The Selkie warriors rushed me as soon as they saw me reach for my sword. What they didn’t know was that I also drew on my Luck magic too.

I’d completely forgotten that each time on the Otherside, my power grew. With no way to measure it, I’d say it grew at least twofold, even without an Oak leaf.

The warriors rushed in, tridents leading the way. Before my sword was even drawn they were already close enough to kabob me. Years of martial arts training kicked in instinctively and I spun backwards, kicking my leg out low for a wind up. Then I dipped my head low and executed a perfect butterfly twist, spinning parallel to the ground through the air like Darth Maul. My Luck magic coursed within me extending out, not just to my hands like usual, but completely around me. Emerald Celtic knots laced their way around my body in intricate patterns. With my magic engaged, I twisted through four incoming tridents that clashed together right where I had been.

I twisted one full rotation, then another two before landing perfectly on the ground outside the circle of warriors.

For a moment they were all caught off guard while they processed just how fast and efficient I’d reacted. They’d probably never seen a mortal human do that before. Also I’d just revealed my magic. While they were stunned I spoke up, resting my hand on my hilt. “I don’t want to fight you so just back off and let me go in peace.” I spoke to the guards, but also to Manann as well.

The guards hesitated for a moment, then Manann yelled, “Restrain him!”

I guess he had his pride to maintain. I didn’t blame him. If he let me simply stroll out of his kingdom he’d look powerless to a mortal. The seconds the guards hesitated was enough for me to draw my sword. I wasn’t going to kill anyone, but I really didn’t want to be skewered either. As one, they sprang at me, obeying the command of their king.

I willed my Luck out through my arms and into my blade. I still felt more power available to draw on, becoming more and more used to the sensation with each use. I leaned into the Luck, letting the power guide me. It coursed through my right hand until my hand radiated emerald light. I envisioned a circular disk of Celtic knots the size of a shield. Then I pushed my vision out through my glowing hand making the shield a reality. It appeared as a small quarter-sized circle on the back of my hand, then rapidly grew in size until it was about two feet in diameter and hovering just above my right forearm. “Dooooope,” I said, excited.

Then the Selkie warriors attacked me again, forcing me to put my new shield to the test. I deflected thrust after thrust of the tridents. Each time they collided with my Luck shield the emerald circle pulsed and flared, but held strong. This freed up my other arm to fend off attacks with my glowing sword. Not wanting to kill anyone, I launched well placed kicks to knees, groins, and faces until many of the warriors were grounded, groaning from my Luck empower attacks. Smirking and standing triumphant, I was in complete surprise when Manann grasped his woven cloak firmly, throwing it over himself and vanished.

Before I could register what happened, he materialized before me. I raised my shield out of instinct. With one massive arm, his thews rippling, he backhanded my shield, shattering the magic with his closed fist. The force flung me back, but his other arm shot out faster than a flash flood, clasping my shirt, and wretched me back towards him. Rage-filled eyes rushed to mine as he headbutted me into unconsciousness.

---

Who knew how long I sat in the underwater half of Manann’s palace, down in the dungeons? One hour? Several hours? Eight hours? The throbbing headache made it hard to concentrate.

I tried to break free but the Selkie shape shifting guards wielding tridents made sure to put a quick end to that. Plus the cell was magic proof, like a dead zone without phone service. I had all but given up as I lay on my back in the cell. I didn’t even want Manan mac Lir’s stupid sword anymore. I just wanted to get back home and take some Tylenol, some Ibuprofen, and watch Dwight try to take over The Office. Then I heard guards calling and scrambling down the hall leaving me all alone.

“Hello?” I called out. No answer. Great. All alone in some stupid dungeon.

Whistling and soft hoof beats echoed off the dungeon walls. I heard a familiar voice full of glee. “There he is. Hahahaha.”

A smile spread across my face. “Where have you been Rob? And how did you find me?”

“I got scared of all the tridents. Plus I’m not on good terms with Manann, so I hid. Forgot to mention that earlier.”

Behind Rob emerged Enbarr, the majestic mare.

“She led me right to you.”

“Great,” I said. “Can you bust me out?”

“Got you covered boss.” Rob dangled a ring of cell keys. “Just need to figure out which one of these it is.”

I sighed. There were a lot of keys to go through. But I didn’t have anywhere else to go. Rob rambled on. “This place is amazing. They have Selkies here. Real Selkies!”

“The key Rob. Find the key,” I said, putting him back on task.

Ecstatic, the hob continued shuffling through keys, but forgetting to try any of them on the lock. “They say Manann’s got the silver apple branch, or maybe the whole tree, or access to it. I looked around for a grove, but no luck yet.”

“Rob.”

“...maybe some landscaped garden open to sunlight. Does a silver tree need sunlight?”

“Rob.”

“...ran into Niamh of the Golden Hair, Manann’s daughter. Whew. Talk about beautiful. Smoking hot. I’d bet her hairstylist saves the hair and sells it. I would. It’s literally gold, for Dagda’s sake.”

“ROB!”

He flinched, dropping the keys.

“Focus pal,” I said, raising my palms toward the cell bars.

“Oh. Hahaha. Right.” He picked up the keys, scowling. “I’ll have to start over.”

I face palmed, then regretted it instantly because of my headache. “Just get me out.”

After a while Rob finally figured out which key it was. My cell door opened with an audible click. I emerged from my cell ready to get the heck out of there. Rob handed me my confiscated belongings. I donned the cap, the Mossberg, and Jade.

I remembered the route the guards brought me. “Follow me.”

He tugged my arm. “She wants us to follow her.”

Duh. She knew her way around this place better than I did.

We followed Enbarr through the palace clinging to dark navy blue shadows. Several times we had to duck into extravagant arched doorways to remain hidden from the guards, but Enbarr kept moving, not waiting for us, causing us to have to sprint to catch up. The further we went the more I had the feeling that Enbarr was leading us back to the heart of the palace and not out of it. I voiced my opinion to Rob.

Rob chuckled. “Of course she’s not leading us out of the palace. Why would she do that?”

I grabbed Rob by the neck. “We need to get out of here. The longer we’re moseying around this palace, the more chances we have for Manan mac Lir to change his mind and execute me. Tell her if she could please get us out of here that would be super helpful.”

Rob smiled. “I don’t have to tell her that. She understood you perfectly.”

Enbarr had stopped walking for a moment and then resumed direction we were already heading.

“So if she can understand me why is she still heading the same direction?”

“She wants to help you get it first.”

“Get what first?”

He clasped his hands together grinning from ear to ear.

“She’s going to help you get… Oh we’re here.”