Chapter Four: Return of Nicodemus Fury
March 8: 10 Days Before the Festival (1:00am)
Downstairs sitting in Fiona's kitchen, was a small contingent of men. Tully, Rainbow Wells, the clan leader of Thorne; Oran Bishop, the leader of Badger Clan and the two young men Tully had tried to stop from killing one another were in deep counsel. There was a bottle of whisky sitting in the center of the kitchen table and there were full glasses at everyone's elbow, but no one was drinking.
Sour looks were passing from the two young men across the table, but the elders were the ones in negotiations.
"Nicodemus is not here to defend himself or his name," Tully replied. "Making accusations without proof – "
"So, it is true!" Fiona exclaimed as she walked into the kitchen. Her eyes darted from one man to the other seated at the table.
"He was spreading lies!" the boy jabbed an index finger at the other boy across the table.
"Oh, what do you know? Nothing!" The other boy flung back.
Oran frowned at both boys and stilled them with a fierce look. "Neither one of you knows anything! You're just looking for a reason to fight!"
"Aye," Rainbow said in solemn agreement. "We don't need this going on so close to the beginning of the festival."
Oran nodded in agreement as well. He spat into his hand and extended it to Rainbow. "Then there will be peace!"
Rainbow followed suit and spat into his right hand and took the big chieftain's hand in his and they looked to the boys, who after a long moment of glaring at one another nodded grudgingly.
Tully looked over at Fiona, "The word is out that Nicodemus is coming,"
Fiona looked to Rainbow, "Is that true?"
The two boys looked between the elders at the table and then eagerly at Rainbow for confirmation. Rainbow shrugged lightly, "We hear the same rumor every year, and every year he does not show."
"He's comin'!" growled the boy from Oran's clan.
"You do not know!" snarled the boy from Rainbow's clan.
"If you can't get along with one another, then stay out of each other's way!" Fiona told the boys. "Festival goes on for only a few days and then you'll be on your separate ways again."
Oran looked between Fiona and Tully, "You have not heard word that Nicodemus and his men will show up this season, have you?"
Tully shrugged his shoulders. "I have not heard nary a word from Nicodemus or any of his kinsmen in several years."
Oran good-naturedly scoffed at Tully's denial. "We all know that is not true – Fury has not been to the festival in many years - but he has been seen in the wood."
"That may be true," Fiona replied, glancing at Tully who continued to look around the table with an angelic smile plastered to his face. "But I haven't laid eyes on the man in nye on fifteen years."
Oran cast his eyes toward the ceiling of the kitchen then back to Fiona, "I had thought that with Colleen's granddaughter's presence; all sorts of people would be coming to -- pay their respects."
Fiona shook her head. "Siobhan will be here only a few weeks; she knows nothing beyond that."
Oran and Rainbow both exchanged looks then looked sadly away. "Well, we had best be on our way," Oran said getting to his feet. "Our thanks to the Dannan for all your help this evening,"
Fiona nodded and took Oran's hand in farewell and did the same with Rainbow. The two clan leaders exited into the courtyard with the two boys following; heads down and hands jammed into the pockets of their pants. Weapons and belts were returned to their owners and as they all busied themselves strapping on their knife belts and adjusting them properly, the chieftains spent several more minutes speaking to the young men and their men. Then they broke up and went to their ponies, mounted up, and slowly left each riding in different directions.
Tully flexed his forearm experimentally. "I'll be thanking the Dannan for her fine stitchery too!"
Fiona smiled sourly at the blacksmith. "You rest that arm for a few days before you take up the hammer, Tully."
"Aye, ma'am!" He climbed up into the front of his wagon and looked down at Fiona and saw her tense expression. "I will see you in the morning?"
Fiona smiled up at him and nodded. "Aye, in the morning, I'll check to make sure the stitches aren't too tight."
Tully clucked to the bright red and white cob mare and rolled off into the night. Fiona went inside, closed the door, and glanced up to the staircase.
With talk of Nicodemus surfacing after so many years, Fiona wondered if indeed there were changes coming. Dangerous changes that she was ill-equipped to handle. She walked back into the hall and glanced up the stairs, thinking of Sunny and the premonition she had that something was about to happen.
March 8
In the morning, Sunny woke to another bright and clear day. She heard the grandfather clock in the hall downstairs chime the half-hour. She could smell the coffee and breakfast cooking, so it was still early. She hurriedly pulled on her clothes and quickly brushed her hair up into a ponytail. She brushed her teeth and bounded downstairs and slid into the kitchen on her socked feet.
There sipping morning coffee were Hugh and Tully. Fiona turned from the stove with a bright smile of welcome. "Well, good morning my dear, how did you sleep?"
Hugh smiled and rose from his meal, "Good morning Sunny!"
Tully nodded toward her, lifting his coffee cup to her. "Bright as a copper penny and lovely as the morning!"
Sunny grinned at all of them. "Good morning everyone – I didn't intend to sleep in."
Fiona turned back to the stove to nudge her skillet over the flames. "Tully took care of the chores; since he caused such a ruckus last night."
"The least I could do," Tully replied with a sly smile and a wink in Fiona's direction.
Hugh tucked back into his breakfast and nodded "I guess it's been brewing quite a while." He murmured around a bite of toast. "I'm surprised it hasn't blown up long before now."
Fiona set Sunny's plate in front of her and sat down to finish her coffee. "Well, I hope not to see any more shenanigans – from anyone!" she glanced sharply at Tully.
"Who is Nicodemus?" Sunny asked.
Immediately the others all froze and looked at one another, then Tully reached over to pat Sunny's arm. "Nicodemus is a cousin to the devil; and a thoroughly enjoyable sweetheart of a man!"
Sunny laughed. "Sounds charming! But I take it not everyone thinks so highly of him?"
"Nae," Fiona replied sending a sour smile Tully's way. "He's not been seen in many a year – so perhaps he'll keep to himself and not show up this season."
Sunny looked at Hugh, "Have you met him?"
Hugh gulped down his coffee, then smiled shaking his head. "No, can't say I have had the pleasure,"
"Is he with a clan or something?" Sunny wanted to know, "Those two boys were from different clans, but the boy from Rainbow's tribe seemed to be taking up for him."
"Nicodemus isn't with any clan," Fiona replied, glancing at Tully. "Tempers were high, and they were just looking for something to argue over."
"Tully's a longtime buddy of his, aren't you?" Hugh replied with a grin at Tully who nodded his head with a cherubic smile.
Sunny shook her head in confusion, and let it drop and turned to Hugh. "Who have you brought for me to ride today?"
"Ah, she's a fine pony!" Hugh cheered. "Bella Rouge is awaiting your pleasure."
Tully nodded in agreement, "A bonny pony with a spritely gait and a flirt if I ever saw one!"
Sunny grinned happily, "Can't wait!"
"Then come on," Hugh told her, "We're burning daylight!"
Fiona shooed her from the table, "Tully will help me here. I see Lady Margaret today, so I will meet you two at Thornegate later."
Sunny stopped at the front door to pull on her boots and went out to see Bella Rouge. She was a dainty cob with a snowy white mane and tail that was long and silky like all the Gypsy Cobs. Her coat was bright coppery red and white patches with white silky feathering on her legs. Bella pawed her front hoof in the soft grass where she was tethered waiting. When she saw Sunny, she tossed her head and whickered invitingly.
Hugh was riding a similar-looking pony but was built heavier and was a deeper reddish brown. Hugh called him 'Rusty'. They mounted up and were on the way along the road then veered off in the field in the same general direction of the ruins. "You'll see that it's changed into a small village since yesterday," Hugh told her. "Rainbow's camp is at the center with the other wagons and caravans positioned all around. A little like spokes in a great wagon wheel – he's the hub."
They rode up to the top of the hill and Sunny was shocked to see the transformation. It was as Hugh had said, a small city with lots of people, horses, and children racing through the village.
"Wow, then there must be a good many camped in the forest," Sunny replied. "I'd love to see that camp. I saw so many lights moving in the forest, it was so pretty!"
Hugh scrubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I doubt I could get past the sentries set on the edge of the woods. They're a closed lot except for a few."
"Rainbow's people are here," Sunny replied indicating the caravans in the valley. "Where is the Badger clan staying?"
Hugh pointed toward town. "They are going to be at the edge of Ballencoo. More of Oran's people travel here by trucks and caravans. Only Rainbow and a few of his captains have trucks and motorized caravans."
"How many different clans will be coming for the festival?" Sunny wanted to know as they rode on toward Thornegate Manor.
"Badger, Wolf, Thorne, and those of the old Danann tribe in the Ballencoo forest," Hugh told her. "The only one I know that has a passage to the old clan is Tully – and your Aunt Fiona, of course."
"Not even Ian McTavish?" Sunny asked.
"Not even Ian," Hugh responded. "He protects the wood, but I don't think he's ever ventured much further than the back hedgerow of his yard."
"Interesting," Sunny murmured.
They rode on in silence. Sunny was thoroughly enjoying her ride and Hugh extended the lesson. They rode around Thornegate and over toward the other side of Ballencoo, crossing several bridges of stone that spanned the Trickle River. They dismounted as they came nearer to the town and walked together in companionable silence for a few minutes.
Finally, Sunny glanced over at Hugh and asked: "Hugh, since arriving I've only seen a bit of what Aunt Fiona does here in the village, you suppose she'll ever tell me everything?" Sunny asked him.
"What do you mean; everything?" He wanted to know.
"Well, I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something more there going on than just the 'family' business," Sunny replied. "There's so much more going on."
"What has Fiona told you?"
"Not much," Sunny responded flinging her hand up at the sky in annoyance. "But it's what she's not saying that makes me think there's more going on. Aunt Fiona told me that my grandmother; her sister, moved away and left her to take over after their mother passed away. That she was trained to prepare remedies for the folks in Ballencoo." Sunny replied as they strolled along the road. "My own mother never; and when I say never -- I mean nev-er; discussed Aunt Fiona and what all goes on here in Ballencoo. It's like she was afraid to say anything. Then when – you know; my breakup – Mama up and packs my bags and sends me straight to the very place she's avoided her whole life because she thinks it will help me forget," she paused to look over at Hugh, "Don't get me wrong; it has helped me; I feel whatever passes for my 'normal' for the first time maybe in my whole life! So, here I am and in the last few days I haven't seen anything so terrible about what Aunt Fiona does."
Hugh smiled over at Sunny, and shrugged his shoulders lightly, "You know when the time is right, she'll tell you everything." He stopped and moved to remount. "I don't know about you but, I could use a spot of ale."
She grinned, "Yeah, all this agitation has made me thirsty!"
They headed into Ballencoo to the tavern. There was a lot more activity with more people staying just outside the town. The grocery store was doing a bang-up business as was the butcher shop and the other shops selling a variety of items to tourists and visitors.
The tavern was bustling with visitors and a few drinkers were sprinkled at the bar and at tables toward the back of the room. Cassie greeted them as they walked in under the chiming bells. "Hullo, Hugh! Sunny, I'm happy to see you!"
"We're dry and stopped in to have a pint with our favorite barkeep!" Hugh called to Piper, who nodded to them with a broad smile.
Cassie showed Sunny to a booth toward the front of the tavern and put a basket of bread and butter in the center of the table. Hugh brought over the two glasses of dark brown ale with the creamy tan head building from the bottom of the glass. Sunny sipped the foam and smiled appreciatively. "Tell me now, taking riding lessons, eh?" Cassie inquired.
"Oh yes, Hugh is giving me lessons," Sunny said giving Hugh a fond look. "He's been very kind."
"She's a natural," Hugh responded looping an arm over the back of the booth.
Cassie smiled and waved to the basket of bread. "Nibble on that and I'll send a couple of loaves with you to Fiona and Lady Margaret."
Sunny sipped her beer and ate a few pieces of bread that Hugh buttered and handed to her. They watched and listened to the people who came and went in the tavern with mild interest. Sunny began to wish she had brought her sketchbook; she could have easily lost herself in drawing the people who entered the tavern.
Hugh glanced around the tavern and did not recognize anyone, so he looked to Sunny, "So how do you feel about your riding lessons so far?"
"I'm enjoying myself so much, Hugh!" Sunny told him as she set her glass to one side. "I appreciate your offering to teach me."
"As I said, 'you're a natural',"
"You really think so?"
"I do," Hugh responded.
Suddenly the tavern door swung open the bells jangling overhead, and a young man poked his head in. "He's here! I tell ye he's here!"
Piper glowered over at the man. "Who's here, man!"
"Fury! Nicodemus Fury!" the man called and then disappeared, slamming the door, and setting the bells jangling again. He turned and trotted down the narrow street.
Immediately half of Piper's clientele got their jackets, paid up their tab, and left to follow the path of the young man. Sunny eyed Hugh inquisitively. "I take it that this is extraordinary news?"
Cassie brought over two large canvas bags with warm loaves of bread wrapped in brown paper in each bag. "It's been years since Nicodemus Fury has actually been in Ballencoo. I do hope there's not a repeat of what happened last time."
Sunny looked up sharply at Cassie, "What happened?"
Cassie looked frightened for a moment then sighed heavily, "Oh dear it was a terrible thing, all the clans were in such an uproar! It was just terrible."
Hugh drained his glass. "Come on Sunny, let's get going. Your Aunt Fiona will be looking for you."
"Give Fiona my best," Cassie said, throwing them a beaming smile.
Sunny gave the woman a quick hug and followed Hugh outside, waving to Piper as she went. As the news of Nicodemus' return spread through the town, more and more people streamed out to the open field to perhaps catch a look at the infamous Fury. As Hugh helped Sunny mount and make sure her feet were seated in the stirrups, Sunny watched the movement of people being drawn to the edge of town. "It's like a rockstar has arrived."
Hugh swung into the saddle and glanced in the direction that held Sunny's attention. "I believe you're right,"
Hugh and Sunny were heading in the opposite direction. Once mounted they moved off at a nice quick clip to the road that would take them toward Thornegate. Sunny didn't mention the quick pace Hugh had set, but as they clattered over the Trickle Bridge Hugh slowed down and Sunny drew up next to him. "What's the big mystery around this Nicodemus Fury?"
Hugh shook his head. "I really don't know much about the man. But given what happened last night maybe Fiona will tell us."
When they arrived at Thornegate, the groomsman came out to take the horses. Miggs and Fiona's wagon was parked under the trees like before. Hugh took Sunny's arm and led her into the solar where Lady Margaret and Fiona sat with tea. From the library, Alister McDonnell came out. He was an older mature version of Hugh with silver hair and moss-grey eyes that twinkled merrily from under bushy silver eyebrows. "Well, this must be Siobhan O'Neil!"
Sunny switched the packages of bread to her left arm and took Allister's hand in greeting. "Very glad to meet you, sir."
"And I you," Alister replied. "How was the ride?"
"Excellent!" Hugh responded.
Allister pointed to the packages, "Would that be from Cassie?"
Sunny grinned and handed one over, "It's still warm."
Hugh nodded into the solar. "We've heard some news,"
Allister's smile faded slightly. "What?"
"Nicodemus Fury has arrived in town," Hugh replied.
"Did you see him?"
"No, but one of the lads came into the tavern and made the announcement. He was down in the fairgrounds when Sunny and I left town." Hugh replied.
Alister looked at Sunny and then raised an eyebrow in question, to which Hugh shrugged. "Not sure if he'd heard about the fighting or not."
"We should let Fiona know," Alister replied.
They walked into the solar and when Fiona looked up to see the grave expressions on their faces, she immediately could guess it wasn't good news. "What's happened?"
"Nicodemus Fury is in town," Alister said.
Lady Margaret put a hand to her throat in alarm, "Oh dear!"
"It was only a matter of time before he turned up again," Fiona replied. "How many years has it been?"
"More than twenty-odd years or more since I've seen him," Alister replied sitting next to his wife and taking her hand in his. He patted her hand lightly. "I can't imagine it's to settle old business."
Fiona looked over at Sunny, "Well, I suppose I should tell you the tale of Nicodemus Fury."
Lady Margaret reached out and took Fiona's hand and looked at her son, "Hugh doesn't know the story either, do you, dear?"
Hugh shook his head. "No, I've heard things but most of what I heard sounds like tall tales."
Fiona smiled at Lady Margaret and then at Hugh. "The Fury family is legendary. They are considered royalty among the clans. Nicodemus Fury, in particular, was a prince among princes!" She began her tale, and her audience sat back in their seats in rapt attention. "He was a wild boy, eyes black as midnight and hair like a raven's wing, blue-black and long past his shoulders. He was copper-brown skinned from being half-naked under the sun. The Fury family bred and sold magnificent horses, both cobs and horses that some whispered were from stolen Arabians; but no one could ever prove it."
"And so, twice a year, spring and fall when the clans came together, all of us girls would wait on the stone wall in Ballencoo to catch a glimpse of Nicodemus. He never disappointed us either. He would come riding into Ballencoo with a string of wild horses. Nicodemus would be out front on a barely tamed stallion, no saddle, and sometimes no bridle. Riding with him was his father, three brothers, five uncles, and a handful of men with family ties to the Furys and employed by his father to help with the sale of the horses. As far as I ever knew there were never any Fury women that came to the festivals."
Lady Margaret nodded, "There was a sister, but I never saw her. Did you Fiona?"
"Yes, I saw her the summer I turned thirteen, but not since that time."
"Can't think she had a good go of it," Allister murmured, "Being a woman in a family of wild Fury men." They were silent for a moment then Fiona went on.
"The moment Nicodemus and his family arrived there would be troubles of some kind. It seemed to follow Nicodemus like a dark cloud. Young men would challenge him, and he'd never turn away from a good fight. Whatever he set his hand to; he was successful at it. Fighting; he was superb. Knives: he was excellent. Horse racing: Now there's where he and his family all excelled! The horses from the Fury family could outrun anything on four hooves. Nicodemus could ride anything! He was the envy of every man in town, every young girl's dream, and every father's nightmare."
Sunny laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with delight as Fiona wove her tale. "He sounds interesting!"
"Oh, he was!" Lady Margaret cheered then blushed when her husband glanced sideways at her in question.
"Nicodemus and his family traveled without the protection of any clan. They were unto themselves and paid tithes to no one. The closest clan they were ever allied with was the Danann clan; but it wasn't in the strictest sense, only if there was trouble did the Fury family support the Danann clan." Fiona continued, "The year that I turned sixteen, there was a terrible sickness that struck. It hit hardest with young children and the elderly. It came on quickly and some even thought it was a plague. It was one of the last cures my mother mixed and dispensed with me at her side."
Fiona looked over at Sunny. "Your grandmother had already left for England a year earlier and mother was now showing me how to mix and dispense medicines. When this illness took hold, I was eager to help her as much as possible. It was the fall festival, and it was unseasonably warm that year, and wet. When the Badger clan arrived, there were already several cases, Mother mixed and dosed the few elders, and they quickly began to show signs of recovery. The Wolf clan also had a handful of cases, and then folks in Ballencoo started to get sick. The day of the festival it rained so hard that no one bothered to come out. Then the Thorne clan arrived with so many sick people that Mother stayed in their camp, and I was sent back and forth to fetch fresh herbs and plants from the apothecary. I was so scared that Mother would come down with this sickness," Fiona said her voice growing thick as the recollection of that time grew fresh in her mind's eye. "But she never got sick, not even a sneeze."
"The Dannan clan," Sunny asked, "What happened to them?"
"They had the good sense not to come to the festival that year," Fiona answered. "Tully was the only one that came that year, and he contracted a mild case only because he and several Thorne clan boys were constantly together."
"When Nicodemus and his family arrived with their horses, they found that no one was buying, selling, or trading. Jacob Fury flatly refused to take the cure my mother brought to him and his family. Nicodemus fell ill with the fever, and it wasn't until it claimed two of Nicodemus' brothers, and three of his uncles and nearly killed his father that he finally agreed to take the cure. His father was so sick and weak that mother had to force the medicine down his throat."
"Old Jacob was never the same after that sickness," Alister said. "Even Nicodemus retreated. He and his father and what was left of his liegemen disappeared and we didn't see him --- it was what, nearly fifteen years later."
"Aye," Fiona said with a sad sigh. "There were rumors that Nicodemus and his father would occasionally come and stay for a short time with either the Danann or Thorne clans, but no one ever saw them at the festivals. Then I must have been thirty-one or thirty-two when Nicodemus rode into Ballencoo for a summer festival. Nicodemus and a handful of men came to the summer festival with a string of wild horses! He had been gone so long, he was just a memory --- he was still wild, handsome, and now every grown woman's fantasy. He turned the head of many a young woman when he rode into town. It was the wrong woman in fact; it was the young wife of Connor Doyle, the Wolf clan chieftain – I forget her name now…"
"Alyssum," Lady Margaret supplied. "I remember her, so pale and fragile looking."
"Oh, aye," Fiona said, "Alyssum Mack."
"She was such a sad girl!"
"Aye, but Nicodemus was at fault, he should have never gotten mixed up with the girl," Fiona replied. "She knew the trouble that would come. She knew that Nicodemus would never back away from a fight, and she thought if he managed to kill the chieftain; she would be free."
"Free to go with Nicodemus?" Sunny asked.
"Nae," Fiona said shaking her head.
"She had her sights on some other lad from outside the clans." Lady Margaret replied.
"She manipulated both of them just to get free?" Hugh asked.
"Aye," Fiona said with a slight disapproving frown. "I doubt seriously she would have gone with Nicodemus even if he had asked her, she just wanted to be free of the marriage."
"I heard it was a terrible mess within the Wolf clan and her family was disgraced," Lady Margaret replied.
"What happened?" Hugh and Sunny asked in unison then chuckled as they realized they were entranced in the story.
Fiona smiled at them. "It's a tragic story. Connor challenged Nicodemus to a fight. Of course, Nicodemus was one to never turn down an opportunity to show off his prowess and skill with a knife; accepted. The challenge was made and witnessed by many of the elders of the clans. The two men met in the field just outside of town. There was a huge crowd that night."
"You all were there?" Sunny asked.
"Why didn't the constable arrest them both?" Hugh wanted to know.
"It was between the clans, and no one in Ballencoo was going to interfere in clan business," Allister replied and then nodded at Sunny. "Yes, we were all there. We all knew what this meant and wanted to see."
"I remember watching Alyssum as she stood on the sidelines like a pale statue," Lady Margaret said. "She was there not moving a muscle or showing any kind of concern for either one of the men."
"Connor fought like a crazed animal, the energy of his strikes had Nicodemus reeling and for a time it looked like Connor was winning," Fiona said. "Then skill won out over anger and then it was over, and Nicodemus was standing over Connor's body."
"That one incident destroyed the trust between the Wolf clan and the Furys." Lady Margaret replied sadly.
"What happened immediately after is still somewhat of a mystery," Allister said looking over at Fiona. "Nicodemus showed up at your place didn't he, Fiona?"
Sunny looked at her great aunt curiously. Even Fiona had not revealed to her closest friends what had happened that night after the fight.
"Aye," Fiona replied. "It was a shock to see him standing at my front door. I was already in bed when I heard a knock at the door. I went down thinking it would be Tully with more news. But there stood Nicodemus Fury. He had been drinking, but he wasn't drunk; he was stone sober. I asked him to come in and we went into the living room and sat down. He sat for a moment then he was on his feet, pacing back and forth. He was very upset about having killed Connor and wanted someone to know the truth. He never wanted to hurt Connor, and there was never anything between him and Alyssum. She told him that Connor was cruel to her, and she had asked him to secret her out and put her in a safe place."
"Rather noble of him," Hugh remarked.
"He could have gone before the chieftains' council and explained everything," Alister said.
"And lose his reputation?" Sunny said. "Just think if everyone had discovered the great mysterious Nicodemus Fury was a good guy and not a wild, untamable rebel."
"Image is everything," Hugh murmured.
Fiona chuckled. "That was exactly it! Nicodemus couldn't give up his reputation, not even to save his standing among the clans. He paid his respects and then disappeared into legend."
"And now he's returned." Allister said, "What would bring him back out in the open after all this time?"
Everyone including Fiona looked at Sunny for a long moment then she shrugged her shoulders. "He's never really been gone, just not visible."
"He must be back with horses to sell or trade?" Sunny asked, throwing a look over at Hugh. "That must be what Rainbow was talking about."
When Hugh began to fidget Allister wagged a finger at him, "Hugh, are you going to parlay for a Fury stallion? How'd you manage that?"
Hugh ran a hand through his hair and shrugged. It was Fiona who waved her hand in the air dismissively, "I'm sure it was Tully who arranged it,"
Hugh nodded, "It would improve the line!" He glanced over at Sunny to see if she was disapproving. Sunny smiled and turned back to Fiona thinking more about Nicodemus than horses.
Allister looked over at his son and then at Fiona. "Then this is just a simple thing of horse trading?"
Fiona nodded her head absently, "I suppose so," she murmured then looked over at Sunny. "Perhaps it is. Tully didn't seem to be worried at all by the thought of Nicodemus returning."
"It was all just high blood of the young boys in the camps?" Allister guessed. When Fiona nodded, he chuckled. "Tully is a master of understatement!"
"Maybe we all should have a 'wait and see' attitude?" Hugh said, "Tully is usually right about most things."
"Well," Allister replied drawing a heavy sigh, "Any kind of fighting or warring going on among the clans during a festival is bad business – bad for business I should say. I'd imagine that the clan chieftains do not want anything to impact their trading or selling. During festivals, they all do a bang-up business among the folks that come in from out of town. We all do!"
"Aye," Fiona replied. "They'll keep the troublemakers at camp if need be."
"I find it hard to believe that it's already festival time!" Lady Margaret said. "It seems only yesterday we were celebrating the fall festival and now it's coming to springtime again."
"You didn't actually see Nicodemus, did you?" Fiona asked Hugh.
"No, I think it was one of the Badger clan boys that came into Piper's and announced Nicodemus had returned and left."
"With half of Piper's clientele rushing out after him," Sunny said.
"Maybe we ought to go see if it's all true?" Allister said looking over at his son.
Hugh grinned at his father. "Aye Da, I'm thinking we ought!"
"Well," Fiona said clapping her hands together. "I'm thinking Sunny, and I should be getting back to the house. We have things to do around the apothecary."
Sunny perked up and leaned forward, "You're starting my training?"
Fiona fixed her with an odd look then chuckled, "Well, I don't know that it's necessarily training, but I know I'm running low on some plants and there's collecting to be done. Two sets of hands are better than one."
Lady Margaret followed them all out to the side entrance of the garden. The stable hand brought Miggs and the cart over, tossed a wave to Hugh, and returned to the stables. Hugh helped Fiona in and turned to Sunny and assisted her in with a courtly bow; folded up the step and secured the doors of the cart. "See you tomorrow Sunny."
"I'll be ready!" she answered with a grin.
Lady Margaret and Allister waved from where they were by the garden gate. "On we go, Miggsy!" Fiona called and waved farewell. Sunny waved and then turned to Fiona as they left the courtyard. "Aunt Fiona, do you think we could visit the Dannan clan while they're here?"
Fiona looked over at Sunny, "Why on earth would you want to visit their camp?"
"Well, they are a little like family, aren't they?" Sunny asked. "I'd like to meet them."
Fiona chuckled softly. "Aye, I guess they are a little like family. I tell you what we'll do; when we're out collecting plants, we'll make a pass over to their encampment."
"Excellent!" Sunny cheered. "I'm looking forward to meeting them."
"And I'm sure there will be plenty of the clan who will be curious about you!" Fiona replied.
Fiona settled Miggs in her stable with a ration of oats and then the two of them went into the apothecary and began to take inventory of the variety of glass jars, tins, wooden boxes, and crockery pots containing dried plants, flowers, pods, stems, bark, and other items that Fiona used to make her medicinal potions and blends.
Sunny was tasked with taking down each crockery jar on one side of the apothecary to check the amount in each. If Fiona deemed it low, she would write down that plant to collect.
Fiona would identify each dried item and what each did. Sunny found the whole process fascinating. She examined each plant, pod, flower, or bark; sometimes sniffing experimentally the item, then setting it back on the shelf. Finally, the clock in the hall chimed one o'clock and Fiona put her pencil down and sighed. "That's enough for now, let's get a bite to eat and then finish up the inventory. There are several things we can harvest now either from the garden or out in the field."
"Okay," Sunny said, "There's this last big jar on the bottom self." It was a big crockery jar with a rubber gasket and heavy wire latch that formed a tight seal. Sunny cracked the seal and lifted the lid. Immediately the strong pungent odor like marigold blossoms and a powerful aromatic scent reached her nose and she clapped the lid back on in shock. "Aunt Fiona!"
"What is it dear?" Fiona asked looking up startled.
"Is this what I think it is? Marijuana!" Sunny whispered her eyes wide.
Fiona chuckled. "Cannabis is a key ingredient in many of my blends. We've used it for hundreds of years. Mother used it for many of the wasting illnesses where the appetite needed stimulating."
Sunny gingerly took what appeared to be a grey-green matted clump from the jar and examined it up close. "Where do you get it?"
"From my garden, of course!" Fiona exclaimed.
Sunny continued to examine the clump, holding it up for the light to catch the dried clump in her fingers. As she returned it to the jar and looked at Fiona disbelievingly, "You grow your own?"
"Aye, I have maybe fifteen or so plants out there now but they're not ready to cut yet maybe by the late summer they'll be at their prime," Fiona replied matter-of-factly. "Sometimes I harvest some of the leaves to make a mild blend for a client."
Sunny's grin grew slowly. "Who all do you dispense it to?"
"Well, Lady Margaret for one," Fiona replied. "When she first came home, she had no appetite at all and was having a hard time keeping food down. My blends: with a little Cannabis added in at the right time, have helped her regain some of the weight she lost."
"Wow," Sunny murmured, "It seems that there's a lot of things I hadn't realized you could grow."
Fiona nodded. "Many of the plants and herbs I can grow in my garden, but many of the more potent plants grow wild in the forest. They must be carefully collected. It's a year-long process, even in the dead of winter, some types of lichen continue to grow on trees, and there's mistletoe and wild holly, fir, and evergreens that need harvesting."
Sunny nodded, "I suppose after a time you begin to know where these plants grow, and like a farmer harvesting a field, you go there and gather up what you need?"
"Indeed, and while you're here to help me, I'll be able to harvest even more!" Fiona told her, "There are things that get very low and during the cold months, there are fevers, coughs, and the sort that strike the folk here in Ballencoo. With no physician for miles, I'm where people come or, I go to them when they call."
Sunny looked over at Fiona and leaned on the counter and tapped the lid of the jar. "Aunt Fiona, this isn't the reason Mama has been so touchy about, is it?"
"It's very complicated," Fiona replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
Sunny frowned at her, "So you've said – or rather haven't said," she looked around the apothecary.
Fiona opened her mouth to speak when there was a loud knocking at the front door. She smiled raising her eyes heavenward. "Buíochas le Dia!"
Sunny pointed a finger at Fiona and started to the hall to see who was at the door, "Hold that complicated thought!"
Fiona followed her out to the hall and waited to see who the caller was. Sunny opened the door and stepped back as a large grey wolfhound shouldered past the man at the door and came in to plop down in the hallway.
"Beggin' your pardon miss," the man said taking his hat off, "I was lookin' for the Danann."
"Is that you Griffin?" Fiona called coming to join Sunny at the door.
Griffin smiled a toothy grin, his weathered brown face crinkling up with merriment. "Aye! I hate to come callin' so soon, but I was wonderin' if you have any of that oil for the ears, several of the lads have sore ears."
"Of course," Fiona said. "Come in Griffin; this is Siobhan O'Neil, my great niece. Sunny this is Griffin Doyle Chieftain of the Wolf clan."
Griffin shook Sunny's hand and stepped in, looking around the entrance hall. Sunny wondered what relation Griffin was to Connor Doyle. Fiona looked down at the dog where it lay sprawled on the floor. "And who's this?"
"Shanley," Griffin said smiling sheepishly at Fiona and then to Sunny, "He's still a pup and no manners about him at all!"
The large shaggy head rose from the floor and big golden-brown eyes regarded Griffin for a moment. He got to his feet and sat on his haunches head tilted at Fiona and Sunny. Fiona chuckled. "He was just a wee thing when I last saw him!"
"Aye, he and his brothers have all nearly grown up," Griffin replied with pride. "Of all of them, Shanley's the only one not showing the sore ears."
Fiona nodded, "Well, it would be best to dose him too, just to make sure."
Shanley whimpered and growled low under his breath. Fiona turned away to head back to the apothecary, "You know it won't hurt at all Shanley!" Fiona called over her shoulder.
Sunny smiled at the dog because, from his expression, he was not at all convinced! Shanley seemed to have an uncanny understanding of what the humans were saying. She leaned close to the dog, "I'll hold your paw if it will help."
Shanley yipped, his tail thumping the floor. Griffin shook his head at the dog and looked at Sunny, "For the attention of a pretty lady, he'll suffer!"
"You said Shanley was just a puppy," Sunny said looking at the hound in disbelief. "He must be over six feet tall if he were to stand on his hind legs!"
"Aye," Griffin replied. "When full-grown, he'll stand just over eight."
"Wow!" She looked over at the hound and he was studying her, his head tilting from one side to the other. He looked to Griffin and whined and opened his mouth to expose a set of sharp white teeth and a pink tongue that lolled out to one side briefly before he snapped to attention as Fiona emerged from the apothecary with a large green bottle. He emitted a low growling whine which Griffin admonished. "Hush that laddie!"
Shanley dropped his head and hunched his grey shoulders guiltily and Sunny had to giggle. The dog was so expressive! "Maybe if you were warm the oil a tad it wouldn't be so uncomfortable going in?"
Fiona grinned at Sunny. "Excellent thought! Griff put the bottle in a small pan of warm water and let it get nice and warm. Then put several drops in each ear and massage them to work the oil all down into the ears. A couple of times should do the trick. With Shanley, just dose his ears once and he should be good for the rest of the summer."
"See?" Sunny told Shanley, "It won't be bad, just once and you're good for the rest of the summer."
Shanley opened his mouth in a canine smile and came over to lean against Sunny's side looking up at her with warm golden-brown eyes. She reached out and stroked his head gently.
Griffin took the bottle from Fiona and looked over at Shanley. "Come on lad, let's get back to camp."
When Griffin opened the door to leave, Shanley looked up at Sunny, gave a little yip, and trotted out the door with Griffin following a step behind him. Fiona waved and closed the door and turned to Sunny. "Shall we gather up baskets and head on out to harvest the lichen I need?"
"Will you tell me more about the family business?" Sunny asked.
"Aye," Fiona said with a deep sigh. "I'll tell you what I can."
"Great!" Sunny cheered. "I'm going to get my sketchbook; I'll be right back!"
Fiona watched as Sunny ran upstairs then raised her eyes heavenward again. "What am I going to have to tell the girl to settle her curiosity?"