Along the wall was a shelf that held many jars filled with liquid and what appeared to be some of the missing parts of the animals, eyes, feet, claws, tails, wings. Within the tiny hearth was another cauldron and although there was no fire beneath it at the moment, it was filled with an appalling green congealed mixture that made Alainn gag and feel as though she might actually spew. As she drew nearer to the cages, she noted none of these despairing creatures appeared to be uttering a sound. She used her powers to learn why and was further disturbed to discover their throats had been sliced and altered in such a way that ensured they were not capable of making a sound. She also spotted a pile of rotting corpses of various different animals in the corner of the room. Her stomach protested and she felt it queasily lurch yet again.
Alainn noticed against the far wall, which consisted entirely of earth, there appeared to be a nearly hidden doorway that perhaps led to a tunnel within the side of the hill. She dared to wonder what further horrors might lay beyond that door.
It was then she glanced at a cage against the wall and saw a dead cat within. It was missing its ears, tail, and a front paw. And from beneath its swollen pitiful body came a small mewing sound. A tiny kitten squirmed out when it heard Alainn cry out in horror of all the pathetic animals’ suffering. Alainn opened the cage and tearfully picked up the wee ball of fur. The cat must have given birth to the kitten as she’d died. She sensed others kittens were still within her and despaired further in knowing it was too late for them.
“You poor wee baby, it’s to be thankful she hasn’t discovered you yet!” She cuddled it soothingly, tears falling down her cheeks as she placed it on her chest.
“You should not be here!”
Alainn started and whirled around at the voice behind her, and then stared accusingly at the woman who must be Glynnis.
Her face was grimy with ashes and soot. She had long, matted grey hair and dark wild eyes. She was dressed in a grubby black garment and in her gnarled hand she carried a candle, long, dirty pointed fingernails clasped it tightly.
“You should not be here!” She repeated in an eerie, gravelly voice.
When she spoke, Alainn noticed she had few teeth in her mouth and even they were rotted and black. Alainn thought her appearance might surely be frightening to some, but at the moment it was not fear she was experiencing.
“How dare you perform such atrocities on these innocent, defenseless creatures and worse yet leave them alive to suffer!”
“You should not be here; leave at once!”
“I am Alainn O’Brien and—”
“I know very well who you are, that is of no consequence to me. Because you have title and position does not change the fact you are not welcome here.”
“I will simply not permit you to keep these animals in such a state! What is it you are doing with them?”
“That is none of your concern. This is not my chamber!”
“Then whose?” Alainn demanded to know.
The old woman appeared unwilling to reply.
“Who is it you defend, Glynnis? Is it Fergus’s daughter, your granddaughter, Ciara who has caused such torment for these innocent creatures?”
The old woman remained disinclined to respond to Alainn’s queries.
“This is truly immoral and unforgivable!”
“She has capably created remedies for many ills.” The old woman finally spoke.
“Is it remedies she creates here, or potions for dark spells?” Alainn accused.
“Ahh, so you are aware of such practices. Much can be achieved by using certain bits and pieces from animals?”
“Aye, I have heard of such inhumane and dark practices and I am much in disagreement with them. And to leave the pitiful animals to suffer is unforgivable. Tell me where I might find your granddaughter so that I might speak with her regarding these despicable acts.”
“No, that would be unwise. I warn you, you should steer clear of her. She is not one to tangle with.” A hint of something close to fear crossed the old woman’s eyes. “Leave now and she need never know you’ve been here.”
“Aye, I will leave, but not before these animals are put out of their misery.”
“She has given them all a potion to numb their pain and assures me they feel nothing.”
“That’s utter horse shite; she’s simply silenced their painful protests. I’d dearly like to get my hands on her at the moment and make certain she feels even a portion of the suffering these poor creatures have been made to endure!”
“Are you threatening my kin?” The old woman snarled lowly and drew closer to Alainn, “A woman with child should not be issuing threats or poking her nose about uninvited in other’s affairs... wife of a chieftain or not!”
Alainn stepped back from the abrasive old woman.
“Go back to your castle, Lady O’Brien, mind to your noble affairs, and leave me and my granddaughter alone. We don’t require another healer here. We are capable without your assistance or your interference.”
“I did not ever intend to infringe on your healing or to take over any of your duties or patrons, I simply came to see if I might borrow some sage, for mine has not rooted well. And sage is well known for keeping evil from entering a location. Come to it, I doubt you would welcome sage within these walls.”
“If I am made to ask you again to leave my healing chambers, Lady O’Brien, I will locate my granddaughter and you will be most sorry if you are made to deal with her.”
“And are you threatening me, Glynnis?”
The old woman’s cold eyes stared at her intently, but she did not reply.
Alainn turned as though to leave.
“You’ll not take that animal with you. It does not belong to you.”
Since Alainn had lived most of her life as a servant to a chieftain, she was reluctant to use or hold her present title over another, but at the moment she deemed it was necessary in dealing with this troublesome woman and her abhorrent granddaughter.
“In truth, everything that sits upon this land, your cottage, this chamber and all within, actually belongs to my husband, Glynnis. You might remember that in future, and sure you’d have this innocent creature end up as ill-fated as its mother then, would you? Have you no heart, no conscience, no notion of what is decent?”
“You judge most harshly, Lady O’Brien. You are foolish to believe we do not need animals to better our remedies and test them upon the creatures.”
“Perhaps there is some truth to your words, but I will not condone the needless suffering of these animals. Maiming them and leaving them to unmercifully agonize will not be permitted here... not ever!”
“And what would you do about it, then, wait till your husband returns so that he might fight your battles and wield the power of his nobility?”
Alainn glared at the old crone and glanced at each of the pathetic creatures that held no hope of survival in the wild if released.
“No, Glynnis, my husband will not be needed to deal with such matters.”
She placed the tiny kitten within the pocket of her cloak and strained to come up with a way to handle her present predicament without calling upon her magical powers.
“You think I am unaware you possess unnatural abilities?” The old woman spoke, “I know you have been given the druid gift.”
“Not simply druid, Glynnis, for I possess potent fairy blood as well. I am a strong witch.”
The woman raised her eyebrow and narrowed her eyes, appearing doubtful on that count. Alainn longed to be free to deal with this woman and her granddaughter by way of her magic, but she wouldn’t allow the woman to actually see all that she was capable of.
She sensed Pierce, the captain’s son, was close by and within her mind she summoned him. She heard him enter the outside chamber straightaway and he called out to her.
“Alainn, are you in need of assistance?”
The old woman sneered as Pierce came into the room where they now stood. He coughed and gagged when he sm
elled the overpowering odor.
“What by God’s name is that foul stench?”
Glynnis was as unwelcoming to Pierce as she’d been to Alainn. “This is my chamber and I demand you both leave at once!”
Pierce ignored the woman and his jaw dropped when he’d had a chance to survey the many disturbing sights. “Are you mad, old woman? How could you be so despicably cruel?” His hand went to his sword and he stared angrily down at the aged woman.
“It was not Glynnis, but apparently her granddaughter, who committed these atrocities. Although, the fact Glynnis knew of it and allowed it to be done perhaps makes her no less blameless.”
“Ciara did this?” Pierce seemed even more in disbelief at this revelation.
“Aye! It would appear that is truth!”
He shook his head in disgust. “What’s to be done with all these pathetic creatures, Alainn?”
“Their lives must be ended in a quick and painless manner, Pierce. I will send some of the guards to assist you, and to dispose properly of all the bodies.” She reluctantly pointed to the disturbing pile of animal corpses so unfeelingly tossed in the corner.
He nodded his head in sober agreement. “And what’s to be done with this old crone and her wicked granddaughter then?”
“Do you inquire if their lives should be ended in a quick and painless manner?” Alainn suggested only partly in jest.
“Well, I hadn’t thought to be entirely that rash, but sure Killian will not take kindly to this, for you know well of his opinion of those who mistreat lesser creatures, he is liable to judge these acts severely.” He stared at the old woman with disgust in his eyes and distaste in his voice. “I should see to it my father, the captain, hears of your misdeeds and he may deem the both of you should be taken to the dungeon until Killian arrives home to pass judgment on your objectionable practices. You may well have your chambers taken from you as well as your time as a healer here at Castle O’Donnel ended. You’d be wise to realize all of this belongs to Killian and to his kin. Sure, he might decide to have you punished and sent off somewhere entirely undesirable. He could insist Alainn take over the duties as healer, for always her practices at Castle O’Brien were done in a kind and capable manner with no harm befalling any innocent creature.”
Alainn stared disapprovingly at the old healer. “I don’t care to take over the duties as a healer, but I will see to it there is an end put to these incomprehensible acts of cruelty, and perhaps we might justly allow the animals their own revenge on the wrongdoers,” she whispered more to herself than to the others.
The hawk, perhaps the least affected of the injured animals, flapped its wings in earnest agreement at that suggestion. Alainn attempted to use her abilities to see if she might mend any of the injured creatures by way of her magical healing, but she was saddened to realize they were beyond saving. Although she was capable of much through her healing, she could not manage to create new limbs or wings even by employing her magic. Even the unfortunate hawk would not survive in the wild without its talons, and this beautiful feral creature should never be made to live out its life in a restrictive cage. She closed her eyes and immediately all the wounded animals in the chamber fell into a deep and peaceful sleep.
“Keep solely to the remedies that are derived only from plants and herbs, Glynnis. Disallow your granddaughter from such barbaric and unforgivable practices and I’ll not mention this to my husband. Do I have your word on this?”
The woman looked disbelievingly at the sleeping animals and hesitantly nodded her head.
“Do I have your word?” Alainn respoke.
“Aye, I’ll do what I’m able, but I fear no one is truly able to control her. Consider yourself forewarned in that regard.”
“Rest assured, I will have the guards keep close watch on your granddaughter for some time until I feel you have kept your word and that she can be trusted.”
Alainn had summoned several guards and sent them to assist Pierce so they might follow through with the distasteful task of ending the animal’s misery. She had taken the kitten to the dairy shed and was relieved to find a new mother cat who readily took in the wee orphan as one of her own.
She shuddered at the vivid memory of her meeting with Glynnis and Killian’s warm hand upon her cheek brought her back to the present time. He repeated his previous inquiry.
“Has Glynnis been unkind to you?”
Not desirous of relating any of the unpleasantness of what she’d beheld and what had transpired within Glynnis’s healing chambers, she downplayed it entirely.
“She is very wary of me, Killian. She does not wish for me to encroach upon her boundaries. Healers are most possessive of their gardens and their herbs, as well as their patrons. You remember how unwelcoming I was toward Thomas O’Donaugh, the physician your uncle employed at Castle O’Brien. I believe Glynnis feels the same regarding me and, besides, apparently she is apprenticing her granddaughter to one day become healer.”
Chapter Seven
“Cia is to assist her grandmother?”
“Aye, Ciara. You know of her; well obviously you do if you refer to her by a fond name?”
“I knew her when I was younger. She is older than I and, when I was a boy, I was smitten with her I suppose.”
Given what Alainn now knew about Glynnis’s granddaughter, Ciara, and what cruelty she’d displayed with the helpless animals, she was not pleased in the slightest to learn Killian had once been enamored with the woman even though at the time she would have only been a girl.
“And now that you are a man?” She inquired in a displeased tone.
“She is a married woman and I am married to the loveliest woman alive, so I have no need to spend time thinkin’ of other women. I haven’t seen Ciara for a goodly long time, now.”
Alainn contemplated this new information, and she sensed Killian seemed no more eager to discuss the woman than she was.
“And you don’t believe you will miss your many duties as healer; I know how dearly you loved creatin’ potions and remedies?” Killian hastily changed the subject.
“It involves much time and endless toil to be a healer for an entire castle and village, and I shall be content to spend all my days with my son and my husband. I am most impatient to see him, Killian, to hold him and sing to him.”
“Aye, I’ve heard you singin’ to him already. You’ve the loveliest voice, Lainna. But, you know some women of noble breeding prefer to have servants care for their children and wet nurses feed their babes.”
“I will never hear of that. I intend to nurse our son and care for him. No other woman will take that honor away from me. I will be the best mother there has ever been, Killian, I promise you that!”
“You’ve no need to feel you must convince me on that count, Alainn. I know well you will be.”
Killian realized this was a sensitive subject for Alainn. Her own mother had sent her to be raised by another couple when Alainn was a newborn infant. Although it had been learned she had done it to ensure Alainn was allowed a normal life away from the scrutiny her mother had suffered, Alainn would never be entirely accepting of the fact she had been made to live out most of her life without her mother’s love.
“So what do you do to fill your days now, Lainna, when I am away? If you have turned your back on your healing and on your magic, how do you fill your time?” He questioned trying to dispel her unhappiness.
“I do tend my wee herb garden. I walk to the seashore, swim occasionally, and spend time in the stables and the orchards. I go to the kitchen and help Cookson or talk to Pierce on occasion. I have been creating some quilts for our son.”
“You’ve been sewing, Alainn? You always told me you were uninterested and easily bored by sewing and fine needle work!”
“Aye, ’tis true, I once felt that way, but now that I am creating articles for our son, I well like it! And I have been lonesome with you gone and Mary away as well, I am looking forward to her return for I have missed her. Therefo
re I also have spent considerable time preparing a chamber for our son.”
“Is it the room where I slept during my childhood?” Killian questioned.
A curious expression crossed her face as she replied.
“No, I believe it is too far distanced from our own bedchamber. I wanted to be close to you, but to our son as well. Although Maire O’Donnel tells me most men, especially chieftains, don’t care to have their babes so close by for they tend to disturb their sleep, she also says men are not so inclined to care to have their wives nearby after they have produced children for they oft find them less appealing thereafter.”
There was clearly some doubt and worry in Alainn’s tone and Killian knew he must set her mind at ease.
“You will never ever be unappealing in my eyes, Alainn, and why would I not want my wife and my son as close by as possible?”
“Sure, I don’t know, but I promise I will attempt to ensure we don’t disturb your sleep, Killian, for I realize your duties are gravely important and that you must be well rested so your mind is keen and your thoughts clear.”
“Alainn, you make me sound as a tyrant! Do you truly believe I would ever make you feel as though you are unimportant to me, that my health, my sleep, or my clear thought is anywhere near as important to me as you or our unborn child?”
“No, never!” she admitted.
“Then forget these foolish notions and show me the room you’ve been preparin’!”
She smiled, but he saw the uncertainty on her pretty face and the uncommon tears that had formed in her blue eyes and began to spill down her cheeks.
He placed his hands on her shoulders and gazed down into her serious eyes. “Tis you I love, Alainn O’Brien. You more than anythin’, more than my chieftainship, more than kin or clan, more than this castle or this land, or in truth more than Ireland. Never doubt that you are first and most important in my life, you and our son, for, without you, nothin’ else really truly matters to me. Tell me you know this without a doubt, Lainna!”
A Chieftain's Wife Page 6
