twice turned back. Then Raymond came to me with a plan. ‘I’ve noticed a small timber building fixed to one of the walls,’ he said. ‘It’s an outpost for guards, I think. But the important thing is, it has been built into the wall. If itwere torn loose, part of the wall would come with it.’
I was beginning to be glad I had given my sister to Raymond le Gros.
My men attacked the sentry post with a will, hacking at it with their weapons while the defenders hurled spears and curses at us from the walls of the town. Soon the little timber building came down, with a crash. When the dust had settled we could see that the wall was broken.
We poured through. I was in the forefront, yelling. Never have I felt so brave in battle, or so eager. Together with my men I hacked and slashed and killed until we reached the centre of the town, where a stone cathedral stood.
Only then did I recall that these people were Christians. My upraised arm trembled. I put down my sword and stood, panting. But my army didn’t stop. They fought most savagely, until the two Norse chieftains of the town came and offered to surrender.
They were sent to me and knelt before me with bowed heads as if I were a king.
Around us, their town burned.
Chapter 17
AOIFE
Meeting a Future Husband
After so long a wait, once Strongbow reached Ireland things happened with dizzying speed. No sooner had we learned of his arrival than a messenger came from him, inviting Father to take part in the capture of Waterford.
My father was startled. He told me, ‘I thought Strongbow would want to meet me first so we could plan together. I thought he’d want my advice, my ideas, my leadership …’
‘He doesn’t appear to need it,’ I remarked thoughtlessly. It was the first time I ever recall hurting my father’s feelings, and I was sorry at once.
Father went off by himself, with a black scowl on his face. He made no effort to hurry to Waterford. Nor, as it proved, was there any need. Within two days we learned that Waterford had fallen, and now Father was being formally summoned by the conqueror.
‘Richard de Clare, Earl of Strigul, requests Dermot, King of Leinster, together with his daughter Aoife, to attend him at once in Waterford town,’ the messenger announced.
Father was both furious and admiring at the same time. ‘The man struts like a peacock!’ he cried. ‘How dare he all but order me to come? What arrogance.’ Then he smiled. ‘What a victory, Aoife. Imagine. Two days in Ireland, and he has already taken Waterford.What can I not do with such a man on my side?’
My mother was terribly excited. ‘You’re going to meet the man you may marry,’ she kept reminding me, ‘and we want you to look your best.’
I tossed my head. ‘Let him worry about looking his best for me. If I don’t like him, I won’t marry him.’
Mother sighed. ‘You’re still like a wild animal. I hope this Strongbow can tame you.’
But Father merely said, ‘Don’t shame me, Aoife.’
Then my feelings were hurt. I would never, ever, do anything to shame him! So I stood quietly and let them plait my hair and bathe my body and dress me in fine robes. Our stock of gold and silver ornaments was not as large as it had once been, but rings were found for my arms and fingers, and a band of gold was twisted around my throat. Then I was wrapped in a new wool cloak and Father with his own hands set me upon the second best horse he had.
Followed by his warriors, we rode for Waterford.
Even from a distance, we could see the dark spirals of smoke rising from the captured town. I remembered the day I had seen Ferns burning, and wondered if Father was thinking of that too. But when I looked at him his face was blank. He stared straight ahead.
The northern gateway of the city gaped open, for the big timber gates had been torn from their iron hinges and burned. It was like Ferns all over again, but worse. We could smell death on the warm August air.
As we rode
I was beginning to be glad I had given my sister to Raymond le Gros.
My men attacked the sentry post with a will, hacking at it with their weapons while the defenders hurled spears and curses at us from the walls of the town. Soon the little timber building came down, with a crash. When the dust had settled we could see that the wall was broken.
We poured through. I was in the forefront, yelling. Never have I felt so brave in battle, or so eager. Together with my men I hacked and slashed and killed until we reached the centre of the town, where a stone cathedral stood.
Only then did I recall that these people were Christians. My upraised arm trembled. I put down my sword and stood, panting. But my army didn’t stop. They fought most savagely, until the two Norse chieftains of the town came and offered to surrender.
They were sent to me and knelt before me with bowed heads as if I were a king.
Around us, their town burned.
Chapter 17
AOIFE
Meeting a Future Husband
After so long a wait, once Strongbow reached Ireland things happened with dizzying speed. No sooner had we learned of his arrival than a messenger came from him, inviting Father to take part in the capture of Waterford.
My father was startled. He told me, ‘I thought Strongbow would want to meet me first so we could plan together. I thought he’d want my advice, my ideas, my leadership …’
‘He doesn’t appear to need it,’ I remarked thoughtlessly. It was the first time I ever recall hurting my father’s feelings, and I was sorry at once.
Father went off by himself, with a black scowl on his face. He made no effort to hurry to Waterford. Nor, as it proved, was there any need. Within two days we learned that Waterford had fallen, and now Father was being formally summoned by the conqueror.
‘Richard de Clare, Earl of Strigul, requests Dermot, King of Leinster, together with his daughter Aoife, to attend him at once in Waterford town,’ the messenger announced.
Father was both furious and admiring at the same time. ‘The man struts like a peacock!’ he cried. ‘How dare he all but order me to come? What arrogance.’ Then he smiled. ‘What a victory, Aoife. Imagine. Two days in Ireland, and he has already taken Waterford.What can I not do with such a man on my side?’
My mother was terribly excited. ‘You’re going to meet the man you may marry,’ she kept reminding me, ‘and we want you to look your best.’
I tossed my head. ‘Let him worry about looking his best for me. If I don’t like him, I won’t marry him.’
Mother sighed. ‘You’re still like a wild animal. I hope this Strongbow can tame you.’
But Father merely said, ‘Don’t shame me, Aoife.’
Then my feelings were hurt. I would never, ever, do anything to shame him! So I stood quietly and let them plait my hair and bathe my body and dress me in fine robes. Our stock of gold and silver ornaments was not as large as it had once been, but rings were found for my arms and fingers, and a band of gold was twisted around my throat. Then I was wrapped in a new wool cloak and Father with his own hands set me upon the second best horse he had.
Followed by his warriors, we rode for Waterford.
Even from a distance, we could see the dark spirals of smoke rising from the captured town. I remembered the day I had seen Ferns burning, and wondered if Father was thinking of that too. But when I looked at him his face was blank. He stared straight ahead.
The northern gateway of the city gaped open, for the big timber gates had been torn from their iron hinges and burned. It was like Ferns all over again, but worse. We could smell death on the warm August air.
As we rode
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