“What about Earl O’Hara's son, Shane isn’t it? His father isn’t likely to see another summer and he is heir to Munhar. A nice city, good land and a pretty face too, he'd be my choice."
“Honestly Aoife, O’Hara. Pretty he may be but he's as dull as water in a well. If she picks him she’ll never have another exciting moment in her life. He’d never do for our Lady Fair.”
Saoirse smiled, Aoife and Cara had been with her since she was a child, faithful and loyal as ever they seemed to spend more time arguing over her future then their own. She finished drying out her face and hair and turned to face them.
“Who said I must pick anyhow? I am the Lady of Árann. Maybe I don't want any man.”
Cara winked at Aoife. “Any man eh? Ooohhh I see how it is, you got your eyes on one of those fair Druaidíi folk then, not that I blame you. Now that, that would be exciting.”
Aoife gasped at Cara. “Exciting? Yes most exciting and bloody dangerous besides. There's a reason we don’t interbreed Cara. Though… they are rather handsome aren't they.” She shook herself as if embarrassed at her words.
Cara smiled mischievously. “Oh but they are. Speaking of which, that pretty one with those gorgeous green eyes had his firmly set on you Saoirse.”
“Which one?” Saoirse replied absentmindedly.
Cara rolled her eyes “Which one. Don’t play Saoirse, I saw you glancing at him too."
Cara could always see right through her. And she was right, he was particularly striking, even for a Druaidíi. But there were some things that she did not need to know.
She scrunched her face into her best unbothered expression
“Oh please, I have far too much on my plate without adding in that sort of complication in my life. Time for fun and romance must wait, if Árann is to survive the coming weeks and months ahead then we have much work to do. And I’ll need your help.”
And the help of others besides. Árann’s people recovered still from the events of the near past, if they were to go to war once more it would risk destroying the fragile balance and growth so hard fought over the past decade. Yet to war they would have to go, of that Saoirse knew. In the last Empire War it was her father that had led the charge alongside King Breogan. He had gathered great renown amongst his own and struck fear into his enemies. He had been one of Aileann's champions and she would not tarnish his legacy by ever allowing herself or their land come under foreign rule. Not now, not ever.
“Cara, have Tomás brought to me, he above all must be ready to face into the future. Only him mind, none else need accompany him, my words are for his ears only.”
Cara nodded as eager as it was sarcastic, “Yes, M'Lady, I am your faithful servant and will glady take on the role of messenger if that is how you perceive me to be. As for Tomás you need not fear, whether you order it or not he's unlikely to want anyone else interrupting his private audience with you my Royal Beauty.”
Saoirse looked at her with a blank, unmoving face, “Go, go now before I really do make you do some work around here, stare at the mirror any longer and you’ll like hypnotize yourself.”
“Oh I do apologise, though I cannot take the blame, we can’t all be naturally perfect without trying like you my Lady.”
Saoirse sighed, Cara always had an answer. She couldn't stop herself smiling, resignedly she tried again.
“Just shut up and go...Pleasssee, my most loyal and most trusted companion.”
Cara's face brightened and she smiled far too graciously
“Gladly.” Dropping the mirror she bowed lowly before leaving, emphasising every step as she did so.
Aoife joined Saoirse in her laughter, “Is she ever serious?”
"No time I recall no. Yet she is good to keep around all the same, for messages if nothing else."
Saoirse linked her arms in Aoife's and brought her to sit beside her on the bed. Cara was more than capable of looking after herself and had proven as much on many occasions. Aoife less so. A naturally shy, timid girl she was terribly sweet, and fell in love easily, living as she did in her rather romantic, beautiful imagination of the World. As the older sibling Saoirse was always careful to care for her and ensure she was never fully teared from such a world, Reality was far too cruel.
Speaking of Men, how goes your love life? How is our darling blacksmith boy treating you these days, Good I hope.”
“Eoghan? Oh Saoirse he is ever so pretty and handsome. Last night after he finished in the smith he snuck out past his awful mother and came to me in the gardens. Oh it was ever so romantic. He was akin to those princes we read about in the great Library when we were little. He even had the single red rose.”
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Aoife jumped up excitedly and began demonstrating to Saoirse exactly what transpired.
“Just like this, he came up behind me and placed his hands over my mouth telling me to shhhhh. Of course I couldn’t see him behind so I was terribly frightened. But then….” her face lit up as she spoke, she must really like this one.
“But then I saw his face and my heart soared to see such beauty.”
Saoirse laughed in glee along with her, sharing in her excitement and joy. Sometimes she thought she cared for Aoife so much because she showed her how to truly enjoy life, embracing in full its peaks and valleys. And she loved her for it.
“So long as he continues to stay lovely then I am truly happy for you. And if he does hurt or even annoy you just a little you know what you’re to do right?”
Aoife laughed "Yes, yes, I know, I call you and you’ll make him regret the day his father ever looked at his mother with a glint in his eye.”
"Exactly, now you best be off. Cara should be back with Tomás any moment now, provided she hasn’t been distracted along the way.”
“Very well, I shall head for the market, perhaps I may find you something nice.” She gathered her things and donned her stylish overcoat.
“Not that you’d ever wear it.”
“Hmmph, I’ll wear it just as soon as the time is right, whenever that may be. Now go, we will speak later and you can show me if you find anything pretty.”
It was not so long after Aoife left that the door was opened once more, this time Cara entered with Tomás following close behind. She gave a quick curtsy and smile before letting herself out once more leaving just the two of them. At almost twice her age it was now some time since Tomás had been considered a young man, yet he still moved with a firm step and a soldier's stance, and retained still the handsomeness of his youth.
“My Lady,” he bowed lowly. He was appropriately dressed for the Captain of the Guard, a mail shirt over boiled leather complete with a deep blue cloak emblazoned with the Tower of Árann. In his hand he held his steel helmet.
He had ever been a faithful man to not only her father but to her also, proving himself her most staunch defender against her uncles. And a big reason for my ultimate success.
“Tomás, how goes the preparations?”
“Good My Lady. By your word I sent four of our swiftest horses back to the city to ready the men. Each chosen as you requested, men I trust to be cautious and discreet carrying out your orders. No Milesian will know of our plans.”
“Good, very good.”
Saorise looked intently at Tomás, though he would never admit as such she saw the desire in his eyes, he wanted her. In her position it was something she had learned to recognise quickly. For ill or good intent, both could be used equally to her benefit. If for ill then they would be reckless and foolish. And if for good then they would be loyal. And foolish. He hid it well but if him desiring her brought him closer than so be it.
“And what of the other matter I asked on. Do your men report anything of note?”
“Ah yes,” he scratched his beard thoughtfully, “well as to that the Earl's men are rather fond of their drink, and fond of talking as they do it. From what we have gathered in the alehouses and streets it seems that the connections between the Milesians and Harfigh do indeed run deep and he is not best pleased with the idea of inciting a war and risking the flow of gold and silver he has worked so hard to gain.”
Saoirse smiled grimly, Harfrigh's love for gold and silver was no secret but love him or loathe him all agreed he was amongst the finest when it came to acquiring wealth and his rule had brought great riches to the people of Cláir. How he came by those gains was a rather more contentious issue however.
“We would do well to keep an eye on him then. We still have someone in his keep, yes?”
“Of course. Just as in all others, yet we should be cautious how much weight we give to the drunken talk of his men. Despite the rumours the facts are Harfrigh had already begun assembling his men. Indeed aside from the King he commands the greatest force in the land of late. Had he truly desired to avoid war then he could have made his presence at the gathering felt in a far more obvious and blatant manner. For his standards he was rather quiet. Wealth or not he is not a man that will not bow easily to a foreign power, he has too much pride for that. He barely manages to do so with our own King. And it must be said that his family did play a prominent role in the last war with the Milesians, he himself fought valiantly against them.”
Ever the balanced counsel, another reason to value him so.
“Very well, you are right, it was somewhat of a shock to see him so subdued, he barely made a scene this time round, and he had far more cause to. I too expected a much stronger defence of his flush trade routes.
Be that as it may i do not now nor will ever trust the Man. Too much I've had to speak his name in my halls.”
Saoirse moved to look out the window, down into the square as the night took over the day and the people made their way to their homes sheltering themselves against the heavy rainfall.
Try as she could she had been unable to prove his guilt regarding the aid he had sent to her uncles during their dispute. Yet she knew he did, her uncle had said as much, and a dying man had little reason to lie. Had she been able to it would have placed even a man of Earl Harfrigh's standing in great peril. The Law of Aileann was liberal at times, downright confusing at more but on wars of succession it was clear. No outside force or entity may interfere. Not even the King himself. Saoirse turned quickly to face Tomás once more, catching his glance down her body before he could check himself. She pretended not to notice. She smiled sweetly at him and pressed a step closer to him allowing her perfume wash over him. He stiffened, though whether just in his stance or otherwise she couldn’t say. She adjusted the necklace hanging deeply from her neck and looked deeply into his eyes.
“We have made sure that the right person sits on Árann's seat, me and you. Now we must ensure that it continues, come what may, war or no war. Árann is mine to rule. And with you alongside me it will continue to do so.”
Tomás never took his eyes off her. “Always My Lady.”
“Good.” Saoirse stepped back gracefully and returned to her desk.
“That is all Captain, if anything of note occurs then report it back to me directly, if not, then I will call for you.”
“Yes, My Lady.” He bowed lowly, sneaking one last glance as he did so before making his way back out the door. Saoirse sat down once again and opened the letter she had mysteriously received in her bed on her return from the day of the King's Court. Inside was the petals of a striking red rose and the solitary line,
"From your ardent admirer."
A childlike gesture but Saoirse could not help herself smiling, she hid the note away abruptly as the door swung open and the sounds of Cara echoed around the room. Such fancies must wait. For now.