Something was undeniably wrong.
Both Kevin and Scathach could sense it, even Cu Chulainn, who seldom relied on logic, felt the dissonance in King Fergal's actions. Fergal had attempted to use his daughters as bargaining chips once before, which was strange enough, but now he was doing it again. This time, however, Kevin's repeated defiance of his authority should have driven the king to abandon negotiations and resort to force.
Yet here he was, offering terms like a merchant peddling wares.
The princesses exchanged glances, their confusion mirroring Kevin's growing unease.
"Stupid B?" Fergal repeated, his tone a mixture of irritation and confusion. It was clear he didn't understand the insult, but Kevin's tone and expression conveyed the message loud and clear.
His face darkened. "So, you are determined to resist me?"
Kevin's smile turned sharp, his voice calm yet dripping with challenge. "I was just wondering, Your Majesty, how you knew of the friction between Ulster and Connacht."
Fergal's eyes narrowed.
Kevin continued, his tone turning deliberate. "My brother and I rode divine horses from our father's domain. We crossed the distance in a matter of days—what should have taken the fastest mortal courier over ten. At first, I thought it might be the work of your druids, but now..." His smile faded. "It's clear there's something more at play here."
A heavy silence followed, broken only by the faint shuffling of guards.
Fergal studied Kevin with an appraising gaze before nodding slightly. "You are as clever as I suspected." His admission came with no small measure of disdain. "Yes, they offered me many gifts and promises to ensure I captured you. Cuchulainn may leave with his bride if he wishes, but you, Kevin—you must stay."
"What is the meaning of this?" Cu Chulainn demanded, his patience finally snapping.
"It's simple," Kevin replied, his voice steady. "I'm a variable." He turned to his brother, his expression serious. "They ignored me when I was weak, but now…"
Kevin let his words hang in the air. The implications were clear.
Not everyone on the continent welcomed the idea of destiny being rewritten. Kevin, a man without a predetermined fate, represented both an opportunity and a threat. To some, his very existence undermined the divine balance; to others, he was a beacon of hope.
But to those who relied on prophecy and divine foresight, Kevin was an abomination—a wrench thrown into the well-oiled machinery of fate.
Cu Chulainn's eyes widened slightly as understanding dawned. "So, it's not just about us—it's about you."
Kevin nodded grimly. "Not everyone's eager to see the future rewritten."
Fergal's voice broke the tension. "That's why I offer you a way out, Kevin. Become one of my people. Pledge your allegiance to me, and you can avoid this fate entirely."
"You're asking me to abandon my identity, my brother, and my father's legacy," Kevin replied evenly. "To renounce everything I stand for."
"Exactly," Fergal said, a note of triumph in his voice. "You are a smart man, Kevin."
Kevin sighed deeply, bowing slightly in mock gratitude. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I still don't understand what you see in me, but…" He straightened, his voice hardening. "I'm afraid I must decline. Just as my brother faces the future without fear, so too will I!"
Even before he finished speaking, Scathach had silently moved behind him. Her fingers traced intricate runes in the air, magic shimmering faintly under the dim light.
Scathach's crimson eyes lingered on Kevin's back, an expression of quiet curiosity flickering across her face. This was a side of Kevin she rarely saw—a serious, resolute warrior.
"It seems my choice to follow him was the right one," she thought. "Some things must be witnessed firsthand."
With a brilliant flash of light, Scathach completed the rune. Kevin, Cu Chulainn, and Scathach vanished amidst Fergal's furious roar and the shouts of guards.
The trio reappeared elsewhere in the castle, not far from their original position.
Runes, while powerful, were not omnipotent. It was only a matter of time before the guards tracked them down.
"Two choices," Kevin began without missing a beat. "You take Emer and escape while Scathach and I cover your retreat—"
"I choose the second one!" Cu Chulainn interrupted, his voice firm.
Kevin smiled faintly, unsurprised by the response. "Then Master will take Emer. I'll hold the line."
"I'm sorry," Emer whispered, her voice trembling. She knew she had become a burden.
Kevin waved off her apology. "It's fine. Master will protect you. And if she doesn't…" He shot Scathach a playful grin. "Cu Chulainn might storm her castle and throw a tantrum."
Scathach rolled her eyes but said nothing, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips.
The sound of approaching guards grew louder. Kevin and Cu Chulainn exchanged a look before blowing their whistles in unison. Moments later, their divine horses galloped into view, breaking free of their restraints.
Behind them, the shouts of armed men echoed through the hallways.
"Found them!"
"Kill them!"
"The king offers a great reward for their heads!"
Kevin sighed, rolling his eyes. "You'd think they'd come up with something more original. Like 'For the glory of the king!' or something."
Cu Chulainn laughed despite himself. "And yet, here we are."
With a nod of understanding, Cu Chulainn helped Emer onto one of the horses. Scathach mounted the other, her movements graceful and deliberate.
"Master," Kevin called out, his tone uncharacteristically earnest. "Please keep her safe."
Scathach glanced at him, her gaze inscrutable. She nodded once before riding off with Emer, the divine horses galloping at an incredible pace.
As the sound of hoofbeats faded, Kevin turned to Cu Chulainn, his magic sword gleaming in the dim light.
"You know," Kevin began, his voice laced with humor, "you really should have taken the first option. Scathach and I work well together—man and woman teaming up, you know? It's efficient."
Cu Chulainn snorted. "And leave my wife? Over my dead body."
"Fair point."
With that, Kevin reached into his silver bag and pulled out three magic fruits. He popped them into his mouth without hesitation.
"Why are you eating those now?" Cu Chulainn asked, his magic spear glowing with runic energy.
"Replenishing my magic," Kevin mumbled through a mouthful of fruit.
As the guards burst into the chamber, Kevin raised his sword, now radiating a brilliant silver light. He took a deep breath, the runes on his body glowing brighter as he called out the weapon's true name.
"Flagrak!"
A blinding silver beam erupted from the sword, slicing through the castle walls and illuminating the crimson-hued twilight.
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