I spent the next 2- or 3-years training in the home of Old Kane. I grew stronger and taller. I was the biggest of any of the men who served under the soldiers of Old Kane. Conn, Grainne, and I went with old Kane to the capital of Drayega. Several of the King’s noblemen came with their respective house guard.

Conn came up to me his horse riding in tandem with mine. “Brian.” He waved his hand to me. The wave was something new that he picked up. He did it to me as a way to comfort me.

“We need you for the game tomorrow.” I smile at him. Of course, I enjoy playing normally…. but with me there he would have to come up with ways under honor to balance the game out for fairness. This of course gives him a chance to posture for the other nobles.

“I suppose I could.” I said with a smile. Old Kane however interjects. “You can after we are done speaking with the King.” Grainne seems to respond to that…. I wasn’t able to gage her response at the time. I nod to him. I don’t give him much in the way of a response beyond a nod in the affirmative. Conn speaks up “Why would you need him for that long with the King?”

The old man gives a stern look to his son. Grainne acts as an intermediary between the two. “Conn, the King might know something about the land Brian came from….” She looks to me “Was it Virginia?” I sigh a bit…I tried explaining it to them…” Virginia was the providence of the empire I came from.” Trying to explain states, democracies, and republics often lead to a great deal of confusion for them.

Conn considered his sister’s words and looked at his father. “Is the Library of Drayega that good?” Old Kane shrugs. “The legends of the King’s library claim it to be such. “Conn grunts…. he is disappointed as he can’t have his ringer.

Draeyga looked to be about 10-15,000 people. Not much of city by the standards of Earth, but quite substantial here. The smells I imagine would be like a turn of the century American city. The castle at the center of the city was purported to have been built out of the skeleton of a Dragon.

Beyond the story of the tree’s being the reborn souls of elves there isn’t much in the way of magic and mysticism the folks of Ayalos really believe in. Holding too much to the old folk beliefs labeled you as ‘Old Church’ which would put you in the crosshairs of the ‘New Church.’

We go through the main great of Draeyga and make the march through the marketplace. Conn and the rest of the men stay outside the gate. While all the nobles were lords under the authority of the Lord of Draeyga, but only the Lord of Draeyga can have troops in his city.

As we approached the castle, I felt a shiver up my spine. As I crossed the threshold, I felt a presence viewing me for a moment or two but then it faded. Old Kane led me to one of the small private meeting chambers where we met the king.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

He had long salt and peppered hair. At his side was a short man with bulbous facial features. He had a long white beard and white hair. “Oengus” Kane knelt before the king. I gave an appropriate bow. The king looked at me with a curious glance. Kane spoke up for me “My lord. His people do not kneel. He bows slightly as a favor for me.” The bulbous face man approached me and started to examine me with studiousness.

“Interesting” the Kasni the wizard said as he turned back to the King “Kane’s suspicion seems to have merit. “Kasni began to ask me questions as he took me to his study. He showed me maps of the world, and books of animals. It felt like hours but it was much shorter than that. As Kasni returned me to the room with old Kane and the King, I saw the King seal a document and hand it back to Kane. Oengus turned his attention to me as I entered the room.

“Brian there will be games this day. Were you told their significance?” I nodded to the King. “Young men who do well are sworn Fianna.” He nods to that. “Kane would like you to be able to do that. And I see no reason why you shouldn’t. But you have no clan or kith to swear….” I spoke up “Don’t you swear yourself to the people and the land sire? A duty of service as a warrior?” The king nods pleased. “Seems Kane focused well on your education.”

The king came down and touched his hand to my shoulder. “Then you can compete with my blessing then Brian Caithan.” The King spoke a brief bit to me about earth and then I joined the encampment. Conn seems to be excited to see me “So…. they are letting you compete?” I nodded to him. He clasped my hand tightly.

If I passed, I would no longer be a trainee to the house guards. I would be a formal and proper soldier in the service to old Kane. The first bit was a race, there was a game of hurling, a tug of war, and a series of contests with weapons…. then the oath.

The racing and the weapon games were ones I would hold back my full skills. It would give me a better chance to see the skills of the other warriors. As I was pondering my future Grainne embraced me. “Brian, would you like to walk with me?” I smiled at her “Do you know the gardens here then?”

She always would walk with me at the gardens at home. Conn did not worry about me with his sister, Old Kane did for a while….and certainly then…. but he allowed me this luxury.

She looked longingly into my eyes…. She cared for me. And had I not been a guest in her father’s house I would have given into that affection.

“By custom a man would be anointed in the ritual by a wife, mother, or sister. Could I anoint you as a warrior.” I nod to her “If I pass.” She of course stared at me “Brian…. I know you could defeat everyone of the others seeming to be admitted as warriors. “I Shaked my head to her. “I could, but it would not be wise.” She laughed “This from the boy who fell down the well.”

I grinned to her “I am trying to be wise my dear.” We both had a good laugh. “Now if you were truly wise.” She said to me “You would try to not beat Conn’s performances from the year you came here. My dear brother might take that personally.”

She was baiting me to beat Conn…. bait that I took because I wanted to. That small mote of pride would come to bite me in the ass later. But those problems would all begin in the morning.