Legacies of light

Location: City of Gorias

Standing in front of the largest city I have ever seen I look with awe, and say, “Is this place real.”

Ibar says, “Does this place actually exist?"

Ferdiad says, “Of course, it does, Gorias is one of the four major cities in the place of our origin of Tir na n-iontas.”

Looking at him, I say, “Do you think we will run into the high king here?”

Ferdiad says, “You're confusing here for Tara which is in the centre of all four cities. You won’t be seeing the high king here, but you might run into one of the four lesser kings here, the king of Gorias.”

Both me and Ibar completely clammer up.

Ferdiad says, “I thought both of you were rude to nobility.”

“Common nobles are one thing but the king is chosen by Danu herself. So meeting him is far more special than meeting one of the countless talentless nobles.”

“I guess that is how a couple of country hicks would react hey.”

“WHO ARE YOU CALLING A HICK!”

“DON’T FORGET WE JUST SAVED YOUR LIFE.”

“I know, I know, now let’s go. That includes you Setanta.”

As Ferdiad finishes speaking, he looks to where Setanta should be, but as he stares he makes a shocked expression. So we look as well and see that Setanta has completely vanished.

We then stare at each other, and in that moment me and Ibar scream, with Ferdiad saying, “Calm down!”

“But Setanta ran off!”

“This isn’t the middle of the forest who knows what trouble he might be getting us in.”

Ferdiad with the most tired expression I have ever seen, says, “I know. Setanta is quick and erratic so he could be anywhere so all we can do is simply move around to the best of our ability.”

-Sometime later-

As we move around I am stunned by the size of the house and how beautiful they all our. The streets are massive yet they are clean, and unlike my home, the average person is wearing fine clothing.

Ferdiad says, “Hey I need to stop by this shop here.”

“Ok,” we say.

Walking into a blacksmiths, we see a group of people say, “Welcome Ferdiad, I take it Setanta has messed up again today.”

“Absolutely,” Ferdiad says as he drops two spears in front of the man, one is whole, and the other is damaged.

“So, my spears didn’t hold.”

“No, they were amazing, Setanta actually broke the one you gave to me because he was afraid of me stabbing him after the nonsense he pulled.”

“So, they didn’t break in battle that’s the best I could hope for. But would you tell me how they faired against the wonderbeasts you fought on your journey?”

“Of course.”

As the two of them talk away, I see my brother with gleaming eyes staring at a spear on the wall. “Ehh, what’s this does my brother want to be a warrior?”

“No, I was just thinking about how cool I would look with a spear in hand riding on a horse.”

“You say that, but unlike me you need both of your arms to control your horse.”

“Shut up, I am still a better rider than most people despite needing two hands, though I do think I would love to have one.”

As my brother talks another man comes towards us. He is riding a small wonderbeast, and he does his legs fling like they have no life in them, as if he can’t control them. But more than that despite being a beastkin like the rest of us he has less clear traits of his animal.

The wonderbeast stretches out its tongue and pulls the spear off the wall, and then says, “You can have it.”

“Huh, why? This isn’t some kind of trick is it.”

One of the other blacksmiths says, “Boss you can’t go giving away high-quality merchandise for free.”

“Don’t worry about it, these two are working for Ó Faoláin family, if they do good they are sure to become famous. So all I ask is that if you both get your own castles one day you will allow us to craft all of your weapons and armour.”

Smiling, my brother says, “Sure!”

“Hey, what about me!”

“I wouldn’t forget. Since you’re a far better rider, here is some head where so no stray arrows will hit you.”

“OOOOH,” I say with excitement.

Ferdiad says, “Now let’s go.”

As we leave we wave goodbye, then continue on.

-Sometime later-

On our backs, we carry an old lady and her two grandkids up a ridiculously steep incline. Both me and my brother are sweating as we carry two giant babies that just like their grandma have a hippo animal within them.

Ferdiad is the opposite of us, he effortlessly carries an old lady, and in all honesty, he looks so gallant doing so that I can’t help but stare.

“Sister, what are you looking at.”

“NOTHING!”

The old lady then says to Ferdiad, “I hope I am not too heavy; I have been eating a bit too much recently.”

“You eating is a sign that the kingdom is overflowing with abundance, so don’t feel ashamed. But do remember that your grandkids should still have limits on their consumption.”

“I will.”

Dropping them in front of the door to their house, Ferdiad asks, “Hey have you seen a silver-haired wolf boy.”

“Oh yes, we saw him running about in that direction.”

“Thank you!”

Grabbing the both of us, Ferdiad says, “We need to go now, he is never in one place for too long.”

-Sometime later-

As we all walk in the middle of a street looking for Setanta the best we can. I end up seeing something that catches my eye, a shop filled with beautiful clothes and jewellery.

I move closer to get a better look and as I stare into the shop I look down and see my shabby clothes. Then suddenly, I hear, “Something catches your eye.”

Looking to my left, I see a woman who grabs me and says, “Well you might as well come inside then!”

She drags me into the shop, and then she puts a necklace on me whilst dragging me in front of a mirror. “You look dazzling.”

Seeing the pretty necklace on me, I say filled with anxiety, “I don’t think this suits me.”

“HOGWASH! It looks magnificent on you, you’re just like a princess.”

“Really!?” I ask filled with joy.

She makes an evil smile, then says, “Of course you are, but you could be more!”

Grabbing me, she brings me into a room in the back then with a speed that makes Setanta look like a snail, she takes my clothes off and places a dress on me.

Then grabbing a bunch of other accessories she says, “Now your transformation is complete. The perfect princess.”

“Hehehehehe,” I say giddy with excitement.

“But what do you think sir Ferdiad?”

Turning around I see Ferdiad and Ibar who stare at me.

Ibar says, “Ferdiad told me what you're about, trying to trick us into buying your overpriced goods.”

Ferdiad puts his hand in front of Ibar and then starts to walk over to me, and after eyeing me up and down, he says, “Utterly magnificent!”

I feel embarrassed by these words and start to turn red, but then Ferdiad turns to the woman and says, “Could I get these clothes for my sister, and can you get me some accessories for an adult woman, I don’t want my mom to feel left out.”

“OF COURSE,” She says with all her heart.

Dropping my head low, I say, “I thought you were talking about me.”

Ibar with a bratty smile, says, “Don’t feel down Laeg, clothes won’t make you prettier.”

“I don’t know if that was a compliment or an insult.”

Ferdiad says, “Sorry but I can’t do that, we brought you to be a charioteer, if you start getting marriage proposals from across the land that will be an issue.”

Happy, I push my brother and say, “Did you hear that your sister is a beaut.”

“Yeah, yeah, I already know.”

“Here you go,” the lady says as she drops the clothes in Ferdiad's hands.

“Thank you, but seeing as you were staking out for me, could you please tell me if Setanta was here.”

“He came earlier to buy something for his little crush, he should be heading towards the centre of the city next.”

“Thanks. Laeg, Ibar let’s go.”

-Sometime later-

As we walk towards the central plaza of the city, we see a large group of people also heading in the same direction.

And after a while, we start to hear some sounds.

“Is that a harp?” Ibar asks.

“How would you even know what one of those sounds like.”

“I heard them during one of the trips I took with day to one of the nearby cities.”

Ferdiad says, “I forget, Aidan plays his harp around this time.”

Grabbing me and Ibar, Ferdiad says, “We should look from a higher vantage point.”

Jumping up on a building with us in tow, both me and my brother look down and see that Aidan has the face of an animal.

“Is he-.”

Ibar cutting me off with excitement, says, “A GREATER BEASTKIN!”

“You know of them Ibar?”

“Of course, I do, those who Danu blessed with more beast blood than others. They are worth 20 beastkin all by themselves. Truly miracles.”

Smiling Ferdiad, says, “You look so excited, it is fun to see you talking like this.”

“Hey, don’t look down on me!”

“Not in the slightest, I hope as allies I get to see the things you are crazy about.”

Ibar makes an embarrassed face, and I say, “Sorry about him, he doesn’t have many friends due to his attitude.”

“YES, I DO!”

Ignoring him, Ferdiad says, “Well he shouldn’t worry, since we have all sworn to put our lives on the line for each other we are already friends.”

“No, we are not!” my brother says with half-hearted rejection.

As he plays the harp, I say, “This music is really relaxing.”

Ibar says, “Perfect for eating a meal.”

Suddenly Ferdiad says, “That’s it!” And then he starts moving across the rooftops.

After reaching a certain area Ferdiad throws the both of us, and quickly seeing our target we drop and kick Setanta in the face.

Getting up, we see that Setanta is eating food from a street vendor and says, “THIS IS WHERE YOU WENT!”

“You bastards kicking your master like this, you deserve a hundred deaths!”

Suddenly Ferdiad puts him in a headlock and says, “Who deserves a hundred what?”

Turning to Ferdiad, Setanta offers up the food in his hand, and says, “You look famished, here is some lamb.”

Ferdiad slams Setanta into the ground and then bites into his lamb. “Hey, you can’t both hit me and take my food.”

“Shut up, idiot.”

As Setanta's stomach growls, he says, “I don't care anymore. Petra give me some more!”

“On it.”

Suddenly as our stomachs growl, we look at Setanta with the most innocent eyes we can muster, and he says, “You kick me in my face and now shamelessly ask for a favour.”

“Yes.”

Setanta then smiles, and says, “I respect it,” and then slamming money on the table, he says, “More for the both of them as well.”

Soon the food is given to us, and as the music plays we all eat, and say, “YUMMY!”

Looking at everyone, I say, “I hope we have more days like this.”

Ibar says, “We have to survive the battlefield first.”

Ferdiad says, “The battlefield to the east has been growing more and more intense by the day.”

Setanta says, “Don’t worry, as long as I am here we will get to have more days like this. Now Ibar tell me what kind of woman is your type!”

“Why would I tell you that!”

“BONDING YOU FOOL!”

Laughing, I say, “Don’t be shy Ibar.”

“YOU THINK YOUR EXCLUDED LAEG, WHAT MAN DO YOU LIKE!”

“No way am I telling you that.”

“I see I have no choice but to spread rumours about the both of you.”

Jumping off Setanta says, “Listen to this everyone Ibar and Laeg here are new citizens of this city and just so you all know they love destroying marriages and burning down the common man's shops!”

Jumping up we grab him and say, “You bastard!”

“We will kill you!”

“GO AHEAD!” He says while laughing manically.

As this all unfolds, Ferdiad simply looks on with a happy expression as the both of us suffer to control him.

“This really is my life from now on.”

-Sometime later-