The large man laughed. “And did he say who he thought it was?”
“He did not, but he promised me it would stop.”
“A king who cannot keep peace on his own land is not much of a king at all.”
“Are ye insulting my father?” Darragh sat up and narrowed his eyes at the man. “Or are ye speaking of yer brother?”
“Cathair.” Seigine burped. “My brother could do little to protect the small bit of land that was his. To offer help to a neighbor is merely talk. Nothing more.”
“Then ye must have been pleased with his decision to join with Dubhshláine.”
“There was no decision.” He barked the words loudly enough that some of the others in the hall stopped talking to glance at the head table.
Seigine’s eyes were wide with anger, but when he caught Brighit watching him, a sickening smile lightened his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of the entryway doors bursting open distracted him for whatever he’d planned to say. A gust of wind came into the hall, along with Francis, flanked by his eldest sons. All eyes turned in the same direction.
Seigine raised partly from his chair as if in awe of the sight, whispering, “Datan.”
Tisa turned a sharp gaze to Seigine. “Datan?Ye fostered with the man?”
He didn’t respond but kept his eyes fixed on the man he held in such high regard, he still referred to him with the endearing title.
“Apologies for our tardiness.” Francis bellowed as he crossed the hall to the head table.
“Welcome.” Tadhg offered, standing to greet the large man.
“I did not realize ye would be joining us for the meal.” Tisa’s agitation was sincere. “We would have awaited yer arrival. Something about a soak…?”
Devin settled beside Seigine, wrapping an arm around the man whose eyes darted around as if looking for a way out. Brighit scooted away from Tadhg, creating room for the otherri.
“Ah, a bit indelicate of me,” Francis said.
“When have ye ever been accused of being delicate?” Tadhg asked.
Francis’s laughter bellowed across the hall, the others joining in as they resumed their eating. He settled in the spot Brighit had made for him.
“Have I missed anything of importance?” Francis asked, helping himself to a generous portion from the platter brought to him.
“Not at all.” Tadhg nodded toward Darragh and Brighit. “We were just discussing the importance of having good neighbors.”
“From what I remember of my father’s advice…” Brighit tried for an easy tone, doing her utmost to ignore the lump half way down her throat, “’tis better to be an ally than an enemy to yer neighbor.”
She had Seigine’s total attention. His body was rigid while his eyes seemed to bore into her. The tension pouring off him was intense. Darragh’s hand against her back encouraged her to continue.
“Certainly, Seigine has demonstrated his belief in the same approach.”
Chapter 25
Darragh seethed inside at the look of appreciation Seigine now bestowed on his wife, but he averted his gaze.
“Ye have enemies, Tadhg?” Francis wiped his sleeve across his face.
Tadhg sighed. “Someone has been poaching my deer, which I find far less offensive than the poacher’s habit of also ripping open its guts and leaving it to waste.”
Francis paused, his food halfway to his mouth, and sat back. “Ripped across its belly? Like this?” He demonstrated the unusual cut.
“The same. Have ye had a similar experience?”
Someone shifted near the end of the table, but Darragh couldn’t be certain who it was.
