Post by Fionn Mac Cumhaill on Mar 12, 2008 0:18:25 GMT -5
The Beginning
Crimthann Farraideach smiled up at his father, watching the man. His father led him through their small house, into a library. They lived, currently, in the lower end of Cobh, Ireland, just near the water's edge. His father was a treasure hunter, a thief, and an incredible storyteller. His father was a tall man, physically fit and looked every inch a thief.
"Come here, Crimthann..!" He said excitedly, beckoning his son towards the wall of books. He picked little Crimthann up, holding up towards one row of books. Crimthann reached out and pulled a grey-cloth bound edition, smiling wide. That bookcase slid aside, revealing an unlit path of stairs. Crimthann and his father stepped down the stairs quietly, not making a single noise as the door slid shut behind them.
As they entered he basement, the lights flickered on. Their basement looked like more of a museum, than anything. Trinkets, jewels, all sorts of wonderful things lined the now well-lit walls. Crimthann looked up at his father, who led him to a section near the back of the basement. "Crimthann, do you remember what I told you about the Tuatha De Danann?" His father asked.
The boy paused. "They were Gods, weren't they?" He asked.
"Yes." His dad said, picking up two cases; one large and one small.."Though, since the pervasiveness of Christendom in Ireland wiped out all of the old mythos, some would rather you believe that they were merely kings." He added, setting the cases onto a workbench. "Come here, son."
Crimthann stepped up to the bench, peering over it wide-eyed.
"When the Tuatha De Danann came to Ireland, they brought four treasures. One was the Spear of Lugh, or Spear L˙in." He said, opening the first case. From it, he produced a shining spear, the end of which radiated light and heat, almost ready to burst into flames, it seemed.
"Whoever weilds this spear in battle would be victorious." He uttered, looking to his son and spinning the spear deftly before setting it back in the case. "Or so they say." He added, giving a wink. Crimthann smiled.
"Another was the Stone of Fal." He added, opening the small case. "You remember the picture I showed you? The one of the stone pillar?"
Crimthann nodded. "Yes. It was a big rock." He replied.
His father nodded excitedly. "Yes, and I thought that was what I would find!" He said, pulling out a pendant. The stone that was attached was polished grey, but emitted a strange, blue-purple aura every now and then. "Lia F·il, Saxum Fatale." He said softly, setting the stone in his hand. "The stone of destiny."
Crimthann stared at the stone; the tiny hairs on the back of his neck raising slightly.
His father was about to speak, but was interrupted by a sharp bashing noise upstairs. He went wide eyed and shoved the stone into Crimthann's hand. He then picked the boy up and ran across the room, stuffing him into a small locker.
Crimthann peered out of the crack. His dad leaned in, whispering: "Stay quiet, boy! Stay quiet! Whatever happens, do not leave, and do not make a noise!"
His father rushed back to the cases, closing the one that held the spear, and slipping it under the desk. He turned around just in time for three men to enter. One was fairly pale, with greasy blackish-brown hair. He had a cigarette dangling off of his lips.
"Where is the stone?" The greasy-haired man asked in a heavily Italian-accented voice.
The father just offered a little smile. "Pleasure seein' you lads. From the sound of it, Y'haven't left much O'me door standin', have yeh?" He asked. "Shoulda called ahead. I could've had some drinks out."
"Where is the stone..?" He asked again, not amused.
His father brushed it off, chuckling. "There are many stones here, mate. You'll have to be more specific."
The man sighed, nodding to his goons. They stepped forward and grabbed his father by the arms, not without a fight, of course.
The greasy-haired man stepped forward and struck Crimthann's father across the cheek. "WHERE is the STONE!?" He shouted.
His father just chuckled. "You're not going to get it, mate. No matter how hard you try." He said. Little Crimthann wanted to scream, he wanted to rush out and try to help his dad, but he knew better than that. He didn't even scream when the greasy-haired figure drew a knife, and brandished it at his father. The whole time, his father said nothing. His father managed to break away from one of the goons, resulting in a fairly drawn out fight that Crimthann couldn't bring himself to watch.
When the sounds stopped, he peered out the slit once again. His father was limp on the ground, and one of the goons was face-down on a table, not moving. The greasy-haired man and the remaining (Though bloodied) Goon picked up his father's body and dragged it out to the car.
The Gardai found Crimthann huddled in the locker an hour later, holding the stone tight against his chest. He was taken away as the gardai retook everything his father had collected over the years, and stuffed him in an orphanage. From what he had heard a few days later, the gardai never found the Spear of Lugh.
Was gonna play an Elf... but gmme a sec to read the epilogue before I make my choice. I just read 'Heist' and was like, OOOH! HEIST! Yeah. >_> Sorry.