Manannan Trilogy

by Michele McGrath

  “One of the mast fittings on the fishing boat snapped this afternoon,” he said. “Mian just told me about it. Can you delay your journey long enough to fix the cursed thing for us?”

  “Certainly. I’m happy to stay with you another day. The job won’t take longer than that,” I replied, for one more day would make no difference to me. I would only add to my knowledge of this place. I thought no more about the matter and soon fell asleep.

  20

  Some instinct warned me. I awoke early, as the first birds started singing, before the sun had even cleared the horizon. For a reason I was unable to explain, I felt uneasy, although everyone around me still slept. I rose quietly and went out to the privy. As I returned, a voice said softly, “Good morning.” Keir was sitting in the doorway of his house, looking out down the street.

  “Good morning,” I replied.

  “Can’t you sleep either?” he asked.

  “Too much ale last night, but I might drop off again. At least, I’m going to try.” I left him and went inside. I lay down but sleep would not come. As I lay there, I became more and more uneasy. I had not realised last night, but Oshin’s words did not ring quite true. The man had wanted me to stay, but the reason he gave seemed odd. A broken mast fitting is a serious matter in a place where a main part of its livelihood comes from fishing. Those sorts of fittings can be difficult to fix, if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. The news it had cracked should have been given to Oshin when the fishermen first returned, not later. There had been no uproar or recriminations. Once he knew, Oshin should have immediately asked me to stay to fix such an important item. It seemed more and more odd. A man in my position is wise to fear odd things. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck start to prickle the more I thought and. I decided it was time for me to leave.

  I got up from my sleeping place. My pack lay just inside the doorway, ready to go, but, before I picked it up, I looked outside. Keir still sat where I left him, as if he was on guard. I drew back and put my eye to a hole in the daub. Through the crack, I watched him, without him seeing me. I did not want anyone to stop me or follow me. Keir did not move for a long time. I was getting anxious, in case any of the others awoke. Fortunately, Keir had also drunk a lot of ale last night. Eventually, he stood up and went out to the privy in his turn. No one else stirred. I picked up my pack and hurried away from the village. I walked fast. No one followed me or marked my going, for no one cried out to stop me. I turned south not west, as I had told Oshin I meant to do. If they searched for me in that direction, they would search in vain. Very shortly, I was among the mountains again.

  I made good speed, for I felt rested and the morning air smelt fresh and cool. I swung along, humming a marching song. Then I noticed a strange pinnacle of rock, where the people of the old time had built their stronghold. The remains of their walls crowned the summit. A stark place to live, but it looked very strong. You must be able to watch all over the northern plain from the top. I decided to climb up and break my fast. The path was difficult, full of loose stones, which often made me slip. Several times, I almost turned back, but I had accepted the challenge, so I gritted my teeth and carried on.

  I was well rewarded for my efforts. The view was indeed magnificent, when I got to the top at last. From here, no enemy would be able to approach unobserved. However, the crumbling walls had obviously been deserted for generations. I wondered why, for you could hold off an army if you had enough men and rebuilt the stockade. Perhaps too many ghosts haunted the place or fearsome stories about it existed, which I did not know. I shrugged off the whimsy and sat down to eat my bread.

  The day was clear enough to see the sea and even the lands across the channel. I smiled as I called out their names, for I had been to them all. I wondered for a moment if my children would be born near the place where I now sat, unlike me. I came from the western island, my father and brothers from the lands far to the north. If Father’s wish came true, the next generation should be born here. I kept having such stray thoughts, in keeping with my mood and the peacefulness of the day. Then everything abruptly changed. What was happening down on the plain? My thoughts fled from the distant future to the immediate and dangerous present. A dust cloud was rising up through the still air.

  I jumped to my feet to get a better view. A large number of men rode down the mountain track nearby, heading towards the village I had just left. Possibly, they had nothing to do with me, but I did not like their appearance. They rode with urgency and a discipline you only find among trained soldiers. Had I betrayed myself in any way? My feeling of the morning returned, stronger than ever. I must have done. How I did not know, but I could think later. For now, I would wait and watch what was happening for, by chance; I had a perfect vantage point. Because the weather had been dry lately, the dust cloud was as easy to watch as a waving flag. The men might stay in Oshin’s village. If they left and searched further, then the sooner I lost myself in the mountains the better. I did not want to take the chance of doing anything else. If they had orders to look for me and found me, I had no hope against so many. The information I had was important and I did not want to be killed or captured before I sent the message home.

  I watched to find out what would happen next. Not long afterwards, my patience was rewarded. The men left the village quickly and most of them turned to the west, the way Oshin advised me to go. They looked as if they searched for something. They seemed to be examining the ground as they rode along. Yet they were not very good at the task. One or two came my way, but they missed the place where I had doubled back towards the pinnacle. The search came so soon after my escape, almost certainly they hunted me.

  When I could no longer see anyone moving, and the roads were clear again, I strapped on my pack. I was reluctant to abandon my tools, until I knew for sure the men’s intentions. If this activity proved a false alarm, my tools were my disguise. I would only get rid of them if I really needed to run. The pinnacle was a good viewpoint, but might trap me, for there was only one path up to reach the place. I climbed rapidly down. I hurried but tried to make sure I didn’t slip, for I must not injure myself now. I kept below the skyline. I used what cover I found, gullies mostly, for little vegetation grows in that barren place. I thanked Odin for sending me my uneasiness of the morning. I knew I’d been lucky to get out of Oshin’s village in time.

  By nightfall, I stood high on the mountain they call Lewaigue. Its sides are riddled with caves. One of them seemed drier than most and gave me a view over most of the nearby valley. Lewaigue is not far from the bay where Dag would come to pick me up. Gladly, I shrugged off my pack, for my shoulders ached. I drank some of the poppy syrup the magician had given me, sending him silent thanks. The potion made me sleepy, so I rolled up in my cloak and lay down. I slept lightly, for I did not stop listening to the sounds outside the cave. I heard nothing, save the wind, and my rest was undisturbed. Wherever the men had gone, they had not found my trail, for the dry land held little mark of a man on foot. I had been lucky, for the weather had assisted me to evade the search.

  I felt safe here for the present, although I only carried enough food for a short while. A nearby stream would give me plenty of water. I saw signs of hares and I could catch fish, for I always carried fishing lines in my pack. I would not starve and I had often camped with less shelter than I had now. I must assume the king’s men still searched for me, though. So I decided to stay out of men’s sight and fend for myself, while I waited for Dag to return. I was uneasy, though. Had I missed anything that might threaten our plans? My search had been stopped almost before it started and I could not resume it without risking capture. I had to wait until my messages had been sent.

  As the time passed, I fell into a pattern, setting my snares and fishing as night fell. I roamed the countryside at full dark and slept through the day. I had found no hidden threat, but, of course, I avoided the villages, so I did not hear the news. I had no information about how many men the king mustered. Did he, in
truth, have any warning of my presence? I believed so, but I might have been deceiving myself. How quickly could his soldiers reach us? Were we strong enough to defeat them? How many ships did he have ready? He must have some, but I only saw fishing boats. Larger vessels would be needed to bring the fighting men. I wanted to find out how many were available to carry sufficient men into battle. I needed this vital information and I did not have it yet. I decided to stay on here and find out more, rather than return with Dag as we had originally planned. He could carry my news home to Fadir on his own.

  By the time my brother returned, one way or another, I would possess this information. We would not walk into a trap again. I had no doubt my father would choose to act, for chance had, this once, favoured us. The plague had decimated enough warriors to make things easy. We had been given a rare opportunity, not to be wasted, and the land was worth fighting for.

  In the meanwhile, I set about changing my appearance. I wanted to continue my journey immediately I had met with Dag and Edan, the metalworker, had to disappear. My description would have been circulated, of course. I usually wear my hair long and braided, so I took my knife and hacked the braids off. I usually shave, so I allowed my beard to grow, which also hid part of my scar. I should have grown it before, of course, for the scar is what people remember most about me. But I dislike beards, because mine grows in bushy and it prickles. I never needed the wretched thing before and I had not expected to this time. Perhaps I’ve grown careless with too much success at blending into the crowd. I had little in the way of a change of clothes, but what I wore was common enough, and did well. I rarely thought about my clothes unless for some big celebration. Now, as I looked at them, I suddenly noticed my belt buckle for the first time in years. My grandfather gave it to me as a small boy, and I never wore any other. When I looked at it now, the Norse pattern was unmistakable, despite all the bumps and twists of hard wear. Suddenly I remembered the sharp eyes of the magician, who had spoken to me of the sagas and I cursed my carelessness. I had also been lured into speaking words in my own language, when I should have been on my guard. No wonder the soldiers had come after me, McLir must have sent them word. I had been incredibly stupid. It was high time I gave up this life and took to simple farming. Even an idiot would be a better spy than me! I pulled off my belt and cut a piece of rope to hold my tunic closed instead.

  I had no illusion about what would happen to me if someone saw me meeting the dragon ship. So I was extra careful on the journey to the cove. I went at dusk, hours before the moon rose, but when I still had sufficient light to see whether anyone was about. I made use of cover and crept from bush to bush, taking my time and making certain the way was clear. Only then did I go further. The journey was long and uncomfortable, but I came to the meeting place early and, I thought, unobserved. I had met only a few stray sheep.

  I waited. The wind blew softly and the waves rolled onto the shore. Dag would be pleased with my news and I looked forward to hearing his praise. I’d decided not tell him about the mistakes I had made, only my decision to stay behind. If he thought the hunt was on for me, he would insist I return with him. Neither he, nor anyone in his crew, could take my place. None of them would pass for anything but what they are. So I had to stay, whether Dag agreed or not.

  I sat watching the stars appearing in the sky and listening for the rattle of the oars. They would have to row in, for the wind blew offshore. A faint shimmer on the horizon heralded the moon’s rising, just enough to trace a delicate silvery line across the water. Then I heard the sound I waited for, the slap of a sail, quickly stifled and the soft rattle of men rowing.

  I walked out into the surf. I whistled, using the call Dag had taught me long ago and which had always been our signal. His answer came faintly as I stood there. I would not have seen the ship, if I had not known where it must be. The mast loomed black against the night sky, only visible because it stood between the glimmer of the horizon and me. The sky was becoming lighter with every moment. A dark shape loomed above me, the dragon’s head that always marks the ships of our people and brings us luck. For a second, the moonlight shimmered on Dag’s helmet. He stooped to give me his hand and pulled me on board.

  “How did you get on?” Dag asked and handed me an ale horn, which I drank from greedily. I’d had nothing but stream water for days and the strong ale tasted wonderful. Dag ordered the helm to be put over and the ship set out into the moonlit sea.

  I lifted the horn to toast him. “Congratulate me, brother. I think I’ve found what Fadir’s looking for at last. Somewhere we can settle. The land’s rich and there aren’t enough people to defend it properly.”

  “That sounds promising. Fadir will be delighted.”

  “Turn north when you clear this headland. I’ll show you the entrance to the river, which leads to the place I’m talking about. You must describe it to Fadir and pass on the message I’m going to tell you now.”

  “I must tell him? Aren’t you coming back with us to make the report yourself?”

  “I haven’t been able to find out how many men the king can muster against us. I don’t know how long it would take them to get here once they’re alerted. By the time you return, I’ll be sure we’re not sailing into a trap, as we did in Bretland. If I need to, I’ll steal a boat and stand offshore to give you warning if one is needed.”

  A beam of moonlight fell across us and I felt Dag’s eyes on me.

  “What have you been doing to yourself, little one? You’re like a young bear!” Dag turned my face around, to look at it properly. He laughed. “Just as well you spoke to me or I’d have speared you!”

  “I’m just being careful, that’s all. A metalworker with a scar is easily remembered. I thought I’d better change my appearance and character before going south.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t recognise you, baby brother. If you keep this fuzz even Aine, your own beloved mother, won’t know you when she sees you again.”

  I laughed and pushed his hand away. “This was the best I could do with what I had. Do you have any clothes I could exchange for the ones I’ve got on?”

  “Who wants to change clothing with my little brother?” Dag called out to his men. He was greeted with hoots of derision.

  “I don’t want to smell like him, he’s baaad!” Tostig shouted out. Sadly for him, he’s the one nearest to my size. In the end, he swapped with me, complaining all the while. Dag cuffed him into silence, laughing heartily. Dag also gave me provisions, enough to last me for most of the time he would be away.

  “So you won’t starve or live on fish or go to places you shouldn’t go.”

  “He wouldn’t know where those places are!” Someone shouted and they all laughed.

  By the time I had changed, we were passing the claw of the headland, to turn into the bay. The entrance to the great river opens out further along the coast.

  “Head inshore,” I told Dag, “and follow the coastline. The mouth of the river lies to the north. It leads inland to a plain dotted with villages. They are all small and poor even though the soil is rich. The people here don’t live comfortably or build proper defences.”

  “Time they learned then,” Dag muttered.

  “Not before we arrive! They’re no threat to us. I think we can take this land and make it ours. Here’s what you must tell to Fadir.”

  “Your news sounds good,” said Dag, when I had finished. “I’m sure he’ll act on what you tell me.”

  “I think so too. If he doesn’t, pick me up here at the mouth of this river by the time the moon begins to wane. If you come alone, I’ll be ready to return. If you bring the other ships, I’ll give you the latest news and guide you to the right place.”

  “Very well.” He was about to turn away when I stopped him.

  “Something else for you to tell Fadir. Do you remember a man named Sétanta? He stayed with us some years ago.”

  “A big man, red hair and a hooked nose?”

  “That’s him. He wanted help to fi
nd a man called McLir.”

  “I remember. Didn’t they have some sort of a feud? His woman died or something. What of it?”

  “That’s what I remember too. McLir’s living here on the island.”

  “Are you sure he’s the same man?”

  “I think so. McLir was supposed to be a healer and a magician. This man is reputed to have the same skills. He had a miraculous cure for a sickness which killed many people here in the winter. He also speaks our language. When I met him, he quoted something to me from the sagas and I was stupid enough to reply.”

  “Oh ho! You’re not usually so careless.”

  “I was drinking ale and not thinking about what I said.”

  “You should be more careful. Lay off the ale until you’re back with us again.” And he gave me a clout on the shoulder.

  “I will. Tell Fadir to find Sétanta, if he can, and tell him about this man. He should be grateful enough to be given news of him and reward Fadir, even if the lead proves to be false. Sétanta’s the one to do all the work, after all, but we might make a profit.”

  “A good point. I’ll tell him.”

  “Do you know where Sétanta is?”

  “No, I haven’t seen him since the time he visited us. Fadir may know and, if not, someone will tell us where he is. You’re right. Sétanta should reward us well – if your man is the one he seeks. No wonder Sétanta couldn’t find him in the western isle. You have done well this time.”

  “Your blessing seems to have worked and Odin is smiling on me for once.” I didn’t tell Dag the god’s smile seemed a bit strained at times. Voicing that thought might prove unlucky.

  The ship slid silently into the mouth of the great river.