Pirate Queen (16 page)
Authors: Morgan Llywelyn
My dear Toby,
I have come to a most difficult decision. There is no longer enough strength in me to captain my ships. This morning I slipped and fell on deck. I could not get up on my own. My men had to help me up, and then they
carried
me here to the tower house. I burn with shame, Toby. Never again will I allow that to happen.
I have decided to turn over my ships and men to you.
You need not captain the fleet yourself. You can appoint any of half a dozen experienced men from among my crews. Both O’Malleys and O’Flaherties know the trade routes. You should do especially well with wool and linen next year. But do not squander your profits. Use them as I tell you.
Your foster-father, Myles MacEvilly, is very old and ill. The income from the fleet will enable you to purchase his holdings when he dies. Arrange the purchase
according to English law. That way you can be sure of keeping your property.
Kings – and she-kings – come and go, but the land endures.
Always,
Granuaile
Giving up her fleet is the hardest thing Granuaile has ever done. It hurts like a knife wound to the chest. After she writes the letter she leaves it lying on the table. Beside it are her favourite Italian pistol and her pewter tankard, half-full of red wine. The pistol, as always, is loaded. The wine is from the last casks she will ever import.
She wanders around the chamber. Pauses beside the hearth to poke up the fire. Rubs an aching hip. Leans into an embrasure to gaze out of the narrow window.
Clew Bay is dark and still. After a few minutes, a run of ripples sweeps across the water toward Rockfleet.
Granuaile nods. ‘You are a foolish old woman,’ she chuckles. ‘Can you not see the wind has changed?’
Striding
to the table, she drains the tankard in one long swallow. Then she shouts for a messenger. ‘Here is a letter for my son at Burrishoole. Send a galley across the bay at once.’
After he leaves, she throws back her head and draws herself up until she is standing straight and proud. ‘So on we go!’
My dear son Myles,
I have sad news. Although I rode hard when I left Burrishoole, I reached Rockfleet too late to bid your grandmother goodbye. I shall remain here to arrange for her entombment on Clare Island.
There are many things I wish I had said to her while there was still time. Somehow I never thought she would die. Like Elizabeth Tudor, Granuaile seemed immortal. Perhaps she is in a way. You have her dark hair and eyes. Your brother Theobald has her laugh.
Your grandmother was a remarkable woman. People thought her wild and reckless, and she was. Yet she was clever and thoughtful too. These are the gifts she passed on to me.
In 1601, when O’Neill and O’Donnell marched south to fight the English at Kinsale, I know her heart went with them. Although she had quarrelled with Red Hugh O’Donnell, they were fighting for Gaelic Ireland, the cause which Granuaile had championed all her life.
My mother urged me to take men to the field myself. I did, but I waited until the last moment to decide how best to use my small army. When I saw that we could not hope to win, I threw in my lot with Mountjoy and the English.
When I returned to Mayo I was almost afraid to face my mother. But she surprised me. She said, ‘You are on the winning side now, so take advantage of the
opportunity
. Build a secure future for yourself and for your sons. Life and land are what matter, Toby. Life and land.’
Do you remember the messenger who arrived just as I was leaving Burrishoole? He trotted beside my horse, shouting his news to me as I rode away. Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone, has surrendered to the Crown. The war to preserve Gaelic Ireland is over.
Elizabeth’s men did not tell O’Neill the queen was dead until after he had signed the document.
The she-king of Mayo and the she-king of England have died in the same year.
The messenger gave me more news. England has a new king now. He is James, son of Mary of Scotland. James intends to grant me a knighthood for my services at Kinsale. I shall become Sir Tibbott Bourke of Mayo.
I wonder what Granuaile would have said. Would she have laughed?
Always,
Toby
Morgan Llywelyn
Morgan Llywelyn lives in Dublin. She has written numerous international bestselling historical novels, such as
Lion of Ireland, The Horse Goddess, Bard, Grania
and
On Raven’s Wing.
Her first books for children,
Brian Boru
and
Strongbow
, both won Bisto awards. Her other children’s books include
Star Dancer
and
The Young Rebels.
This eBook edition first published 2012 by The O’Brien Press Ltd,
12 Terenure Road East, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland
Tel: +353 1 4923333; Fax: +353 1 4922777
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.obrien.ie
First published 2006 by The O’Brien Press Ltd.
First published as
Granuaile
2001 by The O’Brien Press Ltd.
EBook ISBN: 978
–
1
–
84717
–
386–7
Copyright for text © Morgan Llywelyn
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© The O’Brien Press Ltd.
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