The Dawn Stag: Book Two of the Dalriada Trilogy by Watson Jules

Author:Watson, Jules [Watson, Jules]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Juality Ltd.
Published: 2005-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 44

The reaction of the young initiates to Rhiann’s plan was instant and unanimous, and many faces that had been drawn by grief and bewilderment seemed to strengthen with a new resolve and boldness. No one showed any fear, and Rhiann felt great pride as she looked around at them on the hearth-benches of the King’s Hall. The Sisterhood was still strong, she told herself. The spirit of the elders lived in them all.

Nectan and his men had not yet returned north to his home, held at Dunadd by shared grief and his concern for the remaining Sisters. He immediately volunteered the services of his warriors, and Rhiann and her party had their escort.

The next day Linnet and Rhiann made one of the yearly offerings to the old spirits at the stone circle in the ancestor valley, laying meat and mead in a hollow at the base of the stones. There, they sang another chant to invoke the Source in that sacred place, to bless the Sisters for their journey.

‘Where do you intend to go?’ Linnet asked Rhiann as they packed their baskets and left, stepping carefully over the peat on piles of pebbles.

Rhiann moved her basket to her other hip and glanced back at Linnet. ‘We will go to the Creones land first.’ She remembered well how scornful the Creones king had been at Calgacus’s last council. ‘Once his chieftains are banging on his door, baying for blood, perhaps he won’t be so quick to dismiss the war leader of the Epidii again.’

When they reached the horses on the solid ground beside a stream, Rhiann began to strap her basket behind her saddle. ‘Aunt,’ she said then, for she had something most difficult to broach. Linnet paused from untying her stallion and Rhiann took a deep breath and ploughed on. ‘You have never said anything of what I revealed to Eremon that awful day. About babies … my decision.’ Rhiann fixed her eyes on her fumbling fingers, tying the leather thongs too tight.

Linnet said nothing at first, then she stepped forward and raised Rhiann’s chin with a gentle hand. Her eyes were paler in the direct light of the dawn sun, but the colour shifted with some strong emotion. ‘I sent Caitlin away for my own reasons,’ she whispered, ‘then nearly lost her for ever. I have tasted the bitter cup of guilt as priestess and mother both. Who am I to judge you?’

Rhiann swallowed the lump in her throat. ‘But Eremon,’ she said. ‘I never wanted to hurt anyone like that … as I have been hurt.’

Linnet’s hand dropped. ‘A large part of Eremon’s hurt was done to him long ago, and not by you. That is why his sense deserted him. He will find himself again, child, in time.’

Yet Linnet’s words did little to assuage Rhiann’s gnawing guilt on the ride back to Dunadd. And she pondered on time, and how much of it she and Eremon would be granted together. Perhaps when Eremon’s hurt had dulled,

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