Black Rock Denbich
Black Rock Denbich had looked out to sea with an unblinking gaze across the shipping lanes that passed close to her harbour and the O'Claven clan had held the castle for as long as anyone could remember.
They were successful tax collectors of the foreign ships that used the calmer waters between islands and other ports and duly paid their contribution to the crown.
The neighbouring clans felt protected by the war-like thanes that presided over them and happily paid their tithe knowing that if war came, they would be protected.
The O'Claven's were rich by Gael standards having fields to graze their herds of cattle and alpacas.
The eastern side of this idyll was the Claygough mountain range that divided the island and although some gorges allowed travel between the two sides no one ventured into the other's territory fearing a war between the clans would erupt.
When the new Queen took the throne and demanded taxes from both sides of the mountains the O'Claven clan thought their eastern cousins had given up too easily.
By accepting her coin and laws they had sold themselves to an enemy and that was unforgivable in the hundred council's mind.
Certainly a tithe was paid to the crown from cargo transactions as well as the under the sea foam from foreign ships plundering new coastlines around the world.
Things change quickly where human beings are involved.
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