Kingdom of Dragons

by Anna St George

  “Well, if she is as pretty as you mi’lady. He has naught to worry about.”

  “You’re too kind sir,” she said blushing. “But one’s looks do not secure a temperate nor colourful character. Not that I have a disagreeable temperament but one cannot judge by those considerations. Is your brother as handsome as you?” she asked and Daniel sighed with delight.

  “You speak wisely for one so young but I fear dear lady, you give me too much praise.”

  “I speak the truth from my heart and tell me Daniel has your father arranged a marriage for you?”

  If most girls asked him such a question he would have shaken his head in annoyance and walked away but this was different. He had every inclination to impress this divine goddess. “My father has set no plans in place for me. I am but number five in a family of six. I warn you my rank is not the most compelling nor important.”

  “You are as important as anyone else in your family,” she replied. “The eldest as well as the youngest should receive their fair share of inheritance.”

  Now Daniel was deeply impressed that she had an opinion of her own and didn’t have to agree with everything a man said. “Well tradition says that the eldest son shall inherit his father’s property and title.”

  “It is written in the Holy Scriptures that Jacob received his father’s blessing instead of his elder brother Esau. Or don’t you believe the word of God?”

  Daniel was impressed. She had studied. “Of course I believe my lady but you forget he received it through trickery.”

  “Nevertheless he did receive it with God’s blessing for he had faith.”

  I see you are well educated and perhaps you are the youngest in your family? Perhaps you cheated your eldest out of an inheritance,” he chided.

  “I’ve done no such thing,” she laughed. “I have no sisters or brothers. I am an only child.”

  “I can’t imagine being an only child.” He thought deeply about it. “That would mean not having to take orders from Gilbert. Not having to settle for second best nor having to walk behind my brothers.”

  “And if I had sisters and brothers,” said Moira. “I would have had playmates as a child instead of having to imagine them and I would have someone to share my dearest dreams with and greatest joys. How I should have longed for a sister or brother.” She smiled and looked away dreamily momentarily and then back at him and they both smiled softly at each other. “My mother died when I was a child and my father died recently. So now I am on my own. That is why I’ve come here to live with the O’Neill. He’s my father’s cousin.”

  “Ahh, of course. But he’s Ava’s cousin too.”

  “Yes, the other side of the family.”

  “I’m glad you’re here,” said Daniel sweetly.

  “Really?” she smiled and the night sky around seemed to light up brilliantly and Daniel was overwhelmed by her loveliness. “I like you Daniel. You’re different than other men I’ve met.”

  “Really?” he replied. “I like you too, Moira.” They stared at each other with hearts pounding and leaned in closer to each other and lips were softly touching in ecstasy for several moments . . . until suddenly an older woman appeared at the edge of the garden where they walked and she cleared her throat before calling out loud. “Moira, you must come in now! You’ll catch cold!”

  Lips pulled apart wearily. “I’d love to talk with you longer Daniel but I must go.”

  “Of course. Perhaps we can talk some more tomorrow?”

  “I hope so.”

  “Goodnight mi’lady.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it.

  “Goodnight Daniel Godwyn. May your dreams be pleasant ones.” And with those words she was gone disappearing into the enchanted night like a vision he had dreamt of and when he went back inside Sir Thomas was waiting for him. And the shining countenance did not escape his attention.

  “Well I do believe you fancy that delightful creature, Sir Daniel.”

  “What?” said Daniel blushing. “No, no it’s nothing like that. I mean she is pretty and . . . all that . . . but fancy her? I don’t know about that.”

  Sir Thomas lifted his brow and grinned. “That’s what they all say when love hits them by surprise. Anyway, I’m turning in. I speculate we have a long journey tomorrow,” said Sir Thomas as he headed up the stairs.

  Daniel saw the O’Neill coming towards him so he waited. “I’ll be up in a minute Daniel called back.”

  “Ahh young Daniel, what did you think of young Moira?” asked the O’Neill. “I noticed you danced for some time.”

  “She’s very lovely.”

  “Yes, she is. Speaking of lovely. I have something to show you.”

  “Oh, what’s that?” queried Daniel.

  “Come lad, it’s outside.”

  Daniel followed him outside and speaking very openly for his time with Moira had loosened him up and he felt more at ease. “I feel perhaps I might stay a few days and enjoy the scenery. It’s such a beautiful place here. Then I shall have lots to report to my father about and he will be pleased.”

  O’Neill laughed a hearty laugh. “Of course, young Daniel. You do that.” He led Daniel to the old stone building that he had seen earlier used for sheep and storing hay and they went inside and it was dark and eerie and there were a few torches lit revealing a very open area inside and there were no sheep that he could see, but there were bales of hay and Daniel concluded it must be a storage house of some sort. “So what were you going to show me?”

  “This way, just over here,” said O’Neill and Daniel followed him to an area that had a railing overlooking an area below and Daniel paused and looked down. It was very dark and he couldn’t see the bottom of it in the darkness. “What is that?” asked Daniel.

  “Have a closer look, lad,” said the O’Neill and Daniel saw him nod and the two guards grabbed hold of him.

  “What are you doing!” said Daniel in a panic. “Let me go!”

  They picked Daniel up and moved to the side of the railing all the while he thrashed and struggled to get away but to no avail. And then it happened! They threw him over the side of the railing. He fell down several feet below and landed in a pile of hay with a thud at the bottom of what seemed a pit.

  Daniel rolled over and sat up brushing the dust off his breeches and when he stood to his feet he saw glowing eyes; several in fact and he suddenly realized he was not alone. It didn’t take him long to determine that the pairs of eyes belonged to five hungry monstrous wolfhounds sitting behind a metal gate that separated him from them. “What do you think of my hounds?” asked O’Neill looking down at him from the platform above. “Fine specimens of the wolfhound breed aren’t they?”

  “Very fine,” said Daniel licking the dust and blood off his lips and his heart was pounding like a drum. Why had O’Neill put him in there? What kind of game was he playing?

  “I suppose you are wondering why I put you in there.”

  “It crossed my mind,” said Daniel as he turned about the area to spy a way out. There was no way out. He was in a pit of some sort with stone walls and five wolfhounds in their cages softly growling.

  “I can’t allow Ava to marry your brother and leave here. If you can get yourself out of that little predicament you can take Ava back for your brother but somehow I don’t think you’ll be going anywhere soon. I’m sorry it has to be this way Daniel. I kind of liked you.”

  “Are you . . . are you going to release those hounds ?”

  O’Neill laughed. “Clever lad, aren’t ya. They said you were a learned young man,” he joked. “They haven’t had a single morsel in almost a week. They’re very hungry. Do you believe in God young Daniel?”

  “Of course I do,” he replied.

  “Well then, I’d be prayin if I was you.” Then he laughed and his entourage with him. “I don’t think God can save ya from this one. I hope for your sake lad it’s quick and painless.”

  Daniel felt a lump in his throat as he contemplated being wolf hound dinner
and he had heard the tales of these giant canines pursuing poachers and thieves and the gruesome details of what they did to their victims. And it was then O’Neill reminded him. “These wolfhounds are the fiercest in all of Ireland. Anyone would be foolish to attempt poaching or thieving on a property they protect. Their prey does not escape them and they have been known to crush the spine of their victim in their jaws. Have an enjoyable night. See you in the morning or what’s left of ya,” he laughed. And if O’Neill wasn’t intimidating enough Daniel was certainly chilled with fear when he heard the gate released and the pattering sound of giant paws on the soft dirt. He took O’Neill’s advice and began praying. Daniel dropped to his knees and coiled over into a ball with his hands wrapped over his head and he prayed a chant-like prayer. “God, have mercy, God have mercy, God have mercy. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want!” His heart rate quickened and his face and hands were covered in dirt and blood mixed with sweat. He could hear the hounds breathing and feel their breath up close to him. Their noses were sniffing him and brushing against his blood stained flesh. Daniel stayed very still and kept praying and for some time the dogs paced around him in a circle. And Daniel knew from experience with his greyhounds that was how they caught their prey. They would circle around the prey quietly and then attack. They circled him for several minutes and after a while Daniel could no longer feel their breath on him nor their noses nudging him. It was very silent and slowly and cautiously he moved his arms down and lifted his head. The area around him had brightened. There was a soft glow around him coming from the moon which shone down inside the pit from an opening above. The hounds had now retreated to the side of the pit and they were lying down huddled into each other. Daniel wondered why they lingered. Why didn’t they move in to attack? Perhaps they were waiting for him to weaken more. He buried his head again and stayed in that position until he fell asleep.

  All that night, O’Neill had nightmares of young Daniel in the wolfhound’s den and he woke early the next morning before sunrise with anxiety and regret about putting Daniel in the den. He jumped out of bed and had the wolfhound master lead him to the den. “Open the doors,” he demanded.

  “But sir,” said the man. “It might be a gruesome sight. They’re might be nothing left of him.”

  “Open the door,” said O’Neill again.

  The man nodded softly and headed for the door and by this time, Mahoney and a small crowd had joined them.

  The door pulled back and there was nothing but darkness and silence and O’Neill approached the platform over the den very carefully and he called out in the darkness. “Daniel! Daniel, son of Lord Eustace! Did your God save you?”

  There was nothing but silence and O’Neill started to feel an incredible dread at putting Daniel in the den when Mahoney looked over the edge. “Would ya look at that!” he squealed.

  O’Neill looked over the side and his eyes widened in surprise and relief. The wolfhounds were all huddled together in a heap and Daniel right in the middle as if they were trying to keep him warm. O’Neill’s mouth dropped open. “I don’t believe it.” His eyes scoured the sleeping young Daniel and the hounds were sighing and snoring peacefully. No one would ever have guessed they had been trained as guards who would tear the enemy to bits. “Daniel!” he called down to him.

  Daniel stirred and stood up rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Yes sir.”

  “I see you made it through the night. Perhaps by some enchantment?”

  “No, sir. It was no enchantment. Some trust in chariots and some in horses but I trust in the name of the Lord my God. I prayed to my God, just as you yourself advised and he has heard my cry and delivered me.”

  Within moments Daniel had been retrieved from the den and brought before the O’Neill. “Your God is truly a God of miracles. I’m glad you survived the night young Daniel. In the night I had time to think about it and well . . . I’m sorry young lad.”

  “It’s okay. It’s God you need to right yourself with, not me.”

  “You forgive me then?”

  “Of course,” said Daniel even managing a smile after such a burdensome night for he remembered what his father had said to him about forgiveness.

  “No illness between us then, lad?”

  “None sir.”

  “You truly are a young man of great character. I have a wee gift for ya,”

  “Then you don’t object to me taking Ava back with me?”

  “After everything you’ve endured, you can take Ava. It’s an honour young man.” O’Neill snapped his fingers and suddenly a servant appeared and carrying in his arms a furry mass and after a few moments Daniel realized it was a wolfhound puppy. The servant placed the young pup in Daniel’s arms. “I thought it only right lad that you should take one home. There a special breed of Ireland and I’m sure you’d make one a good master.”

  “Thank you,” said Daniel as the little pup licked his face. At that moment Sir Thomas appeared in the Great hall to have breakfast and he stopped when he saw Daniel holding the wolfhound pup. “Where the hell were you last night!” asked Daniel.

  “Asleep sir. Slept like a baby. Did you sleep well sir?

  Daniel sighed. “I guess I had an interesting night.”

  “Interesting? Yes, it appears you have acquired a new friend.”

  Let’s have breakfast and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  In Pursuit of Ava Desmond

  The following morning started with a whim of promise with the sun peering through the clouds and someone had lit the fire in the guest room and Daniel was ever so grateful as he hopped out of bed to the stone cold floor and he jumped onto the mat by the fire to warm himself and Sir Thomas was nowhere in sight but after a moment the door burst open. “All ready to go and meet Ava?” he said with exuberance.

  “Nearly,” said Daniel as he pulled on his trousers and slipped a tunic over his head. “There, I’m ready. Let’s go get this girl and go home. I keen to get back to England.”

  The two men entered the great hall of O’Neill and O’Neill was at the table and Daniel straight away spotted Moira and she smiled at him. “You made it through the night?” said O’Neill with a smirk.

  “Of course I did. Why shouldn’t I?”

  “The ghosts,” said O’Neill and everyone laughed.

  “Where is Ava?”

  “Ava? Ava who?”

  “Ava Desmond. Where is she?” asked Daniel losing his patience.

  “Ava’s not here,” said the O’Neill in a whimsical tone and Daniel could hear lots of soft giggles permeating the room.

  “Where is she?” he asked again.

  “Why last I saw of her she was heading for the hills. Probably going to her cousin north of here. I told her you was here but she didn’t want anything to do with it.”

  “Is this some trick?”

  “No of course not lad. I assure you she’s gone north. She doesn’t like the idea of this arranged marriage. You understand, don’t you?”

  “She went north?” questioned Daniel. “Who is her cousin?”

  “Callum Murphy. He lives on the other side of those hills.”

  Daniel turned around and headed out of the great hall. “Where are you going, Daniel?” asked O’Neill.

  Daniel paused and turned around. “To find Ava Desmond,” he replied. “That’s why my father sent me.”

  “It’s a rough journey into those hills lad and there are bandits and scoundrels and not to mention the terrain is rugged and dangerous. What would I tell your father should something happen?”

  Daniel grinned. Was this man really concerned for his welfare or did he have some other devious plan up his sleeve and from the tone of his voice Daniel was very uncertain? After all, it was only the night before he had thrown him into a den of wolfhounds. “I’m not afraid of a bandit and I love rugged and dangerous.” He smiled wickedly.

  The O’Neill saw that Daniel was determined. “I’ll give you a horse and a gui
de.”

  “Thank you sir,” said Daniel and he turned and hurried out of the hall and once he was out of earshot range the hall of people roared with laughter and O’Neill turned to Moira and lifted the goblet. “Cheers, me dear little cousin.”

  The sun was rising and Daniel didn’t want to waste one precious moment. They rode out of the castle grounds that morning on the horses they borrowed from O’Neill and the guide whose name was Rory and Daniel could see a horse in the distance moving up into the hills but it was some distance ahead of them. It must be Ava he thought for he could faintly see red hair blowing in the wind. And as they rode along Daniel noticed that Rory seemed the chatty type and Daniel was not in the mood for conversation. “So you’re on a hunt for Ava Desmond, aye?”

  “Yes,” was all Daniel said.

  “Want to marry her?”

  Daniel rolled his eyes. “NO!” he said sharply.

  “It’s alright lad. Many men want to marry her. She’s quite a beauty but she’s not just any beauty. In fact she has the looks that get the men all stirred for battle. When her father died it nearly started a war as all the eligible men wanted her hand. There were men clamouring outside the gates of the Desmond stronghold trying to break the doors down to get in. They thought whoever could get to the goods first could have the treasure but Ava is one clever lass. She escaped dressed as her maid and left her maid in her place. It’s amazing that one young woman could stir the hearts of men to war but with heaven as my witness, she is an undeniable beauty. I hope your brother appreciates what he’s getting for Ava is a woman who has a mind of her own and she won’t stand for being placed on a shelf.”

  “Doesn’t land and title come with her hand in marriage?” asked Daniel. “Her father was a very wealthy man. No wonder they’re all fighting for her. I see it as a business proposition. Two wealthy landlords constitute an arrangement for their son and daughter in marriage from birth. What more is to be said?”

  “Yah don’t believe me lad? I’m tellin ya, she’s a beauty! She’ll have ya stunned.” Daniel rolled his eyes in disagreement and the old man carried on talking. “She has the kind of beauty the minstrels sing about in their songs and write in their poetry. And I’ve seen the men pouring out their souls in the bitterness of night with songs of longing. I’ve heard the lyres and the fiddles weeping to songs of lost love that will never be consummated. She has the kind of beauty men fight for in the tournaments unto death, the kind of beauty that marks your soul for life.” And Daniel looked up at those words for he felt his soul had been marked by Moira’s delicate beauty and sweet disposition. Who could be more beautiful than her?