Chapter 1
“You must take some of this boar back home to your father and siblings, Aalis.” Brighid, the chief’s wide insisted, and not for the first time that evening.
While I couldn’t deny that such an expensive animal would go down a treat in the Macclellan hut, I didn’t feel comfortable taking charity. Even though I knew that not to be Brighid’s intention, to make me or my family feel less than as we weren’t as fortunate as most people around the tribe, I couldn’t help but feel that way. But as the chieftess was insisting, I thanked her graciously before returning outside where one of the elders, Annag had just finished roasting the boar.
“This looks great.” I smiled at the elder and reached down to take one end of the platter. In unison, the both of us walked back to the hut that belonged to our leader, chief Muireach Wemyss.
Between the chief and Brighid, they had a little boy at the tender age of six that would one day take over the tribe from his father but for now, he was fast asleep on his pallet adorned with the finest wolf fur a person could find. It was a special gift from a guest of the chief who would be staying with them for an indefinite amount of time.
When Brighid had asked me earlier if I would be able to help with dinner tonight, I jumped at the opportunity. Not only because the chief and chieftess were very good leaders or because they always gave everyone who helped some food to take home – well, there was that – but I was also very curious about who this guest was.
We often got travellers who spent a night during their journey, but never someone who would be staying for an indefinite amount of time.
This was a first and it was safe to say that my interest was a little more than piqued.
“Just in the middle of the table, Aalis, Annag.” Brighid sounded behind me, carrying in the boiled potatoes to accompany the meat.
I nodded, my lips pursed as I walked with the large tray, careful not to drop it with how heavy it was. Even with two of us carrying it, I found herself struggling. It wasn’t often that I found myself carrying meat this lavish, dense or heavy. It also wasn’t often that I approached a table. On the usual day, I carried bread, some condiments to go with it and a few scrabs of meat if we were particularly lucky to the seating area on the floor in the middle of our family hut, inherited from my father’s father and his father before him.
My father, siblings and I didn’t live a lifestyle as lavish, luxurious or anywhere near as lucky like the chief and chieftess, but we wee grateful for the little that we did have. There were times that we had less, much less, so we were just grateful to not be living in those times anymore.
“It’s good to see you again, Aalis. Thank you for helping us out this evening.” The chief beamed from his spot at the head of the table.
“It’s not a problem. I’m happy to help.” I nodded before turning to both of the men that had risen from their seats to help us out.
“Careful. It’s a little heavy.” I murmured as I transferred my end of the tray to one of the guests, a man I had never seen or met before but in the moment, didn’t have time to focus on such a detail.
“Thank you, Aalis.” A gruff voice sounded in my ear and at the sound of it, I couldn’t help but jump slightly, startled. Turning my head, I was met by the clean white of a thin tunic which was spread tightly over the wide, strong expanse of his back.
Before anyone could catch me staring in such an improper manner, I awkwardly cleared my throat and took a step back, my hands clasped in front of me. Similar to Annag whose husband was also a guest at the table as they were both very well-respected elders within the tribe, we awaited further instructions, not sure if we were to help out anywhere else.
“Aalis, do you mind pouring everyone some ale?”
“Yes.” I nodded and accepted the pitcher of the chieftess’ homemade ale which she only concocted for special occasions. I made sure to keep one hand under it so as to not drop it due to the heavy weight of it, not daring to drop it and make a fool of myself.
As the men chattered and got started on their food, I round the table and took a few moments to fill up their cups with the ale, careful not to fill up too much and spill over the brim.
Every one of them thanked me and I smiled back brightly in response, but it was only when I reached the last man, the man sat directly across from the chief at the table that the small smile slowly slipped off my face. When I turned to glance at him, I was surprised to find that he was already staring at me.
At the intense gaze on his face and indiscernible glint in his eyes, the darkest shade of brown that I had ever, almost mistaking them as black, I tried to remain impassive but couldn’t hold back the flush that travelled up my body and painted my cheeks. Clearing my throat, I kept my head down, allowing my fiery red mane to curtain me from his eyes as I filled his cup. The whole time, I willed for my hands to remain steady and for this moment to pass as quick as possible.
Right now, I wanted nothing more than to return to the sanctuary that was the kitchen. At least it would shield me from his intrusive gaze, watching me, studying me, almost as if trying to drink in the sight of me.
What scared me the most was not the way he looked at me but rather, the way it made me feel.
Why did I not perceive his stare as a leer? Why did I not rebuke him for such a lengthy stare that was now bordering on being rude and unpleasant, even more so when he didn’t say anything the whole time.
But even more than that, why did I enjoy it?
While all the men around the table looked upon me in a friendly, fatherly manner as they had all but watched me grow from a young babe into the woman that I was today, the same could not be said about this newcomer. It appeared that he had made it his mission to stare holes into the side of my head, not the least bit concerned with what the others would think.
“How is your family, Aalis? I pray they are all in good health.” The chief called out to me suddenly, forcing me to lift my head and address him.
“They are, chief, thank you.” I nodded, grateful for the distraction.
At the chief’s voice, the man I was stood next to dropped his gaze, yet he didn’t move to begin eating like everyone else at the table. Instead, he toyed with the cup that had just filled, taking a leisurely sip from it.
When my eyes travelled down to watch him, I was mortified to find that his rose to meet mine at the exact moment. While a slow smile took over his face, my cheeks heated further and I was quick to turn my head away.
“Ask your father to come see in the morning, will you?” Finnean, Annag’s husband called out to me, lifting the cup of ale to his lips. “I have some work that I need done.”
“I will.” I smiled warmly before taking a step back to see if there was anything else that anyone wanted. When there wasn’t, I turned and handed the pitcher back to Brighid.
While the chief and his guests – some higher-ups in the tribe as well as this strange man that I had never seen before – ate at the table, the other women and I retreated back to the kitchen to enjoy our meal. Once I had eaten my fill, I helped clean up and after that was finished, it was time to head home.
“Are you going home, Aalis?” The chief called out from his spot at the head of the table, wiping his mouth on the sleeve of the tunic that he was wearing.
“Yes, chief. I need to get Cateline and the twins to bed.” I informed him, referring to my three youngest siblings who were all under the age of five. Cateline was the youngest at two, and then there was Aislin and Osgar at four, the former only five minutes older than the latter.
“You can’t be walking home when it’s this dark outside. It’s not safe.” He shook his head, his lips turning down slightly at the corners.
“It won’t take two minutes.” I shook my head, but it appeared that my argument fell on deaf ears as two men stood up.
“Nonsense.” The chief continued to deny, fatherly concern washing over his face.
“I can walk Aalis.” The strange man offered, already moving to tug down his sleeves and step out from behind the table.
While the notion was unwelcome as I had no idea who this strange man was, or even why he couldn’t stop staring, the idea both thrilled and excited me. it shouldn’t, but it did.
“That is very nice of you to offer, Wolfgang but there’s no need.” Finnean shook his head as he called out for his wife to join us. “Aalis’ hut is on the way to ours so she can walk with us.”
While it was the most sensical idea, I couldn’t help but feel slightly deflated at the prospect of missing out on the chance of getting to know this strange man I had yet to decipher. Not only had he been prying for my attention all night, but now he had offered to walk me home.
He was either very kind-hearted, or had a heart darker than his eyes. Which, I was yet to discern.
“Thank you both for walking me home. I’ll be sure to tell my father to see you in the morning.” I smiled brightly at Finnean and Annag, waving them goodbye as they continued the remainder of the journey back to their hut.
As I had been helping out at the chief’s hut, that meant that I wasn’t home to get everything in order for the night. Getting Cateline and the twins into bed was a task, made even harder by all the incessant questioning from my sisters, Saoirse and Riona who had to take up the duty of the woman of the hut while I was away.
By the time my head finally hit the straw that night, my thoughts no longer lingered on a brown so dark that it was like looking into the night sky.
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Layla Knight
20.03.2021
