Pontius looks at the braveless warrior.

No, Sabina. Do'nt give up. It is a long and burdensome way. We will train everyday and you will learn all I can instill to you. Your parents will be so proud of you! Come on, you will learn, do you hear me, you will.

Hours later Pontius sits alone in his guest room and think about his tender feelings to Sabina. He did'nt know why and how, but she had captured his heart. At all time he did see her eyes, her face, her hair and he feels bewitched.

And this shortly before the games begin. Pontius laid in the bed, his eyes open and searching the old Pontius, who exists before Sabina appeared in his life. His life, unthinkable without this gently girl.

Great days in Verona. Most of the Citizen take Vacation days for to gaze the awesome teutonic warriors and the roman legionnaires around Ralen. No crosspoint or corner without traders, selling bread with olives, wine leafes and small spicy saussages. The servers of wine made the profite of the year.

The royal couple gives a festivity to honour their illustrious guests from Rome, Liguria and the mighty tribe of the Teutons on the evening before the joust shall begin.

Lars Porsenna sit in the ceremonial room, his Queen, Lady Fineae, beside him to the right, Gaius Julius, Sigfried and Ralen placed on the other seats of honour near to him. All the Locums, Protectors and tribal Chiefs are sitting around big tables. Roast wildfowls, roast wild boars and a whole roasted ox on a spit, big baskets filled with freshly baked bread, bowls with eggs, salted olives, apples and grapes are placed on or near the tables. A wine goblet has been placed for every guest. Some musicians, storytellers and a group of professional dancing Iberian girls entertains the guests. The ceremonial room has been decorated with the last flowers of this year. A large open fireplace exhales the room with a warm glow.

The festivity lasts for several hours, but the knowledge of the tomorrow beginning joust prevents for to stay too long and to drink too much of wine.

Sigfried was impressed by the fast of the Etruscan Court compared with Teutons parties, when happen to have enough food and drinks. He eats so much of his favorite, roast wild boars that he could not enjoy the rest of the menu, many for the first time seen. The Teuton took the entire plate and look angry to everybody trying to have some.
Also the customs here are so much different than Teutons parties where the chieftain use to give everybody a piece of meat, according to their rank or the favor. Not knowing what to do, he grab all the roasted wild boars plate and put it in front of him.
After eating most of it, he look at Wolfgar to share what's left, but his friend seems more interested in a conversation with a lady next to him.

Good, I will eat the rest later all by myself! was Siegfried thoughts and a big smile arose on his face.
After eating so much, he need a drink. He took every goblet he could reach and emtpy on his throat, without waiting his small goblet to be filled again.
Why they drink with such cmall cups when they have plenty of wine I will never understand!
Maybe the time will work on the young Teuton warrior, but right now he is amazed by such customs that don't make any sense to him.
Suddenly he remember like a club hit him in the head: Faith! Sigfried feel the need to find her and let his heart speak to her.
His quest about Faith begin!

Sigfried lay down in his tent, while a helper attend to his wounds. He could not drive his mind out about what's happen..

After he had enough food and drinks, start to search Faith, but she was nowhere to be found. Sad, the Teuton warrior went to sleep late in the night. He almost forgot the Games will start next day.

In the morning he was impressed by the preparations and the festivities at the Games opening, still looking after Faith. In duel he was drawn against his friend Wolfgar and his morale sink because Wolfgar use to beat him lately in training duels. Still the new armor Wolfgar use now make him uncomfortable and Sigfried manage to give a final blow when Wolfgar foot slipped.

Not happy fighting with his friend and still not finding Faith, Sigfried prepare for the melee. It is his favorite, because the warriors give countless blows and that's what Sigfried like most, to hit his opponents and break heads.
He manage to concentrate a bit at the beginning and everything goes alright until he saw Faith!

Sigfried forgot about the fight and walk towards her:

- Finally I manage to find you! I have so many things to tell..

He could not finish the phrase, because Faith hit him so bad that he almost felt. Sigfried could not understand what happen and he was out of the melee in minutes with a nasty wound on the chest from Faith blow.
But it's not the physical wound who brings him most of the pain, but the other one..

Fineae couldn't believe it. She won the first duell.

At the joust she was so confused of winning the duell, that she couldn't concentrate her. She lost the control of MenrVa TiUr, her mare.

Swearing vilely she stood up and climbed up her horse again, just to get hit and fall down again.
Ok she was out.

At the melee she tried to get back to honour, but Opa Kralle, a worrier of her own tribe, stopped her. She fumed of rage and left the arena.

Hopefully she thought of tomorrows duell. She must be better tomorrow.


Tired she went into her favorite inn and ordert some sweet red wine.

Porsennas private physician patches up his wounded King carefully in his Kings tent. Porsenna remembers the happenings of this eventful day while the doctor works in silence.

The duel with Faith, the legendary beautiful female warrior of Liguria. She was able to charge the etruscan King in a fierce fight before he prevailed. He tended his head acknowledging after this attractive fight to her.

Opa Kralle, this old imp, poked his own King down from his horse, laughing. But Porsenna became angry after it and pushed him down two times what made him the victor of this joust. Opa Kralles revenge happened in the melee. First he hit Lady Fineae unconscious, then, in the perfect moment when Porsenna looked so stunned at Sigfried, who forgot fighting and talk to Faith, Opa Kralle hit him hardly at the arm, so that Porsenna had to capitulate.

The day ends with a banquet for all the nobles and warriors who are able to go. Many lay badly wounded in the healers tents. Porsennas eyes wanders from warrior to warrior. He was proud of his nobles and warriors, who fought very successful on this first day of the games. But he can't forget Sigfrieds manner to Faith during the melee. He begin to smile as he did watch Pontius, Protector of Aquileia, and Sabina. She was so obviously happy about her sudden victory over Taristin Leonsbane, a noble of Liguria. And Pontius was as happy about, too.

He begin to feel romantic and search his lovely Queen with his eyes.

Once the wounds was bandaged and he had a night rest, Sigfried stood up on his feet and all the fury of his ancestors was to be shown on his frowning look.

Who this woman think she is? I will storm his tribe and drag her chained, as my personal slave, all the way to Nordjylland, to show her not to mess with a Teuton!

On the other hand, deep in his soul, Sigfried knows that's not what he wants form Faith and he reverse his fury on the Games opponents.
On the horse he storm Germanicus, normally a warrior who could beat Sigfried and fight in the duel like a madman. Only after the fight he notice the opponents was two beautiful women, Sabina and Lady Fineae and ashamed, Sigfried go and apologize for such ravaging style of fighting.

I'll tell Wolfgar to remind me to send Sabina and lady Fineae some wonderful white fox furs, as soon as we'll be home and go hunting in the hope they will forgive me.

Tomorrow is the big day of Games finale, but Teuton warrior don't care a bit. The fact ligurian woman don't pay him any attention drives him crazy and after the Games will be over, her tribe must expect the worse.

.. then Sigfried fount the news: Faith didn't ignore him on purpose, just she was in love with someone else.
It was Opa Kralle, a good friend of Sigfried and suddenly the Teuton warrior feel so happy for them and a relief it's not about him. Because what woman in the world who is not in love already could not respond to Sigfried attention?
He ask Wolfgar and the village witch to help him write a message to the happy couple:

QUOTE:
Dear Faith and Opa Kralle

I send my best wishes on occasion of the happy event, may the gods be with you!
You'll remain my dearest friends and accept my apologies I didn't quite understand what is all about, but bear with me because I'm not so good in heart affairs like I am with the sword.
I will send a share of dried meat and some furs when we finally arrive home and be able to go hunting.

Sigfried of Teutons Tribe.

The games passed and Fineaes dauthers grow older.

Thania, the older one grow to a beautiful little girl of 3 years and her second daughter Velia hold her mothers breath.

Fineae liked the peaceful time playing with her kids in the garden or talking to her husband in the evenings. Opa Kralle was missed, but the letters from him helped everyone to remind him.


Suddenly her husband got a letter for Cilicia. The old king was gone and a new one asked for peace.

Peace all around and so Fineae was all smiles.

A few time after the first letters came a delivery boy with two wonderful horses. One for her and one for the king. Fineae ran down to the stabels to visit the horses. She hugged the one she decided for herself and groomed it herself. She spoke to her horse and cuddled it. Her daughters peted them both. They couldn't get enough of this wonderful horses.

In the evening she went to her husband and gushed of the horses the whole evening until the breakfast. The king smiled at her und giggled of her swarming and Thanias yelling of: „Horsy is soooo sweet!“

Than they sat down for supper. After the meal she rose her glass to honour this new king and his reign over the Cilicias.

„Tell king Tegernakô that we like his present. We really, really love them!“, she told her husband.
„Don't forget to thank him in the name of me and our kids.“

Than she took her daughters to bed and told them a nice story of a beautiful horse as bedtime story.

Lady Fineae was on her way for having dinner as she got Opa Kralles Letter by messenger. She looked at the envoy wondering.
"It's for me? Not for the king? Are you sure?"
The envoy nodded so Fineae took the letter carefully and opend it.

Opa Kralle wrote:

QUOTE:

Dear Fineae,
It’s my pleasure to tell you, that the preparations are working well here in Leon. Those Celtiberians still need some guidance, but it won’t take us long to civilize them introduce them and teach them our supreme culture. Soon we will be ready to give you a reception, I know you will find adequate. Please tell your… *some crossed out words*…husband about the progress we made.
Make sure you and the others visit us anytime soon.
Ah, yeah…you can bring Lars along, if you want.
Best regards,
Kralle

Fineae smiled. The both kings had always had a really nice way to talk to the other one, but oddish the liked another by some means or other.

Fineae thought about sending Opa Kralle some of her craftsmen and mechanics to advice the poor Celtiberians. But she would have to ask Lars about it. It seems to be a strange nation. Poor, and as Opa Kralle letter says, retarded. Have they a culture? Or are these people savages who are living in burrows? Maybe first types of farming? Mud huts? or cabins? Opa Kralle seems to bring the knowledge of building houses with stone to the savages. What a great glory for them to be advised from King Opa Kralle himself.

She smiled and took on her way to the dining room to tell King Lars about the letter and about Opa Kralles invitation. She wantet to see how much the Wildes had already learnd from their king.