Φ As Dagda laughs in front of me, I say, “So if you would excuse me.”

With his same cherry smile as always, he says, “Haha, your jokes are as tasteful as your clothes. Now Medb where is my money?”

“Money? You mean the financial instrument we have assigned value to for the sake of switching things we have made into items we have collected from our environment and from others through labour, intelligence and ingenuity?”

With his smile fading a bit, he says, “Hahaha, yes. Now where is it?”

“Dagda what really is value? Is it something kings assign value to-,”

“Yes.”

Putting my finger on his lips, I say, “OR! Is it the exchange of wills from one person to another, so isn’t my mere smile payment enough?”

“Not a chance, now my money.”

I get thrown off my balance as he rejects me, and then I lean on him and say, “We have known each other for a long time, and you still don’t trust me.”

“I trusted you decades ago when I invested in your research hoping for a return. But every time you make a return, all the money instantly goes into other projects.”

“That’s because as a smart woman, I have decided that value creation is better than simply handing you back your cash. I care about your ledgers far more than anyone else.”

“I believe such words some time ago, but you have started to create so much value that I am starting to doubt there is enough capital within the empire to actually give me a return equal to its value.”

“For now, it is, but new jobs are being created every day, and the key beastkin in Tir na n-iontas are becoming far more educated every day, soon we would be able to create a robust financial market for all those within our empire. Think about the long term.”

“I am dead in the long term. Now I want my money back before your husband eats your providence coffers away.”

Noticing a change in Dagda’s expression, I say, “Oh I see it now, that’s why you're angry.”

Interlocking his hand with mine, I take him to the dance floor and along with others I twirl around and say, “Dagda my friend, my brother, my kin. Don’t feel sad now that I have found a man, both me and Fergus believe love and the body are two different things so if you ever believe that my need for you will decrease, you’re wrong.”

With his sadness being far more visible than before, he says, “You say that but I believe both Scáthach and Lugh would put up with such behaviour especially when directed at the high king.”

“My mother can haggle me all she wants, but just like my sister, I can ignore her all day. And Lugh is a man of many things, but he wouldn’t make me stay faithful while Fergus loses all restraint the moment he sees a woman he likes.”

Getting close to Dagda’s ear, I say, “So we can still be together.”

Dagda brings his face close to mine, and I back away while giving his body a spin which moves us into a new position, he can’t kiss me from, then I say, “But before that. I have a rather good proposition for you.”

“What would that be?”

As we continue to dance, I say, “One of the things I requested from Lugh is access to his special plantations.”

“Plantations?”

“In his private land he has made an effort to keep humans there, and to put it simply I would say those humans have a better life than quite a few beastkin in the empire.”

“I had heard rumours of such places existing, but why would you tell me this?”

“Because as payback for the time I bailed him out last year, and as dowry for the cute little girl he is marrying I got him to give me access to these plantations and the people on them under certain conditions of course.”

“Why should I care for this?”

“Because Lugh educated these humans, and trained them just like those in Gorias. So, in these special plantations is a large number of humans and beastkin who only manifested human traits and are as skilled as the Faoláin workers.

As we both know Lugh uses his workforce that he has educated and trained to control quite a bit of the advancements within the empire. Even a large portion of my staff is from Gorias and the power struggle we have within my own house is starting to get annoying.

So having access to our own special workforce will allow us to remove a lot of the control he has on us, and even if I don’t pay you back yet, I am sure you could use a Faoláin workforce to create more wealth.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“That sounds pleasant, but where would these people happen to be located?”

“Ah, ah, ah. Sorry, but that information is exclusive to me, though I will cover any and all transportation costs.”

“What a shame, but can you at least tell me why you would give me this information knowing Lugh specifically hides this from people?”

Putting my head into his chest, I say, “It’s because I trust you. You’re one of the few people I feel safe telling this to.”

His heart rate increases, and just continues to twirl with him. This should keep this stupid deer in line for a little bit more time. Both Conchobar, and Fergus know about Lugh’s farms anyway, and we can quickly make them disappear if anyone starts to take issues with them.

Setanta befriending Ruairí makes our job a whole lot easier as I can just wait till this man dies instead of trying to get him to join our side. Now all we have to do is somehow get Cú Raoi to join us and we will have all four kings on our side.

Seeing a disgusting piece of trash, I break free of Dagda and say, “I will see you soon.”

Then I move over to him and with a pleasant smile, he says, “Oh Mother how nice it is to see you.”

“Fráech Ó Cumhaill how unpleasant it is to see your daughter stealing manwhore.”

We both laugh with animosity deep in the air.

Φ Sitting on a table, I look across from me, and say, “Donald Ó Fuinseog you seem jolly as always.”

Rubbing the back of his head, he says, “Really, I never taught that of myself. In all honesty, I think I am quite a negative person.”

“Then you must not look in a mirror enough. You have a beautiful wife, a child on the way and even a hero's story of rising from nothing to become the head of your house. Quite a good life.”

The cheerful Donald’s face disappears, and with a despairing look he says, “But regardless of that it could all fall away. The people you think care for you might betray you one day, and use those feelings within your heart to kill you. No matter how good things may seem, you’re always in a battle with those around you for survival like a hunter.”

I kick him in the shin, and he grabs it then says, “THAT HURTS!”

“I don’t know what happened to you all those years while you were at that plantation, but Donald be happy that you have people who care about you. You’re no longer the same rat who got stepped on by everyone, and regardless of the fear you feel hold your head up high.”

With a nicer look, he says, “Findabair you really are nice?”

“Oh, course I am, Danú gave us our blood so we can feel more connected with all of the life around us.”

“On that note, we have recently come across something rather interesting in Terrafide.”

“What would that be.”

“In the western border,r there is a ruined empire filled with sand, and for the past few years, we have been looking around the entire area trying to find all we can. But recently we have finally come across a huge discovery, that under all of that sand lies a fallen empire that is still well intact.”

“Really?”

Donald shakes his head as confirmation, then he looks over to Ronald and gestures to him to come towards us, and then he says, “What do you want?” With his same harsh and mean glare.

But then Donald says, “He Ronald come tell her about all of your discoveries, I am sure Findabair wants to hear them.”

Playing coy, Ronald says, “That sounds like a bother,” while his tail shakes.

But then Donald realizing this says, “It’s an order from the head of the house.”

Quickly sitting down, Ronald says, “I guess I have no choice.”

Despite how Ronald acts he happens to be really into history and enjoys hunting for the secrets of the world, it’s the one cute thing about this evil hyena.

“There are many places I could start but I think the most important thing would be to talk about the fact that I found traces of Cordum here.”

“So, what, we find traces of Cordum everywhere?”

“You're correct, but these traces were fresh, and by that, I meant the scent on her writings was less than a day old.”

“What!?”

Excited Ronald says, “I know right!” Composing himself, he says, “We went through the underground area, and it seems that Cordum visits this place regularly. Throughout the area, we found what seemed to be towers filled with books from head to toe, containing information, and they all have the same sent as known objects of Cordum.”

“Then does this mean that area could be the place that is where the great sage stores their knowledge?”

“The underground empire which we were able to piece together which name we managed to piece together might be where all of the humanities leftover knowledge is stored, in the place called Jedidiah.”

“How interesting!” I say before my attention is pulled away.

Looking at an annoying sight, I say, “Give me a moment.”

Φ Looking at the stupid bear in front of me, I say, “Fráech if you have failed to fulfil any of my daughter's needs spiritually, mentally and physically I will kill you.”

“So, you have accepted our marriage?”

“No, but if you are going to be an interim husband you might as well aim to be the best you can.”

“Aww, what a nice suggestion. But your opinion has never been any different that shit to me.”

“And your mouth is still as big as ever.”

“I can assure you I put it to go use, in the debate parlours and with your daughter.”

“Hahahahaha, you’re dead!”

Soon Findabair gets in between the both of us, and says, “Honey please stop inhaling poisonous gas.”

Turning to face me, she says, “Urgh, what do you want.”

“To spend time with my lovely daughter.”

“Then go to the graveyard because she died years ago.”

“Luckily, then how about you fill that gap she left.”

“Sorry, but I like to put distance between myself and pests like you.”

“You didn’t put any gap between us when your big head was coming out of me, so are far as I am concerned that gap will never exist.”

I hug her and say, “A mother's love is eternal.”

Findabair pulls her fist back about to whack me, but her husband grabs her and says, “Not in public, we ambush her after the party.”

“You’re right!”

“Don’t go planning to assault your mother!”

Soon all the attention within the hall is taken away by a beautiful sound playing. Through the room the sound of a harp fills every single inch of it which takes the attention of all those in the room.

Looking up at the young boy playing, Findabair says, “I didn’t know that kid had such skill with a harp.”

Fráech says, “For how chaotic he is I didn’t think he could actually play something so beautiful.”

As I stare at Setanta, I say, “Chaos can bring both beauty and destruction kids. That boy's mother taught me that a long time ago.”

As Setanta plays the image of Deichtire overlaps with him, and just like his mother his playing and his beauty enrapture all those within the room, and I say, “It’s been a while since I have been so smitten like this.”