Defiance (The Priestess Trilogy) by Melissa Sasina Page A

its people lay dying, I searched for her…”
    Though Ainmire’s gaze was steady when it met Ceallach’s, his voice shook slightly as he asked , “My wife and child. Are they…?”
    Mahon watched as Ceallach looked away and shook his head.
    “ I regret to inform you that Deirdre and your child are dead.”
    Ainmire nodded numbly. “It was as I feared.” He fell silent, resting his face in his hands. After a while, he looked up and met Ceallach’s gaze once more . “ Over a fortnight ago, I heard the wails of the bean sidhe carried by the wind . I never thought those sorrow filled cries could have been for the loss of my wife and child. ” He paused, a ragged sigh escaping him. “I thank you for telling me. I wish I could have mourned their deaths sooner…”
    “Forgive me, I was… delayed,” Ceallach told him sincerely . “I thought it best to visit Rúnda before returning here .”
    Ainmire nodded. “Aye…I heard rumors that your son had been seen arriving with the High Priestess earlier,” he said. “It is good that she is here.”
    Ceallach did not respond, the emotionless mask slipping back into place.
    As Mahon watched, he knew then that something had indeed happened with his sister. He wanted to ask what, but had no desire to upset Ainmire further. And so he remained silent, but to his surprise, Ainmire questioned the man in a surprisingly calm voice.
    “Ah, but this displeases you, does it not?”
    Ceallach’s eyes narrowed on the man.
    “You went to fetch the priestess only to have her return with you son instead,” continued Ainmire. “What happened during your stay at Rúnda?”
    The Fomorii man remained silent , his jaw tensing .
    Ainmire leaned across the table towards Ceallach. “I have known you long enough, Cea llach Neáll of the Fomorii clan , to know when you are displeased ,” he said, folding his fingers together . “ And the manner in which Shiovra has returned to this village has indeed displeased you. And so I ask you: why?”
    Mahon watched as Ceallach stiffened.
    “ Shiovra did not depart Rúnda under our guidance ,” replied Ceallach in a hard voice. “She has defied the words of her mentor and turned her back on us .”
    Ainmire’s face remained completely calm, free of any anger. “And will she defy her duties as High Priestess to this village?”
    “No,” replied the Fomorii man bluntly. “She is adamant in her decision to protect Tara.”
    Ainmire leaned back. “Then there is nothing to worry about,” he told Ceallach , taking another drink of his mead . “As long as Shiovra fulfills her duties as priestess, and hold s up the betrothal arrangement for the sake of alliance, then all is well .” He paused, raising his eyes slowly to meet Ceallach’s, his own gaze hard. “Your anger stems from the matter that with Shiovra ’s defiance, you and Réalta can no longer manipulate her to your desires.” Ainmire waved his hand in dismissal. “Trust in Shiovra , Ceallach Neáll. Perhaps she will surprise you in her defiance.”
    Ceallach nodded and, giving a quick low bow, excused himself.
    Mahon watched the man leave, wondering just how his sister had defied Réalta and why she had done so. Grabbing an empty cup from the table, he decided to take Ainmire up on his offer and filled it generously with mead. He had never seen Ceallach react the way he had that night. Seeing the man display such emotions honestly worried him and made him wonder just what had happened to make him so angry. He took a drink from the cup as the door opened once more and two men stepped into the cottage.
    Naal was a tall and slim young man of twenty-two years with long, dark hair that shinned with hints of red and an odd streak of white b y the right side of his face. A spiral curled by his right eye and another blue woad honor mark on his neck, partially hidden by his tunic . Naal’s father, Earnán, was man with dark brown hair that was cut short and dark eyes that flashed with