Three?
Three!
There are three!
Three tall, naked women. Sun scored, covered in patches of dried blood and mud and pieces of offal.
Their hair matted, blackened with red highlights in the suns light. The smell. It was death walking.
All three were of the same type, build. They all shared the same burning emerald flames for their eyes.
The patrol watched their approach from their LPOP. A forward small unit listening post and observation post set up semi permanently in the foothills of the North Western range.
Nodens looked up from his smart page. Startled and excited. However a sense of dread began to form at his core.
Initial reports indicate that Cathbadua had been found. She had walked up to an LPOP, and announced herself. That much seemed clear. The rest of the reports were confusing. Nodens moved briskly to the rooftop landing pad. He would know the details shortly, for himself in person.
The journey was intense. Hypersonic flight making the jaunt from the City one of little more than an hour. That hour was intensified by the data feed.
Cathbadua refused to allow anyone near her, or them or what she had become. The Three of her repeated his name, Nodens, as if it were a kind of demented mantra. The one medic that had attempted to touch had been efficiently disassembled and devoured by the threesome. No one approached them after that.
Nodens studied the data stream with a horror mixed with confused disbelief. All scans, indicated that there were three identical versions of Cathbadua. Three. Down to the atomic level, three exact versions.
What had happened to her?
What had the Fomor done?
An interesting sound filled the canyon. Not loud precisely, rather omnipresent. The aircraft smoothly altered flight, swooping in and landing in a fluidly smooth action. There were no transitional pauses, much like a bird gracefully landing. Even to the folding away of wings.
There were no external signs of propulsion, no rotors, jet or rocket engines visible. Merely a smooth aerodynamic body.
Before the hatchway irised open the Trio were approaching the craft. Three distinct intelligences discussed amongst themselves this vehicle. Of the three, only Badbh held direct memory knowledge.
Badbh had been , Cathbadua, before being remade by the Fomor. Nemain and Macha, held only direct memories of awakening in the Fomorian facility. Though, as Badbh concentrated upon a direct memory they could see that memory in their mind. Seeing and understanding were very different things. While Badbh was in fact nearly a Millenia old, Nemain and Macha were quite young with scarcely two and a half years of real world experience.
Nodens stepped through the open hatch, forgoing the four ladder rings extended to leap out. He stared for a moment, “ Catha?” Rang out, a question. Badbh, the central one of the trio stepped forward, eyes blazing. “ Where were you?” She snarled.
The other two scowled silently. Nodens flinched as if he had been struck hard. In many ways he had been. Tears welled, he stood ashamed, he could feel her heart ache, her fury, her pain, her despair, betrayal. Competitive tsunamis of emotions rolling off of her. Clouds of pheromones filling the air. The two other versions of her radiated fury, pain, confusion and emotions he could not define.
Nodens staggered, falling back against the aircraft. Badbh rapidly advanced lashing out. Striking him, screaming. Nodens made no attempt to avoid or block her strokes. Flesh bruised, tore, blood flowed. The crew of the aircraft exited, and watched. Macha and Nemain looked on warily. Wondering if Badbh would kill him. Should they kill the crew. “ Nae, Na den.” Was the thought Badbh sent. So they watched.
Badbh had nearly three years of terror, agony, despair and betrayal, loss, to express. Nodens used all of his strengths to absorb her furies. He believed it no more than his due for having failed her.
In time Badbh realized that Nodens would neither run away nor attempt to defend himself. His submission to her fury was, disturbing. When he could no longer remain upright She paused. Nodens lay, gasping, bleeding, nearly unrecognizable.
Disgusted Badbh turned away , to climb into the aircraft gesturing for Nemain and Macha to follow. None of the crew moved until after the trio of fury had disappeared aboard. Then they raced to the fallen, beaten Nodens. None of them wanted to enter the craft with the Furies. Without the leadership of Nodens they were , stunned into confusion.
Carefully, the crew loaded Nodens onto the medical sled. It was difficult to move him, he was conscious, even though a broken clavicle was protruding, bleeding. Multiple ribs were broken, some showing bloody ends exposed , having pierced flesh and tunic.
Badbh had nearly beaten Nodens to death. When they tried to sedate him He refused. When they tried to administer pain relief, Nodens refused. In fact, Nodens, rasping, wheezing, burbling blood, demanded they leave him. That demand they ignored. The loaded him into the med bay, life support pod.
During the flight Nodens, made his choice. He would be vengeance, become sword and spear. His existence would become War, death, destruction. The process is irreversible. Once taken up the Sword and Spear became one with The wielder.
Three in one, one in three.
The price no longer seemed high to Nodens at all. Seeing what had become of Cathbadua due to his failure to protect her, splitting his mind and his soul was no sacrifice.
Nodens set upon his path, to become the Lugus. LUGH, Llew.
The answer, retaliator, the lightning spear.
Champion, Destroyer, Fury.
*****†††*****
The rumbling of crossing the log built covered bridge, brought Llew back to the here and now. They pulled up to a heavy log built cabin with matching barn. A shear cut wall of limestone and granite behind the barn. Llew looked about in approval. This had to be Macha’s Cabin.
††***††***†††**†††***††***††
Sweetie Pie,
Morgan's car.
Morgan parked the car, exited slamming the door to stalk into the cabin. Michael stepped out, politely waiting for Llew to climb out of the back seat. They followed Morgan into the cabin. Michael could sense that Llew was somewhat, anxious.
***†††***
"Which one are you?"
The words dripped with scorn and venom.
" Who are ye today? In the now? "
Before Llew could form a reply, a sharp crack and loud thud accompanied the impact of a bowl that once held sausage gravy. The bowl had broken upon impact with Llews head.
Confused, Llew did not know the tiny woman that had thrown the bowl of gravy at him. She raised both hands in the air as if in surrender , spun about and kicked her way through the swinging door into the kitchen.
Some of the peppered gravy dripped, oozing slowly down his face. Hooking a finger, Llew scooped it away in a futile gesture. Examined his catch, then licked it from his fingers. " This is really good, though not quite how I would prefer to serve it. " Llew dead panned.
The furious Macha, with a quivering red faced Badb stared momentarily in surprise. The hostility visible, shimmering in the air between them.
Laughter exploded. A giggle grew into gasping belly laughs. Llew nonchalantly continued munching at gathered gravy . " This is too good to be wasted, this is not a the recommended way to eat breakfast I expect. Or is it some new fad thing I haven't heard about? " The wry comment unleashed more intense laughter. Now all three of the Morrigna were laughing intensely. Michael stood still silently watching the scene playing out. A moment before Michael had been sure he was about to witness the dismemberment and destruction of Llew by Macha and Badb. Now the trinity were openly weeping, gasping for air.
Elspeth, seeing the impending violence hurled the bowl of gravy knowing it would either trigger the violence or diffuse it.
Hopefully diffuse the violence. Cleaning up a bowl of gravy and broken porcelain would be much simpler than cleaning up Llews entrails.
She had read the room correctly, smiling Elspeth set about making more gravy. There was still plenty of sausage ready and the Biscuits warming in the oven. Breakfast for five.
This was the first time Macha had brought Guests to her cabin. Elspeth happily busied herself preparing the breakfast. They could clean up the mess while she made more gravy. Chuckling lightly, Elspeth grinned. The look on all of their faces had been priceless.
Llew realized that the angry little woman had likely just saved his life from an excruciating destruction. The question that riddled Llews mind, was it intentional?
Elsie swept back through the swinging doors, coffee cups dangling from her fingers and a black cast iron kettle which she carefully placed on the hearth. Spacing cups out beside it.
" Michael, could you help me get the rest? "
"Umm, of course!"
Elsie hurried back into the kitchen, Michael reluctantly followed her. Even though there was laughter, the room still vibrated and a chill held the air.
" Just take your time, here try this," Elsie waved bacon under Michaels nose. When he opened his mouth to answer her she shoved the hot greasy bacon into his mouth. It was hot. Fresh from the frying pan. Michael felt his mouth and tongue burning. But, it was bacon so no harm no foul.
Elsie watched the expression flow across Michaels face, surprise morphed into anger into pain into pleasure as he began chewing. Elsie began to giggle herself.
Michael munched on bacon while watching the tiny woman silently. His attention was direct. Elsie giggled uproariously, Michael swallowed bacon and stared at her.
When she had the ability to get self control functional again, Elsie laughingly told Michael to take his time, those four have a lot of baggage to unpack and sort who's what's whys, and hopefully not bathe the room in Llews interior parts.
" There’s more bacon" Elsie picked up the frying pan and waved it towards Michael, " Biscuits are hot and there’s fresh coffee. It will be safer and less messy in here regardless of them murdering him or not. "
Michael grinned realizing the depth of astute manipulation Elsie had used keeping relative peace. The whole bowl of gravy thing was deliberately executed. Michael should have known that anyone associated with that unholy trinity would be devious as well.
There are few things better or more comforting in life, than being fed biscuits and bacon with rich strong sweet coffee by an hobbitish grand-motherly type.
Michael happily munched, sipped, and kept an ear out for smashing noises or cries for help. So far, it was quiet in the big room. Michael was certain only that quiet was as potentially destructive as noisy. While the children raged in the big room.
Michael contentedly munched and sipped his coffee. " You're right! Let them sort it out. Hmmm this is really wunnerful, hey wheres the mop? Do you think that or the snow shovel? " Before Elsie could reply, Michael continued, " no your right! They tend to be abundantly enthusiastic. Both. Snow shovel and a mop! "
Elsie sipped her own coffee eying Michael closely. This one was not stupid after all no matter how brainless and giddy he appeared while Morgan twisted him around her fingers.
Elsie wondered, just who was leading the dance there in fact. Thinking about it, Morgan had been doing her own share of the brainless giddy routine. This suddenly did not seem so predictable.
Elsie resolved to bake a lot while she tries and keep the peace with biscuits, bacon and pastries. Definitely less work than ten minutes stuck in the big room with those focussed four hellions would be.
Truthfully, far less stressful as well. All in all, not the most terrible of portents, far from the best as well. Elsie briefly considered retrieving her body armor and shot gun.
No, she would fight this battle with biscuits and bacon not blade and bullet.
A crash and tinkling of broken glass rang out like four gunshots from the big room.
Elsie rolled her eyes. This would require the powers of fried pies. Eying the various jars of home made preserves. " Seven of each I think, " removing seven random jars and arranging them on the counter.
She had grabbed 3 jars of Apples, two peach, a plum, and black berries. Not just flank em, surround them and massacre their mayhem. Elsie shook her head woefully muttering about irresponsible girls, no respect, etc etc, as she poured flour, mixing the sweet biscuit dough that she made her fried pies from. Elsie muttered " The power of Pie compels you! "
Michael spluttered snorting coffee out of his nose. Elsie watched him smiling.
****†*****†****
Consider the arbitrary nature of definitions.
What is chaos to the fly, is order to the spider.
Right, wrong, black or white, good and evil,
Ultimately depends upon ones perspective. Truly, good and evil are both arbitrary and relative.k
That is why asking is this wrong or right, good or evil is meaningless.
The only true question is,
" Is it a good idea? ”
Should one decide that it is in fact, for whatever reason, a good idea, then it is worth doing.
Even so, what is a good idea for the spider, is a nightmare for the fly.
Everything is relative to your perspective.
Good and Evil are arbitrary definitions, defined only by the relative perspective of, the observer or participants.
There is no universal moral authority, there is only entropy and entanglement.
Llew paced to and fro, hands gesturing, lecturing the Morrigna.
Michael chose discretion as the better part of valor, ducking back into the kitchen.
" Make that a mop, sponge, bucket and shovel.” Elspeth quirked an eyebrow at Michaels statement.
“Part of me wants to be a fly on the wall for this meeting, somehow I think being in the room with them is going to be painful.” Michael snaked a piece of bacon,
" In fact, I do believe nothing would survive the coming blood bath. ” Michael had seen the look on the trinity of chaos faces. Llew , amazingly was oblivious to the storm beginning to brew. Elspeth cracked the door to spy on the quartet.
" They just might kill him this time” Elspeth whispered.
“Well, the power of pie shall compel them.” Elspeth turned back to making her hand pies. Seven each should be about right she decided.
" Michael, would you reach that big bakers bowl down for me please”
Michael set the bowl on the counter. ” Do I interfere or start digging in the back yard? ”
Chuckling,
Elspeth responded ” I have no ideas. It is going to be interesting. Hows your pitching arm? ”
Michael, listened to the storm breaking in the next room. The Morrigna was being deathly silent. Llew however was making noises a body should never imagine let alone experience.
Michael tried to turn back and go investigate the bizarre sounds, Elspeth headed him off by smacking Michael with bacon. ” Eat this, you will need your strength. ”
Bacon has power and reason all of it’s own, sufficient to distract Michael from the odd sounds creeping through the closed door.
His curiosity continued to grow. Laughter, the sound of breaking wood and the other unidentifiable sounds crept their way into the kitchen. Each time Michael moved towards the door Elsie headed him off with bacon.
Things quieted down, Michael munched, and held this, rolled that, passed various ingredients , generally getting in Elsies way while she pretended that Michael was helping.
” We are gonna need a mop! ” I think we need a hammer! ” “Coffee!” Echoed from the Morrigna.
Michael stole a glance into the main room. Llew was on his knees, mouth stifled with, what ever the trio of terror had shoved into it.
That explained the odd noises. Dripping a mix of gravy and hot coffee Llew knelt in the midst of the Morrigna.
Babd fondled a seaxe, Macha held a wooden table leg, Morgan, trembled and gestured shaking as she whispered to Llew.
Creeping up beside him to spy out the situation, Elsie pushed Michael aside and stepped through the doorway throwing still hot fried hand pies at the foursome. The sound of crackling fire and pie filling plopping filled the sudden quiet of the Morrigna. The trio now turned their backs on Llew, to stare in silent consternation at Elsie.
Michael failed to stifle his laughter at the sight of the Morrigna struck silent, splattered with a variety of streaming pie filling. Elsie shoved Michael back into the kitchen. ” The mop and broom are in the closet ” waving her hand towards a white panel door. ” We will not be touching your mess now! Straighten up and at least pretend to be civilized adults if you want breakfast. Be sure, I have a whole platter of hot pies don’t you know. ”
Michael moved to step through the now open doorway. Elsie, not so gently took the mop and broom from him to throw them across the room. ” Breakfast will be at the table in the dinning room in five minutes! Fix your mess! ” Muttering to herself, “I was raised by them, why do I feel like I am raising them?”
Directing Michael to carry the platters and bowls to the large, rough hewn picnic table in the center of the large kitchen.
Elspeth set about setting the table. Muttering and trying to hide her annoyed amusement at the situation. ” At the least there is no bloodshed yet. ”
The Morrigna shoved a stumbling Llew before them as they stepped into the kitchen. Elspeth stood next to the freshly set table, a three foot stainless steel spoon in her hands as if it were a sword. Michael again could not stifle his laughter at the ridiculous circumstances.
Elsie silenced him with a well aimed apple pie. ” You are not helping! ”
" Good children, breakfast is served! ” Elsie proclaimed taking her place at the head of the Table. Michael found himself sitting next to a spluttering Llew spewing feathers and foamy pillow stuffing. The Morrigna found their place together across from Michael and Llew
" I think Llew had breakfast already. ” the trio laughed as they sat at the table.
Fried hand pies, bacon,scrambled eggs with sausage gravy and hot biscuits summoned their Attention. Elspeth sat like a queen on her throne with that spoon held like a scepter glaring at the group.
" You raised me from before I could crawl , now in my old age, I have degenerated into raising a pack of rabid badgers.. ”
Llew wriggled, sputtered, coughing, spitting out bits and pieces of pillow.
” Ach, seems you may already be stuffed, are you sure you can eat anymore? ” The Morrigna Snarled, cackled and spewed venomously.
Michael braced himself as Llew tensed up. Michael planned ahead, mind racing, listing potential moves, actions, planning the death and destruction of Llew should he act upon the obvious fury that crackled, lighting bolts filling his eyes. Llew shocked himself, drawing a deep breath and soothing his own ruffled feathers.
Macha and Badbh, watched Llew closely.
Both were impressed with his obvious restraint and self control.
This was a very different Llew than they had known before.
this was certainly, new and unexplored territory.
what critters lurk in these shadows?
what dangers? what hungers? Each question begat another question which begged yet another question.
Round and round, up, down, in and out, the questions flowed.