S Farrell - Holder of Lightning

"What I want is for Padraic to be alive," Maeve answered, still facing the pyre. "Can you give me that, Jenna? Can the First Holder, the new Banrion, do that for me? Is that within your vast power?"

The questions tore holes in Jenna's soul. She felt the child inside her stir, and she placed her hands protectively over her stomach. "No." The wind snapped the canvas of the tent, punctuating the

Maeve swiveled. "What of the Cloch Mor that Padraic held? Give me that, so I can give it to Doyle as his legacy as a Mac Ard."

Jenna shook her head. "I can’t-I won’t-do that. It belongs. ."Jenna paused, taking a breath. It belongs to the child 1 carry. It’s Ennis’ legacy."… to Inishfeirm and Inish Thuaidh."

Maeve nodded, her mouth tightening. "Then can you at least manage to give me a torch?"

Jenna went to one of the tent posts, where two circles of copper held a smoldering brand. She pulled it from the rings and gave it to her mam.

"You may leave now," Maeve told her.

"Mam-"

Maeve shook her head vigorously, the flame flickering in her hand. "I’m not your mam. I’m the woman who loved your enemy. My allegiance is to the Ri Ard, not the woman who calls herself Banrion in the pigsty of Dun Kiil. Leave me to say farewell in private. Go back to your ship and your island and forget me. Give me that much."

Jenna’s mouth hung open; a dozen unsaid replies filling her head. A gulf wider than the Westering Sea separated them, and Jenna could think of no way to bridge it. The infant Mac Ard was crying again, but Maeve’s face reflected only a stoic suffering. Jenna started to take a step toward her but Maeve’s eyes narrowed warningly and she stopped. Finally, Jenna ducked her heard and left the tent, going out into the wind again. Her gardai were waiting for her. They looked at her questioningly.

"We’re leaving," she told them.

Jenna sat in the boat as they rowed back to their ship, gazing backward at Inishduan. She saw Maeve come out of the tent, Doyle cradled in one arm. Smoke gushed white around the central pole as Maeve walked down to the beach without looking back. A few seconds later, the first flames appeared, leaping high into the air. Smoke rolled gray with the oils, the wind smearing it west and south toward Talamh an Ghlas.

They arrived at the ship. Hands reached down to help Jenna up onto the deck. Standing at the rail, she looked back to the island: to the boat that was

carrying Maeve and Jenna's half brother back to their own vessel; to the conflagration rising high into the sky.

"Are you ready, Banrion?" the captain asked. Jenna nodded. "Aye," she said. "Take me home."

Appendices

Characters (in order of appearance):

A young woman from the village of Ballintubber Jenna's mam

Jenna Aoire

Maeve Aoire (nee Oldspring)

Tara

Kesh

Old Stubborn Halden

Coelin Singer

Songmaster

Curragh

Mother-Creator

Aldwoman Pearce Tom Mullin

One Hand Bailey

Erin the Healer

Maghera

Ellia

Matron Kelly Niall Aoire Chamis Redface

Rafea

Sean

Eliath

Padraic Mac Ard

Conhal

Mael Armagh

Owner of a tavern in Ballintubber

Jenna's herding dog

The ancient ram in Jenna's flock

A resident of Ballintubber, danced with Maeve at Corn Festival

A musician in Ballintubber Coelin's mentor, dead three years

Goddess: creator of the world

The oldest person in Ballintubber and the Teller of Tales

Ballintubber resident Ballintubber resident

Ballintubber resident A character in song and legend, female Tara's daughter, enamored of Coelin Ballintubber resident, keeps cows Jenna's da (father)

A Ballintubber resident who teased Jenna as a child

Ballintubber resident, weaves cloth Matron Kelly's son, brain-damaged by fever Tara's youngest son

A tiarna (lord) who comes to Ballintubber Mac Ard's horse

An ancient king of Tuath Infochla who tried to conquer Inish Thuaidh;

Severii The Inish chieftain who defeated Mael Armagh O’Coulghan Buckles A resident of Ballintubber, an old man Fiacra De Derga A tiarna from Tuath Connachta, a cousin of Mac Ard RB Gabair The king of Tuath Gabair RB Connachta The king of Tuath Connachta Daragh A resident of Ballintubber, killed by a falling tree in Doire Coill O’Rheallagh Widow The wife of Daragh O’Rheallagh Denmark Seancoim’s companion crow, and his eyes Seancoim The old guardian of Doire Coill Seed-Daughter Goddess: the daughter of the Mother-Creator, who planted the fi Ruaidhri Bunus Muintir chieftain, died in the Battle of Lough Dubh Crenel Dahgnon Daoine king who fought Ruaidhri at the Battle of Lough Dubh Riata Bunus Muintir chieftain, the last of the Bunus cloudmages Davali Bunus Muintir cloudmage who possessed Lamh Shabhala before RBata Oengus Bunus Muintir cloudmage who possessed Lamh Shabhala before Daval Declan Sheehan Head of Clan Sheehan, one of the roving Taisteal bands Edan One of the Taisteal Hilde One of the Taisteal Bran One of the Taisteal Ennis Inishlander who meets Jenna in the Taisteal encampment O’Deoradhain Aodhfin O RB of the small kingdom of Bhaile, Holder of the cloch after Eilis MacG; Liathain Fills A Holder of the Lamh Shabhala, killed in the Battle of Lough Lar by Ac MacGairbhith Liathain Kerys Aoire Jenna’s great-mam, who fled from Inishfeirm when she became pregnant Niall An acolyte of the Order of Inishfeirm who fell in love with Kerys Aoire. great-da. His last name is unknown Conn Hagan Head of the family that took in Kerys Aoire after her flight from Inishfeirm, and eventually married her Torin Mallaghan The RB Gabair Aoife A servant girl in Jenna’s employ at Lar Bhaile Du Val An apothecary in Lar Bhaile who supplies Jenna with leaf Kiernan O The RB Ard, or High King Liathain Nevan O The RB Ard’s first son and Tanaise RBg (Heir Apparent) Liathain Cianna The RB Gabair’s wife Mallaghan Rowan Beirne Holder of Lamh Shabhala from 648-651

Mam of Rowan, Holder of Lamh Shabhala from 622-648

The Inish cloudmage who took the cloch from Rowan Beirne in the year 651

Bryth Beirne (nee Mac Ard) Garad Mhullien

Anrai Beirne

Ailen O'Curragh Sinna Mac Ard

Slevin Mac Ard

Galen Aheron

Baird

Murrin

Labras

Damhlaic

Gairbith

WaterMother

Garrentha

Flynn Meagher

Maister

Cleurach

Mundy Kirwan

Tadhg

O'Coulghan

Maher

Scanlan

Aithne MacBradaigh Ionhar MacBradaigh Thraisha Aron O Dochartaigh Kyle MacEagan

Kianna

Ciomhsog

Peria O RBain

Aidan

Terrain

Littlest

The tiarna who married Bryth Mac Ard — da of Rowan Beirne

Holder of Lamh Shabhala from 597-612

Original surname Hannroia, married to Ailen O'Curragh

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