Vampire Trilogy Series (Book 3): Vampire Equinox

by Philip Henry

  The creature awakened some time later. It struggled for a time before realising it could not escape its bindings. He turned to his captor. ‘Why do you hunt me?’

  ‘It was the king’s will. You killed people of Ireland, so you are an enemy of Ireland,’ Congal answered. ‘I was charged with your capture.’

  ‘And what bounty will the king bestow on you for capturing me?’

  ‘That is not the concern of a low creature such as yourself.’

  ‘I can give you treasures a king could never dream of possessing.’

  Congal laughed. ‘You try to coerce me into betraying Ireland? You are a simple-minded creature if you believe such a ruse is possible.’

  ‘I can heal all your wounds. Cure all your disease. I can give you life everlasting.’

  Congal got to his feet. ‘The poor ramblings of a trickster. I will not fall under your spell.’

  ‘If you doubt me, look at where you struck me.’

  Cautiously, Congal stepped closer, drawing his sword, and looked at the creature’s head. Where he had smashed open the creature’s skull a short time before was healed. Not even a scar remained. ‘A trick. A trick of the underworld!’

  ‘If you remove the arrow from my leg, it too will heal. It is no trick, my prince.’

  ‘How do you know my station?’

  ‘Your father is the king you spoke of. You were charged with my capture to prove your worthiness for the throne.’

  ‘How can you know that which has never been told?’

  ‘It is another of the gifts I can give you.’

  ‘You insult my father and his throne if you think I would yield to the bribery of a daemon.’ Congal turned and saw the cart trundling towards him. Torloch had caught up with him at last. He took a deep breath then searched around and found two stones, the size of seed-potatoes. He walked over to the creature and forced its mouth open. He pushed the two stones into its mouth and then began to tie a gag around its mouth. ‘I will not have you poison the mind of my friend as you tried with me.’ The creature pleaded with its eyes and grunts. ‘Quiet! Or I will leave you here for the sun gods to execute you.’ The creature stopped grunting and struggling. ‘That’s right. You may know me, but I know of your kind too. I know the sun gods will not tolerate you to walk in their light.’

  ‘Congal, I thought I had lost you,’ Torloch cried. ‘The beast gave you good chase.’ The huge, bearded man jumped down from the cart.

  ‘Aye, and he has spent the time since trying to bribe me into betraying Ireland. Tis why I have bound his mouth, lest he try to bewitch you, or to bite you.’

  ‘I would take his life right here, if your father did not wish that pleasure for himself. Come, let us put him in the barrel so we no longer have to look upon him.’

  Congal and Torloch forced the creature into the barrel and nailed the lid on. ‘He will be safe from the wrath of the sun gods in there.’

  ‘Tis more mercy than he deserves,’ Torloch said.

  They set off slowly towards home.

  They had been riding a long time in silence when Congal cleared his throat and said, ‘Torloch, maybe we should rest before continuing our journey.’

  Torloch tried to suppress a smile. ‘Oh, yes? Where do you suggest, sire?’

  ‘Well, where are we, the North Coast?’

  Torloch boomed with laughter. ‘You and I know fine well where we are and I know where you wish to be.’ The big man laughed again.

  ‘It seems my secret is nothing of the kind.’ Congal laughed. ‘You may go on without me if you wish. I will find you after I see her.’

  ‘No, no. I will wait. You are never such good company on the road as you are after you have seen her.’

  Congal smiled. ‘Then I will waste no more time pretending otherwise. You will no doubt stay in the tavern you always choose and make use of the local women when you have drank your fill of mead.’

  ‘That I will,’ the big man bellowed.

  ‘Then that is where I will seek you when I have visited my love.’ Congal turned his horse and galloped off at high speed.

  Torloch shouted after him, ‘Godspeed to you, sire.’

  Rathlin Island

  Congal waited in the banquet room of the castle while the servant woke the king. The smells of the night’s feast were still hanging in the air. Congal’s stomach groaned. He had been so dedicated to his task he had not eaten since the moment he picked up the creature’s trail.

  ‘Congal, my boy!’

  Congal lowered to one knee and bowed his head. ‘Please forgive the lateness of the hour, my liege.’

  The king took his hand and raised him back to his feet. ‘Think nothing of it. The nights are long since the gods saw fit to take my Finola to the afterworld.’ The king chased away a tear with a smile. He was not an old man, but his face seemed to have weathered more years than his body. ‘To happier times, though,’ he said. ‘You have come to see my daughter, I imagine.’

  ‘That I have King Donn, but it is late and I would not wake her.’

  ‘Then perhaps my company will suffice until morning brings her to you.’

  ‘I would be honoured, sire.’

  ‘If you sailed from Baile na castle you must be hungry.’

  ‘I believe the moon has risen twice since last I feasted.’

  The king nodded to his servant, who had been waiting patiently by the door. The servant bowed to his master and left. ‘Perhaps you will tell me of your journey.’

  ‘Tis a tale to scare the young, sire, I warn thee.’

  ‘Oh, wonderful.’ The king smiled.

  Congal told his story while he ate. The king did not join him, but seemed pleased to be able to sate the warrior’s appetite. Congal sat back and drained the last of his mead from the tankard.

  The king was lost in thought. ‘I have never heard of such a creature.’

  ‘Tis the first time I have seen one. My father told me stories when I was young of such beings, but I dismissed them as superstition until these days past.’

  ‘What you describe is an animal with the tongue of a man. A savage beast that will try to barter for its life when captured,’ the king said with wonder. ‘You have done a great service to your land and mine this night, Congal.’

  The door opened and the king’s daughter walked in. Congal got to his feet immediately and brushed the crumbs of meat from his mouth. For a few seconds he could not find the words. She stood there bathed in the morning light, almost glowing to his eyes. He drank in every detail of her; the long white dress embroidered with colourful stitching, the curling tresses of her hair coloured like a cornfield, and her eyes bluer than any a summer sky. She smiled when she saw him and only restrained herself from running into his arms because of her father’s presence.

  The king studied the silence between the two and smiled. He got to his feet. ‘Taisie, perhaps you would show our visitor the castle gardens.’

  Taisie nodded to her father.

  Congal and Taisie kissed in the shadow of the castle wall. She felt safe in the arms of her warrior prince. Many times the sun had risen and set since last she saw him. Many suitors had come and gone in that time. Duty compelled her to give these men an audience, though her father knew that none would be successful until Congal returned. Congal broke their embrace and looked into Taisie’s eyes.

  ‘I have good tidings. I was sent on a quest by my father to capture a creature that had killed some of our kin. He took me aside before I left and told me this would be my final test. If I brought the creature back to him, he would let me accede to his throne.’

  Taisie smiled and tears of joy welled in her eyes.

  Congal ran the rough skin of his finger down the soft skin of her cheek and said, ‘When next I return to Rathlin’s shores, it will be to claim you as my bride. My queen.’

  Taisie threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

  They walked around the island until the sun had half its daily journey completed. Hunger was once
again calling to them as the castle came into sight. Congal stopped and once again enjoyed the closeness of his love that would not be respectful inside the walls of the castle. Reluctantly their lips parted.

  ‘The gods have truly blessed me, Taisie.’ He looked across the sea. The day was clear. ‘Do you see that rockface in the distance? From here it looks flat on top and plumb almost all the way down to the sea. Like the back of a blacksmith’s anvil.’ He turned his attention back to Taisie. ‘Some days I would pass this way and time or duty would not permit me to sail to your shores. On those days I would stand atop that cliff and stare across the water, hoping that maybe you were looking back.’

  ‘I have looked to that cliff many times hoping to see the sail of your boat coming this way. I am sure that we must have been looking at each other on those days.’ Taisie looked across the water again. ‘That is where we should be married. As far as the eye can see, everyone should know of our joining.’

  ‘Then that is where we shall be married. I will arrange such a celebration even the Scots will see the flames and know of our union.’ Taisie and Congal kissed one last time before returning to the castle.

  They were told the king was in the throne room and rushed inside to tell him the news. A tall man with red/blond hair and beard stood before the king in his full armour. Another man, slightly shorter stood to the side dressed the same.

  The king stood up. ‘Ah, Taisie, there you are. We have visitors. May I present Nabhogdon, King of Norway, and the general of his army, Agnar.’

  The tall man turned and eyed Taisie hungrily. He walked towards her, took her hand in his and kissed it. His eyes ran slowly over Taisie’s body. Congal’s blood boiled.

  King Donn cleared his throat and said, ‘May I also introduce Congal, Prince of Ireland.’ Nabhogdon turned and regarded Congal for a brief moment then turned his attention back to Taisie.

  Nabhogdon spoke in a loud, booming voice more suited to the battlefield. ‘Many nights have we spent in Ireland. We have travelled from the southern most point to the north. Many women have I seen in my quest for a queen. Many were beautiful. But when I talk in taverns with the menfolk of your country, Congal, one name was said more than any other when I asked of the greatest beauty they had ever seen. Taisie, Princess of Rathlin. I could not return home without investigating the accuracy of these claims. Now she stands before me, I see the rumours are true. The mantle, deserved.’ He turned to the king and said, ‘I will take her as my wife.’

  Taisie and Congal exchanged shocked glances.

  Nabhogdon continued, ‘The people of Norway will never have seen such a beauty. All women will pale in her presence and all men will envy me my bride. We will set sail…’

  ‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Congal said loudly. ‘But the princess just this morning has already consented to marry me.’

  ‘You are not a king, boy! Kneel when you address your better!’

  Congal reluctantly lowered himself to one knee. ‘Taisie and I have long been betrothed to each other. When I return to my father’s kingdom I will be made King of Ireland.’

  ‘Until that time,’ Nabhogdon bellowed, ‘you are not worthy of her hand.’

  Taisie knelt before Nabhogodn. ‘I beg you, sire. My heart belongs to Congal. He is…’

  ‘Silence, woman!’ Taisie lowered her gaze from his. ‘You will learn your place.’ He turned to King Donn. ‘What sort of country is it that allows your womenfolk to argue with their master?’ He strode towards the throne. ‘I think I will be doing you a service, Donn, by taking this troublesome waif from your walls.’ He laughed alone.

  King Donn stood and faced Nabhogdon. ‘My daughter has chosen Congal, my friend. Many years has he waited for her.’

  ‘I care not for Congal or his country!’ Nabhogdon took a deep breath and stepped close to Donn. He lowered his voice, but it still echoed with menace. ‘Would you break the laws of your gods and disgrace me? I will have what I have claimed or our armies will clash on the battlefield. And you know you cannot triumph. For every man you have, I have fifty. I will lay waste to this entire island and darken your fields with the blood of your countrymen should you go against the will of the gods. The seas will run red around Rathlin.’

  Congal got to his feet, unable to contain his anger any longer, and shouted, ‘Nabhogdon, King of Norway. I challenge you for the hand of Taisie of Rathlin.’

  He turned slowly. ‘You challenge me, boy?’

  ‘The gods allow that any man may be challenged to a fight to the death to prove his worthiness. You are not worthy of this prize, and I will prove it when I stain my blade with your blood.’

  Nabhogdon choked back his rage. ‘If death is what you seek I will indeed help you find it. Tomorrow at dawn. No armour. We fight to the death.’ Nabhogdon stormed out of the throne room followed by Agnar.

  King Donn gave Congal his sword. It had served him well in his younger days on the battlefield. Taisie would not attend the duel. She begged Congal to leave with her during the night. She would give up the chance to be his queen if she could still be his wife. Congal refused. He would not dishonour his father and the throne of Ireland by running away. He left the weeping Taisie in the care of her lady in waiting.

  Congal took off his shirt and felt the heft of the sword. Twenty paces further down the beach, Nahbagdon made an imposing silhouette in the pre-dawn light. He whispered with his second, Agnar. Donn had sent one of the servants across to the mainland and found Torloch, who now stood beside Congal. The first light of the sun broke on the horizon. Congal swung the sword and lurched with it, getting a feel for the steel. It was a fine sword, and much better balanced than his own.

  Torloch’s eyes were fixed on the other pair. ‘I do not trust them, sire.’

  ‘Their gods instruct them to follow the same laws as we do. They will not try to deceive us.’ Congal stuck the sword in the sand and turned to his friend. He put his hands on Torloch’s shoulders. ‘If I should fall under his blade, I trust you will tell my father how I died.’ Torloch nodded solemnly. Congal gave one last look at the castle, then turned to his opponent and pulled his sword from the sand.

  Nahbagdon drew his sword from its sheath. The blade sparkled in the morning sunshine. He lowered it at Congal and, screaming, charged forward. Congal raised his blade and ran towards him.

  The sun was disappearing on the opposite horizon. The servants from the castle had come down to watch. Both warriors were exhausted and bleeding from a dozen different places. They stood facing each other, their chests heaving, their arms numb from fighting. Nahbagdon lowered his sword and raised a placatory hand to Congal. He took a step towards him and Congal lowered his sword. Nahbagdon lunged forward and head-butted Congal, smashing his nose. Congal dropped his sword. His eyes filled and he could barely make out the blurry figure before him. Congal jumped forward and toppled the giant. Nahbagdon’s sword fell to the sand. Congal still couldn’t see, but for the first time in this epic fight he had his hands on his opponent. He felt his way quickly to Nahbagdon’s face and punched with all his remaining strength. Nahbagdon didn’t have time to respond as punch after punch landed on him. Congal kept landing blows until his vision had cleared. He looked around and saw his sword and scrambled towards it. Nahbagdon was on his hands and knees crawling towards his own blade.

  A wave came rushing in and covered Congal’s sword. He crawled into the water and probed the dark liquid for his blade. The saltwater stung his wounds. He felt the cold steel beneath his fingers. He worked his way down to the hilt and seized it in his grasp. He turned just in time to see Nahbagdon standing before him with his sword raised over his head. Congal thrust his sword from the water and plunged it into the Norwegian’s chest. Nahbagdon’s sword dropped to the sand behind his back. His hand grabbed the steel in his chest and tried to pull it out. Congal drove it further in and out his back. Nahbogdon dropped to his knees then fell to the side and slid off the sword’s blade into the water.

  Congal was only able to
take a few steps before he collapsed with exhaustion. He saw Agnar gather up his fallen king and carry him off. The last thing he remembered was looking into the face of Torloch as his friend cried to one of the watching servants to bring the apothecary.

  In the days that followed Congal recovered and with Taisie at his bedside they planned their joining ceremony for three days hence. A rider was sent to tell Congal’s father, who arrived the night before the ceremony was to take place. He passed the crown to his son as soon as he saw him.

  Ballycastle

  The handfasting ceremony took place on the top of the cliff where Congal had so often looked towards Rathlin. Everyone from miles around came to celebrate and all were welcomed by the newly-crowned King of Ireland, Congal the Brave. Taisie wore a white dress with a crown of wildflowers in her hair. The sun shone for most of the day, though the couple were glad that a light shower of rain blessed them as they approached Baile na castle’s town elder to perform the handfasting.

  Congal and Taisie knelt facing each other. They put their hands out before them and crossed them, Taisie taking Congal’s left hand in her left hand and Congal taking her right hand in his right hand. The town elder wrapped the ribbon over Congal’s wrists and under Taisie’s then bound the ends of the ribbon together.

  The town elder spoke loudly, ‘Let it be known from this day forward that Congal the Brave, King of Ireland, and Taisie, the fair of head, Princess of Rathlin, are joined together to live as man and wife. Let no man try to undo what has been witnessed here today. May their days together be long and fruitful.’

  Congal and Taisie got to their feet and held up their knotted wrists to the crowd that had gathered. The crowd erupted with cheers. Congal and Taisie kissed and the cheers grew louder.