Read Online The Well of Shades by Juliet Marillier - Free Book Online

forces, led by Carnach of Thorn Bend. Caer Pridne was quiet tonight. It was winter. The massive army that had been assembled for the many-pronged attack on Dalriada was disbanded, its men departed for their home territories while the roads were still passable. A force remained, made up of the most expert warriors, those who had no othertrade. They were quartered here year around, ready for whatever might come. Families lived within the high walls; the stronghold housed a whole community. Caer Pridne provided the guards for White Hill, a force rotated every season to keep the men sharp.
    Bridei’s most trusted warrior chieftains, Carnach and Talorgen, were newly arrived back from Dalriada. Both leaders had remained there at thewar’s end to oversee the departure of the Gaelic leaders over the sea to their homeland. The Dalriadan king, Gabhran, had fallen gravely ill not long after the last great battle, and had been allowed to remain in his fortress of Dunadd, along with his immediate household. A force of Priteni warriors was quartered there to guard the place and its occupants.
    Bridei had already had his chieftains’news, for they had visited White Hill on their way back, to great acclaim.But not all news can be shared openly. Tonight, in the small, private chamber Bridei had chosen for his council, red-haired Carnach and the older Talorgen sat at the long oaken table with Bridei and Aniel, in company with a small, white-haired woman in a gray robe: the senior priestess of Fortriu, Fola, whose establishmentof Banmerren lay just along the bay. Save for Garth, the personal guards remained outside the bolted door. Niches set in the stone walls held oil lamps. All was orderly and quiet.
    “Thank you for being here, my friends,” Bridei said. “I regret the need for such secrecy. I’ve news on which I require your counsel. Once you have given it, we will decide together how much further this news can go,and when.”
    “Bridei,” interrupted Fola, her sharp dark eyes on the king, “why is Broichan not present? Was he too unwell to travel? I had thought his health greatly improved when last I saw him.” She was an old friend and did not stand on ceremony.
    “I could not be at Caer Pridne for Gateway this year,” Bridei said, choosing his words with care; this would be difficult to explain. “I did not conductmy usual ritual at the Well. Tonight, when we are done here, I will keep vigil until dawn. Had Broichan accompanied me, he would have insisted on performing the rite with me. The ride from White Hill, he might just about manage. The vigil would tax his strength beyond endurance.”
    There was a brief silence.
    “There’s more to this, isn’t there?” asked Fola, raising her brows.
    “Broichan is notyet party to this news,” Bridei said, and saw a look of surprise pass over the wise woman’s serene countenance. “He will hear it as soon as I return to White Hill. I want your opinion first. Your good advice, all of you.”
    “The business of this council is secret until the kingchooses to have it spread more widely,” said Aniel, steepling his fingers before him on the table.
    “That’s understoodalready,” said Talorgen of Raven’s Well, a handsome, open-faced man of middle years. “What is this news?”
    “The king of Circinn is dead,” Bridei said quietly, and a gasp of shock went around the table. This was momentous; Circinn, the southern kingdom of the Priteni, had become Christian under Drust the Boar while Fortriu had remained staunchly true to the old gods. An election must now be heldto determine which man of the royal line would become king. “We did not have this from a messenger; one of our spies brought the news just before Aniel and I left White Hill. With winter setting in hard, it’s our belief Circinn will not call the election until season’s end; they’ll have remembered how difficult it was last time. On the other hand, they may try to do it by stealth; just put theirman in