Gryffynhall (the Danu Cycle: Fiann Trilogy Book 1)

Chapter Seventeen

To be fair, Niamh did give training her all.

Any slightly romantic or sexy thought of Killian was washed from her mind as she focussed on getting faster, stronger, better. The next week passed by in a blur of training of all kinds. Niamh was picked to stick with Combat Magic, in addition to her Free Training. However, Kane told her that she'd need to put aside more training time because of this.

"We can't have a weak link, Niamh. And unfortunately, being new, you're a weak link now," were pretty much his exact words. He might as well have said 'just stop sucking, Niamh'.

After breakfast, they headed straight for the gym, as they had for the last week. When they arrived, the seven adults in the Senior Troop fiann stood in a line in front of them, looking sombre. Kane stepped forward.

"You will be assigned your fiann early." His voice boomed, though quite why Niamh didn't know, they were only just in front of him. "In this time of crisis, you need to learn how to bond as a fiann and find your roles within it. Each fiann needs at least one Combat Magic-, one Physical Combat-, one Earth Magic- and one Mythology-based member, as well you know. For this reason, we have picked the following for fiann 1; Myrna, Lochlan, Molly, Killian, Owen, Fergus, Fergal, Luke, Teague, and Niamh." Niamh felt a huge surge of relief flood her. She looked to Myrna, who smiled. Lochlan nudged her and she turned to smile at him. "That leaves fiann 2: Chloe, Sophie, Shannon, Fina, Fenella, Michael, Aaron, Kathleen, Daniel and Kieran. We will, of course, use this to do more in depth combat training; battle strategy, group fights, and the like. Get ready for some skirmishes!" Kane smiled, but it didn't look like his heart was in it.

Byrne stepped forward. "All right, you heard the man. Fiann up and get training!"

"Oh, one last thing!" Bridget called as they began to move away. "This also means you are being graduated to Senior Troop early, some of you very early." She gave Niamh a pointed look. "But, this cannot be helped. We will hold the official ceremony and ball here, eight weeks from Friday."

"Do we really have time for that?" Byrne asked.

Bridget looked to Kane as though daring him to disagree. Kane cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly and nodded. "Yes. We will make time. We should honour the old ways. Besides," he seemed to force himself to be more encouraging, "Dwendardien has a way to go before he reaches Elfhaven, then a longer way until he reaches us. Our wards will give him plenty a moment for pause!"

There was a stifled muttering and shifting before Byrne stepped forward, his face still displaying concern. "Get on with it!"

"Shall we?" Killian asked. He was swinging a sword around most expertly in his hand.

Niamh's hand flew to the sword at her belt that Lochlan had insisted she grab between classes.

"Uh, maybe not that one though," Killian said, looking worried.

"Why not?" She asked.

"Because it's poisonous, Niamh. That's the reason we brought you here in the first place. Well, not the whole reason, but... That sword is made to poison its owner's enemies."

"You're not my enemy."

"Opponent, then. If you want to be pedantic."

"Can't you give it some sort of protective layer or something? Surely, I need to practice with it if I'm going to use it in a real fight?"

"Be my guest."

"You can't?"

Killian shook his head. "Nope. That is something I cannot do. But you might be able to. Try it out."