Celtic Storms (9 page)

“Ca-Car-Carbry, what is this about?” directed Patrick.

“Let me,” replied Deasum and put a hand in front of Carbry to keep him where he was. “Mavis, please return to your tent, all will be well.”

“Yes, my lord,” she replied and rose and stepped away.

“Patrick, please have a seat. I will do the best I can to explain this to you.”

Patrick nodded and reclined on a fallen log and began stoking the fire with a walking stick, sending smoke and sparks upwards.

“Patrick, when we came to MacCahan castle with Braeden – do you remember that?”

“Aye.”

“We brought Mavis with us.”

“Aye.”

“Did your father ever explain the circumstances involving Mavis, to your knowledge?” asked Deasum.

“Nay, I don’t b-b-be-believe so.”

“Well then. Let me. Patrick, Braeden was born in the O’Malley castle, he is the son of the Laird, the youngest child. They already had 5 daughters. Many years before, Odetta Burke, the eldest daughter of the neighboring laird, placed a curse on the O’Malley clan such that they would not bare any male children. Over the years, any male children to be found on O’Malley lands were kidnapped, sold as slaves or killed by the Burkes.”

“You b-b-believe in curses?” asked Patrick.

“It does not matter what I believe, Laird O’Malley feared for the safety of his son. Carbry and I were instructed to bring the child to MacCahan castle to Monae for keeping. But he was such a wee bairn, we had no way to feed him, and he would not take to the goat’s milk,” he replied.

“G-go on.”

“So we stopped in MacLeod territory on the way and passed by a slave auction,” interjected Carbry.

“Mavis was a young woman who had been sold into slavery, and she had recently birthed a child who did not live. We bought her freedom so she could become a nurse to Braeden. She agreed to accompany us to MacCahan lands – she was not forced.”

“I see,” replied Patrick. “And wh-what is she so upset about?”

“Well – it seems she is terrified to cross through the Burke territory.”

“And wh-why is that?”

“She lied to us,” grunted Carbry through clenched teeth.

Deasum held out his hand toward Carbry in a sign to be quiet. He continued, “She wasn’t completely honest with us. You see, Braeden hadn’t even a name when we left the territory; we let her name the child. He became Braeden Cordal McTierney, after her husband Cordal McTierney.”

“Wh-where is her husband?” asked Patrick.

“She doesn’t know, but she believes he may have been sold into slavery as well. But that’s not the point.”

“It’s not?”

“No – the point is that she lied about her identity.”

“She is not Mavis McTierney?”

“Not exactly. She is the wife of Cordal McTierney, but her name is not Mavis.”

“Who is sh-she?” gasped Patrick.

“She is Raelyn Burke.”

“A B-Burke,” gulped Patrick. As in ‘The Burkes’?”

“Yes.”

Carbry couldn’t hold himself back any longer. The anger had risen in him to such a point he felt he would explode. His face grew red and dripped with sweat near his brow and his hands were twisted into fists he could not undo.

“She will be the death of us; we will never make it out of here alive with her in tow. We are walking into a trap,” he said.

“Nay. Hold on Carbry, there is no need to get worked up; it can’t be as bad as that. We will find a way,” responded Deasum.

“I don’t understand what the problem is,” said Patrick.

“She is terrified, she has begged us not to take her through Burke lands, but there is no other way, except by boat, and we are three days ride out of the way from the nearest ship launch.”

“She is a-af-afraid of her own home?”

“Yes, Patrick, it was her sister, Odetta, that sold her into slavery. Her brother, Cynbel, is the new Laird and he did nothing to stop this when it happened. Her parents presumed her dead,” replied Carbry.

“Patrick, she has asked that we leave her here, on her own, but I cannot do that,” said Deasum

“I see.”

“But she is free to do as she chooses. She has never been a slave to us; we freed her the moment we paid her fees. She chose to accompany Braeden and has been with him ever since.”

“She would rather be l-lef-left behind than tr-tr-travel through her own lands?”

“Yes.”

“Unbelievable. What k-ki-kind of person is th-this, Odetta Burke?”

“The worst possible kind; she is an evil witch without a conscious or an ounce of simple humanity. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants. You see what she did to her own sister?”

“But what would have possessed her to do that to her own kin?”

“Mavis married her first love,” came the reply.

“By the stars!” Patrick rose to pace the camp site.

“And when she heard that Mavis, I mean Raelyn was with child, she captured them both and held them in the dungeons. When the child was born, Odetta took it from her and sent Raelyn to the slave traders. She was later told the babe had perished.”

“W-well I cannot permit her to remain behind. She must come with us, for her safety and for Braeden’s sake,” said Patrick. He rose and walked towards the entrance of Mavis’ tent, the sound of cries still permeating the air.

“M-Mavis – will you come out here please?”

“Of course.”

Mavis stepped through the opening in her tent and straightened herself before heading towards the fire. She wiped the tears from her cheek with the back of her hand and glared fiercely at Carbry from the other side of the fire.

“Please sit,” said Deasum.

“Thank you.”

“Mavis, it a-ap-appears we have a situation,” said Patrick.

“Yes my lord.”

“But I want you to be ve-ver-very clear about one thing.”

“Aye.”’

“We are in no w-way pu-punish-punishing you. No one here can blame you for what you ha-have done.”

Carbry gasped and snorted and flung himself down on the log on his side of the campfire.

“Carbry will cause you no gr-gri-grief,” he said as he shot a stern glance towards him. “And – he will have no-not-nothing more to say in the matter.”

“Aye,” came the reluctant reply of Carbry.

Patrick directed his gaze towards Mavis who had briefly stopped her sobbing.

“M-Mavis, do you trust me,” asked Patrick.

She nodded yes in reply.

“You are always we-wel-welcome in my home, Mavis, wherever that may be. But I will not le-leave you here. You must come wi-with us to O’Malley lands.”

Mavis erupted into mournful sobs and began shaking violently. Patrick rose to stand beside her and placed his hand upon her shoulder in comfort.

“Mavis, I will not let an-any-anything happen to you. When we arrive in O’Malley lands, you will be free to leave at any time. They have a shi-ship-shipping port there and I’m sure there are me-merchants who can take you wh-whe-wherever you would like to go.”

Through clasped hands, Mavis nodded her acknowledgement.

“I will get y-you there safely. You have my word.”

“Our word,” interrupted Deasum, and Carbry nodded in agreement.

Burke Lands

It was nigh close to midnight and Easal had been travelling for hours. Most of the O’Malley clan would either be retired to their homes due to the curfew or celebrating the Lunar Bacchanal on the island. It made it much easier to sneak into the territory when the soldiers were otherwise occupied.

He better be easy to find this time and bring his own damned horse. I refuse to ride double with the man ever again.
Just the thought made his skin crawl.

It had been nearly three fort nights since Odetta had sent for the scribe. His presence was typically not required since they had begun correspondence through the merchants. But Odetta needed him to locate the curse on the O’Malley clan and since her cleric could not, most likely the scribe could, since he would have been the one to record it.

Easal knew that he could not return to the monastery without the scribe and he could not risk being found by the O’Malley’s either. If the O’Malley’s knew of the spy in their midst it would ruin all of Odetta’s plans.
Tis a very good thing tonight is their feast. Even if I am found, they will presume me to be a guest here for the festival.

Easal tied off his horse and snuck around the port side of the shore towards the path leading up to the inn. There was bustling activity even at such a late hour, as it had been a market day and many of the merchants were staying overnight.
Thank the stars I changed my clothing.
Easal had managed to obtain an O’Malley plaid and wore it over his tunic and truis.
This will be easier than I thought.

He trudged up the winding path just passed the inn and behind the large section of trees, towards the chapel hidden in the outcrops.
There! I hope he’s in.

He made his way to the back of the small cottage behind the chapel and found the door ajar. A look inside told him he was in the right place. The stench of day old food and sour ale caught him in his nostrils.
Uh, but the man is a wretch!

“MacArtrey! MacArtrey! Where are you, you lazy swine?” called Easal. There was barely enough light to see in the cottage and the fire had long since died, although there were still some gleaming red coals. Easal bent down near the hearth and had the fire going again, when he heard snoring and grumbling from the corner.

There sitting in the corner propped up against the wall on a three legged stool sat Father MacArtrey, half asleep and half drunk, as usual.

“MacArtrey, don’t you hear me calling you?”

At that, the priest startled and tipped himself over landing squarely on the floor with a loud thud.

“Easal, my boy, what are you doing here?”

“Odetta has sent for you. She needs you immediately. We must go before I am found.”

“I cannot go now. I am to attend to the wedding of Darina in four days’ time.”

“A wedding? What an interesting development. I’ll let you tell Odetta all about it,” replied Easal as he grabbed the priest by the nape of the neck and swung him back onto his feet. He swayed when he stood upright and looked to be about ready to empty his stomach when Easal grabbed him sternly about the face.

“Compose yourself man. You are a man of the cloth, yet you have too much of a liking for the spirits.”

“A man of the cloth, my arse,” replied MacArtrey. “I have been Odetta’s puppet for too long. I should have let her kill me like the others when she claimed our monastery. Instead, I became her slave. I am no kind of a man!”

“You have the right of it,” replied Easal - “Now let’s go.”

***

Aengus sat beside Laird MacCahan in the great hall, going over sketches and plans for the piers to be constructed for the port. There was plenty of food and merriment to be had as a celebration was underway to commemorate the coming nuptials of Patrick MacCahan and Darina O’Malley; a union which would no doubt result in much prosperity for each clan.

All that could be heard throughout the castle was the sound of men’s laughter mingled with the harp and the pounding of dancing feet. “Come Airard, join us,” said Laird MacCahan.

“I believe I will,” he replied and pulled his legs up over the bench that sat across from Breacan’s chair at the high table.

“How go the plans?” he asked.

“Very well. Very well indeed wouldn’t you say, Aengus?”

“Yes, very well. We should like to begin construction in a fort night before winter sets in fully. We should have the main posts set first and wait until spring to set the others. In the meantime, we have several men finalizing plans for the first shipping vessel.”

“Indeed it does go well then,” replied Airard. “And what of Patrick? Have you had word of their arrival?” he asked the Laird.

“Nay, not as of yet. We didn’t expect them to arrive until tomorrow eve as it stands.”

“And what of the wedding? When do you expect they will be joined?” he inquired.

“Not for another eve or so after their arrival I presume,” interjected Aengus. “I would expect he would want to get the lay of the land beforehand, and perhaps spend some time with his betrothed before they are joined.”

“Yes, I would expect so,” said Laird MacCahan.

“My laird, has Patrick been fully apprised of the situation and his role?” asked Airard.

“What do you mean?” asked Aengus.

Directing his attention to the Laird, Airard asked again. “Is Patrick
fully
aware of the situation?”

“Nay, not fully,” said the Laird hesitantly while he mindlessly pushed the papers in front of him about on the table.

Aengus rose from his chair to pace in front of the hearth. “What do you mean, not fully? I sat with you in your chambers while we explained things to him. I don’t get your meaning old man.”

“Aye – ‘tis so Aengus. We told him all that we could. But we did not warn him about what awaits him in Burke lands.”

“We told him to be careful and watchful while traversing the lands, he was made aware,” said Aengus.

“But we did not tell him of the other,” replied the Laird. “That, I fear, he must find out on his own.”

“Airard, I should ask you. Is he prepared even if he is not aware,” asked the Laird.

“Aye, my lord. He is prepared. Of that, I have no doubt.”

O’Malley Strong House

It was well past dusk when the guards alerted that a horseman was seen in the distance. “Call for Kyra,” the watchman alerted. Quickly a young girl in work truis traveled down the winding stairs that led up to the towers and ran out the back entry of the castle towards the round house.

She stumbled clumsily through the door that lead to the dining hall and caught Minea’s eye. “I must wake Kyra,” she said to Minea through ragged breath. A rider is coming and she needs to intercept him. “Is she here?”

“I’m here,” came the sound from the back of the kitchens. “How far out do you think he is?”

“He’s just above the clearing on the peek. It shouldn’t take more than half an hour to arrive, but it is getting dark.”