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Chapter 4. Healing the Chieftain
The pain brought
me back again. I had to get out of this tree and reach my mother. I tried
once more to escape from my prison, ending up a heap on the ground. I grew
thirsty and hungered for food. I cried, I raged inside the tree, weaker
and weaker, banging my fists and arms against the unsympathetic wood. I
took the white healing from the flower for my pain, but it didn't mend my
injuries or staunch the gradual seeping of my blood that now lined the base
of the tree cave. I passed out.
There were others in need of my gift. I was in the woods
with my cousin, Carl. He twisted his ankle on a rock and I helped him by
holding the ankle and mending it with the white thoughts.
We returned to his family's hut his arm around my shoulder
in support. His mother was doubled-up on the floor in pain with fish poison.
Carl told her what I had done, and asked me to place my hands and bring
the healing. I held her distended stomach and took the bloat-poison from
her.
'Fintan has a special gift' was whispered throughout
our whole settlement that afternoon. It wasn't long before word spread further.
The chieftain of the tribe controlling the valley was
called Lugh. He lived at Castledore, a short pony ride downriver from my
home. His tribe held the river through two forts and other lookout posts.
Allied tribes from Ireland held the route to the north coast, with the main
body of the tribe half-a-day's ride inland, in the middle of the land.
n addition to Castledore, Lugh held the fort at Riversend. A band of men
at the mouth of the river signalled or sent messengers if pirates entered
the estuary. By controlling these three points, Lugh and his tribe benefited
from the trade route.
Other forts guarded the North-coast River. This meant
that the alliance of tribes could respond quickly to attacks from the north
or south coast. They needed to because both were frequent.
Gold, tin, hides, skins and fleeces arrived at the top
of my valley by pony from the north-coast river. They shipped downstream
from Riversend to Castledore in Lugh's boats. Traders collected the goods
from the jetty below Castledore, or they went to the sea and were exported
by ship from the natural harbours either side of the peninsula.
The encampment of Castledore straddled the ridge between
these two harbour valleys. This allowed Lugh's tribe to tax those travelling
the river, in addition to those docking below at the coastal ports either
side. Castledore was far enough inland and uphill from the natural harbour
to evade attack from the dark, aggressive 'fish men', who raided regularly
for gold, and who had killed my father.
Chieftain Lugh sent a messenger to fetch me. He had been
gored by a boar while hunting and had heard of my gift through Carl's sister,
who worked at Castledore. The river was high enough for an easy passage.
My stepfather and I sat in the boat to travel downstream, while Lugh's messenger
rowed.
The body of the river filled a rich valley of trees.
Oak and beech, elm and birch, holly and hornbeam wrapped the land in life.
Birds proclaimed within the green, scattered like stars across a night
sky, each filled its domain with song. The dull winter ritual of claiming
territory was over, replaced by the more complex music of attracting mates.
Layers of sound echoed across the water between the rhythmic splosh of the
oars. A multitude of twittering woodland birds in the background, songbirds
and pigeons placing their phrases with the laughing cry of gulls above.
The keen shrill of a pair of buzzards pierced the sky as they floated in
the warm updrafts, watching for a kill.
Shoals of mullet basked in the warm, tidal water and
they thrashed out of the way as the boat pulled downstream. The river ahead
was sometimes alive with fish churning the water but the bow cut through
regardless.
Here the river widened out to a broad pool, and I saw
a trout leap. Droplets of clear water caught in sunlight as the fish hung
for a moment at the apex of its leap to return to the depths.
From here I could see up the hill to Lugh's encampment.
A pall of smoke stood against the sky, hanging above the outline of a
wooden palisade. Our boat approached the inlet and Lugh's lackey tied-up
to a wooden jetty, next to two larger boats. There were several tribesmen
on these boats, sharing a song as they worked with loading. We jumped from
our boat and the messenger led us on the walk uphill to Castledore, through
woods where the songs of birds still filled our ears.
At the top of the hill a wall of wooden poles stood together
on an earth bank. The camp gates were open and Lugh's messenger waved up
to the lookout to let us through. In the middle was a large building, smoke
pouring from the roof and filling the camp. Huts were built up against the
inside of the fort and the messenger quickly led us over to one. Two tribesmen
stood outside and with a look from the messenger let us pass.
Inside, Lugh lay on a greasy palliasse, covered with hides, his gored leg
concealed under the blanket. His skin had a grey pallor, and his eyes were
dull slits of mean. He was not in good humour. His leg was bad and he had
obviously drunk much mead to help with the pain. The Chieftain looked tetchy
and short-tempered.
He took a swig from his jug of mead and looked at my
stepfather, then me. He carelessly dropped the jug and some of the honey
liquid splashed out onto the ground. He shifted the blanket away to reveal
his gored leg.
"Show me what you can do then boy, or I'll have your
head," he said in a coarse voice. I moved forward and kneeled before the
chieftain. I looked at the unpleasant wound and back to my stepfather.
Lugh cussed "Get out, get out man," in a voice filled with outrage. Harm
left.
The tusk had entered Lugh just above the knee, from the
outer side. I could sense from the shape of the wound how he had squatted
to accept the impact, his spear spent. The whole area was swollen from
infection and I sensed the black sickness in the wound. It had not healed
over and oozed thick, yellow pus that stank and made me gag.
I focused my mind and saw Lugh's blood darkening with
the poison. I could sense the blood arriving at the wound. It was leaving
tainted by the infection, transporting to other parts of Lugh's body.
I placed my right hand, very gently on Lugh's upper leg
and he uttered a low sound, like the warning growl of a possessive cur.
The skin was swollen, mottled and puffy. I put my left hand below Lugh's
knee, and shut my eyes, hoping for the best.
I concentrated on the light next to my heart, and gently
kindled the power to grow and spread. A burning ember shot out. It blossomed
into my torso and I felt the liquid silver flowing through my shoulders
and hips. I was bathed in a clear light, and pushed the clean energy down
my arm into Lugh's leg.
The light pierced Lugh's wound, battling black poison
along the blood webs above the knee. I urged my senses to join with Lugh
like I merged into the woods. His leg became trunk, blood, sinew and skin
were sap, pith and soft bark. My left hand absorbed the dark from the twig-like
tracery of his vessels, and I repeatedly flicked it away and up, to shake
out the sooty cloud.
The silver light gradually pushed the ill from the wound
and I dissipated it. My eyes blinked open to see Lugh lying back on the
straw bed, at rest. He was infected with the dark poison. The man's blood
was bad and the sickness would reduce him if left untreated.
I poured clean energy in through Lugh's leg and it worked
its way up through the chieftain's body, pushing out the poison.
When the black was gone, I stayed still for a moment
and came back to myself. Small beads of sweat converged on my face and dripped
down my neck as I quietened down the energy field. My right hand was burning.
I opened my eyes and looked at it. A crystal like pattern of red marks stood
out on my palm.
A loud snort nearby made me jump. Lugh had fallen asleep
and began a regular snore. It was a good sign. I stood up shaken, and
left the lean-to. Harm was outside, and grabbed me by the elbow, harder
than I liked.
"He's asleep." I said, rather lamely.
"Let's go and see if we can find some food and something
to drink, I'm hungry," demanded Harm. I could only agree. I was surprised
it was still daylight and felt I had been in Lugh's hut for a long time.
We left the tent and one of the guards stationed outside
took us to a wooden building at the centre of the complex. He talked to
a cook, who fetched us a meal of smoked mackerel and dark bread, with rough
cider. We ate in silence, Harm's chewing and hasty slurping from the jug
of cider the only intrusion.
Lugh was still asleep when we had finished the meal.
Harm was already on his third jug of cider and talked effusively to a dark-skinned
trader dressed in red-berry coloured cloth. I left him to it and sat on
the ramparts looking out over the sea.
Away to the land of the Sun, to the west, stretched a
wide bay. Far below me were miniature ships, docked for their quota of
goods. I felt I could just pick up a pebble and flick it down, a boulder
smashing into a world of ants. Tiny trees covered the land of the bay,
an occasional plume of smoke rising from the green.
In front of me a glimpse of sparkling sea was caught in a low 'v' between
promontories. One cliff held a dark, jutting building, the watchtower,
overlooking both the sea and the entrance to the river. I had seen it many
times on my trips down river to the sea. Lugh's tribe would light a signal
fire here when unknown ships passed through the harbour entrance into the
river. When the weather was clear it warned Castledore of visitors. When
the cloud and mist spirits descended the process was slower and involved
men crossing the bay and travelling across land to reach the fort.
To the east I could see the gentle slope down to the boats by the river.
There was only a glimpse of river between the trees, but no boat could pass
upstream in daylight without being seen. Behind me the river valley and its
tributaries and trees stretched inland to my home.
"He's awake and wants to see you Fintan," said Harm,
creeping up behind me. I climbed down from the ramparts and crossed to Lugh's
hut. My stepfather followed me, weaving slightly.
The chieftain was sitting up, with his leg covered. The
grey pall had gone from the skin on his face and his eyes had a stronger
light.
"Come here boy," said Lugh, reaching out and grabbing
my shoulder. "I don't know how you did this boy, but the poison has gone
from me, and so has most of the pain. You shall stay here and work with Nevli,
our healer."
Harm stepped forward to protest that I was needed for
tanning, but a halting hand from Lugh silenced him. From his side, Lugh
picked up a small bag and shook it. It clunked dully like river stones.
He threw it to land at the Harm's feet.
"This should more than compensate you," said Lugh.
Harm picked up the bag and looked inside. A quick smile
broke his face. He had never seen such riches as these two small lumps
of gold.
"The boy will return home once in a while, so it's not
as if you're losing him." Lugh fixed Harm with a steely stare once his greedy
eyes had risen from the gold stones.
I looked to my stepfather, then back at the gruff chieftain.
The deal had already been made, and I was sold into the service of Chieftain
Lugh at the encampment of Castledore.
I had various tasks in the camp as Nevli the herbalist
was away. Lugh said that he could disappear for days on end, much to the
annoyance of anyone who needed his herbal administrations.
Lugh gave me duties along with others of the tribe, when I wasn't wanted
for healing. The camp was mostly strong and young, and it was the warm season
when the spirits are kind. There was little sickness here.
Everyone in the camp worked together under Lugh's watchful
leadership. People saw him as a fair leader, even kind and he commanded
respect amongst his tribe.
He gave me a store to sleep in, a lean-to on the inside
of the pallisade. It was lightless but dry, with sacks of grain that were
comfortable to sleep on.
Herbs and roots hung from the roof, giving the shack
a musty but pleasant smell. The cook told me that it was Nevli's store-hut
and that it was my duty to catch any mice in there. Lugh even gave me a
thick, warm blanket of sheep-hair. He was so impressed by my healing of
his leg he often checked up on me.
News of my gift spread through the camp. A young woman
with one of the tribesmen gave me a silver coin for taking the ache from
her back. I kept the payment hidden in the lean-to with my other things.
A trader with one ear had terrible wailing noises in it that I took away.
He was so grateful he gave me a small green jewel. Others came and I healed
them. I found friends here and enjoyed life at Castledore although I missed
my mother.
One of my duties was tending the ponies in the paddock next to the encampment,
seeing they were fed and watered. The tribe used them to ride inland, up
the spine of the hill to Riversend. The ponies also carried men and trade
down to the coastal port and river system below.
The five ponies had been ridden hard and I led them out of the enclosure
round to the paddock. There were another seven ponies here, who looked
up and snorted to greet their brothers and sisters. I kicked the pile of
hay along the paddock fence and the ponies welcomed their snack. While
they ate, I wiped them down, using handfuls of hay to dry their sweat.
Two of the riders returned before I had finished.
"I'll take over here. You're to see Lugh, he's waiting
now," said one.
I dropped the hay and went back to Lugh's wooden hut.
The other men were there, including the leader who had nearly knocked me
off my feet.
"This dozy creature!" he protested, laughing at me. "He
was so busy daydreaming he never even saw us arrive until we were on top
of him."
"He may not look like much," said Lugh, grinning, "but
believe me he has the ability. He's called Fintan."
I wondered what I was being volunteered for, when Lugh
informed me.
"You're coming up to Riversend with us. Men have been
injured in an accident and we need them back in action. There is rumour
of another attack coming from the sea, and I need to check the outpost
is secure."
The band of men, Lugh and I took the fresh ponies. Turning
our backs to the sea, we rode inland. From the high track, I could see nothing
but woodland below us. The trees were just starting to turn. Shades of
orange, green and russet brown mottled the green cloak. Rich colours of
autumn glowed from the land. The sun, just at its peak, lit the leaves to
full effect. A warm, fresh breeze from the sea caressed the trees.
From the apex of the peninsula the track led down into deep woods and followed
the river path upstream. We passed under archways of branches high above.
In the dappled shade, the sun threw down its image, multiplied onto the
path. The woodland floor was covered with many bright circles.
We met the river, and passed my home near the lower tidal fording point.
The place seemed desolate. I saw Carl over the other side and waved. Apart
from him there was nobody around. I resolved to return there as soon as
I could, as Lugh wouldn't let me stop when I asked.
We followed the river up the broad valley. Before long we reached the spot
where I had met the blue-eyed man. Here, we angled away from the river
up the steep hill to Riversend. This fort was smaller than Castledore but
even better positioned and fortified for defence. It stood alone on a hill,
surrounded by steep banks. The trees had been felled down the hill to give
a clear line of sight. We went inside and I was taken to a wooden hut.
There were three injured men. Two had only glancing blows, but the third
was badly injured. He had taken the full force of a runaway log as it careered
down the hill. He lay there, unconscious, his breath coming in jagged gasps.
He was young, not much older than me. I had never seen injuries like his.
He lay there hardly able to breathe through his crushed ribs. One of his
legs was broken beneath the knee and white bone stuck out through his clothing.
Bright-red blood pumped from the wound. An arm dangled uselessly at his
side.
The two other injured men looked on as I gathered my energy.
I laid my hand lightly on the man's shoulder. I didn't
know where to start, so I looked deep into his body. The vessels carrying
his precious blood were shattered, and much of it was spilt. His breath
was shallow and irregular. His energy was low, dying down like the last
few embers of a fire. He was broken.
I pushed in a thin stream of subtle energy, but instead of fighting the
dark, it diffused and spread across the body, seeping in. The man's bunched
muscles relaxed and the lines on his face eased. Within seconds he let
out a long sigh and his body became still. Life left him.
I attended the two less injured men, who were soon improved. They both
had bones that were fractured but not broken. The white energy fused their
bones back together and they left the hut to recuperate.
I sat by the round wall of the empty hut, my head in
my hands. The body was laid out in the middle of the floor. Lugh entered
the hut and knelt. As he cradled the head of one of his favourites, he
made a silent parting.
"Fintan," said he. "My kinsman Cormac is gone, and I
left him in your hands." I dropped my arms and looked up at the chieftain.
"I did what I could, his body was broken beyond repair.
He just went, I couldn't help him," I protested. Lugh walked over to me.
"You did your best small friend. Come on out into the
sun and I'll show you a view."
Lugh took me up a ladder to the highest part of the palisade, looking south.
Below us the valley stretched downstream, opening out to a wide flood plain.
Under the hill, at the river where I found my gift, I could see men loading
packages onto a boat.
Further down, in the middle of the valley was my home.
My thoughts went out to my Ma and sister, I missed them and wished them
well. I could see smoke rising from among the trees of my settlement, but
it might be a neighbour's. I turned to Lugh.
"Chieftain Lugh, I want to visit my home. Please let
me take a pony downriver to see my family." The Chieftain looked down at
me, stretched his arms back and yawned.
"All right Fintan, take the piebald one as she's docile,
and be back here by sundown. Come with me, let's get you set up with some
stores."
He grabbed thick bread, apples and a water skin from the stores and gave
me a saddlebag for them. I petted the pony, letting the animal get a good
look and smell of me. The piebald was much smaller than Strayberry, and
I had no problem gaining her back. A load lifted from me as I sat astride
her, I was going to spend some time with my mother. I grinned at the Chief
and urged the pony into a canter down river.
END OF CHAPTER 4
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Secrets of the Valley, episode 2: The Dragon Line
Secrets of the Valley, episode 3: Black Druids
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Tree near St. Winnow
Celtic Cross at St. Winnow
Penpoll Creek
Pine woods and hills
Singing Robin
Wind trees at St. Winnow
Restormel Castle
Moorland bull
Over the Valley
River meadow
Afternoon shadows
The river from Pelyn
St. Winnow
Pine trees in the valley
St. Johns Wort
Ponies
Pelyn woods
Lostwithiel golf course
Restormel castle
Over Bodardle
West woods from the river
Farm near Golant
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