back to their camp and without so much as a glimpse of their prey.
‘S a chomharsana cléibhe, fliuchaigí bhur mbéal / So, my bosom friends, drown your thirst
Mar ní bhfaighidh sibh aon bhraon i ndiaidh bhur mbáis / As you won’t get a drop at all after you’re dead
From: Bunan Bui, Cathal Mac Ghiolla Ghunna, 17th Century CE
Punishment
T HE SUNRISE ROLLED north along the horizon. Soon it would be the time of long sunlight and heat, called Brightsun. Slights and injustices sparkled in the ripples on the Boyne, flashed from the white quartz on the mounds, and rose in dark plumes from the intruders’ fires.
The Invaders ignored offers to meet in a solstice council with the Starwatchers. More warriors scrambled to shore from arriving boats, carrying long knives and the new halberds armed with shining battle points.
The Starwatchers stayed well away from the intruders’ camp while their scouts monitored its activity to see if the camp absorbed the newcomers or they departed with their boats. A swift fox darted between river and woods under the drifting stars. However, the scouts had no report of Cian and this worried the elders.
After Boann’s safe return from the intruders, Oghma waited for her to speak. Several sunrises passed before Boann released her cares to him about being held inside the walled camp.
When she finished, he asked only, “Are you certain you could not have saved the murderer’s red hand?”
She almost told him about the assault on her before Sheela’s murder, her worries for Cian; everything. But that might be too much for him. “I went among the Invaders on behalf of our people. Sheela lies dead. It would do no good for her or the living if I neglected my duty as a healer.”
“You mean you had enough medicine to kill this man Connor and you chose to let him live.” Oghma nodded approval, the hearth’s fire highlighting his face so that it appeared carved in granite, ageless. “Their camp has calmed for the time being. You prevented great violence all the way around.”
At full moon Slainge had a meal prepared for Tadhg and Boann, at which the people offered thanks for their return unharmed. After the feast, the two shared with the elders their insights into what they witnessed within the intruders’ camp. The elders mulled over certain details and questioned the intruders’ motives, saying, “There is no metal here at the Boyne!”
Two moons passed after Boann’s mission inside the camp. Quiet ones watched the Invaders’ every move. They sent a warning to Starwatchers living at mountains to the southeast, and waited for their scout to return with strong axeheads of hard greenish rock, an expression of solidarity from the Starwatchers there. Boyne scouts traveled the length and width of the island, gathering intelligence and oaths of loyalty.
The skies brought no rains and the sun’s light seemed dim. To harvest what they could of medicinal herbs, Boann and Airmid trekked in a wide area around their village with the other women. As various plants came into maturity, they took the root or leaves or flower heads according to the known properties of that plant. Scouts accompanied them, especially into the woods, where the women also picked berries, leaves and bark for tea, and mushrooms and shade-loving greens. There Airmid stopped to talk with her lover Ardal, who was hard at work in a coppice of hazel and ash. Boann watched the two lovers parting, Airmid’s hand outstretched until Ardal disappeared among green leaves.
Since Sheela’s death, the two women grew closer and shared confidences. Now Airmid told Boann through tears, “We postponed our marriage ceremony. Perhaps we can marry after summer solstice. For now, Ardal must serve day and night with the scouts.” By day the scouts surveyed the bogs for dry ridgelines, and they tended to coppiced trees in the woods, all hidden from view. By night the scouts watched the intruders.
The two women went out at night,
‘S a chomharsana cléibhe, fliuchaigí bhur mbéal / So, my bosom friends, drown your thirst
Mar ní bhfaighidh sibh aon bhraon i ndiaidh bhur mbáis / As you won’t get a drop at all after you’re dead
From: Bunan Bui, Cathal Mac Ghiolla Ghunna, 17th Century CE
Punishment
T HE SUNRISE ROLLED north along the horizon. Soon it would be the time of long sunlight and heat, called Brightsun. Slights and injustices sparkled in the ripples on the Boyne, flashed from the white quartz on the mounds, and rose in dark plumes from the intruders’ fires.
The Invaders ignored offers to meet in a solstice council with the Starwatchers. More warriors scrambled to shore from arriving boats, carrying long knives and the new halberds armed with shining battle points.
The Starwatchers stayed well away from the intruders’ camp while their scouts monitored its activity to see if the camp absorbed the newcomers or they departed with their boats. A swift fox darted between river and woods under the drifting stars. However, the scouts had no report of Cian and this worried the elders.
After Boann’s safe return from the intruders, Oghma waited for her to speak. Several sunrises passed before Boann released her cares to him about being held inside the walled camp.
When she finished, he asked only, “Are you certain you could not have saved the murderer’s red hand?”
She almost told him about the assault on her before Sheela’s murder, her worries for Cian; everything. But that might be too much for him. “I went among the Invaders on behalf of our people. Sheela lies dead. It would do no good for her or the living if I neglected my duty as a healer.”
“You mean you had enough medicine to kill this man Connor and you chose to let him live.” Oghma nodded approval, the hearth’s fire highlighting his face so that it appeared carved in granite, ageless. “Their camp has calmed for the time being. You prevented great violence all the way around.”
At full moon Slainge had a meal prepared for Tadhg and Boann, at which the people offered thanks for their return unharmed. After the feast, the two shared with the elders their insights into what they witnessed within the intruders’ camp. The elders mulled over certain details and questioned the intruders’ motives, saying, “There is no metal here at the Boyne!”
Two moons passed after Boann’s mission inside the camp. Quiet ones watched the Invaders’ every move. They sent a warning to Starwatchers living at mountains to the southeast, and waited for their scout to return with strong axeheads of hard greenish rock, an expression of solidarity from the Starwatchers there. Boyne scouts traveled the length and width of the island, gathering intelligence and oaths of loyalty.
The skies brought no rains and the sun’s light seemed dim. To harvest what they could of medicinal herbs, Boann and Airmid trekked in a wide area around their village with the other women. As various plants came into maturity, they took the root or leaves or flower heads according to the known properties of that plant. Scouts accompanied them, especially into the woods, where the women also picked berries, leaves and bark for tea, and mushrooms and shade-loving greens. There Airmid stopped to talk with her lover Ardal, who was hard at work in a coppice of hazel and ash. Boann watched the two lovers parting, Airmid’s hand outstretched until Ardal disappeared among green leaves.
Since Sheela’s death, the two women grew closer and shared confidences. Now Airmid told Boann through tears, “We postponed our marriage ceremony. Perhaps we can marry after summer solstice. For now, Ardal must serve day and night with the scouts.” By day the scouts surveyed the bogs for dry ridgelines, and they tended to coppiced trees in the woods, all hidden from view. By night the scouts watched the intruders.
The two women went out at night,
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