‘But this discovery is huge—’
‘I don’t deny that!’ Neacel threw up his arms. ‘It’s astounding and brilliant, yes. The perfect proof that your bond is fated and that you have more common ground than you thought. I understand why you are excited. But you must slow down for Rory’s sake.’
He clearly didn’t understand, because he didn’t have the same urgency as Fionn.
‘I do not have time to slow down!’ Fionn roared back. ‘The full moon is approaching. If I cannot convince Rory to acknowledge our bond in front of the king, I lose everything.I will be handed over to the Redfolk as the bargain demands.’
‘I know. Try to calm down.’ Neacel pinched the bridge of his nose, sounding harried. ‘It is getting late and you are agitated. Let us come back to discuss this in the morning.’
Wait until morning? Had Neacel lost his mind? ‘I cannot wait—’
‘Please, Fionn. Take some time to reflect on this first. I cannot do your thinking for you.’
The cheek of him. Fionn neatly side-stepped the uncomfortable reality of his fuck-up and rounded on Neacel instead. ‘You cannot dismiss me like that. You swore to aid me! And I am your prince and there is nothing more important than this mission.’
Neacel swivelled back to him. ‘Aid you? Very well. I would wager your attitude is at least half the reason for all your frustrations,’ he said curtly. ‘You profess to serve your entire kingdom but you won’t look at it beyond the end of your own spear. How are you to serve your people if there is nothing more important than yourself?’
‘You are calling me selfish,’ Fionn said, aghast. How dare he? ‘There is no one else more dedicated than—’
‘Dedicated, yes,’ Neacel snapped. ‘To proving something to yourself, I am sure. You are only concerned with how you measure up, or how your own fate is directed. Has it occurred to you that your success with Rory depends on more than just your own feelings on the matter?’
‘What is that supposed to mean?’
Neacal threw up his hands. ‘Exactly. You act and react and barely take the time to understand.’ He swept up a net-woven kelp shawl, pulling it around his shoulders. ‘To be clear, I do not care if you are being selfish, but I would prefer that you were honest about it. At least to yourself.’
Neacel shimmied quickly out of the sparkling dress and pulled his kilt on, before bundling up the dress under one arm. ‘Please move. I am going out.’
‘Where?’ Fionn asked, unable to keep the sulk out of his song.
‘It’s none of your concern.’ In clipped words Neacel finished, ‘Please don’t tell anyone you saw this,’ then disappeared outthrough the cave entrance, leaving Fionn feeling both indignant and foolish.
‘I shall find someone else to help me, then,’ he yelled into the gloom.
* * *
As he always did when he felt useless, Fionn’s only course of action against the awful feeling was to resort to combat. The next hour saw him relentlessly practicing spear drill in the palace courtyard, executing complex maneuvers against empty water with muscle-straining precision.
If only someone would put these skills to use.Thenhe could serve his people meaningfully.
Neacel didn’t know what he was talking about. Fionn didn’t fight to serve himself. He would gladly put his own life on the line for his kingdom. If only he was given the chance!
But you wouldn’t give up your life by peaceful means,a Neacel-esque voice pointed out in his brain.Such as a diplomatic marriage.
Fionn smacked his own ankle in a mis-timed spin with the spear. He cursed vividly, agitating the water around him.
He wished Acha were here but she was out hunting for food. She would have agreed with him. Not that she knew what a marriage was, or anything about politics or complicated humans. But she would know that Fionn wasn’t being selfish.
No. He was simply trying to thwart centuries of solemn tradition that had kept the kingdom safe.
Let’s try that again.
He was simply trying to chase a miraculous soul mate that the fates had gifted him.
How does that help the kingdom?
He was simply trying to get Rory to like him.
Why doesn’t he like me?
