The Hart and the Harp Read online

  “I’m saying that I truly believe that Tiernan had nothing to do with Fiachra’s death. If it were an accident he would have just admitted it. He’s not the type of man to lie or cover up his errors. In all my dealings with him he’s always been honest and open. Has always spoken his mind candidly.

  “Therefore, if Fiachra’s death wasn’t an accident, it brings us back to the original charge, that of murder. But think about it, Shive. What could Tiernan have possibly hoped to gain from Fiachra’s death? He couldn’t inherit your lands, become tanaist of your sept , gain money or power in any obvious way. In fact, he's come off the worst in all the hostilities with your father, not least because he's often simply refused to fight him.

  “If it wasn’t for money, then what could Tiernan have ever hoped to gain? And before you ask, I can tell you now that I’m certain it wasn’t a love rivalry between them either.”

  Shive ignored the telltale lurching of her heart. She had no reason to be jealous of Tiernan. She had every reason to loathe the man! She looked at her cousin defiantly. “Fiachra’s death has served to destabilize the entire region. Tiernan could have hoped to make his family stronger at the expense of ours.”

  “It was your father who attacked him in revenge. Your father who has carried out all the raids every summer for the past five years. Tiernan has defended himself, but done nothing more than that even when the atrocities have got to such a point that his own men have threatened to overthrow him as tanaist if he doesn't do something to stop these incessant hostilities.

  "Tiernan has risked losing everything, even his life, to avoid harming your family. He's never gone on the offensive to raid your territory, or inflicted the dreadful damage upon your clan that he could easily do if he fully mustered his whole clan. I truly believe he's innocent. Tiernan didn't murder Fiachra with his own hands. Nor did he suborn anyone to do it."

  Shive didn't necessarily disagree. But if not Tiernan O'Hara, then who? Her mind swam with all her cousin was saying, all he was hinting at.

  “No, I’m afraid if you wish to find your brother’s murderer, you must look closer to home. Judge for yourself who has most benefited from Fiachra’s murder.”

  Shive stared at her cousin, horrified realization slowly dawning on her lovely features.

  Ruairi said urgently, “Shive, I know it’s painful to dredge up the past like this after so many years, but we can't afford to ignore the truth for much longer. Every single one of your four cousins has gained from Fiachra’s death. Now they’re all pressing you to marry them. Can you be sure you are marrying an innocent man who loves you for yourself alone? Or is it all part of a plan to consolidate their gains, by marrying the only living direct descendant of the current leader of the clan? And one who, if I may say so, is a powerful force in her own right?”

  Shive shook her head vehemently. “No! It’s unthinkable. We were all raised together here at Skeard after my mother died. We’ve always been so close. I can’t even begin to imagine any of them committing such a heinous crime.”

  “You’ve avoided answering the second part of my question, Shive,” Ruairi observed. “I know you well enough to see that you have doubts the same as myself. Parthalan, Fergus, Ernin and Mahon have all been paying you court ever since your aunt died. Your uncle even tried to encourage a match between yourself and Parthalan as the eldest heir. But your uncle died in August, and so no more has come of those arrangements, at least not for the time being.

  “You’re an intelligent woman, Shive. Surely you can see that what I say is true. I know you aren’t in love with any of the lads, worthy though most of them are. If you stay here at Skeard any longer, your position will be compromised with one or the other of them. Then you'll be forced to marry whether you will or no. If that happens, well, even if it isn't outright rape, even if you seem to settle down as a couple together well enough, you know that deep in your heart, you'll always wonder. You'll never be certain if your marriage is based upon true love, or simply one man’s insatiable lust for power. And where he's killed once, with an innocent face, he can easily do it again, even to his own wife."

  She jolted in shock and leaned out the window, gasping for breath. The sting of his words, and the tears behind her eyes, were almost more than she could bear. He was right. Every word was true. The bile bubbled in the back of her throat to think that any one of her cousins could be capable of such treachery. Yet there was no one else. No one except...

  Before she could follow the trail of the odd glimmer of an idea in her head, she noted her cousin was speaking once more.

  “If you do have to marry for dynastic considerations, Shive, why not marry Tiernan? I’m sure he's innocent, and he's suffered long enough. He loved Fiachra like a brother. He'd never allow you to be harmed in any way. Surely you must realize that.”

  “So you're saying that one of my cousins killed Fiachra in order to marry me to get the title of tanaist, and to consolidate their claims to land and titles?” Shive asked, feeling as trapped and restless as a caged tiger. “Does it never occur to you that Mahon and Ernin might really love me for myself?”

  “As a friend and companion, aye. As a sister. But as a woman deserves to be loved? No, I don’t think so.” Ruairi shook his head sadly, sorry to hurt his lovely cousin in this way, but determined to protect her no matter what the cost.

  “But perhaps this is just what Tiernan has been looking for? A chance to get the lands through me,” Shive argued, though without conviction.

  Ruairi ran the fingers of one hand through his thick brown locks impatiently. “Your father is still very much alive, and Parthalan has been named as his successor. While not everyone is happy with that choice, they'll respect your father’s wishes on the matter. I assure you, Tiernan is not playing a trick. I'm the one who suggested the marriage, not him.”

  “You did?" she gasped, stunned. "But why?”

  “Tiernan wants to marry you to end the enmity between your families once and for all, and to try to make restitution for what you all think he's done to your family. He's a fair man, thoughtful, intelligent. I've never known him to lie to me, or be anything other than a loyal and faithful ally. You could do a great deal worse in a husband and life partner.”

  “But I might have other choices in mind for my life beside marriage. The convent, perhaps?”

  Ruairi patted her hand affectionately. “With the way you go strutting around in your tunic and hose, out hunting every day, you’d never last more than a week in a convent. You're a thinker, a planner, with agile hands and more skill in the manly arts of war than I've ever seen in one so young.

  “No, don’t make a face, it’s true. I’m not just flattering you for your accomplishments. I must say, too, it was well Aunt Afric taught you some womanly skills as well as what you learnt from the men hereabouts. The convent is not for you. You will make some great warlord an ideal wife, even if your feminine decorum does lapse from time to time. It's what you were born and bred for, Shive, despite the fact that you had a brother and cousins. You're a born leader.”

  Shive smiled at her cousin’s teasing. “I live in a man’s world, and so must compete as an equal. It would never do for me to be seen to be weak. You know how much work I’ve done keeping the castle here at Skeard running smoothly. My cousins haven’t got a head for such things, just hunting and campaigning. But you’re right. Perhaps it's about time I began to think about changing my home.

  “I had thought about going to Father’s castle at Rathnamagh to see if I could put my talents and skills to good use there all the time, instead of just on occasional visits, but you know he and I have never got on. We’re too different, he and I. He's too ambitious. As for myself, well, I fight if I have to, but I deplore the loss of all life, and would rather seek peace.”

  Ruairi sighed. “I wouldn’t be too hasty about leaving Skeard just yet. The truth is, Shive, I think the time may come soon when you’ll have to fight tooth and nail to keep your family together and safe. I've heard
rumblings of discontent against Parthalan as tanaist of the sept. It's your right to challenge him for the succession, if you so wish it. Then this castle could be yours. Or if not this one, then one of the other three.”

  Shive gazed at Ruairi in horror. “I couldn’t possibly challenge Parthalan! What would Father say?”

  “Uistean would have to accept it if it were for the good of the clan.”

  Shive rose from her seat abruptly, pulling her hand away from Ruairi’s affectionate grasp.

  “I won’t challenge Parthalan! It would be the ultimate betrayal of our friendship for one another. At any rate, this is an absurd conversation. Father is still alive, so the question of the succession won’t arise for many years to come.”

  Ruairi decided to be completely honest with his cousin. Rising from the settle to stand before her, he grasped Shive by both shoulders and gazed deeply into her violet eyes. . “My dear, don’t you see, the truth is I need a strong ally in the MacDermot clan. You're the only person who can bring them all together to achieve that for me. Not your father, not your cousin. You style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:Verdana">.”

  For a moment Shive was convinced Ruairi would kiss her. She almost wished he would. She had always wondered.... But at the last minute, he pushed her away firmly, and pounded his fist against the wall.

  “Damn it, Shive, you are just too lovely for your own good. You look at me like that, and I forget all my good resolutions, and the very reason I've come there. You must wed, and soon. But if you choose one of your cousins here at Skeard, you'll be making the biggest mistake of your life. I can't force you to marry Tiernan O’Hara. But it would be helping me in my quest for the high kingship if you did,” he told her candidly.

  “You're my cousin as well, Ruairi, on my mother’s side. We could marry, could we not?” Shive asked, feeling a small glimmer of girlish hope kindle again in her for the first time in years.

  Ruairi sighed and fingered the hilt of his short sword in frustration. Then he shoook his head, his warm, passionate expression chilling to a mask of distant regret. “I’m selfish, Shive, I admit, but not that selfish. I need what's best for me, but I won't gain it at your expense if I can possibly help it.

  “Don’t you think I wish I could marry you? There have been some days and nights since you came of age when I've wanted to say the hell with duty and power, that I want to be with you every moment for the rest of our lives. But I know no matter how hard you would try to be a good wife and companion to me in every way, that our destinies will force us to separate. I'm know we've been tender with one another, affectionate, but that isn't the same as love. I'm sure you don’t love me as a woman loves a man. You deserve better than me, even if I am to be high king. You deserve more than a safe, comfortable marriage to a man already wed to his country, and to his own overweening ambitions.

  “Ever since I was old enough to sit astride a horse, I've known deep in my heart that my destiny is to become ard ri , high king of all Ireland. I shall unite the five great provinces, starting with Connaught and Ulster, then Munster, and finally Meath and Leinster in the east. I shall be the stuff of legend, greater even than Brian Boru. I shall defy nature itself, Shive. I shall make the sun rise in the west. It shall be the dawning of a glorious new age in our land, and I shall achieve it for all our people, not just myself, no matter what the cost.”

  Shive stared at her cousin, whose emerald green eyes now glowed fanatically. “Some things carry a very high price indeed, Ruairi. Are you sure that it will be a price you’re willing to pay?”

  “I am willing," he said, fingering his sword hilt as though it were his dearest possession. "Even if it means my life, I'll sacrifice it gladly to bring about my new vision of the future. It's a future that I want you and Tiernan to share with me as my closest friends and allies. My only regret is that I shall have to renounce you, my dear." He took her hand to kiss it lingeringly.

  “I do love you, Shive, as a man loves the fresh air, the sunshine. But I'd never want you to change, make you unhappy because I tried to turn you into something you weren't. I know I could never make you happy, much as I've longed to try these past few years since you've matured into a woman grown. And if my plans are to succeed, I shall have to marry well, very well indeed. A dynastic marriage, with no room for love. And no room for a mistress. No matter how passionate I might feel about any woman, my greatest love is Erin, my homeland.” He indicated the rolling, snow-covered landscape with a sweep of his hand, before closing the casement against the swirl of dancing flakes wafting in.

  “I would never be suitable as the future king’s consort. Is that what you’re telling me?” Shive challenged boldly, looking directly into Ruairi’s emerald eyes.

  He shook his head in dejection. “No, you most certainly wouldn’t. You already cause fights amongst half of my nobleman vying for your attentions every time you come to visit me at Lissatava. It certainly wouldn’t be politic to marry a Helen of Troy, now would it, my girl?” Ruairi admitted with obvious resignation, his face revealing the deep regret he felt at the loss of the only woman he had ever loved unreservedly.

  Ruairi stroked Shive’s cheek gently, and tried moved away to a safe distance. But his strong impulses got the better of him, and unthinkingly he pulled Shive into his arms and kissed her until he was breathless.

  Shive remained passive under the kiss, neither feeling repelled by it, nor drawn irresistibly to her cousin and constant childhood companion. Ruairi could sense her mere acceptance of his kiss, and released her.

  “You see, you don’t love me. And I’m afraid I love my land and power more than you, Shive. It’s a sad admission to make, but it’s true. So please, at least give me the satisfaction of seeing you well settled with another. A man who would respect and protect you. Marrying Tiernan O’Hara would not only solve your problems, but save countless lives in one stroke.”

  “But why Tiernan, of all people? Would not one of the younger O’Hara brothers do as well? He is, after all, a good ten years older than myself. And as I've said, if he's really as innocent as you claim, he would surely resent me for being Uistean MacDermot’s daughter.”

  “You need him for protection, and you're the sort of woman he needs behind him. Intelligent, able, good with her hands. Moreover, he’s the sort of man I need to support me. He’s honest to a fault, brave, and utterly loyal to those he casts his lot in with. You deserve the best of the O'Haras, their leader. Tiernan is that man.”

  “It’s curious that he's never married in all these years,” Shive wondered aloud, then blushed as she realized she sounded far too interested in Tiernan as a man.

  Ruairi relaxed in his seat, at ease now that Shive did not seem so indignant at his suggested alliance as she had only a moment before. “There was someone about three years ago, but on the eve of their wedding she eloped with Muireadach O’Rourke, Tiernan’s neighbor to the north. She died soon after. Tiernan is bitter about women generally, especially now that...”

  “Go on,” Shive prompted when she saw her cousin clamp his mouth shut and blush to the roots of his hair.

  “Well, you'll no doubt hear of it, since it's the talk of the region. Orla, Muireadach’s sister, has decided to try to improve relations between the two clans after the slight to Tiernan three years ago. While she had originally set her sights on the second brother, Lasaran, she's now in full pursuit of Tiernan. I tell you frankly, so there will be no misunderstanding or evasion between us, that it is not a marriage I could countenance as the future high king.”

  Shive stiffened. Ruairi’s ambitions were really coming to the fore now. It was curious that she had never noticed this ruthless streak in him before. But then he had never revealed his innermost thoughts, nor ever needed her as an ally before.

  She followed his thought processes to their logical conclusion. Now she sat down, her back stiff with anger. “If they married, the O’Rourkes might also get ideas that with Tiernan’s clan as his allies, Muireadach could press his o
wn claim as high king at your expense. But surely Tiernan and Muireadach wouldn’t forgive each other so easily even if Orla did succeed in marrying one of the three O’Hara brothers. The political map around here does seem to be changing quite rapidly all of a sudden.”

  “You’re sharp, coz, I give you that. Be careful you don’t cut yourself one day,” Ruairi warned quietly.

  “So you think to solve all these problems for yourself by marrying me to Tiernan, even though you yourself are in love with me?”

  Ruairi reached for her then, but she leapt up and backed away. She put the huge oak table between them as she quickly moved to the other side of the room, angry, and determined not to let him near her ever again. She was no man's plaything, not even this great warrior's.

  “No, Ruairi, you started all this, so you can't play it both ways now. I will finish it. I will help you, because I have always loved you as a cousin and my best friend. I'll marry Tiernan O’Hara for the sake of my clan, and because I have nowhere else to go now that my other cousins are all proposing to me every time I find myself alone with one of them.