The Celtic Dreamer Book 1 (Mac -The Search for Cáitlin)

Chapter 1 – Setting Out (The Journey Begins)

There wasn’t a sound in Dúnta except for the rustle of birds in the trees as they settled for the night. The sun gently dropped lower on the horizon. It had been a hot bright day and the forest that looked out onto the sea at the Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim stood tall and strong.

“Creeeaaaaaak,”

The silence was shattered as a door latch lifted slowly.

“Och I should have oiled the hinges,” the small man muttered as he tried to slip out quietly. Clutching a packed bag tightly he closed the still creaking door and tiptoed away as quickly and quietly as he could. This seemed the best time to come out without being seen as his neighbours were inside their homes eating their evening meal, after a long day’s work. It would be noisier after darkness had fallen.

“Maybe I’ll get away without being noticed after all,” he thought as he moved on, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

“Are you off again Mac?” A voice came from behind him.

Mac stiffened. He was annoyed. His nosy cousin must have been watching again. And the silly door had given the signal that he was going out. He’d really hoped to leave un-noticed. Explaining where he was going and how long he might be was difficult and also could be unsettling for the neighbours.

“Oh! I’m just off to visit the family down in Neagh Woods. For the Lughnasa parties there,” he said over his shoulder. The Lughnasa parties were held all over the country in homes to celebrate the harvests and the ending of summer. Both children and adults looked forward to meeting and having fun and delicious food before the days started getting shorter and the harsh winter began.

“But the parties are on here too, you’ll miss everything. They will be starting shortly”

“Well I want to see my family anyway,” Mac turned to answer, then continued walking backwards to put some distance between them. He was careful not to walk too quickly, in case he fell. If that happened he would be delayed even more.

“I knew when you closed the window in your shop earlier that you must be going away again.” Teanga Mór didn’t want to miss any news he could tell the other villagers.

Teanga Mór got his name when as a young boy he seemed to see everything that was going on and became the one who had all the gossip. Mac hated gossip! He had his own problems and didn’t want to be too friendly with anyone. He ignored most of the people around him. That’s when he was allowed to! Letting out a sigh he wondered about the best way to get away now.

“Maybe I could come with you and see all the family too?” Teanga Mór tried again, with a big smile showing two large yellow front teeth. He was a bit taller than Mac but much thinner. Still wearing his everyday work clothes of leggings and tunic and well-worn leather boots he looked untidy. His brown curly hair was peeping out from under a dark cap.

“Well I may go on another trip as well so maybe its best I go alone.” Mac said trying not to lose his temper as he kept walking.

“I knew it, I knew it!” Teanga Mór clapped his hands. “You’re going to look for her again, aren’t you?” With that Mac stopped. His face became red with annoyance.

“Mind your own business and leave me alone. Do you hear? That nose of yours will get you into real trouble one of these days. I don’t see anything at all to be smiley about. Do you?” He snapped pointing his finger. Tiny red spots appeared on both his cheekbones making them look even more prominent than they already were. His thin bony nose let out a snort of disgust. Then turning round he broke into a brisk walk. Teanga Mór was left standing open mouthed scratching his head.

“What did I say?” Teanga Mór said then, as if to himself. But Mac heard him and slowed down turning and seeing his cousin’s hands turned up in puzzlement.

“He never knows when he’s said too much.” He thought as he started walking again and kept going taking deep breaths to calm down. He knew he could get very annoyed with silly people, no matter how hard he tried not to. But when they mentioned “her” he became furious. How could any of them understand what it was like without her? He didn’t want to talk about her to anyone! It was too painful.

He left the tiny village behind. Little by little he found the calm of the evening and the gentle rustling in the trees started to make him feel better and his mood improved. He hadn’t told his neighbours what his plans were but Teanga Mór seemed to have already guessed. Mac MacGinnity was on an important mission. His journey could bring great danger. This trip might lead into lands from which there may be no return. There could be many challenges and trials of his courage and strength ahead. He often wondered about how well he might face these uncertainties. He had set out many times over the last hundred years without success. This time he might be luckier. He hoped so. It was hard to keep his spirits up with so many failed journeys.

Mac was a leprechaun.

He was very old by human standards but still young among his own people. Mac was eight inches tall. But he had the power to become taller if he needed to which would help him move faster.

Dusk was the safest time of day to move unseen through the countryside. Big people were not out and about. They were afraid of attack by wild boar or wolves or even bandits trying to steal from them. There had also been many battles in Ulster over recent decades which made people extra cautious. Battles always seemed to be raged across Ireland over who wanted to be king. Ulster warriors were feared everywhere. Leprechauns thought this was a silly way to behave. They were happy working at making shoes and having parties with their friends. No time for fighting in their world!

“I couldn’t even close my door quietly without being seen.” Mac chuckled to himself then as he remembered his cousin’s mouth open wide as he left him. Now he could see the funny side to it!

“Will he ever learn to stay quiet? I wonder if tonight has taught him anything about nosiness?” He thought shaking his head and feeling a little guilty for being so cross. He had always been taught to be mannerly and have respect to others, especially relatives.

“But he is so nosy!” Mac thought again, excusing his guilt. He remembered that Teanga Mór had a habit of playing pranks on his neighbours which often left him in trouble. All leprechauns got up to mischief. It was natural to them. It was even expected. This was part of growing up and becoming an adult. How many times had Mac himself hid things on his sisters or mixed up new shoes just as they were ready to be delivered to their buyer? His father Súil Oscailte often said that he and his best friend young Cosa Beag were the two most mischievous leprechauns he had ever met. As he said this though he would look to his wife, Máthair and wink. She knew that Mac was no different to his father or any of the older generation. It was all part of the way they lived and played.

The sense of freedom Mac felt caused him to break into a hop-skip run as he moved further out from his home.

He thought about the need for the leprechauns to be careful as well as staying safe in their homes. For that reason Mac’s home area was called Dúnta because there was an invisible band around it, a spell that prevented outsiders of any kind to cross its outskirts. As leader of his people Mac had the power to cast the spell and only he could release it. It was rare that such magic was used in this way, but because the dwellings were built in an exposed area facing out onto the sea where attacks could happen at any time it ensured there would be no unwanted raids. Animals too could not pass the circle of exclusion. The only exceptions were birds and rabbits. Leprechauns loved these creatures and knew they would cause them no harm. The spell caused no difficulty for the locals as they could come and go across the boundary, whenever they wanted. Once inside the safe area though, they were completely free and safe to move around. Children could play without fear of attack, but still had to be watched in case they strayed outside the Dúnta border. The forest was dense on three sides so children could get lost if they moved away inland too far. An alarm would sound like a loud bell ringing continuously if a child moved outside the safe area. This was also important in case they strayed too near the open sea. It was unusual that this happened as the children normally had adults out with them to teach them the ways of the woods and to supervise them playing. One the few times that it had happened, everyone left what they were doing to rush to the rescue. Children had a habit of wandering around chasing rabbits or picking pretty bright coloured flowers. Even though they were warned to be careful, sometimes they forgot if playing a game or wanting to pick a posy of flowers to bring home to their mother.

Mac moved towards the boundary and entered the Enchanted Way. This was a well-worn path that extended away from the safe haven and into the outside world. It got its name from being one of the few places where leprechauns could use magic spells without fear of being captured. It was still in a safe place but also separate to the Dúnta village. The path made those who used it, feel and behave carefree. The trees overhead bent downwards to give a roof over the soft clay ground that was scattered with coloured leaves of flowers that never wilted or died. It almost seemed like the trees bent downwards to hear the sound of the little people sing for joy as they passed underneath in this place between the safety of home and the dangers of the rest of the world. Mac felt a sense of exhilaration when he crossed the Enchanted Way. He thought too of his earlier meeting with Téanga Mór and laughed out loud. He didn’t often feel this way, but just the fact that he was doing something useful lightened his heart. Once he was out into the open countryside side though he knew he would have to be more cautious and wary. He enjoyed these last few moments of safety before the serious mission began.