January ’17: Story B (Part One)
Here is part one of the trio for “Kieran’s Quest”. Let me know what you think in the comments! ~Panda
“I won’t give her up- not for a million men such as Tavis.”
“And you know I would never ask you too. I just ask that you protect yourself. Your death would simply please him. He would have her, for what could I do, alone?” The woman’s head bowed, her snow-white hair, calloused hands, and tanned face spoke of long years of work, years of strength.
Kieran watched the woman in front of him- the woman he had worked for, and beside since he was young. She had never given up hope, not for him, not for the girl. But now? What hope was there? As he stood, she pulled herself out of her rocking chair, her eyes alight once more.
“I refuse to give up, Kieran. We must protect her. If you refuse to leave, I will go alone. We made a promise to her father.” On the raised deck he had built to keep her chair out of the mud, she stood eye-to-eye with him.
“I am older than I once was, Iona, but I will protect her, and you. We leave as soon as she arrives. I will arrange things with Brother Matthias.”
“Stay safe.”
“And you.”
Their plans had been made almost a month before, in case things came to a head. As the man began the walk to the village, he sighed. He had promised her father she would be safe. He had promised himself she would be safe. He had promised Iona she would be safe. He had promised HER she would be safe. Dylis was his Captain’s daughter, and he would take care of her. A smile played over his face as he thought of her childhood and the frequent trips to the seaside, where she scrambled around the barrels on the ship’s decks, her long, curly hair flowing out behind her, the sailors all smiling. Those who hadn’t been pleased with having a child on deck quickly learned they were mistaken, as she scrambled up the riggings, ordered the loading, and as soon as one toe was out of place, kept up with the worst of them in swearing. She ate with them, danced with them, and was completely at home with them. She had inherited her father’s amiable spirit, but also his temper, stubbornness, and pride. The men treated her as their daughter, and she had sailed with them at least once a year since the captain’s death. Kieran had given her complete ownership of the vessel when she reached thirteen, and the girl had left the captain, his former first mate, instated. He led it well when she was not with them, which was rare. The girl had been in school as often as Kieran could get her there, and helped Iona whenever she needed it. She had gone with it more often then, leaving Kieran and Iona to their mountain home where he had a small flock of sheep to pay for the expenses. To give up their way of life, the calm mountainside, his home, went against Kieran’s grain. He had built the house with his two hands, and Iona and Dylis had made it a home.
Reaching the village, he smiled as the first of the children saw him, running to fetch the others. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out several hand-carved animals. As they ran up to him, he smiled.
“Ah, now! Who could this bunch of ragamuffins be? Are you pirates, come to take on an old sailor like this?”
Rustling the hair of the first child, he swooped the smallest up to his shoulders, the child screaming gleefully as he grasped the man’s hair. The children were bustling around him, asking for stories, for news of Dylis, each of them smiling. One of the older girls stayed beside him, the others dashing here and there as he continued walking. He stopped at the first house, sweeping the child on his shoulders off and into his mother’s arms, dropping a carved seal in his hands, smiling as the child’s eyes grew wide, the mother greeting him with thanks. He distributed the other carvings, the children thanking him with joyful shouts as they ran off. The girl beside him reached up, and he pulled her into a hug before she waved, skipping away. Her silent smile warmed the old man’s, heart. Brenna kept quiet, staying close to him on most of his trips into the village, and today had been no different, for her. It was his last trip, though, and he frowned before walking on, heading for the monastery.
Several hours had passed when he returned through the streets, the rest of the village at dinner. The man stopped as the girl ran up in front of him, her silence unbroken.
Her eyes huge, she watched him. “Brother Matthias…” she paused, his kind eyes boring into her, “sa…said you were taking me away…” Bowing her head, she shook slightly, her nerves overcoming her burst of bravery.
“Matthias and I worked it out. You will come along with me, to keep you safe, until you are older, Brenna. For now, return, gather your things, and be waiting at the monastery at breakfast time.” Stroking her hair, he waited for the girl to stop shaking, before letting her go. “I will take care of you. Do not worry.”
Nodding, her green eyes larger than life, she stood, running back to the monastery, Kieran stood, watching until the gate shut behind the girl before finishing his walk home. It would be an early morning if Tavis were to be thwarted.
As he returned, he saw the light in the kitchen, and three figures silhouetted in the window. Reaching down, he grasped a thick stick, wishing for the sword he had inherited from his captain. As he sprinted to the door, his mind raced for a better way. Tavis was smart enough to have posted guards, but he went through the yard unchallenged, and as he reached the door, he shoved his way in, glancing around, then dropped the stick, his eyes widening.
“Papa! You’re home.” The girl’s voice was light, her face tanned, her red curly hair streaming down her back pushed behind her pointed ears. She reached out to him, and the tension that had built up to let out as Kieran let out a harsh laugh, pulling her in and swinging her around the kitchen. Her laughter and tears mixed as they went into his shirt. As he sat her down, her smile beamed out.
“It’s good to see you, dear.” His smile glowed. A muffled cough brought his attention to the third silhouette.
“Good t’ see you again, Cap’n.”
“Derby?” His voice incredulous, the man turned around, meeting the eyes of his former first mate.
“Still my name.” Smirking the man held out his hand, Kieran taking it firmly.
“You are a surprise.”
“Dylis seemed set on my coming, so I did.”
“We all know better than to argue with the girl.” Winking, he put his arm around her, the girl sinking into him for a moment before straightening.
“It sounds like we have work to do.”
Glancing down at her face, he turned to Iona who nodded. “We do. I hoped to be able to take a cart, but I doubt we have time to be encumbered with one.”
“I do not need a cart. I brought what was necessary, with the addition of a couple of things from my room, I will be ready to leave… for forever, I guess.” The girl glanced around the room, the lamplight shining off of her hair, all signs of her continual smiles leaving her face.
“That is good.” He followed her gaze, the memories flooding him.
“Do we need to leave tonight?”
Kieran shook his head. “I have to visit the village in the morning. Brother Matthias and the others will take care of the rest, but Derby is not the only addition to our party.”
“What have you done, Kieran?” Iona’s attempt at feigning annoyance brought smiles to them all.
“Brenna. Matthias asked. I will go in before breakfast to fetch her before the others are out to see us… I am only sorry I had not thought to ask before. For now, we should all get some sleep if we can. We will have an hour in the morning to finish packing.” Turning, he dropped a kiss on Dylis’ head, the girl squeezing his hand as he walked out.
Knocking twice, the gate swung inward, and the man entered. His light, graying hair reached his shoulders, his leathery skin showed years of work in the sun, and the tattoo on his forearm was visible to all. The girl sitting on the stump beside the side door of the monastery looked up the fear clear in her eyes. After a moment, she stood, finding her place by his side. He reached down, and she nestled her small, almost frail hand in his, leaning her head gently on his arm as he swept her bag to his opposite shoulder.
“Is this everything, Brenna?” Kieran looked down at her, the girl’s face unreadable as she nodded.
“Go in peace, brother, whilst you still can.” Brother Matthias walked down the monastery steps to meet him. “Tavis is on his way. I hope those at your home are ready to leave? I cannot delay him forever.”
“Thank you, Brother. We will leave now. The horses are saddled.” Kieran bowed to the monk, Brenna releasing her hold on his hand, waiting for the monk to return the bow, before jumping into his arms, her head nestling down into the man’s shoulder.
“I love you, Brother Matthias.” Her whisper was choked out, and Matthias held her close until she released her hold. Dropping back to Kieran’s side, her hand reached for his, the uncertainty and fear filling her face as they turned, walking out of a side gate and up a nearby hill until they were out of sight of the village. It was a silent walk home, the man hurrying, the girl pressing on for him, neither knowing what lay before them. Reaching the house, Iona saw the girl and knelt down, reaching her arms out to her.
“Welcome, Brenna.” Her gentleness did not assure the girl’s trust, and she hung back for a moment before returning the woman’s hug. That the girl was scared was clear. No one truly knew what she had been through in her short life.
“Kieran.” Derby’s voice broke the stillness of the morning. “He’s reached the monastery. We need to leave.”
“Is Dylis ready?”
“I’m ready, Papa.” The girl came out of the house, her hands holding a precisely carved miniature of her ship, one of Kieran’s best works. “Do you remember making this?”
The man smiled, nodding. “It took almost a month.” The girl’s fingers traced each of the details before she placed it into the pack on her back.
Kieran turned to the horses standing in front of the house, attaching Brenna’s small bag onto the pack horse. The girl would ride ahead of him in the saddle. Turning to his own horse, the man took his sword out of the sheath, re-fastening the straps that kept it on his saddle. “Are you ready to ride?”
“We have to be.” Derby walked back to the others at the front of the house, slipping his telescope into its place on his belt. “He’s headed this way… Based on the blood, Matthias won’t last long.” His teeth were clenched as he stood stiffly. “Your orders, Cap’n?”
Kieran’s face hardened, but he looked to Dylis, then to Brenna, and nodded. “Mount up. Matthias’ sacrifice will not be for naught.”
The five rode out of the yard, the packhorse tied to Derby’s, the old sailor cursing under his breath. He was not at sea where he belonged. A man had died for his sake, and he was riding away, leaving him unavenged. Kieran rode stiffly, his anger showing with every step. It was not his way to leave his friends behind, nor dead and unburied. Fingering the hilt of his sword, he was silent through the morning, the others knowing better than to bother him. Iona’s tears never fell, the woman’s strength not simply mental, nor purely physical. She had raised a daughter not her own, had been a sailor’s wife, and now she was the backbone of the five travelers. Dylis knew what they were facing for her sake. She wanted to be home, the sea rocking the ship beneath her feet. Brenna’s silence lasted through the day, responding with a nod if asked a question, her large, green eyes staying downcast.
The journey took over a week, talking and stopping kept to a minimum, Derby and Kieran rode back several times to check their back trail. When they could, they used lesser known trails, staying off the main roads. As far as they knew, Tavis and his men were behind them. As they reached the seaside and the town, they split. Derby and Dylis’ went for the ship to prepare the men. Iona headed for the merchant’s wives, her old friends- she needed advice. It had been four years since she had a girl to dress, and the latest styles were beyond her. Brenna refused to part from Kieran, so the man took her with him as he went to warn his friends. Any friend of theirs was in danger, some more than others. The men poured out when they heard his voice, and Brenna watched from the horse in confusion as they greeted the man- some as old friends, some with awe, as if meeting a legend. After an hour, the man pulled himself back into the saddle, his face worried. The girl watched him. Though she had not often spoken, she held a special bond for the man, his weekly visits to the village, to Brother Matthias, who had been like a father to her bringing him into her trust. As an outcast from the village, she made friends with few.
“What’s wrong?” Her voice was quiet, but Kieran looked down, seeing the worry on the young face, that should have been filled with laughter at her age. Pulling her into a quick hug, he smiled.
“Many people here have tools that could help Tavis catch us, and I do not intend to let him do that. I am going to have a talk with a few men… It is nothing for you to worry about.”
The girl watched him, then nodded, regaining her silence, and the man urged the horse into a trot.
Two days later, the five reunited with the entire crew at the ship, many of the crewmembers greeting Kieran as “Captain.”
Derby handed the man his hat. “It’s your vessel, your crew, your training. You’re the Captain while on board, sir.” Though the two were close in age, Derby had always looked up to the man, and now was no different.
“I can’t take this, Derby, it’s your position. I’m retired.” The man shook his head with a smirk as he held out the hat.
Derby shook his head, pushing the man’s hands back. “I’m not taking it back.”
“Then it goes to the one who truly deserves it.” Kieran turned to his wife, pride filling his eyes, “the captain of my heart.” He placed the cap as proudly as he would have placed a crown on her silver hair. The crew cheered as the woman laughed.
“It is good to be home, men. But we have more urgent matters… like introductions! There are some of you I do not know…” Iona’s words were cut short as a boy raced up the ramp.
“Shove off, Captain, oh for heavens’ sake, SHOVE OFF!” The boy panted as he came to a halt in front of Derby. “Tavis… he’s in town… he’s at the shipyard… they’re selling him The Queen…. Our ship… Threats… You must shove off…” The boy took a deep breath, pointing towards the shipyards. Derby turned to Kieran, transferring the leadership wordlessly.
Shaking his head, Kieran took charge, calling orders to the crew, Dylis stood beside Derby, quietly latching onto his resolute spirit. The times at sea, pirate chases, stretches on half rations, and his head for business had led her to trust him almost as much as she trusted Kieran. Iona grasped Brenna’s hand, leading her inside as she saw the fear return to the girl’s face.
Derby joined Kiran, barking out orders, the two knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and splitting the duty wordlessly. Dylis made her way to her bunk. Though technically in charge, she let Derby do the ordering, although she could do it if need be, for he was more experienced. The crew respected her, and if it came down to it, they would follow her to death. The girl changed into a pair of breeches with a short dress overtop, her hair down, a beanie covering her ears as the wind was chilly. In a matter of minutes, the boat was moving, and she smiled, feeling the sea rushing under the boat. Coming back to the deck, she saw Tavis on the shore, the man having found where their dock was. His angry sneer was still clear, and the young woman turned, refusing to let him rule her life. As she turned, Brenna came out of her cabin, a deep blue dress over brown breeches, almost matching Dylis, the results of Iona’s friends’ suggestions. The young girl looked around, finding Kieran after a moment, the man climbing up to the crow’s nest. Taking a moment to get her breath, the girl followed him up the ladder. Dylis smiled as she watched the girl, remembering the times she had followed the men at that age a few years before she had taken control of the boat. There was a small exclamation as Brenna reached the nest, and Kieran lifted her up, setting her beside him, where she swayed uneasily. Lyde stood next to him, his smile contagious as he laughed.
“Seems we have another Miss Dylis on our hands! You’ll soon learn the tricks of the sea, though.” He smiled, and the girl pulled behind Kieran. After a few minutes of discussion, Kieran went down to meet Derby, leaving the girl above him.
“Do we know if The Queen will be able to overtake us?”
“I doubt there’s a ship on the seas that could overtake our ol’ tub, and if there is, it would be left master-less with our crew. They’ve seen their share of battles, and their loyalty is undying.” Derby’s pride shone from his entire being, and Kieran smiled.
“I don’t doubt it. I’ve fought alongside many of them. It’s still surprising many of them haven’t gotten themselves killed…”
“It’s not for lack of trying.” The smile spread over Dylis’ face as she walked up, and the three shared a laugh.
“Either way, I would prefer that it not come to out and out battle. How is the armory stocked?”
“Crossbows, swords, axes, knives, armor… We have each of the men’s’ preferences and extras. I bet we could even find light armor to fit Brenna if it came to it.” Derby smirked. “I like to be prepared.”
To be continued…
Panda Pen Strokes 
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