Mannan: A Tale of Vengeance: A Novel in the Chronicles of Philip Williams by Jason Henry Evans

Author:Jason Henry Evans [Evans, Jason Henry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grant Street Publishing
Published: 2021-02-24T22:00:00+00:00

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Mannan awoke to Ote standing over him with an ax leaning against his shoulder. He was in his house, in his bed. He tried to stand but felt a thousand small scrapes and cuts all over his body. He looked down to see his left arm heavily bandaged. “What happened?”

“We found you and Riona the next morning. You were out cold. She clung to your body for warmth.” Ote looked down at Mannan’s waist. “She un-pleated your kilt and used it as a blanket to keep you both warm.” Ote left the room and came back with black furs around his arm. He tossed them to Mannan. “Fine pelts.”

Mannan recognized the skins. “Where did you find them?”

“Two of the wolves were dead around your body. The other died some two hundred yards away from you and Riona,” Ote said.

“Tanning pelts takes time. How long have I been out?” Mannan asked.

“Brother,” Ote began. “You came home with a bad fever.” He nodded towards Mannan’s left arm. “That thing oozed puss by the afternoon. You’re lucky you’re not dead.”

Mannan sat up. “How long, Ote.”

“Four days.”

“Four days?” Mannan dizzied.

“Easy, easy. You had a bad fever for three of those days. Are you hungry?”

Mannan nodded. “Where’s Riona?”

Ote smiled. “Funny thing. She was grateful for your aid. She and Deborah both took turns nursing you.”

“Jesus on the throne. They’re not friends, are they?” Mannan asked.

Ote shook his head while smiling. “Let’s call it a truce, for now.”

“Have there been any raids?”

“Minor things. Connell knows we have Riona. He won’t try anything while we have his niece,” Ote said.

Mannan tried to stand. Ote helped him up and to the hearth. He ate soup and drank beer. With every sip his strength returned.

The door opened and Riona stood in it, unbound and free. Her hair was twisted in a severe braid. Her brown hair glistened in the sunlight. When she saw Mannan, her face flushed. It took a great amount of control to hide it. “You’re up, I see.”

“So are you,” Mannan replied with a smirk.

“Someone had to do the work around here with you lazy men napping all day.” Riona walked to the hearth and fixed a bowl.

“You could have left. No one could have stopped you.” Mannan raised an eyebrow waiting for a reply.

“You have blood on your hands, Mannan Mor MacOwen. You burned my home. You are responsible for my brother’s death.” She took a deep breath while trying to control a tremble. Her face flushed. “But you did not allow your kin to despoil mine. You could have shamed me. You could have murdered me. Instead you saved my life.” She touched his bandaged hand gently. “There is too much between us. Too much blood. Too much spite and hatred.” She looked into his eyes. “But that does not mean you are not a good man. I owed you a debt.”

Mannan squeezed her hand touching his. “Then consider the debt paid.”

He got up from the hearth and went to the barn. Mannan instructed Riona to take two Micken horses and put a saddle on one of them.

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