Nell finds Arran
31st October 1102
The coals smouldered hotly in the stove casting a warm glow over the sleeping figure. The blankets lay in a tangled knot, wound partially around his foot where they had been kicked. Now his body shivered as the sweat that plastered his unruly hair to his feverish, flushed face dried on his clammy skin. His limbs were thrown out at awkward angles so that he lay like puppet with the strings removed.
Kelgar makes a mess of things again
31st October 1102
“Good evening folks”, Kelgar crooned strolling around the corner.
“Christ I wish yew would quit with the corny sometimes Kelgar”, Osras muttered under his breath, striding up to stand next to his brother.
Igrayne gets some advice
31st October 1102
“Thank yew Igrayne”, Arran said softly with a smile as she bent down to retrieve his empty plate.
Igrayne is hollow
31st October 1102
Despite the occasional cool breeze twining around Igrayne’s body like the breath of a lost soul, the party was remarkably cosy. They were seated around the heavy wooden table, lovingly notched together by Noah’s steady hands. Although the world around was dark and forbidding, they had created a small pocket of warmth and conviviality within the radius of the light from the dancing flames.
Illewen wishes
31st October, 1102
Igrayne rounded the corner in time to see Polina launching her swollen body at Arran.
“Arran love!”, she cried slightly too enthusiastically, “Happy Birthday!”
Arran and Igrayne watch the sunset
31st October 1102
“Yew really think so?” he smiled at her tentatively, “I mean, I’ve always been sayin’ so myself an’ Noah, he agrees but we never had the chance to ask a ladies opinion before now”.
His face glowed pink, the afternoon light suffusing his skin with a healthy glow Igrayne had scarcely seen. Had he always been this pale and wan? His freckles stood out amongst the pallid skin of his face like mud flecks floating on the surface of the milk pail, splattered from a hoof kicked up in irritation. She tried to recall the Arran of old but she could never reach further back than a skinny, gangly boy hiding behind his unruly hair and his stutter.
Igrayne goes to wish
31st October 1102
It was unseasonably warm for the end of October, the afternoon sun’s rays gently kissing her face as she walked from the ships. The fresh, earthy smell of the neatly ploughed fields mingled with the salty air as it wafted onshore with the faint breeze.
Igrayne has a visitor
There was a timid knock at the door. Igrayne looked up in surprise. Hepsie had already been to check on her today and of course Maire never bothered to knock, flinging the door to their room widely heedless of what was going on inside. Igrayne had become used to ripping her dresses frantically over her head and stuffing her body into her nightgown. Otherwise anyone else who might happen to be walking past at the time would be granted a full view of her body and Igrayne intended to keep that privilege for her husband.
“Come in”, she croaked, swallowing painfully to try and clear her dry throat.
Arran lives the night again
Before him lay a crumpled figure, her limbs skewed at odd angles, her plain homemade dress bunching around her legs, golden hair draping softly over a beautiful face.
Smears of blood stained her perfect face, dribbling from her nose, flowing over the soft curves of her lips and rolling down her cheek. Tiny white flowers stood guard around her fallen body, their faces defiant as they clustered around her.
