I enter the Chieftain's Hut and am greeted warmly by my wife, Barita. Erc, my son of almost two years, wraps himself about my leg. I pick him up and we three hold together for long moments. "Oh, it is so good to be home again!" I exclaim. "But why did you not come down to greet our arrival. With a wide smile, she gives me a wordless answer. She steps back a pace and pulls her tunic tight over the swelling of her stomach. It takes several heartbeats for the message to register. When it does, my smile is a reflection of her own. Gently, I place my hand on the spot where our next child is so obviously growing. I look into her dark eyes and lose my self, as I always do.

Coming back to my senses I ask, "But why did you not tell me?"

"I wasn't sure until after you left," she replies. "I did not want to give you extra worries on your raid."

"The Gods have gifted me greatly!" I announce to the sky. "I return home with a ship, and itself loaded with treasures. And now I find the greatest treasure, waiting in my own hut."

"And yet, you still hunger!" Barita laughs in response to the growl in my gut. "Come and sit by the fire. I will bring food." She leaves for the communal cooking hut.

"And what of you?" I ask my son. "Have you killed all the wolves and the robbers while I have been away?" He grins at the mention of his two favorite victims. He runs off to a corner and returns with a child-sized spear. He make a great pretense of stabbing at shadows, accompanied with suitable "manly" grunts. I think he has been watching some of the older boys at their practice.

Barita soon returns with bowls of a fatty porridge and half a loaf of bread.. We sit about the fire and eat. After some time, Barita asks what is bothering me. I had not realized that I had gone silent, staring into the flames. "I behaved badly, today. I was unkind to Verica, and it now eats at me. She left here as Princess Verica, and I think she fully expected to return to that role. I am sure she expected to move back into the Chief's house. I was less than kind in the way I told her of our relative positions. I may have shamed her before others. This is not the way I want to be." I watch the sparks chase themselves toward the smoke hole. "At Inver Colpa, she is a lady of some importance. She is handmaid to the Rian, their leader. She also has one who would love her… their great red-haired War Chief. I am thinking she will go back to Eire at Beltaine. But, in the meantime, I must treat her with more respect." I lean back an pat my recently filled stomach. "For now, however, I must go to the Meeting House. I promised to tell the tale of our adventures."

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Most of the village is crowded into the great round house. The fire flares behind me. Piles of treasure and gifts from the NiaFer are on either side of me. I begin my story where all stories should start, with the arrival of Domnall and his band on our shores. I remind the people of how we were threatened and coerced into joining Domnall's expedition. There is little to tell of the sea crossing. I speak of he landing and of the raids on several small villages. I tell them of the burning of the ships in the harbor, and then of our days of sitting in the hills, waiting for Domnall's return. My tale continues with the arrival of the envoy, and how we found we had been duped by "king" Domnall. I speak of our meeting with the NiaFer and of our battle with Domnall and his bunch, our strange return to Inver Colpa when the wild folk had invaded the place. I tell them about the strange battle upon the green and the eventual defeat of the undead Domnall and the frightful wizard with the spirit of Lutrin in his head. I speak kindly of the hospitality and generosity of the NiaFer.

And lastly, I speak of Lady Verica and her high position within the NiaFer house. I call her forward and place about her neck, a heavy gold chain, set with sparkling stones of green and white. "Let it be known by all," I say to the gathering. "When Lady Verica returns to the land of Eire, she will go as the ambassador of The Cruithni to the NiaFer, and this shall be her title." Verica is cheered by one and all. She will be our presence in the NiaFer Court.

To the warriors who accompanied me on this adventure, I grant the arms and such which they had taken in the battle with Domnall. Other gifts I distribute to various members of our tribe. The gifts of food and livestock from the NiaFer become the joint property of the community. Some few trinkets I hold in reserve, for future use.

With the tale told and the largesse given out, many of the company realize it is time for sleep. They bid me a good night as they leave. Verica stays to the last.

"Why?" she asks. "Why do you think I will be going back to the NiaFer?"

I smile and look at her. "Because I saw the look in the War Chief's eye. And also, because I saw the same look in your own."