Chapter 19 If You Can Keep Your Head…

 

Chapter 19 If You Can Keep Your Head…

In which the war of darkness and light is engaged.


Below in the cavern Philly O’Leary rattled his manacles trying warn Inspector Callan that Scátha was hiding in the shadows. He could see Callan panning his glock all around covering the impenetrable shadows outside the dim glimmer of the weak bulbs. Behind Callan Alex stepped down the last steps, stopped dead at the sight of his chained father and went over to the winding mechanism and pulley to release Philly.


As he released the chain Philly came crashing to the ground with a resounding thump. Callan’s eyes flickered over at them on that sound. With that momentary lapse a darker patch of shadow dropped from above down onto Callan knocking his glock from his hands. The firearm went off harmlessly but Callan was swiftly up holding a long metal baton extending with a smooth flowing motion and a slick metallic click.


The policeman looked up at the much taller warrior woman before him reaching back and brandishing her long black sword. “Alex,” he called, “Get Philly loose right now!” Then he went on the attack swinging at Scátha’s face and wrist forcing her back on the defensive.


Alex crouched down and released the manacles with a padlock key that he had in his pocket. Then he tore the gag off Philly when behind him he heard an “Ooomph” as Callan was disposed of by Scátha with a well placed foot in the stomach.


The next thing Philly was up and he flung himself upon Scátha to wrestle her causing her to drop her sword. This was a more even match because of Philly’s height and strength. Philly was a killer with many prison yard fights behind him. Scátha was a warrior and trainer of champions. Neither was going to back down. At the stairs the five lamp boys were crowded in the doorway watching.


Philly jabbed and scrabbled his nails trying to find Scátha’s eyes. She turned her face away but grabbed his ponytail and pulled it viciously. As Philly yelled Scátha hooked his heel with her foot and shoved him sprawling over backwards onto the ground. “ Alex” he shouted “help me.” Scátha looked over at Alex and went to pick up her sword. Alex dived onto the glock and swung it up toward Scátha. He fired two snapshots at her and saw Scátha thrown backwards. Philly grabbed the gun and pointed it at the wounded warrior. “Now you die,” he growled, tightening his finger on the trigger.


“Desist!” the clear command was issued with authority from Maedhbh outlined in the doorway. Philly was clearly unhappy and turned snarling at the sound. “You cannot trust her. She is not under your command and she is too dangerous to be left loose.” “Lack of trust there is now but that can be remedied. Bind Scátha in those chains. She can replace the prisoner she released. Callan get up, help bind her and bring her back up the tower and I will finish with her there. I am not the kind of queen to throw away a highly trained weapon. I will turn her against my enemies by removing her free will again. Now I have some guests to greet.” With those words Maedhbh exited the cavern and swept up the steps.


Upon returning to the Tower Maedhbh hesitated. A dark stranger stood before her. He was two metres tall almost dwarfing her. He wore his long dark hair braided and decorated with gleaming oils. The scent of honeysuckle was overpowering. He was dressed from head to foot in glossy black leather and wore a long black silk cloak which shimmered in the candlelight. He carried a thin silver rapier on his left hip and his left hand rested on the hilt. On his head a black circlet with small knobs dressed in silver alluded to his royal personage.


“How did you gain admittance to my chamber?” demanded Maedhbh. The stranger turned and Maedhbh was struck by how handsome and intense his expression was.

“Pardon my intrusion O Beauteous Queen of Connaught, I came ashore under cover of darkness and took the opportunity to scale the outside of the tower and descend from the battlements when the room was empty.” His voice was soft, unctuous and beguiling and Maedhbh detected a scot’s burr behind his pronunciation of his r’s intrusion,cover and room.


“Who are you and why are you here?” she asked reaching under her sleeve for a wand. She listened for sounds of her returning entourage desperately hoping for some support while keeping up the front of royal confidence.


The stranger smiled a dazzling and boyish grin. “Like you I am a ruler, although like Fergus I was abandoned when my people looked for novelty. As to why I am here it is because you have summoned me. Maybe I should say you have summoned us.” With that the stranger nodded his glossy locks in the direction of the seaward narrow window slit out into the darkness. Maedhbh came over beside the stranger stirred by his sensual animal magnetism and leaned to look out the slit. There was nothing there but the wash of waves and a profound black darkness.


“I see nothing,” snapped Maedhbh. “Allow me,” he purred and picking up a candle he waved it passed the window three times. Instantly a dark lantern opened revealing a light on a boat floating off the shore in the darkness. She could see the boat was packed from bow to stern with warriors bristling with warhammers, double headed axes, swords, spears and knobbled clubs. With that other lights began to open until the entire sea visible from the window to the horizon line was filled with many more ships whose number resembled the stars of the sky fallen to earth with a celestial army of eager warriors ready to wreak mayhem and pillage. Maedhbh’s heart began to beat faster with excitement and she squeezed her wand in anticipation. If she could bring this proud stranger under her spell…


“Don’t,” breathed the soft male voice in her ear. “ I am already in your spell, O Queen, “and all you see before you is at my command. No magic is needed for me other than the magic of your eyes.” He knelt down on one knee in obeisance to Maedhbh. “ I am Bres, grandson of Balor and your humble servant desiring”..and here he paused and looked up with his stunning blue eyes “ desiring only to serve your needs.”


At that moment, Alex and Callan marched Scátha into the room and took in the scene. Bres stood immediately and looked directly at Alex, in the way that one young man measures another in any room containing a beautiful girl. Alex ignored him and continued to bring Scátha across the room as Philly entered pointing the glock at the back of Scátha’s head. The wounded Scátha was soon tied to the heavy chair recently vacated by Aoibheann.


“It seems we have no further need of your services, Scátha. The Formorian army has come and it will crush all before me. Tell me, shadow warrior, are you ready to swear fealty to me of your own free will?” Scátha looked at Bres. “There is one who you would be unwise to trust. He loves only himself. He will desert you as soon he realises that the tide of battle has turned and his own skin is on the line.”


Bres strode over and slapped Scátha across the face. “Bow to your queen’s will and swear fealty, commoner.” She stared daggers at him but stayed silent. Philly handed Inspector Callan back his gun and then picked up an Claiomh Solais. Alex glanced out of the window and said “wow, who are they?” “They are mine,” said Maedhbh,“and they are the end of the world as you know it.”


Just then there was a fluttering sound from above and a huge black crow flew into the room and fluttered over to perch on Maedhbh’s shoulder. There followed a cawing and a croaking into Maedhbh’s ear. After a while Maedhbh took a bloody lump of meat from a bowl fed it to the crow and nodded. The crow looked around and swept up on its inky wings and flapped out of the room through the window slit.


All eyes were on Maedhbh who composed herself and sat on the raised chair and invited her retinue and guests to sit also. “There is news. It concerns you, Bres, most of all. The Preachán has witnessed the warrior of light defeat and kill your grandfather Balor of the Mighty Blows near here on the Summit of Beann Eadair. Balor was defeated , vanquished and cannot return. Chief Superintendent Breslin is dead. Balor was a formidable ally and now it falls to you,Bres, to lead the Fomorians in his stead. King Balor is dead, long live King Bres.”


Bres stirred and a small smirk appeared on his lips. “If this burden falls to me I shall accept it as my duty.” His eyes swept toward the harbour. “ I only await your leave to begin the invasion. The Fomorians long to reclaim Eriu, unjustly taken from us at Moytura.” His eyes smouldered with a passion within. Maedhbh arose, walked over to him and touched his cheek with her hand and said “Burn them King Bres. Destroy them all and I will reward you in a manner that will satisfy all your expectations.”


With that Bres spoke not one word; but rising up, he strode out of the room and down the stairs out of the tower to lead his fleet.






Mannanán laid the gifted skin of the pig belonging to Tuis the King of Greece over the pale form of Aoife in the bridge room of the Wave Sweeper. Gathered around were Aoibheann still holding hands with her brave protector, Manus who was steering the ship by the helm while smoking his pipe which was fouling up the room and Lee who was pacing up and down with nervousness that Aoife was going to die.


“ Now all we can do is wait,” said Mannanán standing up from the cot set at the back of the wheelhouse. Aoibheann looked up from her position kneeling beside Aoife with tears in her eyes. “but she has a bullet in her.” she moaned, “she took a bullet for me even though I only met her yesterday.” “Wait and watch,” counselled Mannanán, “this is a magic from a time before your science. It should not be long now.”


As they watched a small swelling formed on the area of the skin covering the bullet wound. The swelling erupted slowly pushing out a small lump of lead which slid down the skin and plinked onto the floor. The skin resealed where it had erupted and Aoife began to get some colour back into her cheeks.


“‘Tis hard to bate the auld pigskin for the wounds alright” said Lee “she will be sleeping sound-lee now so?”“That she will” answered Mannanán and then he glanced over at Manus. “Do you want to take that pipe leeward?” He asked Manus. “Ah janey,that’s great, I thought you’d never ask.” answered Lee, “ I’m dying for a smoke and I forgot to bring the ciggies on board.” Mannanán looked coldly at him and clarified in a teacher’s cut glass tone “I was talking to Manus,” he said. The small lad looked sharply at him “No you said ‘Do you want to take that pipe Lee Ward?’ That’s me. I’m Lee Ward so you were talking to me.” “Oh,” said Mannanán, “I can see how there’s been a misunderstanding. You see on board a ship Leeward means on the side of the ship that is opposite to the wind direction. I was asking Manus to smoke outside where the smoke would be blown away from the ship.” Lee Ward looked indignant. “So you weren’t offering me his pipe so?” “No!” they all shouted. “Well I didn’t know,” he huffed. “Has anyone any cigarettes so?” No!” they all shouted again.”Maybe those ships ahead might have some cigarettes?” muttered Lee nodding out the forward window. “What ships?” asked Mannanán, scanning ahead in the direction Lee had nodded.


He jumped up beside Manus “All stop and kill the lights.” He shouted . Those are Fomorian longships. The Fomorians are already here. Maedhbh must have summoned them from Skye. They mustn’t see us. Well spotted Lee. I will personally get you your own pipe and a tin of tobacco if we get out of this alive.“ Lee looked very pleased with himself … for an eleven year old.





From his position in the shadows in the tower stairwell Cúan could see Scátha tied to the chair. Dermot crouched below him in the shadows. He couldn’t see as well as Cúan could but he recognised at least two of the voices: that of his superior officer Carl Callen and that of the criminal he put away, Philly O’Leary. There were three other voices Maedbh’s , The young voice of Alex O’Leary and the prisoner Scátha. He was nervous of some gunplay with young people around in case they got shot. What in God’s name was he doing here? He realised that he was just trying to protect his son and to recapture Philly.


“Listen son, I will wait for Philly to leave the chamber and then I will follow him. If I am lucky I will be able to take him captive with this. Then I will handcuff him somewhere we can get him later and then come back for you.” Dermot reached out and held his son by the shoulder. “Look I know I’ve been very busy with my job and then there was all this kidnapping business, but this is very important, keep hidden and keep safe. Carl has his glock and I wouldn’t trust Philly’s son one little bit. If somehow you are lucky, they might leave the prisoner unguarded. Then creep in and free her but then,

swear to me get out and get to the nearest hidden bay facing the harbour in Howth. I will try to get a boat or signal the Wave Sweeper so we can all get out of here.”


Cúan returned his gaze as if he were some stranger and spoke in a deeper tone than usual. “No concern of mine is that man Philly no less than his son Alex. Here we have arrived at the time of testing. No small reason do I have to face Queen Maedhbh for the harm she has done to you and Gràinne and not least your daughter Aoibheann nor Aoife of the blonde hair. Yet the time is not yet right for the warrior to reveal himself. There is a reckoning I must face with Scátha alone. Your plan finds liking with me and I will do as you say. Good speed and farewell.”


Dermot stared in amazement as Cúan slipped smoothly out of a nearby tower window and set about scaling the outer wall as if he had been climbing inaccessible cliffs clutching a spear all his natural days. “Ehh right, I think.” Was all he could say before realising he was just talking to himself. Cúan or whoever that was had gone.

Well at least there was some sort of a plan if Cúan could stick to it they might get away safely with the escaped murderer. He just hoped Cúan wouldn’t do anything foolish. If he could just keep his head about him. A line came back to mind from an old Kipling poem “If you can keep your head about you when all about you are losing theirs ...you’ll be a man my son.”





Bres climbed up out of the surf and over the bow of his flagship. The Fomorian eyes were upon him. Every warrior strained to hear their orders and a hush fell over the vessels. Bres stepped up on the prow of his foremost vessel and grabbed a rope stretching up the mast to steady himself. He looked at the vast throng before him.


He lifted his voice. “ Brothers of the Sea, I bring you dire tidings. Our King, my Grandfather, Balor of the Mighty Blows, he of the Deadly Eye is is no more.. His spirit is fled and his plans are in shreds. This is the work of the Warrior of Light that unjust, cowardly shadow in the night who fights with sling and javelin out of sight and fearful to face us. Our ally Queen Maedhbh likewise has had her honour wronged for more than a millennium as indeed have we. She it is that has broken open the dungeon of Tech Duinn in the Tír faoi Thonn and freed us to return home. And why? Why has she freed us from imprisonment and exile? Because she understands the longing to come home.


There before you you see Eriu, land of our birth, kingdom wrenched a thousand years ago from us by the hated De Danann paid for in blood and suffering on the sodden field of battle in Moytura. Lugh the deceiver, Lugh, the half De Dannan, Lugh the despised Druid of half magic and no loyalty must be made to pay and aye pay dearly for his betrayal of our people all those years ago. Had he stood by our side we would not have lost.


Before you lies a land, your motherland grown strange and peoples with weakling who know nothing of what it is to suffer and long for a home. They will know , they will learn and it is you that will show them. Sweep all before you. Show no mercy, no thought, no rest until this blood drenched land is yours and yours alone to have and to hold to rule and to tax to pay ,yes pay, for the thousands of years of injustice and exile laid on our backs by the Sidhe.”

With that he swept out his rapier pointed it at the shoreline and yelled “For Vengeance and for Balor,Fomorians attack!”


A great roar assailed his ears like a storm smashing against a forest or a great wave crashing on a cliff or a roaring fire sweeping through a wooden village in some high storm. The sails unfurled and the oars were unshipped and his armada swept around the island towards the lighthouse of Howth.






“They look as if they mean business,” remarked Manus as the black fleet swung around the headland making a beeline for the harbour. Manus stood by his side looking grave. “I see a prince ,clad entirely in black in the lead boat. Well do I know that one. He is called Bres and his greed is even greater than that of Maedhbh” Manus cast a glance aft as if to see if any help was on the way. The waters behind were black and dark, empty of life and calm before the onslaught. “This is terrible,” said Mannanán “I fear the Sidhe will be too late. Beann Eadair will be carnage.”

“Well who’s yer man on the horse then.” wondered Lee. Aoibheann looked over toward Sutton where a light was spreading across the water.

There galloping on the waves was a grey horse, a grey she recognised at once.

“Oh my God,” gasped Aoibheann “that’s Leah, that’s my horse!”


Mannanán turned and stared.On the horse’s back riding hard was a warrior clad in golden armour from head to foot. A burning light emanated from him and his left hand held the reins while his right fed through a golden circular shield with sharp serrated rays all around its edge. His right hand held a long golden lance decorated with a pennant whose red background highlighted the sun symbol embroidered in gold. Gold tassels decorated its edges. His golden helm was crested with moving flames and Leah’s hooves kicked up sparks from the waves as she galloped head forward and ears back snorting and plunging with each stride. “Good,” Mannanán said “Lugh has finally come. Now that the Ildana is here all will be well.”






Maedhbh was anxious to witness the Invasion of Ireland by her free Fomorians. Inwardly she was furious with herself for failing to bring Bres under her spell as she had bewitched Balor. Bres had a sensual charm that had distracted her but he could serve her freely for now and maybe after what she hoped would be a successful invasion she could bewitch him later while he slept. She looked over at Alex who was watching her like a faithful dog. Uugh he seemed like an immature child next to the lure of Bres. She would have to decide what to do with him sooner or later.

“Come Alex, let us ascend to the tower and observe the invasion. Carl you remain here with our prisoner. Now that she is wounded and tied to a chair even you can handle her. Philly if you are quite finished having teenage girls humiliating you, you can get Alex’s friends to ready the boat for a victorious return to Howth. I will sleep on the Mainland tonight.” With that she turned and marched out of the chamber and made her way up the stairs to the battlements on the roof. Alex followed her swinging an Claiomh Solais to get used to its weight in case he needed to use it.


Philly also left the room and descended the stairs to ready the fishing boat for Maedhbh’s triumphal return. He could still feel the tendrils of her will propelling his actions but he sensed that her powers were weakening and he thought that if he could take the boat and get away from her she would lose control over him for good. She had her army now and didn’t seem to need him anymore. He still wanted his freedom and the island held nothing that he wanted.The thought of Alex’s face flashed across his inner eye but he dismissed it as being a lapse as if he was turning soft and hastened to get to the boat.

Scátha looked over at Inspector Carl Callan. “She is not to be trusted, policeman. There are ways to free you from her spell and to give you your free will back. I know of Druids and druidesses too that can free you. Set me free and you can have your soul back too.”

“If you are now against her,” wondered Callan, “why bring her the Claiomh Solais? Surely all you had to do was kill one helpless girl and be counted in Maedhbh’s favour. One death out of many as proof of your betrayal of the Dedannan. Why did you free Aoibheann? Why did you not try to escape as they did?”

“Sometimes a warrior will fight and kill on a battlefield for honour and for a cause. It is not the warrior way to kill needlessly or to harm the innocent. I brought the Claiomh in order to regain my soul. I was not prepared to sink that soul deeper into the darkness by killing Aoibheann Cullen or Cúan Cullen for that matter. My fight is with the one who took my soul in the first place, Cúchulainn of Muiirtheimhne, not his descendants. That is Maedhbh’s obsession and it is an evil one.But come, free me and we can both escape and return your soul to you. This is not your cause.”


Carl Callan smiled. “Why should I free you when you have nothing I want?” He sat casually on the great wide table and kept the gun trained on her. “Contrary to what everyone seems to think I am not acting under any compulsion or blood magic from Maedhbh. I chose to join her in her plans for revenge to bring down the Cullens.”

Scátha looked shocked “but you are a Garda, you are the law. Why would you do such a thing?” “ Why you ask? You might as well ask The late departed Chief Super Unintended Consequence Breslin why he chose to bring in Bloody Defective Sergeant Dermot Cullen into my office. I have no family but have dedicated thirty years to the organised crime division waiting for the promotion, nay the recognition that I deserved all these years. In five years time I will be kicked on the scrapheap at sixty under mandatory retirement. Who or what has stood in my way all these long hard years? I will tell you. The old Posh boys network. They have been strangling the promotions and giving jobs to their own for years. I went to a non fee paying Brothers school in Meath. I’ve kept my nose clean and worked hard at my job only to be looked down on by the south Dublin set. Well no more. I’ll get rid of Cullen, Breslin the whole bloody lot of them. I’ll use magic, intrigue, poison or a gun if I have to but make no mistake, when the fighting is over and the system is overthrown for once I’ll be on the winning side and in the driving seat.”He cocked his head over on one side and gave a grunt “So I am like you in one way Scátha, I’m not on anyone’s side but my own and that’s how I know I’m going to win. I’ll do whatever it takes. I even suggested to Maedhbh that if Dermot wasn’t home we could leave a poisoned apple tart. It’s his favourite.“


Standing in the shadow of the doorway Dermot could barely believe what he was hearing. He was prepared to believe that Maedhbh had bewitched Callan and he would try to save him. He was prepared to believe that Callan knew nothing of the poison and unwittingly put the Cullens at risk. The dimensions of this betrayal from his immediate superior concealing such bitterness were shocking. He decided to act.

Stepping through the door with his gun pointed at Carl Callan’s centre mass he spoke. “Put down the glock Carl I have you covered. You won’t have time to shoot at me and if you try I’ll drop you like a stone.”

Callan never took his eyes off Scátha nor his gun.”if you shoot me Dermot then you're killing her as well. Now you forget I know you. If you were me I would have been dead already, particularly with my little speech. But you’re not me and you will want to play it by the book. You will want the handcuffs,the book of evidence and the court case. On the other hand you are probably alone and I have my associates nearby. It seems to me I only have to wait here until Alex and Maedhbh return from the turret or your old friend Philly O’Leary comes back up the stairs and you will quickly find yourself outnumbered. If I were to shout out for help and they came running you would be forced to use your gun to defend yourself and then,Detective Sergeant Cullen, I would not hesitate to kill you where you stand.”