The group had left early in the morning for Lone-Lands, Fiontann was busy with other matters and wasn't around them, when he returns to the Barracks of The Black Steel no one but the cat was there. He walked up to the table and grabbed a tankard, he filled it with ale from a keg after flipping a coin as always, not being sure which one to choose. It was heads, so he chose the left one and after filling the tankard to the rim he sat at the bench and stroked the cat, enjoying the silence. His eyes were looking nowhere in particular, he was thinking about the last events, how Lieta almost died and how he felt. Now she was better, she could walk, but nothing more, yet. The tankard was almost empty when he recalled his last talk with Neyaa, how Branston has grown and how he said he'll go and take the child for a day out. Then an old friend came to his mind, Rossethor who passed out from what Neyaa told him. Fion then got up and took a jar, he filled it with ale and took a fresh tankard. He saddled his horse and rode out. Hedinn brought him to the graveyard outside of Bree and Fion jumped out, he walked among the graves until he found the one he was looking for and sat on a stone next to it.
-Hello my old friend, I'm sorry it took me so long. I am here now, with drink! I don't think someone did, so I will quench your thirst. I wish we could spar once more. Or even better fight side by side, but alas... He poured ale in the tankard and lifted it up to the sky in the direction of the tombstone and then poured some on the ground.
-For the dead they say... For a friend I say!
And took a big sip.
-I didn't know you left us, Neyaa told me a while back, but I couldn't come earlier. I had things to do but now I am here. I hope you lived a good life, after leaving The Bloody Dawn I haven't seen many of the old faces, some died, others left. I still see Neyaa and Taala, Eroforth if you met him, Terralynn I haven't seen for a long time, as well as Nimeway. Who knows maybe I will see them again, I hope your wife is well with your children, I miss those two and I won't forget getting Beriadan drunk!
Fiontann laughed and poured more ale on the ground. He looked around and then at the tombstone again.
-This is what it looks like when you die, eh? No matter how you die this is where you end up, in a place like this in the ground. And you go throgh your death alone no matter what... No matter how many friends you have, wives, children. We always face death alone... Because he always comes for one, the others just watch... Unable to do anything...
Once more Fion drank and then poured the ale on the ground to the last drop. He put the tankard next to the tombstone and pushed himself up.
-The next person that visits may be kind and fill your mug! I hope you're enjoying yourself wherever you are friend and that your days were full of happiness!
He turned away and left, he threw the jar away, outside of the graveyard and mounted up on Hedinn. This time his horse took him to Neyaa's house, he walked up the perch and knocked on the door, Neyaa wasn't there but the girl who was looking after Brandon was, she knew of the letter, she may have also seen Fiontann once or twice, so she got the child ready!
Fion took Branston to the Barracks of The Black Steel, he gave him a wooden sword and the two played together, the 4 year old boy could hold the sword but he wasn't in an age for more than swinging it. But for Fion it was enough, the two played, fighting, ran on the grass, down the path, then up the path again! They laughed and got their clothes dirty but kept on. In the end Fion got tired and panting he took Branston in his arms and lead him in the building. He walked him by all the trophies from the various opponents he company had fought with and told him the story of them. The young boy understood some things, some he didn't but listened while trying to play with them.
The cat met the boy with terror as Branston started stroking her, she stepped away at first, then came closer and started playing with him too.
-This is one of Honey's kitten, she came to me after a good and close friend left, her name was Annsuel. Good friends are hard to come by, but you little one be true to them, to everyone, they will see it and then you will see who is true around you. You're lucky that Neyaa is your motehr and Taala your aunt. You are of a good family and I am certain you will shape a path of your own, as they did. Your father was a good but odd man, your mother will tell you more. And I am Fiontann, uncle Fiontann, I am the one who will teach you to fight and get you drunk and your mother will chase me! But that's life!
Fiontann smiled and the boy laughed, playing with the cat, it didn't matter if he heard or not, it mattered that he was there.
-You will also meet my daughter, who is way older than you, so beware!
He laughed and when he looked outside it was late, he took the boy in his arms and took him home.
