I am awakened by a fresh morning drizzle just before sunrise, lying by the fire. It is not enough to get soaked, but it is wet. It is just the kind where I would have to decide if I needed to turn on the windshield wipers and risk streaking the windows.
I still remember meeting the lady in the chamber, but I am lying by the fire. “How did I get back here?” I ask.
“You’ve always been here,” Liam says. “It’s time to go.”
Others are preparing their horses for travel. My head is still spinning from my encounter. How could that be a dream? My heart is still full from her touch. It had to be real. Nothing else can explain why I am so calm and no longer doubting where I am going.
But I miss having my morning coffee. Who knew there was no coffee in medieval Ireland? The fire has died down with little warmth to offer. I pick up my blanket and saddle and walk over to my horse, wiping off the dampness and laying them on his back, buckling the straps. The Gaelic warriors have already mounted and are waiting for me.
“It takes time to saddle a horse,” I say, realizing this is my first time. I mount my horse. There is some discussion, but I tune it out, feeling a communication barrier between us. I certainly hope the Irish king speaks some English.
Liam rides up next to me. “We should arrive by midday if everything goes well. Do you need any food or drink?”
I pat my wineskin. “I am good. Thanks.” I feel like I am getting away with something, drinking wine. At least it is helping to numb me on this long road trip. On horses, nonetheless.
Liam turns his steed around and says something in Gaelic to the group of warriors, then leads us down the trail.
We leave the forest and enter a green meadow covered in mist, glistening in the morning sun. I see a partial rainbow and imagine I am seeing the little folk and fairies. Or am I? I wouldn’t believe if it wasn’t for last night. It is all so magical. This is Ireland after all, where leprechaun and fairy stories come from.
We travel most of the morning and stop near an ancient oak tree. I dismount, grab the saddlebag, and walk over to the tree, stretching my legs. My horse finds a good patch of grass nearby. I sit on one of the lower limbs and dig out the sack of goodies Aisling gave me, pulling out a chunk of crusted bread and peppered meat strips. It is dry, but it is something. I unwrap the cloth, look at the wedge of cheese again in better light, and realize only a little mold is on its edge. I scrape it off and take a bite. My stomach is growling, and I need some nourishment. The dried meat could use more seasoning, but it isn’t bad overall. Everything tastes wonderful when I wash it down with wine.
The warriors stay on their horses and pass their food and water around. Liam sees me eating and rides over to me. “You came prepared as if you knew you were taking this journey.” He dismounts and sits next to me.
“I didn’t know, but Aisling, my maidservant, must have. Did she tip you off somehow?”
“No. I don’t know this, Aisling.”
I look into his eyes, and he is not lying. Maybe I can trust Aisling. “So this is important to you and your king?”
“Yes, it is. We need to repair relations since the Norman wars. Your English king has forgotten about you, and there is much we can offer each other.”
“How are you getting along with the other Normans?”
“Many have befriended us and adopted our ways. Some of us hope for a united Ireland without conflict and wars.”
“Has anyone told you that you look like a Viking?” I ask, noting his braided beard and red hair.
“What? —Because of my red hair?”
“You’re also big in stature, and your beard looks Viking.”
“Could be. The Vikings came before the Normans. There are a lot of us with red hair, though. Even yours.”
I forgot that my hair was also red, and so was Anna’s. “Maybe it’s in all of us. So your king thinks this meeting will help?”
“It has been his plan. Your father was not open to discussion. We had to seek an opportunity by other means.”
“How did you know I would be out yesterday?”
“I didn’t, but I heard you were coming out into the country, away from your home. We waited for the right opportunity. And the king’s daughter thought this was a good time to find you.”
Did he say king’s daughter? “How would she know?”
“She is a seer and advisor to the king. She’s quite good at foretelling the future.”
“That’s interesting. Is she a druid?”
“I don’t think so. Druids used to be common long ago, but she may just be a seer.”
“What would you have done if I chose not to come?”
“You probably would have been bound and walking behind your horse. I don’t think that would have benefited either of us.”
“I appreciate your trust in me.”
“You’re a good man, Lord John. I can see you were raised well.”
I was uncertain before last night, but now I know this is part of my journey. “You seem good as well, but I didn’t know we had to travel so far.”
“The Irish rule the western lands without English interference.” He stands and mounts his horse. “It’s time to go.”
I grab the saddlebag, tie it back onto the saddle, and remount.
Liam says something in Gaelic to the others and then to me. “We should be there in a few more hours.” He spins his horse around and leads the party west through the countryside, staying in the forest’s shadow.