Straightening her back, Brighit smiled brightly when she turned toward the man. He was not quick enough to hide his look of surprise. Good. She had him off balance, mayhap now he wouldn’t notice if she was less than convincing.
The food was promptly served to their table and the ale flowed without restraint. Seigine quickly asked for a refill. Tisa didn’t appear to notice, but she knew Darragh’s mother—she noticed everything.
“Seigine has been very busy with his hunt for his brother’s killer, Darragh,” Tadhg said.
“Oh has he?” Darragh broke the crusty bread with his bare hands and handed a portion to her. “I would expect no less from him. He was deeply saddened by Cathair’s death.”
“He mentioned seeing yer party.”
“We did cross paths,” Darragh said.
Brighit held her breath as she brought the goblet to her lips, hoping to stop the shaking of her hands. The liquid was cool and refreshing. Darragh was quick to offer her a bite of the duck that had been prepared in his honor. “Be sure to eat, my love, ye may even now be eating for more than just yerself.”
“What? Did I hear ye aright?” Tisa’s excited proclamation rippled across the hall until every eye was on them and all talking had ceased.
Brighit beamed, nodding enthusiastically.
“Well done, Darragh.” Tadhg slapped his son on the back before standing, his goblet in his hand.
“Waiting to be certain…”
“Hah, a toast to my son.”
“…might be wise.”
Shouts of congratulations and encouragement erupted while everyone followed their king in drinking to his son. When Tadhg sat back down, he wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “I am quite pleased and ye?”
“I am beside myself with happiness.”
Seigine cleared his throat. “Congratulations indeed.” He raised his cup to Brighit before throwing back the contents. “Did I mention I have brought the murder weapon with me?”
“Aye, ye did mention that.” Tadhg responded, clearly irritated at the turn of the conversation. “What say ye we wait until after our meal to discuss things.”
“Mayhap we need to discuss it before we eat.” Seigine’s irritation was growing.
Swallowing the food, he’d just placed in his mouth, Darragh smiled awkwardly. “Too late?”
“When will the other nobles be arriving?” Seigine emptied his mug for the third time. The young lad was quick to refill it.
“We should have our panel by the morrow. First, they would consider the murder charges,” Tadhg said. “Has yer search turned over anyone?”
“It has.” Seigine was not touching his food, but the liberal amount of ale was affecting him, his words slurring.
Tisa shifted beside him, unnoticed by the man.
“A few possibilities,” he added.
When he turned his intimidating gaze toward Brighit, he stilled. She was prepared with a smile. Seigine’s mouth tightened slightly, and he quickly glanced away. As she’d hoped, he’d accepted the gesture as confirmation that she had been successful with what he had ordered her to do.
“And what is yer hope for yer clan now? Have ye given yer brother’s plans any further consideration?” Tadhg asked Seigine directly.
Openly smiling, Seigine appeared barely able to contain himself. He hesitated as if to gather his thoughts back together. “My brother had decided nothing. It was merely talk.”
Tadhg lifted his goblet, resting it from his raised hand. “I’m certain he intended to move forward with it.”
“And when did ye speak of this?”
“When we discussed the destruction being visited on both our lands.” Tadhg turned to watch Seigine’s expression. “He said he had a good idea who the culprit might be.”
