Φ “Your head really doesn’t work,” I say looking at Setanta.

“Laeg life is an adventure, don’t worry about such small stuff.”

“Death isn’t small.”

“Oh please, this isn’t even doing anything to m-,” before Setanta can finish he starts to throw up.

While this happens I look at my brother who is incredibly jittery, and ask, “What’s making you so excited.”

“Because we are on our way to Emain Macha, the place where many of the red branch go to train their skills. It is known as the gathering place for all those who have or will have power in the future. A perfect place to make connections.”

“I don’t think anyone would want to connect with someone who looks like he is about to drool at the mere sight of this place.”

“Shut up, I am just excited.”

Turning to Ferdiad, I ask, “So why are we going here exactly?”

“Before major battles, it is normal traditional to come here for good luck, since it is the sight of our first victory against the humans. In actuality, this is mine and Setanta's first time here.”

“Really, I thought both of you would have come here before.”

Recovered, Setanta says, “I wanted to come before but my father said I would end up causing too many problems or something to that effect, something about how I would cause problems with the other red branch children in the boys' troop.”

I look at Ferdiad with a worried expression, and he says, “It is our duty to make sure nothing goes wrong.”

A tremendous weight falls on both me and my brother.

Ferdiad says, “Don’t feel down, there are benefits. Like how we get to ride horses.”

Looking back at all the soldiers who have been walking nonstop since we left Gorias, I say, “You're right in that at least.”

Moments after this Setanta says, “We can see it from here!”

Looking down I see one giant building that is connected that has twelve paths emanating from it, and those paths are connected to smaller buildings each of them sectioned off from one another.

The area is a bright lush green, with bursts of colour that can be found due to the plant life around it. But what makes the place really feel alive our the people and animals that are visibly moving all around. Not as constantly as Gorias but still rather active.

-Break-

Location: Emain Macha

Walking towards the large building connected to everywhere, I hear from Darragh, “Please behave yourselves. You will all be future members of Setanta coill and have to make allies, not enemies.”

Setanta with an oblivious expression says, “Who would want to be my enemy?”

I could smack him, but there are too many people watching for me to do that.

As Lugh walks towards the giant gate of the building, people open it for him and together with him, his coil, his guards and our little group we enter the building.

And immediately I see how fancy everything looks. Gorias castle was already beautiful, but the beauty embedded in this building was something done over generations.

Looking at Ferdiad, I say, “Am I allowed to breathe the air in here?”

With a similarly freak-out expression, he says, “I don’t think we can without being taxed.”

My brother says, “If I was to sell the air in here I am sure I would make a fortune.”

Setanta adds to this and says, “This is beautiful. I think I am going to claim this castle as my own.”

He prepares to shout something at the top of his lungs, but the three of us intercept and restrain him, and I whisper into his ear, “You can’t!”

He struggles, but then Lugh turns towards him, and he calms down immediately. Looking at us Setanta says, “You guys should learn how to control yourselves,” in an incredibly polite tone.

In that moment Laeg and Ibar both share the exact same thought; Setanta is really a daddy's boy.

Soon trumpets sound and three different groups of people move from the end of the room towards us, each of these groups carries a different flag.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Darragh turns back from Lugh’s side, and says, “Do you remember what those flags stand for?”

Remembering my studies I say, “The leftmost flag of a butterfly belongs to the house of Céilús. They are known for the innovations they bring to the Tuatha Dé Dannan.”

My brother says, “The rightmost flag of a hyena belongs to the House of Fuinseog. They are known for their ability to hunt and track, they have found the most human settlements among all the horses.”

Ferdiad says, “The centre flag of a horse, belongs to the house of Lúcogadh. They are known for being the fastest rider in all of the land, and have the strongest cavalry among the Red branch.”

“Correct, it seems you guys have studied well,” Darragh says.

From the three groups, two men and one woman walk up towards Lugh.

The ladybug beastkin from the left says, “Mairead Ó Céilús at your service.”

She is dressed in unisex clothes that are beautiful yet practical. She also has a rather nice appearance, but it is messy at the same time which detracts from her presence.

The tiger beastkin on the right says, “Ronald Ó Fuinseog, here to bring glory to the empire.”

He is clad in Armor from head to toe with only his face showing and has an incredibly mean expression on his face, and his body language backs this up. It might be early to say but he is the type I would be scared of meeting outside of this setting.

The bird beastkin on the centre says, “The head of house Lúcogadh, Ruán Ó Lúcogadh.”

He is without a doubt the oldest person in the room, but he also carries an air around him just as heavy as Lugh despite not holding the same position.

“I am happy you all come could, I especially never expected the head of the Lúcogadh’s to come greet me himself.”

“I originally planned to send one of my sons, but after receiving word of the insult my son caused against your house, I decided to come personally so I could apologise.”

“You needn’t worry about such things, uncontrollable children are something that plagues all our houses. Back in the days of my youth, I was saved by the Lúcogadh calvary more times than I could count, nothing he could have said would have been enough of an offence to create conflict.”

“I am happy to hear that, though I do find it amazing that the orphan of the Faoláin has grown into such a smart man.”

“I thank you, it was only due to watching competent leaders like you, that I was able to quickly surpass you.”

With a grand laugh, he says, “It seems some of that youthful vigour still hasn’t left you.”

Ronald says, “Now that we have finished our greeting I would like to discuss battle plans.”

Mairead says, “Young star of the Fuinseog, you should relax a bit more. Conversations are a great way to build community, we are all family in Danu's eyes.”

“Are a member of the house of Biorg. Right now pleasantries can wait.”

Ruán turning his head says, “Your feistiness is proof of your youth, and I am sure it is the reason you lead your house armies at your age. But making friends is the difference between someone leaving you to rot on the battlefield or not.”

“Don’t worry unlike the rest of you I won’t ever be in a critical state, so your advice is unneeded.”

After he says this, I blink and then moments later Lugh “is holding his helmet in his hands and says, “It is quite easy to take this off, I would suggest sharpening your senses.”

Everyone in the area with the exception of the house of Faoláin and Ruán, has surprised looks on their face, especially Ronald. But one thing I notice is that he has two different eye and hair colours, now that his helmet is removed.

Lugh reaches his helmet towards him, and Ronald grabs it while saying, “I will keep that in mind.”

Turning to Daragh, he says, “Call for all the generals to come to the meeting room, and Setanta, Ferdiad follow me as well.”

With those few words, all of the important people start to scatter and do their jobs. Me and my brother try to follow Setanta, but then he turns to us and says, “Only me and Ferdiad can come into the meeting room.”

“Then what are we supposed to do?”

“Take the horses for a few rounds, they seemed worked up that they had to walk at a controlled pace for so long so just ride them anywhere in eye view.”

I look at my brother and he looks back at me and smiles, and then we run out of the room at full speed.

-Break-

Riding Kooacht, I say, “What a beautiful boy you are.”

Seeing a group of boys training, all of them looked rather young around my age. But what catches my eye, is that they are all wearing rather nice clothes.

Could they be the other red branch children that are part of the boys' troop, or whatever Setanta called them.

Suddenly a realization hits me. If they are red branch children doesn’t that mean to a certain extent these boys are royals and nobles of the highest class. What if one of them sees me and tells me to become their bride, isn’t this what I have dreamed of.

“Hey, you!”

Looking over to the origin of the voice, I see a group of boys walking over to me who are sweating but have smiles on their faces.

Each of them looks handsome in their own right, and so I jump off my horse and straighten out my clothes, then say, “Yes.”

My heart is a flutter as imagine the beginning of my life, but it quickly shatters as he says, “Good fetch us some.”

I make a disgusted expression and turn around, saying, “Go get it yourself.”

He then puts his hand on my shoulder, and forces me around, and says, “Servants shouldn’t take that tone with me.”

“I might be a servant, but I am also a charioteer, to another master. So I don’t fall under your banner.”

He sighs, and says, “Another stupid one, woman and their little dreams.”

“What was that?”

“Are population has finally started to stabilize, and we no longer have to use human women. So it is time for women like you to abandon these foolish dreams, and help us spread our numbers far and wide.”

Annoyed, I say, “I wouldn’t be on the battlefield if you men could do your jobs better, so who is the one failing here.”

He puts his hands all over my face and hair, then says, “Aggressive, freckles, and coarse hair. You can say all you want about men, but it isn’t like you could get one if you tried your hardest.”

I instantly throw my leg towards him for a strike, but he easily catches it out of the air and squeezes it causing me pain. Then he flips up my skirt, and says, “I guess you’re a girl after all.”

The boys around him snicker, and I push down my skirt with a few tears forming in my eyes. He then throws me to the ground, and Kooacht tries to protect me, but he is punched to the ground by the boy.

He then picks me up by my hair and brings my face close to his, while saying, “I still am thirty, so go fetch me water you bitch.”

As he talks I know, I can’t do anything, because at this moment I am utterly powerless and embarrassed.

He shakes my head, and says, “Is that a yes!”

While in this embarrassed state, I feel the tears become stronger in my eyes and I look up preparing to nod my head up and down. But then I see something smash into his face.

Then I hear, “Since you're so fond of undergarments here's mine.”