The Abbot

Abbot Cellach is by far my favorite character in Secret of Kells. He's delightfully complex, and to really understand him, you need to go read the free prologue comic on Comixology. Go ahead. I'll wait.

Chapter One: The Rescue

"Cellach! Vikings are attacking the village!"

I run out the door before he can take another breath. My sister… my nephew… Everyone I care about is in the village. I've heard the stories of these Northmen. They leave no one alive, young or old.

The pathway to the village has never seemed so long. I urge my horse forward, faster, faster, but it's not enough. When I arrive, there is no longer a village, but an inferno. Every home burning. Flames crackle and hiss, but I hear no voices, no screams, no clashing of weapons. I am already too late.

But I cannot turn away. If there's any chance my family is alive… The village lies on a small island, with only one entrance across the bridge. It is madness to cross… If any Vikings remain, they will see me.

I cross the bridge. Closer now, I see dark shapes moving through the remnants of this place. The Northmen are here. I bend almost double and dart around each hut, waiting to be caught. But by some miracle, I make it to my sister's home unharmed. As I grow closer, I can hear a baby screaming in terror. Brendan. He still lives… but what is tormenting him so? Are the Vikings inside, even now?

I crack the door open and peer inside. No Vikings. Brendan cries from his cradle in the center of the room… Alone.

I know what that means even before I step inside. She's gone. She's already gone, or else she would never leave him here.

I know it, but I don't believe it. Not even when I step inside and there she is, my beautiful beloved sister, soaking in a pool of her own blood. In her hand, she clutches a sword. Across from her, her husband is motionless, propped against the wall, an axe in his hand, and a spear in his gut.

It's a dream. A nightmare. Just yesterday, all of us supped together in this very hut. We talked and laughed and Ceather showed me Brendan's first tooth.

I want to fall on my knees and scream. But there's no time for that. The hut burns, and Brendan cries. I kneel beside his cradle, raising a finger to my lips. "Hush, little Brendan!"

He recognizes me. His eyes light up and he reaches to be held. He's far too young to understand what has happened here… May he never remember this day. I lift him into my arms.

The roof crackles. A beam falls. The building is collapsing. I hold Brendan tightly and run for the door. I have to jump for it to get out in time… but we make it. The hut is nothing more than a bonfire.

My sister and brother-in-law are still in there… I could not even save their bodies. But it's almost as if I can hear their voices, Quickly! Take Brendan and go!

I run for the bridge, Brendan cooing happily in my arms. Thank goodness he is so quiet, we might have a chance…

And then a Viking emerges from the smoke ahead of me. I dart away, only to meet another Northmen. Then a third. We are trapped. I spin about, looking desperately for an escape route. Among our people, I am considered a giant, but all of these men dwarf me. Their swords glow red with reflected flames, and I am unarmed.

I'm sorry, Brendan. This may be the end. A Viking seizes me and his compatriot rips Brendan away. My nephew's face twists with fear and he reaches for me. I reach back. My captor slices open my cheek with one flick of his blade.

Brendan wails in terror as the Northman holds him high over his head. He means to kill the baby while I watch.

My eyes narrow. I've already lost my sister today. I will not lose Brendan too.

I grip my captor's arm with all my strength and hurl him forward. He flies through the air and crashes into the third Viking. In the collision, one sword catapults free. In a second it's in my hands. I've lost sight now of my nephew through the smoke, but I run towards his cries.

"Brendan!"

The Viking still holds Brendan high in the air, and now his sword is raised too. He tilts the blade towards the baby. His message is clear…. Don't come any closer.

I clench the sword tighter. In my youth, the village expected me to grow to be a warrior… I had the build for it, they said. That was never my calling, but in this moment, it's as if my life had gone differently… As if I'd gone down another path and learned the art of war. In a moment, I stab the Viking through the chest. As he screams and falls back, he flings Brendan into the air.

I spring forward, arms stretched out, and somehow catch him before he is harmed. Brendan is screaming now, shaking with fear. More Vikings will seek us at any moment. I sprint for the bridge.

But… there is no bridge. It's burned away and fallen into the river.

I risk one glance back. Swarms of Northmen run toward us now. I dive into the river.

It would be far safer to swim underwater, away from their view. But little Brendan knows nothing of swimming. He will breathe in the water unless I bring him to the surface. I do, staying as low as I can. At last we reach the bank.

The Northmen do not follow. I flee into the forest and mount my horse. Again, the beast can't seem to move fast enough. Surely the Northmen will be on us soon.

It is not until we are deep, deep in the forest that I am sure we are safe. For whatever reason, we were not followed. Probably not worth their time to hunt down a monk and a baby, when all they are after is gold.

We are safe. We are alive. Brendan sleeps peacefully in my arms.

Even now, my sister is turning to ashes.

At last, in the silence of the forest, I succumb to tears.