. Maeve’s gift, though she had given him little instruction as she had pressed it into his pocket.
Liam Cruinn stood in the courtyard, seemingly unaware of the beast readying itself to attack behind him. Liam looked down at the fishing wire in his blackened fingers, wholly engrossed in his task.
“Cruinn!” Shay called out, drawing the Oilliphéist’s attention. “Move your fecking arse!”
Liam Cruinn startled, eyes widening as he looked up, noticing the giant worm's rounded head. He let out a squeak and took off after them as the worm lunged—the teeth snapping closed in a series of disjointed cracks.
“Head in the game, Cruinn!” Shay barked as the Undine caught up with them. The fecker was fast, he had to admit. “What’s more important thanrunning for your life?!”
“The weapon!” Liam did not look back when he spoke, his back straight as he sliced through the water. He‘d had training.
“We need to sing. Lure the beast away from the populated areas. It will try to eat us, to stop the music.” Tor’s gait was slower than usual. No doubt from the days of malnutrition, and possibly more.
“Then what?” Liam argued. “We just let it eat us.”
“I’ll take care of that,” Shay assured them, though his words held more confidence than he felt.
“What’s this weapon?” Tor asked, never missing a step.
“Iron and Balor’s bloodline.” Liam glanced over his shoulder as the beast let out another roar. Stones flew and screams echoed through the streets as the wyrm chased them. Liam gestured to the left. “That way!” he barked. “Away from the houses!”
They followed his direction.
“You’re a weaver?” Tor asked.
“Stop asking questions, and flee!” Cormac shouted from in front of them, his head start proved fruitless with the heavy weight of the queen on his shoulders.
They followed his command, swimming as fast as they were able. The abyss grew taller the closer they got, but the beast no longer followed.
They slowed, turning as a group, as the wyrm cleared a street of stone houses with the swipe of its tail.
So much blood in the water.
Shay opened his mouth and began to sing, pulling the staff from his pocket and clutching it to his chest.
Two pillars of the hill,
Where two worlds meet,
The darkness cast a shadow,
Walking on clawed feet,
The Sídhe fight for glory,
The gods, they fight for fame,
But when the world is dead,
And gone,
Only the gods remain.
Cormac eyed the staff, and understanding lit his features. The beast reared its neck, ready to swallow him whole. The others stood behind him, and the staff grew warm.
