Here is chapter six. I got a new reviewer so welcome! This chapter goes a little fast with a lot going on so sorry about that but there was a lot of stuff I wanted to get done this chapter.
I am not a guy and I don't live in Australia so please don't mistake me for John Flangan
Chapter 6
Halt and Cathal headed towards the room Cathal was staying in. Merida stayed behind them allowing father and son to talk. Worried Fleetfoot would run off Cahtal held her in his arms. Halt waited for Cathal to start the conversation.
"Halt why did you leave Aunt Cat?" Cathal asked ever so softly. Halt sighed.
"Ferris tried to kill me three times. He started by poisoning a plate of shrimp and then he tried to kill me with bricks and finally he tried to drown me. I couldn't kill Ferris he was my brother and locking him in a prison didn't feel right either so I fled. I had heard rumors of a war going on and I was afraid of bringing Cat into that horrible mess. It would be harder to explain why I was traveling with my little sister and no adults then it would be for me traveling alone. I didn't want that life for her…you understand?" Halt replied softly as well.
"I suppose that makes sense but Aunt Cat never told me that," Cathal said.
"Well if you thought you had it bad being born out of wedlock and your mother abounding you imagine how you would have taken it knowing that your uncle was a psycho," Halt replied.
"There is a point…how well you knew my mother," Cathal asked. Halt pursed his lips.
"Well let's see she was the daughter of one of my guards. She wasn't charming though and at times had a rather foul disposition but she was beautiful and all the boys flocked to her. I fell for her because she was witty and snarky. Despite everything I would have thought she would have been a good mother to you," Halt said then continued in a little more angry of a tone, "I wish she is still alive so I could give her a piece of my mind," Halt growled. A look of pain flashed across Cathal's face.
"She may still be," Cathal said. Halt stopped and Cathal moved in front of him.
"Wait what?! I thought you told me she died," Halt said in startled surprise.
"I know and that is what I wanted to believe but I don't actually know. Ferris said she died and I tended a funeral but I never actually saw her body. It was easier for me that way but I really don't know. Ferris likely had his reasons for saying that," Cathal said.
"Oh well that's ok," Halt said more than a little surprised at Cathal's open guilt. The two didn't say anything else till they reached Cathal's room.
"If you boys don't mind I am going to freshen up," Merida said.
"By all means," Cathal said. Merida went into the bathroom while Cathal and Halt sat on the bed. Fleetfoot curled up beside him.
"You will like Arald," Halt said when silence stretched out between the two. Cathal raised an eyebrow.
"And you know this how?" he asked.
"Because I like him," Halt replied honestly. Cathal considered that for a moment then nodded.
"That makes sense," he said.
When Gilan knocked on their door the four of them headed towards the dining hall. Once inside Cathal spotted two people he didn't recognize. Both were tall and broad shoulder very knightly in build although one of them was slightly chubby. The chubby one had clear blue eyes and brown hair. The other one had green eyes and brown hair.
"The rounder of the two is Arald the other one is Sir Rodney the local Battlemaster," Halt whispered to the both of them. Cathal nodded filing that information away.
"Hello," Merida said smiling and as usual whenever she smiled she managed to light up the whole room.
"Cathal and Merida is it?" Arald asked. The two nodded.
"Welcome to Redmount," Rodney said.
Everyone sat down to have dinner and Arald, while curious about the two Hibernians, kept his questions to a minimum. Cathal was starting to warm up to Arald and even laughed at a few of his better jokes. Pauline smiled at what she knew would become her adoptive son as Cathal laid on the charm.
"So you two figured out how you are going to make a living here?" Arald asked when the meal was close to being finished.
"I am strongly considering being a Ranger," Cathal said. Halt's eyes lit up a little. He knew if Cathal became a Ranger that meant Halt was guaranteed to see him at least once a year.
"Lady Pauline has said I could make an excellent courier," Merida said. Arald nodded.
"I have seen you around when Pauline and Alyss gave you some courier tests. You are a natural," Arald commented. Merida blushed a little.
As everyone was preparing to leave there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Arald called. The door opened to admit Martin, Arald's secretary.
"My lord a man by the name of Shigeru has arrived for the royal wedding," Martin yells in his usual high tone. Poor Cathal nearly jumps.
"Thank you Martin sends him in," Arald said, "quietly," he added quickly.
"Kurokuma!" Shigeru called when he walked into the room. He had arrived for Horace's wedding almost a week early.
Most everyone in the room knew how to bow and they did so when he had come in. Merida was watching Alyss and Cahtal (much to Halt's surprise) did it naturally.
"Shigeru this is Cathal-san," Horace said not entirely sure how to pronounce Cathal's name.
"Kon'nichiwa," Cathal said promptly.
Everyone started at Cathal in startled surprise.
"You speak his language?" Halt asked.
"Yes. There was an older gentleman who came to Hibernia on a diplomatic trip. He saw me working in the stables, I was about seventeen, and wanted to talk with me. My mother had passed through Nihon-Ja while looking for you. He wanted to check up on me. He was kind to me and taught me the language. He took on a father role for me and taught me the language. I loved learning it and was eager to learn," Cathal explained.
"What was his name?" Will asked fascinated by the fact that Halt's son spoke Shigeru's language.
"I think he said his name was Shukin but I don't remember. I never called him that. I called him Sensei," Cathal replied.
"What did he call you?" Shigeru asked.
"Ookami," Cathal replied.
"Wolf," Alyss translated.
"Interesting how did you get that?" Crowley asked fascinated.
"He said he gave me that name because I was intelligent, I had a strong connection with my instincts, I was loyal, and I had a strong desire to be free of the castle," Cathal said.
"Well nice to meet you Ookami," Shigeru said. Cathal grinned and Halt sensed that Cathal had found himself a friend.
Horace, Shigeru, Will, and Gilan all got together to talk while Cathal went to look after Princess. Gilan was more than a little bummed that he hadn't gotten a name. So Will and Horace gave Shigeru a run down on what Gil was like. The emperor smiled as they described Gilan.
"I have the perfect name for you," Shigeru said. Gilan's blue eyes lit up hopefully.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Tanuki," Shigeru replied. Gilan frowned.
"Tanuki? What is that," Gialn asked.
"An animal that fits you perfectly," Shigeru replied.
Gilan caught Cathal on the way back to the castle. "Yes Gilan?" Cathal asked.
"The emperor gave me the name Tanuki but will not tell me what it means," Gilan pouted.
"It's an animal," Cathal replied raising an eyebrow.
"I gathered that much," Gil said sarcastically.
"Tanuki is an animal of folklore. According to legend it is known to be mischievous and jolly, a master of disguise and shapeshifting, but somewhat gullible and absentminded," Cathal explained.
"Wow that does fit me…except maybe the absentminded part," Gilan said thoughtfully. Cathal snorted.
"From what I have heard absentminded fits you," Cathal replied. Gilan glared at him but Cathal simply raised an eyebrow.
Halt was watching the exchange a short distance away in the shadows. Cathal was defiantly warming up to Gil and that was a good sign. It didn't surprise Halt that much because Gilan was pretty well laid back and it was easy to like him…most of the time.
"You know Horace's wedding is soon," Pauline told him when he retired to their room that night.
"I know…I also know you wouldn't bring this up unless you were considering something," Halt said.
"I just get the feeling they wouldn't be the only ones. Merida told me today she feels like Cathal is going to propose soon," Pauline said.
"Well if that happens I say we give them our full support. Cathal needs a little love his direction," Halt replied.
"Yes but are you ready to be a grandfather?" Pauline asked.
"Let me focus on being a father for the time being. I might be good at both," Halt said.
"You will be," Pauline said kissing her husband. Scruffy whined on the bed obviously not happy about being left out.
"Oh quit your whining furball," Halt said gruffly but his eyes sparkled with amusement.
"How was your boys' day out?" Merida asked Cathal when they were in their room. Fleetfoot had curled up on Cathal's lap.
"I got a Ranger horse got to spend time with my father," Cathal said with a shrug.
"You haven't told him have you?" Merida asked.
"We don't know for sure," Cathal replied nervously. Merida sighed.
"Well I have a feeling," she said.
"Halt…dad he did the same thing Merida. I wouldn't walk out on you but none of this looks good," Cathal said.
"We will be fine Cathal you worry too much," Merida said.
"Maybe but I am not sure we are ready for a kid," Cathal replied.
"Well if my gut is right it is coming anyway," Merida replied. Early in the morning Merida had woken up and thrown up. Concerned Cathal had led her to a healer. While it was too early to tell the healer thought Merida might be pregnant but they wouldn't know for sure for another month or so. That had been the real reason they had been late that morning but Cathal hadn't felt comfortable telling Halt that. He had, slept in, but not long and would have easily made it on time had he not had to take Merida to the healer. The healer agreed to stay quiet while Cathal and Merida figured out what to do.
I have always wanted to give Gil a Nihon-Ja nickname like Will and Horace and when I found his name I thought it was perfect. Cathal also has a name. Originally I planed to wait till later to reveal his name but decided to do it now because I kind of like the idea of him learning a language on his own that is different from Halt. Last thing Merida may or may not be pregnant what you guys think about that? And no I am not telling you whether you are right or wrong you will just have to wait and see. Next chapter will be Horace's wedding because it is long overdue.