crumbs from your table
#1
DaVinci sat at the head of the table as the cheers from the rest of his clan went up. There was little over a third of his blood kin there and yet he didn’t let this strike fear into his heart. He knew that once the world knew of the heir’s return that things would begin to turn little by little and once war was truly upon them the numbers would begin to even out. He didn’t believe that he would have any headway over his cousin but he would leave that to the ollamhs to discuss. He had lucked out, old Faethae had come with the remnants of the clan. She had admitted that most of the old ones had stayed behind not believing that this new blood that wasn’t from their land deserved his place in the way of things. The younger priestesses had stayed with Faethae, announcing that if they were to gain a place in the greater world they would have to learn to accept change. DaVinci had accepted this with a nod and agreement as he told them they would speak later.

Faethae had seemed interested in Zana and had questioned him on why Firefly hadn’t returned. He shook his head, not bringing to light the truth of his sister and her own heirs back home. If she wished to bring herself forward to be presented as the mother to his heir then she would, for now it seemed that Zana would take her place. He firmly told Faethae that they would speak on these matters later as Zana had begun to eye the woman with a flicker of awareness in her eyes before the woman bowed away and was gone.

The celebration continued and spread as the uagent was brought forth, the strong heady spirits of their people. Mead was normally served at gathering and it had been present in plenty but once the stronger works were presented the boasting and bragging began. Most of the woman moved out when the noise grew louder, some teasing warriors along with them, others issuing the youth of the halls out as they whined and pleaded to be allowed to stay. DaVinci couldn’t help but smile as he watched them go, so long ago it seemed that Firefly had been one of the youth of the clan. He shook his head as the first roar of a challenge was issues, his head turning back to the men on hand as it sank in just what would happen before the night was up.

With a slight nod and a flourish of his hand he sent the men into an uproar as space was cleared before his table as the two men squared off to prove their worth for a woman it seemed. DaVinci knew that many more would come after this, some over minor things, others over the right to a mateship and even to claim their name as a warrior. He knew that sooner or later one would denounce Zana’s title as a warrior as false and call her onto the floor to prove her worth. He wasn’t looking forward to the moment, for though few died in these bouts the men were drunk and Zana was a slight creature. A stroke that normally would just bring a shallow wound on another could very nearly kill her. To lose his sister and the presented mother of his heirs to be would not be a good omen at all.
#2
Zana had kept the drink of the night far away from her, knowing what spirits did to the mind and quickness of one. She watched the creatures about her gravely as they began to indulge themselves in the finer points of the celebration. She watched as the women lead their warriors away for the night and the children who she assumed would find a way to sneak back later and watch what happened after hours in the mighty hall. Her grey lilac eyes moved towards her brother a moment as she watched him firmly dismiss the ollamhs, the women who were to be his advisors. The words of the woman, though she hadn’t understood them all had caught her attention, wondering why they were so interested in her. She cast another glance towards DaVinci before shaking her head and sighing once more.

Aisleran leaned backwards against the table sharpening her spear for her as the headier spirits came. She watched as DaVinci partook of them and how the atmosphere changed. She was alert and ready when the first challenge came. Aisleran and his men had spoken of what happened once the drink they called uagent made its way into the halls. She had hardly believed them but once more she’d been proven wrong today as she watched the first challenge ring out. She hadn’t expected it to be for her and it wasn’t. She caught the movement of her brother’s face as he turned his eyes towards her for a second. She ignored him, knowing that he now realized what would happen. He seemed to have signaled for the bout to continue as a roar of approval echoed through the halls.

It took some time for one to finally make claim against her warrior name. She had been expecting this and when it finally had rang out through the hall she merely glanced up and nodded to the male who had decided before the crowd that she was unworthy to sit along the warriors. Though she hadn’t realized that it was her right as DaVinci’s sister kin to sit where she did the challenge had been called out and she accepted. She didn’t wait for DaVinci’s declaration that the fight may begin, knowing that he couldn’t find any fault in it and if he did than the men would believe that she was hiding behind the lord and therefore truly was not worthy.

She stepped forward to eye the man who had made the claim, Aisleran had spoken of the fellow, a dark brooding creature who didn’t like change yet had come along with the rest of his folk because of the breaking of tradition. The ollamhs had declared that the happenings were a sign of a bloody time for their people if the ways were not righted. He’d come along because of a superstitious streak and a need to prove himself, knowing that if he were on the wrong side he’d end up in far more trouble than if he’d sided with the true heir. Zana hadn’t believe that he’d done right but Aisleran had assured her that if she was able to beat him that any of the warriors that had doubt in her brother would at least find some assurance in the title that he had granted her. She had been silent while Aisleran had spoke and she was quiet now as she waited for Uehban to present himself.
#3
When the crowd had fallen quiet when his sibling had accepted the challenge DaVinci too fell into what had in the past become his general brooding pose, his stormy eyes seeing everything and nothing at all as he waited for the warrior Uehban to appear. Seeing the man from across the hall was not the same as seeing the figure up close. He was a mountain of a man, solidly built and confident in himself, that much was by far obvious. The heir to the throne let his eyes follow the warrior as he approached the cleared space and stood opposite of Zana, laughing outright at the girl for carrying nothing but her spear, the deadly darts and staff left behind with Aisleran. She didn’t offer any words to the male as he adjusted his shield and weighed his sword in hand before moving in towards the slight woman.

DaVinci couldn’t help it, his heart thudded loudly in his chest as he watched his youngest sibling. The girl had learned many things away in Inferni and Aisleran and his men had helped her along the way the long months at sea. The senior warrior wouldn’t have titled her if he hadn’t believed she was ready. DaVinci wanted to believe she would be fine but she was nothing more than a child playing at hero, or so he’d tried to convince himself when he’d watched her begin her real training. Now he could only watch and wait, to see if she was ready.

Uehban soon began to circle the girl, jabbing at her and jeering as she slowly adjusted her stance and found sure footing on the stones that had been slicked by sweat, blood and dirt. DaVinci raised his glass but soon lowered it as he realized that his hand was trembling in fear and anticipation, too soon though the battle began as with a mighty roar Uehban charged.
#4
Zana had prepared long for this battle, knowing that this was the only way she would be accepted. Aisleran had assured her that most men would underestimate her for her size and that was when they would fail. She had found her balance and with those sad lilac orbs she watched the man before her as he came charging. Quick as lightning she twisted to the side as his sword swung a bit wild, having overjudged where she would be. She rapped the butt of her spear against his ribs sharply, the hiss of anger that she was greeted with as her aim hit home was quickly ignored as the man turned again coming in once more on the attack.

She was careful, knowing that if she moved too quickly she risked losing her footing and if she didn’t watch her opponent then she might find herself gravely wounded. Her strange orbs watched his chest as she’d been taught; watching for the slight signs that would give away where he would strike next. Her stare was unnerving as she smiled grimly when the man made his next move. She was fast to place herself outside of his reach but it really wasn’t hard to do, her size was indeed creating a problem for the man who was trying to take her down.

The slight woman knew that if she was going to get the upperhand she was going to have to get inside his space and work quickly. When he came down at her with the shield to try and block her as his sword snaked over the edge of his protection. She narrowed her eyes and slide to the side out of the block between them, feeling the edge of the sword slide along her fur, a sharp burning glancing down her arm as she swung her spear between the beast and his shield and quickly twisted the shaft of the weapon as she slide along the ground. She felt the shield buck and give as it was jerked clear from the warrior, clattering far off in the distance outside of the clearing where their match was held.

A grim satisfaction sat within her as she found her feet once more, the man already turning; angry at the show she’d given the crowd and the loss of part of his gear. His snarl filled the space between them but the lithe girl didn’t lose her cool as the beast came thundering towards her. She knew that he was coming to realize that there was more to her than he’d originally believed. Now she would have to prove to him that she was not one to be trifled with.
#5
DaVinci was quiet until Zana began to move, her quick feet and skill with her weapon of choice was more than apparent as she twisted beyond the warriors reach and placed the first hit upon the man’s flesh. She didn’t draw blood but she showed the man just where one could have placed a blade into his side before she flitted out of his reach once more, skillfully avoiding his snaking sword as she studied the movements of the man who challenged her. DaVinci turned his eyes towards Aisleran a grin splitting his maw as he began to relax, wondering if perhaps he should have watched her training instead of catching up on what had caused the rift in the clan in the first place. There was only so much one could learn of ill will before it just began to repeat itself.

His gaze fell back upon his sister quickly as a hiss drew from the crowd as a flash of red scored down her shoulder and arm. He bared his teeth in distain until he realized she’d moved through the injuries and had left the warrior without his shield. An uproar through the crowd at the change of events caused him to chuckle. He now believed she could have taken the guy down right from the start but she did have to prove to the people she was worth her weight in gold, and she was doing that indeed tonight he realized.

The thunder of the warrior’s voice shattered the jests of the crowd as he recovered from the initial shock and came at Zana once more. DaVinci moved forward in his seat, attentive as Uehban made his move in a series of thrusts and stabs, driving Zana back with wild gestures and motions that were almost a blur. DaVinci bared his fangs to the man’s display, realizing that his embarrassment at the hands of a child had caused him to lose his head, not that the strong spirits hadn’t started that downfall in the first place. DaVinci prayed that his sibling would be able to outlast the creature in his fury.
#6
She was silent as the man charged, her eyes watching the muscles that gave away his first move, her spear coming up fast as she blocked the thrust, sliding the sword along the shaft of her weapon, but just as quickly as she’d blocked his move he came at her with another, holding his sword with both hands as though he meant to beat her to death if he couldn’t harpoon her. Her tiny fangs glittered in the light as she quickly moved through the paces to block the path of his sword again, and again and again. He was pushing her back, not giving her a chance to get a move in, attempting to wear her down and gain the upper hand. Zana narrowed her eyes at the male as she snarled and instead of blocking the next blow she caught it along the edge of the spear and twisted quickly, the blade and his arm thrusting out sharply as she took the few second to twist behind him as she let go of the hold she’d had on the spear, readjusting herself as Uehban turned, bewildered at where the fae of a girl had gone.

She didn’t give him time to figure things out as she quickly moved in, a fast series of jabs and blows aimed at the male, putting him in the exact position that he’d placed her in just moments before. Her cool and calculated stare steady as she faked an upward thrust, as the man went to defend himself she brought the butt of her spear between his legs and swiped them out from under him, feeling every muscle in her body scream with the effort it took to attempt such a move. She smiled darkly as the man fell, crashing down as she nimbly landed upon his chest and brought the deadly honed point of the spear to the throbbing vein upon his neck.

Her voice was low as she asked. ”Do you still believe me unworthy?” her eyes filled with a grim bit of humor as she watched the man breathing hard, his sword having skidded beyond his reach in the fall. The hall was quiet for all but a moment as the clan began to cheer, accepting her for what she was, the slight woman realizing that she’d finally found a place where others could look last her lacking stature. She looked down upon the man as he finally gave in and revoked his claim on her title. Nodding at him with a slight smile upon her lips she removed herself from her position upon his chest and turned towards her brother’s table, bowing low as she gazed up at him, waiting his own approval at the scene the crowd had witnessed, wondering if she would get any sleep tonight for the darkness had long descended upon the land and the celebration seemed as though it would last til dawn.
#7
DaVinci couldn’t believe the scene he witnessed unfolding before him as his sister turned the tables on the warrior and soon found herself as the top dog in a sense. The roar of the crowd showed that they were indeed pleased by what they had witnessed and DaVinci himself couldn’t find fault in her actions. She hadn’t left the man with a mark but she’d disarmed him and showed him that she could have taken his life, yet she didn’t. When she spoke the crowd never heard her words but it was apparent by the actions of Uehban what she’d asked as he peacefully bowed out of the fight, his own rumbling laughter joining his companions as he pulled himself off the ground and began to try and pick the pieces up as he was offered another jug of uagent which he accepted, taking a long drink before turning the clayware over to Zana who accented the strong spirits and raised the jug to the people before taking her own drought of the wicked drink.

He nodded to his sister and waved her on to continue with the merrymaking as she was crowded around by the warriors who had already accepted her as one of their own, soon the men who hadn’t known her were by her side as well, speaking too quickly for the woman to understand as she shook her head and ducked out of the crowd to settle down on a bench. DaVinci hadn’t even noticed that Aisleran had moved to join her, examining the wound quietly before Zana shrugged off his touch and poured a measure of the uagent on her wound, her fangs bared for a moment as the alcohol cleaned the touch of the blade. He hated to admit it but it seemed that she was indeed worth her weight in gold, or in time she would be. If they’d come to accept her as a warrior then it wouldn’t be much to accept her as thei mother the next heir. Always the Ri ‘s heir had come from the loins of a sister, to keep the line sure. He wasn’t sure which of his sisters in time would be the one to bring forth a heir but his nephew would lead the clan in his place one day.

DaVinci was beginning to feel the weight of everything to come as he stretched and stood up, the crowd smiling and raising their jugs to the man who would lead them into battle, a battle that was looming too soon in his mind. He waved off their fanfare and moved towards the stairs to find his quarters. He was stopped just short of the archway which lead to the stairs and beyond by the ollamh, the woman smiling up at him as she commented softly. ”It is a good omen for the time to come.” DaVinci stared at her a moment before he silently nodded his agreement. She continued on as she spoke, ”She will make a fine warrior, and I think perhaps mother to the heir, Aisleran surely dotes on her.” DaVinci’s eyes flashed as he turned to watch the people once more as she questioned. ”She doesn’t know, does she?” He was silent still as he shook his head and bid her goodnight curtly before taking to the stairs. He knew that he pushed his luck dealing with the wise woman so but she could afford to forgive him because he had a feeling that he knew what would await him soon enough by the hands of the Ollmh.


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