Mactire � Son of the EarthPart 21 - The SacrificeLij was in a pensive mood as he returned to Dom. He found him asleep, so he took the silver jug beside his lover's bed down to find the common mead barrel in the kitchens and refill it. He also asked for a bottle of the Samian wine, and to his surprise he was asked how many of the precious bottles he wanted. Someone had obviously ordered he should be allowed to obtain what he desired from the kitchens. He took two and found Cass and gave the wine to him, for, he said with a wink, Brian and Cass to enjoy together. Cass blushed, and took it off to his chosen partner. Lij found he missed pomegranate juice more than any of the food or drink he had consumed at home. He had never liked beer, he disliked the heavy, sweet cloying taste of mead, even when it was watered down, and drank very little wine. Luckily there was a bubbling stream nearby, running down the hill, which Nekeb had found and used to bring fresh water daily. Lij took a huge rough pottery jug he had been given in the kitchens and after asking directions, found the stream and filled it to the brim with coldest water. That would last him until tomorrow. Lij was beginning to understand just how much Nekeb had done for him in his quiet, unobtrusive way. Things he had always taken for granted, for Nekeb had always been there. His heart was sad as he missed his dear friend very much. Missed his daily company, his help, his converstion, and his unstinting love. He returned to find a servant about to enter Dom's room with a clean goblet and a silver jug, polished to within an inch of their lives. The servant said he had orders that these items were to be changed daily, casting a despairing look at Lij, who solved the problem by pouring the mead into the empty jug, after first shaking it to ensure there was no water or ash from the cleaning lurking in the bottom to befoul the taste. It was clean and dry however, and Lij took the jug in and quietly placed it and the clean goblet on the table beside Dom. Dom was sprawled across the bed in a deep sleep, and Lij did not wish to disturb him by crawling in beside him, as much as he felt he would like to hold his love in his arms at that moment, so he thought he would call on Cormac to see how he fared. He poured out mead for Dom to drink if he woke, left his own jug on the floor against the wall, and went to find his new friend's chambers. * Orla had slept and was now awake and refreshed...and bored. She was not used to this inactivity or to being alone. Her days had been filled with orders and scurryings about. She drank the pain killing liquid Gronya had left for her. She ate a little of the food she found, and stared about the room, glaring at the cats who were all asleep in their basket. She was feeling much better after taking the draught, so she decided to go and find Lij and have someone to talk to. She drew her new cloak gingerly about her damaged shoulders and quietly opened the door. * Dom was roused from a deep sleep by a hand travelling over his chest. He sprang awake and thrust the straying fingers off his body. "Keep your hands off me, witch!" he snarled, staring up at Ede who was sitting on the edge of his bed, staring hungrily into his grey eyes. "So forceful you are, Seaneen! And there I was always used to the quiet mouse of a man that you were. Never raised your hand to me; never raised even your voice in anger. And now look at you... Little Wolf. " For indeed Dom had made in his throat a sound very like that of a snarling wolf. Ede laughed, and went to open the door between the rooms, glancing swiftly into Lij's chamber as she did so. "I have something to say to you, Sean, something I do not wish others to hear. With that door open, if your Lij should come back from visiting Cormac, latches being the noisy things that they are, I will hear him. My hearing, as you know is most acute." She sat on a chair facing Dom, and smiled at him. Dom did not return the smile. "Say what you wish to say then get out. I have no desire to have speech with you." Ede shook her head. "Ah, but Seaneen, we will have many happy years ahead of us to talk together, but now I will tell you why, my love. Tomorrow, before the assembly of nobles who are gathering in Ultan's dun - they think I do not know of it, the fools - I will officially become your wife." Dom glared at the woman who was in fact still his wife if the truth be known, and shook his head. "I would rather die!" he spat. Ede pursed her lips. "That could be arranged, I suppose, fairly easily, except I do not wish it. I have a desire to see you in my bed again, muh chree. No, you shall not die if you refuse me. Not you, my love. It is your little blue-eyed lover who will die. And you know full well I am capable of it, do you not?" Dom felt sick, and reached for a drop of the mead by his bed to remove the taste of bile that had risen in this throat at her words. He sipped it slowly, searching his mind for something ...some suitable retort to her remarks. He could think of nothing. "A woman who killed her own father because he railed at her for practicing the black arts is capable of anything, Ede. I know you and your mother for the bitches you are. To strike down an innocent man because he saw through your wiles....Dhia! You do not deserve to be allowed to draw breath. When I am king...." Ede interrupted him. "...When you are king, I will once again be your queen. You will send Lij home on the next trader from Phoenicia, or I will have it put about that he killed Connor because he wanted you to be king. That he poisoned him, and Morne and Cormac and me with poisons obtained only in the East. Peaches do not grow here, my lord, as you well know!� �There are doctors and men wise in leechcraft coming to the Feis. I will accuse him before them all.� She sat back in her chair, her eyes glittering. �I have riches and influence, Seaneen. People can be bought - or frightened - into saying anything I want. He will die for it. I have laid the foundations. Morne has accused him already. The boy is a perfect foil for my stratagems - so biddable and so unlike his mother, my saintly, whiter-than-white sister. And, no, I did not kill her. She died of a fever. Connor was easy to kill. It took a little thought, but then, these things always do. I do not mind the death of those near me if it serves my purposes. Colm, now, I never liked, although he was our cousin. He was expendable. He was far too nice a man for kingship. The people should fear their king, not love him. Besides I wanted his place, and I got it. Then, after they - he and his bitch-wife and the pups he bred from her - were all hanging dead on the ramparts, I discovered from my spies that you were still alive my love, and I wanted it all for you. Connor was already dead the moment I heard that." Dom's face had turned grey. He had a pain in his chest that was nothing to do with the nausea he felt. His mind was a maelstrom of thoughts, turning and clashing with each other...if only he could think! She had arranged for the killing of Colm and his wife and children with less than a thought. Despatched Connor, whom she called husband, and poisoned them all - even her own son! Lij...Lij...his Lij to die or to be sent home without him. Dom would never see him again...never see their children or his new baby! Ede stared at him. "You know I can, and will do it, Seaneen. I killed my father. I disposed of my mother when I outgrew her usefulness - oh, yes, do not look so shocked - the old witch is dead. It is the young witch, the black witch, in power over the land now, and I will bend it - and you - to my will. It is your choice; either Lij dies, here, for killing the king, or he goes home in safety. Alone." Dom took a deep breath. "You meant, then, to kill only Connor at that table? What did you do to us? How...? Were we meant to die? Tell me!" Ede pleated the embroidered girdle resting in her lap. "No, Sean. Things went exactly as I planned. That meal was the perfect place to do what I did. I meant all that happened there to happen. I knew Lij only ever ate a little lunch. Others do not know it, so people would notice he ate next to nothing at that meal. Suspicion would naturally fall on him, the stranger. I poisoned his nosy servant, too. He was getting too close to the truth, as you see from his list." She indicated the parchment lying on the bedside table. "Oh, yes, I have someone who can read it. You may have seen him about the place. He is a very useful man." Dom could not believe his own ears. He had married this...this...creature, many years ago. Now she was fully fledged - a thing of evil, dark and terrifying. A black witch of terrible powers and great influence. Cunning, devious and deadly. His stomach rebelled at the heavy sweetness of the mead and he cast it up into the bowl she rushed to give him. He wiped his mouth. "But how did you do it? How could you...?" Ede grinned. "Ah! If I tell you how I accomplished the poisonings then you will know far too much, Seaneen. Never mind that, for now. Is Lij to live? Or shall I ask Morne to set inquiries in motion? He would like that - you see, he has noticed that Cormac has a kindness for your Lij. He is jealous." Dom took a deep breath. There was too much information here for his clouded mind to take in. He thought of the issue most important to him. He loved Lij above every thing he had ever seen or felt or known. He could not let him die. To lose him forever ...no, Dom could not bear that. To send him home...home...where he was loved and would be safe. Where his children were, who adored him. Where, perhaps if the gods were kind, he - Dom - could return, one day... Dom nodded wearily. "It shall be as you demand. Tomorrow, before the nobles, I will marry you to keep my beloved safe." Ede rose, frowning at the mention of Dom's beloved, and brushed the creases from the front of her gown with delicate fingers. "You have not asked why I need to marry you again, when we are still already bound in marriage. The people here are all new. I have re-populated the keep, as you know. They do not know of us...of you, Sean. The common folk rarely saw us and wouldn't know us if they had. The only persons who do know will not tell. I will see to that." She glanced at him, her eyes like hot coals set in her pale beautiful face. "You see, my love, if I was not lawfully married to Connor, his wealth is not mine. And I want it. I shall send some of the wine for you, Seaneen; well watered. That mead is too rich for your stomach. You need have no fear that it will be poisoned. I desire you too much to kill you, my only love. I need not remind you that you are still bound by the oath of silence I charged you with. You may add the things I just told you of to the list. Keep silence. Tell no-one, especially not your Lij, as you call him. For if you do�� and here she smiled, �I will kill him with my own hands." She took the silver jug and went slowly out through the door. Dom lay down on his pillows exhausted. By the mother! What shall I tell Lij? I cannot tell him any of this! She would indeed, kill him. In the next room, Orla crouched behind the large chest that held Lij's clothing until she was sure Ede had left. Then she silently crept out through the heavy door, which she checked was still unlatched as it had been when she slid her thin body around it to enter the chamber. She reached her own room, unnoticed, scrambled into bed regardless of the pain, and pulled the coverings over her head, quivering with fright. She had heard it all. And she was terrified. * Cormac was much improved today. He said proudly that he had been able to play the harp a little that morning. Lij grinned at the lad's obvious pleasure in his music, and asked him if he would like to play for his visitor. Cormac beamed with delight. Lij felt a pang of nostalgia as Cormac played some of the tunes which he had often heard Dom play. He smiled. Dom would play for him again when he was fully well. Lij would dance for him, naked and proud, swirling about the room, teasing and exciting. And after that they would make love... Lij felt himself rise at the thought of being joined in love with his beautiful mate. How had he ever thought he could live without him? It would be mere existence without Dom at his side. Cormac plucked the last note of the tune from the strings and looked at Lij's face with a speculative smile. "Now, if I was a betting man - which I am - I would put up ten pieces of silver as a wager that it is Dom who occupies your thoughts right now, my friend!" Lij blushed. Was it so obvious? "Yes, you are right, Cormac. I..." Cormac regained his comfortable chair, and smiled. "You know, Lij, you have the most...your eyes...well, I will not speak of that. The Feis is coming. My mother no doubt has plans..." His smile faded. "I do not understand her, Lij. She is a strange woman. I will confide in you that I find it difficult to love her. She makes me ...uncomfortable...whereas you and Dom lift my spirits. I am glad to know you, Egypt. Very glad." Lij smiled, understanding the young man. He was used to men falling in love - or, at least, in lust - with him. But Cormac would never stray beyond the bounds of good manners without a definite invitation, he was sure of that, so Lij felt very comfortable in his friend's company. Cormac said he would like to try to walk as far as the Great Hall to see the preparations for the festival, if Lij would honour him by walking with him. "For I am still a little shaky on my legs and am sure to fall flat on my arse if there is no arm there to stop me, I am, so!" he laughed, as they went out into the corridor and walked slowly towards the Hall. They passed Ede carrying a silver jug back to her room. Cormac laughed. "Still not trusting the servants with the cleaning of your best silver, mother?" he said as the two men bowed at her approach. Ede nodded to them both. " My silver is a great source of pride in me as you know. Good day to you, Egypt." Lij nodded at her politely. "Good day, Lady." He could not bring himself to speak further, or to smile at her. "We shall look forward to seeing you at the Feis tomorrow, my lord. It should prove most...entertaining." She moved on, and Cormac huffed. Loudly. "Entertaining, my eye! Listening to the seanachie - the historian - boring us for hours telling, as is custom, the whole history of the country from the beginning. Give me the singing and the music and poetry. These things, now..." They had reached the Great Hall, and servants were busy running about putting up banners and hanging garlands of mistletoe and holly on every available surface. Tables were moved against the walls. Chairs were being brought through the door. Cormac nodded. "She knows how to organize a feast, that I will say." He was glad to sit on a chair that an obliging servant placed for him. After a few moments hesitation the man fetched one for Lij, too. Lij did not miss the scowl that Cormac offered the man. They sat there for some time watching the preparations talking and laughing, until Morne appeared carrying a pile of scrolls. Cormac's face fell. "Dhia! He will not be pleased to find us together, Lij. He has a fancy for me, you see. I fend him off, but gently as mother has a soft spot for him. Why, I do not know, he is a graceless bastard. Perhaps..." He did not finish his thought however, as Morne was now close enough to hear him. Morne placed the scrolls carefully in a niche in the wall. He nodded curtly at Lij, who nodded back, and smiled at Cormac saying he was pleased to see him on his feet again. Cormac responded in the same way and Morne cast a scathing final glance at Lij and walked off, his head in the air. "What he thinks you'd have to do with me when you have Dom to your bed, I have no idea at all. But let him think it - if you do not mind, that is - it will keep his hands off me..." Lij interrupted him, amazed. "He dares to touch you, unbidden? Cormac, you should not allow it. It is wrong..." Cormac blushed a hot red. "I know...but short of striking him I do not know what to do. He is older than me and my cousin." Lij stared, still angry that his new friend was in a situation like this. "Do you wish me to speak with him? I could stop him..." Cormac smiled wearily. "No, I thank you. If it comes to it, maybe...I think, if you do not mind I will return to my bed and rest. Tomorrow is likely to be a long day, and I do not want to disgrace myself by falling asleep in my chair." Lij left Cormac at his door, and returned to Dom, pondering on all that he had heard. He would speak to Morne if he found he was harassing Cormac. Time would tell. He would watch him on the morrow and see how he behaved in public. He found Dom retching into a bowl. Lij was shocked at what he saw. A short time ago Dom was looking, if not well, much improved. Now he seemed as sick as he must have been before Lij got to him in Ultan's dun. An hour later Dom was lying quietly on his bed, hardly having spoken a word to Lij in the meantime above "please" and "thank you", accompanied by a gentle smile. Lij snuggled in to Dom's side and was rewarded with a soft kiss. "Do you know how much I love you, a hashkeh....my treasure?" Dom laid his head on Lij's chest, listening to the strong heart beating within it. Lij smiled into the warmth of Dom's hair. "I do know, Dom, for it is as I love you, with all my soul. Sleep, now. I shall forego dinner...no, no...I am not hungry, Dom. I had some refreshment with Cormac earlier. We will lie here together tonight, at peace in each others arms and see what tomorrow brings us." Dom was glad Lij could not see his face in the gathering darkness. Tomorrow would bring only misery and pain. He remembered how he felt in Kishlan when he was told Lij had been killed. For the second time in his short life, Dom wished he were dead. |