Kathleen O’ Connor

I am Kathleen O’ Connor and my story is a strange tale, hearken those who will. I was born in Ireland to Rhodry O’Connor, the Earl of Connaught and Aefa his lady wife. My mother died, as so many women do in this time, birthing a still born child when I was only two years old and my older brother was scarcely five. Thus it was that I was brought up more as a son than a daughter as father would not remarry. Diarmuid, my brother, and I were grateful for this as we did not want our happy home invaded by of all things a step-mama. Instead we both learnt to ride on sturdy ponies sent for us from Connamara and were given our first lessons in swordplay, first with wooden toys and later with real blades. Both my brother and I served as pages and later squires in our father’s household, we were spared the usual fostering as our father would not allow us to leave him. If I had been sent off for fostering I would have been forced to learn to be a lady, as it was I still had to learn needlework as well as my letters.

My father did not often remember that I was not another son, but when he went to war against the French he did remember and would not let me accompany him and Diarmuid. So I was left behind ostensibly to look after the family estates though the manager knew well what he was about. I still recollect the day I received the dreaded news that they had both fallen in battle with the French. My brother was cut down first and my father fell protecting his body refusing to surrender despite being out numbered. As I heard the tale from the messenger the daylight dimmed for me and I first began to wish for vengeance.

A day or two after the news had arrived so did my aunt and uncle. My Aunt Enid was not like her sister, my mother, she was an arrogant, autocratic streppoch, whom Diarmuid and I had always hated. Fortunately whilst Father was alive she had not visited often, though it had seemed quite often enough to my brother and I. Aunt Enid believed that now I was alone she should take charge of my welfare. Her idea of improving my situation was to attempt to marry me off to my cousin, her son. Unfortunately for Aunt Enid, her son, Cormach, had no wish for the match either. Diarmuid and I had been friends as children with Cormach and he and I had long been conspirators in plots against Aunt Enid. I knew I could trust Cormach to guard my estates against the depredations of my insufferable aunt. It was he that aided and abetted my leaving for England. I had decided to become a gallowglass in England, a sword for hire, thus I would be able to take revenge for the death of my kinsfolk. Cormach had heard that Sir John of Lancaster was raising an army for the English King, Edward III, in order to fight against the French. I now spend my time partly as a guard in Sir John’s household and partly as a lady in waiting for his betrothed Lady Eloise. Neither Sir John nor Lady Eloise knows who I really am, though I use my family heraldry. I told them it had belonged to my father’s captain, who was killed alongside my kin. I was afraid that they might send me back home to my aunt and not let me stay. My aunt would not have hesitated in using force to gain her goal of the O’Connor lands. I still retain the family seal, so she cannot claim the lands without it, so long as I am out of her reach the lands are safe. No-one really wanted to ask questions so long as I do not call attention to myself. One day when my vengeance is complete mayhap I will return home at last.