The Last Days of Magic Read Online Free Page B

they would be tested early and severely. Anya and Aisling were born the Morrígna—the Test had proved that; however, the reincarnated Morrígna arrived trapped in their human shells. From that day they had to be taught to connect to their Goddess selves and to strip away their human frailties fortified by fear and insecurity. They had to learn to act as one, in order to bring the Morrígna to the forefront of their being, and be trained to control the supernatural power that would be fully unleashed upon their coronation.
    To prepare for his role, Haidrean had studied the journals of the earlier tutors and discovered that preceding sets of Morrígna twins had found it increasingly difficult to transcend their human limitations. The last set never fully merged. It had looked as if this world was becoming less willing to accept the Goddess. Then, when the current Anya and Aisling were born, suddenly every druid in Ireland began foretelling that they would become the strongest twins in an age. That prediction was the source of his worries as he watched Anya creating another ball of wax. If the Morrígna needed to manifest such strong physical aspects, these twins must be destined to face some monumental challenge.
    Haidrean wondered anew if the Skeaghshee—tree-worshipping Sidhe who were in increasing conflict with the Celts—were truly going to submit to the twins’ authority or if they were the threat that had called the Morrígna back to this world. The Skeaghshee’s insolent King Kellach had not returned the Morrígna heart segment left in trust with his clan as required by law. When that segment went missing seven years back, druids stopped predicting how powerful the current twins would be and instead began trying to foresee how much their strength would be impaired.
    No, he thought, the Roman Church would be the main threat. He just hoped he had been a worthy teacher.
    “The Vatican doesn’t worry me, no matter how strong they have become,” said Anya, as if reading his mind.
    “They should worry you,” replied Haidrean. “The condottieri army of indentured prisoners, mercenaries, spies, and assassins assembled by Cardinal Albornoz reunited the Papal States and returned the pope to Rome from his Babylonian captivity in Avignon.”
    “The bishop of Rome is back in Rome. How convenient.” Anya laughed.
    “Few in Europe found it funny. The Vatican’s new army killed everyone in their path who’d opposed the restoration of a Roman pope. Since then the Vatican has been consolidating independent Christian factions at the point of a sword. Now the new pope eyes the remaining church holdouts, and the Irish Church is the largest by far. Their home in our land vexes him as much as does our alliance with the Middle Kingdom.”
    “My forces will keep them out of my lands,” Anya said.
    “As the power of the Morrígna has kept the Vatican’s forces at bay, so have Rome’s forces kept us confined to these islands. The Skeaghshee may be your first challenge once you assume your throne, but I’m sure the Roman Church will be your greatest,” replied Haidrean.
    Anya leaned her chair back to balance on two legs. “You promised to tell me how you became a druid, but you haven’t yet. Tell me now.”
    Haidrean knew she was trying to distract him to avoid further history lessons; he also knew that underneath her playfulness she was anxious about her pending enthronement. The wind rattled a window screen free, and it fell. He caught it with a spell and sealed it back in place. Corporeal magic had once been an embarrassing weakness of his, but to his wonderment even these enchantments had worked well for him since the twins arrived.
    Anya was waiting expectantly. Unable to resist her request, Haidrean began, “I was called, without knowing I was being called, as all true druids are.
    “I’d borrowed my father’s silver knife and before dawn went out to gather purple betony for a healing potion. As I rested at a well