Chapter 2: I will be Tuatha Dé Danann

(Meath)

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(Áed mac Gormlaith POV)

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Áed tried not to show it, but he was affected by the young man before him.

''High Chief, I need your help.'' Says Fergus.

''How did you survive?'' Áed asks.

''By luck that I fear is of the Devils side. I was out hunting, I'd just barely entered the village before the slaughter began. I didn't have any real weapon on me and I was out of arrows. So I had to scavenge a Weapon before I could find my way to the hold.'' Says Fergus.

''Sadly I arrived just in time to see my brother beheaded. Everyone else had been killed, they made him watch I fear. I knew then that I had two choices, die trying to reach mac Dúngal, or retreat and find aid.''

''You could have gone anywhere, yet you came to me? Why not simply walk away?'' Áed.

''I may not have loved my kin all that much...but damn it! Blood is thicker than water! I may be a bastard, but Eóganact-Chaisil blood runs through me! I will not flee Ireland to England or Francia or what have you. If I did I'd always be looking over my shoulder. But I have Dream. I will become worthy of becoming Tuatha Dé Danann, I will institute the reunification of '' Says Fergus.

''Do you even realize what it means to declare that? What it actually entails to reach Tuatha Dé Danann?'' Asks Áed seriously.

''I know a hell of a lot more than people realize. Have a read of this journal and you will understand.'' Says Fergus tossing a worn leather journal at Áed's feet.

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(POV Shift: Fergus mac Braenen)

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The book contained most of the current era's technological innovations, and a few of the early medieval ones. With any luck that would interest him enough to consider his request.

He didn't really want to, but if he had to he'd seek aid from the Son's of Ragnar Lothbrok. He hoped that Áed would prove amenable but if no one else would, then he would solo his enemies.

He wasn't suicidal by any means, but if no one was willing to help him what choice did he have?

Maybe some of the warriors would side with him. You never should just replace the officers in charge of a recently conquered settlement's local guard. You should always go the extra mile, and place some of your own mean in the Guard, both known and secret ones.

Consider it a safety net if the stick and carrot techniques fail to placate the populace.

And yet that thought caused him a spot of bother. There was a reason Eóganact-Chaisil had been the liege's and not the Vassals. They had the most men south of High Chief Áed's territory which in itself spoke volumes of the prestige, influence, and power of the Clan. See Áed was the High Chief because following the independence of Desmond and Ossgrey Provinces he was the only one without an equal.

Yet he had a Force roughly the same as Eóganact-Chaisil because he had three Irish Provinces in his territory. But Eóganact-Chaisil had just one, and had four thousand men give or take a few hundred and some ten or so men.

Now there was a chance that mac Dúngal hadn't gotten rid of the one Warrior Fergus would trust. Connál mac Claggen. Connál was highly respected, he carried a lot of respect. If mac Dúngal got rid of him then the odds of large chunk of the Eóganact-Chaisil Forces just up and walked off.

If he survived and declared for him, Fergus would reward him with the mac Dúngal family lands. As well as a position on his Council as his Marshal.

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(POV Shift: Áed mac Gormlaith)

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This book contained detailed information on ways to get an edge on their enemies both in war and in peace. If this fell into the wrong hands they'd have a hard time playing catch up.

If Fergus was able to provide more, then this could help unify Ireland and progress it well past any future conquests. It makes an Alliance more interesting.

''Esmèrald? Summon Eithné. I wish to speak with my daughter.'' Áed tells his spymaster, who always seems to be in his shadows one way or another.''

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''Eithné, Fergus is still alive. He has come seeking aid. And he will get it. But he is the last living person who has Eóganact-Chaisil blood. Therefore you and he will Marry. As High Chief of Ireland it is within my right to legitimize him. Do you understand?'' Áed asks his daughter.

''Yes father.'' Eithné respons timidly.

''Fergus is the future of Ireland. You must ensure your future children understand that. As well as his other future wives. Do you understand Eithné?'' Áed asks her gently.

''Yes father, I do.'' Says Eithné with a little more strength.

''Good.'' Says Áed with a little bit of pride.

''Call Fergus, let us have a discussion on what is to happen.'' Áed tells his shadow councilor.

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(POV Shift: Connál mac Claggen)

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''Your service is appreciated, but it is no longer needed. Go home, and stay there.'' Cerball mac Dúngal said the words, but he was wrong.

While the family he and his men served might exist no more, his oath and his men's was to the Eóganact-Chaisil Bloodline.

And Fergus mac Braenen, the bastard son of Dub-dá-Bairenn mac Crundmáel Eóganact-Chaisil, still lived. Thus their oath of service and loyalty still held some weight.

Sadly many of the men wouldn't rally for Fergus without first having seen proof of his survival in person, or without the support of him and the other Captain's.

''What do we do Connál? We've all heard about the bastard. Do we listen to that ginger cunt? Or do we find the kid?'' Asks Captain Finley.

''Are you hard of ear? You heard our orders! We go home. Aye the boy has the blood, but he's a bastard! Our oath was to Eóganact-Chaisil, not the bastard mac Braenen.'' Says Captain Connmal.

''Your not wrong Mal, but your not exactly right either. Until we see the boy any decision against mac Dúngal is a bad idea. Our only option would really be going to the High Chief. And there's no guarantee he could help us.''

''So we do nothing?'' Captain Regivald asks.

''I don't see another option. Not right now at any rate. Look if mac Braenen comes back, maybe we'll fight for him, but a lot of the men won't do it without seeing another Chief's support behind him.'' Says Connál.

''Who'd support a motherless bastard?'' Connmal sneered.

''Your mother would.'' Finley snips at Connmal.

''Why you little fucking...'' Connmal starts chasing after Finley.

''I don't trust Connmal.'' Regivald says once the two are out of sight.

''Neither do I my friend.'' Connál replies.

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(POV Shift: Fergus mac Braenen)

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Fergus stood on a balcony, High Chief Áed had raised his men. Supposedly to reinforce the province of Athlone. Which coincidentally sat near dead center between most of the Irish provinces.

Now if say a hundred or so men go missing in the middle of the night that's neither here nor there.

But where the weapons they have are gonna end up are in Cerball mac Dúngal's ass without oil.

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Okay folks, heads up.

On discord I got a poll going for which story gets five more chapters next.

So if only to vote get on and do it now!

Also I'm capping my number stories.

I'm posting one more after this and that's it until at least one story has some fifteen more chapters to its list of chapters.

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