Niamh of the Golden Hair (Manannan Trilogy Book 2) by McGrath Michele

Author:McGrath, Michele [McGrath, Michele]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Publisher: Riverscourt Publishing
Published: 2014-01-01T16:00:00+00:00

15

It was no wonder Niamh dreamed again that night.

“What’s happening to her? Is she ill?” Eithne bent over and the look on her face was startled when Niamh’s eyes fluttered open.

“What is it?” she asked, slurring her words.

“You were writhing and screaming at the top of your voice,” someone told her.

“A dream, a nightmare. I’m sorry to wake you up.” Niamh closed her eyes, to blot out the faces gathered round her. Some of them looked angry, others fearful and a few showing concern. In the blackness of her mind, the visions lingered, unbearable visions, worse than the watching people. Her eyes flew open again.

“Go back to your beds. The lass has only had a dream. Go, I’m telling you,” Elgr shouted. Sleep was in his red-rimmed eyes. He put his bony hand on Niamh’s arm and gave her a tug.

“Come with me.” He turned to one of the younger women, who had still not moved but was watching with avid eyes. “Fetch Geirdis to me. Quickly!” he ordered and swung his stick at her when she did not walk quickly enough. She broke into a run.

Niamh rose and followed the old man. They went out of the longhouse and down the hill to the small dwelling which Elgr used when he wanted to be private. It was some time before Geirdis joined them and they sat in silence until she did.

“What is it?” she asked. “The girl muttered something about nightmares.”

“This one was dreaming.”

“What did you expect? She’s not used to our ways or what we do to murderers. She’s a weakling, just like the rest of her people.”

“It’s more than that, I think. That’s why I sent for you.”

Elgr stirred up the embers of the fire. He had flopped down on the sleeping furs and motioned Niamh to sit beside him. She had done so, trying not to wrinkle up her nose at the sour smell of the old man. Geirdis took a place opposite her.

“What did you dream?” she asked.

“I can’t remember, it’s gone now,” Niamh answered, reluctant to describe what had frightened her so.

“Nonsense! Tell us.” Geirdis snapped.

“I cannot...”

“You can. Don’t lie. Anything so powerful doesn’t fade that fast.”

“I’ve seen such things before,” Elgr said. “This was no common nightmare. You were speaking aloud about Brunn and the raid. That’s why I brought you here.”

“What did I say?”

“Enough…and I’d prefer the others not to know the rest. Speak. Don’t be afraid. It’s no crime to dream dreams, even if they foretell what’s to come. In fact, it may be of use. Just tell us.” His eyes seemed to bore into Niamh who turned away to look into the fire, nerving herself to speak.

“Are we going to be attacked?” Geirdis prompted her, her voice dropping into a whisper.

“No.”

“Danger?”

“Not to us.”

“The warriors?” Mutely, Niamh nodded.

“Go on.”

“Blood. I saw blood and many bodies lying on the ground. They will walk into an ambush and few will escape.” Niamh put her hands over her eyes and pressed them as if she would shut out the sight.

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