Fionn

The Realms

Fifthday, 3rd week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597

Night

Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands

Fionn observed Ailis carefully, his face an impassive mask. As usual, she was circling her actual objective from a great distance, attacking from an oblique angle. Her body wasn't relaxed enough, and her eyes had gone just a shade too dark, for her current conversation about the village's food situation to be what she really cared about. He nodded along and made the appropriate noises as she built her case for moving the village in the near-term future. It was when she started talking about the warriors and hunters that he began to piece together her real agenda. He looked more closely and saw the signs that she didn't know she gave off. Her tail was twitching in the way she had when she was worried for her daughter; her eyes kept glancing northward without her seeming to realize; she was twisting a ring around her finger like she did when magic was on her mind.

Fionn held up one large, calloused hand, stopping Ailis in mid-sentence. "How bad is it, Ailis?" She blinked at him, confused, and he clarified. "Ceallach Macht. Brighid came back late this afternoon, drenched in sweat and demanding to see you, and she came without the human. Something has happened at Ceallach Macht, and you want me to vote a certain way in the Council. I enjoy playing your games with you, Councillor, but just this once let us talk directly. How bad is it?"

A look of surprise came over the silver-haired woman's face, but only for a moment. "It is bad. The wards are failing, being bypassed. I do not know how long we have before they break completely. Fionn, you have asked me to be direct, so I will. We cannot let this stand any longer. We must cleanse Ceallach Macht before it is too late. Containing the evil has only let it grow stronger in peace, and we cannot travel far enough to be beyond its grasp without completely abandoning our entire territory. We have to—"

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Again, Fionn held up a hand to halt Ailis's speech. "Twelve years ago, when the Council voted to seal the City of Dreams, we were still recovering from the fighting with the Miststalker tribe. I know you were not very involved with that, Ailis, but we were close to losing that war. We lost almost an entire generation of warriors. When the monsters began to attack around the lost city, we had only a handful of true veteran fighters left—and three of them died in the expedition into the city. Our ranks were mostly green yearlings and old soldiers like me, past their prime. I voted to contain the threat not so that we could ignore it, but so that we could grow stronger ourselves. I do not know if it was the correct decision even now, but it was made with careful consideration."

Fionn looked Ailis straight in the eyes. "You are smarter than I, and I will even say wiser, Ailis. As I said, I enjoy your games of shadows and hidden messages. But have a care; you are falling into a trap of your own making. You are not the only one who can see the path we tread upon, and you are not the only one who can put what is best for our people above your own cares and worries. Do not allow yourself to think you must always fight alone, or you will find that you will always be alone. Some can walk that path and not be affected, but not you, I do not think.

"As for Ceallach Macht," he continued with a weary sigh, "You are right. It must be purged at last. You will have my vote in the Council, Ailis. I will speak to Anwn if you will speak to Eilwen." He rolled his shoulders and began to head out of the village towards Anwn's home.

Ailis snorted and called after him, "And you accuse me of being devious. You cannot run from her forever! Just give her what she wants, and she will stop ambushing you with cookies and whiskey and waving her tail at you."

Fionn just grumbled and waved the matter away. He couldn't retreat forever, but he might be able to keep out of her clutches until the old nag finally keeled over.