Ailis, Part 4

Chapter 9: Ailis, Part 4

The clan was in mourning, and everyone felt the deep shame of their losing the sudden attack. They were unprepared, drunken from the festivities, and spoiled from the length of peace with the other clans. They weren't prepared for outsiders. The clans knew for times long past that outsiders feared them and their ways. These invaders held no such fear of lore, and would rather spit in the face of history and prove it wrong for such accusations of their ancestors. The clan had always thought themselves vibrant warriors, undefeated, and equal only to other clansmen of their relations. Now they suffered a loss of people, an heir, and their pride.

Ailis learned soon after the attack that the strangers were invaders on their land. Other clans had the same dealings with them recently, including neighboring clans where news had been shoved into her father's ears that day. As of late, they appeared to be purposely putting the clans on edge. Father foolishly assumed only a few sober men were necessary to assure the clan's safety during the festivities should they happen on his lands. He thought his warrior men to be legends for their strength and skill; even one man while drunk could defeat ten of his enemy's sober men. He had grown soft in recent years, blind with the illusion of peace, and that legendary strength his clan was known for was dampened in its boredom, lacking necessary practice.

Walking with her father, Ailis raised her eyes to the heavens. She saw the clouds plump with full bellies as low rumbling thundered within them and rattled the cold air she breathed. A storm was inevitable but seemed fitting for what was about to happen. As the crunching noise of her footsteps on the grass ceased when she stopped in front of the pyre, her father turned to face her and his clan. They covered the large open space with great dominance, but most looked stricken with either worry or sadness. The faces of the warriors bringing Domhnall’s body were equally expressive, but with determination and anger. They held him high on their shoulders, each spread evenly beneath to handle his weight. Ailis blinked quickly, trying to drive away the stinging tears. No. It wasn't Domhnall anymore, just a body, carefully wrapped up in one large blanket. She looked to her father then, who helped place the body carefully on the pyre next to Domhnall's bride. He caught her eyes on him, and his eyes looked equally pained though his face now showed a man worn down with the weight of a dark emptiness in his heart.

Ailis’ father turned away from her as a clansman handed him the torch. He seemed reluctant at first, but then he lifted it up above him and bellowed a cry of a warrior's sorrow. The whole clan felt his pain, which matched no one's but Ailis and her new sister's family who stood nearby. He ended his outward cries with lighting the newlyweds’ bodies ablaze, then took his place next to his daughter. They watched the fire move across the pyre and devour the obstacles as it worked to complete its purpose. Everyone stood in silence, replaced only with shivering sobs.

Ailis looked to her father. She couldn't see tears in his eyes from where she stood, but she saw the fire's reflection dance across them as the shadows played upon his still face. He stood tall and strong like the leader he was, to assure their clan. She hoped she would be as strong a leader in the face of so much pain and uncertainty. Now, it seemed it would happen sooner than she ever imagined. She was the new heir, whether she was ready or not.

"I don't want ye to worry, Ailis." A low and deep voice rumbled down from above her. "We will stop this enemy, with everything we've got."

She spoke softly so as not to disrupt the funeral. "But what is it they want?" Ailis asked her father, trying not to focus on her brother's body being slowly consumed right in front of her.

"Ultimately, they will want everything."

"What does that mean?"

"It means, in the end, they will want our very lives. For now, they want our freedom," the chief explained sadly. "They might as well have our lives then," he mumbled quietly.

Ailis knew her childhood was gone. From the moment the invaders arrived, slaughtering innocent people and destroying her family, she knew she would have to fight for her people to survive. She had to stop them, somehow she needed to find a way.