The Savage

Part 1: Prologue

The dead all look the same. The transformation from being to corpse is instant and drastic with little alteration to the actual features, still somehow a complete alteration.

Brenn shivered pulling her fur lined cloak tighter around her body. Even with the fire burning in the low hearth it was impossible to warm up. Despite the cold her cousins worked without pause, wrapping the body of the dead girl. She had been a part of a subgroup of the Kineal clan, her mother's clan; her clan.

"Where's the Queen?" Brenn asked, still staring at the cadaver on the table. She had been young. Laying there wrapped in cream colored linen with just her head left exposed she was nothing but dead.

"Yar mother is speaking with the family in the great hall." Eava replied.

Keeva quickly added, "shouldn't you be with her?"

"I can't. Not again." Brenn sighed, "this makes seven, doesn't it?"

"Aye. All from your clan and all drained of their magical properties they might have had."

"As if the deaths weren't bad enough. Now with the ill omen of seven. And the storm coming in...." Keeva's voice trailed off.

"What storm? It's clear blue skies out there." Brenn asked.

"They'll be a storm. Yar mother says so." Eava insisted, supporting her twin's proclamation.

The three fell silent.

"Ronan and his brother are here." Keeva said at last.

"I heard them arrive. Why do you think I'm in here."

Keeva frowned disapprovingly. "You shouldn't be so dismissive of him. He's a good man." she snapped.

Brenn's expression darkened and her mouth opened to retort.

"Brenn!" A sharp voice said interrupting her.

Brenn spun to see her mother in the doorway. "Come." Boudicca ordered as she turned, not waiting for her daughter to comply. Obediently, Brenn followed.

The great hall of Mor castle was cut out of the side of the mountain it called home. Wax candlelight danced across the cold unyielding gray stone walls and floor. The chamber was a massive fifty yards in length with chiseled pillars running down each side. Their banners of the dancing faun hung from the exposed beams on the ceiling. In the center burnt a large open hearth and at the far end was the dais. It was tall, made up of seven steps to the top. On the top was her mother's throne. A tall backed chair made of wood, bone and furs. The hall was fuller than usual as Boudicca held no court. They were the clansmen and family of the dead girl.

Boudicca made her way through them solemnly to the dais. She was tall, slender and commanding in her presences. The iron and gold crown sitting regally on top of her head. Her red curls, so similar to her daughter's, smoothed and braided back. The brilliant copper torc around her neck matched the copper beading that hung from her sleeves. The room stopped to watch her ascend to her throne. Brenn followed, taking her seat to the right. As they sat, Eava and Keeva brought the body of the girl in, and laid her on a table between the dais and the hearth. The family surrounded the body with dried flowers and herbs. One by one they each came up, giving a gift of food for the girl's journey to the AllMother and a departing kiss.

Boudicca stood, holding out a golden bowl. "I, Boudicca, Chieftain of Clan Kineal give incense from Jadida so she may appease the dragon of the mountain and meet our AllMother." Descending the dais Boudicca set the bowl at the girl's right hand and placed a quick kiss on her forehead before backing away. Raising her hands she said, "Let us feast and celebrate for she lived and died among us. For the folk."