“It gets better,” Niamh continued. “She accidentally let slip that she’s spent some length of time with him. She tried to cover it up, but it sounded as though Aodh was visiting in Thurles before the attack.”
Dallan’s mind raced to piece this new information into the story he’d already heard. “But Brona said Aodh’s army appeared overnight,” he thought aloud.
“Catrin said Brona had some sort of secret and we should talk to her to find out what really happened.”
“I should speak with Brian while we’re in Caiseal. He would want to know there’s the potential for subterfuge.”
“We also need to figure out how to get Brona to confess,” Niamh added thoughtfully. “I doubt she’ll simply offer up the information if we ask.”
Dallan grinned at her, winning a smile in return.
“What?” she laughed. “Do you have an idea?”
“Do you know why we kept Diarmid behind?”
Her eyes went wide. “No!” She squeezed her eyes shut in a mixture of laughter and horror. “Tell me he isn’t!”
“I don’t think he’sactuallybedded her, but his entire job is to charm her into cooperating. She’s taken a liking to him.”
“But her husband just died!”
Dallan shrugged. “Not all marry for love. Perhaps they despised one another.”
Niamh didn’t appear to like that explanation but changed the subject yet again.
“So, tell me about the Fianna.” He saw the eagerness, heard the curiosity in her voice. “I heard there were trials.”
Dallan chuckled, squeezing her hand. “Isthatever a story. Lucky for you, we have some time.”
They arrived atCaiseal far too soon for Dallan’s liking. The sun sat high in the sky, lending what little warmth it could offer so late in the year. He’d only just finished answering all of Niamh’s questions about the Fianna trials when their horses’ hooves echoed through the courtyard.
Lorcán, the groom, looked at Dallan in concern as he took their horses into the stables. “Where are the others? Did they live?”
“Not to worry, Lorcán,” Dallan assured him. “As far as I know, all are safe. I’m escorting this lovely lady on an errand. Do you know where my sister is?”
That calmed Lorcán, who directed Dallan to the hall. The groom disappeared with their mounts and handed their satchels to an errand boy.
Niamh fell into step behind him as they entered the hall. Eva, Dallan’s sister, looked up as the doors to the hall opened. The moment she recognized them, she bolted from her chair in the most unladylike fashion that he’d seen from her yet.
“Dallan!” she squealed, rushing to embrace him. “Are you hurt?” She pulled back enough to check him over. “Where’s Finn?”
“I’m fine. Finn’s fine. He’s out on another mission. We had a small errand to run in town here, and I couldn’t pass by the opportunity to bother my baby sister.”
“We?”
Niamh stepped out from behind Dallan, eliciting an ear-splitting yell from his surprised sister. She nearly knocked over Niamh as she pulled her into the world’s tightest embrace.
“Niamh! I thought I’d never see you again! Lord, but you’ve grown into a beauty. Come, we have so much to catch up on!”
Dallan couldn’t help but wonder if they even remembered he stood beside them. “Uh, ladies,” he called as Eva dragged Niamh deeper into the feasting hall. “What about the market?”
“You can go later,” Eva replied. “You’re staying the night, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but—”
“We’ll see you at supper, then! I’m sure Brian will find something to occupy you.”
Grudgingly accepting his dismissal, Dallan watched his sister run into some hidey hole at the back of the hall with the woman he loved.
