Scotia's Grave

by T L Harty

  “She’s in Florida and I’m here in California. That’s a fair amount of space.”

  “Yes, but she’s still going out with you.”

  Delvin shrugged a little, making me wonder if he even had a girlfriend at this point. Maybe her idea of space bore a resemblance to mine- a break-up over the summer.

  We were nearing the little bridge over the lagoon and I was thankful that it wouldn’t be long before we got home. Crossing the bridge made me woozy and a vision came over me. I could see Delvin on a bigger bridge, wind whipping around his anguished face. His eyes closed as his fingers slowly unclenched a metal bar. I gasped, coming out of my stupor…truly understanding the depth of Delvin’s anguish.

  We quietly crossed over the bridge walkway, lost in our own thoughts, until arriving at the crosswalk. A car screeched to a halt, which jolted both of us into the present. Delvin wrapped me up in his arms to shelter me from any danger.

  “Get your hands off my girlfriend!” It was Rick, exiting the car.

  His voice startled me and I pushed against Delvin until he released me, as Rick stormed toward us. He shoved Delvin out of the way, enveloping me in his arms.

  “Are you OK?” Rick asked. He took hold of each arm, looking me over. Once satisfied with my safety, he released me and pushed Delvin again. “What do you think you’re doing?!”

  Delvin emitted a half laugh/cry. He put both his hands over his forehead and eyes, bending over at the waist.

  Rick looked back at me, confused by the response.

  I pushed past Rick and went to Delvin’s side, putting an arm around his back.

  Looking up at Rick, I asked, “What the hell is wrong with you? This guy is in love with his girlfriend, you idiot!”

  Rick did some sort of uncomfortable man-jig on the sidewalk.

  Delvin rose up, stretching one arm toward Rick. “No, no…I get it now. I’m like you, man. Obsessed. Hopeless. Foolish. I can’t thank you enough for helping me figure this out. My girlfriend doesn’t love me. And I would have done the same, crazy shit you just pulled. You’re supposed to be in France!” Delvin dropped his arms to his side in surrender. “I called the airlines this morning to get prices for plane tickets to Florida! I’m the idiot!”

  “Oh, man. I’m so sorry. I feel you,” Rick commiserated, still doing the jig. “C’mon, man, jump in and I’ll give you a ride home.”

  As Delvin passed by, I whispered something in his ear, to which he nodded and gave me a hug. Delvin got into the car and Rick told me to get in the car, too. It sounded like a command, so I’d be sure not to oblige.

  “I’ll walk, thank you,” I insisted.

  “OK. I’ll meet you at your house. No one was home when I knocked. Maybe I can take you and your dad out for dinner.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Not a very good plan, I thought to myself, considering that if my father remembered Rick, it wouldn’t bode well for him.

  I walked the rest of the way home and had been home for a couple of hours before Rick showed up. He and Delvin shared a long talk in the park, discussing their troubles with women.

  Rick rushed through the door and kissed me immediately. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  “Only a week has passed, Rick! Stop. Let’s go talk.”

  “A week has been a long time, we can talk later.” His hands traveled up and down my sides.

  “You talked with Delvin for two hours,” I reminded him.

  I opened the sliding glass door to the backyard. All the shrubs and plants were overgrown because dad didn’t take the time to garden after a long day of work and commuting. Once we were seated, I didn’t waste much time.

  “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in France.”

  “I couldn’t bear to be apart from you.”

  “We talked about this, Rick. We weren’t going to see each other over the summer. You and I are not boyfriend/girlfriend right now.” I motioned my hand back and forth, between the two of us.

  “Give me one week. If, at the end of that week, you don’t ever want to see me again…I’ll go away forever, but I needed to try one last time.”

  He leaned over to my chair and we began kissing. Neither of us heard the sliding glass door open or the three shorts footsteps it must have taken my dad to get to us. Rick rose into the air and was thrown onto an overgrown lawn.

  Dad glared at Rick on the lawn, recognizing him immediately. “What the hell are you doing here?!”

  “I’m in love with your daughter, Mr. Cavenaugh.”

  Dad looked at me, apparently too shocked to speak and could only point at Rick, waiting for me to respond to his unasked question.

  “We’re not dating. He asked to give me a week to decide if I want him in my life or not.”

  Still wordless, he went back inside the house. When I arose from the chair, he could be seen through the windows pouring a shot of whiskey.

  “You better go,” I said.

  Rick got up from the lawn, dusting himself off.

  “So, will you give me a week? Please? Let me pick you up for dinner tonight at 7. I’d love for your dad to come, too. I’m staying close by. Dress nice.”

  “Yes. One week is fair.”

  In Rick’s excitement, he thought it would be a good idea to go toward the glass door. My dad was standing on the other side, consuming another shot.

  Grabbing his arm, I led Rick toward the side gate. Once in the driveway, we had a goodbye kiss until a throat-clearing brought us to our senses. Dad now stood in the open garage, monitoring Rick’s departure.

  “Come here, Muriel,” dad said.

  I went into the garage and as Rick attempted to say goodbye, dad pressed the garage remote in his hand. If Rick needed reservations tonight for dinner, it would be a safe bet that a table for two would suffice.

  Chapter 16 – The Bonding

  The swooshing of my gown disturbed the castle’s silence as I walked to the ceremony. I picked the smallest copper-colored crown with a beautiful emerald in it, matching my deep green dress. The crown made me walk upright and reminded me of my station.

  Passing through the castle’s entranceway, I noticed the tall windows were a perfect frame for the stars outside. Continuing down the corridor, I walked by the greenhouse to my left. Clio and one of the guards were outside the door of the next large room…the room where the journey of Danu first began.

  Clio took the vial from me, quickly checking to see if it contained enough sweat.

  “Good,” she said. “That should be plenty. Two quick rules for you during the ceremony…you must never speak or rise from your throne. This ceremony is very specific. All these men have chosen to serve you, but this will designate their level of service.” Clio covered her head, with the hood of her robe. “Follow me. Once you’re introduced, take the rug pathway to sit on the throne. You’ll do fine.”

  Clio nodded at the guard, who opened the door, bowing his head as we passed. A breeze brushed my cheeks until the door closed behind us. Stone walls surrounded the room, dotted with sconces, holding flaming torches. The fire danced in the soft breeze.

  Whatever smaller room that stood in here before, where the council first met, had been removed. The balcony doors were open and the tops of the trees and stars could be seen.

  “Behold, Danu, high queen of the Celts,” Clio’s voice rang out, awakening me from a daydream of sorts. My heartbeat quickened.

  The carpeting went forward about ten feet, placing me slightly in front of the throne, where a shorter, three-foot swatch directed me to the left, bringing me to an unexpected stair. I lifted my gown up as though I had done it for years, climbed the stair, faced the front of the room and took my seat. I’d seen similar scenes performed in movies.

  Bridget and Tina stood along one side wall, Macy and Anne against the other…the firelight shining on their features…barely visible as they donned their hoods. But the men who stood before me in traditional Irish tunics were the reason we gathered.

  They w
ere an interesting lot of men at first glance, ranging in height. Had I not known that they were all from Celtic decent, nothing stood out as a unifying feature. The only commonalities were that they all appeared to be in great shape and each held a staff. A space of twenty feet or so separated us, making it hard to obtain more information.

  “We are gathered here tonight for a bonding ceremony,” Clio announced.

  The women of the council smacked the floor twice with concealed staffs under their robes. The men hit the floor once and let out a grunt. Goose bumps immediately covered my body, while my pulse could be heard in my ears.

  “These proceedings shall be deemed runda.”

  The council hit their staffs on the floor twice, the men slammed theirs once and all shouted runda.

  Clio stood off to my left, raising the vial in the air, letting everyone see what she was doing. The men watched side-by-side, practically taking up the whole length of the room. I looked past them, out onto the castle grounds, trying to calm myself, praying my heartbeat might return to normal.

  Clio walked over to a table to my right, where a dozen bite-size pieces of bread were individually plated on small silver chargers. Methodically, she used a dropper to apply the sweat onto the bread. While she did that, I looked at these men. Men willing to serve me and who knew nothing of my character.

  I looked past them and fixated on the moonlight shining off the lake. Water always soothed my nerves and this instance was no exception. Clio’s voice brought me back from the water’s edge to reality...a reality that seemed incomprehensible, but felt true.

  One by one, Clio announced the name and lineage of each man. And one by one, each man went to a silver charger and ate of the bread. The entire scene played out in slow motion. I wanted to plead with the men and discourage them from their choice. When each man came to kiss my hand after their choice had been made, I wished to rise out of my seat to thank them. Clio had specified two rules. It took everything within me not to break them. The rules seemed simple at the time- they now felt cruel.

  I sat on the throne, humbled each time a man decided to serve me with his whole being, convinced that some of them would not choose to come under my spell. I was wrong.

  Clio yelled for the guard at the back door to come make his choice. The handsome man came and stood before me.

  “Liam Murray,” Clio said. “How do you wish to serve your Queen?”

  At first, he repeated what all the other men had said, “I wish to serve her with my life, my allegiance and all I hold dear.” The last part that differed. “Let us be bonded with all, but my heart.”

  Clio didn’t expect that answer as she found it difficult to conceal her surprise. She stood there a bit unsure of what to do next. Not being allowed to talk, I motioned for him to come closer.

  I pointed to each of his cheeks, letting him know I planned on giving him a double kiss or European kiss, as it was sometimes called. He nodded. After moistening my lips with saliva, he leaned in for the kiss on his right cheek. Then, I kissed him on the left cheek. During this contact, I closed my eyes and a tear that had been growing through the ceremony finally fell from my eye, landing on his cheek.

  I inhaled, feeling the teardrop between us. At the same time of my gasp, a breeze came in that blew out all but one torch. The men surrounded my throne in a frenzy of protection. Liam and I looked at each other, not more than inches apart as our vision adjusted to the light in the room. He touched his cheek where the tear had fallen and we both furrowed our brow in concern.

  Macy, never missing a beat, lit the other torches with the one still aflame.

  “Impressive,” said Clio. “The protective instinct has already surfaced in the warriors. Please line up again for dismissal.” Liam and I didn’t move. “You, too, Liam.”

  Hearing his name brought him out of our stare. He lowered his head slowly in a small bow. “M’lady,” he said softly, as he went to join the others.

  “Temporary quarters are available for warriors outside until construction begins on permanent housing tomorrow. Nine of you may bunk tonight, while three of you must guard Danu in her royal chambers. Thank you for your service. The bonding ceremony is now complete.”

  The double tap of the staffs came from the council, while the warriors followed with one tap and a grunt.

  “The warriors are excused,” Clio announced. “Three of you report to me in the library in an hour.”

  They quietly filed out the door as I focused once more on the water of the lake.

  “That went well,” Ann said.

  The council members all let their hoods fall to their backs and approached the throne.

  “How are you doing?” Bridget asked.

  Without many words, I merely nodded my head up and down at first.

  “They seem like a good group of men,” Macy added. “Lord knows, I like a good group of men.”

  “So, your apartment is ready, Danu. All your belongings have been moved,” Clio informed.

  The clattering of sticks and clashing of metal could be heard outside. I stepped off the riser of the throne, walking to the balcony. Down below, the men were engaging in all manner of fighting. I looked confusedly at Tina, who now stood at my side.

  “And so it’s begun,” Tina said, pointing down below. “This is how they are deciding who gets to guard you tonight.”

  “Why would they eat the bread, Tina? Why?”

  “The beauty of this is that you can ask them yourself and they can’t lie. They will tell you the truth,” Tina smiled. “Getting a straight answer from a man…now that’s a coup. You should know I’m the wrong person to ask about the opposite sex. They befuddle me.”

  I watched the men as they wrestled or swung their swords about. One of them spotted me on the balcony, stopping his sword and bowing. The others followed suit, so I left the balcony and went to go see Deidra.

  She should have been here tonight, but attendance at ceremonies were prohibited for those under the age of sixteen. I lightly tapped on her door.

  “Who is it?”

  “It’s mom. Can we chat?”

  Deidra unlocked and opened the door. She took a seat on a chair similar to the one in my room. I sat on her bed, telling her about the ceremony and how uncomfortable I became when, one by one, the men ate the bread and ingested my sweat.

  Deidra spoke with a nervous air about her, as my brain journeyed off to a vision. I saw Owen in this room…in Deidra’s bed. The sight made me dizzy. A knock at the door had him jump from the bed to the closet. My knock…minutes ago.

  I rose from the bed, making my way over to the closet. Deidra knew I had seen him, letting her face fall into her hands.

  “Hi, Owen,” I said, once the closet was open. “Would you like to explain your presence here in Deidra’s room?”

  “Well, uh. No, not really,” he answered, caught red-handed.

  “I didn’t think I’d see you tonight, Mom. You had the ceremony, and then you were going to be staying in your new apartment.”

  Turning around, to look at Deidra, I spoke, “That may be true, but that doesn’t explain why Owen is here, in your closet or why he was in your bed.”

  “It’s not like that. You know how quickly I answered the door. We were fully clothed the whole time.”

  After closer examination, what she said proved true. Neither of them wore disheveled clothing or sported messy hair. However, these facts didn’t put my parental concern to rest. I grabbed Owen’s arm and licked it. His pupils enlarged for a moment and reduced to normal size.

  “I’m sorry I have to deal with you like this, but when it comes to my daughter, I’m not taking chances. You will only touch or kiss Deidra’s hands or face. Anytime you see her, I want to know about it. Do you understand?”

  Deidra whirled me around by my shoulder. “I can’t believe you did that to him! For your information, we’ve never even kissed!”

  “What is he still doing here? I thought you sent him away?”

 
“It looked like that, but his mom dropped him off at the end of the drive so he could come back here.”

  “Not a good idea, Owen,” I scolded.

  “It was a great idea!” Deidra howled. He wanted to leave after I told him we weren’t a good match, but I couldn’t let him go. I used the sweat spell and told him to come back.”

  My eyebrows lifted upward, like they had a mind of their own. “You did what?!”

  “What did you not understand?”

  Between the disrespect and the sarcasm, my body moved as though I had no control. I took a step forward and slapped Deidra across the face, wondering which one of us wore the more surprised expression after the contact. This marked the first time I’d ever laid a hand on her. We stood still, stunned.

  Not sure what the next move should be, I stormed out of her room and made my way to my apartment to sob. The entrance to my quarters had been replaced with an ominous-looking metal door…that was locked. I placed my forehead on it, banging my hands against it in frustration and until activity on the other side of the door could be heard.

  Clio greeted me with a smile. “Come in, you remember Sean,” she said, quickly pointing in his direction. He was one of the men at the ceremony, but I didn’t remember his name. He bowed. I nodded.

  When I started realizing all that had changed in my new quarters, it became difficult to keep my mouth closed. Everything dripped with beauty. I knew they had been working on this since I’d been admitted into the hospital, but how they got so much done, in such a short amount of time, impressed me.

  “First, let me show you the locking mechanism on the door,” Clio said. “The door can be locked from the outside, as well, but once you are inside your quarters, this wheel is another level of security.”

  She grabbed a steering-wheel sized latch and turned it to the right. Four pieces of metal extended in four different directions, lodging the tips into the stone walls and floor. It seemed a bit over the top, so I merely nodded, acknowledging her demonstration.

  I spun around to take in the new décor. The kitchenette to the right had been removed. A refrigerator door ran flush with the wall, making the area look sleek and sophisticated. The entire first floor looked like one huge living room, boasting beautiful seating areas. The one exception was a desk to the left that sat on an elevated platform. Built-in shelves, behind the desk, begged to be filled. A scholar with important things to study or write would appreciate such an area.