"You must come with me, all of you, back to Glenfluirse," Declan urged, stretching out his arms as if to embrace life itself. "Come, my pretties, are you not eager to see Niall's triumph? A name he can take pride in. Aye, and an honor greater still, to be namedtainist, he who will rule when Conn is in his grave."
Niall staggered back a step, breath drivenfrom his lungs. "Tainist?" Niall echoed, incredulous. "Conn cannot mean to make me his heir! He has a quiver full of his own sons to choose from!"
"It is not blood alone that makes an Irish chieftain. You know that, Niall. The chieftain is chosen for the good of the people. The man who inherits must be the most fit to rule, the strongest, the wisest. A leader chosen by his deeds, not merely at the whim of chance because of the man who sired him."
Dazed, still unable to grasp what Declan had said, Niall turned to the three women clustered behind him. It seemed impossible, this deliverance, a burst of brilliant sunshine after it seemed the sky was crashing down upon their heads.
Niall glanced at his mother, the vulnerable curve of her back, as she added another wet blossom to those clutched in her hand. He searched each face with his gaze. Fiona's sharp features shaken from the grief that had lain over them earlier. Declan's broad, honest grin. Caitlin's face still obscured by the folds of her hood, but he could sense in her the desperate longing to believe in miracles, the same need racing in his own blood.
"What think you?" Niall asked. "I can scarce believe it is true. Caitlin, you are free, free toembrace life, live unafraid in the sunshine, as you were always meant to do. Fiona, Daire is yours again. Now and forever."
"Nay!" Fiona cried, stricken. "You cannot mean to tell me you trust Conn. Niall, it is a trick. I know it!"
Niall's throat tightened at the emotion in his sister's voice, a fear that betrayed the truth. Somehow, during these past weeks, when he had despaired of ever making her care about him again, she had forgiven him. She had just been too proud to show it. Inexpressible tenderness welled up in Niall, making his eyes burn.
Urged by memories ages old, he reached out to tug a lock of hair into her eyes, the gesture that had been his only option as a teasing, gruff boy moved to show his sister affection. Recognition lit Fiona's eyes, and she sniffed audibly.
"Whist, you hellborn babe," Niall said gently. "Why would Conn proclaim metainistbefore all Glenfluirse if he meant me harm?"
"I do not know! How could anyone guess what plotting goes on in his twisted mind? But I promise you, there is always poison mixed into the honey he offers."
The panicked look in her face was unbearably precious. Niall wished he could embrace her,comfort her, despite Declan standing there like a benevolent giant. But such a public display of affection was one transgression Fiona would never forgive. Niall would have to comfort her using reason.
"Even if Conn is cunning, ruthless, as you say, he is no fool. He has built his name upon being Ever Truthful. He craves nothing more than the favor of the bards. They would vilify him for eternity if he betrayed me now. He will keep his word."
"Pah! You think he is honorable because you are! But Conn twists and writhes like a shape-shifter, taking on one form, then another, to work his treachery. Smiling and praising all the while he is plotting destruction. You saw what he did to Daire when he told you all was well there. And to Caitlin—promising her father her life, then, once he lay dead, luring her out of the abbey, inciting you to murder her in her sleep! Tell me, you great ox-headed fool, did your precious Conn keep his word to Fintan MacShane?"
"Fintan?" Declan echoed, looking as if the spear caster had struck him with a lightning bolt fromTir naN Og. "You cannot mean... Niall, this woman you spared was Fintan's daughter?"
Caitlin stepped forward, her delicate fingersdrawing the hood back from her night-black hair. No rain or gray sky could dull her beauty. Despite everything she had endured, she shone with the unexpected brilliance of a jewel against a beggar's palm.
For a long moment, Declan gaped at her. At last, he stammered out, "I cannot—cannot believe it is you. Caitlin of the Lilies." Declan fell to one knee before her, heedless of his garments dragging in the mud.
"Nay," Caitlin objected, and Niall could sense her discomfort. "Pray, do not—"
But Declan stayed as he was, paying her homage. "I would not be alive today but for your father's magic. Aye, nor half of the other men in Conn's army. Now I understand why Niall was spurred to show mercy. It is little wonder he spared the life of the daughter of noble Fintan."
Fiona thrust herself between them, all but spitting fury. "It would not have mattered to my brother if she were the lowliest servant girl in Ireland, you mud-sucking ox!" Fiona's eyes burned with such fierce loyalty, Niall swallowed hard to keep his voice from breaking.
"Whist, now," he soothed. "Do not be carving up poor Declan before my eyes. He did not mean to insult me. He is a good man, Fiona, and true."
"You cannot think Conn would hesitate at having a good man lead you to disaster. Look at the way he tried to use you to kill Caitlin!"
Declan rose, managing to look as disheartened as a scolded puppy despite his hulking girth and gruesome scar. "I would cut off my own hand before I would do your brother harm, lady," he vowed.
Fiona's brow crinkled. "Perhaps it is true you would not willingly harm Niall. But if Conn wishes Niall destruction, he will find some way to see it done."
"Why would Conn wish your brother harm? He has treated Niall as a son. No man values your brother more than our chieftain does. I would stake my life upon it."
Fiona gave a scornful snort. "It is not your life you gamble with—at least, not yet—and I prefer not to take such a risk. I just got my brother back, and I will not lose him!"
Declan thumped his fist against his heart. "By my sword, lady, you risk nothing. Conn is the most honorable of rulers."
"He is the most conniving, the most cunning, the most ruthless villain ever to defile Ireland! One day, both you and my brother will discover it." Very real fear flared in the girl's eyes. "I onlypray by the time you do, it will not be too late to save yourselves from disaster!"
Fiona shoved past Niall, appealing to Caitlin. "Caitlin, talk to Niall! Make him see reason. We cannot let him fall into this snare."
Caitlin dared what Niall had not, capturing Fiona's trembling hand in her own. She looked as regal as a queen as she turned to Declan. "You have given us much to think about, Declan. If we might have a moment alone to speak of it?"
