Gryffynhall (the Danu Cycle: Fiann Trilogy Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Eamon found travelling with Niamh a much more humorous experience than even he had expected.

The first morning on the road, Eamon and Conor woke early to begin training, deciding to get a decent amount in before breakfast.

"You just want her to see you when she comes down." Conor smiled, as they went through the first few slow motions to get their bodies warmed up.

"Pardon?"

Conor snorted. "Feign ignorance all you like, prince. I know you well enough to know you are trying to impress O'Callaghan. Though I do not know what is so special about her that you would bother." He said this last part under his breath and Eamon realised he was right.

What was so special about Niamh O'Callaghan that made him want to impress her? Though, that implied the rest of Conor's statement was correct and that he did in fact want to impress her...

"Do not be ridiculous." He smirked, drawing his blade. "That sounds nothing like me."

Conor laughed aloud, drawing his own. "You are right, that does sound nothing like you. And yet, here we are."

"Enough talk, man," Eamon said, grinning.

Conor nodded his head and they clashed. At first, neither of them was trying particularly hard, merely going through the motions to keep themselves in practice. However, as they warmed up more, their innate competitive natures took hold and they fought with more gusto.

Eamon ducked and weaved, matching Conor's strokes well after the centuries they had trained together. Conor, likewise, danced around the mat. Neither was aiming to get the upper hand and, at this rate, they would have been able to keep up their pace all day if necessary.

However, it was then that Eamon, somehow, sensed Niamh was behind him. He flashed Conor a grin and saw his answering eye roll just before Eamon struck out, throwing Conor to the floor, his blade at Conor's throat. Conor's face quite clearly expressed his sarcastic disbelief. Eamon merely turned his gaze to Niamh as she passed, smiling at her widely and winking very slowly.

He could tell she was trying to keep a smile from her face as it settled into disapproval and feigned nonchalance. She had done that many times since they had met and he found the challenge of getting her to forget herself enough to smile at him rather exciting. He laughed.

"We could take a tumble later, if you would like," he offered, before she had a chance to disappear behind the fireplace.

"Perhaps, your highness," was all she said, without turning. Bell took her elbow and leant close to her, looking back at him momentarily.

He saw O'Neill's look of fury before Dunne pulled him away. Eamon knew the purpose of the look and O'Neill's intent. However, he found he could not take the young Sidhe seriously. The boy was barely fifty, to Eamon's over seven-hundred, what had he to fear? If O'Neill wanted Niamh, she would have to choose him; Eamon was not going to stand aside purely because the little boy scowled at him. Eamon grinned, thinking eagerly of the game ahead.

"You would do well not to antagonise your guests, brother," Donagh said, walking past, though there was a hint of a smile at his lips and he knew his older brother found O'Neill's attitude amusing also.

"He is right," Conor said, though his grin was not hidden at all. "Leave her alone. You do not need to conquer every woman you meet."

"I do not need to..." Eamon replied, his grin widening.

"Eamon..." Conor's smile dropped and his tone held more warning. Eamon knew he was referring not just to his earlier promise, but to their plan.

He held up his hands. "All right. All right. Nothing serious."