-Break-

Location: Fergal house

Φ In the dead of night, Fergal walks carrying multiple barrels of wine towards the storage house, and as he does one of the barrels falls from his body towards the floor.

But before it hits the floor, the barrel is caught by Ibar who says, “You need help Dad?”

“I’d much prefer you be sleeping, but for now it would be nice.”

Walking forward, I say, “I know where Laeg got her nagging from.”

“I am sensing some disrespect in your tone.”

“None of that sir.”

“Good, now are you doing ok?”

“Yeah my wounds have healed up great, but are you sure you’re out? You got cut up pretty bad.”

“I am fine, I have rather thick muscles, and the meat those two visitors brought was incredibly nutritious.”

“I know what you mean, my mouth still waters thinking about it, I wish we could have that every day.”

“Well then I am going down to the next major city to see if we can get materials for rebuilding, and I will be sure to bring back something delicious back.”

“But that is only for the short term, there may be a way to get it for the long term Dad.”

“No.”

“Just listen.”

“No.”

“Come on.”

“No.”

“Why the hell are you acting like this!”

“Because you're my son.”

“I am almost 14 and a year after that I will be an adult.”

“So what?”

“Adults should be allowed to make their own choices.”

Annoyed, my father says, “You want to know what I did when I became an adult. Me and a group of my friends went drinking got lost in a forest, accidentally lit ourselves on fire when trying to start one, and had to kill a giant wonderbeast that attacked us. Then we all got drunk on the animal's poison and pissed blood for two weeks, then we slept in the middle of a river.”

“That sounds like a great time!”

“IT WAS AMAZING!”

“Then what point are you trying to make!?”

“Due to those excursions, my left eye is blind.”

“Ehh, I didn’t even know that.”

“Because I play it off, but it is thanks to that stupid trip I lost one eye. Turning fifteen doesn’t suddenly make your stupid child brain start acting like an adult, and the decisions you make during that time could affect your life for the foreseeable future.”

As we arrive at the storehouse, my dad drops the barrels and starts to put them inside and as he does I say, “Father this job could fix all of our problems for the future far beyond our lifespans, we have to take it.”

“No way, we will find other ways.”

“Like how you mean like the ways you used. You bowed your head to those bastards and they still were about to kill us, your methods down work.”

“You talk about my methods yet you so arrogantly believe you can walk into warzones and walk away from them. You have only ever travelled far enough to reach the closest city, you know nothing of the world or the dangers within it you child!”

“We still aren’t safe living the way we currently are, you heard what he said. Others will come and cause trouble and we won't always be lucky.”

“You say that but you're shaking?”

Holding my arm to stop the shaking, I say, “I am not.”

“Today you say someone died for the first time and you can barely even understand the emotions that are going through your head right about now. Do you really think you can handle that on mass, or handle that happening to people you care for!”

I can’t respond to this, so I get angry and run up and kick my father saying, “Even if I struggle today I will get used to it.”

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“You shouldn’t get used to death, what kind of life is that?”

“The kind of life that can save my people!”

“Stop being so headstrong you idiot!”

“I have only one parent so I wonder who I learned it from!”

My father is slightly taken aback, and says, “I am in no way as obstinate or big-headed as you are.”

“I don’t want to hear that from a cow, who is having an argument with someone they say is a child.”

“You're right you are a child so this conversation is over!” My father walks away and starts to pick up a barrel and as he does I kick him in the back of the leg.

“What are you doing!”

“You keep calling me a child, and treating me like one, but for some reason, you cannot understand how scary it is for a child to lose their parent.”

“Ibar.”

“I thought you were going to die today, and I wasn’t able to do anything about it. Everyone is like family and all of you were ready to leave us all alone, why can’t you understand how scary that is, how much it frightens me.”

Father says, “I am sorry for being so weak as to make you worry so much.”

Kicking him in the back again, I say, “One man didn’t build this village everyone worked together and did their part, so I am asking you Dad let me do my part for this village.”

Sighing, my father says, “I need to apologize to my dad the next time I see him. Ok then, but on one condition you got to make me fall to the ground.”

“That’s unfair!”

“So is war, now show me what you got!” Suddenly as my dad finishes speaking he gets knocked down straight into the ground and behind him is Laeg riding Glory saying, “It looks like our plan worked.”

“Exactly.”

“You scheming duo.”

“You did say we need to show you and we did.”

Sitting up Father says, “Fine you win.” Stretching out his arms, he says, “Now come in for a hug.”

I am hesitant but my sister grabs me and brings me into my father's arms, and after a nice hug my father grabs both our heads and slams them into the ground then says, “Disrespect will not be tolerated.”

-The next morning-

Φ Standing in front of two horses, I say, “It looks like those two aren’t coming.”

Setanta says, “I knew we should have just taken them by force.”

“Would you really want to head into battle with riders who don’t want to be there?”

Sitting down he says, “I guess you’re right.”

“Because unlike you I think with my brain.”

Getting up he grabs me and puts his forehead against mine and says, “That sounded like an insult Ferdiad.”

He pushes his head against mine, so I do it just as hard against his and say, “Well it's because it was.”

As me and him continue this struggle for supremacy, we hear a clap and then someone says, “If you two want to kiss please do not do it on our lands.”

In unison, we look at the voice and say, “NO WAY!”

Seeing Laeg, Ibar and Fergal, I compose myself and say, “So it looks like you decided to join us.”

Setanta mutters, “Acting all composed as if you are not a rampaging beast.”

I kick him in the shin, and then say, “This is all right with you Fergal.”

“Enough so to let them leave, but I am rather worried.”

“Father,” Ibar says.

“We beat you so no complaining.”

“But how can I be assured of your safety?”

Setanta then says while staring directly at his eyes, “These two from this moment on are extensions of myself, so know this the day these two die will be the day I die as well, and all the strength within this body will be used to defend itself.”

Smiling, Fergal says, “It's better.” Then gives both of his kids another hug, he says, “Good luck.”

“You too.”

“Now let’s go!”

Φ Hoping on the backs of the horses, Ferdiad says, “The grey to the right is Macha, and the one on the left is Crunniuc.”

Touching Macha I say, “Nice to meet you,” and my brother does the shame with Crunniuc.

As we begin to ride off, we wave by to my father and then I say,” I can’t wait to begin this wonderful adventure.”

-Some days later-

Riding the horses me and Ibar have rather upset looks on our faces and Setanta asks, “Your faces look like Balor himself.”

“WHY THE HELL DO YOU THINK THAT IS.”

Laying unsafely on the back of my horse, he says, “No idea,” With a childish smile on his face.

Ibar says, “Because you're treating us like slaves! We have been riding nonstop since we left.”

“We have a deadline to reach.”

I say, “You say that but every time you see something that interests you, we are forced to go and do whatever you want. Crossing the river filled with man-eating fish, crossing the swamp filled with horrible smells, trying those poisonous fruits for you. It is all too much!”

“You guys are the equivalent to my legs, so you need to go where I asked.”

“You're also really annoying, you get bored so easily and start to whine when you don’t get your way.”

“Stop being dramatic.”

Ibar says, “We need Ferdiad to wake up.”

Looking at his horse where Ferdiad is hanging off, I say, “Is it ok for him to be sleeping like this, he has been doing it since we left.”

“Well, it only makes sense, since this is his first time sleeping since we left for our journey.”

“What, how many days has that even been?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I don’t really understand myself, but he once said that he needed to keep an eye on me or something.”

I understand, because from the brief time I have spent with this boy, I can tell he is as frivolous as he is powerful, all it would take is a whim for him to do something incredibly stupid.

Ibar says, “I feel sorry for Ferdiad.”

“Me too.”

“Huh, why do you two feel like that.”

Shouting we both say, “IN UNISON IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU!”

“You two really are mouthy you know I am your boss, there is a certain level of respect I deserve.”

“Help shouldn’t demand respect.”

“Ferdiad is obviously the master here, he just pretends like you’re in charge to hide his identity.”

Annoyed, Setanta stands up on the horse's back and says, “NO WAY I AM THE BOSS, FERDIAD SAID SO HIMSELF!”

Giving him a look of utter unbelief we say, “Yeah right.”

“Keep going on with those lies, it won’t change our minds.”

Sitting down, Setanta says, “Whatever, think what you want.”

“Also don’t stand up on the horseback again, it will hurt it.”

“So what, it is just a horse.”

Grabbing his face, I say, “Do that again and Ibar and I will leave immediately.”

Ibar says, “This is something we won’t budge on.”

Setanta then says, “What were we talking about?” with a face of utter confusion.

Throwing his face away, I say, “You can’t even follow conversations that don’t interest you can you!”

Pressing himself against me, Setanta says, “Look over there, it is mailítree forest, that’s a shortcut to the capital!”

Looking at the black forest that radiates a red light, I say, “This cannot be just a normal forest.”

Setanta looks over at Ferdiad checks if he is awake then says, “Of course it is.”

“YOU’RE LYING!”

“No I am not,” Setanta says with the most unconvincing tone I have ever heard.

“I hate you, I hate you so much.”

“Well that is all well and fine, but as my legs, I say we go through the forest,” Setanta says with stars in his eyes.

Ibar looks to me and says, “The quicker we get this journey over with the quicker we get to rest and make money.”

Sighing, I say, “Ok then, let’s go.”