The Washer Woman

When I was about five, possibly six, I was staying with Granny Begley for a while. I'm not sure why, I've a feeling my parents had to go somewhere. None of that mattered. As far as I was concerned, I was off on my holidays, even though it was the middle of winter.

One day, Granny Begley had to go into the village and pick up something at the post office. She dressed me in my little wellington boots, my stiff brown duffel coat, and woolly hat. It was very cold so she put a pair of socks on my hands. I thought this was very funny, Granny Begley didn't know that socks go on your toes, not your fingers. I was glad of them later because it was freezing.

We walked for hours and hours and hours before we got to there. I was sure we must have walked all the way across the county. Granny said I was a silly-billy. I didn't like the post office, there was nothing to see in there. I wanted to walk around the corner and look at the ducks in the river. Being a different time, when everything was safe and kids had the run of the world, Granny Begley said that I could, as long as I promised to stay on the little stone bridge. That was just fine by me.

When I rounded the corner, I saw a group of boys playing a game on the bridge. It looked like great fun so I ran over to see what was going on. The boys had fistfuls of pebbles and they were throwing them in the river, and shouting. I was worried they were scaring away the ducks so I peeked through a hole, but there were no ducks, only an old woman stooped in the middle of the river. She must have been a hundred years old; her hair was dirty grey and very long, it looked like barbed wire. Her back was crooked and she was beating a cloth off the rocks, sending water flying everywhere. She stood knee deep in the freezing river, the hem of her skirt dipped into the water, steadfastly ignoring the caterwauling boys on the bridge. Her skin was riddled with crevices and nearly brown from life outside. She had so many liver spots it was hard to see where one stopped and the next started. In all my young life, I’d never seen a person with such terrible skin.

Just then, one of the boys landed a pebble bang on target. The woman looked up angrily and I’m not ashamed to say, her face frightened the britches off of me. One eye was as white as milk, while the other was blood red. She hadn't a tooth left in her head, and if I thought her hands were wrinkly, they didn't hold a candle to her face. I changed my mind; she must have been a million years old.

To my undying shame, I got caught up in the mob mentality and started throwing pebbles along with the other others. That was until I was lifted clean off the ground by the back of my coat. Two quick slaps from an experienced hand and my arse was glowing as hot as the embers of hell. I’d never seen Granny Begley so angry in all my life, short as it was. She scattered the boys in seconds, not missing one of them with a thump to the ear or a boot to the rump. I just stood in the middle of the bridge, bawling for all I was worth. Granny was furious and dragged me all the way back home by the arm, not saying a word the whole long way.

When we got to the house, I was sent straight to bed. I stayed there for weeks and weeks, realistically about twenty minutes, before I sniffled my way out into the kitchen where Granny was sitting beside the open fire. She didn't look mad any more, or even sad. She just looked far away, if you know what I mean.

"Sor-r-r-ry Granny," I snuffled in my sorriest voice, trying to dig my chin all the way into my chest.

"Oh, come here," she said, in that lovely Granny way and lifted me into her lap. I snuggled into her and sucked my thumb, feeling very hard done by. She smelled of tea and roses, oh, and peppermint. She rocked over and back, rubbing my head, as the logs crackled in the grate. 

"You should never throw stones at anyone, especially an old lady."

"I won’t, Granny. Cross my heart," I said, knowing that ment I was forgiven.

"Good boy," she said, and gave me a kiss on the head.

***

I never spoke about that to my Mom, and it turned out, Granny Begley never did either. She took that particular little incident to the grave with her. In the weeks after her passing, our family told many stories about our times with Granny. One evening, I was sitting beside the open fire with my Mom and it crackled in the grate, just like it had that day when she forgave me. Such a simple thing, yet it brought that day flooding back. The memory was too vivid to keep bottled up so I told my Mom about it.

"I can’t believe she never told me," said Mom. Even then, telling her as a grown man, I felt the sting of shame.

"I know, I still feel terrible, throwing stones at such an old woman."

"She wasn't that old. The Washer Woman is just about the same age as Granny Begley. I think she’s still alive actually."

"You must be joking? She looked ancient, and that was years ago."

"She was cursed," Mom said, and she looked like she was being serous.

"Cursed? Come on Mom." This is the age of mobile phones and the internet. Nobody believed in cursed, did they?

"It's true," she said. My Mom is nobody’s fool, but this was a little airy-fairy for me.

"Go on, tell me about this curse then."

This is the story my Mom told.

***

When Granny Begley was just a slip of a girl, Bess was a few years older and a stunning beauty. Granny didn't have much time for Bess, nor did any of the girls in the village. She wasn’t only beautiful; she was incredibly vain. One boy was never enough for her, she wanted them all. No woman's son, or husband for that matter, was off limits. She’d flirt with them, tease them, and then just when she knew she had them wrapped around her little finger, drop them like a hot potato.

That is exactly what she did to Matty McGrath. He was obsessed with Bess and couldn't stay away from her. She drove that boy mad, stringing him along only to turn her eye on another man at the last minute. One evening, Bess arranged to meet Matty on the village bridge. She was very late but he waited anyway. 

Low and behold, down the village she comes, arm and arm with some English soldier that had chatted her up outside the pub. She glided along, brazen as you like, swishing her new summer dress as she walked, dragging this fella along to the bridge. Matty snapped, he tore into the soldier. Matty was young and tough, but no match for fully grown man trained in fighting. Bess looked on proud…PROUD…that these men were fighting over her. Sadly, Matty pulled a penknife on the man, which was only boyish bravado, but the soldiers training kicked in.

The blade ended up buried in Matty's guts. Seeing the blood, the English man ran back to his mates and they hightailed it as fast as they could. Bess was horrified and tried to help Matty. She cried and held him, pressed her hand against the wound and cradled his head. News of the fight spread through the village like wild fire. The doctor was sent for, and if he’d been home that night, things might have turned out different. Tragically, he wasn't. Matty passed away right there on the bridge, Bess holding him and sobbing. With a final shuddering breath, Matty was gone and there was nothing more Bess could do.

She stood up and backed away from him. That was when she saw the blood. Her legs were covered in it, as well as her hands and her dress. Seeing herself drenched in Matty's blood must have been a terrible thing, even more so because she knew it was all her fault. Bess ran down to the river and tried to wash the blood off. As unkind circumstance would have it, that was when Matty's mother arrived. She’d never liked her son hanging around with the village trollop. What a terrible shock she got when she saw her darling, Matty, laid out in the middle of the road, Bess, down by the stream washing his blood off her hands. Mrs McGrath flew at the girl.

She grabbed Bess by the hair, dragging her into the middle of the stream where she half drowned the girl by dunking her under the water, again and again.

"Wash, you bitch, wash," she screamed. "You’ll never get my son's blood off your hands. You killed him, you murdered him! You did it with your pretty skin, and terrible beauty.  A curse on you, you little bitch! Every sin will stick to your skin, never to be washed away. Everyone will see you for what you are!" At this point Mr McGrath appeared. He waded into the river and dragged his deranged wife to the bank. She collapsed there, crying. "She took him from us, Tom. She took our lovely Matty."

Bess vanished into the night. It was months before she was seen again. Some argue it was the curse, others said it was madness that had changed her so much. She was no longer the beauty she had been. Patches had appeared on her hands and legs where they had been covered in Matty McGrath's blood. Her hair had silvered and grown brittle. Her once lustrous skin was now dry and cracked. She hid herself under thick shawls, never meeting anyone's eye. She was disowned by her family and shunned by the village. Bess eventually moved into a tiny hovel at the edge of the woods.

One day, Bess was seen standing in the middle of the river, washing a man's clothes. Rubbing them against the rocks and rinsing them again and again in the chilly mountain water. A week after that, she was spotted hobbling out of the church looking ten years older. The lines were beginning to show on her hands and her face. Legend has it that the clothes she washed belonged to Mr McGrath. He’d swindled a neighbour in a land deal and felt tainted by the sin. Bess had offered to help as she felt she owed the family. Her curse absorbed his sin and added it to her own.

From then on, bundles of clothes began appearing at Bess's doorstep with a shilling left on top. Down she would go to the river, summer or depth of winter, and wash the owner’s sins into her own skin. Granny Begley had gone into the river once and tried to get Bess to see sense. It was useless. 

Bess said, "It's my penance, the price of vanity." She kept pounding the clothes against the slimy rocks. Each wash adding another line to her face or hands.

Super Snoozey Sleepy Juice

I just had to tell you this story, sorry Carla.

I know this lovely lady called Carla. She is a classy lady in every way. Her dress sense is immaculate, she is the epitome of refinement. Thankfully she is also gifted with a lively sense of humor and an honest way of looking at the world. While we know each other and get on quiet well, I would be a little rough around the edges for her. I often find myself pushing her buttons just for the hell of it.

It turns out that Carla had to go into hospital for a little procedure, nothing serous thank God, but she needed to go under anesthetic non the less. Having never been operated on before, the surgeon came to explain what was going to happen. He was a nice man and made Carla very comfortable with the procedure. It was at this stage he told her that they were going to use gas to put her under.

"Have you ever had gas before Carla?" he asked. She had to say it was her first time.
"There is nothing to worry about, I like to call it super snoozey sleepy juice," he said with a giggle. "It can can give you some very, very vivid dreams so try and think about something pleasant as you drift off."

The surgeon went on his way as the orderlies got Carla ready for theater. When she was wheeled in, Carla was concentrating on a cruise she had booked.   "Cruising, cruising, cruising, she repeated over and over again in her mind. While the operating team were preparing, the anesthesiologist appeared pulling a kart full of tubes and masks. She was a lovely young girl, and even though she was all gowned and masked, Carla could see by her eyes, she was smiling. A wisp of red hear peeped from under her surgical cap and a sea of freckles broke on her nose.
"Hello Carla, how are you today?"
"Very well, thank you." Cruising, cruising cruising she repeated in her mind.
"Is it your first time for gas?"
"Super snoozey sleepy juice," said Carla which made the girl laugh out loud.
"I guess that is about right," she said pulling tubes around Carla's head and taking a fresh mask from a plastic packet. Cruising cruising cruising Carla thought again.
"So where do you work," asked the girl. God NO! thought Carla, the last thing she wanted to be thinking about was work so instead she told her the name of the little village where she lived and hoped the girl would leave it drop. Cruising cruising cruising.

The anesthesiologist popped the mask over Carla's face and the gas began flowing. Cruising cruising cruising. Just as Carla felt her eye lids grow heavy the girl said "That's a lovely village, you must know Squid McFinnigan?"

"Cruising, Cruising SQUID....zzzzzzzzzz"


Carla didn't tell me what kind of dreams she had, but by the blush on her cheeks I imagine they were very vivid indeed.

The Trainee Fairies

In the forests of Ireland there are lots and lots of magic creatures, the loveliest of which are the fairies. They have wonderful shimmering clothes and fantastic wings which twinkle with all the colours of the rainbow. The funny thing about Irish Forest Fairies is that they are not born with their wings they have to grow into them. Fairies with no wings are called Trainee Fairies. This is the story of two super cute trainee fairies called Daisy and Darcy.

Daisy and Darcy are sisters with Darcy being a couple of years older. They are the very best of friends and are always having adventures. One day the sisters were wandering through a sunny glade using bluebell flowers as sun umbrellas, a bird flew over their heads twittering a cheery song.

"Look at how fast he is Daisy," said Darcy admiring the way the little bird swooped through the air.
"I can't wait until we get our wings and we can fly just like that," said Daisy. The trainee fairies watched the bird until it vanished behind a fluffy white cloud.
"When do you think we will get our wings?" asked Daisy.
"Not for a long time yet," said Darcy sadly.
"I wish there was some way I could fly now," said Daisy with a little tear in the corner of her eye. Darcy never liked seeing her little sister sad, so she searched her brain.
"I have and idea," said Darcy taking Daisy by the hand and running back to the fairy village hidden at the base of a moss covered oak tree in the very middle of the forest.

The two trainee fairies worked hard all morning and when they were finished they had built a huge kite, bigger even than Darcy. The kite had a long string and a tail with lots and lots of coloured ribbons that would flutter in the wind.
"Are you sure this will work?" asked Daisy looking worried.
"It is sure to work with the help of Pimple," said Darcy dancing a gig of delight. Pimple was a brown rabbit with black ears that loved playing with the two young fairies. They gathered up the kite and ran off in search of the friendly bunny. They found Pimple sitting in a field chewing sweet summer clover.

"Hello Darcy, Hello Daisy," said Pimple through a mouthful of clover wagging his fluffy white tail with delight.
"Hi Pimple, we have been looking for you everywhere," said Daisy.
"You should have started here in that case," said Pimple twitching his whiskers. "This meadow has the best clover in the whole forest."
"Look what we have," said Darcy showing Pimple the kite they had made.
"Oh my, that's a huge kite for such tiny fairies."
"We know, that is why we need your help to get it up in the air." Pimple was delighted to help his favourite fairies and agreed immediately. Soon they had the string unrolled and Daisy was holding the kite firmly in her hands.
"Okay Daisy,  I'll climb on Pimples back and hold the end of the string. You run as fast as you can and remember what ever happens don't let go."

"Are you ready?" shouted Darcy when she was sitting on Pimple's back.
"Ready," said Daisy giving a thumbs up for good measure. Pimple ran across the grass as fast as lightening and the kite shot high into the sky carrying a giggling Daisy with it.
"She's flying," cried Darcy in delight as the kite went higher and higher. Pimple wanted to see too so he looked over his shoulder, that was a mistake. Pimple didn't see the rock and stubbed his foot causing Darcy to loose hold of the string.

"Daisy," cried Darcy and the kite flew away on the breeze deeper into the forest. "Quick Pimple we have to follow her," said Darcy jumping on the bunny's back once more, racing after the kite. It wasn't long before the wind died down and the kite glided lower. Darcy and Pimple lost sight of it in the trees. They searched and searched for Daisy and the kite but couldn't find her anywhere. Darcy was so very worried she began to cry.
"Don't cry, Darcy. Wait here, I'll go get some help," said Pimple hopping away into the bushes. A few minutes later Pimple was back but he wasn't alone. From all corners of the forest birds and woodland creatures began to gather. Pimple explained what had happened and everyone split up to search for Daisy.

It only took ten minutes for a sparrow to find Daisy stuck high in a Ash tree still holding on the the kite. Everyone gathered at the base of the tree. The birds could fly up to Daisy but had no hands to carry her to the ground. They needed a plan. It was a wise old owl that suggested making a big pile of leaves so Daisy could drop into them. All the birds in the forest began collecting leaves and dropping them at the base of the Ash tree. Soon the pile of leaves was much higher than both Pimple and Darcy combined.

"Jump Daisy," shouted Darcy.
"It's too far," cried Daisy.
"You'll be fine, trust me."
 Daisy closed her eyes and let her little fingers uncurl. She dropped to the ground sending a fountain of leaves up into the air.
"Are you okay," said Darcy digging through the leaves trying to find her sister. That was when Daisy's head popped up looking delighted.
"That was great, lets do it again," said Daisy hugging her sister. The two trainee fairies rolled around in the leaves giggling with laughter while all the birds sang songs of delight.

Paddy Quinn

Visitors to my little bar find the old photos dotted around the place very interesting. This one sits high on the wall, in a battered old frame. It’s a favourite of mine, with a story to boot. The tall figure on the left is, Paddy Quinn, a local legend. The other legend in this photo is his horse, Snowflake.

Paddy was a dray man. Six days a week, himself and Snowflake would wander the highways and bye-ways, delivering goods dropped at the train station by the coal train from Cork. You would be hard pushed to find someone that would say Paddy was lazy. Hail, rain, sleet or snow, Paddy never missed a day’s work. He still had flaws. Like many men of his day, he had a gruff manner and an endless thirst for whisky.

Each evening, when the last delivery was made, he drew to a halt outside this very bar. Snowflake would stand quietly in the tines of his cart while Paddy went shopping for Mrs Quinn. Both the Quinns’ were creatures of habit. Invariably, Paddy would return with a brown parcel tucked under his arm, tied with hairy twine. Inside it you would find: a fresh loaf of bread, six hen eggs, half a pound of green ham, a packet of Goldgrain biscuits, and an ounce of pipe tobacco. Paddy's weakness was liquor, for Mrs Quinn, it was her pipe.

Paddy dropped the package on the back of the cart and gave Snowflake a pat on the rump. "On you go lad," he’d say, and his horse would clop away home while Paddy took his place at the bar, where his picture now hangs. He would tip cup to lip for the rest of the night, arguing with anyone foolish enough to talk to him. A little before closing, the clip clop of Snowflake could be heard on the road outside, and Paddy would stagger out the door.

One particularly memorable night, closing time came with no sign of Paddy's lift. It was a frosty one, so he remained at the bar and had more than one for the road. The barman had the place cleaned, and stocked, ready to lock, but Paddy was still propped against the bar, looking into his empty tumbler and mumbling to no one in particular.

"Come on, Mr Quinn, you'll have to wait outside," the barman said, putting on his coat. Paddy took a mighty wobble as he tried to dismount the high stool.

"Woah there, let me give you a hand," said the barman, taking him by the arm just in time.

"Sushhsr I'm jussst grand," Paddy said, lying heavily on the barman's shoulder. Mr Quinn's head wanted to go one way but his feet insisted on going the other. The two men struggled through the door, sideways, like a crab, but the street was still empty. Where could Snowball be? Just then, a young guard, fresh out of the training college, rounded the corner twirling his baton jauntily.

"What's going on here?" the young guard inquired as he got closer.

"Mr Quinn's waiting on his lift," said the barman.

"It's a bit late for that! Closing time was ages ago."

"Snowflake will be on in a minute…I'm sure."

"Snowflake?"

"Yep, Snowflake."

"Are you taking the piss out of me lad?" said the Guard, puffing out his chest.

"Not at all, here he comes now."

The frozen air was filled with the sound of metal on cobbles. In the darkness, a tendril of mist swirled and broke upon the movement of a ghostly figure. A lighter shade of black appeared and advanced on them with dreadful menace, until, in a puff of warm breath, Snowflake arrived. The young guard stared disbelievingly as the horse pulled to a stop in front of the bar.

On this night, the cart wasn't empty. Held down with a rock was a tattered bit of paper. The barman helped Mr Quinn aboard, where he promptly flopped backwards like a landed haddock. The barman retrieved the piece of paper from under Mr Quinn's shoulder. On it in a childlike scrawl was, "Bring fags, you forgot tobacco." The barman was buggered if he was opening up to get Mr Quinn tobacco, nor was he going to search the man’s pockets for the price of them because surely the bloody guard would arrest him for robbery. Instead, he searched his own pockets and found a half packet of Woodbines. He walked up to Snowflakes’ head, taking him by the halter and turning him around. When the horse was facing the right way, the barman pushed the packet of cigarettes between the horse’s bridle and his neck. The young Guard could hardly believe his eyes. One man snoring and farting, as drunk as a lord while the other was giving a horse cigarettes. What kind of a town had he come to at all?

"You can't let him drive, he's drunk," the Guard said.

"True enough officer," said the barman, standing back from the cart just as the prone Mr Quinn levered himself upright and slapped Snowflake on the rump. "But Snowflake's sober."

The young guard could do nothing but watch the horse clip-clop happily into the darkness and Mr Quinn left a rasping fart fly in farewell.

Forever Fog

The world was not always as it is now. It's much older, and more mysterious, than many imagine. What is common now, was once impossible, and visa-versa. Back in an age where knowledge and magic were closely entwined: a story unfolded.

Life in this era was perilous, filled with excitement and danger. The most adventurous of men turned to the sea for their fortune. Aboard flimsy boats, these foolhardy folks, sailed into the unknown, laden with goods to trade on far flung shores.

Prince Linus of Greece, was just such a man. The youngest son of a Greek King, Linus was never destined to rest upon the throne. Six older brothers waited in line for that honour, and Linus hadn't been blessed with the gift of patience. Deciding to carve out his own fortune, he purchased a battered sailing dow from an aging Mediterranean pirate, and rigged it with a second mast. Using every coin in his purse, he loaded the ship with herbs, spices, and fine cloth, then set sail west.

Along the journey he made many stops, selling his wears and purchasing exotic goods in their stead. On and on he sailed, until he came to the narrow straight that marked the end of the known world. Linus urged his nervous crew to keep a steady tack. His men believed if they passed this point, they would vanish forever, but Linus didn't put stock in such fairy tales. He kept his sails unfurled, and raced on.

His men pleaded with him to change his course but he was not for turning. He sent them below deck to secure the cargo, taking the teller himself. With a deft touch, he slipped the boat between the massive headlands, and they didn’t fall off the edge of the world. He let out a whoop of delight, drawing the crew back on deck. They celebrated with gusto, emptying a dozen pitchers of wine, while the little ship sailed into the vast open ocean.

As the hours passed, the waves grew as high as hills and the water darkened to black, but onward they sailed. Three days and three nights they travelled, with no sign of land. The longer they were alone, the more nervous the crew got, and Linus was starting to believe they had reason. At the end of a week, with only a few skins of water left, the Prince commanded a change of course. The men fell on the sails with abandon, delighted to be heading back toward safety. As if sensing his move, the Gods decided to show their might. The sky darkened and the sun vanished. The wind began to howl and waves crashed over the bow. As night fell, the hills of water had become mountains; none believed they would see the morning. All night they battled the elements, and when dawn turned the horizon pink, they were still floating, just.

They bobbed in the dropping swell and Linus took stock of the damage. The masts were cracked, the sails were tattered and water flooded into the hull as quickly as they could bail it out. The storm might have passed but they were far from safe. Two more days they battled to keep the ship above the waves, a battle they were slowly losing. When hope was all but gone, a man cried out, “Land!” It was a miracle.

As they got closer, they were faced with a fortress of cliffs, making landing impossible. The cliffs were crowned with lush green forrest, very different to the sandy shores of home. Wherever this was, it wasn’t Greece. Linus spotted a break in the cliffs just as the sun was leaving the sky. He turned his limping vessel into the darkening channel, and hoped for the best. It would be a tragedy to come this far and sink within touching distance of salvation. By the light of the moon, they dropped anchor in sheltered water and for the first time in days, the weary Prince lay his head down to sleep.

***

When the sun rose over the Irish village of Beanntrai, smoke was already rising from morning cooking fires, but all was not as it should be. A strange sight greeted the early risers. A new island, with two spindly trees, had appeared in the middle of the bay. A boy was sent to wake the Druid so he may assess this bewildering occurrence. He raced up the hill and hammered on the Druid's door.

The Druid was the second most powerful man in the tribe, only surpassed by the Warlord himself. He knew the healing plants, and the ones that could kill, magic lived in his words and he was respected by all. As befits a man of his station, the Druid was wealthy and had three young wives to show for it. Unlike most men, he didn’t believe women were dullards. He’d always found them to be the most apt students. Each of his wives had proven themselves gifted in many ways and knew nearly as much about the mysteries as he did.

The boy's excited knocking soon roused the Druid. He passed Fia, Corri and Gwyn, who were preparing the morning meal, and threw open the door. When told of the apparition, the Druid raced to the water's edge. Talk of an enchanted island was too much for the women to ignore, so they abandoned the cooking pot and followed.  

On the shore, the whole village had gathered to see this strange new thing. The Druid had to push his way through the throng to get a good look at it.

“What do you think it is?” asked the Warlord. The Druid studied the strange island and noted it moved in time with the water.

“It’s no island. It moves like a coracle,” he pronounced with authority.

“A coracle? Of such size? How would it stay up? It would be far too heavy. And what of those trees that grow upon it?” said the Warlord.

The Druid was at a loss but was never going to admit such a thing. He strode to the water’s edge and righted one of the wicker framed boats they had just discussed, and launched it. With a practiced stroke, he paddled in the direction of the island. As he got close it was easy to see that this was a boat, but one unlike any he’d ever seen before. It creaked as it rocked on the waves. He longed to inspect the craft, to unearth its secrets, so he moved a little closer. He got an awful shock when a sun-darkened face popped up to investigate his splashing.

Hazel eyes floated below a mop of impossibly black curls and a dark beard fell on a strong and hairless chest. The words he spoke were exotic and unintelligible. The Druid was curious, but didn’t dare go any closer. This man might be a pirate, or a barbarian. They stared across the water at each other and more heads appeared, seven in all. The Druid raised his arms, showing he held no weapons. The young dark-haired man seemed to understand and he copied the Druid's gesture. A connection had been made, but only a fool would venture closer without learning more. The Druid turned his corrical and paddled back towards shore.

***

Fia listened as the Druid explained what he had seen. A boat capable of carrying many men. The Druid advised the Warlord to be wary of the newcomers, to hide all of value, while he made a plan. Eventually, Fia, Corri and Gwyn, were sent to prepare a stew and bake fresh bread. Once the meal was ready, the Druid selected Fia, his youngest wife, to deliver the food to the ship. She tried to refuse but the Druid would abide no girlish strop and sent her on her way.

She paddled into the bay, sure these savages would kill her, or worse. Her stomach churned with trepidation as she approached the magic ship. A scruffy man, with dark eyes, watched her approach. When she drew alongside, she held up the pot of broth, hoping he would understand. The man said something and a figure appeared who was so handsome, her heart went into a flutter. He reached down and took the pot from her hands, then smiled at her. More men appeared and she could see how they gloried at the sight of food. Starvation knows no language. Desperate hands reached out for the bread she passed up, a dozen cakes vanished.

She waited alongside while the sounds of happy eating filled her ears. They finished every mouthful in record time. The dark-haired man returned her cooking pot, and said something in a language that made her heart dance. He held his hands in such a way that she understood he wanted her to wait. When he reappeared, he held a bundle cloth in his arms. He passed it down to her and when her fingers touched it, it was so soft, it was like touching a cloud. It could only have been made by the hands of a fairy. Fia tried to return the wonderful gift but the dark-haired man refused, and pointed toward shore. Fia knew it was a gift, in return for the food. She paddled home as quickly as she could with the amazing treasure.

Fia made more trips to the magic ship, at last, the Druid was confident that the men on board posed no threat. Then, he ventured out with her, hoping if they saw her as a friend, they would view him the same. When he reached the ship, he gestured that he would like to climb on board and the strange men helped him clamber up. With nods and gestures, the Druid and the dark stranger tried to communicate. Eventually the stranger spoke and the others unfurled a tattered cloth then hoisted it up one of the poles. The ship surged away from her, and Fia could only watch. She saw the dark stranger rest a reassuring hand on the Druid’s shoulder, when he began to get frightened. After a few moments, the man spoke again. The cloth was pulled down, and slowly, the ship came to rest. In their wake, Fia and the Druids empty coracle, bobbed. They looked back at her and she could tell that the Druid was amazed. The handsome stranger laughed, and waved for her to join them. To see him look at her with such joy was all the encouragement she needed. She rowed after them, herding the Druids’ empty boat before her.

That night, the ship lay at anchor a stone’s throw from the shore. A great banquet was held in the honour of the magical sea-men. It was also the first time that Corri, and Gwyn, got to see the dark-haired man that Fia couldn’t stop talking about. Fia spent the whole day preparing herself for the meal. She waited nervously as boats went out to bring the seven strangers ashore. The handsome man was the first to step foot on Irish soil. Even though the whole village crowded around him, he made a special point of seeking out Fia. She was beyond delighted, and couldn’t wait to show him off to Corri and Gwyn, but things turned sour. She was horrified when she saw the look on his face as she introduced Gwyn. Fia might be young, but she was no fool. She knew the heart of the man she loved had just been stolen. All through the banquet, he only had eyes for Gwyn.

Gwyn only had eighteen summers but she held herself like the queen. Her laughter was as sweet as nightingale’s song, her beauty paled all the flowers of the forest. She had been blessed with so much, why did she have to take Fia’s Prince as well? As the days passed, the stranger sought out every opportunity to be around Gwyn, while his men repaired the ship. Whispers of this budding love were everywhere, and the Warlord even made mention of it to the Druid. Being old, and wise, he wasn’t going to let himself be upset by fickle matters of young love. Fia overheard him telling the Warlord, “If I lose her heart, it’s a tiny price to pay for the secrets of the ship.”

Fia couldn’t believe how forgiving he was being. She wished he would thrash the woman…and lock her away! Then Fia would be the one to win his affections. She wished for it, but it didn’t happen. Every look that passed between the two, cut her to the core. She hid her envy as best she could, but inside she was furious. It might sound childish but she’d seen him first. Corri knew Fia was upset, but she made no secret of her joy for Gwyn.

Weeks passed, and the ship was ready for sea once more. Food and water were loaded but the handsome stranger grew melancholy. On the night of a full moon, the Prince said his farewells to the Warlord in the few Irish words he’d learned from Gwyn. Even now, in this final hour, Fia held hope he would see her love and realise what happiness she could bring him. She hoped against hope, but it was not to happen.

As the village feasted, Linus stole Gwyn away from the crowd. Fia followed them to a spot on the headland. She watched him point at the moon, then he pointed to the hill where it would vanish from view. Both, Fia, and Gwyn, understood. She was to be at this point when the moon and the hill touched. Gwyn was delighted, but Fia was horrified, as she watched the Prince take her in his arms and kiss her. In the darkness, her hatred grew and her soul became as dark as the night she hid in. The lovers ran back to the banquet, hand in hand, leaving Fia alone in a storm of evil thoughts.

When the moon began its fall, the Prince raised his crew from where they slept. They rubbed their drink aching heads and paddled out to the ship. At the same time, Gwyn stood on the spit of rock near the mouth of the bay, waiting nervously. She would leave everything behind, just to be with him. Fia watched it all from the shadow of a roan tree, waiting for her moment to act. She had etched the ground around her with charms, and in her hand, she held the Druid's darkest tool. It looked like any other candle stub, but this one was jet black and smelled horribly. Sitting close by was an earthen-wear bowl, with embers from the fire glowing inside. In a pouch, Fia had a lock of the prince’s hair. A keepsake rescued after he’d trimmed his mane. She watched the ship hoist its sail. It was time. Fia dropped kindling on the embers in the bowl and blew on them. They crackled and popped, then burst into flame. She retrieved the lock of hair, kissed it, then dropped it on the flame, where it sizzled. She dipped the wick of the black candle to the burning hair, and began her chant.

Magic words of elfish language fell from her lips, the curling smoke took on shapes that swam before her eyes. More smoke that was possible began to drift off the candle flame, rushing down the hill like a bank of fog. It spread across the bay, moving against the wind, and growing in size. Fia’s words grew faster, her tone more guttural. With each passing moment, the terrible evil she was unleashing spread.

The ship sailed forward, toward Gwyn, but the fog engulfed it. As the tip of the mast vanished from view, Fia’s words reached a crescendo. She pinched the candle flame, feeling her skin singe. A shudder ran up her arm and the black candle hummed in her fist. With a terrible noise, the magic fog was sucked back into the warm black wax, Prince Linus and his ship with it. As the last tendril of the smoke vanished, thunder boomed in the clear night sky, and lightening struck, throwing her off her feet.

When Fia awoke, all that remained was the candle, clutched in her hand. Delighted, she ran back to the Druid's hut with her wax encased love. Gwyn spent the whole night on the headland, waiting for Prince Linus to arrive. In the dawn, she returned with tears in her eyes and stone in her hart.

Days passed, and all believed the magic ship had sailed out of the bay under the cover of fog, never to be seen again. Gwyn was no longer the woman she had been; she didn’t eat and never smiled. Her life began to slip away, a day at a time. Fia kept the black candle hidden in the reed mat that she used as a pillow, holding it as often as she could. Corri was very worried about Gwyn, and one day when the girl could no longer raise from her sleeping mat, she asked the Druid to cast a spell for her.

“She is beyond my help. The magic that holds her is much stronger than any I possess,” said the Druid, sadly. Fia said nothing and tried to keep her joy contained. Gwyn had it coming to her. 

“You must try! What is stronger than magic?”

“Love. Gwen suffers from a broken heart. I feared I would lose her to the Prince and it looks like I may lose her anyway."

“There must be something you can do," she pleaded. He shook his head and Fia realised he was as heartbroken as Gwyn.

The Druid tended his dying wife in the days that followed but she only got worse. He tried everything he could think of but nothing worked for the girl. One night, Corri broke down in tears and Fia tried to comfort her.

“How could that monster break Gwyn’s heart this way?” she raged.

“Prince Linus is not a monster! It was hardly his fault that Gwyn fell in love with him,” she replied, jumping to the defence of her love.

“He is a monster, and I hope he dies horribly!” she spat.

“Stop, you can’t say that,” cried Fia.

“Oh, I can and I will,” said Corri. “That old wizard of ours might not want to cast his spells, but that won’t stop me. I'm going make sure Linus never loves another woman as long as he lives,” said Corri, coldly. Fia knew she not only ment every word, but she had the skills to carry out her threat. Fia had to do something to stop her.

“No! Promise you won’t,” howled Fia, beginning cry. 

“What is wrong with you, woman?” Fia had no choice but to tell Corri how she loved Linus, and hoped that one day he would love her back.

“That’s ridiculous! If he was concerned about any woman, he would have come for Gwyn, like he promised.”

With the story started, she told it all. It was a relief to confide in someone. Surely Corri would see she only did what she had to do. The Prince and Gwyn were going to make a terrible mistake, Fia was saving them from themselves.

Corri looked at Fia and made a face of disbelief. “You’re lying.” Fia ran to her mat and retrieved the thick black candle. Seeing it, Corri flew at Fia, striking her viciously about the face. Fia dropped the candle while trying to defend herself and it rolled towards the open fire.

“No,” screamed Fia, but a flame touched the wick. She tried to extinguish it, but once the black candle was lit, there was no going back. Smoke billowed from it, filling the house, before bursting out the door and racing down the hill. Corri ran to Gwyn. She lifted her easily and carried her through the choking fog.

Outside, Fia was laying on the ground, crying. She watched the smoke rush down the hill, and across the bay. By the second, the fog-bank grew bigger and thicker. Fia spotted the Druid as he ran toward the house.

“What have you done?” he demanded. Corri was about to tell him when Gwyn lifted her arm weakly, and pointed. Corri’s mouth hung open as she watched the Prince’s ship sail serenely out of the fog bank, with Prince Linus standing at the helm. The ship sailed directly for the headland where Gwyn had waited all those weeks ago. Without a word, Corri ran into the woods, with Gwyn in her arms. Fia knew what she intended to do and started to chase after them. The Druid grabbed her arm and demanded again, “What have you done?” She shook off his grip but his intervention had given Corri a head-start. Fia was still racing through the bushes when Corri reached the headland and found Prince Linus searching for Gwyn.

Corri collapsed, exhausted, dropping Gwyn like the bundle of rags. The Prince ran to them, scooping Gwyn into his arms, face a mask of confusion and concern. Corri had no words to explain, she just his waved him back towards the ship and hoped the Gods would save them both. Fia arrived as he stepped aboard the ship. She cried out for him to wait, but he didn’t. The ship sailed away; the lovers were together at last. Fia cried out the Prince's name, over and over again, long after the ship had vanished from view.

Forever Fog - The Running.

Once in deeper water, Prince Linus set his second sail. He couldn't explain what had happened in the bay; it was night one minute, and day the next. It had to be some kind of magic trick. Another thing beyond explanation was, Gwyn. How had she grown so weak in just a few hours? All of it was puzzling but the only part that mattered was, Gwyn.

He held her in his arms, and even as ill as she was, her beauty was dazzling. As they sailed further from shore, the waves began to pitch the boat which made Gwyn’s eyes flutter open. She looked shocked to see him; perhaps she hadn’t understood he was coming for her? She said something, and touched his face, but he didn't understand her strange words.

As his crew took charge of the ship, he tended his love, as a mother tends a child. He touched a dish of honey-water to her lips, coxing a drop at a time into her parched mouth. She desperately needed water; any sailor knows that thirst can kill. By noon, she slumbered more peacefully so he covered her with a blanket his finest silk.

The man at the helm had been holding the ship with the wind, ignorant of a destination, just happy to be moving once more. “My Lord,” he said, when Linus took over the teller. He studied the sky, and the sail, then with a flick of his wrist he filled them even more. The ship charged at the waves, putting miles behind them.  

  

“Where do you intend to go, my Prince?” asked the crew man, humble and respectful. Linus was aware of the torments his men had endured. They had travelled far and faced certain death. But his word was still law; he was their Captain and their Prince. If he decided to sail on forever, they would have no say in the matter. But Linus was a good man, and he cared for his crew. They longed for home and in truth, so did he.  

He looked at the place where the sky touched the ocean and said, “I have the urge to see the house of my father.” A smile spread across the face of the sailor.

“You are as wise as you are handsome, my Prince,” laughed the man.

“You silver tongued, scoundrel. No wonder husbands fear you making land,” laughed the Prince, gripping the man by his shoulder.

“Home is good, but where lies the path?” inquired the sailor, reminding Linus they were in unfamiliar waters. As a boy, scholars had tutored him in the ways of the heavens. They said, desert nomads used the stars to guide them. Linus hoped he could do the same.

“Our home lies where the sun wakes. The storm set us far off course but I believe, if we sail into the morning sun, and keep the evening one behind us, we should find our way back,” he said, aiming the bow of the boat at the rising orb. The sailor pondered the Princes words, finding truth in his logic, he simply nodded and set off about his duties.

A day and a night they sailed, across the wind and through ocean swells. Gwyn was sick to start with but Linus kept refreshing her with water and food. By the dawn of the second day she was eating unaided and her body had grown accustomed to the movement of the boat. Linus and the crew built a shelter for her, so she would be protected from the worst of the elements. The Prince intended to take Gwyn as his wife, and as such, her private moments were no sight for his crew.

Midway through the second day, land appeared, causing the crew to celebrate wildly. Only Prince Linus held his cool. He studied the position of the sun and the nature of the shore. It was similar to Beanntrai in colour, but a little dryer. This was not their homeland; not yet.

“We can’t sail toward the sun, my lord. We shall run aground,” protested a crew member. Linus studied the wind, the water, and the land. He thought of the conditions during his outward journey. The wind in his face, and during the storm, the wind was at his back, which should have sent him toward home. Now, the wind wanted to blow him on shore, but they were still too far north. At home, the sun rode much higher in the sky.  

“Keep the land in sight, and to the lee of our bow,” he commanded. As the crew made good his order, Gwyn appeared at his side, touching his hand with hers. Her eyes were full of questions, but her language was beyond his reckoning. He touched his chest and said, “Linus.”

She smiled, and touched his chest, repeating his name. Then she touched her own and said, “Gwyn.”

He repeated but she frowned. She took his hand, pressing it to her chest, and said “Gwyn.” The thump of her heart and the heat of her body took the him by surprise. This time, when he said her name, his voice was cracked with want. He tried to draw his hand away but she held it firm. She moved it slightly, and without accident. Linus’ eyes widened, causing Gwyn to laugh delightedly. Taking her by the hand, he said, “Perhaps the rest of this lesson should be in private.” She must have understood because she dragged him to her quarters, away from the eyes of the crew.

***

Corri walked sadly away from the headland, leaving Fia wailing on the ground, watching the Prince’s ship vanish. She sought out the Druid and told him what Fia had done. He was furious beyond reason and raced to the headland to hunt his wayward wife home. As he dragged her back to the hut, his words bounced off her without being heeded, so deep was her despair. It didn’t matter what he said to, or about her, she just kept keening and trying to get away.

“You terrible girl! You've betrayed me, you've betrayed us all,” he blustered as they got back to the cottage. Corri was waiting at the door for them.

“I don’t care what you say, the Prince should be mine, not hers,” she snarled at him. The girl was more animal than human.

“Your wicked…and you’re stupid. It’s a dangerous combination,” he said, dragging her into the house then barricaded the door until he could decide her fate. It didn’t take long for the story to spread through the village. It was evening when the Warlord, and a procession of elders, marched up the hill. Seeing them approach, the Druid went to meet them on natural ground. “Watch her,” he said to Corri, and slammed the door behind him.

He strode purposefully toward the mob and they stopped at the edge of his land. Some looked angry, but most looked nervous. “You never needed so many to show you the way to my door before,” he said to the Warlord. The man had the good grace to look bashful, but even the Druid knew he couldn’t back down.  

“There are stories of witchcraft rife among the people. Your wife, Fia, is at the heart of them,” said the Warlord, which raised a rumble from the mob.

“She is my wife, so it is me you must deal with,” he said firmly. This stopped the Warlord in his tracks. Taking on a powerful Druid was no light matter. This could be dangerous for them both.

“She cast a sell! She is a witch,” the Warlord boomed for everyone to hear.

“Ha,” snorted the Druid. “You weren’t so quick to complain about spells when your crops were plentiful, or your children born healthy!” The mob seemed to falter, not one among them hadn’t visited him in the past.

“Those were mere blessings, and you know it. I'm talking about spells, dark magic,” countered the Warlord. It was the Druid’s turn to be held in check. He considered what his chieftain said, and the deeds of his wife, trying to divine the right path to take.

“Witch!” a faceless voice in the crowd called.

“Bring out the witch,” echoed another.

“She’s been foolish! Even spiteful!” roared the Druid, “But she is no witch!”

“Has she been using her powers for her own benefit?” asked the Warlord, causing the crowd to hush with anticipation. The Druid was trapped, if he lied, his own position would be in pearl. If he told the truth, he condemned Fia to death. In the end, his own self-interest won out.

“She did,” he conceded.

“She’s a witch, so,” said the Warlord.

“Bring her out,” several of the mob cried.

“Burn the witch,” howled a woman’s voice.

“There’ll be no burning, today,” he bellowed, charging to block the few villagers that advanced on his home. They quickly retreated to the pack.

“Who knows which of us she will turn on next, she is too dangerous to let live,” the Warlord reasoned.

“Fia will be banished,” he said sadly, knowing it was the only way to save her life. She might be a stupid little girl, but she was his wife and in his own way, he loved her. He could not watch her burn in a pit of flame.

“That’s not good enough,” said one villager, feeling brave in the midst of the mob. “What’s to stop her coming back and casting her spells in the dead of night?”

“Slavery then. I’ll sell my own wife into slavery, with the tin miners of Croom. Will that keep you sleeping soundly in your bed, you little weasel?” the Druid said advancing on the man who questioned him. The Warlord held up his hands, stopping the Druid before he cursed them all.

“Aye, that will do, well enough,” he agreed. The Warlord turned, and walked back down the hill. With their leader gone, the mob soon scuttled away. Corri emerged from the hut as he returned and wrapped her arms around him. She had been crying.  

“I thought they would kill her,” she sobbed on his shoulder.

“You were very nearly right. How could she be so foolish? Didn’t I always treat you well, were you all so unhappy with me?” Only a day ago, he had been husband to three, now look at him. One, vanished across the oceans and another banished as a witch. His house had been devastated by lust and betrayal.

“What will you do?” she asked.

“I’ve given my word. Fia is destined for Croom. We should leave before they change their minds and burn us all in our sleep,” he said, the burden weighing heavily on him.

Corri packed travelling bundles for each of them. As the moon rose, he bound Fia’s hands and saw that her eyes had grown hard and hateful. Her body was still that of a young woman, but her mind was that of a crone.

“You’ll gladly make me a slave?” she hissed, as he finished knotting the thong on her wrists.

“It was this, or a scorching death! Anyway, it was your own actions that landed you here,” he said, as he finished binding her.

“I’d rather death than life without him,” she snarled, and spat in his face. Without realising his actions, the Druid's hand whistled through the air, rattling Fia's teeth when it landed. The blow only served to make her more resistant. She bared her teeth at him, like a rabid dog.

“At least in the mine there might be a real man, to make me squeal, something you could never do with that withered little wand of yours,” she snarled at him. When the blow landed this time, it was Corri that delivered it.

The journey to Croom was not easy, but with the treat of death following hot on their heels, it was speedy. As the path began to climb, he got off the cart and lead the pony by his head. Dense forest gave way to barren hillside. Streams washed away the thin soil covering the bones of the mountain. Soon, the Valley of Croom lay before him. Bolder strewn and desolate, the mines were a dreadful place. A stinking trickle of water ran along the valley floor. It was thick with silt and human waste. Thread-bare ponies grazed at wisps of grass and the Druid wondered how they still survived. He stopped long before he reached the huts, and announced his presence. The Croom men were not kindly disposed to visitors.

“Bless all who hear my voice,” he called, and held his hands aloft showing his unarmed condition.

“What want you, old man?” asked a voice from behind a hill of slag.

“Simply to trade. I come in search of ore.”

“With what will you trade?” boomed the voice, and it echoed off the steep walls of the valley. He dragged Fia from the cart by her bound hands.

“I wish to trade this woman,” he said, unable to keep the sadness from his voice.

“Woman?” chortled the voice. “I see you have two, why not both?”

“Only this one,” said the Druid firmly.

“What if we keep both, trade or not,” threatened a voice accustomed to violence.

“That would be a dreadful mistake indeed. Do you not recognise a Druid when you see one,” he said, standing tall and true. Minutes passed before a filthy beast of a man, with matted hair all over his body, came out into the open. He held a knotted bough of an ash tree, crusted with metal spikes. It was a formidable war club.

“You are indeed a Druid, but years are creeping up on you,” the man observed, slyly.

“For a wizard, the passing of years simply strengthens his magic,” he said, hoping his boast wouldn’t be tested.

The filthy man came closer, and circled Fia, using a long-nailed hand to test the solidness of her. He rubbed her skin and probed the mussel underneath.

“This little thing will last no time in the mine! She is too soft,” scoffed the brute.

“She is a hard worker, and tough for her size.”

The miner guffawed, grabbing a fist full of breast. “The only hard work this one has done was lying on her back,” he laughed. “She will have plenty of that here… while she’s still sweet.” Fia slapped away the hand with her clench fist and flew at the man. With the slightest flick of his enormous arm, the miner sent her crashing into the stinking stream.

“How much do you want for this unbroken filly?”

“Two carts of ore,” he said, wanting the trade to seem genuine. If this monster suspected an ulterior motive, he might kill them all.

“Two! You’ve spent too long on the road, old Druid. One, and you’ll be lucky to get it.”

“She is easily worth three, but two is what I want.”

“You can have one or begone.”

The Druid knew he was being robbed but he couldn’t do anything about it. “Trade,” he said sadly, holding out his hand.

The miner slapped the Druid’s palm, “Trade.”

The ore was loaded by a gang of ragged slaves while Fia was dragged away by the miner. She spat at the Druid as she passed, crying, “I’ll never forgive you, pig!”

The cart couldn’t be loaded quickly enough for the Druid's tastes. It was a blessed mercy when the pony took his first stumbling steps down the mountain. The sound of his wheels, crunching over pebbles, did nothing to mask the cries coming from the miner’s hut. Fia had gotten her wish it seemed. The men of Croom were more than able to make her moan. Corri shed silent tears as they passed the hut were a queue of miners waited to take their turn.