A Spark is Struck in Cruachan

by Bill Stackhouse

  Seeing the chancellor’s eyes glaze over, Pádraig glanced over at the lanceman and received a slight smile and an even more miniscule nod.

  “Right, then,” he said. “This entire process will take about an hour.”

  Prince Liam, picking up on the cue, said to Ultan, “What say you and I head over to the tavern and leave Paddy to his work?”

  “An excellent idea, Your Highness,” the chancellor responded, glad to be getting away from a conversation that he truly didn’t comprehend.

  * * *

  Prince Liam and Lord Chancellor Ultan returned from the tavern to find Pádraig and Finbar working with two other horses and the chancellor’s horse all saddled and waiting for him.

  While Finbar lead the chancellor around his horse, picking up each hoof to exhibit his son’s shoeing proficiency, Pádraig and Liam talked off to the side. The prince had brought the satchel of farrier’s driving hammers with him and had retrieved them from Máedóc’s saddle.

  “Last night, Master Faolan tested Colm’s hammers for blood residue,” the prince said. “All five of them tested clean.” He dropped the satchel at Pádraig’s feet. “Here they are, as well as the remnants of Tadhg’s bloody clothing and the cloth with Colm’s blood.”

  “Well, that tells us something, anyway.”

  “Lorcan showed up to observe last night’s test. All it told the reeve was that none of these hammers had been used to kill Tadhg. He still thinks that Colm did it and disposed of the murder weapon on his way home, or tossed it into the sea after he got home.”

  “Thinking it doesn’t make it so. It’s up to Lorcan to prove his theories.”

  “Exactly what I told him; and, that if he hasn’t done so in the next few weeks, he’d better be prepared to release Colm.”

  “Good for you.”

  “Lad, my apologies for doubting your skill,” Ultan said, crossing to the twosome. “It looks like a first-rate shoeing job to me.”

  “Thank you, My Lord,” Pádraig replied.

  The chancellor continued. “I’ve told your da, here, that I’ll gladly accept his kind offer of your assistance for the next two weeks. When can you begin?”

  “First thing in the morning, My Lord. As soon as I borrow a farrier’s wagon and supplies.”

  “Good. Good. I suppose you can use poor Tadhg’s equipment. It’s certainly not going to do him any good anymore.”

  Pádraig shook his head. “I’d rather not trouble Tadhg’s widow right now, My Lord, with all she’s going through at the moment. I thought I’d talk to Colm’s wife and arrange for the rental of his equipment since she’ll be without an income while he’s in jail. Do you, perhaps, know the route Tadhg took to the various ráths?”

  “I believe he started at Ráth Callainn, went up the west coast, then down the east coast and finished up at Ráth Gabhrán.”

  “That will work out just fine, My Lord. I’ll head over to Callainn Shire first thing tomorrow morning to pick up the equipment from Colm’s wife. I should be at Ráth Callainn sometime either late in the afternoon watch or early in the evening watch.”

  “Excellent. You’ll go up to Ráth Árainn after that?”

  “No,” Finbar interjected. “He’ll head over to Ráth Gabhrán, My Lord. Remember, you have him for only two weeks—starting tomorrow.”

  “Quite so,” Ultan grumbled. “Well, thank you for your assistance.” Turning to Liam, he said, “And you, too, Your Highness. Thank you.”

  “You’re most welcome, Lord Chancellor,” the prince replied. To Pádraig he asked, “What time do we leave tomorrow?”

  “We, Your Highness?” Pádraig replied.

  “Surely, you didn’t think I’d let you go out on an adventure all by yourself, did you?”

  “No, I suppose not. But it’s work, Your Highness, not play.”

  “Hey, I can work. I’m just as capable of walking and trotting a horse back and forth as the lanceman, here, did.”

  Pádraig glanced at his father.

  Finbar gave an acquiescent nod, but issued a caveat. “The work comes first; then play, lads.”

  “Yes, Da,” Pádraig replied.

  Finbar, with a raised eyebrow, looked over at the prince.

  “Yes, Da,” Liam responded with a grin.

  Alderday - Wolf 36th

  Central Federal Region

  Dúnfort Cruachan

  Prince Liam had shown up at the forge bright and early on his white stallion, Máedóc. True to his word that he was ready for work, he had abandoned his finery, except for his bronze wolf-head torc and his ebony-handled dirk, and had opted for the simple leather and cotton garments that he used while hunting.

  Máiréad had come along as well, riding Rionach, her dapple-gray mare, that she had brought with her from Cathair Tulach. She wore a dark-blue ruana embroidered on its edge with black, endless knotwork. Its ermine-fur-trimmed hood had been thrown back, revealing her flame-red curls, captured in the back with a diamond-shaped barrette of the finest silver, fashioned into a design of intricate unending-knotwork by a master dwarfish metalsmith. With no intentions of going with the boys, she was just there to wish them a safe journey.

  As the threesome rode out of the citadel, Pádraig on the sandy-yellow dun stallion, Suibhne, Finbar couldn’t help but smile at how, despite Pádraig’s slightly more sun-darkened skin and better-developed build, his son and the prince looked almost like twins, off on an adventure.

  Once outside the citadel’s walls, the three teenagers stopped to say their good-byes.

  “What’re your plans?” Máiréad asked. “When will I see you two again?”

  “A quick stop at Ráth Gabhrán, then a week at Ráth Callainn, then, most likely, another week up at Ráth Árainn, then back here,” Pádraig replied.

  The girl’s eyes brightened. “Ráth Árainn!” she said, barely able to contain her delight. “We leave for Ráth Árainn at the end of the week. We’ll be up there at the same time.”

  “That’s great,” Liam said. “By then, after a week with Paddy, I’ll be ready for some adult conversation.” He elbowed his friend in the shoulder.

  “Hey,” Pádraig protested, “don’t forget, this is a working trip, not a pleasure trip.”

  “We’re not going to be working at night. And besides, your da didn’t say no play. He said work first, then play.” Winking at Máiréad, he continued, “See you in a week or so, cuz.”

  Once they were on their way, Liam said, “I thought your da told Ultan that we didn’t have time to go to Ráth Árainn, and that we were to return to Ráth Gabhrán after we finish up at Ráth Callainn.”

  “I take his point about the time,” Pádraig replied, “but if Tadhg just finished up at Ráth Gabhrán, then they aren’t going to be ready for a farrier’s services for a few weeks, yet. I’ll take a look at some of the horses when we get there and make a final decision then.”

  “You’re the boss, Master Farrier.”

  * * *

  As the boys galloped off, Máiréad couldn’t help but think, It’ll be nice seeing them up at Ráth Árainn, but I do wish Paddy were going by himself on this trip.

  Alderday - Wolf 36th

  Gabhrán Shire

  Ráth Gabhrán

  At Fort Gabhrán, Pádraig asked the shire reeve if could keep Suibhne for the next two weeks. With the prince along, there wasn’t much Lorcan could say except, “Of course, Paddy. Keep him as long as you need him.”

  After learning that Pádraig would be filling in for Tadhg during the next two weeks at Fort Callainn then back at Fort Gabhrán, and his intent to ask Colm’s wife for the rental of the farrier’s wagon, tools, and supplies, Lorcan suggested, “Why don’t you just ask Colm while you’re here?”

  “He no doubt feels that I’m the one responsible for his arrest,” Pádraig replied. “And besides, after I gouged him with my hoof-pick, I’m probably not his favorite farrier right now. I’d just as soon deal with his wife.”

  Lorcan laughed. “You’re prob
ably right, Paddy. Well, you and Prince Liam have a safe trip; and, I’ll see you back here in another week or so after you’ve taken care of the horses at Ráth Callainn.”

  “I’d like to take a look at a few of the horses here in the stables now, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble,” Pádraig said.

  “Not at all,” Lorcan replied. “You’re our official farrier at this point. Come with me. I’ll introduce you to the head groom here at the garrison.”

  * * *

  Feidhelm, a middle-aged man with a perpetual frown and a gimpy left leg which Pádraig figured to be a result of an encounter with an angry horse, sized the young farrier up and down. “So you’re the new Tadhg,” he said, finally, with a bit of skepticism in his voice. “A real shame about him, I’ll tell you that. He was a good man, he was.”

  “It’s because of Paddy, here, that we’ve got Tadhg’s murderer behind bars,” Lorcan told him.

  The head groom suddenly viewed Pádraig in a new light. “Good for you, lad,” he said, clapping the boy on the back. “Good for you.”

  “Not to put too fine a point on it,” Liam interjected, “but who the reeve has behind bars right now is not Tadhg’s murderer, but a suspect in Tadhg’s murder. He’ll be the first to tell you that he has absolutely no direct evidence that Colm actually committed the murder.” Turning to Lorcan he continued, “Isn’t that correct?”

  “Of course, Your Highness. You’re quite right. I don’t have the evidence—as of yet.”

  “Just the same,” Feidhelm said, “if you’ve got Lorcan a suspect, you have our gratitude. What is it I can do for you, lad?”

  “I’d like to take a quick look at the hooves of a half-dozen or so of your horses, if I may.”

  Feidhelm gestured to the rows of stalls. “Help yourself, lad. Look at any that you’d like, but I can tell you that with Tadhg having just finished here a few days ago, you’ll find all my horses in top shape.”

  “I’d expect nothing else,” Pádraig answered as he proceeded to the horse in the stall closest to him.

  * * *

  Indeed, all six of the horses that Pádraig looked at were, as Feidhelm had said, in top shape.

  “Is there a problem, Paddy?” Lorcan asked.

  “No, it’s just as I’d suspected. My da agreed that I would provide farrier services to the Kingdom of the Northern Shires for just two weeks. I figured it would be pointless for me to come back here after I’ve finished up at Ráth Callainn with Tadhg having just been here, but I wanted to check anyway. From what I just saw, I think my time would be better spent if I went up to Ráth Árainn instead.”

  “Oh, no, you don’t want to be doing that, lad,” Feidhelm said. “Going up there, by the Sawtooth Mountains? No, sir, not in the middle of winter. It’s going to be cold and could be snowing and slow-going. You’ll never make it up there and back again in the one week you’ll have left after you’re done at Ráth Callainn. My suggestion would be to come across Callainn Shire to the Central Road, then diagonally up across Cairbrigh Shire to Ráth Cairbrigh at Northeast Head. That way, you’ll be south and east of the mountains. It’ll still be cold, mind you, and you’ll probably run into some of the white stuff; but, since Tadhg finished up there about three weeks ago, and it’ll be four by the time you get there, they should have something for you to take care of by then.”

  “Sounds like a plan, Feidhelm,” Pádraig replied. “His Highness and I’ll do it. My thanks to you.” To Lorcan, he said, “I’ll get your horse back to you in a couple of weeks after I’ve returned the farrier’s wagon to Colm’s wife.”

  * * *

  As they crossed Gabhrán Shire on the way to Colm’s forge in Callainn Shire, Prince Liam said, “Paddy, I appreciate you using my title when there are other people around, but on this trip, I’d rather that you didn’t.”

  “Why so?” Pádraig asked.

  “Most of the people in the Kingdom of the Northern Shires don’t know me by sight, and even some of those who do probably won’t recognize me dressed like this. I’d like to keep it that way. Sort of blend in and find out how folks really feel about the nobility when their guard is down.”

  “And when you do? What will you do with the information?”

  “Someone arranged for that Northman to assassinate the High King back at Cathair Tulach. While I’d certainly like to find out who, I’d also like to know why—to understand the underlying reasons for their anger and hatred. If I can blend in as a simple farrier’s apprentice, people are more apt to talk openly in my presence than they would if they knew my true identity. Do you understand?”

  Pádraig thought back to what he had told his father regarding Liam two nights before at The Rope and Anchor Tavern:

  “When the time comes, I really think he’s going to make a great king.”

  Now, he said, “But you may not like what you hear, Liam. Are you all right with that?”

  “If I don’t know what bothers people, there’s no way I can do anything about it. Like I told you the other night, Paddy, at the Mid-Winter Roghnú my da is going to name me deputy king. Good or bad, I need to know what people think of their leaders. And don’t call me ‘Liam,’ either. I’ll need an alias.”

  “Okay,” Pádraig agreed. “Farrier’s apprentice it is. And, as to an alias…” He hesitated as two thoughts entered his mind. The first was something that he had said to Máiréad back in Tulach Shire on the day they were at Fox Pond:

  “While our friend may very well be a donkey-prince now, after his da passes over, Liam will become not only Chieftain of Tulach Shire but King of the Western Shires, as well. When that day comes, it will fall to his court wizard to help him develop into the king he needs to be.”

  The second thought was of the troubadour, Lairgnen, and his mule, Killian.

  “How about ‘Killian’ for an alias?” he asked the prince, trying his best to suppress a smile.

  Liam thought about it for a second or two. “‘Killian,’” he said, getting a feel for the name. “Yeah. I think that suits me well. Let’s go with ‘Killian.’”

  “And you probably should do away with the neckwear,” Pádraig added. “It’s a bit much for an apprentice farrier, don’t you think?”

  Liam laughed as he removed his bronze torc and stuck it in his saddlebag.

  Alderday - Wolf 36th

  Callainn Shire

  At Colm’s forge, Pádraig had very little convincing to do for the incarcerated-blacksmith’s wife, Beibhinn, to agree to rent him her husband’s equipment and supplies, especially since the boy offered her half the fee he would be receiving for the job.

  After checking the farrier’s wagon and supplementing the contents with items from the forge, plus the five driving hammers that he had brought with him, Pádraig showed his ‘apprentice’ how to hitch up the two draught horses, a chestnut and a black, to the wagon.

  “Any quirks I should be aware of?” he asked Beibhinn.

  She patted the muzzle of the black horse. “This is ‘Stumbles.’ His name pretty much says it all. There isn’t a rock or root along the road that his hooves won’t find.” Turning her attention to the chestnut, she tugged affectionately at one of its ears. “And this is ‘Clover.’ You let his head drop and he’ll start grazing on you. But they’re both good lads and will serve you well.”

  Leaving Máedóc and Suibhne in Beibhinn’s care, Pádraig thanked the tearful but grateful woman, giving her a kiss on the forehead and assuring her that things would work themselves out. He and the prince then headed the wagon north, in the direction of Fort Callainn.

  Once they were on the road, Liam said, “A bit generous with the rent on this broken-down wagon and well-used tools, weren’t you?”

  “It was the right thing to do,” Pádraig replied, simply.

  “What’s your da going to say when you show up back home with only half of what you were supposed to get for this job?”

  “I don’t plan on showing up with half, or I’d really be in trouble. I plan on
showing up with nothing.”

  “What?!”

  “The other half will go to Tadhg’s widow.”

  “But, why?”

  “Because,” Pádraig said, “it’s the right thing to do.”

  As soon as the boy had started the sentence, Liam let out an audible sigh and joined in on the final four words: “…right thing to do.”

  Alderday - Wolf 36th

  Callainn Shire

  Ráth Callainn

  Pádraig and Liam maneuvered the farrier’s wagon through the main gate at Fort Callainn near the end of the afternoon watch. Instead of heading directly to the fort’s forge, though, they stopped first at the shire reeve’s office. There, Prince Liam swore Parnell, Reeve of Callainn Shire, and his deputies to secrecy, explaining that he wanted to remain incognito to better gauge the sentiments of the people toward the nobility.

  Much more amenable than he had been that day at Colm’s forge, Parnell said, “I understand what you’re saying, Your Highness.” The burly little man shook his head slightly and exchanged looks of uncertainty with his deputies. “But I’m telling you true, those royal ears of yours might just burn to crisps at what you might hear.”