believe the judgment that was brought down on the pair of you was just. So I canâtbear a grudge against either you or your sister.â
Sárán screwed his face up into a sneer of contempt. âYou are blinded by your love for Aoife in the same way young Fearna was.â
âThat was long ago,â Aoife protested. âIâm older and wiser. I have learned from my misdeeds.â
âMy brother passed away a long time ago,â Mahon cut in. âI miss him and I mourn for him. But nothing will bring him back to me.â
âYou must have hay between your ears to follow her around the way you do,â Sárán scoffed.
âThen youâd have a barnful yourself,â Mahon replied. âHow many times has she led you into trouble?â
âHow dare you speak to me like that? Iâm a member of the Druid Circle! And so is my sister. If you had any respect for our standing youâd dare not utter a sound in our presence. Thatâs the trouble with you warriors. You lack any real discipline in your lives. Anyone can learn to throw a blade about. But letâs hear you speak on tradition and tales of old.â
âThe Druid Circle is a fine vocation for one who enjoys a life of the mind,â Aoife interrupted. âIâm not such a one. Endless chanting, learning songs Iâll never have the chance to sing before an appreciative audience. It drives me to despair. And what do I care for all those law-tracts from days gone by?â
âYou are a gifted harper,â Sárán reminded her. âWould you abandon your talent for the way of the sword?â
âA warrior is not forbidden to take up the harp fortheir own entertainment,â she pointed out. âAnd I donât want to just sing songs about the valorous deeds of others. I want to live to hear songs sung about me.â
âNo one has ever been permitted to leave the Druid Circle to take up the blade,â her brother told her flatly. âYou are wasting your time wishing for such a thing.â
âMany a seasoned fighter has left the Warrior Circle for the Draoi path,â she countered.
âThat is a natural progression,â Sárán explained loftily. âItâs a sign of maturity and wisdom for a warrior to move into the Druid Circle and abandon the foolishness of fighting.â
âLetâs go,â Mahon interceded, tired of their bickering. âItâll be dark by the time we reach the caves. We can talk about this on the way.â
Sárán turned to the Danaan and his eyes narrowed to slits. âBe silent!â he stormed. âYou are not worthy of this discussion. You are neither a Druid nor of the Fir-Bolg blood. You will not interrupt the conversation of your betters.â
âDonât rebuke Mahon!â Aoife protested angrily. âHeâs done nothing to offend you!â
âHeâs the one whoâs led you to this foolish behavior,â Sárán shot back. âIf you hadnât lost your silly heart to him you would not have fallen under his influence. I can see now your teacher has been too lenient with you. I will speak to Dalan when we return to the settlement. Iâm sure heâll willingly remedy that situation.â
âDalanâs away in the east looking for some Draoi master,â Aoife jeered. âWhy donât you go off after him?â
Sárán didnât dignify this with a reply. He turned up his lip in a sneer then turned his back on his sister to climb over the wall.
âBrother,â Lom called, touching his twin on the shoulder, âwill you not wait and journey with us?â
Sárán spun around and looked his twin coldly in the eye. âYou should have been taking more care of her. She is not a child any longer who can roam the hills to her heartâs desire. It may be fine for you lads to spend your days playing at mock fights, but she is a Druid in