Book 2. Sacred Hills. The Will of the Gods.

By Olga Kryuchkova

Ancient Ireland. Dark Ages.
In the sacred city of Tara, ruled by King Conaire, preparations are underway for the Samhain celebration. On this day, Samhain opens a passage to the Otherworld. A conflict is brewing between King Conaire and his wife Fiona. This is due to the illegitimate son of King Ingel One-eyed. He behaves defiantly and does not respect the Queen and her daughters. Fiona intends to overthrow the king and kill Ingel. Cathbad and his youngest daughter Deichtine travel to Tara for the Samhain festival. After which Cathbad, the king and their retinues travel to the Sacred Valley to perform the proper ritual. During the ritual, Cathbad predicts difficult times for the sacred Tara.
Cade, laird of Tailtiu and subject of King Conaire, falls in love with Deichtine. The female druid Moyriot, who accompanied Cathbad, learns of a conspiracy against King Conaire.
On the night of Samhain, Cade enters the Otherworld. He spends the night in the arms of a princess from the Otherworld named Ethniu. But he refuses to stay with her. Then Ethniu curses Cade and his beloved Deichtine.
A mercenary tries to kill Ingel One-Eye. Ingel is between life and death. At this moment he finds himself in the realm of the god of war Toutatis. Toutatis promises to keep Ingel alive in exchange for his oath of allegiance. Laird of Tailtiu marry Deichtine. King Conaire intends to make Deichtine his concubine. Young Lady of Tailtiu tries to resist the wishes of the king.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olga Kryuchkova
• Release date: Mar 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215004685

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 2. Sacred hills. The Will of the Gods

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

Ancient Ireland. Dark Ages.

In the sacred city of Tara, ruled by King Conaire, preparations are underway for the Samhain celebration. On this day, Samhain opens a passage to the Otherworld. A conflict is brewing between King Conaire and his wife Fiona. This is due to the illegitimate son of King Ingel One-eyed. He behaves defiantly and does not respect the Queen and her daughters. Fiona intends to overthrow the king and kill Ingel. Cathbad and his youngest daughter Deichtine travel to Tara for the Samhain festival. After which Cathbad, the king and their retinues travel to the Sacred Valley to perform the proper ritual. During the ritual, Cathbad predicts difficult times for the sacred Tara.

Cade, laird of Tailtiu and subject of King Conaire, falls in love with Deichtine. The female druid Moyriot, who accompanied Cathbad, learns of a conspiracy against King Conaire.

On the night of Samhain, Cade enters the Otherworld. He spends the night in the arms of a princess from the Otherworld named Ethniu. But he refuses to stay with her. Then Ethniu curses Cade and his beloved Deichtine.

A mercenary tries to kill Ingel One-Eye. Ingel is between life and death. At this moment he finds himself in the realm of the god of war Toutatis. Toutatis promises to keep Ingel alive in exchange for his oath of allegiance. Laird of Tailtiu marry Deichtine. King Conaire intends to make Deichtine his concubine. Young Lady of Tailtiu tries to resist the wishes of the king.

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 2. Sacred hills. The Will of the Gods

... The sacrificial knife gleamed in the hands of the druid,

And the nemeton was filled with death cries.

Scarlet blood flowed into the bowl,

Ancient Crom Cruach silently listens to the action.

Druids will drink sacrificial blood,

And they will offer their prayer to heaven...

Chapter 1

I am the wind of the deep sea.

Conaire, King of Tara and overlord of Oriel, listened attentively to high druid Eogan.

The festival of Samhain is coming, my King.

Samhain is a festival that took place on the night of October 31 to November 1. It was believed that on this day a passage to the Other World opens and one should appease the god of shadows, Balor, and evil spirits with generous sacrifices. At the same time, vigilance should be exercised, otherwise the spirits can lure a person to the Underworld. Samhain meant the arrival of winter. It was associated with the mythical Old Woman, that is, with death.

...The King nodded.

I remember this very well and I will order the best bulls to be prepared for the sacrifice.

Yes, my King... Eogan replied and looked meaningfully at the King.

Tell me what's on your mind? Conaire studied the behavior of the druid perfectly, because he was at the Court of Tara for almost ten years. And he knew from experience that Eogan kept something back.

The last two years have not been easy for the Kingdom. The Fomorians are increasingly tormenting the southern lands. They take women and girls to the Valley of Death.

I know about it! Conaire could not stand it and jerked up from his chair. You reproach me that my warriors cannot cope with otherworldly powers?!

No, my King! Everyone knows: Fomorians are not vulnerable, because they are the spirits of evil. There were daredevils who went to the rescue of their wives or brides in the Valley of Death, but none of them returned.

Is that what you want from me? the King was losing patience.

My King, I ask you to send a messenger to Armagh to Cathbad himself. Everyone knows about his power, none of us, druids, can compare with him. Let him himself make a sacrifice in the sacred valley of Magh Slecht on the festival of Samhain.

Conaire thought.

So be it! Send Cathbad my invitation to attend Samhain, supported, of course, with generous gifts.

***

Samhain was approaching. Tara was seething with rumors, everyone was waiting for the arrival of Ollam Cathbad himself. There were a variety of rumors about him: allegedly, he was a tall, thin old man with a long gray beard that reached the ground, and in this beard his magical power. Or that he allegedly knows how to fly like a bird, and will certainly arrive in Tara by air along with his retinue. He is also served by a female druid, she can summon such a fog that the entire Kingdom will disappear.

Regarding the latest version, especially curious townspeople asked: what about us? Where are we going? Will we live in the fog, or what? There is nothing to see!

But, alas, no one could give them a clear answer.

King Conaire also looked forward to the Ollam. He had seen Cathbad a long time ago when he visited Emain Macha on business of national importance. Then Cathbad was still relatively young, he was forty-two years old. Almost ten years have passed since then. What was the Ollam like? Maybe he really let his beard grow to the ground and learned to fly, as they say in Tara? Who knows...

Conaire's thoughts were interrupted — Fiona, his wife, entered the hall.

Am I distracting you from your thoughts, my King? she asked softly and bowed.

No, no... Please, sit down, Conaire motioned for his wife to sit down in a chair with a high carved back and looked at her inquiringly.

I would never dare to disturb you... the Queen trailed off, not knowing how to continue. I don’t really know where to start the conversation...

Start with the essentials, advised Conaire.

Fiona's eyes