'Jenna. .?' She glanced back to the water, its rolling surface now Unbroken. Thraisha and her companions had vanished. Ennis’ hand stroked her right arm, trailing down the stiff flesh and falling away again 'We need to go.' She nodded.
Inishfeirm lay only five miles off the coast of Inish Thuaidh, but they were making for the harbor of Maddygalla, twenty miles eastward around a cliff-walled headland-a full day’s journey. Jenna had to admit that the Uaigneas was far more comfortable than the small fishing boat in which she and Ennis had made the crossing from Talamh an Ghlas. The ship rode the waves easily with a gentle rocking motion, the sail billowing on the mast above them, spray curling from the bow as it cut the gray-green water. Jenna stood with Ennis at the starboard rail; the Banrion and Moister Cleurach were talking near the stern. Jenna watched the water, won-dering if she might see the shapes of the seals pacing the boat, but there was nothing but the occasional gull or cormorant diving for a fish.
Behind, Inishfeirm slowly receded, the White Keep glinted atop the summit as the sun moved in and out of clouds.
'What are you thinking?' Ennis asked. He was standing next to her, a careful arm’s length away. She leaned toward him, enjoying his closeness and attention, imagining that she could feel the warmth of his body against the chill sea breeze.
'I’m thinking that we’re walking into another snake’s nest like the Ri’s Keep in Lar Bhaile. I’m thinking that there are still too many things I don’t know. I’m wondering if I have a baby brother by now or if I’ll ever see my mam again. I’m wishing that I had the courage to say…' She stopped herself… to say to you all the things I want to say. She sighed, and gave him a wan smile. 'I’m wondering about Thraisha’s words. Did you know about her, Ennis?'
'Aye, a bit. I knew the tales the Saimhoir told
about the mage-lights and Bradan an Chumhacht, and I knew from Garrentha that her milk-mother had eaten the salmon.' His hand was near hers on the railing. It she moved, she could touch him. 'I figured that she'd come looking for you.'
The sun cloaked itself again though its light still danced on the waves well out from them. Jenna shivered. 'Are there more? Other things like the cloch na thintri held by other creatures?'
'Probably. The books in the library talk of eagles and wolves having their own magic and they hint of dragons with the same. There may others.'
She glanced up at his shadowed face. 'When did you last see dragon?' He smiled back at her for a moment, the expression lightening his face, and she started to laugh with him. Jenna lifted her hand, put it on top of his He looked down at their intertwined fingers as he spoke. 'Never. Moister Cleurach says he doubts they exist at all. But I hope he's wrong, Now that would be a sight. .'He suddenly dropped his hand away from the railing, his gaze moving past her shoulder. 'Banrion,' he said. 'Moister. Good morning.'
That earned Ennis a grunt from Moister Cleurach and a flick of the Banrion's eyes before her gaze went to Jenna. 'We hardly need to make polite small talk here. Let me be blunt. You don't seem to like me, First Holder,' Aithne said.
'Banrion-' Jenna began, but the woman raised her hand. 'You don't need to either acknowledge that or try to smooth it over. I simply state the fact. The truth is, Holder Aoire, I don't much care if you like me or not. All that matters to me is that I understand where your loyalties lie, so that I know how we can work together. Your mam, I understand from Moister Cleurach, is the consort of Tiarna Mac Ard of Gabair and is carrying his child.'
Her tone made it clear that she felt the word 'consort' was closely related to 'whore,' and the quick shift of her gaze to Ennis indicated that she might feel that Jenna was little more than that herself. Jenna's eyes narrowed as if she'd been slapped, and it was difficult to keep her voice civil. 'Aye, Banrion, that's true, if she hasn't already delivered the baby.' The wind freshened slightly, and Jenna felt a drop of rain touch her cheek. But as to my loyalty…' Deliberately, she put her arm through Ennis', who nearly jumped before his
mouth spread into a grin. 'This man helped me where no other would. And the Order and Moister Cleurach have taken me in and I owe them for their kindness. Past that, I am loyal only to Lamh Shabhala. My enemies are those who would try to take it from me.' Jenna started to remove her arm from Ennis’s, but he brought his arm in to his body to hold her.
That’s well said,' the Banrion answered. The wind tossed her light hair lifting the glossy strands from her shoulders as it turned around to blow from the northwest. A splatter of rain drummed over the wooden deck and Jenna glanced up to see the clouds gray and lowering over the oat, though well out in the channel she could still see sunshine, and the White Keep shone far behind. 'You’ll find that most of the Riocha here share your attitude. Inish Thuaidh isn’t Tuath Gabair, where the Ri’s word is law. Ask Moister Cleurach how difficult it is to get the Comhairle agree on an action, even if the Ri wishes it.'
Above them, canvas snapped angrily, and Uaigneas heeled over abruptly, causing all of them to reach for ropes and railing to keep the balance as a wave crashed white and gray over the side of the shin drenching them. Thunder grumbled somewhere close by, and the day had gone as dark as twilight, though sunlight played on the horizon all around. Sailors scurried across the deck as the captain came over to them 'You told me this would be a fair day for sailing,' the Banrion shouted at him over the rising wind
The captain had a hand in the pocket of his oiled overcoat, as if the shifting deck were solid ground and he were out for a stroll. 'That is what all my experience said, Banrion,' he answered. 'But blows like this can come suddenly and without warning. You and your guests should go below-it’s becoming dangerous up here.'
Another wave pounded the ship, the prow lifting high then falling, sending Moister Cleurach sprawling. Ennis reluctantly let go of Jenna and helped him back to his feet as the rain began to fall in earnest, cold and stinging. The captain alone seemed unperturbed by the ship’s motion, one hand still casually in his pocket. Jenna could see nothing past the rippling gray curtains: Inishfeirm had vanished, as had the chalk cliffs of Inish Thuaidh. The captain shouted to his men to reef the sail which was threat-ening to tear apart in the gale,
and to man the ship's oars. 'Banrion, please,' he said. 'I can't be responsible if you stay on deck.'
The ship lurched, turning as the captain shouted directions to the man at the tiller. Jenna followed Aithne to the small deckhouse and down the short flight of stairs into a cabin barely large enough to hold the four of them and the trio of gardai. The wind howled and cold seawater poured in through the hatch before Ennis and one of the gardai managed to push it shut. Uaigneas rolled again, more sharply this time, and they heard an ominous cracking and splintering above, accompanied by a scream. Then the ship seemed to shake off the waves and finally right itself, lifting first bow, then stern. 'The captain's turned her to run before the wind,' Ennis said. 'We're going where the storm wants to take us.'
A garda abruptly and noisily threw up. Jenna fought not to be sick herself from the smell and the seawater and the ship's wild careening, For an interminable time, like the others, she huddled in a corner of the cabin, leaning against Ennis with eyes closed as she tried to sleep, her hands out to brace herself. She must have managed to actually doze for bit, but a sharp roll of the ship brought her awake again.
'Beware the storm…' Thraisha had said that before she left, and Jenna wondered if she'd glimpsed this. She'd said more, as well. Jenna took a breath trying to remember as the ship seemed to rise, hesitate a moment, hen plummet back into the sea. 'It doesn't follow you; it travels with you.'
Jenna remembered the sunlight, playing on the horizon and the peak of Inishfeirm. The storm hadn't come streaking from across the sea toward them; it had developed rapidly above them.
'. . it travels with you… '
She fumbled under her soaked clothing for the chain that held Lamh Shabhala. She let her mind touch the cloch as she forced stiff fingers to wrap around the stone; her awareness drifted outward with the cloch's energy.
Aye. There. .
Another cloch na thintri was aboard, its bright energy spraying out-ward and upward, and she could sense the mind wielding it: one that knew the
waters of the channel, knew the ship and how much wind and heavy seas it could handle. Driving us east and south with the storm, toward Talamh an Ghlas.
Jenna pushed herself to her feet, trying to maintain her balance on the rolling, wet planking and still hold onto Lamh Shabhala. 'Open the door!' she shouted above the shrieking wind and the drumming of the rain. 'Ennis! I need you!'
Ennis noticed Jenna's hand on her cloch, and he immediately clenched his own. The Banrion noticed as well.
