O'Deaghaidh Family/Siege of the Badgers
Siege of the Badgers
It was summer time, the young men of the O’Dea Clan and the O’Hlomhair clan were together training. This summer was unique to all the rest for it was the last summer all the young men would be together. They were all there; Malachy, Erin, Seamus and Amish of the O’Dea and Naal and Daigh of the O’Hlomhair. They were off in the hills of Monagle. The day of training was over, the boys were heading back to their cabin to eat supper, play music, dance and probably fight.
“Oi oi, who ‘ere wants to scrap with me?” Daigh shouts running ahead of the group turning to face all of them. Daigh is immediately thrown to the ground by his brother Naal. “Why do ye try Daighy? Ye know I’m much too powerful fer ye.” Naal smirks. Daigh gets up to throw a punch but it’s deflected by a punch to the stomach. Daigh falls to the ground holding his stomach. “Ha! See wee Daighy, I’m too powerful fer ye.” Daigh jumps to his feet to throw another punch when he is suddenly lifted off the ground. He is being held by his foot upside down. Daigh notices Naal in the same situation. Erin at only 14 years of age was already a giant. He stood at 6’5, he would eventually grow to be 6’8. “You little sons of O’Hlomhair fight like badgers you know that?” Erin placed them both down. The group shared a laugh, except Malachy he never showed much emotion or even spoke. The boys finally got to the cabin.
After a few hours of fighting, playing music and dancing the boys were getting ready to sleep. Before bed Malachy stepped outside to be alone like he did often. He decided to go for a walk through the camp and training grounds. He thought of his future away from Abington, he was 17 and this was his last year in training. He was to be knighted shortly after he returns from this training session. Malachy stopped in his tracks; he saw one thing he feared more than Vikings. A Badger. Malachy heard terrifying tales of these foul beasts; he knew that if one badger was seen thousands were sure to follow. Malachy tried to sneak away but it was too late, the badger saw him and charged. Malachy began to run the badger scurrying after him. Malachy got to the cabin and slammed the door. Malachy leaned on the door to brace it. His body almost hit the floor when the badger hit the door. Malachy screamed “Badger! Wake up get yer swords! Badgers.”
The boys awoke thinking Malachy was joking. Till they saw a head imprint of the badger in the door. Amish peed his kilt at the sight. Naal unsheathed his sword. “Open the door Malachy; I’ll take care of ….” The ground began to rumble thousands of Badgers ran towards the cabin. "Badger Horde!" Daigh Screamed. Erin and Naal ran to the door to brace it. Luckily the cabin had no windows and only one door. The other boys not holding the door began to move a dresser infront of the door. The badgers began to pound on the door; they simply jumped at the door one at a time. Finally the door was barricaded and the boys all had their swords out. The badger barrage became more intense. Malachy finally had an idea, he ran to the fire place and grabbed a piece of wood. He wrapped one of the bed sheets around it and stuck it in the fire lighting it. The dresser was finally knocked down and the door flung open. Malachy tossed the fiery log into the badgers. Like a torch dropped in dry grass all the badgers went up in flames.
It was said that the flames from the badgers were so bright that it could be seen from as far as Red Span. In the aftermath the boys were able to hold of a badger horde of 1000. The boys left the cabin, dead badgers lay everywhere. The smell of burnt hair was intense, it was said you could smell the burnt hair as far as Carelia. Soldiers patrolling nearby commemorated the boys for their brave efforts. They gathered the dead badgers and sent them to starving people across the land. Six young boys held off a horde of the deadliest creatures in all the land. Bards would sing their tale for years to come.
