The Council Room was crowded, more than usual, Farda had insisted on keeping staunch Druaidíi as guards to prevent any disruption or interruption. They had been placed at each of the room’s 3 doors. His belief that Brandubh had spies within Dún na Rí was outlandish but erring on the side of caution was never a bad thing when dealing with men such as him. There had been rumours abound of Milesian spies capable of infiltrating any and all areas through devious sorcery and machinery. After seeing their explosives in action Dagda couldn’t deny their capability for such. The Guards stood statuesque at their posts as Ardgal explained all that had happened at the meeting with Brandubh and the General.

“More men and more siege machines. For as long as we hold out that is what they will continue to do. No matter the cost they seem hellbent on us bending the knee and yielding Dún na Rí. Even if it means killing us all. We need to reconsider our strategy thus far. We should have done more when the men were vulnerable in Belvoir.” Darragh was first to respond to Ardgal, his voice full of anger as usual.

“As much as it pains us all to admit,” Farda spoke up, “Darragh is right, there will be no let up. We are Druaidíi, servants to no one, we have found hard times and faced many tests but we have always came through, fighting and battling to sustain and preserve the legacy and tradition of our people.”

He gazed around at all gathered willing their minds to his, “But... but we must not be blind nor deaf to all that is happening about us. The line between bravery and stupidity is oft hidden, we must ensure to find it. If we fear nothing, then we are not brave but rather too foolish and ignorant to be afraid. We once made common cause with the men because we knew it was the only way to move forward. Now we must do it once more, for ourselves and all Druaidíi yet to come.”

Farda’s words seemed to ripple through all present and echoed around the somewhat crowded council room. Dagda kept his lips sealed following Ardgal’s lead whose stony expression gave little away.

Farda did not fail to notice the response, “We have fought well and we have fought resolutely,” his voice seemed to rise that bit more, spurred on by the faces around him, “there will be little doubt amongst the Milesians of our prowess and we will have earned their respect.”

Argdal tensed at that final comment, “It is not the respect of the men I am after Farda. It is the respect and approval of our People I need not some far off distant Emperor and his subjects. I am loath to have it said that I Ardgal son of Ruaidh was amongst those first Druaidíi which caved and allowed themselves to be subjected to the rule and will of a foreign power. This is our land.”

“That may be-”

Ardgal cut off Farda’s interruption with a stare that brokered no debate. “Our people made common cause it's true but there can be no comparison to then and now. The last alliance we agreed to left us with our own freedom and guarantees that secured control of Aileann’s vast forests, the men only allowed its resources under our watch and regulation. We departed the pact as equals, each side to rule themselves independently of the other, to live peacefully side by side. Make no mistake the Milesians will not allow us such an agreement. We will be their tools and nothing more, sent off to fight in wars not our own, to die and serve for a land and people that cares not for our history and traditions. Do not let the severity of our situation cloud over the storm that awaits us if we succumb to their demands. Our way is unclear, our path ahead treacherous but the most difficult paths oft lead to the greatest views. We can survive this. Together.”

All those gathered exchanged intent glances. Surely they see the sense in his words.

“Even with the Giants I do not believe we can much longer hold out. The men have come with more than I believed possible. What then do you propose Ardgal, do we sit and wait and hope they break themselves against our walls?” Connor enquired.

Ardgal lowered his voice audibly and the members quietened and leaned in close to hear his words. “No. I propose we take the Battle to them. The Giants will be of little use on the walls but with them and their Daedan along with the element of surprise we can pierce a hole in them. Not for victory or success but enough for us to escape, we know the forest is our home and the men would be mad too think they could seize us in there. All we needs do is break their line and once we reach the forest we'll have it and its environment as protection against their chase.”

Farda shook his head fervently, “For a time yes, but then what? We can not stay roaming the forest forever. I thought like you Ardgal but we have seen already the damage caused by a single night of attacks, when the men next move it may be the last one made in this war.”

“You are right Farda we cannot roam indefinitely without purpose or direction. Which is why I would have us head for Imeall Uiscí, as we have spoken on previously. We get there, we regroup and reorganise, then we weigh up our options for what comes next.”

“Ardgal so long as the Milesians are here there are no options,” Farda countered. This is turning into a battle of wills...and with only two participants.

“I will not be a prisoner hidden away from all the outside world scrambling like a dog at a feast table for any scraps not wanted by those seated. I beseech you on all those you supposedly serve, bow now and allow us work to adapt and develop as part of the New World order. Aileann must needs change with the new or die with the old.”

The room was plunged into a tense frosty atmosphere at Farda’s words.

“If by new you refer to a life as a glorified slave of the Milesian Empire abandoning everything I know and stand for then I choose to die with the Old. By your words do you mean to offer me this choice Farda?”

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“Will you be changed from your path? ”

“No, no I will not.”

Darragh sat up in chair, “Farda, wait, this is not how-”

“Do not lecture me.” Farda looked straight through him and nodded towards the door, at his signal it was barred from the inside by Aireabhall, a notable Druaid and strong companion of Tearmann’s previous leader.

All around them the guards, previously statuesque, rushed into action. Dagda jerked upright but before he could utter a word of protest or draw his claíomh he felt the icy sharp kiss of a blade’s steel pressing down upon his skin, just below his jaw. To his left he saw Michaél and Ardgal similarly constrained. Maire, Fiona and Connor looked left and right seemingly dumbfounded by the turn of events but as of yet had no blade raised against them. Darragh looked towards Farda furiously but stayed in his seat either unable or unwilling to intervene. From the door at the back of the room entered 4 more Druaidíi, all of which had their origin at Tearmann. Dagda knew little of them but recognised the face of Readarf, a Druadai his own age and someone he had often drank and ran with in the past.

Connor stood up but was immediately set upon by one of Farda’s guards.

“Sit down Connor, and you two lower your hands.” Farda stared testily at Maire and Fiona not already subdued, “one wrong move and I’ll have you all in chains, sit and do as I say or all shall pay.”

Connor, Maire and Fiona stood down at his words but Dagda did not blame them, whatever limits Farda had they had been shattered.

Throughout it all only Ardgal and Farda had not moved. Michaél’s head was arched back and a drop of blood trickled from one of the two overly eager wardens at his side yet his anger was such that Dagda could feel it from across the room. “You fool Farda, do you truly believe that you can raise a blade to your fellow Druaidíi and still hope to have the others listen to a word you say?” Michaél spat the words out full of rage, “they’ll have you thrown in the bottomless depths of the vault to rot and corrupt until your dying days.”

Farda turned contemptuously toward Michaél, “Ah yes the ever faithful lieutenant. Do not worry Michaél, while it is true that in their shock and immediate anger, oblivious to all the finer details our brothers and sisters are likely as not to throw me in some dark unbecoming recess. That I readily acknowledge, however by the time they are aware of what is happening tomorrow morning they will think quite differently, if all goes to plan. Our new commander will make sure of that.” He pointed towards Darragh who avoided his gaze. “Do not think I will tarnish your legacy or reputation however. When our people hear how you gave yourselves up to the men in return for our safety I am sure you will be greatly honoured. To think that you would willingly sacrifice yourselves without fanfare or parade…. a most heroic act and one that will be greatly appreciated by us all for generations to come. A strange act perhaps but these are strange times are they not?”

Dagda glowered powerless, his face forced skywards by the blade to his neck, “You swore the sacred oath the same as I Farda, the same as all of us. Would you curse yourself and bring the wrath of the Gods themselves down on your head, on the head of you, your family and every child that comes from your blood?”

Farda gritted his teeth, he looked at Dagda with sympathy in his eyes, “You are right yes I swore the oath. I swore to never strike down another of my kin, and I do not intend to break that oath.”

He placed his hands heavily down on the table, “If we are to treat with the men once more than I am sure they would appreciate receiving you as a token of our willingness to collaborate with them in the future and it will allow us some firm ground from which to begin negotiating. I know that with you as compensate we will have a future. Your sacrifice will not be for nought, this I assure you.”

Ardgal had still not moved nor stirred, another two of Farda’s Druaidíi had entered and pressed their claíomhs against him but his face remained expressionless, oblivious to the steel set against him.

“With this betrayal Farda you would sound the bell on the last song of the Druaidíi.” Ardgal’s voice sounded all of his 249 years, “together, come what may we are a force, strong and dignified, now instead you would plunge a traitors knife into my back and sell me to your new masters. You would undo the work of 1000s for the gain of one.”

Farda flared at Ardgal’s words, “It is not for me I do this but for the future of our people. If that means bending a knee or two then I will not put myself above it like some foolish cur unaccustomed to the world.”

“How many years have passed? How long now, 225 years Farda. Do not play me for a fool, this is no selfless sacrifice you make it is an attempt to right the wrong you have always believed done to you and your people at

Tearmann Thíos Thalamh. A wrong you mistakenly placed at my feet though I had nought to do with it.”

“MISTAKENLY?” Farda erupted from his seat all hint of calm and composure forgotten.

“There is no mistake. You and all here at Dún na Rí never viewed us as equals, we called… we begged for your aid. Begged. Yet did ye come? No, no you did not Ardgal and instead we were left to fight on until overran and our people decimated by the marauding Partholóns.”

“Farda you fool whatever false ideas you have long held in your dullard head even you cannot truly believe we would have abandoned you in your time of need. Do not feign ignorance to me, I know why and how those Partholóns reached your home. It was you, you and your insatiable desire for glory, you had to attack, to disobey direct orders and launch an impossible ambush on an immense force. By the time we had been made aware the men had cut off our route to you. Even still we came, were it not for us your remnants would never have reached us. You should have thanked us, not seethed silently, deceiving me and all who held you dear.” Ardgal shook his head wearily, “All these years you have allowed your false grievances grow and now with our need most desperate you would take your chance to become leader and fulfill finally what you have always craved. You would crown yourself our King even as you bow to another just to satisfy your own injustices, imagined or not.”

When Ardgal made to continue Farda waved his hands and the blades were raised that bit higher and deeper forcing him to relent.

“Enough. I have heard enough,” Farda turned his face away, “we have a long night ahead of us, I will not have you harmed by my hand but resist and I will have no choice. I do not wish to hear your voice any longer, I have been your faithful servant too long, no more.”

With that Ardgal, Dagda and Michaél were forced to their feet and began to be led away each matched with an accompanying claíomh to their neck. Looking back desperately Dagda spied the others still restrained, doubtless they would be privy to an intimate conversation with Farda to sway them into his plan. He wondered if he would ever see them again.