by C.S. Fanning
coming of the Druid. Every year at the midsummer’s feast, the druid came to Bretharc for the Nameday celebration. All of the children who were seeing their thirteenth summer were brought before the village on the hill of stones, and given their true name. This simple ceremony marked the transition to adulthood, and was conducted immediately after the feast.
The druid would then give each a quest. When they had completed this task, given them by the druid, they were no longer considered children and could choose for themselves their path in the world. Aeden hoped to be given a quest of some meaning, for it was said that the more difficult the quest the druid determined, the more successful the young man or woman would be. On the other hand, the simpler the task the druid assigned him the sooner he could escape the drudgery of his life.
Unusual events were afoot this day. When he arrived at the village center, he expected to find the old druid surrounded by supplicants all desiring healing or tips on providing for their crops or livestock all clamoring to be heard among the din. The usual supplicants were present, but they were all silent, as the villagers were witness to something not seen in Bretharc. Not one, but three druids stood in the square. The old druid was there in his simple white robes, but before him stood one who most surely was an archpriest of the order. The white robe was immaculate and the collar was of an emerald green shade that Aeden had never seen before. The cord belt tied around his waist, which Aeden knew to represent his rank in the order, matched the green shade of his collar. The finery of his robes and the color of his cord aside, Aeden would have recognized him immediately as old Liam’s superior by the deferential manner in which the old druid with his stained robes and blue cord spoke to the man. They were obviously in disagreement about something, though Aeden could not discern the cause of their dispute since they spoke in hushed tones and were mutually respectful in their speech.
The third druid wore simpler robes than the other newcomer, but the green cord at his own waist signified him as an archpriest in his own right. He stood apart from the other two and seemed to be ignoring the quiet argument as he scanned the crowed as though looking for someone. He was a tiny man, barely as tall as Quinn who was the shortest among Aeden’s friends, and as he looked in Aeden’s direction their eyes met and the small man held his gaze. Aeden felt riveted by the gaze of the older druid, unable to move, and a very uneasy feeling past over him.
Aeden was unable to escape the piercing eyes of this druid until his companions asked him a question. For only a moment longer the small man held his gaze, and then turning to his fellows he drew a handful of slender sticks from the delicate pouch that was suspended from his belt. Squatting he cast them on the bare earth at his feet. The short man studied them for only a moment before looking up at the other two who were intently staring at the twigs themselves. After several moments of silence Liam shrugged in acceptance; whatever import the sticks held having convinced him that the archpriest was correct.
Their conflict resolved they moved through the people, talking and answering questions. The people of Bretharc were far more reserved than usual on this day that was meant as a celebration. It was only occasionally that the tiny village of Bretharc was visited by one of the ancient order of priests, and today they were blessed by the appearance of not one but three.
The feast was as festive as always and soon Aeden forgot the strangeness of the morning as he sipped mead and ate a robust amount of the roast pork, cheeses, and the fruits of the best harvest in many years. Before long everyone was relaxed and enjoying this rare break from their everyday toils, and Aeden and his friends were no exception.
When finally everyone had partaken of their fill of the feast, the Druid Liam arose to quell the rabble rousing so that the Nameday might proceed. Aeden became aware of an uneasy feeling, and looking around for the source of his unease he noticed the small druid watching him and his friends. He could not help but wonder what an archpriest of the druid order could find so interesting about him and his friends.
Aeden’s ruminations were interrupted when Liam began to speak. “Good people of Bretharc, for many years I have enjoyed serving as the Druid of County Longford and, gods willing, will continue to do so for many long years to come, but today I have the honor of introducing the High Druid Mellan, who is the head of my order and will oversee the rituals this year.
Aeden was awestruck, and judging by the reaction of those around him, so were many others. Their little village was hosting not just an archpriest but the spiritual leader of all the Gaels, an honor rarely afforded even the big cities. This man was the leader of all druids, not just of Eire but of all the civilized lands. Great kings sought his council and accepted his judgments. Mellan was the reason that war had not plagued Eire since before Aeden’s birth, and was a legendary figure even among the wise.
Mellan rose gracefully, hand out in a placating gesture. “People of Bretharc I can tell that many of you are ill at ease in your hearts, and I wish that I could tell you that my visit here was happy chance for I can tell that you are a good and decent people whom it is my honor to spend the day among. Unfortunately, I travel not for the pleasantries of good company, as you have guessed, but to bring warning of a danger foreseen. This man” he said, indicating the short archpriest that rose just long enough to be recognized “is a member of the high council of druids, and master of the arts of the divination. He has had a vision of a rising threat to our people and our way of life. A great host will march upon the Gaels from the south, driven by greed and zealotry, and the northern tribes will fall one by one until all are consumed.”
The crowd was hanging on his every word, and his pronouncement caused a furor to erupt that threatened the order of the normally quiet and peaceful village. “People! People please!” Mellan’s powerful voice thundered, as he gestured for the people to quiet and calm themselves. “This warning should be taken seriously, and we all need to make preparations to protect our lands and way of life, but this enemy has not yet marched in force and will not for some years to come. I share this with you not to cause a panic, but to help you understand that we druid’s will be asking for your help, and the help of all good peoples, to prepare to repel this threat.”
This speech did little to calm the people of Bretharc, and being simple farmers they were all concerned with the price of helping the druids, who already claimed a tithing of their harvest and when added to the taxes do the King and county made the bad years very bad indeed for poor farmers. This year the harvest was bountiful, but the village was growing and that meant more mouths to feed.
Mellan continued, louder than before to be heard over the low rumble of the crowd. “Druid Finnis’s vision directly concerns your village” he announced, and that statement got the attention of the assembled villagers, and Mellan was swift to take advantage of the ensuing silence. “A young man from this village will play a pivotal role in the in leading the people through the trials ahead. The vision tells us he will be revealed to us at today’s ritual.”
The shock of such a pronouncement caused the crowd to buzz once again. How could a boy from the tiny farming village of Bretharc become so important to all the lands? It seemed impossible but Aeden hoped that the vision was true, feeling confident that if it were then he must surely be the one of whom the druid spoke. Glancing around at his friends, and noticing them all looking at him, he realized that they were thinking the same thing.
Leading the way to the ceremonial circle on the top of Stonehill, the druids began the ancient tradition of the Naming and divining the quests. Each young man or woman who was coming of age was brought before the druids and given a name which was very often synonymous with their future endeavors. After that each young man or woman was assigned a quest which the druid determined by reading the signs that only the druid conducting the ceremony could perceive. Aeden was of the opinion that the druid simply made it all up as they went along; perhaps noting something that need
ed doing that was within the grasp of those achieving adulthood.
There were nine young men and women coming of age this year in Bretharc; Aeden and his friends, as well as five of the village girls. He barely knew the girls and had paid little attention to them as they grew up within the same small village. It was only recently that he had really noticed them at all. Two of the five stood out. Teagan, the miller’s daughter, was quiet and demure and very pleasant to look upon. This casual observation had begun to stir some unusual sensations within Aeden that he was unsure what to do about. The other was Fianna, a tall strong girl who Aeden despised. She was surly where Teagan was sweet, and had more than once turned her viperous tongue upon Aeden and company. It didn’t help that she was seemingly always justified in doing so; in fact, to Aeden this was the very worst part.
Each of the nine was presented with a bag from which they drew a small twig upon which one of the Ogham fews were carved. Aeden knew that the Ogham could represent numbers, letters, and a host of more mystical meanings, but as the son of a herdsman he had only used them for