Lunamae (5 page)

Lunamae woke me up from my pleasant sleep.
She was practically bouncing off the walls of the house, announcing
at the top of her lungs she was five. I let her shout for a bit as
I slowly got myself out of bed. At my age, birthdays were a
constant reminder I was growing older and unmarried. Those my age
were already having children of their own. To me, it seemed,
Lunamae was much like my child since I raised her from a babe.

“I’m coming, birthday girl,” I said groggily.
I found a comb and brushed out my hair. I hadn’t paid much
attention to it in recent years. The brown I used to have was
turning into auburn and getting to be quite tangled as well. The
spring air helped with all the rains we had. I pulled on a linen
shift and then found a clean wool overdress. Once I had put those
two on, I finished with a belt around my waist after first looping
my herb pouch through it. I found my shoes in the corner of the
loft. They had been made by my brother Logan, his branding evident
on the heel. I heard the sound of the
bodhrán
and fiddle
and some pipes and realized that Angharad had requested a parade to
pick up Lunamae at our house to take her to the keep. Lunamae heard
the music and stuck her head out the window.

“I see mommy!” she yelled. I walked down the
loft, noticing Lunamae was wearing the new dress my mother had
made. My mother had the door shut to her room and I realized she
must have spent the whole night working on it.

“She’s got too much energy,” Logan said. I
turned and noticed him in the cooking area of the house, sipping on
what appeared to be hot tea. “I didn’t realize it was so hard
getting a child dressed in the morning.”

“You did it with one arm?” I asked surprised
and Logan turned up his mouth in a quirky grin.

“I had to keep reminding her to stay calm or
she would rip her dress. She was excited to wear it so she obeyed
for the most part. I didn’t want to wake you after the day you had
yesterday.” Logan took a sip of his tea and walked over to me. “Do
you think you can endure eight more years?”

“Heh,” I said, not amused. Truly, I longed
for male companionship and friends. It was tiring to care for a
child by one’s self. I couldn’t do anything with people my own age
and I didn’t have time to court either. I was a bit surprised
requests weren’t being sent by other clans interested in arranging
marriage in exchange for alliances, being the niece of a chief
dame. Granted, with the birth of an heir, that changed things.

The birthday entourage arrived and my brother
and I escorted Lunamae out to follow the entertainers to the keep.
I knew my parents would be along soon. They would be looked down on
if they were to miss it.

After we were led into the keep we stopped
for a moment so Lunamae could be joined with her mother and be
seated first in the feasting hall. My brother and I were next and
then others followed. My parents arrived shortly thereafter and
were seated next to Logan. Servants came around with ewers of water
and bowls and a towel to wash our hands with. Then they distributed
napkins to us all. The entertainment continued as the meats,
vegetables, mutton and fruit pies, and drinks were brought forth.
There was beef, suckling pig, lamb, and stuffed geese present. I
could tell each by their coloration and the way they were presented
(the suckling pig and goose being the most evident since they
retained their shapes). For this special occasion, the guests were
given the last honey mead of the season. It was one of my favorite
beverages. It had the flavor of honey but with a mild mix of
alcohol. I preferred it over ale or the beer the Bexweth Abbey
monks produced.

We tried to keep Lunamae in our discussions
but somehow we branched off-topic to the Wuriven clan.

“Will you be sending an investigative party
to them?” my father asked the chief dame. While he was a farrier by
trade, he was still her brother and had previously been an advisor
to Chieftain Leofric when he was still alive and ruling.

Angharad shifted uncomfortably, but still
made an effort to answer. “I am considering it. They may not know
they have wolves in their midst. I would, of course, make sure
there was a suitable amount of guardsmen following along for
protection. I have made more inquiries with Talfrin—who is doing
better—on the size of the bandit group that attacked him. He did
not recall it being much more than a handful.”

“Who shall go to initiate conversation?” My
father asked.

“Keolan, you know you are too close in the
bloodline to go yourself. I can send one of my advisors,” my aunt
answered. I dodged out of listening to anymore of the conversation
and decided it would be better to make talk with Lunamae so she
would have her head filled with happy thoughts. We talked about how
much we had learned this past week and what we were going to do the
next. She was very eager to learn when she could start needlework
because she wanted to “sew up people” too. Luckily, I still had
another day before that service was required of me.

The party ended after a fabulous cake was
presented and then promptly eaten. Chief Dame Angharad had imported
chocolate from Chalos specifically for this event. After all the
festivities had concluded, I ushered a weary Lunamae back to the
house for a nap. I could only imagine what her other birthdays
would be like. Hopefully none were preceded with violence.

Nine-year-old Lunamae and I were sitting
together in the sewing of the keep, quietly (odd as that was)
working on a tapestry for her mother’s anniversary as chief dame
when a familiar horn rang out. We looked at each other.

“I wonder what that is,” I said. Lunamae had
grown quite a bit and was now tall enough to reach the middle of my
chest. Her golden hair was braided and brought around her head so
it didn’t fall too low. She got up, laid down the loom, and headed
for the door.

“Whatever it is, it must be important,” she
stated. I followed after her. She quickly ran down the halls and
down the staircase as if she was a messenger boy with an urgent
delivery.

“Slow down! Running wildly is
not
befitting a lady!” I called after her. She didn’t heed my
instruction so I lifted up my own skirts and tried to keep up.

“Someone might be injured,” she shot back
from the bottom of the stairwell. “Remember last time?” I bounded
down the stairs and arrived at the bottom as well.

“I’m surprised
you
do,” I said,
panting with exhaustion as we exited the keep. She had slowed a bit
as she saw banners from the other side of the Humble Bridge.

“Who are they?” she asked curiously. She put
her hands over her eyes to shield them from the solis which had
been setting in that direction. “I’ve never seen those crests
before.”

“Perhaps you have not seen them because they
are not from a clan,” my father said behind us. His quick
interruption scared me and I jumped. He apologized quickly and
continued, “It’s an embassy from Kyrie, although I have no idea why
they are here. It has been almost ten years since the Battle of
Wortha Hill and I assume they are ready to make peace of some sort
with us. Perhaps they want to apologize -- fancy good that would do
-- or present a token of humility by offering us something.”

“Where is my mother?” Lunamae asked quickly.
“I can’t see her from here.”

“She’s probably preparing royal adornments
and getting a guard escort together. We can’t trust them to be
amicable,” my father replied, “or
her
for that matter.” I
took a look at his hardened face, wearing thin with age. His skin
was darkened from the work at the ironsmith shop, preparing shoes.
He was in his early forties now and grey hairs were beginning to
overtake his brown head. He had wrinkles adorning his face as well.
I never really noticed it much. He was still my father and to me I
will always remember him with a full head of brown hair and
smoother skin.

Chief Dame Angharad came out of the keep, an
ample amount of guards surrounding her.

“It would be good of you to follow us,” she
said, addressing us. “Lunamae, you need to be made aware of our
enemies now for when the time comes you must rule.”

“Enemies?” I thought aloud. “It’s been so
long though.”

“Not long enough,” Angharad said bitterly,
toying with the wooden band on her finger. “The chieftain is still
dead.” The embassy of about a dozen individuals was led up the
bridge by several of the watchmen and soon they were literally
face-to-face with us.

“We come from Kyrie in peace and in the hope
of future peace,” one of the men stated in a gentle voice. I looked
the group over. The man who spoke was middle-aged, probably not
past his twenties. He had a head of short cropped brown hair with
only a hit of facial stubble. He had prominent cheekbones and a
long, slightly hooked nose. Many others seemed to be middle-aged as
well—most likely because of the course of travel taken it would be
easier for a younger person to make the trek. They wore unusual
clothes. They were more like bed robes than anything else. I didn’t
notice any weapons but I assumed they could have been hidden
underneath if necessary. “I am Gaius. We have heard about the
wondrous birth of Lunamae and offered our best wishes to her. We
would have come sooner but we thought things might
be—unpleasant.”

“What is so special about Lunamae’s birth?”
my aunt questioned. She shifted under the royal robes she wore.

“Haven’t you heard?” Gaius said surprised,
his eyes wide in amazement. “Her birth is an omen, a sign from the
stars that peace is here. A few years ago a rhymester came to us,
singing of a song that has come to pass in her. She can unite the
clans in this land and we can all live in civility.”

“Unite the clans?” Angharad said, raising her
voice. “Have you not heard of the Wuriven? They came here almost
five years ago with the intention of
killing
my Lunamae. We
sent a band over there to converse to get to the root of the matter
and it is by the blessing of the Creator alone that my people left
with their lives intact. I will tell you what will bring peace.”
She paused and shouted to the guards, “Seize them! Lock them in the
dungeons.” The chief dame turned to Gaius. “If Kyrie wants peace
then they will leave us alone or I will kill you all.” I was
shocked by Angharad’s actions although I knew why she did it. She
still held bitter feelings towards the people who killed her
husband. I wasn’t sure if any passage of time could change
those.

The guards did as they were told. As they
were led off I noticed a boy, not much older than Lunamae, being
escorted to the dungeons as well. He was so young and didn’t
deserve to be sent into the dungeons. Granted, I didn’t think
anyone other than criminals needed to be sent to there. It was a
cold, dark place and the stench of decay made you want to gag. I
had only ever been there once out of curiosity as a child and it
was enough for me. I caught Lunamae’s eye and gave her a cautious
look.

“It would be for the best, at present, if we
do not try to interfere with your mother’s wishes. She is a hard
woman,” I whispered. “Perhaps we should see to it that the
prisoners are kept in good health and are well cared for.”

“So you think we could visit today?” Lunamae
asked excitedly.

“It would be too late I think. The lunalight
will be fast approaching and I don’t like being out after dark,” I
answered, adding, “Especially not in a nasty dungeon.”

“Very well Muirenn, I’ll do as you ask. Can
we get something to eat now? I don’t think there will be a family
meal with all of the commotion.” I nodded and led her back to the
house. My father went back to the stables to finish shoeing one
horse. When I entered I saw Logan and my mother at the table, deep
in conversation.

“It’s not right, they didn’t do anything
wrong by coming here,” Logan said angrily. “It’s been ten years;
you would think Angharad could get over it by now.” I was surprised
that even my brother had lost his hostile feelings towards Kyrie,
but perhaps seeing as how he had moved on with his life and had a
proper career now changed things.

“That’s my mother you are talking about!”
Lunamae said, her arms crossed in the doorway.

“Sorry Lunamae, but it is true. Your mother
has had a grudge towards them ever since your father was killed. It
is not healthy to keep all her anger stored up. Those Kyrians have
not done anything wrong. There is no reason why she should act like
they had. We know what it like to lose a family member as well,” my
mother, Adelle, stated plainly. Lunamae huffed. Being nine there
was no way she would be able to just run out of the house so she
went up to the loft we now shared and flopped. My mother turned to
me. “Would you fancy some tea, Muirenn?”