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Authors: Juliet Marillier
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my realm at the first opportunity, I imagine I would have said yes with not a shred of doubtin my mind. Ask me today and I will tell you that what I want for Fortriu now is a time of peace. A time of rebuilding. A time for reflection.”
“There is much at risk here,” Fola said. “I’m aware that you’ve sent Faolan back to the heartland of the Uí Néill leaders. I know part of his mission is to ferret out information about these Christian clerics who seek a foothold in our western isles.I must interpret that as an indication that you are not fixed on giving them an outright refusal. Not yet, anyway; not until your spy returns, and that cannot be before spring. I know your attention is still upon the west. A resounding victory on the field does not necessarily mean continuing peace. The Uí Néill will always be a threat, and you do right to remain aware of that threat. Circinn alsoknows where your priority must lie. My feeling is that by springtime the southern kingdom will have chosen its own king without troubling to include Fortriu in the process. We all remember Bargoit. Officially that man is only a councillor,but he’s been directing the affairs of Circinn for years. He’ll be looking for another weakling contender to manipulate. Drust had brothers, didn’t he?”
“Two,”said Aniel with a little frown. “Garnet and Keltran. Both very much in Drust’s mold, though a few years his junior. Bargoit won’t have much difficulty twisting them to his will. I cannot tell you if either has received Christian baptism. I do know there are Christian clerics still in attendance at the court of Circinn, although Bridei tells me our old friend Brother Suibne is in the west now.”
“Sailed home before the season turned, in company with Gabhran’s chieftains,” said Talorgen. “I saw them off personally. For such an inoffensive-looking man, that priest has a lot to say.”
Bridei smiled, remembering with a certain fondness the Christian cleric who had taken such delight in debating matters of faith with him long ago. Suibne was a man who seemed to pop up everywhere. “It was hiswords that sent Faolan to search out this man Colm, the priest in need of a new lodging beyond the shores of his homeland,” he said. “I may not share Suibne’s religious convictions, but I recognize he’s astute and clever. I took his speech as a kind of warning. How I act on that depends on what Faolan brings back. Fola, you haven’t answered my question.”
“I cannot answer it.” The wise woman lookedgrim. “I can only counsel you to seek the wisdom of the gods. I plan to do so myself once we are done here. If I receive any insights you’ll be the first to hear them. I’ve seen the ruinous aftermath of war, Bridei. I do understand your reluctance to put on this extra mantle with those wounds still so fresh in our country. But there will be some who cannot see your reasoning,” she glanced atCarnach, “for it does seem that on the heels of this great victory you stand your best chance of garnering a winning vote. All the same, Talorgen speaks wisely. Dalriada will need your attention. I don’t understand this mission of Faolan’s and I neverhave. Even to consider letting Christian clerics get a new foothold in the isles is to risk Fortriu being squeezed, in time, between two powerfulbulwarks of the new faith. Broichan would be appalled.”
“The way Suibne told it,” Bridei said, “this man Colm is a fugitive from his homeland, having fallen foul of powerful leaders over his interference in a matter of armed conflict. What he wants is a sanctuary where he and his brethren can be left in peace. I remember how Drust the Boar drove the druids and wise women out of their houses ofprayer all across Circinn. If I show the same lack of respect for those who only seek to love their gods in peace—whatever gods those may be—then I am no better than he was.”
“Hmm,” said Fola, dark eyes regarding him
“There is much at risk here,” Fola said. “I’m aware that you’ve sent Faolan back to the heartland of the Uí Néill leaders. I know part of his mission is to ferret out information about these Christian clerics who seek a foothold in our western isles.I must interpret that as an indication that you are not fixed on giving them an outright refusal. Not yet, anyway; not until your spy returns, and that cannot be before spring. I know your attention is still upon the west. A resounding victory on the field does not necessarily mean continuing peace. The Uí Néill will always be a threat, and you do right to remain aware of that threat. Circinn alsoknows where your priority must lie. My feeling is that by springtime the southern kingdom will have chosen its own king without troubling to include Fortriu in the process. We all remember Bargoit. Officially that man is only a councillor,but he’s been directing the affairs of Circinn for years. He’ll be looking for another weakling contender to manipulate. Drust had brothers, didn’t he?”
“Two,”said Aniel with a little frown. “Garnet and Keltran. Both very much in Drust’s mold, though a few years his junior. Bargoit won’t have much difficulty twisting them to his will. I cannot tell you if either has received Christian baptism. I do know there are Christian clerics still in attendance at the court of Circinn, although Bridei tells me our old friend Brother Suibne is in the west now.”
“Sailed home before the season turned, in company with Gabhran’s chieftains,” said Talorgen. “I saw them off personally. For such an inoffensive-looking man, that priest has a lot to say.”
Bridei smiled, remembering with a certain fondness the Christian cleric who had taken such delight in debating matters of faith with him long ago. Suibne was a man who seemed to pop up everywhere. “It was hiswords that sent Faolan to search out this man Colm, the priest in need of a new lodging beyond the shores of his homeland,” he said. “I may not share Suibne’s religious convictions, but I recognize he’s astute and clever. I took his speech as a kind of warning. How I act on that depends on what Faolan brings back. Fola, you haven’t answered my question.”
“I cannot answer it.” The wise woman lookedgrim. “I can only counsel you to seek the wisdom of the gods. I plan to do so myself once we are done here. If I receive any insights you’ll be the first to hear them. I’ve seen the ruinous aftermath of war, Bridei. I do understand your reluctance to put on this extra mantle with those wounds still so fresh in our country. But there will be some who cannot see your reasoning,” she glanced atCarnach, “for it does seem that on the heels of this great victory you stand your best chance of garnering a winning vote. All the same, Talorgen speaks wisely. Dalriada will need your attention. I don’t understand this mission of Faolan’s and I neverhave. Even to consider letting Christian clerics get a new foothold in the isles is to risk Fortriu being squeezed, in time, between two powerfulbulwarks of the new faith. Broichan would be appalled.”
“The way Suibne told it,” Bridei said, “this man Colm is a fugitive from his homeland, having fallen foul of powerful leaders over his interference in a matter of armed conflict. What he wants is a sanctuary where he and his brethren can be left in peace. I remember how Drust the Boar drove the druids and wise women out of their houses ofprayer all across Circinn. If I show the same lack of respect for those who only seek to love their gods in peace—whatever gods those may be—then I am no better than he was.”
“Hmm,” said Fola, dark eyes regarding him
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