Stephen F Myler

The King's GriefKing Cormac mac Airt begins the story at the height of his reign - respected, wise, and beloved. Yet beneath his regal composure lies a private sorrow: the recent death of his young son. The loss fractures him, leaving him unable to rule with clarity. His court whispers that the king has grown distant, his decisions clouded by mourning. Cormac wanders the royal gardens at night, unable to sleep, haunted by memories of his child's laughter.
His grief becomes a silent shadow over Tara. In this vulnerable state, he becomes susceptible to forces beyond the mortal world - forces that sense his longing to escape pain. The Branch Appears, one evening, a stranger cloaked in sea-mist appears before King Cormac. He carries a silver branch adorned with shimmering leaves that emit soft, melodic tones. The stranger reveals himself as Manannán mac Lir, lord of the Otherworld.
He offers Cormac the branch, explaining that its music can erase sorrow, bringing peace to any who hear it. Cormac is mesmerised; the melody seems to lift the weight of grief from his heart. But Manannán warns that the branch is not a gift - it is a bargain. Cormac must give something precious in return. Desperate for relief, Cormac agrees without asking the price.