child 1 carry. It’s Ennis’ legacy.'… to Inishfeirm and Inish Thuaidh.'
Maeve nodded, her mouth tightening. 'Then can you at least manage to give me a torch?'
Jenna went to one of the tent posts, where two circles of copper held a smoldering brand. She pulled it from the rings and gave it to her mam.
'You may leave now,' Maeve told her.
'Mam-'
Maeve shook her head vigorously, the flame flickering in her hand. 'I’m not your mam. I’m the woman who loved your enemy. My allegiance is to the Ri Ard, not the woman who calls herself Banrion in the pigsty of Dun Kiil. Leave me to say farewell in private. Go back to your ship and your island and forget me. Give me that much.'
Jenna’s mouth hung open; a dozen unsaid replies filling her head. A gulf wider than the Westering Sea separated them, and Jenna could think of no way to bridge it. The infant Mac Ard was crying again, but Maeve’s face reflected only a stoic suffering. Jenna started to take a step toward her but Maeve’s eyes narrowed warningly and she stopped. Finally, Jenna ducked her heard and left the tent, going out into the wind again. Her gardai were waiting for her. They looked at her questioningly.
'We’re leaving,' she told them.
Jenna sat in the boat as they rowed back to their ship, gazing backward at Inishduan. She saw Maeve come out of the tent, Doyle cradled in one arm. Smoke gushed white around the central pole as Maeve walked down to the beach without looking back. A few seconds later, the first flames appeared, leaping high into the air. Smoke rolled gray with the oils, the wind smearing it west and south toward Talamh an Ghlas.
They arrived at the ship. Hands reached down to help Jenna up onto the deck. Standing at the rail, she looked back to the island: to the boat that was
carrying Maeve and Jenna's half brother back to their own vessel; to the conflagration rising high into the sky.
'Are you ready, Banrion?' the captain asked. Jenna nodded. 'Aye,' she said. 'Take me home.'
Appendices
Characters (in order of appearance):
A young woman from the village of Ballintubber Jenna's mam
Jenna Aoire
Maeve Aoire (nee Oldspring)
Tara
Kesh
Old Stubborn Halden
Coelin Singer
Songmaster
Curragh
Mother-Creator
Aldwoman Pearce Tom Mullin
One Hand Bailey
Erin the Healer
Maghera
Ellia
Matron Kelly Niall Aoire Chamis Redface
Rafea
Sean
Eliath
Padraic Mac Ard
Conhal
Mael Armagh
Owner of a tavern in Ballintubber
Jenna's herding dog
The ancient ram in Jenna's flock
A resident of Ballintubber, danced with Maeve at Corn Festival
A musician in Ballintubber Coelin's mentor, dead three years
Goddess: creator of the world
The oldest person in Ballintubber and the Teller of Tales
Ballintubber resident Ballintubber resident
Ballintubber resident A character in song and legend, female Tara's daughter, enamored of Coelin Ballintubber resident, keeps cows Jenna's da (father)
A Ballintubber resident who teased Jenna as a child
Ballintubber resident, weaves cloth Matron Kelly's son, brain-damaged by fever Tara's youngest son
A tiarna (lord) who comes to Ballintubber Mac Ard's horse
An ancient king of Tuath Infochla who tried to conquer Inish Thuaidh;
