Spéir’s girl lost her composure and was forced to turn away to hide the laugh.
“Child!” Fásach’s elder had seen her fill. “You will respect your betters! And you as well girl.” The woman waved a knobby finger at Spéir’s youth.
“Ah will, aye. The room holds three and none of them wear robes nor jewels. I’ve not the time fer unsteady pisspots moanin’ on about what was taught to their father’s fathers.”
“You ought, girl!” Spéir’s elder. “And I mean to discuss this on our return.”
“Discuss? Ha! You’ve no more rule over me’n them daffy two with hair full of piss an’ grapes.”
Tine’s representatives did not stir at the insult and neither did the elders chide the girl for it. The argument went on for another half hour at least before they finally seemed to remember who had called them there.
Fásach’s boy was the one to say it. “But this is nothing to do with your lofty ideals. It’s to do with the horsefolk, is it not?”
He looked directly at her when he said it. Rianaire pulled a tight smile across her lips. “Well,” she said, standing, “you’ve all given me much to think about. I will give this serious thought, I can assure you, but I thank you all for your views.”
The three houses that had done the whole of the talking were quick to stand and gather their things. Tine’s pair came up, dropping their veils over hair made grey and purple by whatever means they used.
“Ah, Tine’s words have not been heard, have they?” Rianaire said flatly as she stood, herself, watching the others as they stopped their retreat from the room. She put a quiet hand on Eala’s shoulder and sat the girl back down.
The two women lowered their heads quietly and brought them back up. Voices sounded from burnt lungs that rattled out craggy words.
“Tine’s Fire will touch everything in the end.” The elder began. The younger finished for her. “We will touch as her hands. Until She returns, Treorai speaks as her mouth.”
The two lowered their heads again and left. The other colleges waited a moment after Tine’s pair had gone, mumbling uncomfortably, before seeing themselves out. Rianaire returned to her seat, unsure whether to be glad she’d asked or worried she allowed them to live so close. She had spent time among them in her youth, but the college had grown into something very different, she felt.
Eala looked to her, wondering why she had been kept.
“A lovely way to spend an afternoon, is it not?” Rianaire laughed. She waved and Inney came over, taking a seat. “What did you think?”
Her young Binse-in-training knit her brow thinking over the meeting. “I… I do not think either are wrong, in their way. The horsefolk are a grave threat. We must use every tool against them if there is a need.”
“Only if there is a need?”
She hesitated a moment. “I think so… yes. The Sisters are precious. They protect us even now, I know it. And we should protect them, in our way. My… my father, he said so when I was only a child. I had fallen in fast water, and my arm had slipped from a rock as I landed. It broke and I cried to him, as all children do. I asked him why Abhainn would not protect me. He told me then that we must not think of the Sisters so selfishly. That we should become strong that we can protect them for all they have given us.” She stopped again, thinking for a long moment. The next words trickled out. “I believe him… I do… but…”
“But?”
Eala looked at her with earnest eyes. There was a worry in them, though. “May I speak my mind?”
“Always. I insist.”
“I do not believe you care for my thoughts on the matter. Not as advice, at least.”
Rianaire smiled before the girl finished her sentence but did not interrupt. Eala was worth more than she seemed. She would shine in time.
“You have made your decisions,” Eala continued. “You had made them long before. This was no debate. It, I think, was a way to find who matched your desires well enough. I believe that was the decision you spoke of. But… but no matter what I believe… your word is my law. If the Sisters themselves stood against you, they would find me their enemy.”
Eala lowered her head but looked up to meet Rianaire’s eyes as the Treorai stood up. The smile at Rianaire’s lips widened.
“You…”
She leaned down and hugged Eala tightly, kissing the top of her head energetically and standing again. The girl looked up at her, confused.
“You are not…?”
“What? A monster? No.” Rianaire laughed gently at the suggestion. “I thank you, with inadequate words that lack the weight of your conviction. There are few who would say such a thing. I would only ask that if you decide you have lost that conviction, you do not attempt to kill me.”
“Oh… I would never… I-”
Inney broke first, but her laughter caught Rianaire and brought her along. “I apologize. Oh, Sisters…” She sat back down, calming herself. “I have been told such jokes unsettle people. But again, I thank you.”
There was quiet for a moment and Eala stood quickly as though she’d just remembered something. “With apologies, may I be dismissed? I have drills planned.”
“Of course. Come and go as you like if I am in this terrible room.”
Eala left and closed the door behind. Rianaire looked over to Inney.
“I fear I made it awkward. Síocháin warned me.” Rianaire looked at the closed doors. “Still, rare of you to show so much personality with another present.”
“It’s your awful influence.”
“Síocháin will be cross at you for stealing her sayings.”
“See? If I continue at your pace, I will be a fixture at children’s’ parties before long.”
Rianaire imagined it and smiled wryly. She stood a moment later.
“Come. Let’s escape.”
Rianaire left and Inney followed. They came across Gadaí returning from the
