Page 14 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai
This morning, he’d invited Seona and her cook to ride with him and Dougal at the head of the group.She appreciated the courteous gesture which would spare them from breathing the dust raised by twenty mounted men at arms.However, the nearly constant rain had made dust of little concern.The mud was a different matter.Even at the head of the group, the horses’ hooves threw up enough sludge to thoroughly cover the lower half of her cloak.The rain had soaked the upper half to the point where she felt as if she were wearing a river.
A number of the men, and worse, the cook had been coughing and sniveling for the past two days.Seona prayed she could remember the recipe for Maeve’s tonic.Her sister swore by its healing properties for any illness that did not involve a wound.However, it would do little good if she could not recall the ingredients.
Long past midday, the rain had transformed into a wet fog.Rhuad had refused to stop for a meal, insisting they could eat when they arrived at the castle.A while later they topped a rise to see a fog laden valley beyond.Rhuad called a halt and ordered the group to take time for water and whatever food they might have left from their breakfasts.
The cook made her way down the line of horsemen, making certain each man had food enough to keep him from hunger until they reached the castle.
Rhuad pointed across the mist shrouded valley.
“Lady Seona wait for a break in the fog and you will see Castle MacFearann.”
Munching on a crust of bread she leaned forward, peering into the murky haze.She’d nearly finished the bread when the gloom parted like a curtain, and she saw framed on a far slope a great pile of gray stone nearly the same color as the fog.Only the very slight pinkish cast to the building allowed her to tell the difference.
“You live there?”
“You need not sound so amazed my lady.”
She straightened.“I could lie and tell you I’m not amazed.However, I prefer the plain speaking we have shared these past few days.So, yes, I find myself truly stunned.All the stories I’ve ever heard of Clan MacFearann and their laird’s castle describe the building as a dark and desolate place.A fitting home for the most hated clan in Scotland.”
“I’m grateful you decided on speaking truth.Do you know the tale of how Clan MacFearann became so hated?”
“If I recall correctly, it had something to do with a land dispute between the Laird MacFearann of the time and a Bishop.”
“Aye, that much is accurate.Specifically, that Laird MacFearann was my many times over great grandfather.He was a patron of an abbey at Beannachd Na Mara, a small village on the western border of MacFearann holdings.The abbey was very near the sea and was often attacked by Danes.With enough warning the monks and others living in the abbey would take shelter in Castle MacFearann.The raiders were never able to breach the Castle defenses.My clan would always help the abbey rebuild after such attacks.”
“This does not sound like the work of a Clan as hated as MacFearann is supposed to be.”
“It will, I assure you.It will.”
“Shortly after one of these raids, when my ancestor was in his prime, a new bishop was appointed.This bishop believed the church had precedence over all people regardless of rank.He wished to build a new abbey, in an attempt to avoid the cycle of Viking destruction, and the land he chose to build on was a prime piece of MacFearann territory.He chose it because it was surrounded by a forest so thick it could not be crossed.He saw this natural barrier as a distinct advantage.However, because he believed the church to be above all others, he did not bother to ask my ancestor if he could build on that land.”
Rhuad’s voice had taken on the spellbinding tone of the best story tellers.Each word pitched to the greatest effect.
“The church is above all others, as it is closest to God,” Seona responded, despite her growing fascination with the tale and the man.“However, that does not excuse rudeness, nor disobedience of earthy law.I know from experience those laws protect the ownership of lands.”
“My ancestor thought the same, “Rhuad continued.“He went to the bishop to ask him to stop the construction.The bishop refused.Laird MacFearann then insisted that the bishop on behalf of the church pay rent for use of the land.The prelate refused this as well and warned the laird that any interference with the construction or operation of the abbey would be punished with excommunication.”
“He threatened to put your ancestor’s soul in jeopardy when he was in the wrong?”The bishop’s actions amazed her nearly as much as Rhuad’s willingness to relate the truth.
“There are some who would argue the bishop had the right to do as he’d done.”
“I disagree with them,” she stated.It was important that her husband know she thought the bishop in the wrong.
“So did my ancestor.Since he would most likely be excommunicated and spend eternity in Hades, he made a plan to ensure the bishop would be condemned to the same fate.”
“We are taught to turn the other cheek when someone offends us.”
“Very few listen to that teaching.”
“True.What did your ancestor plan to do?”she asked, eager to learn how the story ended.
“He invited the bishop to dinner in three days’ time.”
She wrinkled her brow.“I’m confused.How would that condemn the man to Hades?”
“My ancestor had a savory stew prepared along with bloodred wine and comfits.”
“Now I’m even more confused.He served costly sweets to a prelate he most likely despised?’”
