The Hart and the Harp

by Sorcha MacMurrough

  Shive knew she would have to be in and out like lightning under his defenses if she was to have any realistic chance against him. But she did have one or two tricks up her sleeve. If only he didn’t remember them from the years they had trained together...

  Mahon called upon the two opponents to start the challenge. As Shive had predicted, Parthalan rained down blow after heavy blow on her shield with his great bejewelled sword so that she was continually on the defensive. She moved a great deal faster than Parthalan though. Whenever he thought he could move in for the kill, she managed to elude him.

  But the two Viking battles had taken their toll, and Shive began to grow weary. Above all, she wanted it all to be over. Just when Parthalan thought he was about to strike the final blow, Shive made her move.

  Suddenly she dropped her shield and switched her sword to her left hand. She attacked Parthalan on his unprotected side, until she backed him up against the castle wall and demanded, “Do you yield to me, Parthalan? There have been enough deaths this day without adding yours to the list.”

  “I’ll never yield! I am tanaist!” Parthalan shouted angrily, as he glared at the sword tip pressed against his stomach furiously.

  “Only because you knew Uistean had killed my brother. Uistean would ever have agreed to accepting you as tanaist otherwise!”

  "All right, I admit it, I knew about Fiachra’s death, but what did it really matter?” Parthalan scoffed. “Fiachra was weak, just as you are. You don’t want to fight any more than he did! You couldn’t lead the clan anywhere, Shive, except into ruin!”

  “Better we're ruined then, than to go down the path of evil,” Shive hissed as she gripped her cousin by the throat. “Now, for the last time, Parthalan, will you yield and recognise me as tanaist, or will you force me to kill you?”

  “I’ll never yield!” Parthalan shouted. He took a vicious swipe at Shive with his fist.

  Shive ducked, and with a tremendous swish of her sword, sliced his stomach open, and then brought her sword up like lightning to decapitate him.

  Parthalan’s head sailed into the crowd, causing all of the men to gasp. Shive let go of her cousin’s shirt. The body fell to the ground with a resounding thud.

  Shive looked around, meeting the gaze of every man in the circle as she wiped her sword against her right sleeve.

  “Does anyone else wish to challenge me for the position of tanaist?” she demanded.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Shive gazed around the circle until her gaze lit on her eldest living cousin.

  Mahon followed her glance over to his brother Fergus, who began to retch violently and ran away from the circle as fast as his legs could carry him.

  Shive nodded slightly. “Then I'm the head of the clan MacDermot. I declare that our first priority after protecting ourselves is to make restitution to the O’Hara clan for all the harm my father has done to them in the past five years. We will draw up various lists for cattle, crops and so on. I will lead you well, if you will deal with me honestly and openly.

  “One final point, and this is an important one. Make no mistake in thinking the O’Rourkes are our allies. My father was using them to support him in a bid for the highkingship. We will all support my cousin Ruairi Ua Conchobair, and Ruairi only, in his bid for that position, if and when the time comes.

  “Now, if someone will send for a priest, we will have their wake now and funeral tomorrow. Then this matter will be at an end. I never wish to speak of it again, or have this incident or my brother’s death mentioned in my presence,” Shive declared.

  Mahon came forward with his sword hilt raised and knelt before Shive. “Shive MacDermot, I, Mahon MacDermot, do humbly submit to your authority, and vow to serve you loyally all the days of my life.”

  Shive, deeply moved, bent down to raise him up. “I accept your pledge, Mahon MacDermot, and do promise to protect you and the entire clan with my body and my blood,” Shive pledged in return, loud enough for all to hear.

  All of the men in the circle knelt in front of Shive to make their vows of allegiance to her as the new tanaist.

  Tiernan at last felt able to breathe again. Only Cian’s restraining arm had prevented Tiernan from going down to help Shive when she had battled Parthalan. But now that it was all over, and Shive was head of her own clan, it made Tiernan stop and think for the first time about what the past day would mean for their future relationship.

  “I’ve lost Shive now, Cian, haven’t I?” Tiernan said, his voice full of regret. “She’s back in the bosom of her family, and has no need of me.”

  “And I told you, Tiernan, Shive married you because she chose to, not because she had nowhere else to go. And she married you to forge an alliance between our two families,” Cian reminded his brother.

  “It didn’t work though, did it?” Tiernan shook his head, thinking of all the dead at Breachnach.

  “I think it has. None of our clansmen died at each other’s hands, and the Viking problem has now been solved, since Shive had them all killed. I know our men are outraged, but I'm sure you can convince them to let bygones be bygones now that Shive has killed Uistean to punish him for his nefarious scheme.”

  “She killed her own father for me, and her cousin. How could she possibly care about me now? She would hate me.”

  “The very fact that she did do it should prove that she loves you. But don’t take my word for it. There’s only one way to find out how Shive feels about you, and that's to speak to her,” Cian said, pointing to where Shive was taking the last of the submissions of fealty from her clan.

  Many of the men were now dispersing back to their holdings to let the new tanaist begin the business of leading them in her own way. Cian thought it would be safe for them to go down and speak to her. But Tiernan felt as though a great gulf had opened up between them, and was loath to intrude upon her family business or her grief.

  In truth, Shive had won, but she had never felt more dejected or alone. She was angered by her father’s treachery, and her cousin’s stubborn pride which had forced her to kill him. The way she had killed both of them did not sit well with her. But Shive had wanted to makes sure no other foolhardy, ambitious young man would challenge her, hence the gutting and spectacular beheading, which had shocked them all into submission.

  But even harder to face was Mahon’s disturbing question as the last of the men drifted away.

  “Where's Ernin? I don’t see him anywhere. He should be making his submission as well.”

  Shive took his arm as the men began to prepare Uistean and Parthalan for their funeral. “Mahon, Ernin died this morning, protecting me from the Viking leader. He gave up his life for me. You don’t know how it pains me to have to try to bear this.”

  Shive took Ernin’s pouch of her own, and handed them to Mahon wordlessly.

  Mahon just stared at them for a moment, then threw his arms around Shive and began to weep bitterly.

  Tiernan felt a surge of uncontrollable jealousy well up inside him like molten lava as he saw the two young people in each other’s arms, and stopped in his tracks.

  “I’m not wanted here,” he muttered to himself bitterly.

  “Don’t be silly, can’t you see they’re both weeping?” Cian berated his pigheaded brother as he came up behind him and overheard what Tiernan had said.

  “You care about her. Go up to her and just tell her, for the love of Heaven!”

  But Tiernan’s jealousy, and the bitterness he felt over Shive having fought his battle for him made him awkward.

  He might have been a complete stranger for all the warmth he showed. “Congratulations on your victory, Shive. So you’re tanaist now.”

  “Tiernan, you took a great risk coming here!” Shive replied unguardedly, astonished to see her husband of all people standing there before her. She blushed then, shamed that he should see her looking so bloody and dishevelled. Why did he never seem to see her looking at anything other than her worst, she wondered with dismay.

&
nbsp; His handsome visage looked so grim and forbidding, that any words of welcome or affection died on her lips.

  “I wanted to make sure you were all right. When you weren’t at Castlegarren last night when I returned, I feared something might have happened to you,” Tiernan admitted gruffly.

  “Nay, I am well, Tiernan, but...” Her voice trailed away. Somehow the explanations seemed so complicated that the words refused to come.

  “At any rate, I expect you and Mahon have a great deal to do to arrange for the funerals, so I won’t intrude upon your grief.” Tiernan nodded curtly, and began to turn away.

  Shive became desperate enough to say, “'Tis no intrusion, my lord. You’re welcome to stay.”

  Tiernan shook his head. “Forgive me, Shive, but after all that's happened, you know full well why I can’t remain under this roof.”

  “I understand.” Shive nodded, but all the same she felt deeply hurt at Tiernan’s seeming rejection of her.

  Well, what did I expect. I knew it was over. There is no point in trying to fool myself any longer, Shive reflected dismally as the two of them continued to stare at each other silently.

  Tiernan waited in the hope that she would offer to come home with him to Castlegarren, but suddenly realised that it was impossible. He had hastily rejected her offer, still angry about the Viking attack, but he now acknowledged that she couldn’t just leave in the middle of the wake and funeral even if she wished to come back with him.

  Nor could he ask Shive when she planned to come home. Tiernan believed that that would be to show weakness on his part.

  So in his pride, Tiernan simply said, “Well, if you’ll excuse me, my lady, Cian and I have things to do back at Breachnach, as I'm sure you can imagine.”

  “Goodbye then, Tiernan.” Shive bowed her head politely.

  Tiernan swung on his heel and left without another word.

  Cian tried to apologise for his brother’s boorish behaviour, but Shive shook her head. “No, no, I understand how he feels.”

  Shive then told Cian hastily of her arrangements for her clansmen and the remainder of the second band of Vikings.

  Cian stared at her in stunned surprise as he recounted all her father had done, and her own battle with the Vikings at Glenfarne. She also told him tearfully of the death of her brave young cousin.

  “I can’t believe you took on the Vikings like that on our behalf. And I’m desperately sorry about Ernin. He was one of the most promising young men I’ve ever met.” Cian patted her on the shoulder in a feeble attempt to try to console her.

  “As for the arrangements you've come to about the Vikings being brought to Breachnach to repair the damage they have caused, well, it's very generous of you. I know we can’t bring back the dead, but perhaps we can ensure we don’t bury any more of our comrades.”

  “Amen to that,” said Shive fervently.

  “Your attack on the Vikings at Glenfarne, though. Was that was wise?”

  Shive waved his question away dismissively. “Wise or not, Cian, I couldn’t let yet another helpless village be attacked. As for my arrangements, it might be dangerous keeping the Vikings here after I have vanquished their comrades, but Breachnach needs to be rebuilt.

  “We'll have the funeral here, then gather food and supplies. Afterwards I shall set about making restitution to you and your family for all the damage Uistean caused. After all, I never did bring a dowry to my marriage. It’s the least Tiernan and the O’Haras deserve for taking me in. You were all very kind to me despite everything, and it's the least I can do.”

  Shive began to move up to the entrance to her castle, her interview with Cian at an end. He followed her, unwilling to let her go just yet when he had so many unanswered questions.

  “I know you’re very busy, Shive, but there's still one thing I’m not clear about. I don’t understand how the clan has accepted the killing of you father and cousin so meekly. I would have thought they would have been delighted with the Viking raids against us.”

  Shive blinked in surprise, and then shook her head, realizing Cian had missed the main point of her becoming tanaist. “It wasn’t because of the Viking raids that I challenged Uistean and Parthalan. Not really. That was just the last straw.”

  Cian frowned. “What other reasons could you have possibly had for killing your own father?”

  Mahon, who had just come up to consult with Shive about a small matter, stated, “It was Uistean who killed Shive’s brother Fiachra five years ago. My brother Parthalan knew all about it. Uistean made Parthalan tanaist in order to keep the identity of the real murderer, namely himself, a secret.

  “Uistean even tried to poison Shive on her wedding day, so that she would die at Castlegarren, and Tiernan would get the blame for her death. It would have been just another excuse to attack your family, in order to get you out of the way so he could seek the highkingship unchallenged.

  “That’s why Shive fought Uistean to the death. To bring the murderer to justice, and take control of the clan so the hostilities between our families would stop.”

  “Is this true, Shive?” Cian gasped.

  Mahon maintained, “Every word I have just spoken is true. I heard Uistean confess to everything with my own ears.”

  Shive nodded wordlessly. “But don’t tell Tiernan about all this just yet. So much has happened since yesterday, it will be a lot for him to take in. I won’t blame him for being outraged about all my father has done to him, and the way he's been so unfairly treated by everyone who falsely accused him of his best friend’s death.

  “But one other thing before you go, Cian,” Shive warned her brother-in-law. “Uistean was planning on being high king himself, with the help of the O’Rourke clan, and perhaps some others. With those sorts of powerful men being mustered together by my ambitious father, and the even more ambitious Muireadach, I would be careful if I were you.”

  Cian nodded. "As you say, Shive, Tiernan has a lot to think about right now. I'll tell him everything when I think he is ready to hear the truth, but he’s still smarting after the raid yesterday. To discover that Uistean was guilty all along might send him into an uncontrollable rage.”

  “Tell him whatever you think best. I imagine it won’t make much difference to how he feels about me anyway,” Shive said with gloomy resignation.

  “Do you want me to send you your things?” Cian asked quietly, with a piercing gaze.

  “No, no, it’s not necessary,” Shive reassured Cian quickly. “There’s not much I need, and wouldn’t want to make it seem as if I were asking for a divorce or anything. If Tiernan wants one, well, he can send me my things. In the meantime, I shall have to start looking into the castle and clan affairs here. I promise to come back to Castlegarren when things here are a bit more settled.”

  “I’ll look forward to it. But don’t leave it too long, will you, my dear,” Cian said warmly, planting a kiss on her brow.

  “I’ll try not to, Cian,” Shive agreed, hugging him to her briefly.

  “I know this has been hard for you, my girl. But for what it’s worth, Shive, congratulations on becoming tanaist. I can’t think of anyone more deserving, except Mahon over here.” Cian smiled softly and ruffed her hair.

  “Ernin’s dead, did you know?” Mahon declared abruptly.

  “I did, Mahon. I’m so sorry.”

  Shive began to shudder. “He saved me from the Vikings. They cleaved his skull in two,” Shive revealed with a catch in her voice. “It should have been me.”

  “Oh, Shive,” Cian soothed, as Mahon held her close in order to try to subdue her trembling.

  “I’ll tell Tiernan all you've told me. I know they will all be sorely grieved to hear your sad if triumphant news. Is Ernin to be buried tomorrow too? If he is, I shall stay overnight to pay my respects if I may.”

  “Nay, I buried him with the others on the battlefield. He was a hero, and he needs no fancy funeral to prove it,” Shive replied. Her knees jellied then, the shock of all she had lost fina
lly taking its toll.

  Cian could see she was on the verge of collapse, but wouldn’t thank him for trying to help. He cursed his brother’s stubborn pride. It was Tiernan who should be with her comforting her at this time, not him or her cousin, however well meaning they might both be.

  “Very well, Shive, if there is nothing you wish me to do for you here, I'd better go now.”

  “Just keep in contact. I wouldn’t like to lose your friendship, Cian, even if Tiernan never trusts me again.”

  Cian would have argued with Shive, but she looked so weary, he just kissed her forehead one last time.

  “I promise. You can’t get rid of me that easily. Take care, my dear,” Cian called as he strode away out of the castle gate to retrieve his horse and head home with his taciturn brother, who had witnessed his brother’s exchange with Shive but was determined not to ask any questions.