The Silver Strand

Prologue: The Prophecy

In the ancient land of Éire, where the mists of time clung to rolling hills and the whispers of the old gods filled the air, the Tuatha Dé Danann reigned supreme. Among them were Aengus Óg, the youthful god of love and poetry, and Manannán mac Lir, the majestic lord of the sea. Though their realms were different—the green and lush earth for Aengus and the vast, mysterious oceans for Manannán—their destinies were intertwined by the fates that governed their world.

A prophecy had long been whispered among the people and the gods: "When the silver strand meets the golden heart, the land shall face a trial by water and love, and the fate of Éire will hang in the balance." Neither god knew when or how this prophecy would come to pass, but they both felt its looming presence.