Book 1. Sacred Hills. The Runaway Bride.

By Olga Kryuchkova

Ancient Ireland. Dark Ages. Naisi and his brother Ainle left the war-torn hometown of Uisneach in the kingdom of Ui Neill. They headed to the walled city of Dundalk to enlist in the service of Laird Fergus. The brothers were moving across the wide plain when they heard Banshee crying. Hence, one of them must die. However, the brothers made it to Dundalk and entered the service. Soon, together with a detachment of warriors, they headed to Emain-Macha, the capital of the kingdom of Ulster-Ulaid.
In the city, they meet their grandfather, the druid Cathbad. Cathbad occupies a prominent position in the royal court and is the arch druid. However, the druid does not feel love for their grandchildren. Meanwhile, King Conchobar intends to marry. He chooses as his wife a very young girl Deirdre, the daughter of one of the noble lairds. However, Cathbad does not approve of this marriage. Cathbad believes that the king should marry his niece. Through a cunning intrigue, Cathbad manages to convince the king to send Deirdre to a distant castle surrounded by many lakes. Laird Fergus ordered Ainle and Naisi to guard the girl, since she is still considered the king's bride.
Upon arrival at the castle, the brothers are faced with a manifestation of magical powers. Naisi falls in love with Deirdre and the girl loves him. Soon Ainle ends up on an island located on one of the lake islands near the castle. He meets the female druid Moyriot.
The woman is a helper Cathbad and she is also interested that the king did not marry Deirdre. Moyriot performs an ancient magic ritual and becomes invulnerable. Moyriot deceives the forces of the Otherworld. And now Ainle is in both the World of the Living and the World of the Dead. After all, it was his death that Banshee mourned in the wide valley. Moyriot on the orders of Cathbad helps the brothers and the bride of the king escape from the castle. At parting, Moyriot gave Ainle a magic amulet to protect the young man from evil forces. What awaits them in the future? To be continued.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olga Kryuchkova
• Release date: Mar 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215978405

Olga Kryuchkova

Olga Kryuchkova began her creative career in 2006. During this time, the author had more than 100 publications and reprints (historical novels, historical adventures, esotericism, art therapy, fantasy). A number of novels were co-written with Elena Kryuchkova.

Book preview

Olga Kryuchkova

Series The Magic of the Druids

Book 1. Sacred hills. The Runaway Bride

The cover of the book is based on an illustration from Pixabay.

Ancient Ireland. Dark Ages.

Naisi and his brother Ainle left the war-torn hometown of Uisneach in the kingdom of Ui Neill. They headed to the walled city of Dundalk to enlist in the service of Laird Fergus. The brothers were moving across the wide plain when they heard Banshee crying. Hence, one of them must die. However, the brothers made it to Dundalk and entered the service. Soon, together with a detachment of warriors, they headed to Emain-Macha, the capital of the kingdom of Ulster-Ulaid.

In the city, they meet their grandfather, the druid Cathbad. Cathbad occupies a prominent position in the royal court and is the arch druid. However, the druid does not feel love for their grandchildren. Meanwhile, King Conchobar intends to marry. He chooses as his wife a very young girl Deirdre, the daughter of one of the noble lairds. However, Cathbad does not approve of this marriage. Cathbad believes that the king should marry his niece. Through a cunning intrigue, Cathbad manages to convince the king to send Deirdre to a distant castle surrounded by many lakes. Laird Fergus ordered Ainle and Naisi to guard the girl, since she is still considered the king's bride.

Upon arrival at the castle, the brothers are faced with a manifestation of magical powers. Naisi falls in love with Deirdre and the girl loves him. Soon Ainle ends up on an island located on one of the lake islands near the castle. He meets the female druid Moyriot.

The woman is a helper Cathbad and she is also interested that the king did not marry Deirdre. Moyriot performs an ancient magic ritual and becomes invulnerable. Moyriot deceives the forces of the Otherworld. And now Ainle is in both the World of the Living and the World of the Dead. After all, it was his death that Banshee mourned in the wide valley. Moyriot on the orders of Cathbad helps the brothers and the bride of the king escape from the castle. At parting, Moyriot gave Ainle a magic amulet to protect the young man from evil forces. What awaits them in the future? To be continued.

Geographic names

1 — Donegal

2 — Breifne

3 — Connacht

4 — Ulster

5 — Ui Neill

6 — Ulaid

7 — Oriel

8 — Osraige

9 — Land of Fomorians (Fomorians were considered wild bloodthirsty tribes)

10 — Leinster

11 — An t-Eilean

12 — Dee River

13 — Bref Seola

14 — Siatrag

15 — Shannon River

16 — Mountain Derryveagh

17 — Lough Erne Lake

18 — Dundalk

19 — Muirthemne plat

20 — Doom Baruch

21 — Lough Kerry Lake

22 — Uisneach

23 — Lough Ree Lake

24 — Mullingar

25 — pass

26 — Fermanagh

27 — Dal Cuse

28 — Mourne Mountains

29 — Lough Neagh Lake

30 — Dal Fiatach

31 — Lough Kohal Lake

32 — White Field Hill

33 — Armagh

34 — Kerry Mountains

35 — Emain Macha

36 — Antrim Mountains

37 — MacGillycuddy's Reeks

38 — Aengus

39 — Maonbroc

40 — Talam Morc

41 — Alne

42 — Laigin

43 — Erin Sea (Erin — the ancient Celtic name of Ireland)

44 — Boyne River

45 — Brega plat

46 — Donnybrook

47 — Tailtiu

48 — Dublin

49 — Tara

50 — Bree Leith Hill

51 — Magh Slecht Valley

52 — Slieve Corragh

53 — Slievenaglogh

54 — Bruge

55 — Ford

56 — Midir

57 — Wicklow Mountains

58 — Liffey River

59 — Valley of Death

60 — Wade

Book 1. The Runaway Bride

... The grass is green in the endless meadows,

Herds graze on the plains of Uisneach,

The rivers Shannon and Dee carry their waters...

Salmon swim in them.

Mounts Antrim and MacGillycuddy rise.

They are full of silver, gold and transparent stone, like a tear.

The roar of a deer in the woods drowns out the chirping of birds.

The Mad Dogs of Fermanagh are wearing armor,

Wearing wolf skins over them.

And they come down from the foothills of Wicklow,

To seize the fertile lands of Ui Neill.

Their swords and combat knives bring blood and death...

Chapter 1

I am the sparkling tear of the sun.

Naisi and his elder brother Ainle, barely moving from fatigue, approached Uisneach. They were covered with the smell of burning and dried blood.

Naisi was breathing heavily, his injured shoulder was aching, his head was spinning, he was tormented by intense thirst...

I can’t, I have no more strength... the young man said in a barely audible voice and collapsed to the ground.

Just a little more, be patient. Uisneach is already visible. I hope that our house survived... Ainle tried to cheer up. He sat down on the ground next to his younger brother. Lean on me like this... Just a little more...

Naisi let out a groan, an unbearable pain pierced his shoulder.

Damn the kings of Fermanagh! The wealth of our land does not give them peace! he exclaimed.

The rulers of Fermanagh have been attacking Ui Neill since ancient times, Ainle remarked.

Naisi grabbed his brother's neck with his right hand and stood up with difficulty.

Good. Now let's go... Help us Danu...

He turned to Danu — the goddess of fertility and progenitor mother.

As the brothers approached Uisneach, the second largest city in the Kingdom of Ui Neill, a bleak picture unfolded before them. Most of the houses were burned down; and their owners, disfigured by the blows of swords and spears of the ruthless warriors of Fermanagh, lay lifeless near their dwellings.

Naisi noticed a very young girl, her bloody clothes were torn — it is obvious that the warriors of Fermanagh did not miss the opportunity to frolic before killing the unfortunate one. From this picture, Naisi, who knew the ‘taste’ of blood, and more than once looked into the face of death on the battlefield, became ill. He fought, first of all, with warriors, and not with women, trying to protect his property. And the army of Fermanagh came not only to rob, but also to kill... The ruthless people, dressed in skins, descended from the foothills of Wicklow, hated the inhabitants of the land of Ui Neill, and no one remembered: why exactly?

The brothers reached the city center without hindrance, the possession of the ruler of Uisneach was badly damaged, but still the house, although it bore traces of robbery, and the broch watch tower remained almost unscathed.

The young men noticed a small group of people, probably the people of Logrien, the ruler of the city. They also stopped, and, fearing for their lives, putting their spears forward, prepared to repel the attack.

Ainle raised his hand as a sign of peaceful intentions.

We are people of Uisneach. You have nothing to fear...

One of Logrien's men nodded.

Now I see it in your armor. Forgive me, brave warriors, for not recognizing you... You understand... he gestured at the destruction that reigned around. We have to be overly vigilant.

From where you go? asked Naisi.

From the northern spurs of MacGillycuddy.

Ainle nodded knowingly: everyone in Ui Neill knew that the MacGillycuddy Mountains were rich in silver and gold deposits. The kings of Fermanagh had long dreamed of profiting from precious metals and sent part of the army to the mountain spurs, where there were many mines and wealth extracted from the belly of the earth, which was never exported to Uisneach and Mullingar.

What about Lord Logrien? Is he alive?

Yes, but he is injured. Now everything is in the hands of Danu...

The brothers, moving their legs with difficulty, went on, hoping to see their house, but... Alas, only ashes remained from their dwelling.

Naisi broke down and wept. Memories from distant childhood involuntarily flooded back, before his eyes appeared the dear image of his mother.

Stop that! You are a warrior! You stained your sword with the blood of your enemies! It is not fitting for you to weep like a woman near a funeral pyre, Ainle was indignant.

We have lost everything... How are we going to live? Uisneach is ruined, there is nowhere to wait for help... Logrien is wounded: it is not known whether he will survive?

Ainle was also in disarray, although he tried to keep calm outwardly. He was well aware that the Kingdom of Ui Neill was waiting for several hungry, bleak years ahead, until strength returned to the devastated land.

Thank the deities, our parents are in Iveriad (Iveriad: Other World in the novel), and they don’t see what’s going on here...

Who knows, maybe they see... Ainle answered thoughtfully. I know what to do.

Naisi looked at his brother in surprise.

And what?

"We are the sons of Elva, daughter of the high druid Cathbad. Our grandfather is actually the second person in Ulster-Ulaid