• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

The tent flap was pushed aside and Chulainn came in, holding a leather bag which steamed slightly in the cold air. In his other hand he carried a jug. He dropped the bag on to the ground and let go of the drawstrings. A tug on the edges brought the bag apart and it spread into s small square with a pile of hot meat in the centre.

'There you are. Eat ' He smiled at Ace and she reached forward. and took a piece. It tasted good.

Chulainn rummaged amongst his belongings and brought out some cups. He filled them each with the liquid from the jug. The Doctor took a cup and looked at it enquiringly.

‘Mead,' Chulainn told him.

'Ah, a mixture of honey and water '

Those are the basic ingredients, yes. Please drink.’

The Doctor took a sip and smacked his lips appreciatively. ‘Good –’ he gasped suddenly - 'and with a kick like a mule.'

'So you're from Earth,' Chulainn said.

'More or less.'

'Yes,' said Ace.

'I'm not,' whispered Bathsheba.

'Tell me about it,' Chulainn asked.

'What do you want to know?' Ace asked. 'There's a lot to tell. It's a big place, you know.'

'As big as Tír na n-Óg?'

'Bigger, I should think,' the Doctor told him, 'from what we've seen.'

'And is it like Tír na n-Óg?'

'Not much,' said Ace, 'but I think you'd like it.'

Chulainn looked at Ace appreciatively. She was a lovely young girl in every aspect. 'Aye, I think I would.'

‘Chulainn,' the Doctor said, 'is it a great distance to Goibhnie's island from here?'

'A two-day journey on a fast horse, if you could avoid the demons. That is where you are headed then?'

'That's the plan.'

'A foolhardy one. Goibhnie will not listen to reason. A rare insanity has gripped his mind since Arawn invaded the sky. I can give you horses if you must persist.'

'We have been given no option. Dryfid will not let us re-enter Dinorben so we must take the chance that he has given us.'

Chulainn shook his head. 'It is no chance at all. But if I give you horses then you may go as far as you can and then return to us. I am sure that the Tuatha will see reason and allow you back into Dinorben.

How are they holding out against the Fomoir and the Firbolg?'

'It's three days since we left, but at that time all seemed well on the human side. A little overcrowded perhaps.'

'Bathsheba's asleep,' Ace told them.

'You must take Bathsheba with you,' the Doctor told Chulainn. 'Her family were all killed in a demon attack.'

'She can ride on one of the carts. But you must stay with us for the night.'

'We would be grateful of that.'

'Yeah,' said Ace, 'it'll be good to have some sort of roof over our heads.'

'You may use this tent. I've already vacated my own tent for two of the women who are giving birth so it isn't as if I’ve become used to the smell of this one. I think you'll have enough rugs here.' He got up to leave. 'Doctor, perhaps we could leave the two girls? I think we may need to discuss certain things.’

Chulainn stood outside the tent and waited for the small man with the penetrating eyes and the tired, lined face. He heard the man's voice soothing the girl and then he came out.

'I must check the horses. Come with me.'

'Chulainn, may I ask a favour of you?'

'Of Course, Doctor. I am the leader of the Clyr and so I am the man most able to grant you a favour.'

'It's Ace. I'm worried about her.'

'Ah, Ace!' Chulainn thought it a strange name, but she could, of course, take the name of a clan if it became necessary.

'Yes, she would be horrified to hear me say this, but I think that this journey may become too dangerous for her. Now that I've seen these demons - their ferocious animal power, the malignancy intrinsic in them - I don't think I can justify taking Ace with me when there is a safer option for her.'

'I understand this. You want her to come with me.'

'Yes, but she isn't likely to want to go with you.'

'Can you not tell her, order her?' Chulainn thought the Doctor must be a weak man if he could not control his womenfolk.

'I'm afraid Ace isn't one to listen to commands. So if I just slip away before she awakes tomorrow morning