by Diana Knight
“Where is he? Where is Marren?” Lena asked one of the Walsh clan members who was now still faced and staring at the large shadow of the English ship approaching.
“Where is he!” Lena yelled to him.
“He- he is in the... In the inn…” The man stuttered with his eyes wide.
“Sound the horn. Now.” Lena demanded, the man did not even take a second to argue the orders of a woman, he was running to sound the horn of Silver Port. Danger.
With her feet frantically falling from underneath her, she found the inn doors were wide open. The smell of soiled trousers, ale, and vomit seeped through the doorway. Lena could never imagine why men would spend their troubled minds in a troubling place. Still, she shuffled herself passed the sleeping drinkers and deeper into the pub attached to the inn. She saw Rollen sitting in a chair, his eyes closed and mouth opened wide in a snore. To the right she saw Marren, his face buried in his arm at the table. She touched him on the shoulder and he let out a moan of exhaustion. With a lift of his head he looked at her and licked his lips, then dropped his head back into the crook of his arms.
“I’m sleeping.” He mumbled at the table.
Suddenly, a person sitting next to him lifted themselves up. A woman. Her hair was locked in a shade of light brown, she had freckles on her face that spotted down to her accentuated breasts that hung over the hem of her dress. Lena let out a shocked gasp as she saw the woman sitting rather close to him. A shred of betrayal began to spark, Lena tried to push it away for now.
“Marren. You have to come quickly.” Lena said, not knowing how much panic she should stir in announcing the ships arrival.
“Let me be Lena, I am safe. That’s what you wanted.” Marren sounded like a stubborn child who had his toy taken away. He was moping with a whimper as he kept his head down.
We might be in more danger than the mainland. Lena swallowed and pushed him once more. This time he shot up and looked at her with squinted bloodshot eyes, it was clear the alcohol had given him a hard ringing this morning.
“You have to come to the docks there is a-” Lena began but was interrupted.
The sound of the horn sounded through the pub. In a blink, the people from the side of the pub to the other side of the inn began lifting their drunken heads to the sound.
“The horn? Are we in danger?” The big breasted woman yawned as she rubbed her eyes.
I will speak of that later. Lena tried to keep on topic, but the woman had tits the size of a jug of ale. The boiling rage in her stomach was unfamiliar, but this was not the time to express it.
“The ship…?” Marren looked at her like it was a statement, but his crinkled forehead showed the expression of a question.
“It’s here.” Lena swallowed hard.
Marren grabbed her by the hand quickly and pulled her with him out the doorway of the pub. Her heart was pounding. Not for the fear of the strange ship, but that Marren was going into this strange and terrifying situation with her alongside him.
The ship was bigger in person than he had realized. It stood there floating by the docks, the water was still here allowing it to only float in place. There was no strong current to push it into land further. A rope hung down from its side, but floated freely showing there was no anchor anymore to keep it in place. Its tall base was layered in thick dark colored wood. There were holes in the side for windows, and the sail on the top of the ship looked worn. It had long ripped holes and torn withered edges, it did not look like anyone had control of it for some time. Marren gripped Lena’s hand tightly, something was not sitting right with him.
“We should board it.” Lester came from behind him. His voice loud like a sharp stone in his ear. His cousin clearly handled his ale better than he had.
“Why isn’t anyone attacking?” Marren said, his hand itched for the sword resting in his home. He was unarmed, but not outmanned.
With the sight of the ship, all the men from Silver Port had gathered what weapons they could. A blacksmith had even begun passing the swords out without charge. This would be good in a real threat, but it looked that the boat was empty. They would have been attacked or killed by now, yet something still did not feel well.
“It looks empty, but we should push it back from the docks.” Rollen said, handing a sword over to Marren. The grip of the swords hilt in his hands felt long overdue. The fire in his blood rising.
Everyone was looking at him, the next highest Lord in Silver Port after his father. They were looking to him for answers. He did not have any.
“T-take the ship from the dock. Bring it to the edge of the island and tie it to land. You can take a small raft to board the ship, that way it is far from the docks in case they hide inside.” Lena’s voice broke through the group. Marren looked at her with wide eyes.
Why is she commanding my men? Marren looked around at the people who listened, none of them seemed the least bit surprised. Rollen nodded in agreement.
“Aye.”
“Aye my lady.” Another man said.
“Grab the rope on the side. You three go with Rollen the edge of the shore, we will take two boats to board it. Only those with fighting experience shall go. The rest will stand at the docks and wait for our call for safety.” Marren said. The words began flowing out of him.
“Aye!” The men shouted around him. All but Lester.
Lester’s eyes glared at Lena, his lips trembled around his clenched jaw.
“Lester. You come with me.” Marren said and began walking away.
He felt the pull resist him as he walked, he’d completely forgotten he was holding Lena’s hand. He turned to her and looked at her bright copper hair, the morning sun was shining on it making the shine from each strand blind him. He could not stay angry with her forever, not even now did he feel as angry as before. Although the brightness of her hair caused his eyes to squint at her, Marren could see she was taking the impression of his stare as anger. She let his hand go and stepped backwards.
“I’m so sorry. I- I just thought it was an idea. I should not have spoken out like that. They are your men to command.” Lena said and bowed her head.
Marren could feel the laughter of pity rise from his throat, her idea was brilliant but he could not let her know. Not now in front of his men. Yet he still walked closely towards her and placed his fingers under her chin lifting her face to meet his.
“You have no reason to apologize, no reason at all.” He whispered and leaned into her lips.
The touch instantly sent vibrations through him. A sort of warm sensation that wrapped around his chest and squeezed. He wanted more, he wanted to slide his arms around her waist and pick her from the ground with her legs wrapped around him. However now was not the time, and he pulled his lips back before his desires took control.
“Are you going to go fight then?” She whispered, her lips still within kissing distance of his.
“Yes, but only if there are men to fight.” He whispered.
Lena calmed herself and let out a deep breath.
“Then, I will see you.” She said and placed one last kiss on him before turning around and running towards the city.
She wrapped her arms around the children while she walked away, he could see how strong she was on her own. If she were born a man she would be the true leader of the city, even now she had more love from the people than he could ever dream of.
“Marren!” Lester shouted from the seat of the boat.
His sword had been lowered and was poked into the ground as he said his goodbye, now he squeezed the hilt of it once again and lifted it to turn and walk. The blood boiled inside him, it was preparing itself for a fight.
9
Chapter Nine
They had boarded the ship too easily. The scattered rubbish of cloth and soiled clothes made for a horrendous smell on-board the English vessel.
“How can it be empty? Where did they go?” One of the men began kicking the empty barrels and looking inside chests.
Marren still felt the itching feeling inside him. It was heightened immensely the moment he stepped on board. It was an itch in his skin that he could not scratch it. It was festering there inside his head as he thought. Marren looked back at the moments before, when the ship was still roaming around the island. It would not have been able to circle so well unmanned. The waves were rapid, and the rocks would have destroyed the ships belly without an untrained eye to guide them.
“Something feels… Bad.” Rollen gripped the hilt of his sword and kept his shield at eye level.
The smell of rotten food and rat scorched his nose as he looked around. It was clear he was not the only one with a bad feeling about the ship. The floor had been un scrubbed. There were crusts of salt and shell beginning to form on the sides, as well as what was left of the moist bread had turned greener than the island grass. Clothes were scattered, but if they were killed there would be bodies. There would be swords. There would be blood.
“Check underneath, I want to make sure every corner is searched.” Marren said walking towards a small door.
“What if we take this ship, to the mainland. It can sail there. Or even take it to the dock and use it.” One of the Walsh Clansmen said, Marren stopped and turned towards him. He walked loudly with each step to insure everyone heard what he would say next.
“We search every corner, and after. We burn it into the sea.” Marren said.
“Why would we do that?” Lester was the one to argue, his face scrunched at the thought of ruining a perfectly good ship.
“This ship was not empty. We all know it. We all saw it. We will not bring it into our city.”
Marren could feel the men agreeing with him, others were staring at the ship like they were about to lose an arm. It was only a ship. Yes it was in sailable condition, it needed a good clean and a few repairs but all in all it would be easy to sail. To sail anywhere in fact.
“Why don’t we take this ship to the mainland. Where we can join the fight.” Lester sent the idea into the rest of the heads, Marren had to use his words wisely. He could see the men beginning to side with his cousin.
“Ya. Why were we left to sit with the women.” One of the young clansmen complained loudly.
“We want blood on our swords! We want the English to rot from our hand!” Lester shouted. He was clearly stirring them up on his behalf.
Marren looked at Rollen who was just as wide-eyed as he was with the event unfolding. Clearly, the men were thirsty for a fight. They had every right too, they’d been living on the island for far too long while their brothers on the mainland gave their lives. They were a betrayer to their country by force and now they were nothing but weaklings in the eyes of everyone else. Marren could feel the anger and impulse to fight in his gut. They could easily take the ship now and just sail to the mainland. His father would be angry but there would be nothing he could do. It all started to make more sense now. He could go. He could fight alongside the Scots to defend and bring back their rightful land. Marren could feel his hand reaching for the hilt of his sword. Joining the fight would be something worth living for, something worth taking the ship for. He could not see the mainland from where he stood, but if they left now they would arrive in time to prepare for battle. It could work. He turned to look at Silver Port, and with just one glance his mind began to turn from anger and passion to guilt. He could not leave them. There was still an empty ship with no men, and if they did leave there would be no one to protect his family. They would not make the same mistake again.
“No. We will stay here. Sheath your swords and listen.” Marren said with his hands in the air.
The men moaned loudly, he had already lost their attention. He waited too long to speak and now their hunger for war was far too strong.
“Listen!” He tried to shout to them but they were beginning to argue louder.
“We have stayed here long enough!” One of the men shouted.
“Let us take the ship to the mainland!” Another yelled.
A roar of approval soared on the boat. Marren continued to shout and calm them but their swords were in the air and his voice was going hoarse. His own cousin Lester was raising a spear in the air, gaining a following. The sudden sound of the high pitch swing of a sword slashed through the air. It made a ring in the wooden floor of the ship and everyone froze opened mouth to see where it came from. Rollen was standing there on a barrel. His sword was within an arm’s reach of everyone, if he had misaimed by even a small distance it would be in one of the clansmen.
“We burn the ship.” Rollen said softly as everyone had quieted down. Marren knew this was his chance to bring them back to him.
“We have seen our share of war on the mainland. Watching our, sisters, daughters, friends, and brothers die from the English. We have watched this ship for weeks and when it comes to us empty our first choice is to run towards the war! The war will be here too if our family should fail. Who will be there to protect what is left of us. Of our clan, of our blood. We cannot leave those who are too weak to fight. We are Walshmen!” Marren shouted.
The motionless air of festering anger began to rise, and Marren felt the weight lift from his shoulders. The men around him nodded and put their swords away. Then one by one the rest began to follow, all except Lester who grumbly slid his sword back into its place after seeing he would have been a sole fighter. Marren seemed to have won them back, for now.
“Let’s burn the ship then.” One of them said.
“Aye.” Marren grinned.
‘But what do we do with this?” A voice cut through from the small space on the ship where barrels were.
The clansman undid the lid on the barrel and the smell wafted through the men on the ship. Marren’s mouth watered with just the first scent. The ale from the mainland had always been the sweetest. He had only assumed that after falling onto the island he would never get the chance to drink any again.
“Alright. Carry off the barrels. Then we burn the ship.” Marren said.
A round of cheer went through as they began picking up the barrels and toppling them over the side. They were floating in the calm shore and men were climbing down to chase after them. Ale was always a good distraction, but Marren had to be ready for the next time his men grew impatient. He looked over to the small row boat they had brought over and Rollen was pulling up a few unlit torches to burn. It was time to finally sink the ship.
As the they threw the torches onto the ship deck they rafted away a few feet until they arrived on shore. Marren jumped out quickly and ran to where he saw Lena standing wrapped in a shawl of wool. The wind blew as he reached her, it was going to be a chilly night.
“It’s going to rain.” She said looking at the ship.
“It will still burn.” Marren said, although the dark clouds in the sky could prove victorious.
Lena did not respond. She went into his arms as he stood there. She wrapped him in a welcoming embrace he had not expected. Her body was warm inside her small cape of wool. It was like a all his stresses went away with her touch. Lena pulled back quickly, Marren was enjoying her touch too much to realize he had not returned the favor. Now she looked at him with curious eyes.
“I was only gone a while. You could see me the whole time.” Marren teased and kissed her forehead.
Lena shoved him playfully and tried to make pouting face. Though after he shoved him she let herself fall close towards him. She did not embrace him, but Marren could feel her hands lightly touching his chest. Her hair tickled his bare shoulders as it wisped around in the wind.
“It’s so strange isn’t it? That I worried so much when you were so close?” Lena said.
