Aine of Diarmada

Chapter 8

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FYI : I liked writing this chapter a little bit of mystery is unsolved but there is still some mystery and twists to happen in the story, trust me! So stay tuned Aine of Diarmada readers! 💚🍀

We came into an open space surrounded by birch trees and berry bushes. A clear river rippled around the border. It took me a minute to recognise the place, I smiled remembering the time I had spent here with Aine. I lost my train of thought as I heard Daragh shouting orders to the rest of the men. "I want every corner, every nook and cranny searched. This whole perimeter; go, go, go!" The men scattered about, some on foot and others on their horses as I was. Suddenly a snippet of that day came into my mind; when Aine had said that she had seen a dark flash behind a tree. When I had checked it was just a squirrel but later she had told me suspiciously that Chulann had birch leaves on the end of his cloak and that he had known exactly what we had gathered. I had reassured her but it had unsettled me as well. I scanned my surroundings, biting my lip trying to remember what tree Aine had pointed out. I dismounted from my horse and walked towards a large birch on my right. As I inspected around it I tripped over what seemed to be a piece of stone. I brushed away the fallen leaves and the tall grass around it. A large tile of stone was uncovered, why had it been hidden? I crouched down to remove the heavy grey tile. My mouth dropped as I found a dark stone staircase leading down a passage. If Chulann was there that day, he would have disappeared so quickly because he would have gone down here.
"Daragh," I called out, not taking my eyes away from the discovery.
"What is it boy? Have you found something?" he bellowed riding over.
"Yes, yes I have," I mumbled.

* * * * *

I sliced the bread as quickly as I could and placed the chunks beside the legs of chicken and pieces of cheese. I had clumsily burnt the tip of my thumb trying to heat the chicken. I quickly grabbed three plates and made my way from the kitchen to the room where Angus and his men ate. There was usually about seven of them but Angus never told me how many so I always made a few extra portions just in case. I frowned as I came into the room. Angus sat alone at the table waiting with a fork in his hand. He grinned at me as I came to the table. "Just me tonight Roise my dear. The rest of the clan are eating at their own homes because straight after supper is your ceremony!" he beamed. He looked me up and down, "so you better go and get changed." I bowed slightly,"yes my Lord." I scurried back to my cell, sighing. I missed my chambers so much. I took the wash basin and the bar of soap, hoping and hoping for some small miracle.

* * * * *

"We can't all go down there; we'll make too much noise and it's a narrow passageway. Eoin I want you to go down and I'll follow after, I'm trusting you with this." Daragh slammed his large hand on to my shoulder. "Yes, my Lord," I replied. I took the dagger from my hilt and started to make my way down. It was cold and damp. Spiders scurried across the walls and an occasional drip of water echoed through the staircase. I looked back up at Daragh who nodded at me in encouragement. I nodded back at him and continued my way down. The steps ended abruptly and a dark passage led down. I followed with my hand along the wall, guiding myself. The end of the passage split into two directions, one to the right and one to the left. Which one do I choose? As I tried to make a decision I heard a distant noise of pouring water, I turned to the right, following the sound.

* * * * *

I dried myself as best as I could with the only bathing cloth I had. Running my fingers through my hair I took the dress in my other hand. I slipped it on over my head. It was a simple dress, long and orange, undoubtedly the colour of the Mi clan. There was a sound from the left passage of the dungeons. I froze; Angus never came from that way, always from the right. A figure came into the light with a dagger in his hand. He turned around slowly, his face coming into view.
"Eoin!" I gasped, running to the bars of my cell.
"Roise, are you hurt? Who took you?" he said, coming to the door and trying to get it open.
"It's locked, Angus has the key. He's my capturer. Eoin, he's part of the Mi clan, Chulann's clan."
"I was just figuring that out," he said. Heavy footsteps were heard from the right. "Eoin go...or hide, please. If Angus see's you he'll beat you or he'll beat me. Please hide." I took Roise's word and ran back towards where I came from, but stayed close enough to hear what they were saying.
"Roise you look much better! Let's go, quickly" a man's voice snapped. The door to the dungeon opened sharply and two pairs of footsteps left together. I stepped out cautiously from behind the wall, wondering whether I should go get Daragh or follow Roise. I would just have to hope that Daragh was close behind I said to myself as I went in Roise's direction.

* * * * *
The whole Mi clan had gathered. I saw so many new faces for the first time but I did recognise a few from regularly joining Angus at supper. A fire burned in the centre of the ground, the Druid of the clan stood beside it, dressed in a black hooded cloak with a staff in his hand.
"Tonight we will welcome Roise into the Mi clan. Chulann got me a good one this time eh?" Angus winked at some of the men at the front, grabbing me roughly by the waist and licking his lips. I tried to pull away from him as the men laughed in return. Bodhrans started to sound as Angus put paint on my cheeks and forehead before kissing me sloppily and harshly. When he pulled away I gasped for breath, disgusted. He smiled, pleased with himself over the control he had on me. "Druid," he called wiping his wet lips. The hooded figure stepped forward and then collapsed to the ground, a dagger planted firmly in his back. "Who goes there?" Angus shouted with rage as the men of the clan grabbed their weapons and the women screamed, hugging their children. Suddenly a knife appeared at Angus' throat .
"Father!" I cried going to him.
"Stay where you are Roise," he told me. "As for you, you sick beast. I'll kill you and your men if you don't surrender now," father whispered into Angus' ear. Angus seemed surprised but then regained his cocky attitude, pulling a long sharp knife from his belt and ducked away carefully from father's grasp. "Nice try old man," he chuckled, slashing a long line along father's stomach.
"No!" I screamed as he fell heavily on to his knees, I ran to him and tried to pull him away from the massacre scene that was now occurring. The Mi men fought the Diarmada's, each one fending for themselves. "It's alright father, don't worry," I told him, tears welling in my eyes as I tried in a useless attempt to put pressure on the wound. Blood seeped through my fingers, the cut was too deep, too big. I pulled his body behind a bush gasping in my effort. I took off his cloak in a hurry and pressed it against his stomach.
"Roise, I'm so glad we found you," he said quietly.
"I'm glad you did too, I'm very grateful father," I said back, furiously wiping tears away from my cheeks.

*********

I crept slowly behind Angus who was fighting one of our men, plunging at him with his long knife. I had one dagger left, one shot. I wouldn't aim at his back like I did with the Druid, I said to myself; too safe. I'll have to aim at his head, but he keeps moving, there was a possibility that I could hit the other man fighting him. Focus Eoin, I said in my head. I slowed down my breathing, in time with my heartbeat. Raising my hand behind my shoulder I counted to three. Loosening my tight grip on the handle of the dagger I flung it hard at Angus' head. There was a sickening crack; the sound of his skull. Then a heavy and loud thump as he fell to the cold, hard ground. He was dead, I'd done it. I looked around, still a good few of our men remained, we had maybe lost about five. The rest of the Mi clan had surrendered. We had done it.
"Eoin!" I heard Roise call, I ran towards her. Daragh lay by her side, bleeding way too much. I knelt down beside him. "It's alright Daragh, it's a short way back home," I told him, ripping the sleeves from my shirt and wrapping them around the bare gash stretching across his belly.
"You did good Eoin," he whispered.

Hey are you enjoying the story so far? 👍🏽
Why don't you check out my other story : Phoebe's Big Thing
Ah go on you might as well 🌺
And it to your library now 📍
Haha just kidding 😂...... Or am I ?