“I forbid it!” King Cormac said as he pounded his fist on the arm of his chair, standing to face his daughter Igraine. Towering over her tall height, he was convinced that his intimidation would surely put this insane idea to rest.

“I didn’t come to ask you, I came to tell you what I was going to do!” she said with a rising of her voice to match her father’s. “I intend to ride out with the Niafer warriors!”

“But you aren’t a warrior!” yelled her father with a plea in his voice that let Igraine know that while he was worried for her, he would let her go. “You’re training is in the la---“

Before he could complete the word Igraine completed it for him. “The law, yes, I know. But my training included more than laws of compensation. You have seen the Brehons fight; I learned my lessons well. Besides, think of the spells I could use. I am expert at creating a confusing fog!”

Her father shuddered as he thought of all of the trouble that could befall her. He shuttered more thinking of all of the havoc she could wreak should she choose, and she would choose should Tara or anyone bearing the Niafer Owl be in harm’s way. He turned to take a sword off of the wall, but she stopped him as he was reaching for the sword.

“No, father, I have this,” she said as she showed him a beautiful sword with a hilt encrusted with emeralds. “This will do me well.”

“Is it fae?” he asked.

“Of course!” she said with a smile in her voice.

Igraine’s father nodded his head. It was his permission and she knew it. She curtsied and left the room knowing that her father’s understanding of her need to be a part of the fight to keep Tara safe came from her love of him as well as any love she had for Tara. He also knew she meant to do anything in her power to make sure that there was no repetition of what happened to Inver Colpa last year, this year.

Igraine walked into the light of the courtyard where her mount stood waiting for her. She mounted her horse and along with some packed supplies headed back to Inver Colpa---this time as a warrior!

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OCC: When I write Igraine as a warrior, I will be writing under the name of Igraine Niafer! Make that Kick-as* warrior!