Free Brian Boru by Morgan Llywelyn Page A

ambitions to himself.
    That evening, however, he stood once more on the walls of Cashel and looked out over the land. Over Ireland.
    At dawn he led his warriors out to meet the enemy.
    Cian of Desmond brought the Owenachts to fight with Brian. By a series of forced marches, they came up behind the warriors of the Deise, taking them by surprise and winning a major victory. The Deise, together with allies from among the Waterford Danes, and also some of Donal’s Leinstermen, fell back to Waterford, seeking protection behind its walls. Brian pursued them and wiped out all pockets of resistance. Then he set off northward to deal personally with the King of Leinster.
    Donal was horrified by the size of the army that came marching towards his stronghold at Naas. At first he denied knowing of any plot involving the Deise and the Danes of Waterford. Then Brian led forward the prisoners of war, who included a number of Donal’s kinsmen.
    With bad grace, Donal was forced to admit, ‘I sent warriors against you, Dalcassian. I believe you have overstepped yourself and thought it was wise to take a bit out of you.’
    Brian, who was a head taller than Donal and twenty years younger, smiled. ‘You are not able to take even a nibble out of me. You are choking on the effort. You wanted to see Leinster superior over Munster, but you shall not see that in my lifetime. And to make certain you remember your error, I shall revive the ancient tribute once claimed against your province by mine for the murder of a southern prince. Each year from now on youare to send to Cashel three hundred horses, three hundred cows, three hundred swords, and three hundred cloaks. You will also acknowledge me as foremost ruler in the south.’
    Donal’s lips were thin with anger. ‘You take a lot on yourself. I suppose you demand marriage with one of my daughters as well? That was part of the ancient tribute, was it not – the King of Munster married a princess of Leinster?’
    ‘I have recently taken a wife,’ Brian replied, ‘and so you are excused from that part of the tribute. For now. As long as my woman remains in good health. But you shall deliver the first of it to me at once, as I mean to share it out among my loyal followers.’
    Donal was surprised. ‘You aren’t going to keep it for yourself, then?’
    ‘I am not,’ said Brian Boru.
    Donal had no choice but to agree. His stronghold was surrounded by Brian’s men, who had arrived before he could summon enough defenders to ward them off. Many of Brian’s army rode horses now. The bards claimed the Dalcassian cavalry moved so swiftly the air behind them could not catch up until they halted for the night.
    ‘We shall begin gathering your tribute tomorrow,’ Donal told Brian in a surly tone. ‘Enjoy it while you can. Our turn will come.’
    Faster than thought, Brian moved. Suddenly the point of a shortsword was pressing into Donal’s throat. ‘Do not threaten me, Leinster,’ Brian said in a cold and deadly voice. ‘Do not ever, ever, threaten me.’
    Donal did not say another word until the army of Munster had disappeared over the horizon. Then he told his court he had been prevented from speaking by a sorethroat. Most of them seemed to believe him. He was relieved that the girl called Gormla, daughter of one of his princely cousins, was not there, however. She had sharp eyes and would have seen through the lie, and laughed at him. Gormla had only contempt for any sort of weakness. But fortunately she had recently been married to Olaf Cuaran, the aging Norse King of Dublin.
    Donal secretly felt sorry for any man married to the wild, wilful, beautiful Gormla.

CHAPTER NINE
Tribal Warfare
    With every season that passed, Brian’s goals were expanding. The action of the Waterford Danes in causing a rebellion on the part of the Deise made him more convinced than ever that the power of the foreigners, whether Danish or Norse, must be broken forever in Ireland.
    When he was a little boy,