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‘We do, both for good and evil,’ Kendrew said, getting to his feet. Clearly, he could see the way this was going and had no stomach for it. ‘The Pendragons who killed Zephyr were monsters, no doubt about it, but remember Feidhlim! Remember Arthur! They were Pendragons too, and we owe them everything. You know what the prophecy says about these children.’
‘Does our so-called Great Guardian wield the sword then?’ she asked, raising one eyebrow mockingly.
Kendrew glanced round at me, and I shrank back in my seat, feeling ashamed.
A fair-haired witch, probably in her early forties, got to her feet. ‘Now is surely not the time to be discussing this matter, Titania,’ she said. ‘We’re here to lay Zephyr to rest, not stir up bad feeling.’
‘Stir up bad feeling?’ Titania snapped. ‘You think I’m the one to do that, Elinora Harbottle? Have you any idea how many witches feel the same way as I do? And meanwhile the High Council does nothing! Their leader was murdered by fae scum, and they sit there—’
We couldn’t hear how she finished that sentence because the murmurings from the congregation grew so loud. It was hard to tell whether they agreed with her or not.
‘Please, please, may we have quiet?’ Aveta called.
As the conversation dropped to a loud hum, she said, ‘I understand your concerns, but now isn’t the time for impetuous actions. We need to take our time and consider this.’
‘And let the fae murder another witch?’ someone called.
‘She’s right,’ said another, rising from his seat. ‘Who knows who’ll be next? Could be any one of us. Meanwhile you lot arrest Woden Crossley, the one man who demands that the fae pay for their crimes.’
‘Shut your cakehole, Sylvester Crake, or you’ll end up the same way,’ Castor called, making Iliana cringe.
I groaned inwardly as Aisling leapt up. ‘I think you’re forgetting that the Pendragons don’t speak for the fae any more than you speak for all witches,’ she said angrily. ‘Don’t blame the fae for what happened to Zephyr Ambrose!’
‘Oh yes, and who should we blame then?’ the man demanded, glaring at her. ‘Are you telling us the O’Briens are fae sympathisers now?’
‘Oh, lord,’ Sky said. ‘This is going to end in tears.’
‘At the very least,’ Sirius agreed, hooking his arm around Trinity’s shoulders as if to protect her.
‘Aisling, sit down,’ Ailill commanded, but Aisling didn’t appear to be listening. Or if she was, she’d decided to ignore her father.
‘I refuse to sit here and let you blame all fae for the actions of Havok Pendragon and his cronies,’ she said. ‘Most fae want peace more than any of you witches do.’
‘You witches?’ demanded someone else. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘You’re an O’Brien,’ a tall, male witch with steel grey hair said, eyeing her accusingly. ‘You’re supposed to be on our side.’
‘Aisling,’ Orlagh urged.
Aisling shook off her restraining arm and stepped into the aisle to stand beside a surprised looking Titania.
‘Aw no,’ Killian groaned. ‘Now we’ve had it!’
‘We speak for the fae,’ Aisling said, her eyes flashing a warning. ‘And you’d do well to listen to us.’
‘You do what?’ the male witch asked incredulously. ‘You’re on their side? Since when?’
‘Since always.’ Aisling closed her eyes and there was a weird shimmering sensation suddenly. I knew what that meant. I’d seen this before at Ballydraiocht.
‘Aisling, no!’
Aidan had leapt into the aisle, but it was too late. His sister now stood before us all in her true form, and most of the congregation were in clear shock.
‘What—what?’ I heard a few exclamations of fear, and heads turned to the rest of the O’Briens who, thankfully, had retained their human façade.
‘What is this?’ Titania demanded. ‘What are you?’
‘Zephyr never told you?’ Aisling’s voice was strange and echoey.
