This is a scene from the upcoming novel ‘FIONN: The Betrayal‘ (although that title is likely to change).
Set in the settlement of RĂĄth BlĂĄdhma, in this scene, the woman warrior Liath Luachra, is attempting to plan a dangerous trip to the distant Tailte MĂ©ithe â The Fat Lands.
To do this however, she needs information from the punacious techtaire (messenger) Feoras -and a conversation she has not been looking forward to.
Leaving the firepit, Liath Luachra worked a path between the roundhouses, slowly making her way to the southern side of the rĂĄth embankment and the lean-to where Feoras was sequestered. There, despite the mildewed light and the lean-toâs interior shadows, she had little difficulty making out the sour puss on the techtaire as he watched her approach.
CĂłnĂĄn, standing guard to the left of the lean-to, rolled his eyes and shook his head as the Grey One drew closer. The previous evening, the young warrior had expressed his weariness at the techtaireâs incessant complaining. According to CĂłnĂĄn, when Feoras wasnât bitching about the food, he was carping on about the accommodation, neither of which he considered commensurate with a messenger of his standing. His treatment at RĂĄth BlĂĄdhma had drawn particular vitriol, although there at least Liath Luachra felt he might have had some grounds for complaint given that, on their return to Glenn Ceoch, sheâd drugged the cantankerous old man and transported him on a litter, to conceal the settlementâs location. When the techtaire had finally come to, heâd been furious to learn what sheâd done. Bizarrely, that fury towards her had been exceeded by his fury at the ignominy of being billeted in a lean-to used for the storage of winter fuel.
It was hard to know where the techtaireâs delusional expectations of hospitality might have come from, but Liath Luachra had little interest in trying to find out. As she slid in under the shelterâs slanted roof, she ignored his scowling features, quietly grabbing a nearby stump of wood and rolling it into an upright position. Sitting herself on the makeshift seat, she shifted around so that she was facing the old man directly.
âWe leave RĂĄth BlĂĄdhma tomorrow,â she said bluntly. Feoras wasnât a nice man so there seemed little point in social niceties.
The techtaireâs scowl softened a little at that announcement.
âYouâll hear no complaints from me,â he answered haughtily, raising one hand to ruffle his thick bush of white hair. âArriving at RĂĄth BlĂĄdhma has been akin to stumbling upon a precipice marking the limit of human influence. My welcome has been nothing but a litany of insults and injury. My hospitality, little more than cast-offs a mottled swine would reject.â
He waved a hand to indicate the cramped, wood-strewn interior, as though to support the validity of his grievance. Liath Luachra said nothing, waiting for him to complete his querulous griping before she proceeded to the reason for her visit.
âWeâll leave Glenn Ceoch at first light. By then, the final preparations should have been completed. More importantly, that allows a full day for the ground to firm up after last nightâs rain.â
Feorasâ forehead creased a little at that. He pursed his lips and squinted at her uncertainly.
âIf the ground is firm,â she explained, âwe leave less trace of our passage on the Great Motherâs mantle. Tracks become less important the further we get from Gleann Ceoch but with Clann Morna haunting the nearby hills, Iâve no desire to leave a trail that leads straight back to the settlement.â
The techtaire scratched at his beard but made no comment.
âBefore we leave,â the woman warrior continued, âit would suit my purposes to learn what you can tell me of the character of the land weâll be traversing, any relevant water sources, impassable rivers or other obstacles âŠâ
Her voice stalled momentarily as she registered the particularly sour expression heâd turned towards her, but she continued with fresh resolve.
âThat knowledge would allow me to take proper account of the supplies weâll need.â
âThe Cailleach Dubh has agreed to follow my guidance,â the techtaire countered, his jaw jutting forward with mulish obstinacy. âIt should be my role to decide on what might be needed over the course of our travels.â
Liath Luachra regarded him coldly.
âThe argument was lost before it even started, Feoras. I lead the travel party. Youâre a guide, Nothing more.â
The old man glared at her, but the heat of that glare glanced harmlessly off the smoothness of her serene, somewhat remote features. Defeated by that unruffled composure and the finality of her response, he turned his angry gaze away.
âWell?â she prompted.
She noted the techtaireâs jaw clench a little and, for a moment, she thought he was about to sink into an outraged sulk. To her surprise however, he seemed to think twice about it for when he spoke again, his voice was smooth and calm if, troublingly, cordial.
 âWhat is it you wish to know?â
Note: FIONN: The Betrayal should be available in May/June 2024