‘Yes, but if the Lord Deputy is in Dublin, it will be the Clanricardes, who will make the judgement.’
The Clanricardes were strong in Galway. Over many years, disputes had arisen between the two branches of the “higher and lower” Bourkes. There was great resentment and mistrust between them. If the Lord Deputy was indeed in Dublin, then, there was a real possibility that the Clanricardes would take Cirilo and keep him for their own uses after faking reports on his execution.
‘Out! Get out! The council will now move to more pressing issues. You were invited here as guests and allowed an audience. You have been given the opportunity and have lost the verdict. Respect the Nemed, your leave is now granted.’
James, Richard and Thomas stormed out of the courtroom, each one opening and then slamming the oak door as they demonstrated their anger.
It was to be some days before arrangements would be any closer to transporting Cirilo to Galway. In the meantime, Emily and James Bourke had been keeping Cirilo secure, fed and watered. The bond between James and Cirilo increased as the days lapsed; it was clear that Cirilo was a unique individual. He was not the savage that black Africans had been described as by the bards and poets, but an intelligent man. He was full of faith and respect. Emily and James were therefore determined to seek out a plan for him but were not yet certain what it would be.
He knew Spanish and some Latin, but the priority was now to teach him Irish and English in order to ensure that they could all communicate with him. As well as the practical advantages, this would increase his value as a resource and a saleable commodity. Cirilo soon picked up the majority of common words and phrases, but his status as slave was not forgotten and he would never be free. Slaves are required to be property in Ireland they cannot be granted freedom.
Emily, Sin and the Slave
Emily’s chores included taking food and water to the workers when they were unable to leave their work to get it themselves. For the men working the land as well as the heavy and manual work sowing and ploughing, it was important to keep the working animals moving. If they were fed well and rested for too long, they would be difficult to get re-started and get working again.
In her mind and at intimate times while she was alone, Emily had physically fantasised many times over romance and love with attractive men. Despite the church insisting this behaviour was a sin, she often succumbed to the natural urge and the pleasure of touch while she imagined her man pleasing himself with her body.
On a mild spring day, after one such occasion, she felt an inner contentment as she left the castle through the arched doorway, turning left to face the river, heading towards the wooden bridge. As she listened to the evening bird songs and trickling river, she sang the same Irish song that she had sung when Cirilo woke from his coma.
I have a message of love my lover,
As the deer runs, winter ice drapes the land,
Summer sun racing away from cold.
Its nature true, retold each season evermore.
Reed, grass and flower wither its shape and waft
To brawl the fairies of the frost
Given by the Lord who protects all kith
My soul is the wick which gives life to the flame
My warmth is the fire which burns within
I have a message of love my lover…
Emily walked along the Dael and crossed the footbridge over the river walking slowly to the field, passing some of the workers who were making their way back to their townlands. The walk was along the river to almost the furthest point before the land bordered the Barrett’s. She reached the Bourke plot where Cirilo was still working. Setting down the food as she had done many times before, she gestured to Cirilo to take it. The work in this field was finished for the day, but Cirilo was working alone after the other workers had gone home; they had left a cart which needed loading. By taking food to him, the Bourkes kept him working, rather than allowing him to waste time walking to his food and diverting from his work.
Cirilo’s Irish was improving, and he could now communicate well.
‘Thank you, miss, I am very hungry today. The river cooled and refreshed me, but all I hear now are rumbles within my paunch.’
Cirilo carried on working while taking bites from the boiled vegetables and bread. The Bourkes at Dael now trusted him and Emily felt at ease being alone with him. It was approaching dusk and there was only a little light now as Emily sat on stones and began light conversation.
‘Cirilo, you may stop a while if you wish to eat in peace.’
‘Sorry miss, but I will be scolded if the carts are not loaded this evening.’
‘In that case, I order you to stop! I need to tell you that we are all doing our best to keep you within the ownership of the Bourkes, but you will soon be at the mercy of the Lord Deputy. His orders are that all Spanish will be sent to Galway. The decisions were made against our will and I fear we will soon have to take you there.’
‘What will become of me in Galway, miss?’
Emily’s heart sank. She knew that orders from the Lord Deputy were that all Spanish were to be executed, probably after they had been tortured.
‘It is not certain, Cirilo, but I believe you will be questioned for intelligence about the Spanish and hope that you may then be assigned to the English as a slave. There is rumour that the Clanricarde Bourkes will try and take you as their own if the Lord Deputy’s clerks are not in attendance.’
He looked at her with his wide, smiling eyes and long lashes, glancing down with a look of embarrassment. He remembered his injured nose and scars acquired during the burning of the Rata. He felt less attractive and had become very conscious of his looks.
‘Yes miss, I know you and Sire James have helped me and you have both become my friends. I have no fear since I have great trust in the Bourkes. I would like to stay with the Bourkes till my time is done.’
‘I know you have faith, Cirilo, and I know you are a good man, but others are less friendly towards those who are different and it is they who will beat and bully.’
‘Over the weeks, the beatings have become less and I have seen so many sufferings of others, especially at sea and over the past months. I have seen ships sink, many soldiers and sailors die through injury, fever and disease. I have seen men smile in a moment and then an instant later, blown apart when cannons explode. My life has been good and without such suffering since I have been here and I am thankful for each day the Lord grants.’
Cirilo held out one of his huge and powerful hands. Emily moved slightly away until she realised what it was. He was holding a small wooden figurine which was pierced and threaded with a leather string of lace. He loosened the laces of his shirt and withdrew a second similar object matching it against the one in his other hand. The wooden carvings were two halves of a Spanish ship. When he placed them together fitted together with the grain of the wood matching perfectly.
‘Will you take this to remember me, miss? I carved it from the wood splinter that was taken from my body. It reminds me of the ship that took me to these shores. It also reminds me too of the wound I had on my body and the kindness shown by my Irish friends. These carvings will fit together as one and I would like you to have this one in memory of my thanks for the kindness shown to me by you and the Bourkes. I know that my life would be harsher or even I would not have one if it was not for the clan of Mayo.’
‘I must agree, Cirilo, my family are good people, I fear that things would have been different if James had lost the fight with Richard Barrett that day at the fighting stone of Glencastle or if you were given to the Welshes.’
‘I am only a slave, I do not deserve your kindness and you have given me respect that many like me can only dream of. I will soon be in Galway and I know not my fate, but until I die, I will keep the carving over my heart. When we are parted, I will pray that one day, when I am again with you and James, they will be placed together once more. Since my wish is for the ships to find union, then my thoughts are w
ithout sin.’
‘Oh Cirilo, thank you, it is a wonderful and precious necklace. I will always keep it and remember you. Is it really a likeness of the ship you came to Ireland in?’
‘Yes miss, it is as close as I could remember. I did not spend much time looking at the boat since I was below on a crowded deck working in darkness. When I was not on the lower decks, I was on the gun decks during battle helping to pass shot and powder with the powder boys. Once the zephyr blew us ashore, I did not have long to look at the ship before I was ordered to burn it by the Spanish.’
Emily smiled and moved closer, Cirilo looked down in submission and embarrassment. She felt attracted to Cirilo in a way that she had never before felt for a man. She thought for a moment about the time when Richard made the pass at her and how she had felt nothing for him. These feelings were now so different. Her body began to flood with emotion and desire. She stopped and thought carefully over what she was about to do.
My God, this man is all I want at this moment, I need to feel his strong arms around me and I want to hold him. What will it be like to kiss his warm and soft lips? I can’t do it though, I shouldn’t touch this man, he is not of the clan and it is forbidden.
Somehow, knowing that to have a relationship with him was against the laws of her people, it made it even more exciting. All her life, she had believed that she was in control and would decide on her future. Not many daughters of clan leaders would hold the opinion she had, but she was more independent and self-assured than the others.
Then after pausing for a while looking at his dark head and stubbled hair, she cupped his chin to lift his face. Taking a breath, she kissed him lightly on his forehead and then moved back a little. She thought about what she had just done and looked the other way as Cirilo did the same.
They both knew that this act alone would result in both of them being punished severely. Cirilo would certainly lose his home with the Bourkes and would most likely suffer immediate beatings and probably death. Such an act with a lady of the Bourke Clan, indeed any Irish woman was a very serious transgression for a slave. Cirilo was speechless, he was aroused too, but now felt the fear of a man who had committed a great sin.
She wanted more of him and kissed his head again and for a moment, keeping her lips pressed against him, there was no other movement or sound other than a sigh of pleasure from him. She knew from his reaction that he felt the same way. He wanted her too and she knew that he would soon respond to his instincts. The realisation of what they were doing began to overwhelm them both. Emily had never taken control and kissed any man before, let alone a foreigner and a slave. His standing in society had less status than a working horse or a plough ox. He had no position in the community and concern for a slave would be that of a dog.
Cirilo froze, unable to comprehend what was happening to him. A beautiful white fresh-faced virgin, redheaded Irish woman was kissing him tenderly. His heart raced and pounded with a feeling of dread within his chest. He felt intoxicated as the excitement ran through his body and mixed with the feelings of guilt and anticipation of the consequences should they be found out.
As quickly as it had happened, he realised that he felt an overwhelming love for Emily. She was naive and could only compare her experience with a few limited experiences of some rather lewd and odorous men, including the over-zealous Richard Barrett, but she had known nothing like the feeling she was experiencing at this moment. She now knew that she had a true and binding love for this man.
Cirilo was aware that the punishment for what had already taken place would be severe. He felt inwardly as though he was a criminal, guilty of a capital crime; he had already committed a great transgression with this girl. On the other hand, this now helped him to come to terms with his next move. Something told him that there was no further point in holding back. He was already a condemned man, whatever else he did from this point forward was of no further consequence. Nothing more would increase the punishment he would now face if they were found out. Any act he performed now would be no worse than that which had already merited the ultimate sentence.
He was no longer hesitant, all self-control had left him and he was now driven by desire and love. Despite his physical state of arousal, he was very inexperienced and nervous. Taking deep breaths, he gained a little confidence as he looked into her eyes. Amid her beautiful and contented gaze, he saw his own passion reflected, which seemed to feed Emily’s cravings too. Gradually, he felt more at ease with her. His heartbeat settled slightly and he no longer felt as though he would pass out from excitement and stimulation.
The sunlight was now fading behind Ben Nephin and the skies were beginning to darken. Emily and Cirilo were a short distance from the end of the trail to Dael and so they were alone and would not be seen. She paused for a moment, what if a poacher, traveller, or even worse, a member of the family should stumble upon them. In the unlikely event, both parties would agree to deny what they had done and would need to re-assume their position as slave and mistress. To work, the scenario pre-supposed that they would not be discovered in an embrace. If they were seen in the act of lovemaking, it would be disaster for them both and a certain end for Cirilo.
Their thoughts of sin and chastisement were over in a mind’s flash. Cirilo reached out and cupped Emily’s head in his large hands, then moving her head back he allowed his lips to gently glance on her skin as he kissed a line down her face to her nose and then across to her cheek. Emily did not resist and felt the warm sensation of arousal run through her body. Because this new love was illicit, it made the experience even more exciting. The consequences for them both were not good, but she realised that she loved this man and somehow, it did not make a difference. Nothing could undo what had been done this day, what they were both feeling and they felt mutual love in every part of their bodies.
Cirilo moved his lips from her cheek onto her mouth. She had briefly kissed only a few other men and boys before and had never imagined anything of the like. This was a very special and instant feeling. Despite the lack of any status or significance in the community, he now felt for the first time as though he was an important and powerful being. For now there were no penalties of their actions, only the strong love that was felt connecting their souls. There was an intense and unique feeling that only two spirits feel when they are joined in a rare and mutual love.
Emily took his hand and motioned towards the reed bed nearby. This would give them some comfort and protection from the winds, but it would keep them out of sight. People did pass this way at night and being seen was not a thing they could risk. They walked over to the undergrowth and Cirilo took off his brat cloak before lying it down on the ground. Emily lay down pulling him closer to her hungry body as they kissed and touched. Neither of them fully understood what was about to happen. Emily wanted to embrace this man and feel the love transfer through their bodies, but Cirilo had no intention of taking advantage of this woman, he needed to know that she desired him and felt safe in his arms. Each movement gave them both a greater arousal that could only lead onto further intimacy. The kisses and embraces became harder as they struggled to breathe and started to take off items of clothing.
Cirilo’s hands reached behind her and he looked into her eyes for approval. She smiled as he loosened the ties of her green bodice and kissed her lips once more. Her breasts were now free and becoming more pronounced. The restriction lessened and they seemed to grow larger with each breath as her nipples became taut. Her heart was pounding with excitement. Surely it could not continue to beat so fast and she would pass out or die. She remembered a similar feeling as a young girl playing with friends when she had ran too hard before falling. For a moment, she was winded and her chest felt as though it would explode. The burning in her chest was replaced by warm arousal much lower in her young body.
Emily was a virgin and up until this moment had lived according to her strong Catholic beliefs and values with no “knowledge” of men. She had kissed other men briefly and
again compared her feelings with those at the time she kissed Richard Barrett. There was no feeling between them, an emotional void. He was good looking and as a chief’s son, he would be a conquest for any woman of simpler persuasions. Richard would one day find a bride and be happy, but he was not the man for Emily. This stolen moment with Cirilo proved to her that she had discovered her man and that every person deserved to experience true love.
She remembered that her occasional self-indulgences with her body were also a sin. She had confessed them at times in church soon after her transgressions. It was during one confessional that she recalled her priest revealing that even thinking about sex with a man was as much a sin as the real thing. Rather than prevent her immorality, this was now helping her to come to terms with the reality of what was happening. If the sin was the same, then she was already wicked and would need to be forgiven for her sin with Cirilo whatever happened from this point on and significantly, the penance would be no greater.
As her emotions heightened, she believed what she was doing with Cirilo would surely be a greater sin than mere thoughts and they were both in sin through “flesh and thought”. She wrestled with her conscience. This was a pure and new experience which surely must be right if God had created and blessed both men and women with it.
Her confusion waned a little as her arousal increased. She could feel his animal excitement as he pulled himself closer to her and pressed his groin against hers. She held his manhood with tightness that un-yielded his erection. The kissing continued with a new intensity as he engulfed her in his strong arms, curving his body to kiss her breasts. He lowered his head and closed his lips around a delicate pink nipple and sucked sweetly, pressing harder with his manhood. He could resist no longer, positioning himself above her and they became one, taking her gently and slowly as they both moaned in pleasure. She felt some pain, but it soon turned to the delight a woman feels when she knows she is pleasing her lover. As she looked up at his eyes, she smiled at the look of pure contentment and ecstasy on his face and placed her hands forward to cup his organs. Holding her as gently as he could, he held back his own needs so she would experience the height of her own emotions. He took her to a level she had never experienced before and she moaned with desire and fulfilment as her body pulsated. He moved his hand gently covering her beautiful mouth, her lips still swollen from his dark kisses.
The Welshmen of Tyrawley Page 10