Mac Tire � Son of the EarthPart 30 � Denouement"Dom, my lovely boy - he has gone." Dom shook his head. No. It could not be. He looked at Lij's face, so peaceful now, and shook his head again. "No, he is not dead. I will not allow it!" Ayveen came to his side and tried to console him; he shrugged her off. "It is not possible. He cannot die." Suddenly the realization of his loss overwhelmed Dom and the sound he made seemed torn from the very fabric of his being. Those in the room shivered. He stared wildly into a dark corner as if he could see something they could not. "Give him back to me! You cannot take him, do you hear, you jackal headed fiend?" Dom gasped for air. Gronya started to speak but he stopped her with one movement of his hand. He drew in a deep breath, "You cannot take him. Why come to us both if all that was meant for him was this? He has honoured you all his life. I have stood by his side all these years. He is mine. Your foul breath has tainted his body, and I will drive it out. Keep away!" he ordered the two women, who, driven by the power in Dom's voice backed against a far wall. The door opened and Cormac entered with Ninus following behind him. They stopped in amazement. "What...?" Cormac whispered, staring at the wild-eyed Dom standing arms outstretched by the bed. "Lij is dead, and Dom is not willing for him to go." Ayveen said quietly. Cormac bit back a cry, and rushed to the opposite side of the bed, but Dom did not look at him. "I solemnly conjure you dark spirits to leave the body of Knefer- Lijedefer, Son of the Sun, god and king of Egypt. I banish you all in the name of the All-Father, to the darkest reaches of the Otherworld, You shall not have him!" Suddenly Dom swooped low over the bed, and taking in a deep breath fixed his mouth tightly over Lij's. "What is he doing?" Cormac whispered to Ninus who had joined him by the bedside. "I have heard of this," Ninus said quietly. "He is driving out the death spirits with his own breath." Not a sound disturbed the room except for Dom's breathing. Minutes passed, and then Dom, exhausted, straightened up. "Send him back to me!" he cried out. He placed his hand over Lij's heart but weariness made him stumble, and he fell forward with a jerk, banging Lij's chest hard with his elbow. Cormac and Ninus rushed to lift him, but stopped in their tracks as a ragged breath assailed their ears. It was Lij. The women, released from their stupor, swiftly came forward, and lifted the coughing Lij up on several pillows, allowing air to fill his lungs. Cormac took Dom in his arms and held him close. "There, my friend - you have saved him." He led Dom to a chair and made him sit, speaking in low tones to Dom, calming him. His breathing was still rapid, but slowing down. Ninus came and thrust a cup into Cormac's hand. "Get him to take this," he said in heavily accented Irish, "it will do him good." Observing Cormac's anguished features he added, wryly "and take a mouthful yourself. The night is not over yet!" His arm still around Dom's trembling shoulders, Cormac asked, suspiciously, "What is it?" Ninus smiled. "It is good - trust me. I am no Porphyry, my friend. I am not even a Phoenician. I am a friend and servant of Lord Menkh." Dom's head came up at this. "Menkh?" he gasped. Ninus bowed. "Yes, lord king, Menkh. But this is a story for later, after rest. Look! The dawn is breaking and you are weary. Lie beside him, now, and listen to him breathe. The sound will calm you as no medicine will. He has coughed up some sort of mass from his chest. Mayhap this was obstructing his breathing. It was a good thing you fell on him, lord." Dom glanced over to the bed. Lij was no longer struggling to breathe; although the sound was rasping, there was no distress. Dom tried to rise, but fell back. The two men helped him over to the bed where he lay beside Lij listening to the glorious sound of his breathing. Gronya crept up beside Dom. "Call us if it is needful, my lord. But I do not think it will be." Dom was too weary to smile or speak. He nodded and closed his eyes. The two lovers were left in peace. They slept beside each other all that day and Lij slept the night through aided by Gronya's potions. *** Dom too fell asleep again towards dawn but was awakened by his beloved�s hand on his arm making an urgent request. Whilst Dom hurried to help Lij he stole a glance at his partner lying against the pillows. He was, if anything, even more bruised than he had been the day before, His eyes were swollen shut, his hands unable to flex. But to Dom's eyes he was beautiful still. "I am thirsty, too, Dom," Lij said, through parched lips. "Is there any water? I do not wish for wine." Dom looked about and found a water jug on a far table. Lij drank deeply, and smiled at Dom around the rim of the cup. Dom went to the door and was surprised to find two guards there. He sent one of them for servants, food and fresh clothing and linens, and asked the remaining man why he was standing there. The man saluted. "The little healer-lady told us to keep folks away whilst you rested, lord king. We have done as she commanded." Dom smiled and thanked the man. Ayveen was allowed to tend Lij on her return, whilst Cormac, after a low voiced greeting to Lij and a few shy words was permitted to assist Dom wash and change his clothing which he had had brought from his chambers. Dom's nose peered over the screen behind which he was bathing. Lij was answering Ayveen's questions in a low voice. Dom did not want to take his eyes off Lij for a moment, but when Cass appeared at the door with Ninus, the king looked inquiringly at the captain of the guard. For he could clearly see the tattoo of his rank had been uncovered upon his face. Cass had assumed his rightful position in the king's service. Cass bowed a greeting and said quietly, "The things that you requested have been done, my lord. You may be at peace concerning the matter." Dom cleared his throat. "Thank you, Captain." There was nothing more to be said. Ultan called and spent a few moments in conversation with Lij, then seeing he was tiring, talked to Dom of Cormac. "He is doing a fine job of handling the kings, Dom. One would scarcely credit he was barely eighteen. He has two things so many of the buggers lack...diplomacy and tact. He makes them feel important and that their opinions are of worth, which is no mean feat in the castle of the High-King, I tell you." Dom grinned. "No, it is not. And on the other matter..." Dom lowered his voice so that Lij could not hear him "...tell Ayveen Orla may see Lij in a few days. He'd frighten the child in this state. I shall go to talk with her later, when Lij is asleep. He tires very easily at the moment, as you see, and I do not wish to leave him for long until he improves." *** Later, Lij slipped into sleep, and Dom went out to find his daughter. He did not know how she would take the news that he was her father, it was Lij she adored after all, but he hoped she'd be pleased to own him. He was determined to form a relationship with her despite her mother's blood. He knew it was more important to judge a person by their own merits than by their parents' doings. He had been gone for a few minutes when Lij was wakened by a quiet voice by the side of his bed. "By the goddess Anu and all her dark servants, you are enough to frighten a banshee! What has been done at you, my beautiful man?" A featherlight kiss landed on Lij's cheek, and he saw through the slits of his swollen eyes, Orla standing by the bed. "Orla, my dear, you should not see me like this..." A small hand pressed gently on his arm. "Huisht now, muh chree. I have seen worse than you. Oh, yes... I have witnessed her handiwork before. A darling mother I had, did I not?" Dom entered the room in time to hear those last words. He came up to the child and put his arms around her thin shoulders, and kissed the top of her head. He could see she was distressed, both by Lij's condition and the fact that the creature who had injured her friend was her own mother. "You should not have come, colleen. It would have waited," he said softly. Orla shrugged under the pressure of her father's hand. "It would not, so. I wanted to see what she had done. Lij, can you speak to me? Are you getting better?" The anxious tone in her voice was not lost on either man. Lij tried to sound positive for the child, but his "I am well," was weak, the sound negating his words. Tears ran down Orla's cheeks and she climbed up on the bed and lay beside Lij on top of the coverlet, resting her head in his neck just as Dom did. Lij smiled. "Truly this is your..." He stopped, remembering the girl did not know. Orla stared at Dom, her eyes intent on his face. "I have heard rumours," she said, quietly. "Are you indeed my father, lord king?" Dom sat at the bedside and smiling at the child, took her hand in his across Lij's form. "I am indeed, muh cushlah. If you will have me. Will you, now?" Orla considered gravely, still grasping his hand. "If I may have Lij, as well," she replied. "It will please me to have two parents. Aithne was never a mother to me - now I know why she hated me. She was not my mother; I was forced on her by Ede. Is there any news of her?" Dom answered slowly. "No, muh chree. It is believed she was...has run away," he amended swiftly, as Lij pressed his arm in warning. Orla sniffed. "More likely Ede had her flung down the nearest cranny. She knew too much, I suppose. She would have known where I came from. The fairies did not bring me, after all." Lij suppressed a smile, although shocked at Orla's cynical words. Truly this child was unique. She looked intently at Dom. "What shall I call you? Father is so...so..." "Stiff, yes. On formal occasions perhaps "father" will do. But I have a liking for "Da." It is what I called my own father. Will that suit?" Orla nodded. "It will. Da." She savoured the taste of it on her tongue. "Da!" She said happily. "And Lij? What do I call him?" Lij turned his head carefully and kissed the hair tickling his chin. "Lij, if you please. I cannot get used to you calling me by any other name." Orla nodded gravely. "With "Great One" for state occasions, is it?" Both men burst out laughing, Lij holding his chest, and wincing with the effort. When they had stopped, the mood considerably lightened by the laughter, Dom told Orla that he had no idea he had fathered a child and that Ede had hidden the fact from him when he had returned to his country. "She hid more than that from you, Ard-Ri," a low voice commented from the doorway. Ayveen came in carrying a covered bowl. She gazed sternly at Orla, still lying beside Lij. "Do you listen to no orders given you, child?" Orla growled. "Not orders concerning my Lij, no," she said, truculently, staring at the woman. She reluctantly got up from Lij's side and sat with her back against the bed head. Ayveen put the bowl down on the table. "Perhaps now is the time for telling. Do you wish to hear in private? Shall I send the child away?" "If you do not stop calling me "The Child" I will scream." Orla folded her arms crossly and glared at Ayveen. Dom examined his daughter's face, and made a decision. "Enough has been hidden from her. Tell us what you know. I am anxious to discover how you fit into the scheme of things. Cass has explained that you thought us sympathizers of Sowrawn, so you need not tell us why you tried to have us killed..." "I am sorry," Ayveen murmured, tending to Lij as she spoke, "but sometimes harsh measures are needed. I am glad you proved to be friends." "Tell us what you know. It may help me when I go to question Neeve and Morne," Dom said casting an anxious eye upon his beloved. Ayveen pulled a chair up near the bed. "Morne is an eejit. I slapped his face hard for him, I can tell you. He dared to raise his voice to me! He told me all he knows of the matter. No doubt he will tell you the same. He can hide nothing from me, you see." "Now why should he tell you anything, you devious woman? And why would you go to question him without my permission?" Dom stared at her, not in anger but in puzzlement. "I need no permission of king or man to talk to my own son, Ard-Ri. I am his mother, although not by birth, and I am also Ede's sister." She looked at them all carefully trying to gauge their reaction to her announcement. Both Dom and Lij hid any surprise they felt as they were sure greater revelations lay ahead. "Oh, another relative pops up - an aunt." says Orla quietly. "You are not a bit like your sister, are you?" Ayveen smiled at her niece. "I have studied hard not to be, my...Orla." She turned to Dom, saying, "Are there others you wish to attend this telling, lord? Neeve and Morne for example? They might be able to shed light on one mystery I am about to unfold." Cass came at Dom's request and went out in search of the people he named. Dom bent low over Lij and whispered, "Are you well enough for this now, or should I hold the meeting elsewhere?" Lij shook his head. "No, Dom, it will take my mind off my hurts to have something else to think about. Let it be here, if you please." Servants came with chairs and soon Cormac arrived with Brian bringing Morne and Neeve. Cormac held a hasty conference with Dom informing him of some matters concerning the coming meeting, and that a thorough search of the whole hill had failed to discover the missing servant, Porphyry. "He has escaped our clutches, Dom. I would have skinned him alive for this" he said, under his breath, his eyes travelling swiftly to Lij's bruised body. Dom put his hand on Cormac's shoulder."You may have had what was left of him after I had finished, with my good pleasure, friend." Cormac went to sit amongst the company and Dom waited a few moments for silence. He observed the assembled throng with interest. Morne had a black eye. Ayveen obviously had a strong hand, Dom mused. Neeve looked nervous, and sat next to Gronya who ignored her. Morne's wife had a seat at the back apart from her husband. She looked tearful and pale. Ultan and Ninus were both present. Dom stood. "I must ask you all to relate your stories in moderate tones. I will not tolerate shouting. Egypt is to be considered above all. He wishes to hear what will be said and this is why this meeting is being held here and not in the Great Hall. If he becomes too weary to listen to you, this meeting will be adjourned until later." "A senior member of the minor kings..." he bowed at Connaught, sitting next to Cormac, who rose and bowed back..."has been chosen by them and will relay the proceedings to the other lords. The seanachie, too, is here to make record for posterity plus two dawlee - lawyers of the courts - as legal representatives." "If there is anything revealed that I do not wish to be noised abroad I will put you under a vow of silence concerning it. You may then only discuss it amongst yourselves. Raise your hand if you do not wish to be bound by it and you may leave now with my good will." No one moved. Dom bound them with a severe oath and a penalty should anyone reveal what he did not wish to be told, to which the assembly rose and responded, "We so swear!" The seanachie raised his hand at this point but he merely wanted to know who Ninus was for his records. Ninus gave his name - which was not Ninus, Dom was not surprised to hear - and remarked that he was a servant of Egypt, but wondered how the recorder could take notes when he had no writing materials with him. Ultan laughed. "The Seanachie - the historians - rely only on their prodigious memories for our history. There is no written record," he said proudly. Ninus rubbed his chin at that but said nothing further. Several people stared at Lij, shocked by his injuries. Those who had not seen him since he disappeared were amazed that he had survived such handling. Morne had the grace to look discomfited, whilst Neeve pleated her gown between nervous fingers. Dom called everyone's attention, and stated that they would begin with Ayveen's story. As Ede's sister, it would be a sensible place to start, he opined. Ayveen rose and the company sat in silence and listened to her story. It was short and to the point. Ede had always been wilful. Cruel to smaller children than herself and to animals. Ayveen had tried to plead with her to change her ways, but she would not listen. Her mother would brook no criticism of her darling firstborn, and many a time conversations between the two women would stop when Ayveen entered the room. When their father died suddenly after eating some poisoned mushrooms - carelessly gathered by an untrained servant, her mother informed her - Ayveen felt alone. Ede was always finding ways - little ways - of punishing her. When a servant gave birth to a child, Ede was all for having the baby boy smothered, but Ayveen took pity on the scrap and adopted it in the face of Ede's violent opposition. A few years later Ede had herself become pregnant, and bore a son, who, when he was three, was sent out to be fostered with Ede's grandmother who lived a fair distance away. Ede had hinted that it would be easy for her to identify the child when she needed to do so as she had had him marked in such a way that the child would never see it, but Ayveen had never discovered how this had been accomplished. Ayveen had seen Ede and the child's father in the woods together, and because of this, Ede tried to silence her sister by attempting to push her into the river from the castle battlements of their keep, for he was a married man of high degree. Ayveen, fearful for her life, ran away, leaving her adopted son behind her as she had no way of looking after the child, not knowing where she could go. Ayveen paused in her telling. "The rest is unimportant. Eventually I found my niche as a healer in a distant place, and I have been happy there. My son has fallen under the influence - and into the bed also, if I am not mistaken - of his aunt, my sister. If he is my adopted son. I have not seen him since he was a child, and only have Neeve's word that he is. Even as a child he was devious and full of secrets. I think he disliked me because I always found him out." She stared at Morne who stared back at her, hostility written on his face. "He is your son, lady, I know it." Neeve said, in a clear voice. "He has been with us since he was a baby and has never left us. Mari the sewing woman will also vouch for him, if you will ask her. She has always made his clothing and Ede's and is no friend of mine so you may rely on her word if you disbelieve me." Ayveen nodded and sat down. "I will do so," she said. Dom went to Lij and gave him a drink and asked if he needed to rest. Lij shook his head, whispering, "Do not fear that I will not tell you before I become too weary, muh chree. Continue, if you please." Dom asked Morne to tell his story. He was brief, and to the point. He stared at the floor in front of him as he began to speak. "I loved her. I always had loved her, from a child. When Ayveen... left us, Neeve and Ede took care of me. I was grateful. I knew she was an exponent of the Dark Arts, but she never used them in front of me. Before I reached the Age of Choice she took me to her bed. Yes, I enjoyed it...she was very skilled in the secrets of the bed. Whatever she asked me to do, I did. I helped the Phoenician to carry the drugged Egyptian from his bed to the dungeons. I helped to chain him, unconscious, to the wall...but I swear I did no more!" He stared beseechingly at Lij. "You must believe me, Egypt. I had no part in this...torture." "I believe you," a soft voice issued from the bed. "Go on." Morne's shoulders slumped. "There is no more to tell. She came to me after the king had ...had gone from her bed ...and swore she would have her vengeance on Egypt because, she screamed, if Seaneen said little of it aloud, his Lij occupied his every waking thought. I did not doubt that she meant Egypt great harm, thereby punishing the Ard-Ri in the process. I could have saved him, but I did not, and for this I am sorry. I was jealous of him, of Egypt...he had Cormac, and I loved...love... Cormac. I wanted him hurt, but not... this!" He shuddered, barely able to look at Lij, sitting propped up in the bed, Orla's hand clasped gently in his. "My wife...does not understand my obsession, either with her...or him. She wishes to leave for her father's house..." He sat down. Dom nodded. "The lady of Morne has my leave to go after the meeting is over, if she so desires." The lady stood. "I do, Ard-Ri," she said thinly and retook her seat. Next they heard from Gronya and Ultan, who told of the dissent and confusion amongst the peoples caused by Ede's wickedness and excesses, people driven from their rightful homes by children lustful for power and greedy for money and possessions. Dom looked at Ninus who obviously wished to contribute to the telling. He called him forward, and the dark slim man stood before the assembly to tell his tale. Much of it Dom and Lij had heard before, but the fact, told so complacently, that he, Ninus, was a Hyksosian spy in the pay of Menkh, an Egyptian prince and cousin to Egypt, was sworn to silence by Dom. "One never knows who is listening," the Ard-Ri wisely remarked. Ninus hurried over the facts, omitting that Lij was the oarsmaster on the ship, and not a valued passenger, and after the shipwreck, came to a point where Dom entered the story again. "My friend Abibal was anchored further up the coast, in a hidden cove. I found him by accident. I was heading for a larger port northwards, where I might negotiate passage home for my men and myself. He was herding some poor benighted souls into the hold of his ship. I asked him what he was doing. He said he was doing what he always did - gathering slaves for the eastern markets." An angry mutter from those gathered disturbed Ninus's story, and Dom put up his hand for silence. "We will talk more of this later - decide what to do to stop..." "...No need, great king. I have already stopped it. I have no truck with slavers." To the question in Dom's eye he answered blithely, "I broke his neck for him at dinner. I am not a cruel man - I let him finish eating first." Everyone stared, fascinated at this beautiful, elegant man, dressed in gold and lapis lazuli like a king himself. Truly there are hidden depths to every man Dom thought grimly. He motioned for Ninus to continue. He thought carefully and said, "He...Abibal... liked fair- haired captives, both male and female because they were more favoured by rich potentates as bed slaves. The fat slug laughed and mentioned one in particular that he had captured years ago. Said the man had been pointed out to him as being a suitable candidate as he played the harp and was said to be well versed in the arts of...well, never mind." Ninus cast a deprecating look at Dom who stared back at him with amazement in his eyes. "Abibal said a person called Sowrawn allowed him to gather slaves for a huge payment in gold every year, but that it was well because the slaves sold for four times as much in the eastern markets. He also told me the name of the man who collected the money for this Sowrawn, and who betrayed Dom of Monaghan to his fate." Ninus looked over at Dom, and the king gave permission for the name to be made public. "It was Ultan of the Briocha." Ultan made a wild dash for the door, but Brian pushed him into a chair his face hard and closed against his father's pleading look. All eyes stared at Ultan, who bowed his head in shame as he spoke. "I, too, lusted after her, and I wanted her for myself. I was mad with fury at every man she took to her bed. When she married the Ard-Ri I went wild. That is why I did what I did - but I repented of my folly after I'd had Dom ...the king...taken by the slaver. I knew a madness had come over me, perhaps a spell, I do not know. There is no excuse for my behaviour. Since I came to myself I have worked tirelessly for the king's cause against Sowrawn...Ede.. Once she had taken power from Colm and slaughtered him and his innocent family, I worked against her night and day. When I discovered Sean-Adomnan was back with us my heart lifted as it had not in many years. I sent Brian to the keep... I campaigned...I entreated, I fought for Sean-Adomnan's kingdom and his life to expiate my terrible sin, committed through lusting after a witch. Connaught and the other kings are my witnesses that I tried..." His voice dissolved into tears. Connaught nodded, and stood to speak. "This is true, Ard-Ri. Ultan has been the greatest champion of your cause amongst us all. I am disappointed in him, but his present deeds and valour in the face of Ede's threats against his life must be taken into consideration when you exact punishment." Ultan knelt at Dom's feet in supplication. "Forgive me, lord king. I have sinned against you." Dom glanced at Lij, and was astonished to discover that Lij was actually smiling at Ultan. Dom indicated that Lij should speak. "Good has come of it - of this dreadful deed," Lij said in a husky voice heavy with weariness. "I was blessed with the companionship and the love of Sean-Adomnan during the time in which his country was deprived of him. I believe the Lord of the Briocha sincerely repents of his foul deeds. It is not in my gift to forgive him, as the injury was not done against me...but... my lord... king... I would ask you to..." Lij stopped as a fit of coughing overcame him. Gronya poured a drop of cordial into a glass, and cast a warning glance at Dom. Dom nodded. "We will adjourn this meeting until tomorrow. Egypt is tiring. Get up Briocha, we shall speak of this further in private. We..." Neeve leapt up from her chair as Ultan sat down. "One thing more, my lord, I must speak of. There is the matter of Ede's child, born into my hands all those years ago. His father's name was not mentioned by Ayveen, but not because she did not know it." Ayveen made as if to protest then changed her mind and sat back in her chair watching with interest. "I speak it now." Neeve continued. "Your brother is present in the keep, Ard-Ri - that child was the son of Turalach, the king, your father. It was he Ayveen saw in the woods with Ede that day. Before he left us I marked the child where he would never see it, nor anyone else either unless they knew where to look. I will tell you how to find this mark in exchange for my life." Dom's face showed both his astonishment and his sorrow. Lij looked compassionately at his partner, feeling his pain of a father's betrayal and the joy of finding a new brother. Dom sighed. If my brother is here, I must know of it...know him... "I accept your terms, woman - what is this mark?" Dom demanded in a low voice made raw with emotion. Neeve stood proud but trembled with both fear and elation at the revelation she had offered. "It is three small intertwined circles tattooed into the base of his hairline at the back of his neck. Hair is worn long by both men and women, and no man can see the back of his own neck, especially as this is concealed within his hair." She rubbed her hands together, nervously. "He was here in court, Ede told me as much - but she would not say who he was. Ede had two other sons that she bore in the next few years, by different fathers - all farmed out so that she would not be bothered with them. So when she said that her son by Turalach was here, I knew there were several young men amongst the lords whom the description might fit, but I have found out his identity. One night I offered to plait the besotted lad's hair in the Egyptian style, to see how it suited him, you see, and I found the marks." Dom looked over at Cormac, hope blazing in his eyes. Cormac gazed back, the same emotion written for all to see on his face. Let it be him, Isis and Maeve...dear gods! Let it be him! Dom thought as he rose from his seat. The king strode over to Cormac, and, turning him round with firm hands, lifted the hair on the back of his friend's neck. Then he turned him again, clasped him tightly in his arms, smiling at him through his tears, and, laying his head on his brother's shoulder, wept for joy. |