“Oh Cormac really? Really? She had already lived a full life before you were even born, there's no way.”

Cormac was always one for the ambitious plans.Though this one had proven difficult to dissuade him from.

Tadhg laughed, “Cormac, what books have you been reading eh? Sometimes I think you get confused with them and the real world.”

Cormac called for another drink ignoring their fears, “She's not even that old. And besides why would I take advice from either of you gurus anyway?

You,” he pointed squarely at Tadhg, “can’t spend more than a minute with Sinead without forgetting your own bloody name. And You.”

He swivelled towards Dagda, “And you. You fancy yourself an expert but the only girl you do actually like hates you and thinks you an immature child.”

Stunned Dagda and Tadhg looked on shocked at the outburst. For a moment there was silence. Instead of launching a rebuke however they began to clap.

“By God Cormac you really went for it there. That was some nasty observation by you now.”

“Very nasty,” chimed in Tadhg.

“Sharp as steel that. Cutting like. We must remember not to mess with you no more. Don’t know if I could take much more of that.”

Dagda paused shaking his head, “Though it wasn’t actually true now but stilI.”

“No, no definitely not true, shur Dagda wouldn’t be worried about something small like that.”

“And Tadhg only acts like that to get Sinead on side, that's alI.”

Tadhg slammed down his fist pointing straight to Dagda, “Exactly. Good yes, exactly, that's why I did all that weird shit.”

Cormac sighed exasperated, and eagerly began pouring himself a new drink.

Tadhg poured himself a new one along with him and eyed him up carefully, “Plus if we're not careful he’ll get his lovely Maire after us, she must have serious power seeing as she has lived through most of our history.”

Dagda snorted up his drink as much at Cormac's defeated expression as Tadhg's comment.

“She’s not even that…. Awh forget it.”

“Dagda wrapped his arm around Cormac and pulled him in close, “We know she’s not, and besides you love reading about history right, with her she can just tell you about it first hand, win win.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Cormac eyed Dagda warily flicking his drink sideways at him. Dagda wiped himself down and picked up the beaker, “Nah she’d be lucky to have you Cormac, anyways we should probably be focusing less on such things and more on this war we must now play a part in. We have the advantage of preparation on our side, armies that would normally take weeks to assemble are already primed to march. If all goes to plan we should be at Carthaga’s gates by week’s end.”

“And by the following week we should have them routed and driven back to where they came.” Cormac added, “Which means Carthaga will need to be divided up, the Milesians have not been idle in their time there, it will make a grand prize.”

“All for nought, it is not the Milesians which will determine the future, there are greater evils which lay hidden and dormant to us all, waiting, interminably waiting for their time to rise again.”

The wavery, shaky voice came to them from the table adjacent, its owner tightly tucked into the corner of the room shadowed in candlelight.

Tadhg rubbed his forehead irritably, “Yes, yes there are always greater evils. Great Beasts and deities just waiting to cast us down. For now however I think the Milesians are more than worthy of our attention.”

The ancient Druaid smiled nodding his head, “So it would seem quite clearly to you.”

Dagda slowly got to his feet and passed the beaker of wine from their table onto his. Tadhg threw his hands up in frustration, “He hasn’t had enough no? You are worse only spurring him on.”

The elder groped and felt his way to the beaker, nodding his head in thanks he reached out for Dagda’s hand grabbing it tightly, “You hear me Prince? You hear my words?”

Dagda patted his arm gently, “I do yes, every single one, do not fear that.”

The wizened, wrinkled face of the ancient Druaid peered at him over the top of his drink, both hands held firmly about it. No one, not even he himself it seemed, could recall his true name and so all referred to him as All Father instead, for all young Druaidíi would spend their early years clamouring to hear his many tales both great and terrible. He had been old for as long as anyone could remember, Ardgal was fond of saying that, "All Father has not aged or moved a day since the first Druaidíi left the vault."

An exaggeration yes but one which was rooted in truth for he did indeed seem to spend his every waking moment permanently anchored to his own corner of Teach Tabhairne. Supposedly he had been a wanderer in his far off youth, one that had seen it all. Now however he was an ever present figure in the city and seemed as much a part of Dún na Rí as its foundation stones.

Satisfied that Dagda had heard his words he went back to his cup, silent and content for now. He sat back and seemed to lull into a peaceful sleep. Tadhg shook his head, “I swear it’s the drink keeping that one alive, he must be as old as the Giants to hear some tell it.”

Dagda smiled, “And older still, an interesting Druaid, he knows everything it seems.”

Cormac scoffed, “He claims to know everything, that is about all one can do when you can’t leave the city, being blind I guess he had to work on his imagination. He certainly brings his stories to life anyways, ‘member how we used fight for the best spot to hear him speak.”

“Aye,” Tadhg agreed, “life was a hell of a lot easier then.”

Dagda raised his tankard in toast, “Well easier or not we can only do what is best for now, so c’mon let's get this down us and get Seamus over for a few. He always sings his best when he’s had a few himself. I fancy a song or two.”

They raised their drinks in toast. “Slainte Brothers.”