For Inka.
A young girl stood on the deck of the ship, gazing out through the fog, past the lights, her grey eyes unseeing. Great gusts of wind caught her thick woollen cloak, causing it to flap like wings behind her, the wind made swift sailing, the sailors and crew longed to deliver their princess to her betrothed, to seal the alliance and protect their country.
A smile ghosted across Liadan's lips, the Goddess had answered her prayers and sent her a lover. Liadan was a dutiful daughter but she dreamed of more than a contract. At Beltane two weeks earlier she had left the crowds to seek solace to prepare herself for the coming journey. Around her was the sacred glade of the Goddess unfurled in all her radiance after the long winter frosts. The glade was her favourite place, a peaceful sanctuary where she could commune with her Goddess, share her fears, rest from the busy marriage preparations made by her mother and the rest of her large family, all who were depending on this alliance to bring peace to their land. Sometimes Liadan dreamed of running away; marriage to a stranger, a man that she had met only twice, a man many seasons beyond her sixteen summers, made her tremble, her stomach flip and her heart to race. Her betrothed was a conqueror, a ruthless man when pushed. Fortunately for Liadan's people her father had managed to broker a marriage treaty in return for protection of their small kingdom, and she was the prize.
In the glade she had no need to pretend that she was strong, she collapsed to her knees clasping her hands over her head she let the tears fall. Aine, the priestess, said that tears cleansed the soul and allowed her to think more clearly, if that was the case Liadan thought, she must have the clearest soul ever.
A sound behind her made her jump, coming to her feet immediately, all the priestesses were at the celebration, no one else from the settlement would come here, it was forbidden. Her knife slid easily into her hand, a priestess was trained to defend herself when necessary. A tall lithe young man came into view, with beautiful fathomless dark eyes and light blond hair, her breath caught in her throat, the Goddess had sent her a spirit to protect and comfort her in her hour of need.
"I...., I, forgive me, I did not expect anyone to be out here. I never intended to interrupt. " He turned to leave.
"Wait," Liadan breathed, "Your name." Quickly she collected herself, no spirit could be that awkward, he was staring at her as a starving man at a feast, or as though she was a long lost wife whom he had not seen in years. It was imperative that he did not leave, although she would have been unable to say why. She recognised him, he had come seeking work two days ago, she had been trying on her trousseau, her mother making the last adjustments to all her garments, Liadan standing frozen still so that Keaira, her best friend did not stick pins in her.
"Please sir, tell me your name,"
The stranger smiled, the expression bringing summer to his dark eyes. "Thorne, my name is Thorne." His smile was infectious, in the moonlight they talked, it was as though she had known him all her life, she spilled her deepest fears, and he told her a little of his life, and all that he had seen.
But now she was on her way to marry. The virgin sacrifice, a price that she had no choice but to pay. At least she had a few stolen moments of happiness, Thorne had said that he would leave and continue wandering, neither of them had any wish to destroy the alliance.
"My Lady, we approach."
Liadan gathered her resolve wrapping it around her, she looked up into her father's grey eyes feeling the reassurance warm her. This was it, from tomorrow her husband's people would be her own, she would be hand fasted.
Her father gave her his arm and together they walked down the gangplank, Liadan held her head high, she was a princess and a priestess of her people there was no reason for her to be scared. A soft smile came to her lips, she was proud to be the living symbol of the promise between her two peoples. They halted in front of her future husband.
"My Lord." She bowed, as her father did, then looked into her betrothed's eyes; all was not well, what had happened?
"Ask her my Lord, in front of all these people, ask her if she has betrayed you with another. "
Shocked Liadan took in a tall dark woman standing at Fionn's side. Her betrothed seemed to be paying heed to her accusations. Liadan drew herself together, she was determined to deny anything this woman brought against her, no one could know that she had met Thorne, and all they had done was talk. Her resolve suddenly failed when Fionn stood back to show Thorne's crumpled body at his feet, blood dripped from several wounds, his clothes were torn and muddy, his fingers and arms bruised. Liadan crouched beside him, gently probing, desperate to find out if he was still alive.
"My Lord, she gives proof by her actions."
"She has not had a chance to answer the accusations against her, we do things by the law around here." Fionn gestured to several of his men, "You two, pick the boy up and take him to a cell, get someone to dress his wounds and prepare him for trial."
Liadan wept as she saw the extent of his injuries, she felt as though the life had been choked out of her, as though she had suffered the injuries too. Her father dragged her up by the arm, limp and unresisting she let him pull her to her feet.
Thorne's eyes opened, he took in the scene and slowly came to his feet, Liadan stopped crying the tears catching in her throat, how was this possible. A look of intense relief and joy crossed her face.
It was then that her father drove his knife into her side. as she crumpled the last thing she saw was his horrified eyes, she drowned in their depths.
Behind the shocked Fionn and his party, Maya smiled, once again she had triumphed; once again Theorn had been unable to stop her. She slipped through the crowd, her people would insure that Theorn would escape, after all if he did not there would be no one to watch her win next time.
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