“Ciarán’s. Didn’t you wonder what was in that message he gave you to bring me?”

I grimaced. “I’d assumed it was something complicated and strategic, not an order to make sure I ate properly and got plenty of sleep.”

My cousin smiled. “There was some of both in it, to tell the truth. I understand he’s coming here in person to collect you at the end of summer.”

A whole summer. Why had Ciarán thought it necessary to send me away for so long? I was ready to make my promise now; I had been ready for some time. True, sometimes the thoughts and feelings of others did crowd into my mind, as if I were a receptacle for anything too powerful for their own selves to encompass. But in the nemetons, as a druid, I could work on controlling that. I could learn to make it a gift, not a burden. Here on Inis Eala all I would be doing over the summer was wait. Wait until it was time to go back to Sevenwaters; wait until it was time to fulfill my vocation at last. I had known since I was six years old that the life of the spirit was my destiny. I had known since the first time the Lady of the Forest had appeared to me, a majestic, blue-cloaked figure manifesting before me unsought by a still pool under the oaks. She had recognized me as a seer; she had offered me her grave counsel. What did Ciarán think I would do here at Inis Eala? Fall in love with some strapping young warrior and allow my life to veer off its long-intended course? I would never let that happen.

“Sibeal?”

I snapped out of my reverie. “Yes, Ciarán is planning to come here and escort me home. He wants to talk to Cathal.”

“Mm-hm. I’m glad you’re here, at any rate. Not only because this far-flung part of the family likes to see you, but also because the island lacks a druid or wise woman. I’m sorry I have to ask you to conduct a ritual so soon after your arrival, but folk will be pleased to see it done with the authority a druid can provide. Those poor fellows died a hard death. We must lay them to rest as well as we can.”

“I’m not quite a druid yet,” I said. “But I’ll do my best.”