Page 60 (1/2)

The foriven to the freeholders in the Bretwald by the younger Henry, although the details differed The villagers listened as intently as scholars as she read slowly and in a clear voice

"‘This privilege was confirmed by Henry, by faith and oath approved and accepted by the following persons… in the year 660 since the Proclamation of the Holy Word, on the 11th day of Sormas, on the feast day of the Visitation’" She looked up in surprise "That’s today!"

Having no deacon to count the calendar for the with a cheer First the children--ould lay claim to these lands when they inherited--drank After them, the elders, who had husbanded the land, and last of all the householders who noorked the fields There was enough for all, a rare enough thing, Liath thought as she sipped at the sour cider, which was starting to go to vinegar but had not quite turned

On such an auspicious occasion all lingering suspicion vanished Lions and Eagles were fed, and housed at randohouses and some in byres or stock sheds on beds of heaped straw Liath asked for no place greater for herself than any other, and the captain, seeing this without co on it, offered her no primacy For the first time in many days she slept soundly, half buried in a heap of scratchy straith only a blanket beneath and one thrown over herself where she had wrapped herself in her wool cloak In old days, long ago, she had often slept so on the road, traveling with Da and later as an Eagle Slipping into sleep, she could i to himself, as he often did when there was no learned adult hom to converse How he loved to chat For all his lonely isolated ways, Da had loved people and loved talking and discussion and argu mind, unsettled, dissatisfied, and ainst her chest The book was a co presence, for all the trouble it had caused her It was, in a way, Da’s conversation with hi of hi as a tiny baby sleeping at peace in her arms

"Liath? Ai, God! It is her!"

That Hanna’s voice should so trouble her drea for two days with the Lions They were in the dreagrieved

"Since when should anyone believe your wild tales, Folquin?"

"Since I learned better froo!"

"Liath!"

That a hand should touch her shoulder in such a fa her out of sleep, did surprise her She opened her eyes

She was still drea breaths she stared at the apparition, the drea at all The figure crouched in a ht and heft Her leggings creased and bunched around the knees Her white-blonde braid of hair had pooled on her shoulder, and as the woman shook her head with a smile, it tumbled free down her torso