Gareth Ogilvie The Great Sea King

by J W Murison

  His head dropped, ‘yes Aunt Mary.’

  He finished his soup quickly, grabbed the offered pot and almost ran from the house. Marys mind had been whirling, ‘so he has left them has he?’

  William shrugged, ‘no one really knows Gareth's mind but Gareth but half the known world knows about it now. A Highlander a Fraser who served in one of the ships stopped by a few months ago. He fell from the rigging and broke a leg and a few ribs. He was taken back to the Eagle city until he recovered. He says they have discovered a new land with a different type of Eagle; they have like a grey blue skin and white hair, pure white, but that was what, about six months before he came to see grandfather.’

  ‘They must have seen some sights,’ Mary sighed. ‘So have you heard why that husband of mine decided to take up with other women?’ Her tone had hardened again.

  William finished his soup, put the spoon down and looked Mary straight in the eye, ‘is that something you want to discuss in front of the children my future mother in law.’

  She became still, ‘maybe not. Let’s take a walk you and I.’

  She put a heavy shawl over her shoulders and they left the house together. She guided him towards his uncle’s home, ‘so young Ogilvie are you going to tell me what I already know.’

  He took a deep breath, ‘I believe he took up with them because he was lonely. I also heard that he begged for you and the children to follow him. Why did you refuse?’

  She stopped and he could see the tears in her eyes, ‘this is my home William. I thought if I stayed here he would come home eventually.’

  William shook his head, ‘I'm sorry to say this to you but you were short-sighted.’

  She snorted, ‘advice from a man barely into adulthood.’

  ‘The lands Gareth now rules over, lost over a million men in that war, there are at least ten women to every man and if a woman wants a man then she has little choice but to share.’

  Mary went very quiet, William took of his pack and delved into it, he handed her a letter, ‘this is from Graun to you.’

  ‘How,’ she gasped.

  ‘I saw him a few weeks ago in the Eagle city, I was sent there by my grandfather. The Eagle King sent a message requiring the talents of a sword smith, he sent me, to finish my training he said. I didn't want to say anything about it until I had talked to you first. They had just hit the mainland of the large continent they are now trying to sail around and he returned home for a break. When he heard I was in the Eagle city and soon to come seek out Wilma he came and visited me and bade me take this letter to you.’

  ‘He did not have the courage to come himself then but sent a boy with his message of humiliation.’ William remained silent. ‘Did you talk to him?’

  ‘At great length, I don’t know what is in his letter but I know what is in his heart. He believes himself a great fool for straying but said he couldn’t help himself. He couldn’t stay at home either because the draw of adventure was just too strong. He was made to fight, trained from birth to be the man he is and he just couldn’t take the peace and quiet, it was killing him. In some ways he is happier now and in others miserable, he still loves you with every fibre of his being and his girls, he misses all of you with all his heart, but believes he is too far down the path he has taken to turn back. I'm sure the letter will explain it to you better than I can.’

  A tear ran down her face, ‘we even have a nice stone house now.’

  ‘Graun has an apartment in the royal palace on the other side from Gareth. You could take a dozen of these houses here and fit them into it. It has stone floors walls and pillars. The stone is polished so highly you can see your own reflection in them like a stone pool they are and beautiful beyond compare. The sun shines all year round and exotic fruit grows in his garden all year round as well. You can just reach up into the branches and grab one. He needs do no more than he wishes to for there are servants at his beck and call all day long.’

  Her jaw dropped, ‘I was a fool wasn’t I?’

  ‘Completely, you and your girls would be wearing silk dresses like the one Misty got married in every day, the women in the palace have little to do each day but gossip and shop, bathe and eat. Your girls would be getting tutored from the very best teachers the realm can produce.’

  Mary was mortified, ‘it sounds boring with no work to do.’ It was lame and she knew it.

  ‘There is always plenty to do, a few weeks ago Melina surveyed a library Gareth ordered built for all the people of the city. She helped design it herself and spent a lot of time there while they were building it. She also helped choose the books that now fill its shelves. There is plenty there for a woman of substance to do if she wants to.’

  ‘I really made a mess of things haven’t I William?’

  ‘That's not for me to judge.’

  ‘Tell me, is his friendship with Gareth for real.’

  He nodded, ‘the two couldn’t be closer.’

  ‘How could I have misjudged him so badly, I was sure he was just saying that for the benefit of the Clan as a whole.’

  ‘You mean putting a face on.’

  ‘That sort of thing.’

  ‘No it’s as real as we are standing here now.’

  ‘When he went back I thought he went to kill him, I was sure of it, he talked of friendship but I knew the dishonour he suffered at Gareth's hands, he was so shamed I thought he would never live it down.’

  ‘I think you misjudged the whole situation.’

  ‘Aye and lost my husband because of it.’

  A thought crossed William’s mind, ‘did you urge him to go back and kill Gareth?’

  ‘I did, his shame was my shame, I suppose I was the one who couldn’t live with it. I lived through the snide remarks and the bad tempers when the shame became too much. The times he took to drink to forget it.’

  William shook his head, ‘when it comes to tactics Gareth is in a league of his own, more a force of nature than a man, that's how the Eagle King sees him and Graun I believe recognises that. It was not Gareth's intentions to shame Graun or any member of this Clan, he merely wanted to prevent unnecessary bloodshed. Graun isn’t the only man he has manoeuvred into such an impossible position. Those who were wise like Graun, walked away, however there were those who didn't, they are all dead, every man jack of them. Gareth will give a man once chance to back off or surrender, if you don’t he will systematically wipe out every man on the field. He likes to leave one alive, the youngest if he can find him to bring the message back to those who would follow or seek revenge.’

  William scraped his feet across the gravel path, ‘it is his way, it’s what he has always done and those who chose to fight him know that. That's why Graun backed down twice; you have to think of the consequences. If he had not there would be nothing here but old men and young boys, is that what you would have wished for, for this Clan?’

  ‘No of course not, we women never knew all of that, all we knew was the shame our men had endured and the shame it brought to us.’

  ‘They are far beyond the days when we stood toe to toe on the heather and fought over a few grains of wheat. Gareth and Graun together have brought a lasting peace to the Highlands and a wealth that none of us have ever known before. The winters are no less harsh but we endure them now with full bellies. I see you still have guards on watch as everyone does but they are old men on watch, not young men who can run fast and raise the alarm. So much has changed and your man was fundamental in that change. Without his support and right arm, Gareth could never have achieved what he did.’

  ‘Gareth takes all the credit,’ she snapped.

  ‘No he doesn’t, Graun is just as famous in the lowlands as Gareth is, especially in the Eagle City, they consider him Gareth's balance. In the songs sung about him they call him War Master Graun; that is how he is known to all the people.’

  A knot filled her throat, ‘they sing songs about him, those foreign people.’

  ‘Lots of songs and good stomping tunes
they are too. There is no songs about Gareth without Graun being in them but there are plenty about Graun without Gareth if that makes sense.’

  ‘Aye I understand what you are saying,’ her voice had dropped, the anger leached away. ’Are they really that famous William?’

  He let out a long breath, ‘famous is not a word I would use, they are celebrated across the know world. Gareth's fame is such that even great kings are terrified of him. I believe most approach Graun first if they want an audience with Gareth, he is seen as the more humane of the two. Graun told me he almost has to hold their hands some times, he also tells me he is the better looking of the two and much more approachable.’

  Mary suddenly found herself laughing, ‘that sounds just like him.’ Her head dropped again, ‘I think I will go read this letter. Thank you for your words William; it would seem you have a good head on your shoulders.’

  ‘There is one thing I would like to say before we part here. I have no intentions of living here. I have been offered a position with the Eagle King as the royal Sword maker. Once Wilma and I are married I am to take up the post almost immediately. I already have apartments within the palace itself; I am after all considered family as a nephew of Queen Melina.’

  ‘Did they not turn your head those golden women?’

  ‘I have room only for one woman in my heart and mind, and have had for many years now.’

  ‘It would seem you Ogilvie's are truer to you women than the Grants are, thank you William and good night.’ They parted company and William found his way easily to Stan’s house. Mary went home and brooded in front of the fire. When the children were all safely bedded she pulled out the letter and opened it.

  It began; my dearest Mary, before I say anything else I wish you to know I still love you with every fibre of my being and long for you and the children. Which makes what else I have to say in this letter even harder. A thousand nights I have sat with quill in hand wishing I knew how to tell you this but nothing I can say will soften the blow. I hoped you would return with me to this place and the life I had found here but you steadfastly refused to budge. I even hoped you would follow me, but that did not work either. I suppose I should have tightened my belt and gritted my teeth but I didn't; I disgraced you with another, and now there is children involved, I cannot walk away.

  I am so sorry to break the news to you like this but I hope this letter reaches you before the gossip does. If you wish to untie the strings of marriage and find yourself another love then I truly understand. I want you to know that even if you do I will continue to support you and the children for as long as I live. I will send meat and flour as usual every winter to see you all through. I will go now for you will probably no longer want to hear any of my words. I will always love you Mary and this letter breaks my heart to write probably as much as it does yours to read. Goodbye my love and if you or the children ever need anything then all you have to do is ask. Graun.

  The tears flowed freely down her cheeks; it was all she could do to stop herself throwing it in the fire. She had just lost the only man left that meant anything to her. She knew on a long campaign he occasionally strayed, they all did and it was an accepted fact, it just wasn’t talked about, but this was different. She regarded the length of time he had been away and how often they had been together in that time and knew she had to take part of the blame. He had begged her on more than one occasion but her pride had held her here, now she had lost him.

  She read the letter again and again and again but not once did she consider untying the strings of marriage, her mind was consumed with one thought, how could she win her man back. For hours she sat there her mind flitting through the possibilities, but in the end there was only one solution but she would need to talk to William in the morning. She went to bed but sleep was a hard companion to find that night.

  CHAPTER 37

  Stan was delighted with William’s arrival, it had been a while since he had seen any of his family and put the young man straight to work smelting ore for iron stoves. William admired his set up walking round the forge.

  ‘You’re really busy Uncle Stan.’

  ‘Aye but I have to say I'm pig sick of making these stoves.’

  ‘I heard you were doing a rip roaring trade in axes as well.’

  ‘Aye these Grant boys do like their axes, I have made plenty blades as well but for every blade I make, I make a dozen bloody stoves. Are you sure you don’t want to stay and help me, there's plenty work for both of us.’

  William shook his head, ‘nah, I all ready got a job, besides Gareth wants me to take it, he wants a spy in the Eagle camp and they have accepted me as a part of the family.’

  Stan grunted, ‘he wanted me to do that for him, trouble was there was so much to do here, still is and of course there's my father in law. I have to admit I have found a home here William, in the camp of my enemy.’ He smiled and William laughed.

  ‘Aye who would have thought Uncle Stan? I remember looking forward to the day I killed my first Grant, I used to dream of it but now a swords not what I want to stick into one.’

  Stan’s eyebrows shot up, ‘fuck William don’t let Misty hear you saying something like that, she’d kick your arse out the door.’

  ‘Don’t worry I won’t.’

  Stan detected something in his nephew, a confidence that most young men didn't have. ‘Who were you shagging in the Eagle city?’

  A moments panic swept over Williams face, ‘is it that obvious.’

  Stan sighed, ‘aye to me it is, don’t tell your uncle Malcolm, he will tell everyone, lie to him if he asks and try and blush or something.’

  William grinned, ‘I always blush when I tell lies. Where is he anyway?’

  Stan shrugged, ‘he won’t be far away but his temper will depend on how much he had to drink last night.’

  ‘They talk a lot about Lord Malcolm Grant down in the Eagle city, and you of course. He is regarded with more than a little awe, prince Vaary never stops talking about him for two minutes, he can’t wait to meet Wilma so he can talk to her.’ William was smiling.

  ‘I missed that little show I have to admit, pity I would liked to have been there. I met a few of those bastards, I heard Gareth's son had an attitude like them and that's why he sent him home to your grandfather.’

  ‘He was like that to begin with but grandfather soon knocked it out of him, I had to boot his arse a few times as well, but he is fine now, his skills for his age are frightening. Grandfather says if he had the physical strength he would be years ahead of anyone he has trained.’

  ‘I wonder,’ Stan left the sentence unfinished.

  ‘What!’ William asked.

  ‘I have been told that they retain some kind of racial memory, it’s complicated.’

  ‘Aye we know about that, granddad was thinking the same thing but he denies it, says he has no memories like that at all and that Eagles born of men didn't as far as he knows. I asked the King and he said the same.’

  ‘Still,’ Stan concluded, ‘there may be something there very deep down; I wonder if he will have his father’s military skill.’

  ‘No sign of that yet in any of them and they get into plenty of fights.’

  ‘Aye so you said last night. I suppose we will just have to wait and see.’

  A roar reach their ears, ‘here comes Malcolm, check that bloody pot is hot will you or we will never hear the end of it.’

  William checked a small pot full of water heating on the edge of the forge, ‘aye it’s about boiling uncle Stan.’

  Stan came over and dumped a bunch of herbs in it, ‘that will keep the old bastard happy.’

  It wasn’t long before Malcolm appeared with a fierce scowl on his face, it got more fearsome as he eyed up William, ‘what’s this, another Ogilvie bastard come to rape the flower of Grant womanhood; bastards!’

  ‘Leave the lad alone you old fucker,’ Stan grinned.

  ‘It just isn’t right you know, is my tea ready.’

&nbs
p; ‘Aye help yourself.’

  Malcolm helped himself to the gently brewing tea and sat quietly until he had finished it, his mood seemed to have improved somewhat and he actually cracked a smile for the first time that day. ‘Get in last night did you lad.’

  ‘Yes Sir Malcolm.’

  He frowned, ‘Sir Malcolm, been spending time with those bloody Eagles have you. They’re the only buggers that call me Sir Malcolm.’

  ‘I spent a wee while there.’

  ‘It shows; see anything of that bloody brother of mine?’

  ‘I did Sir; I took a letter from him to his wife.’

  The expression in his face changed dramatically, ‘oh you did, did ye, that's no good, I’d better nip back and tell the wife, after my tea. So the bastards finally gained the courage to tell her has he, well well. How’s that bastard son of his doing?’

  ‘Pretty well now, it was touch and go for a while if he would even live.’ William gave him a rundown of how the three boys were doing. At the end of the story Malcolm burst out laughing

  ‘Sounds like the wee fellas got a lot of guts, I’ll have to visit him one day and let him know who he really is.’

  The two brothers passed a glance, ‘prince Vaary was asking for you Sir Malcolm and sends his regards.’ William told him.

  ‘Aye well we’ll see him soon enough, I've finally been able to persuade the wife to return with me during the winter months, you're coming to Stan.’

  ‘What, to your fancy residence.’

  ‘Aye plenty room for all of us.’

  Stan grinned and shook his head, ‘well when you’re finished that tea you can help me cast a stove.’

  Malcolm stuck his boots on a stump, ‘you have your nephew with you, I'm declaring this as a day of rest for Malcolm Grant.’

  However Malcolm got so bored he pitched in anyway. William was very impressed by the way Stan had set things out and by the end of the day they had three whole stoves cast.

  ‘I've never seen it done like that Uncle Stan.’

  ‘You just have no idea of the work load William. I have six moulds, I'm going to break out the three I did yesterday and reset the moulds before we are finished ready for smelting tomorrow.’