Tír na nÓg Trilogy, Book II: The Rising Dark

A Bargain with Cú Roí

If the feasting hall had been stifling when it was empty, it was utterly claustrophobic filled with people, almost all of whom were men. The few warrior women were there, but they blended in seamlessly with their male counterparts. Tess and Emery sat with Cathbad and the Red Branch, Tess in a lovely green dress and Emery in a red one, a multi-colored checkered shawl pinned across one shoulder. She wore her dagger as well, though, sheathed on her belt. It gave her a sense of pride. They hadn't had much say in where they positioned themselves; they were just led to a table, and it happened to be right up next to the king's chair. Emery sat with Tess on one side of her, Bricriu on the other, and Ainle and Lóegaire across the way. Cathbad was on the other side of Tess, and Cullen was toward the end of the table, where he could converse with Cú Roí. Somehow, though, the end of the table didn't seem far enough from his gaze.

The meal carried on boisterously, with a skilled singer and poet offering entertainment along with musicians (though Emery made sure to tell Bricriu that his song had been far better). The men here seemed to behave differently; there were lewd gestures and yells, food and drink were in the air as much as on the tables, and even when the poet sang, he was spoken over. Emery found herself more self-conscious than she'd ever been. Certainly no man would treat her poorly as Cullen's wife, but the respect they showed her was tenuous, at best. At least she had the Red Branch around her. Even Lóegaire, haphazard as he was, strove to help her when she needed something or appeared uncomfortable. Cullen's men were indeed of a different sort.

And then there was King Cú Roí himself. He'd entered the hall about fifteen minutes after everyone else had assembled, and though Ainle had mentioned him being a giant, Emery couldn't see anything particularly frightening about him except for the fact that he was tall--about seven feet--and wide as a horse. He strode down the hall with a fast military gait, moving more quickly than his stature led Emery to believe he could, and practically jumped up onto the platform where his chair sat. There was something a bit familiar about him, about his full, pumpkin-orange beard and head of hair, which was shaved into something like a mohawk, beaded strands hanging down the back of his head. He wore leather everything--straps and buckles and legwear--studded with iron pegs. Craning to see the man, Emery caught sight of another orange-haired figure and realized that the soldier that had ridden to meet them upon their arrival was similar though tamer in look. Probably his son, she thought.

"Ulster!" King Cú Roí roared when he seated himself. For the first time, the hall quieted to some degree. An attendant approached and passed him a horn of wine. "Sláinte!" He raised the horn erratically toward Cullen and the Red Branch, red liquid sloshing out of it, and then everyone else in the hall followed suit and drank.

Emery gave side-eye to Tess as everyone around them yelled and spilled and someone far down the table turned and vomited and went right back to drinking. "Now I know why women don't usually come to these things." They'd attended as honored guests, but Emery wasn't feeling particularly honored at the moment. She glanced back to Cú Roí, who had momentarily stepped off his platform to speak with Cullen. The men appeared at ease with one another, and yet Emery was wary. Hadn't Cullen told her a while back that he'd gone to Emain Macha because Munster raised troops as a potential threat? He'd told her something like that. Why hadn't she remembered it until now?

Cú Roí returned to his platform where he towered so high his mohawk brushed the timbers overhead. He roared something unintelligible, and the hall quieted again. Some even raised their drinking horns and cups in anticipation of another jolly toast, but a toast wasn't what the king had in mind.

"We welcome our friend Ulstermen--and women." He nodded in Tess and Emery's direction, and Emery warmed uncomfortably. "We here in our far-away corner of the world are honored by your presence. As you are fully aware--and your Ulster king is aware--an abomination has been perpetrated on holy ground. Ulster, Connacht, Munster, Leinster--who amongst us is responsible? None will say, but some must pay!"