"Theanis. Called the Grass Snake."
"The runaway noble?"
"Please. Runaway makes it sound like they wanted me to stay. The rebellious ex-noble."
"You can shift shapes, I don't think there's any 'ex' there."
"I'm trying to overthrow the whole damn system, can't that count?"
"There are a lot more manipulative bastards trying to clear out their rivals, in the world, than idealists."
"That's fair. Doubt me if you'd like. But I understand you're expecting trouble with the Columbans."
"We are. Shan O'Columban got in good with the Scots king and has some backing to return 'nobility' to Ireland. It's been two decades since any Irish fought wings, and they have a handful of stags."
"Well, that I can help with. I've dueled the winged, and much less fragile ones than doves. Stags, the main problem is their endurance; the antlers aren't much use and half-shift is ungainly."
"What do you want, to train us?"
"To train just the local militias, none of the local titled sons? Room and board is fine. If your baron wants my help, he'll have to convince me."
"You dislike the titled that much?"
"No one's tried a country without them for a very long time. I think that ought to change."
"And, what, every farmer a little lord?"
"Pick someone to speak for the village - maybe by agreement, maybe draw lots. Have them do the same for a wider speaker. Like a guild council, for everyone."
"Hmm. Well, you should talk to Flan Miller. Good lungs on him, so he's a petty officer. Convince him you can train the lads, and you can stay here free. Take my cudgel; he'll recognize it from when men get too rowdy here."
"Hah. I will. Do you have many archers?"
"Some. Sheh the bowyer, next town over, comes around with the baron's boys to organize it every month or three."
"Then I'll talk to him later. Thanks."
A while later, an older man pulled up a chair by Theanis's table. She nodded in welcome.
"So, you're training our militia to fight nobility?"
"To fight shifters. Mostly, to fight the two specific kinds you'll see soon. Teaching everything is for dueling masters and career sergeants. Not to mention slower."
"Why?"
"I don't like nobility."
"So you're helping our local titled?"
"Not unless they pay me. No, I'm helping your militia. And your neighbors, and their neighbors."
"But they'll be fighting for our baron, they will."
"Today, yes. Tomorrow, well, I can dream."
"You want them to fight the aristocracy here, not just foreigners."
"I'd like it. But I'm not going to tell them to, I know damn well that would get a lot of them killed even if it worked."
"So you're training them for a rebellion that might happen, and calling it training for repulsing an invasion."
"You could look at it that way. But let me ask you this: could that rebellion possibly happen anywhere else?"
"Hmm?"
"It's unlikely that the rebellion I want in my bones happens here. Not this generation, not next, maybe never. But it's unlikely, not impossible, here where the titles are held by ordinary men."
"Ah. And abroad, where they have blessings from wherever and are much more powerful..."
"There, it's impossible, or the next thing to. If we - if you, you humans - are ever going to throw off the aristocracy and try equality and democracy, it will have to start here. So I plant seeds I don't think will ever be harvested, because it's worth preserving the chance."
"But get them fired up to die in the meantime."
"Flan is doing that fine on his own. And be fair - the baron would press them anyway. And they will have a better chance of surviving with my help."
"Fair it is..."
"...I'm thinking you mean something fancier by 'equality' than sums."
"Yes. It's from old Greeks. Equality of man - every man the same worth, in the sight of God and law. And democracy, rule by the people, the whole people. The same say, the same privileges, the same treatment."
"Sounds radical, to be pulled from the ancients."
"They were a lot stranger than you have time to learn about, when the farms need tending. And it is radical. But I believe in it."
"You wouldn't know about these ideas if you weren't noble-born, would you?"
"No. It's a piece of irony, isn't it? But... I've committed to it. Far from my ancestral house and living with the 'peasantry', because even before I had words for it I couldn't stand the aristocracy. I cannot abide people holding themselves to be better - more skilled, more dangerous, more wealthy, even, but not worth more."
"Hmm. You know, we're a more literate people than most, I'm told. One in ten knows their letters here in the village, and the towns more like one in five."
"Are you one?"
"Yes, though I'm no scribe. But you see my point, about what you just told me?"
"...Ah. Maybe I should write it. Let it be passed around."
"Sure and you've given me a lot to think about, with just those two words explained. You might make others think hard, too."
"I- thank you. My name's Theanis."
"I'm Sheachnal. It was a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise, Sheachnal."
"Jerry? What is there to know about Sheachnal?"
"Hmm? Why?"
"We had an interesting conversation last evening. He was protective of the young men, but I got into a sidetrack about what 'equality' and 'democracy' mean to me."
"He has a small farm on the east side of town, next to his cousin's. His wife is three years dead, and they had no children. Likely he'll leave the farm to his cousin's second son."
"Not a man tied firmly to the town."
"Surely not. Always one prone to deep thoughts, too. He reads, more than anyone but the priest."
"That part I gathered. He suggested I write down my - philosophy. What motivates me to oppose nobility. And that many in Eire might read it."
"Hmm. Not a restful topic."
"No. If a tenth of the people felt like I do, it would mean rebellion. Revolution. And it would have to be here, where the titled aren't shifters - that's why I'm here. But that would kill a lot of good young men, and a fair few older ones, in the trying."
"Dangerous thoughts."
"Would you really think I'd shy away from them for that?"
"No. Even if you perhaps should."
"That's for sure."
"Fair warning. Sheachnal's interest in you might not be purely intellectual."
"...As in courting? Huh. I appreciate the heads up, I've no time for that."
"I don't know, either way, but that's my suspicion, yes."
"Thanks, still."
The training went well. Flan had it under control, and she left him some brief notes - since he was literate - on other shifters from the larger British isle they might fight if there was a second attempt. She was ready to move on.
Sheachnal knocked on her door the first morning after she'd told the trainees she was headed out.
"Sheachnal. I was half expecting you."
"Do you want a traveling companion? I.. I've been looking for something bigger than myself for years. I want to help."
"Are you sure that's it? You don't, say, just want to impress me for amorous reasons?"
"Ah... you asked someone about me."
"Jerry. He mentioned an incident with a traveling married woman. Didn't get lurid."
"Not my finest hour. But no. I won't lie, maybe we get to a big city and some other idea runs away with me. But - I get your dream, I think, I really do. The baron's nice enough, but to live without that... I want to help."
"Even if that means going a totally different path?"
"Yes. If I travel with you for two weeks and then break off and only speak by courier, that's good by me. It's a beautiful idea. Now that you've mentioned it, yes, I may like the woman who described the idea too. But that's not the point."
"Hmm. If I turn you back in a month, will you be penniless?"
"I suggested it to my cousin's son. If I'm back by next harvest, I get a cut and take it back for the next year. He'll do a poor job this year, but I'd recover."
"Clear mind. Okay, you can travel with me. We won't be going far at first, but I'll figure out what you can do."