“As surely as sun follows moon,” said Conor quietly. “As surely as seven streams become one strong river that flows and swirls over boulder and under towering cliff, never faltering on its journey to the sea.”

“Next time, Sorcha,” said Padriac, “I’ll be able to make you a better weaving frame. There are some good bits of ash, I’ve put them to dry under the overhang at the back of the cave. They should be ready by midwinter, if you keep the rain out. And save that rope, I’ll be needing it.”

I smiled at him; so eager to help, so young yet. He might have outgrown his boots, but in essence he had changed not at all. No, it wasn’t my youngest brother I was worried about.

“I ask myself,” said Finbar, with a stubborn note in his voice that we all recognized, “why this must happen. Why must Sorcha endure what must occur, why sacrifice herself thus when she could be safe and protected, and move on with her own life in peace? Why not leave us as we are? For all we know, by the time the task is done, if indeed it can be done, our father might be dead, or changed forever; why then need we be saved, and thus ruin our sister’s life?”

We all stared at him. There was a slight pause. It was Conor who spoke first.

“Because evil must not be allowed to prevail,” he said.

“Because we must reclaim what is ours,” added Liam.

“And save our father, if we can,” said Cormack. “He’s a good man for all his faults, and without his leadership our lands are as good as lost. Briton and Viking and Pict will be swarming over the islands, and to our very door.”

“Because Sorcha believes it’s the right thing,” said Padriac with devastating simplicity.

“I cannot let the lady Oonagh’s work go unpunished,” said Diarmid. “If it weren’t for my stupidity, perhaps we could have stopped her. My honor requires me to seek her out, to make an end of it.”

“Listen,” said Padriac. “It’s almost dawn.”

They were silent. A solitary bird had begun to chirrup high in the elms. And the sky was indeed beginning to lighten with the first pale gray of the morning.

We made our way to the shore. Liam went ahead, carrying the lantern. I walked by Finbar, and I tried to let him know how I felt, but could not tell if he heard me.

All will be well. Believe in me. Hold on, and live. For us all. It was like sending thoughts into empty air, to be blown away by a passing breeze.

We waited for the light, clasping hands in our circle, saying nothing, passing strength and love one to the other. Finbar was between Conor and myself; he let us take his hands, but they were still icy cold, as if nothing could ever warm him again. Just before dawn, Conor bid me go back to the cave, for, he said, it was better if I did not watch them go. They hugged me one by one; Conor first, then the others in turn, till only Finbar was left. I thought he would go without a word; but he touched me on the cheek and for a moment he let me in.