DAUGHTERS OF ALBA by Hatton Erin E.M

Author:Hatton, Erin E.M [Hatton, Erin E.M]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2013-05-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7: The Embers Cool

Spring brought its own troubles. Ploughshares, passed down through generations, broke in the middle of the spring plowing and needed urgent mending. Horses, plodding through mud, needed frequent shoeing. Tools lost in the snow and rusted needed replacing. Ruairi felt as though his hammer was merely an extension of his arm, and removing it from his stiff fingers at the end of the day was like removing a limb.

The sun, though it stayed longer as the equinox passed, was usually gone when Ruairi emerged from the smithy, blinking like a nocturnal creature coming from a dark cave at dusk. He enjoyed a brief few moments of fading daylight as he staggered the few steps from the smithy to his door. His eyes were still adjusted to dark when he went inside, so he could see instantly the table, laid with his bowl and spoon. A cauldron steamed over the fire – stew again, great Brighde! It took some time to locate Eithne, however, and he finally found her in the bed. He might have guessed. She did the barest minimum of household chores, and slept every available moment.

He gave her a long glance – yes, she was asleep, and not likely to wake soon. Her cheeks were deeply flushed, her hair disheveled. She had been asleep for some time, too. Ruairi felt a rising wave of annoyance. He was fighting against time and nature to carve a foothold for them in the world. He fell exhausted into bed at night after a long, lonely day of brutal, hot labour. All he could ask for was a decent meal, a clean, mended leine, a little tender companionship at the end of the day, for heaven’s sake! It seemed like ages since he had had a conversation with his wife, let alone anything else.

His only consolation was his evenings at the Righ’s house, when every eye focused on him and every ear opened to his words. There he felt appreciated, recognized. There he felt like a man with a purpose beyond mere survival. People spoke civilly to him, did not treat him like a child or make demands.

He went to loosen the brooch from his brat, then thought the better of it when he felt the chill on his arms. The house was cold – she had already smoored the fire. He supposed she no longer trusted him to do it when he came home. Perhaps she was right. Despite the chill, Eithne’s long limbs protruded, out-flung, from the bedding. She had enough natural heat, after all. Ruairi pulled the brat closer around his shoulders and ladled himself a bowl of stew. He ate silently, with little appetite, and all the while his mind did silent figures in his head.

Three ploughshares mended this week – they had all paid well. The assortment of small tools and horseshoes, not as well, and his order list was piling up. And of course, the Righ always had outlandish requests for jeweled brooches and armaments.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.