The boys ran through Athlethan, knocking over the market stalls and causing carts to tip as people avoided the rowdy youths running through the streets without any regard for their safety or the people. Fruit rolled across the road and the boys laughing, ran in all directions, avoiding the peacekeepers who were not dressed for chasing fast and cheeky adolescents who should have known better.

Suddenly there was a flash of movement. One of the boys ran closely past a tall, striking, white haired young woman. She wore leather and a light armour of Scatach steel. In the tiara on her forehead was a jewel, blue and flashing. She grabbed him by the collar and lifted him into the air, his legs flailing. He tried to turn, to see who was holding him. He went still and stared. The woman was stunning, her eyes flashing with anger was overwhelming and commanding. Her skin as smooth as a millpond and as fair as freshly fallen snow. The boy could not believe what he saw. Another boy was behind her and with the other hand she grabbed him mid-stride and he was lifted off his feet also. She placed them at the feet of the sheriff, and she swiftly rounded up all the boys, carrying them to their punishment. The people who witnessed this were amazed by her speed and strength. She was not only lifting boys, but these were also heavy boys, almost men. One of the boys swung his fist toward her and immediately regretted it, his fist was caught in mid-air and painfully bent back, causing him to cry out, the boy in the other hand was dropped and landed on his buttocks with a loud grunt of pain.

When they were all seated in a wagon, the city sheriff watching them closely, should they try to make a run for it. They looked sheepish as they sat hunched together like sacks of potatoes. Their captor finally spoke. Her voice was firm, but kind and her tone and words made even the innocent, feel ashamed for nothing.

“I am disappointed in you all, this disregard for others is not tolerated. You will report to the palace service entrance tomorrow at sunrise where you will meet me for some recrimination for your actions today.”

The boys nodded in agreeance, still watching her with stunned expressions. They were secretly pleased with this, for when people met Celthair, especially young men, they wanted to see her again, regardless of the threat of punishment. “But”, they thought, “how bad can it be? We get to be with the princess for a while”. Celthair smiled, relishing their punishment, looking forward to their faces dropping with what she had in store for them.

The sheriff took them, now bound, each one back to their parents where, no doubt they received some real punishment, or so they thought.

Celthair then went to all the market stalls they had damaged and helped fix their displays and paid for the damaged fruit and market produce. The people shook their heads in wonder at the beauty of this girl, in looks yes, but more so in her kindness and care for everyone. They loved Celthair, daughter of King Tuatha and Queen Laegaire. She had the whole cities devotion and allegiance.

Celthair, her work done, smiled to herself. She gained a lot of satisfaction from this type of work. Her mother had insisted that when she wandered through the city, she have protection from Riangbra warriors. They followed her for a time, but when she grew tired of them following, she would lose them in the crowds, or by clever trickery. The market began to pack up for the day and the two suns were now low on the horizon. So Celthair made her way back to the palace to join the evening meal.

“What did you get up to today,” asked Tuatha as she sat at the table, reaching for a loaf of Trias, before she was even seated. Laegaire, rolled her eyes. “Celthair, for goodness sake, you are nearly eighteen cycles old, act like a princess instead of a street urchin.”

“Like the ones I apprehended and will be punishing tomorrow?” she replied cheekily.

“What do you mean? Asked Tuatha.

“Oh, nothing really, there were some boys creating havoc in the streets, and I stopped them because the peacekeepers are too slow and fat.”

Laegaire looked crestfallen. Her daughter was nothing like her. She was beautiful, yes, but she did not let that stop her from acting like a soldier. She didn’t stop acting like one at all.

Laegaire had the attitude, but she could jump between the two and become a calm and regal princess when needed. Especially in official duties.

Tuatha grinned, “I love it, I have a daughter and a son in one, which is great considering Aillel is in Don Cluana!”

Laegaire levelled her eyes at him sternly and Tuatha winced. “Sorry, my love.”

Celthair laughed happily and pranced around the table wrapping her arms around Tuatha’s neck. “Thank you, Daddy,”, she said with music in her voice.

Laegaire tried not to grin but could not stop it, when Celthair saw the face of her mother struggling to hold it straight, she danced to her mother’s side and hugged her too. Laegaire and Celthair broke out into a giggle. “You will be the death of me,” said Laegaire.

“You will be okay, mummy, I’ll protect you from me.” With that she danced out of the room, with a mouthful of bread, half of it still poking out of her mouth as she chewed.

“Did she eat anything?” asked Laegaire dolefully.

“She took some bread, I think”, replied Tuatha.

Laegaire shook her head, “but its dinner time,” then louder, “Celthair, come back and have dinner”.

But she was gone. Laegaire looked at Tuatha. “Can’t you control your daughter? She listens to you, not to me, you need to tell her to not use her strength, she might hurt someone”.

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Tuatha shook his head. “I can no more control her, than I can control a river, she is a free spirit, don’t worry, her Riangbra lessons with Cathabad are teaching her how to be gentle with people and not to overuse her strength”.

“I don’t understand my feelings anymore, she both frustrates me and makes me love her more than anything”, said Laegaire.

“Let her go, my love,” said Tuatha. I trust her, do you forget that from a young age she was never home, but with the people, from Muinremar to Imchad and now here, she is loved and safe among her people. She is after all, seventeen cycles old”.

“Eighteen in two sun cycles,” shouted Celthair’s voice, from somewhere far off down the hallway. Tuatha and Laegaire, looked at each other and laughed. “I call her back to dinner and she doesn’t come. I mention her age and she can hear it from the other end of the house. Oh, my heart!”

Celthair, ready in minutes, ran to the palace out buildings to find her friend. Tethra answered the door. “Hello Celthair, if you are looking for Mags, she went to the party early.”

Mags was short for Mairghread, she was Tethra and Devorgill’s daughter. She was a splitting image of Celthair’s character, but not her looks. She was dark like her mother Devorgill had been. Black hair and freckles, she had a beauty that was less showy. She liked to hide it and often walked around, her hair over her face. But under the broody looks, she was as cheeky and bubbly as Celthair, her much loved and best friend.

When they arrived at the party, it was full of young people they all knew well. As usual the boys were huddled around, ignoring the girls, and talking about battles and swords.

“If the boys don’t talk to me, I’m going somewhere more fun. There is a battle of Sennol, anniversary dinner on. If we time it right, we will get there when the dancing starts.” Said Celthair to Mags. “I’m over boys, I prefer men, they know how to talk to you properly. These boys just talk about one thing and it’s boring.”

Mags giggled as one of the boys sustained prolonged looks in her direction.

“Are you listening to me Mags?” asked Celthair. “Oh,” she groaned, “forget them Mags they don’t want to talk to you, they only know how to look.”

But Mags was gone, leaving Celthair alone, sipping an Aetherclaw juice. She watched her ignore the boy and walk past him. She rolled her eyes. “That’s it, play hard to get, oh how predictable, Mags” she said under her breath. The boy grabbed her arm and said something to her. Mags turned and smiled.

“What did you say?” asked a voice in her ear.

“Nothing”, she replied automatically.

She turned and faced a tall dark-haired boy, slightly taller than she was.

“Oh,”, he said, “I saw your lips move, I thought you were talking to me.”

“No,” she said, I was commentating on my friends predictable behaviour”.

“Well, she seems to have his ear,” he said.

He was sitting near her at the bar. But she had not noticed how or when he had gotten there.

“I’m C”, he held out his hand, “and you are?”

Celthair looked at him, her eyebrows furrowed. This was not the approach she normally got from boys.

“You don’t know?” she asked incredulously.

“Should I?”

“Well, yes,” she replied, but I won’t tell you. You will need to find out and no cheating. You can’t ask anyone.”

“You are on”, he grinned broadly and Celthair fainted slightly inside, but she did not show it.

“But do you know who I am?” He asked her.

“I don’t know, maybe a clever imposter who was not invited to the party?”

“Oh, I was for sure.” He turned and looked across the room and waved. “The girl, whose party it was, waved back, and looked like she was about to swoon.”

“So, you know Dare”.

“Well, we met once when we were little, we went to the same school”.

“So, you lived here once but moved away, I know everyone, so that’s why I don’t know you”.

“Well deducted”, Ciaran grinned again and Celthair’s heart fluttered. Not a feeling she enjoyed. It was she that made boys hearts flutter, not the other way round!

“Well, I was going to go now anyway,” her heart fell as she said the words and she kicked herself internally.

Ciaran looked slightly disappointed, but graciously bowed and said nothing so she could walk away without feeling awkward.

“See you again, maybe?” he asked as she walked away. She felt relief but did not show it, she simply turned and nodded, smiling slightly. After all, she was in control, wasn’t she!

Mags had finished talking to the boy and met her near the exit.

“You lucky thing, you were talking to him”.

“Who?” Celthair shrugged.

“Him,” she turned to look, “Don’t look, she said looking back quickly, he is looking at you.”

“So? everyone looks at me”.

Mags looked at her incredulously. “You don’t know do you?”

“Should I”, asked Celthair.

“He is only the son of Ainnle and Caer Omaith of Esclarmonde. It’s prince Ciaran, you Aurochs”, replied to Mags, shaking her head in wonder at Celthair’s seeming lack of knowledge.

Celthair thought for a moment.

“There you go, the thought will Gel…any… moment… now!”, said Mags facetiously.

“That’s little Ciaran? He is completely different to how I remember him, he was weak and small. He used to pull my hair and trip me up. I beat him up for it and was punished. Locked in my room during the first of the great battle celebrations, he was a pain in my butt”.

“Well now he is a pain in girls hearts,” said Mags.

“Not mine,” said Celthair haughtily.

“Yeah right, said Mags grinning to herself.

After chatting with Dare and the other girls, they danced together for a while. But no boys came to offer a dance with them, so they left.

They ran to the palace and went in the service entrance. The ballroom was a lot quieter as the lords and ladies spoke gently and with respect.

Mags grabbed Celthair and pulled her to the dance floor and they matched the rhythm and swaying of the other dancers.

After a while, they were giggling and doing funny dance steps, exaggerating the moves, imitating the dancing of the couples who were in love. Celthair felt a tap on her shoulder.

“Can I cut in?” said a voice behind her. Mags nodded and let her go.

Celthair turned.

“Uncle Teth”, she squealed. Using her baby name, she had for him, since she was small. She leaped into his arms, her legs high off the ground.

The other dancers looked at her with annoyed expressions.

“Shh...” said Tethra, laughing at her response.

“How is my little Celt?” his own baby name for her.

Celthair did not speak, she only began to cry into his shoulder with happiness.

Tethra held her and danced with her. A little embarrassed at her reaction in the middle of the dance floor.

When she had calmed down, she leaned back and looked at his face.

Then she grabbed his hand and pulled him to the side so she could talk with him.

“You look older, uncle Teth,” she said. “It’s so good to see you. Is Aunty Caer here too?”

“Indeed, she is my love,” she really wants to see you. Why are you at a dance wearing armour?” Tethra asked, grinning at her.

He asked her, already knowing the answer. She loved wearing the battle dress. Ever since she was taught to be a warrior by the Anakim in far off Imchad. She had worn these clothes. It had been another reason Laegaire was so annoyed with her.

She spent the rest of the evening, talking of her adventures and Tethra’s work in Esclarmonde.

When her mentioned his children and said Ciaran’s name. Tethra saw a small response in her, a tell that she didn’t even realise she had made.

“So, you have met him already?” said Tethra. “How did you know? Asked Celthair. “Is he here”. She looked around eagerly and realising her mistake, looked at Tethra and blushed slightly.

To preserve her dignity, Tethra changed the subject quickly and she looked relieved. But Tethra, the master of body language, already knew.

They spoke for a while longer till the party began to melt away and they all went to their respective places of rest. Tethra saying farewell and hugging Celthair goodbye. She and Mag’s went off to sleep before the first suns rise kept them from doing so.