Eamon walked slowly up the path to Tadhg's house. Tadhg was sitting outside, mending a creel. "Eamon!" He cried, toppling the basket off his knees. "You're alive!"

"And did you think I was dead?" Eamon frowned.

"Aye! Those horsemen were chasing you!" Tadhg surveyed his friend's face and let out a whistle. "What happened?"

"Máirtín Newell - that's the young lord's name - didn't like that I struck him, so he struck me." Eamon shifted uneasily. "You were right, Tadhg. It wasn't worth it."

Tadhg smiled hesitantly. "I shouldn't have left you."

"I don't blame you." Eamon put his hands in his pockets and stared at the ground.

"Are we off to the wars again today?" Tadhg asked after a moment. "We've double rations today."

"Aye." Eamon sild out of his coat and handed it to Tadhg. "This is the officer's coat today. You're in charge first."

Tadhg ran a finger over the coat. "And you're sure it wasn't worth it?"

"Trust me," Eamon scoffed, "it wasn't worth it."

"If you say so," Tadhg agreed doubtfully. He pulled on the coat and straightened the collar at a rakish angle. "Wait here." Tadhg ran inside and was back in less than a moment with a bundle of food.

"Lead on, Captain Kavanagh!" Eamon saluted and took his place beside Tadhg. They marched off across the moors in companionable silence.

The boys' day was filled with adventures. They fought battles against the English and rescued maidens in distress. Both boys took turns wearing the new blue coat and being the captain of their army.

When noon came, the boys sat down on a small hill to eat their food. Tadhg opened the bundle of food and spread it between him and Eamon.

"How is it we have double rations today?" Eamon stuffed food in his mouth.

Tadhg shrugged, taking small bites. "I don't know. Maybe Da found extra work?"

"Mm." Eamon forced himself to eat slowly. "It's lucky you are, Tadhg."

"Lucky? How is it I'm lucky?"

"You have a father who can find work." Eamon brought his knees up to his chest and stared at the ground.

"Aye, and three children who eat the money as soon as he brings it home." Tadhg laughed, then became serious. "You're right," he said gravely, "we're lucky." He put more food in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully.

Eamon finished off his portion of the food and stretched out on the grass, staring up at the sun. "Someday I'll be able to buy all the food I want," he said dreamily.

Tadhg snorted. "And someday I'll meet the King."

Eamon frowned up at the sky. "It's not such a bad dream, Tadhg."

"No, not bad at all," Tadhg agreed. "But it'll be a hard dream to fulfil."

Eamon shrugged. "It'll be no harder than anything else I could do." He pushed himself up and adjusted the coat. "Let's be off. I'm in charge, and we've a maiden to rescue." The two boys rose from their grassy seat on the hill and marched away.

***

"Antín!" Eamon called over his shoulder. "I'm off to see Tadhg!"

Catriona emerged from the door of their cottage. "Don't forget your coat." She held out the blue coat, which was now worn with use.

"Ah, aye." Eamon raced back and took the coat from his aunt's hand. He put one arm into the coat, grimaced, and tugged. He repeated the action with his other arm, rolled his shoulders experimentally, and left the coat unbuttoned.

Catriona frowned. "That coat is too small for you, it is." She ran her fingers through the front portion of her hair.

"More like I'm too big for it," Eamon said proudly, puffing out his chest. "How much have I grown this year?"

Catriona smiled, the action erasing the worry lines from her face. She put a hand on Eamon's head and measured his height based on her body. "You come up nearly past my shoulder now, Eamon."

Eamon crowed delightedly. "Last time I asked, you said I was just past your elbow!"

"And so you were," Catriona laughed. She fondled Eamon's hair and helped him out of the coat. "Just be sure to be back before dark."

Eamon scowled. "I will! You needn't be such a mother!"

Catriona raised an eyebrow in warning. "You'll watch your tongue, Eamon. I'm as much of a mother as you'll ever have. Don't forget it."

"Sorry," Eamon muttered, scuffing the toe of his shoe in the dirt. "I just meant I'm old enough to look out for myself."

Catriona sighed. "Just go. I'll keep supper warm." She shooed Eamon down the path, watching him with a worried frown on her face as she fingered the many patches on the worn coat.

A/N: Very short, I know! I've got another chapter in the works that will hopefully be finished and posted tomorrow. Thank you for the votes and comments!