For the second time in her short lifetime, Grainne was relieved to find herself still amongst the living, but it came with a painful price, her head was wrack with intense pain.

The women that tended to her needs and wounds were the wives and promised wives of the men she had injured up north at Raudh’s stronghold. This was the custom___ the way of the People of Erin, to treat and care for a prisoner as if they were an honored guest, anything less would be an insult on one’s household.

Once she was deemed healthy by the master physician and his colleagues, Grainne was taken to the Great Assembly House of Ulster, located on a lower hilltop in the fortification of Emain Macha. Thousands gathered to get a glimpse of the infamous Red Girl.

In the Assembly House’s great chamber, Grainne stood before Ulster’s clan Chieftains, the chariot chiefs of the Red Branch, leaders of Ulster and of the Red Branch, the Chief Brehon, Chief Druid, and Ulster’s King Conchobar mac Nessa. Many in the great hall called for the Connacht woman to be put to death, while others suggested that she be exiled from the land of Erin.

The decision was left to Conchobar, after much debating with his close advisors, it was decided that Grainne of Connacht was to be exiled to the Isle of Mana; a small, rocky Island with shingle beaches and hills with grass-covered slates, that lies in the sea of Erin, between the kingdoms of Erin, Alba, and Albion.

From the Islands highest summit, Grainne was able to see the Brython Kingdoms of Rheged, Cymru, and of Gwynedd.
Grainne’s curiosity was peaked as to what new adventures awaited her in the land of the Brythons. She was well aware that the kingdom of Erin held only death for her.

With the aid of the Island inhabitants, Grainne was able to set sail to the great land mass of the Brythons, with its majestic white coastal cliffs.

In this land of fractured tribes, and constant warring kingdoms of Angles, Saxons, Brythons, and Picts, Grainne was quickly recruited into a villainous organization called, the Red Butcher’s Horde, led by Cynglas the Red Butcher. The Horde’s members consisted of swordsmen and women, cutthroats, thieves, mercenaries, and exiles of various lands and clans, who terrorized and plundered Alba’s central kingdoms and southern kingdoms to Albion’s Kingdom of Northumbria, Cymru, down to the Kingdom of Mercia.

The Angle Brytenwealda, Edwin son of Alle, Over-King of the Kingdom of Northumbria, signed a truce with Urien ap Cynfarch the warrior king of the Kingdom of Rheged, the Mercian King, Penda son of Pybba, the High King of the Brythons, Cadwallon, and the King of Calchwynedd; the Chalk-Hills Cadrod son of Cynwyd ap Cynfelyn, to put aside their age old hatreds, and form a military confederation, to put an end to Cynglas and his outlaw band of wanton criminals for once and all.

Deep in the midland Kingdom of Pengwern, King Edwin of Northumbria with his confederation of a hundred thousand foot-troops and twenty thousand horsemen, surrounded Cynglas’ forces of only ten thousand strong deep in the Forest of Gwyardyr; the Forest of Blood.

On that day, Grainne’s life came almost to an end, as King Edwin’s large superior force came pouring into the forest, clashing with Cynglas’ horseman and smashing the Butcher’s ranks.

In no time the vast forest was filled with the sounds of men yelling orders, the screams and cries of dying men, and the thunderous roar of Edwin’s horsemen as they mercilessly trample fleeing members of the Red Butcher’s Horde.

The confusion, the din of battle, the smell of blood and death was so intense, that Cynglas could not marshal his horde into a semi-balance of a fighting force. The sky by that afternoon was blacken by large flocks of carrion birds, blocking out the sun and sky. The forest floor was covered with the bodies of the slain and the broken. The forest ground was so drenched with blood and gore that many warriors found it almost impossible to keep one’s footing.

Grainne and her fellow Horde members fought all day and night, before they could break through the lines of soldiers and bowmen under the cover of darkness and in the confusion of battle, taking flight northward toward Alba’s kingdoms that were sympathetic to the Horde.

Near the Kingdom of Rheged, Cynglas the red butcher, Uther the horrible, and Ursus the horrible bear, were cut down by the forces under the command of King Urien of Rheged, as were many other survivors of the Forest of Blood.

They were savagely slaughtered to a man. Grainne with fleet of foot was able to escape the horsemen, losing them in the thickets of the woods.

She continued northward into the Kingdom of Rheged and Strathclyde, crawling on her belly, hiding in the heathers, merging herself in the marshes, and remaining there for days with only her head out of the water to avoid King Edwin’s confederation of horsemen and soldiers. Grainne was able to nourish her body by eating rodents, grass, the barks and roots of trees.

It was several months past the massacre at the Forest of Blood, before Grainne realized she was in Pict territory.
She was taken prisoner by a southern tribe of Picts who were patrolling the vast southern borders that were adjacent with the Scottias and Brythons.

The Pictish Toiseach; commander, decided to bring the half-starved, half-dead girl to the southern military outpost at Dunnichen, after he heard her tale of the Red Butcher’s demise.

At Dunnichen, Grainne related her adventures to the Mormaers, the local lords of Dunnichen. After much rest and well needed medical care, Grainne was escorted northward to the northern Pictish hillfort of Craig Phadrig, the seat of King Brude mac Maelchon, the slayer, the Over-King of Pictland. There she related her tale to the nobles of the Pictish Royal House of the Bull and Boar.

King Brude was much impressed with the young girl’s warrior spirit. He decreed that Grainne was to travel to the Isle of Scitis, and submit herself to the Pictish Warrior-Queen, Aife daughter of Ardgeimm, requesting entrance into her school of warriors.

With a broad grin and a slap on the shoulder Brude presented Grainne with a pendant, the seal of the royal House of the Bull and Boar. This would give Grainne safe passage to Aife’s mountain top fortress at Dun A’Cheo, the Fortress of Mist.

Escorting Grainne on this journey to the Shadowy Isle of the Legendary Warrior-Queens was several of Brude’s most trusted warriors. The steersman took the hide-skin boat within the shadows of the imposing sea cliffs, entering a deep loch surrounded by dominating mountain formations of black basalt.

The fair-haired, long limbed, Pictish steersman skillfully guided his craft into a small opening in the face of a landslip rock formation, entering a world of total darkness. Grainne thought to herself, this must be what it feels like to travel to the Danann’s Otherworld.

It was hours later before they emerged to the other side, into a secluded bay, surrounded by a dramatic picturesque coastline with tempestuous watercourses and breathtaking waterfalls. A heavy mist hung high, giving the high rock formations a brooding intensity.

Grainne’s escorts informed her that she was now in the Sanctuary of Aife’s realm. Looking about, Grainne was certain that this was the land of yesteryear, when the Formori roamed the land as its masters. Rounding a bend, the Pictish guides aimed their boat towards a cliff face of black rock, sheltered in the rocky landscape was a village, built amongst the strange rock forms.

The villagers greeted the travelers with open-arms, offering them shelter and food. Grainne presented the village chieftain with Brude’s pendant, stating that she is to journey on to Aife’s fortress.

The Chieftain assured Grainne and her escorts that on the following morning they will depart for the long journey to the Fortress of Mist.

Early the following morning, before the sun had time to top the mountains, Grainne’s Pictish escorts gave their farewells, their mission was completed. Grainne looked on with longing as the Pictish craft disappeared into the early morning mist. Over the past few weeks, she had grown very fond of the Picts of Alba’s highlands.

The journey to Aife’s fortress was a long treacherous odyssey through a precarious land untouched by the outside world. To Grainne the land was beautiful, magnificent, and haunting. Everywhere she looked, she was always in the shadows of the brooding, mist-covered mountain ridges.

Approaching the Fortress up the bluff point was awe inspiring, the massive stone, earth and timber structure was built on an enormous outcrop of towering pillared basalt. Three huge ramparts and ditches, wide and deep enough to swallow an entire army, surrounded the grand structure, with timber walls that reached well into the mist. At times during their approach, Grainne was certain she saw movement amongst the wall tops.

At the gate Grainne was greeted by several hard-face women warriors, as before she presented the warriors her pendant. Passing through the single entrance of the three outer ramparts brought Grainne and her escorts within an inner fortification, with its own defenses and enclosures on two separate levels.

The inner area of Aife’s fort was immense, covering an inner area three times the size of Leinster’s hilltop fortress. Every where Grainne look, there was warriors training hard at their task exercises.

Grainne was taken to the chariot exercise yard, where Aife was working out her much loved horses. A tall, muscular woman with flaming red hair halted her chariot car in front of Grainne and her party.

“Who is this child that you bring before me?” Aife asked of her gate commander.

“She was sent by King Brude of Pictland.” The commander replied, giving Aife the pendant of Brule’s royal house.

“What is your name child?” Aife asked the wide-eyed girl. “How did you come in possession of the royal seal of the King of Kings of the Pictish Nation?”

“I am Grainne, daughter of Fintaan, son of the mountain, descended from Genand son of Dil, son of Loch, of the tribe of Fir Domnann, the sons of Dark, of the Connacht night country.” Grainne thoughtfully answered in her girlish sweet voice. “Exiled from my homeland of Erin, by the Ulster King Conchobar mac Nessa, for the crime of murdering a craven dog who brought shame upon me, I am the Red Girl who battled Ulster’s famed Red Branch to a standstill.I am the Red Girl who made the Ulster King’s famous shield cry its warning of the king’s dire peril. I am the Red Girl who stood face to face with the king’s champion, Fergus mac Roich, giving the large warrior two life threatening wounds that he surely could not survive, and lived to tell of it. OF late I am the only known survivor of Cynglas’ outlaw band.”

A broad smile crosses Aife’s beautiful face as she listens to Grainne’s tale of adventure. “Welcome sister-warrior.” Aife interrupts Grainne, giving her a welcoming hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I have been waiting for you, my dear. For months, the eastern and western night winds would entertain me with your warrior prowess. You are what I look for in a student to be admitted in my school of warriors.”

“Pardon my asking, but your warriors are all women, are there no male warriors?” Asked Grainne, surveying the vast enclosure, with its numerous yards, everywhere she looked there was a hard bodied female, with the radiant beauty of a noble born.

Laughter broke out amongst the gathering crowd, as the female warriors of Aife’s school pressed in to get a look at Aife’s new student.

“My dear girl, there are no men in Dun A’Cheo, only female warriors who are more than a match for any man.” Laughed Aife, as she gave Grainne a hardly slap on the shoulder.

Grainne’s days were soon filled with intensive training in the arts of combat, weaponry, and the arts of conducting warfare.

At night the veteran women of Dun A’Cheo took their turn introducing Grainne to the ancient female art of love making. The first two years at Dun A’Cheo was filled with spectacular wonderments and extraordinary achievements, new found friendship and young love.

By the third year, the tranquility on the island was broken by a vicious feud between Aife and the Island’s western Queen, Scathach the Shadowy one, a warrior-queen and a mistress, who also trains young warriors in the art of combat and war.

Many of Scathach’s students are from the Island of Erin. They are the noble born, the sons of Erin’s chieftain clans, and the young sons of Erin’s kings.

For many months both sides would conduct bloody raids into the other’s realm, stealing their livestock, slaughtering their people. Land in the western and eastern realms have both been razed, countless innocents killed on both sides. The inhabitants of the island began calling the feud; the War of the Warrior Queens of Scitis.

Neither side could claim victory or defeat after a full year’s past; both armies were equal in strength and ferocity. Each queen was satisfied with just sending out small raiding parties, engaging in small-scale skirmishers.

That all change one day, when Aife’s high-commander and lover was ambushed then brutally rape by the male warriors of Scathach’s army, before they decided to slit her throat and leave her to be found by Aife’s forces.
Aife was so infuriated, that she marshaled her entire army for an outright assault on Scathach’s realm.

On the Magh na Fola, Plain of Blood, both armies faced off. Chariot warriors on both sides thundered back and forth, brandishing their weapons above their heads, reciting the valiant deeds of their honored ancestors, and boasting of their own high achievements.

Warrior after warrior would step out of their skirmisher line, and loudly belittle and insult their opponents. Others would challenge any who thought they were the most valiant, to single combat.

With a terrifying war-cry from thousands, Aife’s female warriors were the first to burst forth into a ferocious charge of bodies. The din of battle they say could be heard by the kings and warriors of Erin and Alba.

Grainne’s supple quickness allowed her to be everywhere at once, her sword a silvery tongue of red death, striking left and right. She would dart underneath the warrior’s attack, parrying and feinting their savage sword strikes with a graceful ease, before driving her sword into their bellies.

The battle was going badly for Aife’s army, it seemed that Scathach’s forces were getting the upper hand and were slowly forcing Aife and her female warriors to fight on the defence.

At one point, Aife was hard press by to young warriors, the sons of Scathach; Cet and Cuar. In the process of defending herself; the Queen of Dun A’Cheo tripped over a fallen warrior, leaving her defenseless and open to her adversaries’ deadly attack. With little time to act, Grainne swiftly hurled her sword at the nearest attacker, logging the sword deep into the side of his head. With her feet, she kicked a javelin into her waiting hand; with deadly accuracy she guided the missile into his heart as he was about to deliver his death blow upon Aife.

This was the turning point in the battle that Aife needed. With renew vigor she was able to regroup her forces with the help of Grainne who was drunk with the battle lust. By night fall, Aife was able to break the morale of Scathach’s army. Aife ordered her horse legion to give chase when Scathach’s army broke and turn tale running, after many witness their western queen go down in defeat.

The slaughter continued well into the night as the female warriors sacked Scathach’s Fortress, slaughtering all who dare oppose them.

By morning the women were happily carrying off their spoils of prisoners, cattle, gold, weapons and heads. Amongst the throng of prisoners was one badly injured western queen that Aife decided to release for the good of the island.

That night at the Dun A’Cheo, Aife presented Grainne the curadhmhir, the champion’s portion of meat and drink, the highest honour anyone could receive.

After the festivities had died down, Aife brought Grainne into her royal sleeping quarters and offered her the friendship of her thighs, that she will always be indebted to Grainne.

Months after the battle at Magh na Fola, which became nickname the Battle of the Great Slaughter, Grainne began having disturbing dreams. In her dreams she would see the face of Fergus mac Roich laughing at her, then striking her till she would wake up screaming, drenched in her own sweat. Each night it was the same, at times she could hear the voice of the Morrigan saying to her that “there is work unfinished, the son of the great horse still lives.” Night after night the awful dreams would invade her sleep, and night after night, Aife would hold the screaming girl in her arms, gently holding and comforting her.

After much time and thought, Grainne requested of Aife to release her from service, for there was matters of great importance that needed attention. Aife gladly granted the request, as gratitude for her loyal service; Aife presented Grainne with a sea craft, given to her by a prince from the lands of ice and mist.

By a month’s past, Grainne had recruited a hardy crew from the Island and from the tribes of Pictland. On the open sea of Erin, Grainne made her name known to the kings of Albion and Erin’s coastline.

All trading vessels were subject to Grainne’s wraith. Her black ship named the Morrigan’s revenge, with its grim trophies of severed heads adorning the gunwales, struck fear in the hearts of even the most seasoned seaman. With her crew of fierce Pictish warriors, Grainne would lead from the front on daring forays into Erin’s Kingdoms of Munster, Leinster, and Ulster. Albion received most of her fury for the slaughter at the Forest of Gwyardyr; many of the villages were razed to the ground, taking the village’s livestock and inhabitants for the slave markets.

Grainne after every raid would give a portion of her spoils to King Brude of the Picts, as payment for allowing her to recruit amongst his people, and for the safe haven. In time the sea of Erin became known as the sea of the Red Girl. Grainne picked up many nicknames from many of the kings she harass, the most notable was, the Queen of Erin’s Sea. Now that she brought Albion’s coastal kingdoms to their knees, she decided to turn her attention to Erin’s Kingdom of Ulster, and to a man call Fergus mac Roich.



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