Sacrifice (8 page)

“A wise precaution,” I said. “Thank you, my lord. I will sleep better knowing that my friends are safe.”

“Frankly, Deirdre, I would be pleased if you didn't sleep at all. I know the abbess placed you in charge of finding the killer before she removed you from Kildare. Her commission may have expired when you stopped being a nun, but if I know you, it won't matter. In any case, I'm giving you the same mandate by my own authority—find the man who murdered these nuns and stop him before he kills anyone else. You are a druid, and now that you're wearing those bardic robes again, you will command even greater respect among the people of this kingdom. You have my permission to use any resources and any means necessary to accomplish this. But if you find out who is responsible, you are to tell me immediately and let me deal with him. By my authority as king, I tell you both that there will be no secret druid trial for this man. He will be dealt with by me in a very public manner. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my lord,” I said.

“Good. I hope I don't need to explain to either of you the consequences for this kingdom if the killer is not found soon. You may have thought about how this turmoil makes us vulnerable to outside forces, but it may also tear apart our people from within. Saoirse's father is a Christian and one of my finest warriors, in spite of your strange command to love your enemies. His clan is just one of a dozen in this kingdom, but he commands great respect, and others will follow his lead. He was here last night, threatening to personally burn down every druid grove and temple in the land if his daughter's murderer is not found. I understand his anger. If it were my beloved child who had suffered such a fate, I would stop at nothing, not even
a king's command, to get revenge. But the western clans in my kingdom have sired many druids and are fervent patrons of the old ways. If they or their holy places are attacked, there will be clan war. It is my duty as king to hold my people together. If we begin to fight among ourselves, we might as well hand the kingdom over to the Uí Néill. I respect the religious traditions of my people, whether they follow the old ways or your Jesus, but I cannot allow our tribe to fall into civil war. Before I permit this kingdom to be divided, I will expel all the druids from my kingdom.”

“My lord,” said my grandmother, “you can't be serious.”

“I have never been more serious in my life. I have no desire to abandon the ways of my fathers, but I will not side with the Order if it sacrifices innocent girls or is unable to stop one of its members from performing such deeds. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, my lord.”

The king rose from his chair and bade us farewell, then left the feasting hall. My grandmother and I remained seated, too dismayed to stand up.

“Do you think he would really expel the druids, Grandmother?”

“Yes, my child. If it comes to choosing sides in a clan war, I'm afraid that's exactly what he would do. He can't allow the Christians of his kingdom to be slaughtered while he stands idly by. But this is not good news for anyone, even followers of your faith. A religious war in the kingdom of Dúnlaing would bring chaos on our land. The hungry wolves from the other kingdoms would then come and pick clean our bones.”

“What can we do?” I asked.

“Find the murderer, Deirdre. And find him quickly.”

Chapter Nine

M
y grandmother and I were back at her home by early afternoon. On the walk back from King Dúnlaing's feasting hall, we discussed what I should do first and decided the best course of action was to immediately confront Finian, the leader of the conservative druids. He lived on a small holding near the ancient fort of Dún Ailinne, so I decided I could leave early the next morning and be back home by nightfall. I wasn't worried about meeting him or wandering the pathways of Leinster alone. I was a bard, a sacred person in the eyes of all. To kill a bard was to destroy the history and memories of a people, and so was unthinkable on our island. Finian and his fanatical
band might despise me for being a Christian, but they would never harm me.

Just after we returned and I had poured a cool glass of buttermilk for both of us, I heard a knock on the door. I opened it and much to my delight found Dari, with Kevin there beside her. We hugged each other and I invited them both in.

“I'm going to wait outside, if you don't mind, Deirdre,” said Kevin. “I'm responsible for guarding Dari and I want to keep an eye open out here in case anyone comes near.”

“My hero,” said Dari, and she stood on her toes to give Kevin a kiss on his cheek. He blushed like a schoolgirl.

We both laughed. We needed to laugh with all that had happened the last few days. I poured Dari a cup of buttermilk, and my grandmother took one to Kevin as well. She went out to milk her cow and weed the cabbages in the garden, leaving Dari and me alone in her hut.

“How are things going at the monastery?” I asked.

“Not well, as you might expect. The place is in a panic after the two murders, and everyone is wondering what will happen next. It feels like a fortress with the king's men posted at the gates and walls, though at least we don't have to worry about being killed in our beds.”

“How is Father Ailbe?”

“He's wonderful, like a calm harbor in a storm. He's worried, of course, but he has a comforting word for everyone. It's Sister Anna I'm concerned about.”

“Sister Anna? I would have thought she would be stronger than anyone.”

“She is, at least as far as she lets anyone see. But I know she's feeling the loss of Grainne and Saoirse terribly and worries about the other sisters.”

“I'm surprised she allowed you to visit me after what happened yesterday.”

“Actually, she doesn't know I'm here. But the nuns are permitted to leave the monastery grounds during the day with one of the brothers if he's armed.”

“What will she do if she finds out you came to see me?”

“I don't know, and I'm certainly not going to tell her. She doesn't have the authority to excommunicate you, Deirdre, just remove you as a nun. On the other hand, I wouldn't show up at the church anytime soon if I were you, especially dressed like that. You look magnificent, by the way. I've never seen you dressed in anything but our dull nun clothes. You make quite an impression.”

“I hope so. It might serve me well in my current task.”

I told her about my visit to the king and his commission to find the killer.

“I'll help you, Deirdre. We'll work together.”

“Thanks, Dari, but Sister Anna won't let you run around the countryside with me.”

“I don't care. She can kick me out of the order too, if she wants. In fact, I might leave in any case. I can't stand the thought of being at Kildare without you.”

“Dari,” I said, “don't be foolish. Kildare is your home. I'm not going to be responsible for your leaving all that behind.”

“I don't want to leave the monastery, but it's not the same without you there.”

“Are the others being unkind to you for being my friend?”

“Some are a bit cold, but not exactly unkind—well, except for Eithne, who has managed to say ‘I told you so about Deirdre' at least ten times since yesterday. I'm ready to pound her with a frying pan.”

“Forget Eithne. How are the solitaries doing inside the monastery?”

“That's one of the things weighing on Sister Anna. Even with all that's happened, most of them refuse to come to Kildare. They say they'll trust in God to protect them.”

“They're ignoring the orders of the king?”

“I think they're more afraid of Sister Anna than the king, but they won't even come to the monastery for her sake. The problem is that they're uncomfortable living with other people. Many of them have been alone for years. It's a terrifying thought for them to suddenly move into crowded sleeping quarters with other nuns. In fact, those few solitaries who have come to the monastery have settled into other buildings so they can be by themselves. I think Sister Coleen has set up her bed in the nook above the granary.”

“What about Riona?”

Sister Riona was a solitary who lived about a mile from my grandmother's home. She was a cousin of mine on my mother's side, a couple of years younger than me, and a much better nun than I had ever been. Her grandfather had been a druid, though she never knew him. Her father and mother had become Christians before she was born and encouraged Riona in her desire to be a sister of holy Brigid. She was an only child, so when they died a few years ago she moved back into the family home as a solitary. She raised sheep there and gave the meat and wool to the monastery.

“She's one of those who has refused to come to Kildare,” Dari said. “Sister Anna told me to visit her and try to persuade her to return. It's nearby, so I'm on my way there now.”

“Let me come with you. Maybe she'll listen to a kinswoman. I don't like the thought of her out there alone. If she doesn't want to go to the monastery, I'll see if she wants to stay here with my grandmother and me.”

“I'd be grateful. She's as sweet as can be, but there's a stubborn streak in your family.”

“Not stubborn, Dari, just . . . determined.”

We laughed again and went out the door. Kevin was taking his role as protector very seriously, marching back
and forth in front of the hut as if the Saxons were about to invade.

“Kevin, I'm going with Dari to Riona's hermitage to see if I can't talk her into returning to Kildare. You can wait here until I bring her back. Maybe you could help my grandmother in the garden. Dari will be safe with me.”

He scratched his head.

“Well, I don't know, Deirdre. Sister Anna told me to guard her. Are you sure you'll be safe? I mean, I don't want anything to happen to
either
of you.”

Kevin was one of the best men I knew. He was loyal and brave and kind, not to mention tall and handsome. If he hadn't been such a pious monk, I would have invited him into my bed years ago.

“Please don't worry, Kevin,” I said. “You know that no one would dare to touch a bard or anyone under their protection. If it makes you feel better, I'll take a sword with me.”

“All right, but please promise you'll be back here before dark.”

“I promise.”

I told my grandmother where we were going and took my father's sword from the wall near my bed. I knew no one would bother us, but I wasn't going to take any chances.

The path to Riona's farm lay through a forest of sweet-smelling aspen trees to the west. The heavy rain from the day before had stopped and the sky was warm and clear as we drew near to Riona's farm. Her small flock was in the meadow next to her house.

“You'd better let me go first, Dari. Her dogs know me.”

At that moment five large sheepdogs came rushing down the hill, barking at us. They stopped a few feet in front of us, snarling and teeth showing, with the hair on the back of their necks raised.

“It's all right, boys. It's me, Deirdre.”

I held out my hand for them to smell. The largest one almost took it off.

“I thought you said they knew you.”

“Maybe they don't recognize me in my robes.”

“Rory, stop! It's all right, lads. They're friends.”

Riona was coming from the barn behind us, pushing a large handcart in front of her. The dogs all ran up to her, and she scratched them behind the ears, then came over to give us both a big hug.

“Look at you, Deirdre, dressed up like the chief bard of Ireland. I'm so glad to see you two. How's Aunt Aoife?”

“Fine. I left her with Kevin pulling weeds.”

“Well, come in and have a cup of mead. I have to bring the sheep in soon, but I have a little while. I had two lambs taken by wolves last week, so I've been keeping them all in the pen by the house at night.”

We went into her home, which was almost identical to my grandmother's. Riona once said she had thought about knocking it down and building a proper little hermit's hut, but it seemed silly to waste a good building that had been in her family for years.

She poured us a cup and we sat down around her table.

“So, are you here to give me the same message the king's men did yesterday?”

“Yes,” I said. “You know about the killings and that the murderer is planning more. This is serious business, Riona. You're all alone out here. Please come back to the monastery where you'll be safe, just until this is all over. If you don't want to do that, then come and stay with me and my grandmother at her house.”

She took a long drink of the mead.

“Deirdre, I appreciate your concern, I really do, but I'm not leaving. I can't take care of my sheep if I'm hiding in the
monastery or even at Aunt Aoife's house. The wolves will have them all for breakfast before the week is out.”

“I'm sure we could find a local farmer to keep them for a little while,” Dari said.