The Angry Mermaid 7 - - - Y Morforwyn Dicllon 7

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drustan, Aiode, Mabina and Arina finally find a safe haven and rest over the winter.


The Angry Mermaid 7.

Or.

Y Morforwyn Dicllon 7

Mabina. The youngest daughter and Twin to
Drustan Her twin brother.
Grandpa Erin the twins grandfather.
Giana The twins grandmother
Caderyn The twins father.
Herenoie The twins wise and beautiful mother.
Morgaran The Twins oldest brother.
Aiofe The twins oldest sister. Famous for her beauty.
Tara The twins second oldest sister. Famous for her grace.
Feidlim Twins aunt (Caderyns’ beautiful sister.)
Mogantu Twins uncle (Married to Feidlim.) Chief of the Gangani tribe.
Brun. Twins 2nd cousin and the Acaman clans’ blacksmith.
Feorin. Twins second brother. Also training to be a blacksmith.
Rhun Feidlims’ son and Feorins’ favourite 1st Cousin. (Both red-heads.)
Arina Child of a Demetae fisherman, (rescued by Aiofe, Drustan and Mabina.)
Penderol Dumnonii Minor chief.
Udris Young Dumnonii warrior.
Dryslwyn High chief of the whole Celtic nation. Dwells in Brithony.
Bronlwyn Dryslwyn’s wife (and queen.)
Magab The moor who taught numbers.

As the Acaman clan and their cousin Arina stepped ashore and gathered uncertainly on the quayside, the Brithonic high king and his wife Bronlwyn smiled indulgently at the naivety of the young Gangani children. They looked so timid and unsure of themselves but both he and his wife were impressed by the foursome’s achievements; tales of which had already preceded their arrival.
He reached out and took the letters proffered by Aiofe then opened the one with a seal he recognised as Penderol’s, his second cousin. As he read the letter he started to smile, then he started to chuckle and finally he started to laugh uproariously. The whole assembly stood puzzled as Aiofe frowned uncertainly. Eventually the chief turned to Drustan.

“Drop your britches boy, let me see the scar.”

Drustan’s jaw sagged disbelievingly.

“I can’t do that sire! It’s indecent, - my sisters! — your wife, - the queen!”

The chief continued laughing then suggested the boy only peel aside the waistband. This Drustan agreed to and the queen and the three girls all smiled as he self-consciously peeled the waistband of his leggings down around the curve of his buttock to reveal the top several inches of the large, angry red scar that continued right under his crotch. The Chief turned to his wife Bronlwyn as he still struggled to contain his amusement.

“Well my lady, that’s proof enough, the boy is truly Drustan Scar-arse, here read it. It’s in my cousin’s own hand. Mind you he’s still got a peachy little arse no hair as yet. The little kid’s already a battle tested hero and he’s yet to find manly muscle!”

“Dryslwyn! Where are your manners sir?!! You’re supposed to be a high king and the boy’s an honoured guest.” Bronlwyn scolded her husband as even she struggled to keep a straight face.

“It’s true my dear lady, look! Read it yourself; my cousin describes the whole incident in the most amusing detail.”

The chieftain turned to the four and stretched out his arms to welcome them into his embrace. As they stepped forward he spoke again.

“Well, you’re a fine crew and no mistake. My cousin writes many praises of your part in Blueface’s defeat. You are most welcome and most honoured. It’s hard to credit such exploits by children of only just thirteen summers."

At this Aiofe rankled slightly.

“Sir! I must correct you. I am a maid, - a maid of nineteen summers!”

“Yes; of course you are and a beautiful one at that. You have your mother Herenoie’s good looks and now, apparently, according to this excellent letter, her good sense as well. I remember Caderyn’s wife Herenoie well. She came here four times with him when they were younger. A wonderful woman and the Celts lost a pillar of wisdom when they lost dear Herenoie. Though I see from the letter that Penderol now considers you wise and clever. He even praises your fighting wit. We may yet have a substitute for Herenoie, your mother. And what of this young lady, I presume you must be Mabina, Drustan’s sister?”

“Drustan’s twin,” Mabina corrected.

“Ah yes; Mabina the navigator; the girl of letters and numbers.

“We all have letters and numbers sire,” Aiofe remarked, “even the young Arina, the Demetae fisherman’s daughter.”

Dryslwyn studied the youngest child, the Demetae girl.

“Oh yes at last we come to you my delightful child, the baby of the crew. Tell me Arina, do these Gangani ruffians treat you well?”

“Much better than the Norse pirates,” Arina replied.

The chief let out a belly laugh at these words then spoke soberly.

“Well indeed my young lady, truly they have. It would be almost impossible not to treat anybody better than those vermin do. However, for a girl who has just crossed two seas and played a part in a battle, you look remarkably well.”

“I did not fight sire. They stuck me with the women and children.”

“Yes, and quite rightly girl. You are but ten summers.”

“Nearly eleven sire. But a single quarter moon to go.”

“Oh yes, let us not forget the quarter phase. You’ll be celebrating your birthday here with us then. That is if you are staying and I presume you are.”

He turned to Aiofe and Drustan as he said this; still uncertain as to whom was the group leader.

The four of them exchanged glances then reached a common consensus. Mabina spoke for them just to add to Dryslwyn’s uncertainty.

“We can stay for a short while. No more than half a moon. The winter storms approach and we don’t know the waters.”

“So where are you aiming for? What wonderful destination awaits your coming?”

“We seek the land of Magab.” Mabina continued. “He is the moor who traded these waters and our lands last year. The moor who gave us the new numbers.”

“Magab the Moor!” Dryslwyn sounded impressed. “Well in this I can help you. Your journey is long then. He left here this vernal equinox just passed and spoke of a year’s travelling to the South.”

“A Year!” Mabina Gasped.

“Ah, that was on foot overland Mabina, and he has high mountain ranges to cross. Magab described his journey in detail and even left us a map lest one day a child of our tribe wishes to become a journeyman scholar and go to seek enlightenment.”

“On foot; overland! Then we are lost. I am a sailor, a navigator, not an explorer, a lands-man a trekker.”

“Not so Mabina. We have always known there is a way by water, between the Pillars of Hercules. We have some old trading charts left by the corsairs when they lost a ship to us during one of their raids. Their ship ran aground and they tried to fire it to prevent us seizing it. They were too slow and too late. We captured the ship and a lot of its treasures.
The charts are some of the most valuable prizes. Magab believed that they stole them from a Roman ship because the script is in Latin with some crude Nubian writings and Berber ciphers added later.

“Can we see the charts, please?” Mabina begged.

“Better still, can we copy them?” Drustan asked.

“I see no reason why not. You are kinsmen to us and none of my ships have ever traded to those parts. It’s too dangerous. They say the corsairs are a cruel race who take no male prisoners except as slaves. They practice piracy with a vicious tenacity. They were certainly ferocious warriors when they tried to raid our city and steal slaves.

“But you defeated them.” Drustan finished.

“Aye, more by luck than management. They were ignorant of and made no allowances for the tides. Senua the goddess of the moon and Nodens the Sea god were on our side that day. Three of their ships were swept onto the rocks by the tides and the men swept out to sea. They were good swimmers but nobody can fight those currents. They were left with but two ships capable of fighting. We held them at bay and finally defeated them come nightfall because we knew the land and they didn’t. It was an easy task to ambush them in the full moon as they struggled to make an escape.”

The surviving boat we kept; you might like to study it, whilst the other boat they tried to burn but the failed to complete the job. That second boat held all their charted secrets. It was a grievous loss to them and a huge bounty to us.
Come we shall eat first then you must sleep. In the morning you shall see the charts and the strange manner of their sails.”

The four agreed this amongst themselves despite Drustan itching to see the Corsair ship and Mabina’s anticipation of the charts. Dryslwyn treated them well but there was none of the usual feasting late into the night. Young children needed their sleep and even as the festivities increased, Queen Bronlwyn found her new young charges heavy lidded and sleepy.

She turned to her Husband to inform him and he crossed to his wife’s side of the high table and smiled like an indulgent father.

The three youngest were indeed asleep.

“Despite everything my lord,” Bronlwyn advised her husband, “even the fame of battles and sea voyaging. They are still children and they need their sleep. I’m putting them to bed. You can carry on feasting if you want. I see the maid Aiofe is very popular with the young bloods, just look at her dancing and laughing. I suggest you keep an eye on her.”

Dryslwyn studied the beautiful young women and the fixated youths surrounding her like bees around honey. ‘Yes, he had a duty as a host to see his noble guest safe.’

Reluctantly, Dryslwyn had to forgo the wine and beer for the remainder of the night, and keep double checking that the maid was safe. ‘Should any harm come to her, his wife Bronlwyn would murder him.’

In truth he had little cause to worry. Aiofe, was old enough and wise enough to make sure she was never alone and always in the main hall. She also carried a particularly unmaidenly dagger and knew how to use it. That night however, it was not needed and Aiofe finally found herself sharing Bronlwyn’s bed chamber as sleep finally overcame her. She woke to find herself in a comfortable single bed alongside the queen’s large marriage bed, while Bronlwyn’s lady in waiting was preparing a bath. The Celtic Queen still enjoyed the last vestiges of the Roman civilization, hot, piped water. Bronlwyn was already up and about her toilet.

“Well, sleepy head, you enjoyed the dancing then.”

“Yes. It was a splendid evening. Though I was glad of this bed; do you treat all your guests like this?”

“Only the very pretty ones, and Aiofe, you are very pretty. That makes you vulnerable, even amongst your own people. Last night I counted more eyes upon you than there were torches illuminating the hall. The moor Magab will be a very lucky man if you ever get to meet him again.”

“Surely we will. He is a prince among his own people. He comes from the place that was once known as Carthaginia.”

“Oh the place is well known my dear niece and well mapped, but for you to get there you will face a thousand perils.”

“That I know. You spoke of the corsairs for one.”

“To name but one, and a dangerous one at that. Do you not think it would be wiser to take the overland route? The Gauls are at peace with us and you would have safe passage all the way to the middle sea.”

“And then.”

“A ship to Carthaginia and you would be safe.”

Aiofe considered the offer and decided to discuss it with her siblings and the Demetae girl. She stepped into the bath and savoured the hot fresh luxury that she had not felt since leaving her beloved Lleyn.

Later she discussed it with her siblings and King Dryslwyn.

“There are still serious risks overland my cousins,” Dryslwyn advised. “There are slave traders who are always seeking to turn some gold or silver. The further from Brithony you go the more valuable will your red and gold hair appear to slavers. The middle sea peoples are darker than us and your colour would offer a tantalising distraction to some who would enslave you. You would be valuable goods.”

“So what of the sea route, those pillars you spoke of?” Drustan pressed.

“The pillars of Hercules. Oh yes, see here, the chart. They are shown as two tall towers but they are in truth just high mountains. The one to the north is reported to be very distinct and once seen rarely forgotten. It is said to be a landmark for the whole of the middle sea.”

“But is it safe uncle?”

Dryslwyn shrugged, a little embarrassed to show his ignorance. Here he was, the high king of all the Brithonic tribes who were famed for their trading and adventurism yet none in his city could tell of the Pillars of Hercules. The Corsairs had made it abundantly clear that the Pillars of Hercules were in their domain and only a fool or a very brave man would dare to try and make passage between them. Drustan was young and foolish and Aiofe was smitten to meet her moor, but the sea rout was well known to be dangerous.

Eventually, a compromise was reached. With the summer already aged and the distances to the famed Pillars of Hercules uncertain, the four were persuaded to await the coming of the next spring.

“You will have time to hone whatever skills you might need my cousins and the moor said he would be all of a year before he reached his home.” Dryslwyn explained.

The four reluctantly conceded the merits of the arguments. If there was one thing they particularly understood it was the dangers of the terrible tempests and seas that winter flung with unimaginable violence upon the Brithonic shores. They had all seen the immense inexplicable seas that thundered out of the setting sun and dwarfed the Angry Mermaid. Where the seas came from, or what unimaginable storms had born them, was something they could only imagine; perhaps some ferocious cauldron where the gods released their anger and stirred up the waters as night befell them in some dark, evil, satanic ritual. Instead the foursome decided to use their time constructively. Charts were scrupulously copied complete with all the errors and omissions that ignorance brought to them. Then the Corsair boat was studied and tested at length, especially the strange triangular sails. Drustan was excited by them. The long boom proved easier to swing and bring the sail around to meet the wind faster when the Angry Mermaid was testing the new rig but more importantly, it showed Drustan and Mabina that a sail laying fore and aft but able to reach out to the sides and scoop up a following wind made the vessel infinitely easier to handle.

Throughout the winter months, the pair tested different rigs until they had created a completely new arrangement unlike anything seen in waters from the middle sea to the frozen north. Indeed, so easy was the rig to handle that the pair even took several of Dryslwyn’s finest sailors out in a modest winter gale and proved to everybody’s satisfaction that the arrangement worked. More importantly, only one man was needed to handle the boat on a steady beat whilst never more than two were needed to trim sail and meet the needs of navigation, like altered courses and variable winds. The new arrangement of sails combined with the Mermaid’s inherent speed made their craft a truly formidable quarry if any chose to pursue her.

Finally, as the approaching winter tempests curtailed all off-shore seafaring, the four put their minds to honing their defensive skills. This was mainly perfecting their bow and arrow skills for everybody agreed the four would never match the corsairs in hand-to-hand combat. If the Mermaid was ever to slip the bounds of the Pillars of Hercules and enter the middle sea, then only her speed and navigation would win her through. The last thing she wanted was confrontation. Her speed and artillery skills would serve her best. Archery was akin to artillery in terms of range and damage and Aiofe’s long bow was proven to out range the short bows that the Corsairs were known to favour.

Gradually the sun met with its southernmost declination and midwinter, solstice feasts were celebrated. Fortunately the southern parts of Brithony were fertile lands and there was usually food enough from store to celebrate the winter solstice. That year was no exception and the four guests thrived on a plentiful and varied diet. As the vernal equinox approached the four were well fed and Drustan had grown appreciably with the plentiful supply of meat to supplement the usual fish diet. He was still by no means a man but he was now a larger than average boy for his thirteen summers. What worried Drustan was that his beard refused to show and his skin remained stubbornly soft. Compared with the Brithonic boys he was taller yet seemed still childlike with soft skin and slender limbs. It was only his well deserved reputation as a battle tested warrior and sailor that earned him any respect. His sword play was also greatly improved with Dryslwyn’s teaching but his hand still too weak to swing a mighty Norse blade. The famous sword of Blueface would yet remain in Penderol’s safe-keeping for some years to come.

Meanwhile, his twin sister had blossomed as only a well fed maid can.

Also she had completed her menarche and learned much of womanhood from her Royal cousin Queen Bronlwyn and her older sister Aiofe. Arian had also benefitted from the plentiful diet and her gaunt waiflike frame had filled proportionately well.
The four would never be better prepared for the unknown ordeals they knew they might have to face in their search for Aiofe’s dream.

The day came when they finally said their farewells and set course south for the famed but dreaded Pillars of Hercules.

For several days they followed the contours of the land but eventually they gained more confidence in the strange iron lodestones that had remained a secret buried with the gold, silver and copper amidst the stone ballast at the foot of the mast. Mabina and Drustan had deliberately left the central bilge to gather filth and dirt to hide the precious riches lying buried under the rotting fish bones and muddy stones that lay as ballast securely chocked between the close set, deep oak frames and tough oak planks that gave the mermaid her remarkable strength, uniquely rigid shape and inexplicable speed.

As Mabina gained confidence in the reliability of the magic iron rods from the far Norse lands, she and Drustan soon settled down to making a passage out of sight of land. The four of them had good cause to be thankful for the wonderful iron pointers that had been recovered from Blueface’s captured ships after the battle with the Dumnonii.

The two virgin Norse soothsayers that had accompanied Blueface’s marauding venturers had been compelled to reveal the secrets of the magic iron to the Dumnonii and also to Mabina and Drustan. Then they had been married into the Dumnonii tribe. The kidnapping of women was not all a one-way trade to Scandinavia. At least the virgin maids had not been raped and cast down into slavery.

The magnetic rods gave the mariners two advantages. Firstly, there was less chance of hitting the rocky coast at night because the great western sea was reputed to go on to the ends of the earth and they could stand off the Iberian coast for countless leagues in safety. This meant they could speed south by night with little fear. Secondly, the ‘off-shore’ passage would also reduce their chance of meeting Corsairs who were known to be poor navigators and reputedly lacked the secret of the lode-stone. Corsairs clung close to the coast especially once they found themselves in the seemingly treacherous waters of the great western sea where even the level of the water changed inexplicably through the day, to cause dangerous and unpredictable currents.
The Mermaid, with her new rig, proved to be an easy craft to handle thus the early spring passage through the wide open seas proved to be an easy one and more importantly, a fast one.

They encountered much fog but the lode-stones steered them safely south until they reached the reputed latitude of the Pillars of Hercules.

They turned for the rising sun and cautiously picked their way towards the land again. Once the land was sighted they slipped ashore one night to try and determine what lands they were close to. Aiofe had the best knowledge of foreign tongues because of her two trading voyages with her older brother before the cruel Norse invaders had arrived to destroy their idyllic family village. When she returned before dawn she had to report that the language was strange to her but there were lots of the old Latin words or words that sounded like it. This told them little because the Romans had spread their influences so far and wide. They had little choice but to simply keep picking their way towards the rising sun.

Eventually they discovered the famed pillars. The northern one proved correctly to be the more pronounced and recognisable one and Arina put her excellent artistic skills to work drawing the huge mountain of rock whilst Mabina carefully cross-referenced the chart with the actual reality. The Romans had proved to be good map-makers of their own fiefdom which encompassed the whole middle sea. Mabina was reassured by what she found in her comparisons. In turning to Drustan she expressed her growing confidence.

“It shows exactly what we would expect brother. Their chart of the middle sea is seemingly accurate but the bits relating to the Great West Sea are very vague. Look at our Celtic waters. They have drawn more sea monsters than land or information. This tells me that what they don’t know, they fear and make up.”

“Well, now we have found our way this far, we will soon know more than the Romans did sister.”

“Yes and more of these dreaded Corsairs. You seem indisposed again brother?”

“Yes. It’s this damned Blueface wound. It never seems to heal properly and it bleeds again and it makes my stomach cramp. It’s the bloody devil I tell you. Can we haul around for a minute while I take a bath in Noden’s water?”
Aiofe was listening from her bed amongst the sails and she wondered silently.

‘Her brother’s ‘wound’ always seemed to bleed with the moon and usually when she herself and his twin sister had their Senuan visits. She wondered if Drustan’s twinned relationship with Mabina was more closely connected.’
Mabina smiled sympathetically at her brother as he slipped over the side into the warming waters and sluiced away the foul smelling blood from both his ‘wound’ and his breech cloth.

Mabina turned to her older sister Aiofe as they both watched their brother bathing.

“That wound bothers him so and sometimes he is so irritable.”

“Yes,” Aiofe agreed, “almost like one of us sisters.”

They exchanged knowing glances as each felt the familiar gripes and turned to look at the great rock to the north.

Even as she spoke, Arina, who had been sketching the great mountain of rock, let out a soft quiet warning.

“Sail to the north!”

The sisters shouted to Drustan who immediately returned to the Mermaid. Aiofe studied him and smiled sympathetically.

“Feeling better brother?”

He frowned then grimaced as he pressed his lower stomach.

“Cleaner yes, and glad for that, but these damned stomach cramps still bite.”

As Drustan dried himself on the Linen sail, Aiofe studied her brother’s form. He was slow to develop his manly muscles but then she knew that maids outstripped their brothers at this age. There was time yet for him to grow. Fortunately he was tall.
Once he was ready, the the four of them prepared to meet the approaching vessel and gathered at their chosen posts, Aiofe watched with her longbow ready nocked, Mabina with her hand on the tiller and Drustan made ready with the newly manoeuvrable sail. The young Arina stood poised to be anywhere and everywhere as conditions dictated.

“I think we’d be best suited to leave this bay and return south into the great channel where the current takes us East. The rig of that ship seems unhandy up to the wind and we should have the advantage if she tries to hunt us down. If we have to, we can even return to the Western Sea. I doubt if that craft could catch us. There is still a steady wind from the setting sun and we can close haul to it with this new suit of sails.”

Drustan’s suggestion made sense, for though Mabina fully understood the operation of the Mermaid’s sails, they were mainly Drustan’s creation and his responsibility. Mabina handled the navigation mostly. The four agreed that returning to open waters and more reliable wind was the best action.

With the decision agreed, the Mermaid turned about and returned to the great straights. The local craft followed them to a point level with the southern tip of the great rock then hesitated. As Mabina held the Mermaid first ‘in irons’ and then occasionally countered the powerful current with a beat up to the west, they reached a stale-mate. The local ship was obviously some sort of ‘guard ship’ to protect the bay for she carried many heavily armed fighting men. However, she proved to be clumsy and wholly incapable of catching the Mermaid. As the two craft lay eyeing each other suspiciously the four discussed the ‘stand-off’.

“How shall we speak with them?” Wondered Aiofe who had become by default, their main ‘communicator.’

“Send a message arrow.” Arina chirped.

“How? If we fire an arrow at them, they’ll see it as an act of war.” Drustan protested.

“No. Tie a white ribbon or chord to it. Ribbon is better because they can follow the arrow’s flight. Take off the arrow’s sharp tip and replace it with a message tied to the shaft. Fire the arrow over the ship so that the ribbon or chord lands over the rigging and they can recover the arrow from the sea. That’s how our people would send messages if the weather was too stormy to shout.”

“What, you went out in weather that bad?” Mabina frowned at Arina.

“No. But we got caught out in it sometimes.”

“Oh. Yes, that makes sense. We’ve all been there.” Aiofe added as she was already modifying an arrow. Drustan was also digging through his precious store of chord to find a suitable material but could find no ribbon. Aiofe smiled wryly and lifted her skirt to reveal her shapely legs as she deftly tore a strip from her underskirt, lamenting with a grin as she did it.

"This was a beautiful underskirt that Bronlwyn gave me. This idea will cost you Arina."

They all chuckled at the empty threat as Aiofe composed a letter and attached it to the arrow. Mabina carefully brought the mermaid within arrow-range and they waited for any hostile act. There was none except that the guard ship unshipped a set of sweeps but Mabina had anticipated that. If the clumsy vessel got caught in the great east setting current it might get swept past the great rock’s southernmost tip and end up who knew where. The sweeps were obviously a navigational precaution to avoid getting swept into the middle sea and Corsair hands.

Then Aiofe exposed herself to full view in the hope that the crew of the guard-ship might recognise her female form and more importantly, her bright green decorated dress.

“It might convince them we are not a threat,” she offered to the others.

“Try anything sister, at least they have not shot at us or anything. They seem to be anticipating some sort of act on our part. The message-arrow might just do it.”

With this general consensus agreed, Aiofe showed the bow to the guard ship whilst Arina held the long white tail over the gunwales so that their actions could be clearly seen. There was no hostile response so Aiofe pointed her bow high into the sky to indicate the peaceful intentions of the arrow and then released it.

The blunted arrow flew true and struck the large square sail with a dull ‘thwack’ before tumbling onto the deck of the guard ship. The ribbon swirled after it and landed fluttering in a pool of white linen. Aiofe watched the reaction and breathed a huge sigh of relief as the man who apparently commanded the guard ship waved his sword over his head and took the arrow from the man who had recovered it. The blunted tip of the arrow, with its lump of leather to allay any injury was a clear message in itself but the attached note explained everything the four had thought important.

The guard ship raised a large coloured banner seemingly as a signal to the shore for soon a much smaller craft emerged from the shelter of the bay. This craft was obviously some sort of diplomatic delegation for it carried only one armed man. The four also believed they could actually see some women amongst the rest of the hoped for reception party.

As the smaller craft drew slowly closer, Mabina and Drustan cautiously set the Mermaid for flight whilst Aiofe prepared to be hailed. The shout came in Latin and Aiofe breathed a huge sigh of relief. If there was one good thing the Romans had left, it was a common tongue amongst the educated.

“Who are you?” Came drifting across the water.

For answer, Aiofe clearly displayed an even longer ‘letter’ then attached it to a second arrow and fired that towards the guard ship because it was a bigger, and easier target. The diplomatic vessel immediately lay alongside the guard ship and the commander showed obvious respect as he handed the unopened message and arrow to some sort of senior figure in the diplomatic party.
The captain of the guard ship joined with the diplomatic party as they obviously discussed the contents of Aiofe’s note. It was a nervous wait before a reply came floating across the water.

“May we come alongside your craft with three of our women and one of our council deputies?”

The four discussed this and Drustan was adamant.

“They could overpower us with that number. Make it one woman and the deputy.”

This was agrteed by all four and Aiofe called back.

“We are but four and mostly children at that. You could overpower us.”

“Did you say children?”

For answer, the four arranged themselves in full view by the tiller so that the diplomatic party could size them up. With Aiofe now obviously a woman the sizes were made apparent and more discussions ensued amongst the diplomatic team. Another call carried across the gap between the craft.

“We will do as you have requested, we send two women and one man who agrees not to board your vessel. He will have to tend this craft anyway. The remainder of our party will retire to the guard ship.”

“What d’you think?” Mabina asked to no-one in particular.

“Provided the man remains on their ship, I’ll agree. I’ll cover him with a bow whilst Aiofe and you talk to the women while Arina tends to the tiller and sail. Stay within earshot in the stern so both Arina and I can be party.”

“Of course,” Aiofe added. “Are we agreed then?”

Aiofe called across and agreed to this arrangement.

As soon as the diplomatic party stepped onto the larger guard ship and the smaller craft started to work its way across the gap Drustan couldn’t resist showing off. He swung the Mermaid’s tiller as Arina and Mabina tightened the sheets and brought the Mermaid easily through the wind as only a fore and aft rig can. Within seconds the Mermaid had sped across the gap and was sweeping up under the stern of the envoy ship.

Aiofe smiled indulgently. ‘Drustan had every right to demonstrate the Mermaid’s amazing speed and manoeuvrability, for he had after all, been the main instigator of Mermaid’s design, both hull and sails.’

Nervous eyes followed the Mermaid’s antics but no weapons were raised on the guard ship. Everybody could now see that there were only one maid and three children crewing the strange visitor. Aiofe relaxed the grip she had taken on her bow and as they came close enough she smiled at the women. The smile was returned and she sagged with relief. It took but a few moments more for Drustan to bring the Mermaid alongside the envoy vessel and Mabina reached out to invite the women across. The women proved to be hesitant so Mabina decided to demonstrate her seamanlike skills and leapt nimbly into the envoy’s craft. She did this before Aiofe or Drustan could stop her but her action proved commendable. The women were much happier about having the nimble girl take the risk.

She landed lightly as only a child can and immediately stood to address the diplomatic trio.

“My name is Mabina, daughter of Caderyn son of Erin. We are of the Gangani Celts.”

The better dressed woman raised her eyebrow and looked askance.

“But you speak Latin!”

“And Norse and some Greek.”

“Greek!?”

The woman made a face but Mabina could not tell if she was surprised or impressed. She added, -

“We all speak Latin. My older sister also speaks Greek better than I do as well as Norse and Nubian.”

“So where would your sister, a Celtic girl from the north, have learned an African language?”

“She is betrothed to a Carthaginian prince. He taught her.”

By now Aiofe had decided it was safe for her to cross into the envoy’s boat. She handed the bow to Drustan, declared her intentions to the diplomatic trio, hoisted the hem of her gown and leaped with only marginally less agility than Mabina. She landed slightly more heavily and hurt her ankle but it was not a disabling wound. She grimaced slightly but stood erect and proud to face the woman. Aiofe was pleased to note that her own dress was of no less quality than the woman’s but she had no way of knowing the older woman’s rank. She kept checking the man but he stood courteously and respectfully by the steering oar obviously awaiting orders.

“I am Aiofe, Mabina’s older sister. What is your name?”

The woman smiled a bit easier and remarked.

“I am Isobel, the adopted daughter of the chief Arton, who watches from the guard ship. Was your sister the pawn to test our hospitality?”

“Not at all.” Aiofe replied. “She has always been impetuous. We intended to talk some more before we actually met.”
Aiofe gave Mabina a stern look that Drustan also mirrored. Mabina had been reckless to be so trusting so soon.

“Well do you trust us now?” Isobel asked.

“We trust no-one!” Drustan called from the Mermaid.

Aiofe frowned with irritation.

“Forgive my younger brother. He and Mabina are twins and they share many traits. Impetuosity and bluntness being but two.”

Isobel chuckled and her maidservant also smiled. Even the taciturn man at the steering oar cracked a smile.

“You have a troublesome crew captain.” Isobel replied, realising immediately from the gasps that she had said the wrong thing.

Drustan recovered first from the slight even as Mabina drew breath to protest. The twins shouted in unison.

“She’s not the captain!!”

“Oh I’m sorry. Then who amongst you commands?”

Aiofe shrugged apologetically and explained.

“We are brother and sisters except for young Arina who has but eleven and a quarter summers. She is a fellow Celt from the Demetae. We are but equals on the ship though we divide the other duties.”

“So with whom do I truck?” Asked Isobel.

“I have the best language skills.” Aiofe declared. “We only ask for free pratique and water, then we will be on our way again.”

“On your way where?”

“My younger sister explained earlier, to Carthaginia to meet my betrothed prince, Prince Magab.”

“God forbid girl!! Do you children not know that a virtual state of war exists throughout these straights?”

“But we are neutral; we seek only a free passage.”

“That is what the war is all about my child.”

“How so?” Drustan called.

“The corsairs; the pirates on that opposite coast. They demand gold to allow free passage and they will steal any women into bondage. You will assuredly put yourselves in great peril. Your golden haired heads alone will attract every whore-monger in the Atlas Mountains, not to mention that younger girl’s splendid copper tresses.”

“But first they must catch us!” Drustan spoke from the Mermaid, for both craft were now alongside each other.”

“Yes, indeed, your craft has impressed all of our men. She is a strange craft but speedy and manoeuvrable.”

“She serves.” Mabina added.

“Truly she does, and well if she has brought you all the way from the Britannia Isle: and you must be doughty travellers but what awaits you is much more fearsome. The Corsairs are a cruel race.”

“So how do you fare, how do you trade?” Aiofe asked.

“We must convoy and prepare to fight every time we expedite a voyage. Their pirate ships can gather quickly when they see our fleet. There have been many bloody battles.”

“Sounds like the bloody Vikings all over again,” Drustan cursed. Aiofe snapped at him.

“Drustan! Mind your manners, - and your language! We are guests!”

“And welcome guests if all you seek is water and pratique. Would you accept our hospitality?”

“In exchange for what?” Mabina pressed astutely.

“Well, the secrets of your magical craft to name but one commodity.”

All the girls turned as one to Drustan for it was he who had designed the Mermaid. The price of the Angry Mermaid’s precious secrets was his alone to call.

Drustan hesitated uncertainly. He was a novice at trading but he had to start somewhere.

“The secrets of her sails for water, - oh!; and permission to land in perpetuity wherever we need on your shores for further water and possibly food whilst we transit your waters. Oh and for all the other times to buy food if we need to return back to our homeland.”

Aiofe and Mabina exchanged knowing glances with Arina. Their thoughts were one!

‘Trust Drustan to think only of food.’

Isobel nodded sagely. She also had adoptive brothers who seemed to do nothing but eat.

“Done! You may land freely anywhere in perpetuity on the Turdetani coasts. Now for that strange hull?” Isobel pressed. “What price for her magical secrets?”

Drustan could think of nothing. The secrets of the Mermaid’s lightening fast hull were dear to him, hard won and long thought out. To him those secrets were priceless.

He looked to Aiofe for guidance and she recognised his distress. Drustan was hardly in a position to logically evaluate the true worth of the mermaid’s vital hull. It was everything to him for the Mermaid had proven to be a truly miraculous servant and a vessel for which he had every reason to be proud. Aiofe however had a much wiser and experienced trading head. She turned to the older Isobel.

“We do not yet know what our future needs will be. May we enter your harbour and first assess our needs? That is without prejudice to possession of our craft for once we are in your port we are at your mercy. Like my brother, I can think of nothing yet that is so needful to us that it is worth our craft’s secrets.”

Isobel nodded her head respectfully.

“Well, that alone is a tribute to your resilience and skill. I have granted you pratique and in that, my word is my father’s bond. We will not steal your ship. That you should have travelled so far and yet arrive with so few needs. Truly you are remarkable travellers. For the news and knowledge you must bring is in itself worth a night’s feasting. As to trading your vessel’s secrets, I would concur that if you need nothing else then there is nothing else to trade. For now let trust and peace join us. If you are Celts then we Celtiberians are at least distant cousins.”

Aiofe turned to her siblings and raised a questioning eyebrow. All had heard the offer. Drustan frowned.

“You three girls go. I know how you like to wash and you have been a half moon of unwashed days since Brithony. I just washed with Nodens.”

“But will you not join us. Surely it’s rude to refuse such hospitality.”

“You go. I’ll stay.” Drustan persisted.

Aiofe turned apologetically to the woman Isobel.

“My brother trusts no-one. Ever since the Norse pirates murdered our family, he has placed reliance only on himself and trust only in us, his sisters.”

Isobel knew all about murder, she had lost all of her family to Corsair slavers who had attacked her fishing village. Her sisters had been stolen into slavery and her brothers killed, She had been left effectively orphaned, hence her adoption by the Celtiberian chief. Arton had adopted her for he had only sons by his wife Carinia. Drustan and his sisters were obviously fellow travellers. She spoke softly to Aiofe.

“Let him stay with your ship. I understand his feelings.”

Aiofe also understood her little brother’s distress; he had been deemed too young and too small to fight by the family and therefore sent on errands instead. When he was finally forced to fight alongside the hard pressed Dumnonii, he had proven himself a steadfast but crazy fighter. His success at finally skewering the dreaded ‘Blueface’ in his genitals had only added to his despair that he had not been able to do it prior to their family’s slaughter. Since that battle, Drustan had only found cause to criticise himself for somehow not saving his family before the Viking attack. In his own tormented conscience there had been no redemption despite having technically avenged his family’s murder.

As Aiofe agreed to accept Isobel’s hospitality, Drustan only followed the other vessels into the bay as far as a safe anchorage and he slept aboard whilst his sisters savoured the luxury of washing in fresh, clean water and then a feast set in their honour. True to her word, Isobel provided for the girl’s safety and they slept in Queen Carinia's private quarters.

During the night, Drustan had cause to rub his itching chest.

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Comments

better and better

yes it is getting better and better. cant wait to see what new adventures await this intrepid quartet. keep up the good work.
robert

001.JPG

The Angry Mermaid 7 - - - Y Morforwyn Dicllon 7

Still wondering about the lad. Is he a bit of a lassie, too?

    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine
    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine

sweet story

This is a nice change of pace for me, quite a refreshing story. Tanks alot XD

i think i think too much

Seafaring prodigies

The group is truly remarkable in their skill and ingenuity.

Faraway


On rights of free advertisement:
Big Closet Top Shelf

Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!

Faraway


On rights of free advertisement:
Big Closet Top Shelf

Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!