resist, Bast roared a third time. Luveh-Keraphf screamed as his form disintegrated, but the dust did not settle to the ground. Instead it swirled about in a vast cloud, which drifted towards the ceiling. As Medb watched, the dust streamed up into the joints between the blocks and disappeared.
Ohbaeda opened his eyes and looked at the image. Bast turned around to face the Hierophant, Her head reverting to that of a house cat. She smiled at him as he cradled the statue to his breast.
You have done well, Ohbaeda of Inganok; you have cleansed your city of the stain of its past crime. I now bestow My Blessings upon you and your city. Her eyes glowed, and the old priest was bathed in a cloud of golden light. He sighed with pleasure, and, as it faded, he stood straight and tall again, his injuries healed and his body revitalized.
The image turned back to the altar as Medb slowly sat up.
My most profound and grateful thanks, Medb hErenn. I am indebted to you. May you prosper, both here and in the Waking World, and know that wherever you may be, My children will forever honor you for your service to them in My name.
Even as the words faded, so did the image, until both disappeared. Ohbaeda walked up to the altar, reverently set the statue of Bast down, then helped her to stand. Though unsteady at first, she quickly recovered her strength.
"I, too, thank you for your intervention," he told her. "Without it, I might have compounded the crime of my ancestor and cursed my city forever. Know this, Mayv of Ulthar, you shall always be welcome in Inganok, and should you ever need my assistance, do not hesitate to call upon me."
Next he addressed Creme: "Master of Travelers, I thank you for your bravery, and I beseech you humbly to inform Her Most Serene Feline Majesty of what transpired here today, and of the blessing that Bast has granted Inganok. Please ask her to lift her ban on our city, so that once more cats may grace our streets, our balconies, and our homes."
Solemnly, Creme looked up at the Hierophant. "I would be honored to present your petition to the queen."
"I shall plead your case myself," she said.
And Teehar, who had alighted on her shoulder, piped, "And I will help her."
By that time, Conaed had ambled over to the altar, and he sat beside the young tomcat. "I, too, will aide thee, Holy One."
Tears brimmed in his eyes. "I thank you, my friends, both for myself and for my people."
She eyed the old priest closely. Though the healing glow of Bast had vanished, nonetheless his countenance had lost its sorrow and seemed to shine with renewed hope and faith. She felt herself attracted to him, and she lay a hand on the small of his back.
"Tell me, do your vows include chastity?"
Ohbaeda's only answer was an enigmatic smile as he escorted them back up the stairs.
The next day, the population of the city gathered in the courtyard of the huge onyx palace of the Veiled King. From one of his many balconies high above, in a grandiose and flowery speech that lasted for longer than an hour, he declared that forever more would Ohbaeda the Hierophant, Cremedevoyageur, and Medb and her companions be known as the Lions of Inganok for their service to the city. The crowd cheered its approval even as she and Ohbaeda bowed to each other and to Creme.
Afterwards, she chose to stay for a few days more before returning to Ulthar, and she was gratified to discover that the old priest's vows in fact did not include celibacy.
Glossary and Pronunciation Guide
Ach (ahck)--an exclamatory word similar to "Oh"
Carbhfind (KAHR-vihn)--white stag; former adventurer turned farmer
Celephais (KEH-lah-face)--the ruling city-state of the Land of Ooth-Nargai
Clairseach (KLAR-shuhck)--the heroic harp of the ancient Irish Celts
Conaed (CON-ayd)--bright fire; Zoog companion of Medb hErenn
Connacht (KOHN-nuhckt)--one of the five provinces of ancient Ireland
Crown-- a coin containing one ounce of gold; the royal currency of Celephais
Damnaigh (DAWM-neye)--damnation
Giorac (GYUH-ruhk)--panic; a thaumaturgical spell that induces mindless terror in a target
Glamour--magic, especially fairy magic; the magic of illusion
Inganok (INN-ga-nock)--the onyx city-state of the Land of Kaar in the North
Medb hErenn (MAYV HAIR-rayn)--Maeve of Ireland
Ohbaeda (oh-BAY-duh)--hierophant of the temple of the Elder Beings in Inganok
Seidhloch (SHEYE-lohck)--a moneylender of Ulthar and Medb's employer
Selgach Mor (SHEH-lih-guhck MOHR)--great hunter; the name Medb christened the Cat Queen
Setim (SHEH-teem)--blow; a thaumaturgical spell that strikes a target with a physical blow
Tahler (TAH-lehr)--a coin containing one ounce of silver; the basic currency of the Dreamlands
Teehar'owan (tee-HAR-oh-won)--The Sorrowful One; bird companion of Medb
Tiotadhnia (TIH-tah-nee-ah)--daughter of [a] Titan; proprietress of the most popular pleasure house in Ulthar
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For more information on Medb hErenn, see the official site [https://www.medbherenn.com/].
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About the Author
Kevin L. O'Brien was born with a pen in his hand.
Well, not quite, but he has been writing for as long as he can remember, at least since First Grade. Writing has always been his first, true love, but it hasn't always been his career. He worked for 15 years as a biomedical researcher, then for 3 years as a web designer. However, after 30 years of trying to be published in print with little success, he has decided to try his hand at self-publishing. Most of his works will be sold as ebooks through various online retailers, but he also plans to make some available for free exclusively on Goodreads.
He writes primarily speculative fiction--fantasy, science fiction, horror, and their sub-genres--but he also likes to try his hand at thrillers, suspense, mystery, and even westerns. However, his stories tend to have a fantasy element, no matter how subtle.
Most of his stories involve the following three main characters:
Medb hErenn [https://www.medbherenn.com/]--One-time queen of Ireland, she is over 3500 years old. A warrior and a sorceress, she cannot be harmed by any weapon made by the hand of man.
Eile and Sunny, Team Girl [https://www.teamgirlforever.com/]--They are two adorable, vivacious, fun-loving young women whose motto is ONWARD TO ADVENTURE!!! Yet trouble follows them like a love-sick puppy wherever they go.
Sir Differel Van Helsing [https://www.sir-differel.com/]--The descendent of Abraham Van Helsing and King Arthur, she heads the Caerleon Order, the premier monster-hunting organization of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. She commands Dracula, the most powerful vampire extant, and the greatsword Caliburn, better known as Excalibur.
He also writes a series of sword & sorcery stories set in an alternative universe known as the Lands of the Dreams of Men.
Kevin lives in Denver with his family and 4 cats.
For more information, see the Songs of the Seanchai [https://www.seanchaisongs.com/].
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Discover other titles by Kevin L. O'Brien:
A fidus Aranea, Barbarians R Us, The Christmas Vampires, Dark Vengeance, Disposable Commodities, Feline Savior, Gourmand Hag, Immanuel, The Lions of Inganok, Man Friday, Masie's Mind, No Torrent Like Greed, Oak Do Hate, Post-Traumatic Redemption, Sacrificial Offering
Enjoy these other titles at fine ebook retailers everywhere.
Available on Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/story/list/20075368
Adventurer's Honeymoon, The Beast of Exmoor, A Deliberation of Morality, The Denver Walker, The Golden Mushroom, Gruff Tolls, Jigsaw Dragon, The Peril Gem, Rhapsody in Orange, Shenanigans, Youthful Indiscretion
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Connect with Kevin L. O'Brien Online:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KLOB_writer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.l.obrien.1
Website: https:
//www.seanchaisongs.com/
DeviantArt: https://teamgirl-differel.deviantart.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Kevin_L_OBrien
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Sample Excerpts
From "Sacrificial Offering"
In all her travels throughout the world, Medb hErenn had often encountered strange peasant rituals that mystified her, but the sight that greeted her as she approached the edge of the forest was one of the most unusual she had ever encountered. A baker's dozen of people stood just in front of a pair of short, fat obelisks that framed an opening in the trees. All save one were dressed in the rough and homely garb of people who lived off the fruits of the earth; the odd one, a young woman, wore a sleeveless shift of white, translucent, silky material that only came down to mid-thigh, and a crown of flowers on her head. She was also different in that the people who were with her were all short and squat, and as homely as their clothing, with dusky skin and black hair, whereas she was tall and slender, with a petite figure, flawless milk-white complexion, and blonde hair so light it looked like silvered bronze. She had an ethereal beauty that made her appear more like a work of art than a living person.
At first glance, it seemed to her that the people were gathered for a wedding, with the beauty being the bride. However, she perceived two things that contradicted that impression: there was no groom, and the assembled people were wailing as if in mourning. She had