Meeting the castle Overking

"It was a wee lad who careened into you and knocked you clean down the last several steps." Mrs. MacConnell said. "He came to us in the spring, along with a few others for fostering."

Kayleigh recalled that the practice of fostering involved a period of five years, during which children were left in the care of 'foster parents' to strengthen distant family bonds or political bonds.

Kayleigh closed her eyes for a moment, but she still couldn't remember the incident.

"Best get moving lass, the Overking is waiting." Mrs. MacConnell reminded her.

Kayleigh drained the last of her cup and Mrs. MacConnell took it and passed it off to another girl in the kitchen.

Both women made their way to the door. Mrs. MacConnell led Kayleigh through the main part of the castle, and as they walked silently, Kayleigh tried to remember more about the previous memories of this body.

Kayleigh remembered that her father had died recently, and it was up to her 'fine' (a large kin-group of people descended from a single male ancestor) to take charge of her mother, herself and her younger siblings. She knew she had been separated from her remaining 'cland' (nuclear family), but why she wasn't sure.

"Ah, here we are!" exclaimed Mrs. MacConnell.

They had stopped in front of an ornately carved solid wood door.

'This must be the Overking's office.' Kayleigh thought.

Mrs. MacConnell knocked on the door. A loud, booming, male voice bellowed "Come in!"

She opened the door and Kayleigh followed her inside.

Mrs. MacConnell did the introductions. "Ri Mor Tuath O'neill, (Overking O'neill)," she bowed, "this lass is Kayleigh Brown of Derry."

Overking O'neill, stood. He was a tall man with a powerful- looking build. It was no wonder he was considered the most competent man to become the Overking of this region.

"Miss Kayleigh." He greeted her kindly, "It is nice to finally put a name to a face." He smiled, then added, "When your kinsman, the Toisech Tuaithe, (who was the chief of Kayleigh's territory), wrote to me of you, he said you were a fine- looking lass, but I fear the words didn't do your beauty enough justice."

"Thank you," Kayleigh curtsied, "Ri Mor Tuath O'neill."

Hearing him speak of the Toisech Tuaithe of Kayleigh's people in their Tuath (a small territory belonging to her kin) which was ran by the strongest man of their bloodline, brought back further puzzle pieces of her memory. She could recall after her father died, she was separated from her mother and younger siblings after the funeral. They were placed under the care of her father's younger brother, while her situation was different. There were certain laws and customs followed by her people.

As an unmarried woman, the custody of Kayleigh would usually be passed on to the nearest male relative, but since her father was in high esteem with their territory chief (due to his work) and the fact that she was 20 and unmarried, the situation called for the Toisech Tuaithe to be her legal guardian.

The Toisech Tuaithe of her people had written their Ri Mor Tuath (O'neill), about Kayleigh in order to network and see if the Overking could help him secure a good match. He was desperate to find Kayleigh a husband and have her married off.

"How are you feeling now?" Overking O'neill asked Kayleigh.

"I fair well enough, thank you. It is the bandage that makes it look worse than it is. The worst of it is the ache in my head." Kayleigh said gesturing to the place with her hand.

"Hmm." Said Overking O'neill. "I will not keep you long here today then. I will talk further about your situation with you in two days' time. I expect to see you tomorrow morning while I hold Hall." He sat back down in his chair. "In the meantime, I hope you rest well for the remainder of the day, and I am glad to welcome you to the castle."

"Thank you." Kayleigh said and bowed respectfully. Mrs. MacConnell also bowed to the Overking and the two women exited.

After the door was closed, Mrs. MacConnell said, "I'll lead you up to your room, so you can have a wee rest if you would like. I do not expect to see you at dinner tonight; so I will send one of my girls up with a tray for you."

"Thank you, that would be nice of you." Kayleigh said. "But Mrs. MacConnell, do you have any idea why he would want me to be at Hall tomorrow morning?"

Mrs. MacConnell laughed. "Do not worry lass, it is not you who will be judged! He simply needs you present for the trial on the lad."

"Trial on the lad?" Kayleigh mused aloud.

"Yes, lass. The lad who sent you so unceremoniously down the stairs."

"Oh! Him, of course." Kayleigh said hurriedly.

"Silly, girl!" Mrs. MacConnell said with a chuckle. "Some rest, some good food, and I will have you right as rain by tomorrow morning."

When they reached a wooden door close to the stair on the second floor, Mrs. MacConnell stopped. She opened the door announcing, "Here we are."

Kayleigh stepped through the doorway and could now see the room clearer. On the far wall was a small window with heavy curtains, and the room itself was four meters by six. There was a small mattress on top of a wooden bedframe, topped with quilts, a chest-of-drawers, and a washbasin atop a wooden stand with a built-in towel rack. The small hand-held silvered mirror beside the washbasin caught her eye.

The only other things in the room were three travel trunks, housing all Kayleigh's personal belongings.

"Well, I shall let you be for the time being." Mrs. MacConnell said. "Besides, I need to check that none of the girls in the kitchen have gotten out of line."

Mrs. MacConnell exited, closing the door behind her, leaving Kayleigh to sit on the edge of the bed, alone with her thoughts.