“I don’t feel like talking to a man such as you,” I say while avoiding eye contact.

“What a mean thing to say, especially since it was my daughter who singlehandedly stopped you from being killed by the next head of the house of Laoch.”

“I think you have that backwards, Setanta would have killed Niall all by himself.”

“I am sure he would have if he didn’t have giant weights tying him down. If Niall and the rest of his men had all attacked Setanta he would have died protecting the rest of you, I can assure you of that.”

Spinning my head to face him, I say, “Is there a reason you are pestering me with this?”

“Not really, I just think you have the funniest reactions.”

I grit my teeth and then say, “Ok then vanish.”

Bricriu looks at all my men training and says, “The fact that you a normal beastkin have the authority to train a unit filled with such great talent is amazing. Truly a light in the dark for the rest of the Fir Bolg.

Setanta was right to take such a keen interest in you because now he has a great advisor who can sit and do all the work for him while he goes and messes about however he wants.”

“What about it? Setanta has always been like this, but on the battlefield, his command is excellent and effective, the least I can do is make sure his weapons are polished.”

“It’s my opinion that small things matter more than most. Intelligent life is such a fusion of countless different small things that have happened over time.

So, through the use of those small things like constant effort and determination one can accomplish great things, though to be fair the inverse is correct as well.”

“Does this conversation have a point?”

“Yes. What I am trying to say is that you polishing Setanta’s tools is just as important as him using them, but sadly no one talks about the man who polished the tools of the great heroes tools in the history books,”

“So what, I don’t need to be in the history books I just need a good reward and a comfy life afterwards.”

“I figured you would be a man like that. That’s why I have made great efforts to remind the high king to look after the Fir bolg within our ranks, and other untold heroes because they are truly sources of untapped skills.

That’s what my meeting with Lugh was about, as he shares many of the same ideals on our current system which has devolved from a merit-based system to one that encourages people to bend the knee to the Red branch.”

I smile a bit at this gesture but then he says, “Though it looks like that won’t be a problem for you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, you don’t know? Well, I guess Lugh hasn’t told you, so maybe I should keep my mouth shut. But I guess we can keep a secret between the both of us.”

“Spit it out!”

“You see regardless of any effort you really put in, as long as you continue your role of cleaning up after Setanta you will continue to be promoted through the ranks far easier than others.

In all honesty, I have heard that you and Setanta will reach Ollamh around the same time regardless of any accomplishments you have, it seems that both Lugh and the High king have conspired about this.”

Shocked by this, I say, “Please hold your tongue, you do realize you're saying a law-abiding man like Lugh and the High King are both secretly breaking our laws for personal gain right?”

“Of course, they are, because having a man they can contro-, I mean they understand like you being the one who is actually keeping Setanta in check is far more important than bringing someone of actual skill to the position.

But it makes sense. Setanta is wild, so to control him they must control his environment. They have worked hard with Scáthach to make sure he only takes one wife to control the influence of women in his life, and have then sculpted his only wife to be a woman who follows their ideals.

You do realize that the classes your sister attends for her education are all fake. Well not exactly true, what she learns is real information, but the classes were specially put together just for her and no one else.”

As Bricriu talks I can feel all of the ground around me crumbling. Could everything I have, and everything I will one day have simply be mine just because Setanta is fond of me? Have I truly not built anything to stand at his side, but simply exist here because I am easier to control than others? Is everything Master and Lugh have said to me been nothing but a manipulation?

Bricriu then walks forward and as he does, I say, “Is everything you said true or just speculation?”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

He puts his finger over his lips and says, “Sorry, in-depth explanations are only for those who fall under my wings.

Though since I see myself as a rather charitable man, I will tell you this. Did you know that while you have been training everyone here Setanta has been outside galivanting with a human, it looks like he has found a new person of interest.”

Bricriu leaves and as he does, I start to feel myself falling into a dark pit with no escape.

-Break-

Location: Meeting room

Φ Setanta says, “So that’s what I have been up to and what I plan on doing for the future. Can I get your permission to bring the human with me?”

Looking at Setanta from behind his father, my head starts to go crazy.

This child has really been running around with a human! We have been so busy that I thought all the reports were just some nonsense people were sprouting but u can’t really say that now.

I had thought he had been good, but he had just found a way to escalate his nonsense. What are we going to do with this boy!?

Lugh says, “That’s fine Setanta.”

“Huh?” I say looking at Lugh.

Ignoring me, he says, “I will personally give you a written decree which will make sure no harm will be permitted onto you, and Culainn during your journey, and you may take whatever actions necessary to defend that.”

Surprised Setanta says, “Thank you so much, father. I could never repay this kindness you have shown me for overlooking my rude actions.”

“Unnecessary, but in future please do make an effort to communicate your thoughts to me, since certain people would use the fact, that you had contact with a human to do damage to your future.”

“I promise I will. So now I will be off.”

Setanta starts to get up, but then Lugh says, “Setanta sit back down,” in a serious tone.

With no waste in motion, Setanta reverts to an obedient child and sits down with his head hanging low. He seems scared and is right to be so. The tone Lugh used was anything but kind, and it carried a heavy weight a parent shouldn’t use with their child.

Lugh stares at Setanta who starts to sweat more, but as he does, I see Lugh’s body jittering a little as if he is just as scared as Setanta. He looks away, and then back towards Setanta.

Is he nervous?

He is! The last time I ever saw Lugh Nervous was when he proposed to his wife decades ago. But now look at him he is getting all jittery again as if he doesn’t know what to say.

Lugh then says, “Setanta do you love your mother?”

“Well, I have never met her, but from all of the stories I have heard about her, I know she is without a doubt my mother and is inherently the greatest.”

“That’s good to hear,” Lugh says with a smile.

But soon after that, he starts to glare at Setanta, which makes Setanta ask, “Are you ok?”

With a wrathful tone, Lugh says, “I am fine!”

Setanta lowers his head, and says, “Oh, I see.”

I think Lugh is trying to fine a way to tell Setanta about his new mother. But this awkward little child can’t manage to do it and is acting like an idiot.

Oh, this reminds me of back when he was a boy and barely knew how to communicate with anyone but me. So, he would just tightly grip my pants and ask me to speak for him. Back then he was such an adorable little boy, who followed instructions.

Tears start to fall down my face, and both Lugh and Setanta face me with frightened expressions.

Shaking Setanta says, “Darragh are you ok. Did your mind finally snap?”

Lugh says, “It’s okay, even if your mind leaves you, I promise to take care of you.”

Covering my face, I say, “It’s nothing like that, just ignore me and continue on.”

Φ My father turns back to face me, and I get nervous again. Fathe is usually very to the point, so if he feels the need to keep me and stare at me here, it must mean that something wrong is going on.

What is it? Is there going to be another big battle? Or did Minagrain say something to my father? Maybe she doesn’t want to marry me or worse maybe she has found someone else? I don’t want that!

No, maybe my father is even dying! That would be just as bad. If he was to die, I don’t even know what I would do with myself. Danu, Danu please help me.

My father then sighs and says, “I am being foolish. Setanta I am getting remarried, it will be to Péatra Ní Céilús, and it will be a union between our two houses.

We also plan to produce more heirs for the House of Faoláin to try and inherit more of my Vánagandr wonderbeast, and her Phoenix wonderbeast.

Though I assure you that this won’t hurt your claim for the throne. And you will still hold a position worthy of yourself. I am not replacing you under any circumstances, and still expect the greatest from you.

This also isn’t a reason to be more reckless, behave yourself and live a long life like your mother would have wanted. Now tell me about your thoughts on all of this.”

Φ Lugh looks nervously at Setanta who is slowly processing all of this information, but then Setanta jumps up and puts his hands on Lugh’s table and says, “I am going to have little siblings!?”

Setanta then starts to erratically jump around the room, and says, “We are going to have so much fun; I am going to show them countless fun things and make their lives just as exciting as mine.”

I then say, “Looks like Setanta is happier than you are?”

Lugh with a slight smile says, “True, I guess I was an idiot.”

Setanta then says, “Though I am surprised you are getting remarried.”

“You don’t like the idea of me marrying another woman?”

I personally never thought Setanta would take issue with his. But I guess Scáthach's education on monogamy for Setanta which we used to make sure he isn’t manipulated by women is more effective than we thought.

“Oh, not anything like that. it is just that I kind of thought you were impotent.”

“Huh,” both me and Lugh say.

Setanta continues on and says, “Well lots of mindbogglingly beautiful women throw themselves at you, but you just ignore them. So, I thought you had to be impotent to not touch a single woman for the last thirteen years. Made me fearful that I ran into the family and celibacy would be my fate as well. Hahaha, funny isn’t it!”

Lugh closes his eyes and then opens them with a large smile on his face.

-Break-

Location: Training grounds

Φ “I have healed my head multiple times, but it still stings. Did Father have to hit me that hard? He should have known I wasn’t serious especially since I used to smell Medb on him when I was younger.”

Seeing the training grounds in sight, I say, “Well whatever, I still got to inform everyone of my actions.”

I move forward into the training grounds and there I see all of my men beaten and bruised.

Even Ibar is lying on the ground with Laeg kneeling beside him. So I move forward and ask, “Hey what happened?”

He then says, “Ferdiad.”

So I turn my head and look for him, and standing in the distance I see Ferdiad with a spear in hand. Then looking directly at me he says, “Good you have arrived Setanta. Right now, me and you will fight!”