by Kate Forsyth
Lachlan said gently, ‘Do no’ be so afraid, Maya. Ye have told us something o’ what your life with the priestesses was like. It is natural that ye should have a dread o’ them and their powers. They are no’ gods themselves, though. They are mortal too. And I have no wish to feel Gearradh’s embrace just yet. I love my children and wish to see them grow. If we canna overcome the priestesses, we shall all flee into the highlands, that I promise ye.’
‘All o’ us?’
‘Aye, all o’ us still living,’ he said. There was compassion on his face, an expression Maya had never before seen. She nodded, swallowing a constriction in her throat. Bending, she embraced Bronwen once more and then dragged herself free of the little girl’s clinging hands.
The council of war had been called in the hall where Lachlan and Iseult normally slept. The pallets had been rolled up hastily and the blankets folded. There was no table but the maps had been flung out on the floor and weighted down with stones. The officers of Lachlan’s general staff and the lairds sat on the rolled-up pallets or squatted on their heels.
Reluctantly Maya pointed out a small, isolated island. ‘But the Isle o’ Divine Dread is impregnable,’ she said. ‘Like all o’ the islands around here, it is an old volcano. Its cliffs rise sheer from the sea on all sides and there is no way in from above the water. The priestesses all live inside the volcano, which is riddled with caves and tunnels.’
‘But the priestesses must have some way of getting in and out,’ Dide said in some exasperation.
Maya nodded. ‘They swim in and out. A few o’ the tunnels open up under sea level.’
The general staff all looked rather daunted. Few of them could swim, most islanders having a superstitious terror of the sea.
Maya went on. ‘They are very deep, more than three hundred feet below the sea’s surface.’
‘But that’s impossible!’ Duncan Ironfist cried. ‘Can the Fairgean dive so deep?’
‘Most canna,’ Maya replied. ‘But if one wishes to get out o’ the Isle o’ Divine Dread, one must learn. Most Fairgean can dive two hundred feet or more. Some as much as three hundred, those who dive for pearls regularly and learn to slow their heart rate.’
‘So we have no way o’ getting in,’ Lachlan said, clearly disappointed. ‘Even if we all swam like fish, we could no’ dive so deep. What about from above? Surely some o’ the tunnels lead to the open air?’
‘If they do, I do no’ ken where,’ Maya said calmly. ‘I do ken I never saw the faintest trace o’ light or felt the faintest brush o’ fresh air in all the years I was kept in the black depths o’ the Isle of Divine Dread.’
Many of the men about her gave a shudder. She saw they glanced at her with newly awoken compassion. Maya did not care. Soon they would all be dead, and Maya with them. It was too late for compassion.
‘Besides, the cliffs are unclimbable,’ she said.
‘All cliffs can be climbed,’ Dide said. ‘They said the Black Tower was impregnable and yet we penetrated that, and rescued Killian the Listener when all thought it was impossible.’
‘But we took months in the planning o’ that and we had Finn the Cat to scale the cliffs,’ Lachlan said. ‘That was dangerous enough, that enterprise, but this is far worse. We canna expose a young lass to such danger. Anyway, we do no’ have time to be exploring the island and trying to find ways in. No’ without alerting the priestesses to what we do.’
‘Och, the priestesses will ken what ye plan,’ Maya said. ‘They have mirrors in which they can see for many miles.’
‘But they need to ken what to look for, do they no’?’
Maya shrugged.
‘Well, if we canna get in, we must lure the priestesses out,’ Lachlan said, striding back and forth with his usual restless energy. ‘Maya, there must be some pattern to their movements, there must be! When do they usually come out?’
‘The acolytes usually come out at dawn, to catch fish and gather kelp and fish roe. After so much time in the dark, they do no’ like the sun and so most will be back inside the island before the day is too far advanced. The high priestesses, I do no’ ken. Their habits and purposes are always shrouded in shadow. Those priestesses o’ lesser power are usually in service at the court, so they are rarely at the Isle anyway, unless there is a summoning to do, or some other act o’ great power.’
‘So they have circles o’ power like we do?’ Lachlan asked. ‘That is good to ken.’
‘Aye, the Highest Priestess stands alone in the centre, her hands on whatever artifact she is using, with six standing around her, and six more in each circle outside, until the last circle has thirty-six o’ the weakest priestesses. I have seen them summon gods with their circles o’ power.’ Maya’s voice was sick with dread.
‘So when they try to raise this tidal wave o’ theirs, they will have all the high-priestesses there, even those usually with the King?’
Maya nodded.
‘That would be the time to hit them then,’ Lachlan said.
‘But how?’ cried the Duke of Killiegarrie.
‘And who would do it? When they are all together, trying to raise the tidal wave, is the time it would be most dangerous for any o’ us to be here,’ said Duncan Ironfist.
‘Who shall bell the cat?’ Lachlan asked, his eyes on Maya. She returned his gaze proudly, her head held high. All the soldiers followed his line of sight, and there was an uneasy shifting and murmuring.
‘But she canna be trusted,’ Duncan implored.
‘And how?’ said the Duke of Killiegarrie again.
‘Think o’ the island as a fort we must win,’ Lachlan said. ‘We canna scale the walls, we canna undermine them, we have to force the defenders to come out and face us on the field o’ war. What would we do?’
‘Smoke them out,’ Iseult replied. It was the first time she had spoken.
Lachlan looked at her triumphantly. ‘Aye, we’d smoke them out.’
‘But how are we to do that?’ the Duke of Gleneagles asked impatiently. ‘It’s surrounded by ocean!’
‘With seafire, o’ course,’ Lachlan answered. ‘Maya must dive down to the tunnel entrances and plug them with jars o’ seafire. Lots o’ jars. Then we shall cause the jars to be broken. The fire will run up the tunnels and into the caves. We’ve all seen how much smoke it creates, and how acrid it is. Many o’ the priestesses will die just from breathing it. Meanwhile, we can be bombarding the island from afar with more seafire so it is ringed in flames! If they try to swim out, they will burn to death. If they stay inside, they will choke to death.’
‘There are a great many caves within,’ Maya said. Despite herself, her voice shook. ‘How can ye be sure the smoke will penetrate that far?’
‘And what if there are tunnels to the open air?’ Khan’gharad asked.
Lachlan said in exasperation, ‘Must I have all the answers?’
‘I could call the dragons,’ the Khan’cohban answered imperturbably. ‘I have never claimed their geas. I might have, when that Fairge wolf sent her black-hearted soldiers against us, but I was transformed into a horse before I had the chance.’ He directed a look of the coldest hate towards Maya, who showed no sign of noticing it.
‘The dragons,’ Iseult said slowly. ‘If they flew around the island, flaming it, that would prevent any o’ the priestesses escaping …’
‘And the smoke and fire o’ the dragons’ breath would surely penetrate deep into the island too!’ Duncan cried.
‘No’ to mention the likelihood o’ many o’ the caves collapsing,’ said the Duke of Killiegarrie with satisfaction. ‘We could be bombarding the island with our cannons, just to help matters along a wee.’
‘We still must plug the sea tunnels with the seafire,’ Lachlan said. ‘Else they shall all simply swim out to safety.’
‘How are we to make sure the glass jars break?’ Iain asked.
‘If the island is being bombarded with cannons and dragon-fire, would no’ that be enough to break them?’ Lachlan rep
lied. ‘And happen the priestesses would seek to flee and break the glass in their panic, no’ knowing what the result would be.’
‘What if the Ensorcellor breaks the jars when she’s trying to plug the holes?’ Iain asked then.
There was a short silence, then Maya said sweetly, ‘Oh, but o’ course I must just try my very best no’ to break them, mustn’t I?’
No-one was able to meet her eyes. She gazed round at them, her nostrils flaring slightly in disdain.
‘Well, it is all I can think o’,’ Lachlan said at last. ‘In the meantime, we must send messengers out so that everyone everywhere kens to stay on high ground. If we should fail, Eà forbid, we must make sure as many lives as possible are saved.’
‘After that general warning ye issued afore we came to Carraig, I doubt there’s a single fisherman or crab-catcher left anywhere near the seashore now,’ the MacSeinn said. ‘If we can see the red comet, all o’ Eileanan must see it too.’
Lachlan sighed. He was frowning heavily, two lines carved deeply between his brows. ‘If only we kent what to expect,’ he said. ‘Yet I ken naught about tidal waves …’
‘The very fact that ye call them “tidal waves” shows how little ye ken about them,’ Maya said with an edge of contempt in her voice. ‘They have naught to do with the tides.’
Lachlan looked up at her swiftly. ‘What should I be calling them then?’
‘The Fairgean call them ibo. That means, I suppose, “quake-wave”. They are usually caused by earthquakes under the sea or even an erupting volcano. The seabed shudders. Part o’ it may even be forced up into a new island or undersea mountain. The movement o’ the earth under the sea causes the water to ripple up and out. Out in the ocean there is little visible effect, because water always finds its own level, but once the wave rippling out flows over a shallower area, it is forced up into a big wave. The shallower the seabed, the bigger the wave.’
‘How high can this quake-wave rise?’ Gwilym asked swiftly. He had been listening with fascination. Being strongest in the element of water, he was always struggling to learn more since the widespread fear of deep water meant few studied it closely.
Maya shrugged. ‘I suppose it depends on how forceful the earthquake is, and how close to land. There has no’ been one for many years, but I ken the primary wave rose close on a hundred feet then, and was many hundreds o’ miles long.’
There was a collective gasp. Everyone looked at each other, trying to imagine the consequences of such a wave smashing down upon the coast.
‘How can the Fairgean even think o’ conjuring such a wave?’ Meghan cried, white with anger. ‘It will kill everything, all the creatures o’ the forest, no’ just us humans.’
‘What about the creatures o’ the sea?’ Gwilym asked. ‘Surely it will kill them too?’
‘What about the Fairgean themselves?’ Lachlan asked. ‘How could they survive a wave o’ such height and power?’
Maya shrugged. ‘I do no’ ken the answers. I am no’, unfortunately, privy to the King’s councils. I imagine they plan to swim in deep sea, however. There the ripple effect is only minor. They will wait there in safety for the waves to subside.’
Lachlan’s frown had cleared miraculously. ‘What about a ship?’ he demanded. ‘Would ships be safe if they were in deep ocean?’
‘I suppose so,’ Maya answered, eyeing him warily.
Lachlan grinned. ‘Thank Eà, I can save my Ship Tax! If we send the majority o’ the fleet out into deep waters, they should be safe.’
‘Except for sea-serpents and icebergs,’ Admiral Tobias said gloomily.
Lachlan had leapt to his feet, his wings spreading out. ‘Come!’ he said. ‘We have much to do before the comet reaches its height. We need to provision the ships and arm them strongly, so they can protect themselves whilst away from the shore. We need to plan an orderly retreat and make sure it has adequate protection from any Fairgean in the river. We need to send out messengers, and consolidate our forces. Then we need to decide who is to stay here with me to try to destroy the priestesses’ islands.’
‘It is for my land that ye have all fought so bravely,’ the MacSeinn said. ‘I shall stay.’
Lachlan nodded. ‘Aye, that seems fair. Your son must go, though, so that if we fail there is still a MacSeinn living.’
‘Thank ye, my liege,’ the MacSeinn breathed, a white tension leaving his face.
‘But Dai-dein …’ Douglas protested.
‘No arguments,’ Lachlan said briskly. ‘It is your responsibility to your clan to keep yourself safe, and to rebuild your land when we have won it back for ye.’
The boy nodded, his face very white.
‘I shall stay, o’ course,’ said Duncan Ironfist.
‘And I also, master,’ Dide said.
Isabeau, listening quietly at the back of the room, gripped her hands together tightly.
Lachlan nodded. ‘O’ course. I couldna do without either o’ ye.’
‘I will stay also,’ said Khan’gharad. ‘Ye will need me to call the dragons.’
‘Thank ye,’ Lachlan said. ‘I will do my best to bring ye home safely. I ken Iseult and Isabeau would never forgive me otherwise.’
He glanced smiling at his wife, who sat beside him. Her face was very stern. ‘I stay also,’ she said.
Lachlan’s smile died. ‘Iseult, no! I said—’
‘I am coming with ye.’
‘But leannan …’
‘I am a Scarred Warrior. I will no’ be sent to safety like a bairn. I stay also.’
Lachlan looked at her helplessly, then slung his arm about her shoulder and drew her close. ‘If ever there was a more stubborn, disobedient wife in all the world!’
Iseult smiled up at him. ‘I kent ye’d see reason,’ she answered.
One by one the other soldiers in the room volunteered their services. Admiral Tobias said he’d better stay and keep his ships safe. Arvin the Just said piously, ‘Who so sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed,’ which Lachlan took to mean he wished to be part of the action. The Duke of Gleneagles and the Duke of Killiegarrie both decided to stay, as well as all of Lachlan’s personal bodyguard, who were sworn to follow the Rìgh into battle. Lachlan’s squire Connor also begged to be allowed to stay, but he was gently refused. ‘I need ye to guard the Keybearer and the other witches,’ Lachlan said. ‘Please, Connor, I need a man I can trust.’
Despite himself, the boy drew himself up proudly and submitted to his Rìgh’s will.
In all, including the thirty crew members of the Royal Stag, only a hundred and fifty men were chosen to stay, among them representatives of every land in Eileanan. Messages were sent to and from Castle Forsaken, with Anghus MacRuraich and thirty of his best men joining the campaign. Everyone else was to retreat through the forest and into the highlands of Carraig. It would be a desperate retreat indeed, with their supplies so low, the snowdrifts so deep, and the roads all overgrown and in disrepair after thirteen years of neglect. Meghan and Isabeau looked at each other in despair.
Duncan Ironfist stood close by Lachlan’s elbow, his hands resting easily on his sword belt. By his face, one would have thought they were planning a picnic and not a suicidal mission. Maya stood with them, pointing out and describing the many islands that littered the Carraigean coast, as they endeavoured to find a safe place in which to wait out the eight days. Duncan waited until the Fairge was out of earshot, before saying in a low voice, ‘Master, ye place a great deal o’ confidence in the Ensorcellor. How can ye trust her so? Her promises are no’ worth a tinker’s curse.’
‘What else can I do?’ Lachlan replied in a low voice. ‘We’re grasping at straws now. The Dragon-Star has risen and it chills my blood. Besides, did ye no’ see her face? I swear she truly cares for her daughter.’
‘But it is her Talent, to make ye think she really cares,’ Duncan said. ‘Did Jaspar no’ believe in her love with all o’ his heart, and that was all lies. What about Finlay MacFinlay? S
he ensorcelled him into trusting her and betraying us. I would no’ trust her as far as I could throw a rat. What if she betrays us to the Fairgean?’
Lachlan rubbed his temples wearily. ‘Then we are all dead,’ he answered. ‘Let us hope she is true!’
Isabeau was in the courtyard, busy overseeing the packing of their meagre medicinal supplies, when Iseult found her. The Banrìgh was dressed in her battered leather armour, with her hair drawn back tightly from her brow and covered with a leather cap. She wore her weapons belt strapped around her waist as usual.
Isabeau seized her hands. ‘Oh, Iseult! Canna ye persuade Lachlan to give up this mad plan? Canna ye see it is death to try it?’
Iseult shook her head. ‘He is determined, Beau. Surely ye ken him well enough by now to ken how stubborn he is? He shall no’ give up while there is a chance we can thwart this evil plan o’ the Fairgean.’
‘Must ye go with him?’ Isabeau said. ‘And our dai-dein too? Do ye mean to relieve me o’ all my family at once?’
Iseult did not return her sister’s smile, as forced as it had been. ‘Ye must have a care for my bairns,’ she said deliberately. ‘I give them into your care, Isabeau.’
Isabeau did not misunderstand her. ‘Ye mean …’ she faltered. ‘Oh, Iseult. Ye must come back, both o’ ye! It’s madness to risk yourselves so.’
‘Just in case,’ Iseult answered. ‘I am no’ afraid really. It is a good plan and could work, and if it does no’, well, we sail for the open sea just as fast as we can! Do no’ weep so, Isabeau. It is no way to say farewell.’
Isabeau wiped her eyes and tried to smile, but the cold foreboding of the morning had not faded with the light of the comet. She embraced her sister tightly, wishing they were all safely home at Lucescere, with nothing more to worry about than how to celebrate their upcoming birthday. At last Iseult tore herself away and Isabeau sank down on a pile of sacks, burying her face in her hands.
Someone seized her hands and drew them away. She looked up and saw Dide. His face was pale, his eyes shadowed. ‘This is goodbye, my Beau,’ he said. ‘The retreat has been sounded. Ye must be gone afore ye lose too much o’ the daylight.’
