Killian sighed, but took her hands in his and envisioned the setting she’d been describing. When nothing happened, she pulled her amulet from her neck, yet again. Slowly the area around them became blurry, the daylight turned to darkness and they found themselves back within the chamber they’d been the previous night. This time, however, they weren’t alone for the captain stood there looking worried and displeased.
“Och, Lord Jesus Christ Almighty!” He spoke in a voice that was a combination of fright and exultation. “You’re back!”
“We wouldn’t have seen you pay for our absence.” Alainn assured him.
“Aye, I appreciate you allowin’ us time together last night, Mac. You’re a good man and a valued friend. I only hope to find a man as loyal and trustworthy to be the Captain of the Guard at my castle.” Killian voiced.
“Well, if you’re offering me the position, I’d be inclined to accept, Killian, for I’ve no great desire to remain here any longer, not when the chieftain starts issuing lashings to women and his own kin. I believe it’s time to move on.”
“You’re serious, Mac—you’d be willin’ to move north with us?”
“Aye, but I’d need to take Pierce with me, too, of course, and the lad’s asked the Cook’s daughter to become his wife, so if they’d be welcome to live near your castle as well, I’d be greatly obliged to you.”
“Molly and Pierce are betrothed?” Alainn squealed and began to move up and down on her toes. “Killian, Molly and Pierce will be wed and will one day soon live near us!” She jumped up and down and hugged him tightly.
“Aye, I heard.” Killian chuckled. “My ears seem to be workin’ adequately.” He mockingly placed his hands over his ears and feigned deafness after her delighted squeals had assaulted them. He smiled warmly at her obvious delight.
Alainn giggled at that and then she looked out the window to see the sun had begun to rise and her recent joy was all too soon forgotten. “ ’Tis nearly time for the challenges, Killian.” Her face had grown pale and she closed her eyes.
“Nay, the challenges will not take place this day. In light of last night’s dire events, the earl has postponed the bouts till the morrow.” Mac informed them.
“That was certainly most generous of him!” Alainn sarcastically remarked.
“In truth, you seem to be in amazingly good condition all things considered, Killian.”
“Aye, I’m much improved. I’m married to a most apt healer, you’ll know.”
“Aye, she’s unusual methods to be sure, but apparently she knows what she’s doing!”
Alainn heard the captain’s thoughts and her cheeks colored at realizing he had witnessed them together the night before. She cleared her throat and tried not to meet Mac’s eyes.
“I’ve been ordered to bring the two of you directly to the chieftain.”
“Should we not don clean garments then if we are to take audience with the chieftain? Alainn considered.
“I’m afraid we’ve not time for that, lass! The O’Brien is with Chieftain O’Rorke and your cousins, Killian. And your aunt, Lady O’Brien, has joined them now, as well. The menfolk have been up most of the night in lengthy discussion. And I’ll tell you plain, it was not a pleasant discussion being held and not a night without many harsh words spoken.”
As the captain led them to a sitting room just off the Great Hall, Killian took her hand and held tight to it as they walked in together. Lady Siobhan rushed to them from her seat at the table and Alainn noticed the unusually distraught look upon the other woman’s face. Throughout all the time Alainn had known her, she had always been calm and distinguished, she’d always behaved in a controlled and dignified manner, but she appeared to be in a rare disposition this morning, for her rancor was clearly evident on her face and in her voice.
“Killian, are you well! I must see your wounds for myself to believe my husband would truly have his own nephew lashed!”
“You needn’t fuss about it, Aunt Siobhan, for I am much improved!”
“You’ll not dissuade me so easily!” She declared firmly as she attempted to lift the back of his tunic to look upon his wounds.
Killian, realizing she would not relent, unbuckled his belt and pulled up the garment. He knew there was of little use objecting for the woman appeared entirely intent on her purpose. He reasoned caring for loved ones and seeing to their mending was as important to a woman as keeping their loved ones protected was to a man. When she had apparently seen enough, she allowed his garment to fall back down and she stared at Alainn.
“You have aptly healed him?” she whispered so only Alainn and Killian could hear.
“As best I could, but the wounds were most severe... and the punishment was to be mine.” She spoke softly as her tears began to fall.
The other woman’s own eyes brimmed with tears and Killian felt the need to reassure the females who now each held tight to his arms.
“ ’Tis not nearly as bad as it appears and I am scarcely aware of any ill effects now; it will soon be forgotten.”
“It shall never be forgotten, Killian!” Alainn seethed as she spoke through tear-filled eyes.
“Never!” the other woman agreed whole-heartedly and threw her husband a caustic glare laced with unmistakable loathing.
“Do not become overly dismayed by this or look at me in that unbecoming manner, woman! There was little to be done about any of it. If the girl had not crossed my priest and our nephew had not rashly and unthinkingly married her, he’d not have felt the need to serve her punishment. And I could hardly make exception because he was my kin. He is not above reproach, clearly not above the law of this land, not without consequence for his actions, though stupid and half-witted those actions may well be!”
Killian barely acknowledged the presence of his uncle, but took Alainn’s arm and went to sit in the chairs Niall O’Rorke had pulled out for them next to him. The elderly man touched Alainn’s shoulder in a caring gesture and shook Killian’s hand heartily.
“I thank you, Killian. You are a valiant man, an honorable man, to withstand such harsh and severe punishment for my granddaughter. I am well-pleased at your marriage even if my son-in-law and I differ greatly on that matter.”
Hugh O’Brien voiced his opinion on the other man’s statement. “Aye, well, her paternity has yet to be proven, and I have not been persuaded on that count, but you’ve all accepted it so readily, I suppose it is useless to discuss that any further until more is learned on the subject. But, we must take sustenance together while we discuss other matters. You have heard the challenge has been postponed until tomorrow?” The chieftain directed the query to Killian.
“The captain has alerted me, but I assure you there is no need to delay it on my account!”
“Don’t be foolish, lad!” Niall insisted as he glanced at the proud young man beside his granddaughter.
Several trays were brought in to them by servants and Alainn was thankful for the interruption for she wanted to scold Killian earnestly for his stubbornness.
“Aye, you’d best hold your tongue, Alainn!” He quietly warned her as she glowered at him.
Rory attempted to make small talk and directed the conversation to other matters in the chiefdom. The air was thick with tension, however, and the conversation soon waned.
Killian tried to avert his eyes from his uncle, but he found they both continued to look at one another with disparaging expressions.
The chieftain narrowed his eyes and finally directed a question to his nephew. “I suppose there is little hope the marriage was not yet consummated?”
“None!” Killian declared in a combination of pride and insult. “You’ll not attempt to annul my union to Alainn. We are man and wife and I intend to remain so joined for as long as fate allows us!”
“And will your mother’s clan be so eager to accept a woman not proven to be of noble blood?”
“They would have accepted her even without any possibility of her being of nobility!”
“Then the O’Donnel’s are perhaps less intelligent than I believed. Have they no need for proper dowry? It is a requirement necessary to the O’Briens. How do you plan to deal with that, Killian?”
“Rest assured, Hugh, a most substantial dowry will be provided to the O’Brien and the O’Donnel clans. And if you chose to use your mind in a lucid manner as of late, you might come to know there are other assets to be considered in a union besides wealth or material possessions. There are strengths and abilities that cannot be measured by worldly assessment!” Niall O’Rorke informed his son-in-law.
“Ah, you speak of her unnatural abilities. Because of your druid association, you are clearly more accepting of such qualities. My priest has great suspicion regarding these powers and has suggested she be burned as a witch for possessing such black magic!”
“ ’Tis not dark magic!” Lady Siobhan dared to declare. “ ’Tis of a godly origin!”
“You border on blasphemy and heresy yourself, wife! Refrain from speaking in such a manner, or I will have you taken to your chambers!”
“Do not bully my daughter, Hugh, for your priest is a fool and you right along with him if you allow him to color your thoughts and form your opinions based on his bias. The great druid Irish kings once recognized how valuable a seer is to the clans and to the welfare of this country. Druid seers were once employed by each king and lord to ensure this land remained strong and its people safe.
It was the Roman priests with their suspicion and ridicule of the old ways that caused the demise of the use of seers. They proclaimed the pagan ways to be wrongful and sinful, but how can centuries of such practices simply be obliterated because a new faith has been found? Druidism predates Christianity by numerous centuries. And most certainly not all men of Christian faith are pious or to be trusted so completely! And you, Hugh O’Brien, are more of a fool than I previously believed if you cannot see that!”
“You dare to insult me to my face, Niall O’Rorke!”
“I do! And were it not for my daughter and my grandsons, I promise you the insult would run much deeper, for I would dissolve the allegiance between our clans, without hesitation! Perhaps I would even be of a mind to wage war with the O’Briens.”
“I ask that there be no violence or unrest between our clans because of my sons and the many people here that are dear to me, but you needn’t consider me in your decision, Father,” Lady Siobhan interrupted, “for when you make the journey back to your lands, I intend to accompany you. I will not remain in a union with a man who has become a cruel tyrant and a stranger to me.” She glared at her husband as she spoke, but Rory stood and addressed her.
“Mother, you don’t truly mean you intend to leave our father?” Rory’s face clouded at the prospect.
“Do not attempt to dissuade me, Rory. I know how you dislike conflict and how admirably you strive to keep the peace in our family and, for that, I regret causing you discord, but I have thought long and hard on this profound decision. My mind is now made up. When I learned this morning of Killian’s lashings that was the last in a vast series of many appalling events I will not abide or adhere to.”
“Don’t be ludicrous, woman, you could be hanged for treason for disobeying and humiliating your husband, the chieftain!” Hugh O’Brien raved.
“Then your son will be hanged beside her.” It was Riley who stood now and stared in open contempt of his father. “For it is my intention to leave this castle, as well, to become chieftain of Grandfather’s land. I told him of this just this morning, and it was your dealings with Alainn and Killian that prompted my final decision as well.”
“Have you all lost your minds, entirely? Are you all so damnably bewitched by this woman whom you don’t even know for certain is your kin, that you would risk being disowned, or worse, by the O’Brien?”
“I know without a sliver of doubt she is my granddaughter, Hugh. And if you actually possessed an ounce of intelligence at the moment or a hint of intuition you would know it as well!”
“You may be another chieftain and an important and respected one at that, but I will not allow you to insult me, Niall, not here in my own castle. I shall have you removed from this land before the nuptials of my sons.”
“You could try!” The older authoritative man declared. “But you may find not even your captain or your own guards have the respect for you they once had. When a man has his very nephew lashed out of spite, it is truly a sad state. And you refuse to accept Alainn when, if you actually took a good long look at her, you could clearly not discredit the resemblances of her to your wife’s kin, to my kin!”
“And even if I were to accept the fact that she may be your son’s daughter, by the same token, I must accept her as the accursed glade witch’s daughter. And a bastard child at that! I cannot condone my blood marrying that wicked creature’s spawn!”
“Then the curse shall never be lifted!” Alainn spoke solemnly.
“If you and your abominable mother were put to death perhaps then, and only then, will the curse finally truly be ended once and for all.”