-Break-

Location: Laeg room

As my maids get me prepared for bed, I take in a deep breath and I say, “I hope Minagrain finds happiness as well.”

Looking at the faces of Lúidín and Innéacs, I notice they seem shocked for a moment, but then they quickly turn to ones of excitement.

Lúidín says, “Isn’t she just the most precious thing in the world.”

“So adorable.”

Innéacs “And the way she diligently studies to not be an embarrassment to Setanta of his position, just brings me to tears.”

“How heartwarming.”

Lúidín says, “Not a single woman in this castle would ever get in the way of her efforts.”

“I feel the same.”

Innéacs turns to Lúidín and says, “I knew this girl would come around, this is why I told you all of your childish passive aggressiveness was unfounded.”

Me and Lúidín looked at Innéacs and then, we says, “IT WAS YOU!”

“You guys are so strange why worry about who said what, the most important thing right now is to hear about how the picnic was today.”

Smiling, I say, “I will only tell you if you tell me stories about her running around the castle.”

“DEAL!” They both say.

And just like that, I spent the rest of the night talking to my two maids.

-Two weeks later-

Location: Training grounds

Talking in a deep breath, I say, “Are you ready Ibar.”

“Completely, what about you sister.”

“I feel like I am about to collapse out of fright.”

“I don’t in the slightest.”

“Why is that?”

“Because you are here with me,” my brother says while not facing me.

Together both of us walk forward and get on a heavy chariot which is pulled by four horses.

Then we both prepare to take off.

Φ As both of the siblings take off the group of soldiers in the distance start to talk amongst each other.

“Let’s hope they don’t crash again.”

“The chariots are going to start getting expensive at this point.”

“In all honesty, this still feels like too much for them.”

“They are only kids, we might be expecting too much from them.”

“If only they could be a bit more talented.”

“Don’t be mean not everyone can master such arts at a young age.”

“Still I don’t like seeing them get hurt each time they fail.”

“Maybe it would be better if they gave up and went hope.”

“SHUT UP!” Setanta shouts which brings all of the men to silence.

One of them says, “We didn’t mean to demean your friends, we were just worried about them.”

Setanta with his face and completely transfixed to their test drive says, “That’s fine, but I can feel it today, that something is different.”

All of the men who hear Setanta lose their nonchalant attitude and start to show focus on the same level as their young master. Their eyes are all transfixed on the test drive with the same level of intensity and expectations they had during the first.

As Laeg and Ibar make their rounds, they both catch sight of these intense stares of these intense expectations and then they start to tighten up. They feel the weight of their title and positions fall upon both of them.

But they also feel the wind blowing against their bodies, the rhymetic motion of the horses moving, and the sunlight shining down upon them, and just like Setanta they both reach a state of intense focus although they also have bright smiles on their face.

Soon they make round after round without losing control a single time, and this brings on cheers from the soldiers watching them, Setanta has a quiet yet powerful smile on his face as well.

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This continues until they make all of their rounds around the track and for the first time since they have arrived Laeg and Ibar have successfully driven the chariot.

Φ As we stop, I look at my sister and say, “We did it.”

With a joyful smile on her sweaty face, she says, “We did it.”

“WE FUCKING DID IT!”

While I shout my sister jumps up and down repeatedly screaming, “WE ARE THE BEST!”

We then continue to scream and jump in victory, but before long we are completely bombarded by a group of soldiers who run up and start to talk with us.

“You guys really did it.”

“Truly the legs of our future king.”

“In all honesty, I had given up hope.”

“You two are true soldiers.”

“I can’t wait to see these skills on a battlefield.”

Me and my sister smile at each other, and then I say, “All of that stamina training really helped.”

One of them rubs my hair, and says, “I am thankful it did.”

My sister jumps on one of their shoulders, and as she is carried up above their heads, she says, “WE ARE THE BEST!”

The large group of soldiers also cheer, and as they do my sister says, “I CAN’T HEAR YOU!”

Φ Looking at everyone from a distance, Darragh says to me, “It looks like they were finally able to overcome their issues.”

“I see.”

“You could show more interest.”

Confused, I say, “I am excited.”

“That plain expression you always have doesn’t tell me anything.”

“I simply don’t have the energy to waste on such things, as I am almost done with the preparations.”

“When will you all be leaving for Emain Macha?”

“The end of this week. It will be Setanta's first big battle.”

“But do you think it will be okay for Setanta to come, you know how he is. If he was to find out who the enemy is it might do something to him.”

“My son is steadfast in his beliefs, and I know that nothing the traitors say will affect his view on humans. And regardless it is better for him to know of the poison within us first-hand.”

“I see, but I can’t help but be worried.”

“You're always worried, at this point I think you might get off on it?”

Angered Daragh says, “THAT’S YOUR FAULT!”

-Break-

A few days later

Location: Ibar room

Φ I lay on my bed completely restless. I can’t sleep no matter how much I try, so I get up and start to walk in circles.

“It’s tomorrow, the day we leave our first battle. Not only that, but it is an important battle that will feature four of the red branch families. This is no joke.”

I have a great smile on my face, and I say, “if I show my excellence hear I will be famous. But if I fail and somehow get Setanta killed I will be facing a life of horrors.”

As I think about the possible rewards of victory and possible consequences of failure, I start to get hit by waves of happiness and sadness over and over again, until I hear, “Ibar don’t think to much it will hurt your brain.”

Looking through the window in my room, I see Setanta and Ferdiad on the outside of it, and flung over his shoulder I see Laeg tied up.

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO MY SISTER!” I say opening my window.

Coming in Setanta says, “We kidnapped her and brought her here.”

“WHY!!?”

“Obviously so I could carry out my agenda.”

He drops my sister on the floor and I untie her then she says, “You FREAKY BASTARD, DO YOU KNOW HOW SCARY THAT WAS!”

Confused, he says, “I had to carry a rampaging beast, I think I should be far more scared.”

Me and Laeg kick Setanta towards Ferdiad, and he knocks Setanta right back towards us where we both hit him again, and then Ferdiad knocks him back again. This continues until we get tired.

While me and my sister catch our breath, Setanta on the floor says, “Are you guys finished now.”

“Yes, now tell me why you interrupted our sleep.”

With a smile, Setanta says, “I just thought I should bring all of us together.”

Jumping on my bed Setanta says, “This is really comfy!”

“Get off it!”

“Did you forget I actually own this place?”

Laeg says, “No you don’t it’s your dad who does.”

“SO WHAT IT WILL ALL BE MINE SOMEDAY!”

Under my breath, I say, “Because you were born with a birthright not because you earned it.”

Laeg says, “Ibar!”

And I quickly put my hands over my mouth in response.

But before I can say something to apologize, Setanta says, “You’re right, no need to hold yourself back.”

“You try really hard, and I have seen it.”

He laughs a bit and then says, “It is perfectly fine. I was born with a lot, of strength, allies, knowledge, wealth, beauty, and the powers of a wonderbeast, and regardless of whether I prove myself or not it will all be mine in the end, the Faoláin has always been knowing for their perfection in all things.”

Laeg says, “Now it just feels like you're bragging.”

“It is simply the truth and one who cannot handle such a truth is a child. Though personally, I believe those privileges also come with responsibility, I am in charge of the prosperity of all those who bow to me.

I am also responsible for leading and guiding them like a parent does to a child. So if my children are so worked up they cannot rest well for battle it is my job to help them get to it.”

Looking at my sister I notice that despite how late it is she is wide awake like I am, so I say, “You might not be as dumb as I thought you were.”

Ferdiad says, “Wait for it.”

Setanta then follows up and says, “Of course not. Now to get you all to sleep let’s play a game! I will try and punch you all as hard as possible till you fall asleep and it is your job to dodge.”

Me and Laeg say, “THAT’S STUPID!”

Looking to Ferdiad, I say, “You need to stop him!”

“Impossible, when it comes to things like helping his people he will never stop.”

“This won’t help!”

Laeg says, “We will die!”

“You won’t know till you try,” is what Setanta says before he lunges towards us all.

And for the next hour, he chases us all around the room leaving crates in the places he punches. Eventually, due to the mental stress and exhaustion, we all fall asleep.

-Break-

Φ Hearing someone open the door to Ibar's room I awake and instantly grab a sharp tool and head for the door, but my arm is grabbed and I am easily forced to the ground.

Looking at the intruder, I see it is Lugh. So I say, “My lord what are you doing here?"

He looks around the room and sees all of the craters then he says, “I came for you. I couldn’t find them you where you were supposed to be, so I checked all four of the rooms.”

He let go of me and I got up, then I say, “Setanta wanted to help his legs fall asleep so I accompanied him.”

With the same dry and uninterested tone he uses for everything, Lugh says, “I see. Now follow me.”

He starts to walk and without question, I follow him.

Through many rooms we walk, and as we do there is a rather uneasy feeling that creeps up on me, so I say, “I am sorry for the mess Setanta caused.”

“You needn’t worry, if it wasn’t for you I am sure he would have caused far more destructive and chaotic mess.”

“Your words are kind my lord.”

He peers back at me and says, “You should relax. Being stiff will just make your muscles weaker.”

“Sorry, will do!”

“For someone who punched my son, you sure are docile.”

“I am sorry for that afront I committed against you.”

“Don’t worry.”

Quietness sets into our walk as we continue, and then stopping in front of a large door, Lugh says, “I have something I want just you to experience, so don’t tell anyone.”

Shaky, I say, “Yes my lord.”

With that, he opens the door and we go through it.