Liam woke up first, hand automatically reaching for the sword lying next to his bed. His eyes scanned the small room he shared with his son, who slept on a cot opposite him. There was nothing in the darkness, so the blonde man let go of the sword hilt and turned, sitting on the edge of his bed. A locket dangled from his neck as he leaned forward and held his head in his hands for several minutes.

  After the adrenaline left his body, the father grabbed the empty wash bowl and left their small home and walked the short distance to the well that supplied his neighborhood.

  “Morning Liam” another man yawned. “Ready for another dull day of guard duty?” the fellow guardsman was already pulling up a bucket of water for his own wash basin.

  “Not particularly. The King wants to see me again.” Liam lamented. “I’d rather just spend the last couple days I have left with my son.”

  “What more could he possibly have to say. You’ve already told him you’re going, you have gear.”

  Connor finished pulling up the bucket and poured the water into his bowl. Liam let the bucket drop into the well.

  “He wants to send one of the castle sisters with me, since I wouldn't accept any from the cathedral.” Liam said. “We know this is a suicide trip, no one else needs to waste their life.”

  “Don’t be like that.” His friend said. “You’re an amazing swordsman, one of the best. I think you stand the best chance of defeating the demon lord and freeing us of this prison of a city.”

  A third man arrived and waited, not one of the guards but a craftsman by his apron.

  “I appreciate that, Connor. I’d hate to leave my son alone.” Liam said as he pulled the bucket up.

  “Eh, I’ll raise him if you do.”

  “Perish the thought.” Liam chuckled. “I’ve already arranged for him to be set up in the cathedral’s orphanage.”

  “Hey, I’m not that bad.” Connor said, finally lifting his wash bowl off the wells edge. “I just don’t like to spend my nights alone.”

  Liam grunted as he finished bringing the bucket up and pulled it towards himself. His friend nodded, taking his bowl and leaving towards his own little home. The second guardsmen filled his washbowl and handed the bucket to the craftsmen, who grunted his thanks before letting it drop into the well.

  “Hey” the craftsman said as Liam was about to turn the corner towards his home. He turned and watched as the man lifted the bucket up.

  “Yes?”

  “Your boy is almost old enough for apprenticeship, isn’t he?” The man asked low, almost a growl.

  “Turned ten this year, so he’d be ready in a couple years.”

  “I’ve got room in my smithy for a diligent lad. I’ve got a lot of work and not enough apprentices. Particularly very detailed work from that witch, Meabh”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to let him decide what he wants. And Meabh is a tavern owner, not a witch.”

  “Woman who makes drinks like she does has to be something inhuman.” The blacksmith grunted, returning to his water. Liam just chuckled to himself as he walked through the city streets back to the room he called home. Niall was awake and finishing lighting candles as he walked in.

  “Morning, son. Ready for another day?”

  “No, not really.” Niall said truthfully. “After the festival tomorrow, you’ll leave for who knows how long.”

  Liam frowned, setting the wash basin down and taking a seat on his bed. “Come sit here.” Niall complied, crossing the small space and sitting next to his father. “Niall, do you remember the story about the unknown hero?”

  The young boy smiled. “Of course I do. It’s my favorite.”

  “Well, how do you think the people felt when the hero disappeared? He must have been known to some people.”

  The smile faded a little from the boy’s face. “Sad, I think.”

  “But the hero did a good work. So the people were happy about that. Do you know what that’s called? Being happy and sad at the same time?”

  Niall shook his head, his shoulder length blond hair waving back and forth.

  “It’s bitter sweet. And it’s not bad. It’s just a part of life.” The boy’s father explained.

  Slowly, he took the necklace from his neck and gave it to the boy. “This was your mothers before she left. I want you to have it, and remember the good times until I come back, alright?”

  The young boy looked at the locket and chain in his hands, immediately trying to open it. Despite his efforts, it wouldn’t budge.

  “You won’t be able to open it yet, but you should be able to when you’re older.”

  “What do you mean?” the young boy asked as he stared at the small, rectangular, container.

  “There’s a trick to it, but it’s a little bit above your ability right now.” His father said, grabbing his son’s hands and closing them around the locket. “Feeling better?”

  “No. More like bitter sweet.” Niall smirked at his father, opening his hands and putting the locket around his neck. Liam ruffled his son’s hair before sitting up and grabbing his washcloth. The two washed their faces and arms

  before changing into their day clothes. Liam wore a long-sleeved tunic, and trousers, over which he slid on a tabard with the kings crest.

  “Why don’t you wear your personal tabard?” Niall asked.

  “I’ve told you, that is for special occasions. Not when I’m on duty as a castle guard.”

  “I like the angel feathers better than the lion. What even is a lion?”

  “It’s a big cat that lives in hot, grassy, places. It’s supposed to be a noble beast.” Liam explained. “What are they teaching you in your lessons? Do I need to have a talk with the sisters?”

  “No, you don’t. They teach us history and numbers and letters. I just don’t always remember the boring stuff. I’d rather learn about old heroes the angel wars than big cats that maybe exist.”

  “Come on boy, or it’ll be a cold breakfast for you.” Liam smiled, grabbing his sword and tying the scabbard to his belt. “Lions are real. When we’re free of the Demon Lord, you can travel the world and see for yourself.”

  “I will!” the young boy exclaimed as they walked through the streets.

  They were busy as light hit the paving stones. Craftsmen and women were opening their windows and shops, getting ready for the day. Liam and his son strode towards the mountainous keep, set halfway into the tall landscape. Men in similar guards’ uniforms nodded to the two as they entered the castle courtyard and headed towards the barracks kitchens.

  The chow hall was just a large room with long tables in neat rows. Several guardsmen were already seated and eating, Niall saw, as he walked with his father to the serving line. They grabbed bowls and presented them to the serving ladies, who doled them out a portion of the standard oatmeal. Niall noticed his bowl was fuller than his fathers, and when he looked up at the woman who’d served him, she winked at him.

  “Need to build you up to be a strong young man. I have a daughter your age, you know.” She smiled.

  Niall blushed and looked away, following his father’s lead to an empty table.

  “Don’t let her ruffle your feathers.” Liam said. “She says that to everyone.”

  “You didn’t get more food.” Niall said, setting the bowl of oatmeal down. He spooned around and found a couple berries, and a slice of bacon.

  “I suppose your right. Well, be careful then.”

  They ate their food in peace, albeit with the swiftness of military men, before taking their bowls to the wash bin. The lady working there winked at Niall as well, and the young boy felt blood rush to his cheeks again.

  “Why are they picking on me?” he asked as the two left the chow hall. “They didn’t before.”

  “I think it’s just something they do some times. You don’t get too many young boys like yourself in the chow hall. Just a bunch of surly old men who don’t take their flack.”

  “Not even Connor?” Niall asked as they neared the parade area.

  “What do you know about Connor?” Liam asked seriously. “Has he been telling you stories?”

  The young boy shook his head as they stopped. “No. But I hear things.”

  Liam grunted. “Well, you just ignore those things. Connor’s a good man, despite his lack of discipline. Now, you be off to the cathedral and your lessons.”

  “Yes father.” Niall said, hugging the armored man before striding out of the castle grounds and back into the city. Yet more bodies were milling around as people got ready for the day. Banners and streamers were going up for the coming festival, and he dodged around people carrying large boxes and trays of food and product.

  Niall took a side road down to a small door out of the way of the main path. He knocked on the door quietly and waited patiently. Soon enough it opened to reveal an older lady with a happy smile on her face.

  “Oh, young Niall. How are you dearie?” she asked. “Here for your sweet rolls?”

  “Yes please, Ms. McCarthy.”

  “Oh, dearie, you can just call me Roisin. Give me a moment.”

  The old woman disappeared into her house, and Niall waited only a minute before she reappeared, sugar frosted buns in hand.

  “Now, these are very warm. They should be perfect by the time you get to class.”

  “Thank you, Ms. McCarthy. I’ll come by again this weekend.”

  “Oh, you’re incorrigible with your politeness. But I appreciate the help. Now off with you. And I want to meet this friend of yours one day.”

  “I’ll bring her by!” Niall promised as he started to jog away. He thought he heard the old woman exclaim something about girls, but he was already around the corner.

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  The Cathedral was the second biggest building in the city aside from the castle, and Niall found his way to it with little trouble, despite having to juggle fresh sweet rolls. He slowed down as he reached the wall surrounding it, slowed down as he reached the wall surrounding it, peering around for his friend.

  “I almost didn’t think you were going to show up today.” A girl’s voice said from a dark

  corner. “And not with sweet rolls.”

  Niall turned and saw Caragh come out of a nook in the wall.

  “Dad would never let me skip lessons.” Niall stated. “And a hero never goes back on his

  word.”

  “So you always say.” The blonde girl said, reaching a hand out.

  Niall gave her one of the sweet rolls,

  “Eat it fast.”

  Caragh did, faster than Niall even, and was licking her fingers as he put the last bit

  into his mouth.

  “That was delicious. And you said you could get more? The church breakfast is cold

  porridge.”

  “I know.” The young boy said, his mouth still full. He swallowed and continued, “Yeah, I can get more. I help Ms. McCarthy clean her house on the weekends while my dad is at work. She said she’ll make me sweet rolls once a week every time I do. If you help, the work will go faster.”

  “Awesome, anything to get out of the church.” Caragh said, grabbing Niall's hand. “But we’re going to be late.”

  They ran around the wall to the front gate, past the sister who stood to greet visitors and into the large building itself. The main portion was full of benches situated before a pulpit, and the two young kids ran through them to a side door. Down a hallway and one more door, and they were inside a classroom, other children sitting at desks and a Sister standing in front of a blackboard.

  “You two again? Why are you never on time?” the Sister asked. “If I didn't know Caragh lived here while her father was on the line, I’d be worried.”

  “Sorry Sister Deirdre.” Niall said, letting go of Caragh’s hand and striding to a desk. “Caragh was just looking out for me, since I have to come from the castle.”

  Caragh nodded, taking her seat which was on the opposite side of the room from Niall’s own window seat. He pulled out the book of scripture they were reading from and looked dutiful and honestly towards the teacher.

  “Well.” Sister Deirdre commented. “Don’t let me catch you two being late again. Now, since you’re here, why don’t you tell us where we left off from yesterday’s lessons, Caragh?”

  “We were learning about how Lord Padraig collected the fleeing people here at his mountain fortress and held off the demon lord’s forces.” The young girl answered after a moment’s thought.

  “Well,” their instructor said, moving to her desk, her black robes and habit swishing behind her. “At least you learn something when you’re here. Yes, Lord Padraig was able to rally his forces, and those who fled the capitol to Dun Sleibhe, and stop the Demon Lords forces at the pass. Without a King, Lord Padraig was crowned and made ruler over the people and spent his time fortifying our position. He ordered the turning of unused land into farm land, and the rebuilding of much of the city to house all the residents and their descendants. His son after him, and so on, have kept us safe from the demon lord since. Does anyone know how long?”

  “Hundreds of years.” Someone in the class shouted.

  “Close.” Sister Deirdre said. “We’ve maintained this position for five hundred years, shut off from the rest of the world.”

  Niall raised his hand. “That seems a long time for a demon lord. How long do they live?”

  “No one is sure. Some people believe the Demon Lord is passing the title on to their children like a king. Others believe the Demon Lord will just live forever until defeated.”

  “What do you think” another girl in the class asked.

  Sister Deirdre shrugged. “I don’t believe one way or the other. The Demon Lord is alive now and from what we can tell, isn’t going away any time soon. Unless a hero can defeat them.”

  Several kids looked towards Niall, who’d mistakenly boasted his father had been chosen to be the next hero. He kept his head high; confident his dad would beat the demon lord. Despite dozens of others trying and failing.

  “Yes, well, not much has changed since then, but who can tell me who all the kings have been?”

  Niall stopped paying attention, not caring for who the kings had been. Instead, he looked out the window, one of the few buildings with glass to look out. There was a tree just outside his window, and several berry bushes he’d much rather be in than the stuffy classroom.

  “Niall?” someone said. “Niall, quit daydreaming. It’s break”

  The young boy turned from the window and saw Seamus, another boy his age, standing imperiously in front of his desk.

  “Probably didn’t hear a word of the lesson either.” Someone else said. “Come on, we’re going to play hide and seek”

  Niall got up and followed the straggling kids into the courtyard of the cathedral, which surrounded the majestic building and separated it from the wall, which kept it apart from the rest of the city. Someone was already counting, so Niall rushed from the entrance to his favorite spot. Behind the cathedral was a statue of a proud woman in the robes and habit of the sisters. Niall ignored the plaque, which told of the first woman blessed by the angels to lead them faithfully and help to raise new heroes as demon lords appeared. Instead, he found the cathedral’s well, and carefully climbed into it.

  Finding the familiar hand and foot holds that seemed hidden when looked at from above, he climbed down to a small tunnel just above the water line. It was empty, and he wasn’t sure where it led, but Niall knew he could take a nap until the sisters called an end to break. He’d just started to doze when he heard the scrambling sound of someone else trying to climb down the well. Looking up, he saw Caragh braving the climb down to his level.

  “Scoot in.” She said when she was at the holes level. Niall did so, and his friend got inside. “Pretty nice hiding place. When did you find it?”

  “Last time I hid in the well, I found the path down. Way better than just hanging on the well lip.”

  “Don’t you usually like to get found?” Caragh asked. “Or be it?”

  Niall scratched his head and looked down the dark hole. “I don’t know. I just don’t have the energy to play these days.”

  “Since you found out your dad is going to fight the Demon Lord?” the girl asked, picking up on the timing.

  “Maybe.” The young boy hedged. “What are you doing down here?”

  “Seamus is being pushy again, and wouldn’t leave me alone.” She explained. “So I lost him and thought I’d hang from the well lip.”

  Niall chuckled. “Well, keep an ear out for the sisters. I’m going to nap.”

  “You don’t want to explore the tunnel?” Caragh asked.

  “I went a little way in the first time I was down here, but it’s too dark.”

  “Alright.”

  Niall waited for another comment, and when it didn’t come, finally closed his eyes to nap. He was awoken what felt like an instant later when Caragh shook him.

  “The sisters are calling, time to head back.”

  Niall stretched and waited for his friend to climb up the wall, and soon followed. They shook their pants and headed into the cathedral from the back entrance.

  “You two spend an awful lot of time together.” Seamus said when they were in the hallway their classroom was in.

  “Niall doesn’t smell like horse dung.” Caragh said, striding past the stringy boy into the room. Niall shrugged and tried to walk past the boy.

  “You think you’re so cool, because your dad is going to fight the Demon Lord. Well, he’s going to fail, just like the last one.” He told Niall.

  The young boy balled his fists. “He is not. He’s going to free us, and then we’ll travel the world.” Niall argued back, shoving past the boy and heading into class. He was too angry to pay attention to Sister Deirdre, but knew to keep it to himself or he’d be sent to the Mother.

  The class didn’t end soon enough, and Niall was rushing out the door when they were dismissed, hoping his father was already at the gate waiting for him, but willing to go to the castle to get away from the cathedral. Several sisters exclaimed at his quick passing, but he didn't stop until he got to the gate. Breathing heavily, he looked around.

  “He’s not here yet.” The sister who stood at the gate to greet guests commented.

  “Thank you.” Niall replied, taking one last deep breath before heading towards the mountain castle. Craftsmen and women smiled at him cheerily as he passed them, working in their

  forges, bakeries, and the occasional cloth merchant trying to sell fabric they’d made. Others were still putting up streamers and decorations for the harvest festival.

  The castle was just in sight when he spotted his father, talking with the gate guard. Niall hurried to him and hugged his waist as tight as he could.

  “Ah, what’s wrong?” Liam said, lifting his arms out of the way in surprise.

  The young boy finally sniffed, but he kept the tears back. “Seamus said you’re not going to come back.”

  “Ah, did he now?” his father said, patting Niall’s head. “Well, don’t let him get to you. He’s just jealous his father was assigned to the line. No glory there. Come on, let’s go home. I want to change. Then we can go to Meabh’s for dinner instead of the chow hall.”

  “OK” Niall said, pulling his face away from his father and sniffing again.

  “Good lad.” The guardsman said. “Don’t show your tears in public. A good man keeps it together until he’s in the privacy of his home.”