“Fifty-three,” Dallan corrected her.
Eva put her hands on her hips, summoning all her strength to push past the ache in her chest at the thought of being alone again. “Fifty-two. You’ll be leaving.”
His eyes, filled with determination, locked with hers. “Not for a long time.”
Illadan rose from his seat near the fire. “I wish I could give you both longer,” he said, walking over to join them, “but the king’s party needs to leave soon. We must be there for his speech.”
Eva frowned pointedly at her brother as they accompanied Illadan out to the courtyard. She wasn’t about to give in so easily. Everyone who grew close to her ended up dead, and Eva would throw herself into the lake before she let anything happen to Dallan.
Chapter Four
Finn stood amongthe crowd of men gathered in the grass-covered courtyard, listening as King Brian explained what was expected of them.
“I am old,” he began. “And my kingdom is growing beyond my reach. If we are to keep this land safe, we must stand united against further invasion. I have spent my life working toward such an end, but there are those who yet resist my bid for peace.”
At this, the king looked pointedly toward Dallan and Eva, who stood near the front of the crowd. Finn felt his chest contract in sympathy. He’d not want to be singled out by Brian, particularly for dissent.
“In order to see my vision of a united Éire realized, I am reinstating the ancient order of the Fianna. It will be as it was in the legends of old, from the trials for entry to the tasks I give the honorable few who survive. You will undergo the Seven Trials of the Fianna. Any who succeed at all seven will swear an oath of fealty to me and join my Fianna, to carry out quests across Éire and help to unite the nine kingdoms.”
A roar of applause followed this statement. Finn gave a half-hearted cheer as he looked at the men around him. How many would still live in seven months’ time? Were all these men here because they believed so deeply in Brian’s cause that they were willing to give their lives for it? Or were some, like Finn, here because they had no better options in life?
As the cheering continued, the king, queen, and their retinue climbed into carriages, carts, and wagons to make their journey back to Caiseal, the ancestral seat of the kings of Munster. When he was gone from sight, Illadan addressed the crowd, flanked by two similarly burly men who looked of an age with him. Finn didn’t recognize either of them, though he had no doubt he’d know them well by the time the trials concluded.
“Training will begin immediately,” Illadan announced, calling the masses to attention once more. “We will spend a fortnight training and a fortnight of trials on each of the seven tasks. Any trials that take less than a fortnight to judge will give you more time to train for the next one.”
“In seven months, we will have our Fianna to present to the king. I am Illadan, son of Mahon mac Kennedy and nephew of Brian Boru. This is Cormac, son of Cahill mac Conor mac Teague and Prince of Connachta. And this is Broccan, leader of the army of Brian Boru, soon-to-be High King of Éire. We will act as judges during the trials which will put to test your Intelligence, Defense, Speed, Movement, Recovery, Bravery, and Chivalry.
“You have a fortnight, beginning this day, to memorize and learn to perform the twelve books of poetry. Any who have had bardic or poetic training please come forward and speak with us. Good luck.”
Finn couldn’t stop himself from smiling. He’d had the twelve books memorized by the time he turned nine and had been performing them ever since. Though that hadn’t been enough for the masters, he knew it would serve him well in his first task.
Perhaps eighteen years of training hadn’t been wasted after all.
Feeling confident about his first trial, Finn made his way to Illadan, pushing past the other warriors as politely as he could. Five more men appeared beside him, some looking more comfortable than others. Glancing around, Finn noticed that Eva had disappeared at some point toward the end of the speeches. He wasn’t sure why, but it disappointed him that she’d gone. Dallan, too, had wandered into the crowd behind him.
Illadan smiled warmly at him. “Finn! I was hoping you’d come up. Tell me truly, no plays at modesty. How are you with the twelve poems?”
Finn sighed. He wasn’t particularly fond of drawing attention to himself, but he wasn’t about to let Illadan down.
“I’ve been reciting them for sixteen years.”
“Why are you not training with the masters?” Cormac, whom Illadan had introduced as a prince of Connachta, stepped forward to join the discussion.
“It’s a long story,” Finn replied, “and one I’m not as eager to tell.” It was a horrendous understatement. He’d rather die in battle than discuss it with his own family, let alone two princes.
Illadan eyed him suspiciously but kept his own counsel.
“Come perform for us, and then you will help train the rest of the men.”
“With respect,” Finn added, “I doubt anyone could master the twelve poems in a fortnight.”
“That’s why it’s a test of intelligence,” Illadan answered evenly. “But we aren’t looking to turn them into bardic masters in a fortnight. If they can memorize and recite the poems by then, it will prove the strength of their intellect. And if you can have them trained, it will prove the strength of yours.”
“Every member of the Fianna must eventually master the bardic art, as is befitting so legendary a warrior,” Cormac added. “But we recognize that true mastery will be achieved over time. We’d just like to see a good start for now.”
Finn nodded. “I’ll go fetch my harp.”
“We’ll be in the hall waiting,” Illadan informed him, turning to address the other five men who’d approached as Finn took his leave.
