The marketplace on the small island of Roarke faded away, though the tension remained. The fate of the games remained in the balance and Rua was eager to return to witness what it would be, but right now she had to transport Midir to Armengar. The defensive walls of the Armengarian transport circle materialised around them. A word was whispered from guard to scout and the scout ran. The guard came forward, sheathing his weapon upon seeing that it was no enemy who came through the circle. Garrett smiled.
"Welcome back Midir, Rua. How were the games?"
They stepped out of the circle, and looked at one another. There was so much to tell, both good and bad, and nowhere appropriate to start. Finally Midir replied. "They began well."
"But they're in trouble now." Rua interjected. "I have to return to them, I'll tell you everything later. Midir? You're okay here?"
"Yes, thank you Rua."
She nodded and was about to step back when Garrett's hand touched her arm. "Sorry Rua - Lugh asked that if you came through I'd ask you to stay until he got here. It's important."
She stopped where she was, an instant frown on her face. "Why? What's wrong?"
Garrett shrugged and she could see instantly - it wasn't that he didn't know, it was that he didn't want to say. Her imagination immediately presented her with the worst scenarios possible. With whitened face she walked from the circle in the direction of the plateau, slowly at first but with a quickening pace. She was already running by the time Garrett finished telling the empty space she had occupied that Lugh was on his way and everyone was alright.
Lugh came through the citadel gates after receiving the scout's message. She was home. Again. And hopefully this time she wouldn't disappear back to Roarke before he got a chance to talk to her. He tried his hardest to handle the situation without her but he just couldn't understand it. After everything they'd all been through, after all they'd taught their children, how could Blaithin have turned out so... he hated to say it, but weak. And how could she possibly have thought Rua would approve of what she did? All the girl would say since he brought her back from the school was that she wanted her mother and that she'd understand. While Rua was indeed softer in her approach with Blaithin, he still very much doubted she would greet the news he had to tell her with any joy. And there she was running towards him now. He found himself stopping where he stood, waiting, captivated as ever by her wild beauty. It didn't matter how serious the situation was or how much worry and concern was etched on her face too, he greeted her with a smile and took her into his arms. They enjoyed one another's warmth from running only a moment before she spoke.
"What is it? Are the children alright? Tell me they're alright."
"They're fine, Rua." He squeezed her shoulder to reassure her all was well in that regard. "Sorry, I didn't mean for my message to scare you."
She visibly relaxed but her eyes still betrayed deep concern. "For years the worst we could imagine was usually the truth. I'm trying to break out of the habit but it's not always easy." She frowned, reading his face as easily as he could read hers. "But something is wrong. What is it?"
With a sigh he put an arm around her shoulder. "Let's walk."
They walked around the plateau past the Tribe camp and were just setting foot on Sli na Mhileatcileach as Lugh found a way to tell his wife what had happened. He took her by the hand and they continued toward the port.
"Something happened at the school yesterday. The twins were involved."
That little crease she had since the twins were born returned to her forehead. "But they're alright."
He nodded quickly. "Blaithin is a little bruised but otherwise they're fine." He risked a quick glance at her. She wasn't entirely convinced and when she caught his glance she saw right through him.
"And? What are you not telling me?"
He sighed. "You need to talk to them, Rua. They've fought before but never like this. It usually blows over so fast."
Rua stopped in her tracks. This was serious - she had only told Rhianna the previous day how close Ruairi and Blaithin were. "What in Heramacles name happened here, Lugh?"
"It was a training exercise at school to teach them to take care of one another in melee combat. The group were split in two with a flag each to guard - you know the one."
Rua nodded and they began to walk along the path again. "It's a good exercise. What happened, were they on different teams?"
"No... but Caoimhe's son Fiach was on the other team. When the combat started and the lines met, Blaithin and Fiach went back to the flags, took them down, then met each other on the front line and swapped them."
"Why?"
Lugh gave an exaggerated shrug- he'd been asking the same question himself and was still to get a satisfactory answer. "They thought they could end it in a draw and not have to fight! I've no idea where she got such an idea from!"
Rua found herself smiling. Of all the things she had imagined, this was not one of them. "Is that it? That's what all the fuss is about? They'll learn soon enough that conflicts can't be solved so easily. I don't think we have to worry about it." Even as she spoke she could feel the tension returning to her face. What was happening back on Roarke? If only the problem with the games could be so easily solved. But Lugh was wholly unsatisfied with her answer. He shook his head, stopping again.
"No that's not all. When they were ordered to put the flags back and take up their positions...", he was trembling now with anger, "they laid down their swords! Blaithin, Fiach, and another three children that said they put them up to it! They were protesting against being trained as warriors! Can you imagine it? I don't know what got in to her - and I expected more from young Fiach too - his mother is first gan!"
Only when he got it all out did he calm back down enough to remember to breathe. Rua rubbed his upper arm until he did.
"Where is she now?"
"Their teacher sent them to do farm duty."
"It's hardly a punishment, she likes it out there."
"But Ruairi doesn't. The other children were ordered to keep fighting them whether they had swords or not. When one of them actually tried to take Blaithin down, Ruairi jumped in. He's out there too making sure she doesn't enjoy it too much." Lugh sighed, took Rua's hand from his arm, and kissed it. "I'm glad you're home. You can talk some sense into her."
His eyes only narrowed with suspicion when after a few seconds she still hadn't agreed with him completely. Instead she was trying to read something from him...
"Rua? What are you thinking, my love?"
Rua caught his eyes and held onto them, watching everything. "She's only seven. And Fiach - he can't be more than six. To stand up to their teachers and their classmates like that..."
Lugh's eyes were widening, not quite believing what he was hearing. "Rua this is nothing to be proud of! We have ways of doing things - it's not for them to decide they're wrong! And if they don't learn to respect the chain of command they'll-"
"They'll what?"
She never interrupted him before. Lugh was so stunned, he stopped before the rant could really take off. And when he looked at his wife - sometimes he had no choice but to notice how the last year had changed her. She stepped closer to him and spoke softly yet forcefully.
"Lugh, Blaithin's not a warrior. She's never going to be. I thought we were doing the right thing making her stick with it so she'll be able to defend herself-"
"We are." It was barely the slightest arch of her right eyebrow, but it was enough to make Lugh wish he hadn't said a word.
"I think she's just proved herself quite capable of standing up for herself."
He shook his head, unable to agree as much as he would have liked to. "That kind of thing will get her killed on a battlefield."
Rua's arms folded across her chest. "Being forced onto a battlefield is what will get her killed." Suddenly the forcefulness gave way to vulnerability as Rua touched his face. "What are we doing, Lugh? You and me, we had no choice but to fight so we made the best of it we could - life is so very short. Why are we forcing her to be something she hates?"
He stepped away from her touch. "Something she hates? I'm a warrior, Rua! So are you - at least you used to be!"
"That's not what I mean." She ignored the slight in his words but Lugh could see where the strike hit in her eyes. "I mean for her. We've talked about this before and you agreed with me. If she wants to do something else with her life then we have to help her."
"Yes." He nodded, as if agreeing absolutely. "I don't want my little girl dying out on a battlefield either - and I do want her to be happy - and that's why once she has learned enough fighting skills to take care of herself she can do whatever she wants. But what she can't do is incite other children to disrespect their teachers and their parents!"
"Alright." Rua sighed. "I'll talk to her about it. But I don't think she meant any disrespect by it. They could have made their point a lot less peacefully if they wanted to."
"No? When I ordered her to apologise to her teacher she refused. That doesn't sound like respect, Rua."
"What good is a forced apology? All it would say is she's afraid of her father." She could see the anger rise in him and quickly held out her hands and lowered them to calm the storm before it hit. "She will apologise and she'll mean it. Just give her time. She's got your strength of character, Lugh. There's going to be no pushing her into something before she's ready."
He held Rua in front of him, an arm around each shoulder. "She might not have time. The school won't take her back until she apologises. She's already behind the rest of the children her age - if she falls back much more they'll put her with the younger children. She'll be picked on even more and Ruairi won't be there to get her back every time. I don't think we can expect Amaraiga to do it! This is serious. You have to make her understand that."
"I think she understands it better than we do." Rua sighed and leaned in against him. For the first time he noticed she was exhausted. "We'll sort it out."
Lugh caressed the top of her head ever so gently and found himself almost whispering to her. "Sure we will now that you're home. I heard you were home before but the guards at the circle said you left again immediately."
She nodded her head against his chest. "It was Chareos' idea to stack the transports so Catafract couldn't be traced. We did the same thing when we got the Orsans to safety." She looked up. "There's so much to tell you."
At that he looked surprised. "I thought you just went to play a few games and negotiate a treaty with the Lions."
"Oh it was so much more than that. Much much more."
They found a clearing not too far from Sli na Mhileatcileach where Lugh laid out his cloak so they could sit. He waited patiently for Rua to begin. She sat cross-legged facing him with her sword and a mace he could only guess she just purchased across her knees. He picked it up to examine as she spoke.
"It's hard to believe a year ago we would never have dreamt of doing this - being alone outside the citadel. Things have changed so rapidly and so much of it seems so complicated, my mind is still a whirl. I don't know where to even begin to tell you all that happened. I could tell you about the Orsans but should I not tell you of the dark carnival and the games still ongoing first? And I can't neglect the Praetorians and all we've learnt of them. But shouldn't I first tell you of our meeting with Kianna? And how can I start anywhere but with Satane, Catafract, and the cosmic balance? I would hate to forget Parmeanian, as mad as he is, and Oink and Grizzly should be at the foremost of all our memories."
"I like it."
"What?"
"The mace." He smiled and laid it down beside them. "It has a good weight to it. Why don't you start with the games? We'll get to everything else." Then a grin. "And the most important thing is that you missed me so tell me that first."
She couldn't help but smile back, then leaned forward on all fours, her sword falling to the ground, and kissed his lips. A long minute later she sat back. "I missed you."
"I believe you." He breathed in deeply, regaining himself.
"Okay, the games. We teamed up with the Praetorians - they're a good bunch. They've sworn themselves to protecting the crowns above all else and they're very military in nature - a good match. We see eye to eye on a lot of things. They've had some trouble lately with other groups within the Lions not quite understanding the need for them to have different standards."
Lugh frowned. "Like what?"
"Well, the Lions have an absolute law that no Lion shall harm another. It's a good law. But their job is to protect the crowns against all threats. They have to be allowed do that without question. And as Dagor said, if Queen Sapphire gets it into her head to wade into the middle of battle, damn the risks, then he will strike her down to stop her. But not everyone agrees he should have that right." She took a breath. "I believe that's what led to the deal he and Luaine struck with Chareos."
Lugh was immediately attentive. "What deal?"
"At the time of the last Heartlands when we were still at war and Chareos was still Protector. When they followed a group of Calebii to the transport circle and traced the transport. It was Dagor and the Praetorian's that destroyed the Prefect's palace that led to the end of the war. He used warpstone. It comes from the void and... well you can see just how dangerous it is."
Lugh blinked. "They did that?"
"Yes. And in return Chareos allowed them set up a small camp on the island where they could train out of the way of prying eyes."
"They're here? For how long?"
"Luaine let it slip out in Corthar's presence. Apparently Simeadrach and his scouts have known about it for the last year. Whatever his reasons Chareos felt he couldn't bring it to the attention of the Volksraad before now." She shrugged. "Words have been said to him about it. Dagor was quick to his defence - said he asked that he keep it secret. They weren't too sure how things were going to turn out with the Lions at the time."
"And now?"
"Seems to be okay. They've vowed to respect Armengarian rule and have promised us the full protection of the Praetorians should we ever need it. I've seen them at work. It's not a bad deal. Dagor spoke about setting up some tower too - it would work kind of like a transport circle. People could move instantly between towers. He swears it would be very well protected and they would have full control over who could use it. It means if we needed help we could get it much faster than we can through the transport circle."
Lugh leaned back on both hands, chewing over it. "Our little island seems to be getting very crowded."
"True but I much prefer the company of the Praetorians and the Tribe to the Calebii."
He smiled. "You're right as ever. So you think they can be trusted?"
"I'd stake my life on it. They have their peculiarities - but who doesn't? Dagor is something called a red cap - fine as long as he's kept well fed. He also turns into a frenzied monster when he's knocked out, but his people all know what to do - even if that involves running away very fast." She smiled at his large eyes. "That's why he was so careful not to get into the games where that might be a danger. His part was best played bribing every judge in sight anyway. I was a little uneasy about that at first - it didn't seem honourable - but apparently that's all part of the games. Even the Oracle says you need lots of money to win! Of course that was after we bribed it not to ask us any questions."
"Wait, what's the Oracle?"
"A big glass ball of knowledge. Said a lot of interesting things. It was supposed to ask questions for points but we skipped most of that and chatted for a while. It wanted to talk mostly about recreating the book of fire and destroying Satane's weaker half."
She nodded at his confused expression. "Believe me, it didn't make a whole lot more sense being there. But I'll get back to that. We were talking about the games."
"Yes. What did all this bribery achieve?"
"We came joint first with a team from the Tarantulas. Dagor did his job well. We only lost fifty points from the maximum possible because a bunch of Vipers bribed a judge against us in the Pit round - that's where they release a lot of monsters in on top of you."
That was when he started noticing all the little cuts and scrapes over her hands and face and probably under her clothing too. "Just how many fights were you in?"
"More than I've been in all of the last year. But most of them were part of the games."
"Most?"
"I told you there was a lot to tell."
He sighed. "Fine. So you won the games."
"Not quite. There was a tie breaker round. I'm sure we won the code breaking parts and got most items on the list and answered the questions - but when it came to the final fight in the arena, they were just that much better organised than us. They won two out of the three rounds. We lost by five points. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed but we did our best. They just got lucky. And it was good fun - we never actually did the dungeon but Mactire made up some maps anyway and Dagor and his son Dace sold them on to add to the bribery coffers. We agreed beforehand with the Bears to end Troll ball in a draw and it was so much more fun because of it. Even Queen Sapphire and Prince Mog played! Jugger did get a little intense when Cildara got hit outside the game. Baloo did his best to try resolve it and was very disappointed when it sorted itself out when he wasn't looking. We had such a good Tug of War team the rope snapped!"
Lugh smiled. "It sounds like fun."
"That part of it was." Her face fell. "Oink and Grizzly were on our team. It soured the victory when they couldn't share it with us."
He touched her on the shoulder, sensing her sorrow. "Tell me."
Rua composed herself before starting the tale. It was odd how it could affect her so much. She knew them such a short time and death was a huge part of life for so long in Armengar... maybe that was why. She thought death had become a thing of the past and here it was right back and in her face.
"It started while I was talking to Midir and Rhianna over food. Midir had an idea for some kind of foreign army - you know, Armengarians who want to fight abroad - with the Lions, some kind of special unit that don't mind the risk they might die in a foreign land. The way he phrased it didn't sound very inviting. And all the time he spoke I kept seeing Ruairi and the man he's going to be going away to some war he knows nothing about and me not knowing if I'd ever see him again."
Lugh's hand reached for her knee and squeezed it. "He's still a child. Don't worry."
"But he won't always be. And he's a warrior born. It's just the kind of thing he'd want to do."
"We've no idea how things might change in the next seven years, Rua. Don't worry about it. Now what happened?"
"Rhianna spotted Mactire running past in something of a hurry towards Lions HQ - the beer tent." She smiled for the briefest moment as his lip twisted up in humour. "I went after him and learned that some Lions had been pulled into the void - at the dungeon we previously managed to avoid entering. Best I can tell there's some kind of sword called White Reaver that takes over an incantor if there are Unliving nearby. The dungeon was full of Unliving and Grizzly was an incantor. It pulled him in and Oink and some other Lions including Dagor, Baloo, and Taliesin followed so he would not stand alone."
"They really are serious about that."
"Oh yes. As serious as we are. I went back to Rhianna and Midir to tell them and when Mactire ran by again - quite alone - we joined him. Caoimhe was there at the entrance getting ready to go in. A Lion whose name I still do not know was there. She had gone in with Oink and Grizzly and lost them. She barely made it out herself. Next thing Taliesin fell out. Midir had a lot of healing to do. I saw other incantors being drawn in by White Reaver and their friends pulling them back out. Somewhere in the confusion Oink and Grizzly appeared in the arena where the ritual of peace had been removed. We went to get them but... they attacked us. Those in the arena with them could not subdue them and had to use all the force they could muster to bring them down. Rhianna felt terrible about striking Oink but she saved Mactire's life in doing it. It soon became clear their patterns were gone and could not be returned. No efforts could restore their lives." She looked up at Lugh, her eyes reddening slightly though she fought hard against it. "They were brought to the Healer's Guild and laid down. Then all the incantors in the main guild tent received a message from the ancestors that their favour would be withdrawn if the place was not cleared of Unliving within the hour. Kianna spoke well for Ormardu - that's Grizzly. She commended his pattern to Malar and asked that Rhyno guide him. Then the new Prince Bishop called on Falcon to accept Oink's pattern." Rua's hands went to her face. "The first time I met Oink was on gate duty at the Gathering last year. He wanted Fionnuala and I to go back inside when we thought a threat was approaching."
"I like him already."
"I couldn't understand it at all when we could both take ample care of ourselves. I guess where he comes from women don't fight alongside men. And now he's gone. He won't do any duty at the gate this Gathering."
Lugh closed his eyes. "And the thing in the dungeon?"
"Best I know the incantors took care of it after a great deal of effort. There was something called the Death Knight in there. It's exactly what it sounds like. I'm not sure if it ever was fully vanquished - the games are in serious trouble, Lugh. That was only part of it."
It was very difficult for Lugh at times. He wanted so much to protect Rua from all kinds of harm from the moment he first met her when they were children in the school. Every time the Calebii attacked he had to bite back the impulse to beg her not to fight. She would have been ordered out by Fraoch or someone else anyway. So instead he watched her back and sometimes not even that was enough. He knew every day since the last Calebii attack how incredibly lucky he was to still have her in his life. It made it all the harder to watch her go to these distant places to dangers he knew nothing about - exactly as she feared for their son, not that she could see that. He might have demanded that she not go anymore but something in the way she carried herself over the last year told him his demand might not be enough anymore. No way was he going to put that to the test. So instead he would lie in an empty bed trying not to think that it might never be filled again. And when she came home he would love her all the more and comfort and console, and listen - but never tell her how terrified her tales make him.
"Why? What else happened?"
If she noticed that he was a little too nonchalant about it, she did not say. "There's a grand circle of treachery on the last day of the games. Yesterday. Corthar was doing well in it and we were watching - next thing the Ringmaster suggested they continue without the ritual of peace for a bigger price. Naturally everyone preferred to keep with the ritual. Then there was smoke and he changed... you know of the dark carnival and how they've troubled the nights of the games for a while now?"
He nodded. He knew only too well. They were amongst the tales that left him sleepless the last few nights.
"There was little or no trouble the first few nights. Then the stone with the chain arrived. Those carrying it slipped and the chain fell. They say that stone is where the dark carnival and the nightmares come from. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. I don't know. But I saw the Ringmaster change. He broke the ritual in the arena and said only one person would leave alive."
"You weren't in there, were you?"
"No, I was watching from outside. Parmeanian, he's a high mage with the Lions - completely mad - he tried to kill himself for all the good it would have done. There was still another thirty odd people in the arena knocked out or still standing. Obviously the circle ceased fighting. Eventually the mages guild came with powerful books and broke through the seal so the contestants could be pulled out. That's when Queen Sapphire was kidnapped."
His eyes widened. "What?"
"In a minute. The Ringmaster reappeared again. He said the games would continue for another day - today. Without the ritual of peace. Us the people of Erdreja against his dark carnival. If they won the dark carnival would take over the games both night and day and they would become a blood bath. If we won, he'd find his amusement elsewhere. We put forward some good teams. When I left we were behind. I only hope we're catching up. Orcus and Spittle disappeared into the void. There's some debate over whether or not they still live."
Lugh whistled through his teeth. "I'm starting to see what you mean. About the whirl in your mind."
"I've hardly started. Catafract - the champion of the Heartlands was in the grand circle of treachery. When Queen Sapphire, Kianna, and some others went in to get our people and teleported out, he was with them. Only when they appeared in the transport circle some Tarantulas were waiting to transport them away again. Then they reappeared in the circle and everyone was pushed away. It seems it was Catafract they were after. The Tarantulas left and we all went up to the Gryphons camp to talk about it."
"What's so special about this Catafract? Is he that good a champion?"
Rua smiled grimly. "That is the question. I'll try to explain this as best as I can but I still don't understand it. There's a cosmic balance. In the guild tent there's a stunning piece of work that supposedly measures this. Four arms to the balance, each with another four arms so sixteen components that make up the world. Four of them are helms of Good, Evil, Law, Chaos. There's four tomes of Fire, Earth, Air, Water. Four stones, and four orbs I think. Actually we got hold of the orb of Spirit for our tiebreaker. I wonder was that one of them? Anyhow I couldn't get anyone to explain the rest. And most of what I know is rumour. On our first night there Chareos asked us to go with Parmeanian as he visited the other camps to find out what he could. He has the helm of Chaos. Went around collecting alms for Mordred with it at one point. Anyway he later invoked it and it started to hum. Saw him going around with wings at one point - he says it was a slap on the wrist for something. He really is mad - that's why we were sent to take care of him. He got quite a buzz from asking for guards and actually getting them! But there are embodiments of Good, Evil, Law, Chaos who were bound into the four tomes. Only the tome of Fire containing Evil was destroyed by someone called Tomas. Never heard of him but that's the name the Oracle used. It suggested it be recreated. The stories suggest they were people once but their conflict put the world into too much imbalance so they allowed themselves be bound into the books - except for Evil which the other three forced in. Now that it's free, the others are coming out too - and I've heard it said that Sister Bethanie - the Lions high healer carries Good in her! Well Satane is the Evil one and needs a body - and would seem to have chosen Catafract. Only Catafract's pattern is good - he's an innocent, and if Satane claims him, his pattern will be corrupted. But not letting him have Catafract might disrupt the balance too much..." She slowed down at the look of confusion across Lugh's face.
"I don't get it either. Imagine how difficult it must have been for Catafract to hear all this. All he remembers is waking up a few years ago fully grown and a champion that gets stronger with every day. It upset him to hear how many of the factions wanted to kill him. The Darkendale girl, Amber, she befriended him and even spoke for him at the Lions muster. He eventually decided to return to his barracks and decide what he would do. When he transported there Chareos had a few of us transport to other places immediately so he could not be traced by those who would seek to kill him."
Lugh shook his head. "I'm not going to try understand all that."
"That was my thought too - and I forgot to mention the meeting of Evil one night in the arena. They arranged to meet at midnight. Queen Sapphire and Prince Mog got invited. I don't think the new Princess - Alyssa I think she's called, did. Of course Sister Bethanie and others from Good decided to be there too. We went down to see but Dagor asked that the Armengarians guard the transport circle should Sapphire have to teleport out of there immediately. They didn't have enough Praetorians to cover them in both locations so we proved yet again how well our two groups can work together. Fortunately it wasn't needed. Unfortunately there wasn't time to organise the same thing when the ritual went down in the arena the next day. Anyway I hear that was when the Death Knight made his first appearance. I didn't hear much else. I think it ended quietly enough. Sapphire never needed to transport."
Lugh tried to smile, tried to hide his growing concern. "So that's all then? Apart from the dark carnival taking over and evil battling good it went smoothly?"
She wanted so much to play along and say yes, that was all and it was nothing really... but he was already seeing right through her before she could speak a word.
"They're the big ones. There were other threats. There were some kind of mechanically built metal things that kept appearing in the transport circle and attacking the Armourer's Guild. Corthar knows more about them. Hit them enough and they turn to mush. Then there were some other kind of magical constructs that kept attacking the Harts. More than once our musters were interrupted by Unliving attacks on the Harts or the Gryphons. There was something else we couldn't see but the children could. At one point we found Dagor's son Dace standing petrified. And there was Dark Mane who was said to have a horn that if he sounded it, all beings with any trace of animal pattern - like Mactire or Dagor - would be lured to the transport circle and into the void. It was kind of funny watching Caoimhe constantly following behind Mactire hammer ready should a horn sound."
Deep lines of concern now etched his face. "And did it?"
Rua shrugged. "Never heard it. A bit like the hive at the Gathering - lots of talk, lots of warnings, but it never materialised. Thank Heramacles for that!"
Lugh was starting to feel overwhelmed. "There's so much out there. A lot more than we ever knew."
She nodded her agreement. "Yes. But even as we didn't know about these things, they affected us. But I'm convinced we don't have to stand alone."
"The Lions?"
"The Lions. The meeting went well, far better than I thought. I expected it would take a long time to hash through laws and try to come to an agreement but Kianna was very open and honest about what would be expected for our joining. We were worried that the crowns would have say over us and not the Volksraad but it turns out they expect no such oath of fealty. We can swear to Sapphire as the highest general of our armies - and even that is not forced on us - but we don't have to accept her as our head of state. And our laws will remain paramount in Armengar. They already have a treaty with the Arakesh that grants them full membership of the Lions faction and all the benefits of being a Gathering signatory, yet they keep all their own laws and culture on their land. Kianna will send us a copy of the treaty and we can use it to write our own. We will always be able to call on the Lions for help and we will always go to their aid. I'm convinced now that this is the best thing for us to do."
Lugh arched an eyebrow and took her hand in his. "She must have spoke well. I know you had your doubts before you left here."
"She said they want us in the faction for our diversity - that the differences in our culture and society will add to the Lions. Trying to make us all uniform would only destroy that. I've had a chance yet again to see them in action. When the Harts were under attack there was no question of leaping to their defence. We were there. I saw Sister Bethanie and a number of other Lions protecting some tartars from the Vipers. I saw many Lions wanting to rush into the void no matter the danger to help their friends. And I saw how fast the hand of friendship went out to the Orsans."
"That's not the first time you've mentioned them."
Rua pulled her knees up under her chin and wrapped her arms around them. "We ran into some Calebii a couple of times. The first time was at the Jugger pitch. Can you believe they actually told us they weren't interested in war because it was bad for trade?! Gave me the best laugh of the entire weekend."
He practically choked on his breath. "They really said that?"
"We managed not to fight with them. Not even Caoimhe. I thought we were very well restrained. I only regret they didn't have a team in the games for us to wipe the floor with them."
He chuckled lightly, hiding the bile that still rose beneath the surface at mention of their name. "Probably just as well."
"We met a man called Han from the island of Orsa. They have a gold mine there and the Calebii seized control a long time ago before his memory. They have imposed curfews and ration the food supply and treat them like slaves. He and his injured friend managed to escape on a boat made from timbers to the mines. They came and asked for help from a number of factions. When he spoke at the muster Prince Mog asked would the Lions stand for this. Everyone said no they wouldn't. He asked would we help the little guy. Everyone said yes. They're good people, Lugh. They're where we belong. The Lions will help them as they did us and Arakesh because it is the right thing to do. The next day when Han brought Corvash with him and Midir healed him, the Calebii came looking to take them away. At first there was just me, Midir, Corthar, and Rhianna to shield them as the Calebii approached but before they could reach us we were surrounded by Lions. We didn't even have to ask, they were just there as soon as they saw we might be in trouble. The Calebii went to talk to the Gryphons - who technically have legal authority over the island of Roarke, and we agreed to get Han and Corvash to safety. Shayna from House Demetus transported them to her home in Arcon where the Calebii do not know. I returned here and went to the Holy Isle where I had previously brought Chareos to confuse any attempts at tracing them. They didn't look too happy when they came back to find their prey gone. The one they left behind to watch us heard only that we sent them to the Tarantulas."
"They never learn."
"Quite. Chareos encountered some of them too. You remember the HMS Gallant? The ship that went down in their waters? They returned the crew in jars of ashes which they spilt on the floor and spat on. He says one of those perpetrators was there - although Shayna says all the Calebii from that incident were killed so someone is mixed up. Thing is, the Gallant has disappeared. The Elves in the library on the isle of the Forever Tale nearby said they saw someone in the area but didn't know who. The Calebii pleaded ignorance when Chareos questioned them on it but he knew they were lying. They'll pay for the desecration along with everything else they've done."
Dusk was beginning to settle and Lugh had to move in closer to see Rua's face. It was tired, worried, but still beautiful. He opened his arms to her and she rocked into them, resting her head on his shoulder.
"You've been through a lot in but a short few days."
"Things can change so fast in just a little time. While it is the Lions that will declare war on the Calebii I can't help but fear we will lose our people to them once more. The war may never be fought on Amnor again but... I'm glad our children are too young. And Lir has given up his commission and ambassadorial duties to become a Praetorian. While they're a noble group and I hope he'll be happy, I can't help but worry if he knows what he's doing. They require such absolute loyalty to their charge - it must come before all including Armengar, his wife, and child. We could be facing a cataclysm if the balance is not restored and I've no idea what that means. Who knows if there will ever be games again. Bison has already spoken against them - that they bring more death and harm than the community and fun that was intended. I think he feels the deaths of Oink and Grizzly strongly. He wanted to entertain the notion of hiding from danger for a while but I don't doubt he knows how impossible that is."
With a sigh, Lugh pulled himself back to his feet taking Rua with him. He scooped up his cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders as she'd come through without her own. "It's getting dark and cold. I should get you home."
She shivered against him and pulled the cloak tighter, only noticing the cold once he said it was there. "I need to go back to the circle. Find out what happened and collect my things. We got scrolls and little trophies for the games. Tharg wanted us to give them back because the games killed Oink and Grizzly but Parmeanian said we entered and played the games in the spirit of the games and we should keep what we earned."
"He's right."
"I know."
He faced her, letting a hand trace the lines of her face. "Can't someone else bring your things back?"
She smiled and caught his hand between her palm and her cheek. "I'll be okay. You know it wasn't all as bad as it sounds. There were good moments too."
He knew he wasn't going to stop her so Lugh picked up their weapons, smiled and looped his arm in hers to walk her back to the circle. "So tell me then."
"Well, I spoke to Samuel of the One. He's the high ritualist. He ran off at the Gathering last year after being accused of wanting to seal the gates to Avalon and locking everyone in there or something like that. I just introduced myself, told him I'd help with any rituals he has planned."
Rua couldn't actually see Lugh roll his eyes but she hit him lightly anyway. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. There was some fun too when Dagor and Caoimhe earned some gold by him allowing some strange man to woo her for a price."
"What?"
"Oh as soon as they got the money she suddenly lost interest in him." Rua laughed. "I didn't know at first what Dagor was getting at when he approached me and asked was I married."
"You said yes of course!"
"Of course I did!" She hugged him tight around the waist. "I wouldn't deny you for any amount of gold in the world." She smiled. "Actually there seemed to be a lot of wooing going on. Rhianna developed an interest in Tharg. He's a Dwarf with the Praetorians. Very close to Oink so that's put things back a bit I think. It was odd though, I never expected Rhianna would be so... naive about these things. I don't understand why she couldn't just tell him she liked him. Like I told you... although you did laugh in my face."
Lugh chuckled. "I was nine and you were six. It was ridiculous that I could like a baby!" He nudged her as they walked. "And you told me in front of all my friends. Of course I wasn't going to admit to liking you back."
"Well it seemed like things were going alright between them. Dagor gave him permission to woo her - I don't think any money changed hands, it's just a Praetorian thing - though Dagor and Chareos did say they would help Tharg be romantic - even Rhianna was put off by that idea though she didn't know why. But then they had a disagreement about spending too much time with each other or not enough - I don't know. Then Oink and Grizzly died. I don't know where things stand now."
"If it's meant to be they'll get through it. We did."
"Yes." She stepped away from him slightly so that she could look at him. She had an idea. "Yes. Things are done a certain way around here yet you stood up against it because your heart knew what you wanted. I told you she gets it from you."
It took him a second to figure out what she was saying but when he did he stopped. "This is not the same thing, Rua."
"No it's not. The tradition that says our children must learn to fight is no longer necessary. When you were fifteen the duty to have a child was very much valid. But you didn't. I would have understood if you went with someone else while waiting for me. I would probably still have married you. But you didn't. Why not?"
"Because I could never have hurt you like that. And because I wanted you and no one else."
"And if when we talk to her Blaithin feels just as passionately about her reasons for flaunting tradition, promise me you won't get angry with her. We should think about options, like maybe going to school in Lantia."
He blinked. "You'd send her away?"
Rua shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I don't want to -I'd miss her too much - but maybe it would be good for her. Maybe it would be good for her and Ruairi to get some distance. And I don't want her thinking we're sending her away because we're ashamed of her. I don't know, Lugh. Rhianna offered to talk to her about different ways to fight - maybe that would work. We'll talk to her, see what was going through her mind, then we'll think about it. You forgot about duties and traditions once before so that you could be with me - so that she and the others would come to be. If there's a way to make her happy then it's worth taking a little more heat."
He sighed deeply. "You know I'd do anything for her. I don't mind the heat Rua, I just... I don't want her to get herself into more trouble with this. They already tease her for not being much of a fighter. I don't want her to end up like Cosaint."
"He's commander of the Heart claw and one of the finest fighters we have! What's wrong with that?"
"And he's alone. Have you not noticed that? He keeps to himself because for too long no one wanted anything to do with him. I experienced that for not even a year and while it was worth every second and I'm a better fighter for it, I don't want my girl going through it."
Rua bit her lip, then took his hand and continued back onto the path to the circle. "She won't be alone. She'll always have us."
He kissed the top of her head. "That's not always going to be enough."
"But it is for now. Isn't it?"
When she looked at him with large questioning eyes, he knew he could give only one answer. Whether it was a lie or not he didn't know, but it was what she wanted to hear and that was enough. "Yes it is. She's going to be fine. We'll work it out."
"Thank you."
They walked the rest of the way to the circle in a comfortable silence hand in hand. By the time they reached it the night was down and lanterns carried by the guards both Armengar and Tribe showed them the way. That and the commotion. Simon had brought the others through and everything that remained at camp. Very quickly they were bombarded with accounts of how the games ended. The competitions ended in a tie but when the dark carnival appeared, the people of Erdreja overcame and defeated them. Orcus and Spittle, alive and well, took back control of the games that they may continue unmolested. Spirits were once more high and crates of mead were being carried to the plateau. When Rua found her own cloak and the rest of her things, she gave Lugh back his.
"Looks like I don't need to go back after all."
"I didn't realise we talked for so long."
"I told you a lot happened. No doubt I'll be remembering more to tell you for a while yet."
He smiled and offered his arm. "Let's go home. The kids will all be there by now. They'll be dying to see you. And what you got for them."
She laughed and took his arm. "That sounds like a wonderful idea."
Still holding her weapons, taking her bag, and keeping one arm wrapped around her, Lugh walked with his wife back to the plateau. They would play with the children, leave their talk with the twins for tomorrow, eat together, and then retire to a bed not cold and not empty. His worries would dissipate for another day. As for right now, everything was just fine.
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