by Mia Pride
Queen Leannan calmed considerably as she took the clay jar from Maggie with a shaky smile. “My thanks, Maggie. You are truly a wondrous healer. We are so blessed you and Àdhamh came all the way from Alba to join our tuath.”
With a slight curtsy to her queen, Maggie smiled. “’Tis nothing at all, Queen Leannan.” Flynn watched her in wonder as she spoke so assuredly, so full of knowledge. How he wished he was privy to this side of her all the time.
Just then, Maggie shifted and finally saw him standing near the door. All the color drained from her face as her eyes widened. He saw her swallow hard, the slim column of her throat bobbing from the strain, and he frowned at her reaction to him. Was he truly so frightening? No other lass had ever looked like she would flee when she looked at him.
Fortunately, Àdhamh’s wife Elwynna had no such reservations and smiled widely when she saw they had all arrived. “’Tis the three handsome Mac Greine men,” she said, with her hands on her hips and a friendly grin. “I have been on Maggie’s heals for several moons, but I am learning so much about healing. She is wonderful, do you not think?”
Flynn, straight-faced and silent, nodded noncommittally to Elwynna’s compliment of Maggie. He agreed very much with her, but it would not do to show any emotion where the lass was concerned.
“Indeed,” his father fortunately responded. “’Tis a fine thing to have a skilled healer. To have two is a blessing. Ráth Mór continues to grow. We need you two lassies to keep us in fine form,” he grinned.
Maggie chewed her plump bottom lip nervously and picked up her basket, wringing her hands tightly against its handle. She was clearly uncomfortable, but Flynn tried to not take it personally. His brother and father alone were intimidating, but all three of them together tended to make people stand a bit straighter. The urge to give her a small smile started to overcome his resolve to keep her at a distance. He simply could not abide her fear of him.
He was not arrogant at all, unlike his brother who could flash a grin and make lassies fall to their knees, and he knew it well. Nay, Flynn knew enough from experience that he was considered a well-made man and he had two dimples that the lassies seemed to appreciate. Still, he hardly felt the need to use them, especially when his goal was to keep his private life private. But at the moment, his goal seemed to be shifting toward making Maggie feel more comfortable around him. Her blue eyes nervously flashed at him and he gave her what he hoped was a small, inviting smile that would ease her distress, yet not invite a lengthy conversation.
So, when her cheeks turned pink, he felt he had made a minor improvement in overcoming her fear of him, but then she seemed to panic, like a doe in the woods hearing a twig snap. With no word or warning, Maggie zoomed past them and out the door, the scent of rose petals and lavender trailing behind her. Och, she even smelled good, but she had run away from him. His pride bristled.
Brennain slapped him on the back hard enough to make him take a step forward. “She likes you.”
Flynn scoffed at his brother and rolled his eyes. “She likes me as much as wee Fedlimid likes cutting teeth.”
Elwynna walked past him slowly with a knowing look on her bonny face. Raising one blonde brow, she leaned in to whisper, “My sister does not do well around the lads, even those with dimples.”
Flynn went back to frowning, only this time in confusion. He supposed it was just as well. He would likely be on the road again by the morn. Lassies simply had no place in his life.
Once Maggie and Elwynna shut the door behind them, Tuathal Techtmar, High King of Ériu stepped forward, holding his wee son in his arms. It was quite a sight to see such a huge, powerful man gently holding a wee crying child. “Have you information on Rochride’s whereabouts?” he looked at both Flynn and Brennain questioningly.
“Aye,” Flynn replied. “He and his army reside in the woods to the west, for now. They move as fast as the wind, it seems. He also has more men every time I track them down.”
“I see,” Tuathal said with a nod. Queen Leannan, who was also Flynn and Brennain’s cousin, stepped forward to listen to their reports.
“If I may, my king…” Flynn hesitated, but he needed to get his feelings out in the open. “I wish to do more on my next mission than simply locate their camp. I feel strongly that Rochride is planning something. Mayhap an attack, but not quite yet. His army grows but is still much too small to take us on. Still, my instincts tell me he is up to something,”
Putting up a hand to stop Flynn’s speech, Tuathal nodded in agreement. “I am of the same mind, Flynn. I was going to ask more of you on this mission. I need to know what he is up to. You and Brennain will infiltrate his camp. He has never seen your faces and at the rate he is adding men, I do not believe he or his men will be wary of the two of you. You are a master at blending in and staying silent. Brennain is a master at casual conversation and charming information out of people. Together, I think you will succeed. It will be dangerous.”
Flynn squared his shoulders and felt a rush of excitement. He was ready for this. If he was going to spend his life gathering information for his king, he could at least use a bit of adventure. Anything was better than simply using his tracking skills every time. Any man could do that; so many of his skills were being unused.
“Aye, my king. We shall do it,” Flynn said, looking at Brennain, who smiled widely at the prospect. His brother always wore his emotions outwardly.
“My lads will not let you down, Tuathal,” Brocc added. “They have spent a lifetime protecting Ériu.”
“Aye, and I would not be where I am now if not for your family’s support. I trust any member of the Sisters of Danu’s family with my life. After all, I married one of them, did I not?” Tuathal looked lovingly at Leannan and she blushed gently at his compliment.
When their meeting had finished, Flynn and Brennain were anxious to return home to pack their satchels. At dawn, they would leave once more and this time, Flynn hoped to find out exactly what that bastard Rochride was up to.
Chapter Two
“What was that all about?”
Maggie pretended not to hear her sister by marriage as she folded another clean linen before placing it in her healing basket. Her new sister was a kind woman and Maggie loved her dearly. Knowing Elwynna had suffered so greatly at the hands of her own father made Maggie ache. It also added to her fear of men. Her true sister, Paulene, had been killed by her husband a summer ago in Alba, which was the main reason Àdhamh and Maggie had sought a new life in Ériu at Ráth Mór, serving High King Tuathal Techtmar. Maggie’s mother had also been treated foully and her father eventually killed her. And now her wee sister by marriage, who was one of the kindest souls she had ever met, shared similar stories of abuse at the hands of men. Aside from her brother, Maggie had not met a man worthy of her trust.
“You can pretend not to hear me, sister, but I know you do. You cannot live your life fearing every lad.”
Aye, she could. She did. It was not to say she preferred to live this way, but even the finest face could hide a beast. She had learned that early on in life. ‘Twas best to live with her brother and his wife, even if she did feel like she was encroaching on their privacy since their marriage a few moons ago.
Shoving another stack of clean linens in her basket, Maggie smoothed her soft lavender wool dress over her hips and considered how to reply to Elwynna. Lying was clearly not an option. Apparently, Maggie’s fear was obvious, though she did try to hide it.
“How do you do it, Elwynna?” Maggie finally whispered as she twisted her skirt in her fists. “With all you have lived through at the hands of men, how did you so easily trust my brother?”
A softness came over Elwynna’s face. Was it pity? Maggie flinched and turned back around. She did not want to be a pitiful lass. She wanted to be brave, face her fears, and truly learn to live. Her thoughts shifted to Aislin, who was Flynn’s cousin and the wife of one of their warriors, Alastar. Aislin could hunt, climb, fight, and protect her tribe, and sh
e feared no man. Yet, she was also a tender wife, mother of a wee babe, and capable of running a household. Maggie had always envied Aislin and her strength. She wished to learn to use a weapon, as well. Mayhap it would make her feel safer to be able to defend herself.
Many times, she had wished to ask her brother for help, but he was much too preoccupied with his own training and being a husband to Elwynna. Maggie was already living in their home and intruding on their married life. She could not ask her brother for more. He would do it, she knew well, but at the cost of his time with his wife. Maggie could not be a further burden to them and asking another man to help her would require a trust she simply could not fathom ever having. Nay, her life was best spent tending the ill and keeping silent. The less visible she was, the less chance a man would ever focus his attention on her. Only then could she avoid becoming a victim, like all the other women in her life.
“How do I do what, dear sister?” Elwynna’s small warm fingers touched her shoulder gently, urging Maggie to turn around and engage in the conversation. Elwynna’s long blonde hair was only a shade lighter than her own, but her hazel eyes were almost yellow as they looked at her imploringly.
With a sigh, Maggie licked her lips and shrugged. “You have endured so much pain in your life, caused by men. Still, you do not fear them and you found love. I have not even been violated and yet I cannot be near a man without fearing him.”
“Even Flynn?” Elwynna asked carefully, clearly wanting to continue the conversation without upsetting Maggie.
Soft blue eyes widening, Maggie took a deep breath. Why would Elwynna mention Flynn, of all men? Aye, he was the brawest warrior in all the village and so handsome that her breath left her body every time he was near. It was like her heart and head stopped working every time he entered a room. Deep in her heart, she dearly wished to know him, even speak to him without stuttering like a fool. Still, he was a man, a very large man with enormous muscles who stood at least two heads taller than her. He intimidated her immensely, and though nobody could ever have a bad word to say about him and he came from a wonderful family, he was also very quiet and mysterious. She was not certain whether she should be frightened of him or in awe.
Finally, she decided to answer. “Especially, Flynn, Elwynna. And since you mention his name, I now know I am doing a terrible job of concealing my… interest,” Maggie grumbled. She took her now full basket and carried it over to the door, where it would be readily available in case of an emergency.
“He is a handsome man,” Elwynna interjected matter-of-factly. “I never hear of him with another lass. And he did smile at you today… until you turned white and scurried away.”
Embarrassment flooded Maggie and now instead of turning white, she felt herself turning pink. She made a fool of herself. How she wished to be more confident and brave, especially around Flynn. Still, the man had shown no interest in her whatsoever. A smile meant naught. Although, she had to admit that the man spared smiles for few people. Mayhap she should feel special to have received one, especially when he had such wondrous dimples that her heart beat wildly just thinking on them.
“I admit I find Flynn attractive,” she decided to share with her sister. “Still, my attraction to him cannot outweigh my fear of men, and he is quite a large one, at that. Furthermore, he is almost never within the village. He travels most frequently and he has never shown me any favor.”
Elwynna scoffed from across the room and put her hands on her hips. “He smiled at you. ‘Tis more than I have ever seen him do for any other lass.”
Maggie felt her brow furrow. “’Tis but a smile. It means naught. Besides, I am much better off on my own. I do not think I can even stomach being touched by a man.” She hesitated, chewing on her lower lip. Should she tell Elwynna her darkest secret? Mayhap she should confide in at least one person. Even her brother did not know the full truth.
Growing serious, Elwynna stepped closer and nodded, her green wool dress swishing against her legs in the otherwise silent room. The hearth fire blazed, keeping them warm and protected from the chill outside. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Maggie looked her sister in the eye. “I was in the room when my mother was violated and killed.”
A gasp left Elwynna’s lungs as she put her hand over her heart. “Oh my, Maggie!” Elwynna tittered and stormed over to her side, wrapping Maggie tightly in her embrace. “’Tis nay wonder you are as fearful as you are. Were you a young lass?”
Maggie pulled back slightly, only so she could catch her breath after Elwynna’s grip had sucked the air from her lungs. “I was not so wee. I was ten and three. Old enough to know what I was seeing but too young to do aught about it. I hid like a coward beneath the bed. But he had her on the floor and I… I saw it all. Every horrible thing he did to her before he…” her voice trailed off and she squeezed her eyes shut. It was simply too hard to speak about that awful day. The images haunted her enough, but speaking the words would feel like ripping open a festering wound.
“You never told Àdhamh of this?” Elwynna asked gently, taking Maggie by the arm to help her sit on the bench against the round wall.
Shaking her head, she tucked a stray wave behind her ear nervously, glad she had finally spoken the words. Someone in the world now knew why she feared men so gravely. “Nay. And, please, do not tell him. I fear he pities me enough. I do not need for him to think of me as weaker than I already appear.”
“You are not weak, Maggie. You have seen things in this world that would cause fear in any woman. You lost your mother and sister to two violent men. But Maggie…” Elwynna put her hand on Maggie’s knee and squeezed. “Most men are not so bad. You had very poor fortune to be around such a cruel man, but most men are like your brother, kind and gentle.”
Maggie scoffed and shifted on the bench. “Men wage wars over cattle, land, honor, and women. My brother is a rare man. Most men will not hesitate to hurt a woman. You must know this yourself, having lived through all you have.” Maggie winced after the words left her mouth. She did not wish to cause Elwynna pain.
To her surprise, Elwynna smiled. “My father is an awful man, I admit that. And the warriors he gave me to were not much better. But there were some who refused to take me against my will. In fact, more of his warriors kept me safe rather than hurt me. It was the few, however, who did hurt me, who made my life horrible. There are bad men, aye, but there are more good. I stand by that.”
Maggie wanted to argue that she may be right, but telling the good from the bad was a risky business. A lass had to allow a man close enough before she could learn the truth and it was not a risk she would take.
“My thanks for speaking with me, Elwynna. I trust you shall keep my secret.”
A pounding at the door had Maggie standing swiftly, rushing to the entrance. Being the healer of the village, especially one as large as Ráth Mór, meant visitors at all hours, another reason Maggie felt guilty to be staying with her brother and his wife. They were woken from their sleep too often.
“You are a brave lass already, Maggie. You save lives and bring more life into this world as a midwife. ‘Tis more than most could ever do. Remember that.”
With a nod, Maggie gave Elwynna a weak smile and opened the door, feeling the cold sting her skin immediately. Aislin stood at the door panting, her red waves wrapped around her face as she leaned over to catch her breath. Dread ran up Maggie’s spine to see this strong, brave woman looking so harried. “Is it wee Conor?” Maggie asked carefully. “Is your son ill?” Sick babes were her greatest fear. If a child died because she could not save him, she would never forgive herself. She knew it would one day happen. Babes died every day, but still she dreaded it.
Standing up straight, Aislin breathed deeply and waved off Maggie’s fears. “Nay. ‘Tis my husband. A lad in training accidentally sliced his arm during practice this morn. He will be all right, but requires your stitching skills. I am afraid mine still lack, as much as I try.”
Hearing Aislin doubt
herself made Maggie cock her head. Aislin was always so self-assured and yet, she admitted that Maggie was more skilled than she was at something. In a way, that made Maggie feel better about herself. She knew she was skilled at stitching up wounds but, for some reason, having Aislin recognize it made her want to smile. Fortunately, she had better manners than to smile after hearing Alastar had an injury.
“Let us go to him immediately,” Maggie agreed. She grabbed her cloak, clasped it around her neck, and picked up the basket by the door.
As she and Aislin walked through the village in silence, she carefully dodged the puddles, hoping not to muddy her dress. Several people milled about, trying to get their chores done before the next looming storm eventually came down on them. Angry gray clouds slowly moved in from the west and Maggie knew that once it reached them, it would rival the storm from the night before.
A drop of rain landed on her cheek and small droplets began to fall all around. Picking up their pace, she and Aislin rushed toward the outer edge of the village, where her and Alastar’s roundhouse sat on the border of the woods. Their door was wide open and Aislin finally spoke. “My thanks for coming so swiftly, Maggie. Please pardon all the people. We had some family drop in to check on Alastar before their travels.”
“’Tis nay trouble, Aislin,” Maggie responded, then winced when she felt icy water splash up her leg. Curse it. She’d stepped in a large puddle and her purple dress was a murky brown around the hem. She probably resembled a drowned rat now, but could not truly care since she had work to do.
A hound barked wildly from inside the house and Maggie smiled, knowing it was Aislin’s faithful hunting hound, Branwen. Rolling her eyes before entering her home, Aislin laughed. “Branwen gets a bit excited when we have company.”
Stepping into the house, she was at first blinded as her eyes tried to adjust to the sudden dimness. It had been so bright outside with the clouds reflecting the sunlight. Walking into Aislin’s home was like entering a cave. “Oomph.” Maggie ran into something hard and fell onto her backside with a rather painful thump. She had no time to brace herself for the unexpected fall.