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Cú Chulainn's back was exposed. He couldn't move out of the way quickly enough. He'd have to take the blow and pray to the gods it took his life rather than his legs. He couldn't imagine living without the capacity of his legs.

A roar startled Cú Chulainn. He quickly turned in time to see a red blur of fur and fury collide with Forgall, knocking him from the wall. The two hit the ground outside the fortress walls with a thud.

"No!" Cú Chulainn shouted.

But it was too late. Aife had already sunk her fangs into Forgall's gut. Even if he'd survived the fall, by some kind of miracle, he wouldn't survivethat.

The sound of weeping to Cú Chulainn's left arrested his attention.

"Emer," Cú Chulainn said, his voice trembling. "I'm sorry... I didn't want this..."

Emer ran and embraced Cú Chulainn. "I saw what he did to you... how he tricked you... it is I who am sorry."

Cú Chulainn nodded. "I wish things could have been different between us. But you are to be married to a king..."

"I do not love the king!" Emer said. "And besides, the contract of betrothal is now null with my father's death."

Cú Chulainn sighed. "After what I've done, how could I dare take you as my wife?"

"You saved me from a marriage to a man I could never love. My father wanted to make me a queen. But Lugaid mac Nóis is a tyrant. A brute. You've saved me from a life of misery. Or at least you shall if you will have me, still."

Cú Chulainn stood there in disbelief. Forgall was dead. He'd expected Emer would hate him for it. But he wasn't the one who'd killed her father. He looked down at Aife. She stood there, now transformed back into her human form, her face now three shades redder than her hair. "Come with me, lover! It is done!"

Cú Chulainn took a deep breath. "I told younotto kill him. You said you understood!"

"I said I understood, I did not say I agree! This is what is best for our son!"

"Your son?" Emer asked, taking two steps back.

Cú Chulainn shook his head. "I am sorry..."

Emer took a deep breath then shook her head. "I admit, it is a shock to hear. But why should I hold that against you? You and I were never intended until now. That is, should you accept my proposal."

Cú Chulainn nodded. He turned again toward Aife. "Leave, woman. Leave and never return to me!"

"You would abandon your son forher?"

"It was not I who abandoned him. It was you who abandoned me when you killed Forgall."

"I saved your life, you ingrate!"

Cú Chulainn shook his head. "I'd rather die than live with this man's blood on my hands."

"Forgall was right!" Aife shouted. "You are a coward! Our son will be better off never having known a father of suchweakresolve. Cursed are you, Cú Chulainn! You will never find peace. You will never sleep another night knowing at any moment I might be there, ready to exact the blow to your back you should have received on this day. For the sake of our child, I will havemyvengeance!"

A raven—the same who'd appeared before the attack—flew and perched itself on Cú Chulainn's shoulder.

Cú Chulainn... I shall come for you, soon, my love...

A shiver went down Cú Chulainn's spine. Did he really hear the raven speak those words, or was it merely in his head? As the raven flew away, Emer took his hand into hers.

"Come with me, my love."

Was it Emer who'd spoken before? He could swear it was the raven who spoke, who'd called him 'my love.' But the day's events had probably warped his mind. Even shifting in and out of the ríastrad sometimes gave him temporary delusions. That had to be what it was. The raven, he figured, must've been a delusion. After all, ravens don't speak. And they don't generally land on men's shoulders.

But he knew the ravenhadbeen there. And as strange as it was that the raven would perch itself on his shoulder was the way it disappeared. He didn't see it fly away. It just... disappeared.

How odd, Cú Chulainn thought as he interlaced his fingers with Emer's.