Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #18 September 2015 | Page 63

Tales for the Ferryman
Pete Sutton

Part Eight: Sibling Rivalry
I wonder about the bloodthirstiness of myself
as a child. Where had it come from? I had played with
toy soldiers, making them duel and fight wars—how
did it come that later I became a pacifist? Using words
as weapons.
I continue my tale.
The man in red continued, “Teilo arrived at
Cahal’s Holding ahead of Phelan and Elise… “
***
Teilo limped into the clearing around Cahal’s
Holding to see the two bands of men facing off. Many
glanced in his direction with expressions of hope,
which were quickly dashed when he turned out to not
be the Brehon.

As he got closer to Ceowulf, a man he recognised as growing up a village or two away shouted out, “Stop this prevarication. Let the champions
fight!”

“Not without a Brehon!” Ceowulf retorted.
Teilo limped over to the young man. “What is
this madness?” he demanded.
“Madness, Summer King? This is anything
but. This is the most sane thing that has happened here
since my father’s…attack.”
“Brother versus brother? That is anything but
sane.” Teilo turned to look at Maelgwyn who was staring intently at his brother. He caught Teilo’s eye and

looked away, embarrassed.
“Champion versus champion. We will not spill
siblings’ blood here. Not today anyway.” Ceowulf
sounded determined.
“Let me intercede?” Teilo asked, knowing
the answer, but having to make the effort anyway. He
turned back to look at the young man he had known
since a babe. He saw the slight shake of the head before he spoke.

“No Teilo. This must happen.”

Teilo was about to remonstrate further, but the
attention of all present was drawn to the procession of
bards, Elise at their head, Phelan striding along beside
her.

“Now it is too late.” Ceowulf stated softly
to Teilo, “Brehon be welcome, I invoke the duelling
rights, my force against Maelgwyn’s. Champion
against champion.”

Elise was breathless from having to keep up
with the longer legs of Phelan but that is not the only
thing that makes her reply terse.

“By the laws of the Lands, I accept. Name
your champions.” They were named. “Then let us discuss terms.” She called, gesturing for the champions to
move to the middle of the field. The Wolf Brethren had
a short, but intense, exchange with Maelgwyn as Slone
marched to the centre with no sign of nerves. But then
he has done this many times before. Fighting on behalf
of Cahal, Lord of the Holding.

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