by Diana Knight
Marren licked his lips and pressed them down to keep from smiling. He would never tell her how good it made him feel. His heart inside his chest did a somersault and for once he felt proud of just being there. He had made the right decision, even if going to the mainland would have been victorious, being with her was still more.
“It’s not strange. I lo-”
The sound of crackling lumber echoed on the beach where they were. Marren turned around to see the once strong and solid ship low aghast and full of flames. It’s tall mast was now a flag of fire. It’s heat licking and dancing in the setting sun. It blended in to the orange and red around it, no sight looked as beautiful. Lena leaned close to him as he wrapped his hand around her waist. Her next to him felt so right, if he would have had her with him on that boat he would have never even contemplated leaving. She was worth staying for, but he could not tell her that. To be so fallen with a woman could be seen as a weakness. Rollen would tease him, and Lester. Marren bit his lip and looked around at the people watching the fire show appear on the sea. Lester was not in sight. People from all over Silver Port had come to witness the event, but Lester was clearly too angry to watch his only escape of the island burn into the sea.
“You know I have been thinking about something.” Marren said as he felt her hair fly and tickle his nose.
“What?” She said, and would have said more if Marren had not beat her too it.
His lips were on hers. A moment of bliss and passion. The sound of the crackling fire, the light of the setting sun, Marren was overwhelmed by heat and desire that kissing her was the only thing his mind could focus on. Lena pulled away with her forehead scrunched in surprise, but then placed a small peck onto his lips once again. There was nothing that could take this moment away from him. Nothing.
The boards of what was left were still red and burning with coals of fire and heat, but most was gone. Lena could feel Marren’s hand had not left hers all night. The feeling was inviting and warm. They were walking to their house as they walked past the pub, Marren stopped to look into the window. Rollen, and the rest of the clansmen were drinking a moist looking barrel of ale and dancing on tables.
“Go join them.” Lena said and nudged him with a smile.
She could see his face light up at the thought. Scottish men could never resist it. Lena kissed him on the cheek and walked away to make up his mind for him. She felt something grab at her wrist and pull her in close. So close. She felt every inch of his body against hers. His leg, his pelvis, his chest. Her heart went from a soft thump to a rapid race pace as he stroked her hair behind her ear.
“Then, I will see you.” He said and kissed her once.
As he let her go and walked away, Lena tried to hide how red her face was. As she turned her head she could see everyone from inside the pub was now raising a glass and watching them from the window. Her face flashed with heat that was too strong to avoid. She smiled helplessly and turned away, she knew Marren would be getting the brunt of the teasing. Her heart was happy, her father was right after all. The arranged marriage would be something she would get used too, but this was something she wanted to get used too. She was not forced to love him, and he did not force her to love him. They were falling into eachother’s lives the way they were supposed too. She was not supposed to marry his older brother Manard, it did not make sense now with the way she loved Marren. She could not see herself with anyone else, ever.
“You are distractin’ him.” A drunken voice said from the corner alley as she passed between buildings.
“Hello?” Lena froze and turned around, she could smell the ale strongly where she stood. It mixed with the smell of piss and sweat. She should have just kept walking.
“You are distractin’ him. We were gonna go to war. But because a you we are here. You are making him weak. He is not a man anymore.” Lester came into the moonlight. She could not see his face too clearly, but his voice was completely convincing. He thinks the ship burning is my fault?
“I- I think he made the right choice. Arriving to the mainland on an English ship would surely raise suspicion.” Lena said, but again she should have just kept walking.
“Aye, but we would also be able to fight. I haven’t fought in too long. This clan is weak, weak from Marren’s lead. This city needs a strong Walshman, with a strong seed.” Lester came onto her before she had a chance to fall back.
His weight pushed her against the wall and his hands clasped at her legs. The fear rose in her throat and she tried to send out a scream of panic, but no sound came. Lester continued to push on her as she searched the empty wall for something to defend herself with. As her mind started to focus, Lesters hands began to wander. She let out a deep breath and pushed against him with all her might. His drunken balance was just enough to cause his feet to slip and he fell to the ground. Lena saw her escape and took it. Her throat was still held shut as she finally arrived inside her home. She pushed the chairs, the table, and whatever she could find against the door and wrapped herself under the blankets. What has he done. Why would he do that? She had never felt that “good” feeling around him, but she had always put it to his anger about what the English did to his clan. Lester had lost his sisters, his own wife, and his mother. Though that was no excuse. The thoughts began to arrive on what this would mean for her future meetings with him, and worse. What would she tell Marren?
10
Chapter Ten
Lena was sitting up in the bed, while Marren laid across her lap. She ran her fingers through his light brown hair and trailed her fingertips down his back. It had been two days since the burning of the ship, and Lena had finally found the courage to tell Marren what had happened. He still had not said anything. Lena still felt silly for telling him first thing in the morning, but the day before had been almost worse than her arranged marriage. She was avoiding eye-contact with all Walsh men, and she did not even allow Marren to touch her. His kisses felt cold, and his hands on her had made her sick. This was not something she could let continue, and after she had finished telling him about what Lester had done he simply pulled himself on top of her legs and held her tight. He had not said a word. Lena trailed her fingers once more from the top of his head down his back. As she lightly brushed his skin she could see the goosebumps arriving on his arms. She wanted to know what he was going to do, what he thought, what he was going to say.
“Are you going to talk to him?” Lena asked almost in fear of what he might do to Lester.
“I have no choice. He could have hurt you.” Marren muttered out in almost a whisper.
“He.. He was not himself. He had too much ale.” Lena tried to think of something to say, the last thing she wanted to do was cause more tension between the clan.
“It is no excuse. He put his hands on my wife. A true Walsh would never.” Marren said and lifted himself from her legs into a sitting position.
As much as his words comforted her, she just wanted things to return to normal. She would pretend like they never happened, and she hoped maybe he would too. Marren turned to her, this was the first time she had seen his face all morning. His eyes looked hurt, phsycically hurt. His eyesbrows were scrunched and his lips hard against each other.
“I am so sorry Lena. I will talk with my clansmen to see what we will do about him. I do not understand, he has lost his wife. He should have never. Maybe you could spend the day with Mulla? Jorge is getting fat. You’ll see.” Marren said with a smile.
It worked on Lena as she nodded back. Just as he lifted himself up there was a knock at the door that banged and echoed throughout their wooden house.
“Marren! Come quick! You need to see this!” Rollen’s voice shouted. The way his voice cracked at the end made the hair on Lena’s neck stand straight up.
Marren pulled his kilt and sash across him and walked out the door without another word. Lena was just about to prepare herself when she saw his head stick back in.
“I will see you.” Marren said.
&nb
sp; Lena beamed a smile and he took that as his answer. His head slipped back out the door and she lifted herself up and stretched her arms in the air. She heard the creak of the floorboards once again and let out a sigh.
“I will see-”
When she turned around the lump caught in her throat as she tried to scream. Lester stretched out his hands in the air and fell to his knees. Her eyes went from frightened to confused in mere moments.
“Please. Lady Walsh. Please listen. Please forgive me. Please pardon me for what I did. I- I was not in my right mind, but I know that does not fix this. I- I lost my wife. I lost Jemma. My beautiful wife who would have one day given me pups of my own. I watched- I… I watched those English men take her, and… It has changed me. I am not a true Walsh man. I have hurt you, and in turn I have hurt my own blood.” Lester was still on his knees as he spoke, his head was bowed before her and his hands were shaking.
Lena felt her body freeze, she could only stare. She could see he was only staring at the wooden floor, huddled down almost child sized he looked so weak. War changed people. It put havoc in their minds and sometimes turned the strongest of men to the weakest child.
“I- I will beg your forgiveness forever.” He said in a whisper.
Lena walked over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. She felt his body melt underneath her touch and saw his shoulders raise up and down. Lena saw the tears fall to the ground and darken the floor. This was going to kill him while he still lived. Lena could see it already had its grasp deep in his skin. It had sunk its death grip into his heart and was manipulating his soul with devastation and anger. Lena wanted to say something, though no words arrived.
A bell sounded. Lester rose from the ground in a flash and stood next to her. His breath steady and his eyes drying.
“Hurry. We have to get you with the rest of the women.” His voice was shaky.
“Why is the bell ringing. We, we sunk the English ship.” Lena said following him down the path.
“There is a reason for it, but you should not be alone when we find out.” He said and walked with his and on his sword.
Lena saw men scrabbling around. Men from the pub were drinking their ale while they wrapped their sword belts around them. Everything was happening so fast. She stepped onto the wide path and watched as women were not running from the sea, but towards it. She stood in the middle of the path and saw women gasping as they caught her eye.
“Look out!” Lester yelled towards her.
Lena turned to see it coming running towards her, and it was on fire.
Marren felt the warm breeze hit his back as he followed Rollen down the steps. His pace was quick as he tried to keep up. There was something he was not telling him.
“What do I need to see?” Marren asked again as they reached an empty street.
They were walking towards the small tower building on the northern part of the city. It was the barrier between Silver Port and the rest of the island. Nothing but Colreed stood there, but Rollen was insistent that they hurry.
“I don’t know. That is why you need to see it.” Rollen answered as they began to climb the small wooden ladder up the tower.
It was made of thick branches and hay twine. The ladder went up the height of three grown men onto a rickety made tower that would sway with even the slightest huff of wind. If the winds were too strong one day, whoever was inside the tower would find themselves in an early grave. As they reached the top Marren saw it immediately. He was not sure what he was supposed to see, but he saw something odd and figured that must be it.
“Smoke?” Marren could see the small thin cloud in the distance.
“But watch.” Marren said. “It’s movin’”
Sure enough the small thin gray line of smoke began to drag and move in the sky. It seemed to be moving rather fast, and coming right towards Silver Port.
“Is it Lord Macleod and his men? Maybe they wanted to fight?” Rollen asked.
“No. This is moving far too fast.” Marren squinted his eyes.
The smoke was growing darker as it continued to gain ground. They watched it for several minutes as it weaved through the path on its way here. There was not a person in his mind who could move as fast as the smoke cloud was moving. A torchlight would not smoke in this light. Yet something was burning. Marren squinted his eyes and could see the cloud was still moving closer. It finally appeared over the hill and Marren’s eyes flashed with disbelief. It was a cart of hay being pulled by a horse, yet the hay was in full flame and the horse was still tied tightly too the cart.
“Look at that.” Rollen was equally amazed.
They heard it neigh as it saw the gates to Silver Port. Marren realized then there was going to be a problem. He climbed to the top of the ladder and tried to slide down it too the ground. The dry branches sent splinters into his hands and he winced away the pain. The horse was still neighing as it approached closer. The fire enflaming it was beginning to burn the cart itself. It was like one ball of fire was coming into the city and heading straight towards the people. Marren saw it closing in and tried to step in front to halt it. It only seemed to anger the horse and it barged passed him before he had a chance to unwrap its ties. Rollen had reached the ground too and they watched it begin to roll into the city, the sound of screaming and chaos in the village resonated around him. He could only pray and hope Lena was not in its way.
She ducked down low but felt the full weight of something pull her out of the way just before the horse hooves trampled her down. People in the streets began to catch on and made a clear path for the horse who was obviously on a mission. He rode himself straight into the ocean where the flaming cart was swallowed by the waved and the fire vanished. Men grabbed the horse and released it from its hold, as it walked onto the shore Lena was the first to take back hold of its reigns. She recognized the horse. There was blood on its back that was clearly not its own. Fresh undried blood that was cool and wet too her touch.
“We have to find him!” Lena began screaming.
“We have to find him! Go get him! He’s close! He is hurt!” Lena continued to scream, everyone around her started backing away.
She saw Marren and ran towards him with the blood on her fingertips.
“Who? Who’s horse is that?” Marren asked.
“Don Crab… The fisherman. He. He went to Colreed. What is happening?” Lena felt her body ripple in gooseprickles. Her head running with what could or might be happening in her home village. Where the houses were built into the ground and the people ate by the same fire.
Marren grabbed her hand and looked at the fresh shining blood. He nodded his head towards her and began walking away. Lena began to run behind him, her hands were shaking but her legs started moving. They wanted to move. They wanted to know why the cart was on fire, and why there was blood on a horse with no wounds.
11
Chapter Eleven
The horse was kind enough to leave blood covered trail from where it left the dying man. Lena could no longer feel her legs from the speed she was running, her body ached in pain but she was numb to it all. Please don’t be dead. There was never any danger passing from Colreed. There was never any harm, not even wild animals dared interfere with the path. This was all reeking with a bad taste in her mouth. Marren was in front of her, his legs freely running without the weight of a dress, but she could feel the panic in him too. Ahead she could see the unmoving heap in the road, his body stuck with an arrow that glistened in the sunlight. The color of red shining brightly on it like it was showing off. Lena watched Marren fall over the man and flip him over, the dust caked to the blood across Don Crab’s mouth, his moustache was dripping with sweat and blood.
“Crab. What happened. Crab? Get him some water.” Marren shouted. He was shaking the man violently in a panic. The whole scene was turning Lena’s stomach.
“Please. Let me.” She fumbled her fingers under Don Crab’s arms. She’d known this man since she was a child, she’d watched him
smile happily and bring her fish and food in the village of Colreed.
His breath was uneven, and his eyes were wandering around as if they were looking for something. His mouth quivering but nothing was coming out, not even a sound. Lena stroked his hair, it was peppered in gray and black. His face was homely and layered with dirt and salt from the sea, but to her it was as if he never aged. He had always been Sir Crab to her, and she knew soon he would only be a memory. The arrow in his chest was beating along with his heart, it was a wonder he’d not already died from the wound.
“Water… Water is… Useless.” Sir Crab muttered out, a small bubble of spit joining his words.
Lena sat him up and dusted him off as best she could. She could feel the warmth of his blood soak her leg as she propped him up, her dress turning from a gray to a deep red in seconds.
“Please. Tell us what happened.” Marren was trying to press him, Lena cleared her throat and shook her head. Whatever he needs now, it is not to relive what happened.
Marren ignored her, which was in truth the right thing to do. For what he said next wouldn’t have been spoken.
“Listen to me. You have to tell us what happened.” Marren pushed on the man’s chest, a stab of pain obviously sending him back into consciousness. The old man let the tears fall from his eyes, as it dripped down his cheek it mixed into the pink mud soaked blood.
“They came… They came at night. The... The monsters. They. We are dead. All of us. I was not supposed to get out. I was nothing but a crabber.” The man said. Lena felt his breathing increase.
“They are killing em’ off. One by one. The men first, I thought they di’n’t see me. Cough. I guess. Cough. I was wrong.” Don Crab said.
