Gryffynhall (the Danu Cycle: Fiann Trilogy Book 1)

Chapter Sixteen

They trudged through the mud, not far out from Elfhaven. Eamon felt a splatter against his leg and turned to see Nessa grinning devilishly, her glove muddy.

He just sighed and kept trudging.

"Oh, lighten up Eamon. You still get to go to the ceremony."

"Not quite the point, I think, Ness," Conor replied.

"What did Paddy mean about the O'Callaghan girl?" Tiernan asked.

Eamon shrugged, kicking a rock. "I do not know, but I doubt it is anything good for her. She has been Sidhe, what? A few days? What my father thinks she can accomplish after two months of training is beyond me."

"Can we assume Dwendardien is after her?" Tiernan asked.

"I think that is exactly what we can assume. I would wager those shifters who attacked were looking for her at his orders."

"Why does he want her?"

Eamon tried to shake that momentary image of the little girl standing among all those dead bodies. He thought he knew why, but his father had told him never to speak of it again. "I do not know. Revenge?"

"Holy Hells..." Oran said.

"What?" Eamon looked back at him.

"Your father wants to use her as bait. To draw him out."

"No...? Do you think he would?" Conor asked.

Eamon sighed. "That is exactly what my father would do. And, he has given her two months to be worthy..."

"We are still going back for the ceremony, though, right?" Nessa asked, her tone light, obviously trying to change to mood.

Eamon nodded. "Of course we are."

"And, you are going to behave yourself with the O'Callaghan girl?" She smirked, and then squealed as he flung mud at her.

He smiled. "Yes, Ness. I will behave myself. I do not have to sleep with every woman I meet."

The whole fiann laughed and he knew they were laughing at him rather than with him, but he smiled ruefully. His behaviour told them just the opposite, and he knew it.

"I do not know about you, Ness, but I am personally pleased we were placed in this fiann. Makes us safe from Prince Eamon's famous advances," Moira chortled.

"I have to agree," Nessa said. "Though, I sometimes wonder if he lives up to all the hype."

"I will admit I do, too."

"Not enough to bother doing anything about it though."

"Danu, no!" Moira cried and they both laughed.

"You two are either the most sane or most delusional women among the Sidhe." Oran shook his head.

"Why do you say that?" Moira asked.

"Because you are literally the only two I have ever heard that would not risk their pride to sleep with Eamon. Could make a man quite jealous."

Eamon laughed, despite himself. "You, jealous of me, Oran?"

"Not really." He smiled, and Eamon thought he almost saw a hint of pity in his comrade's eyes.

Eamon shook off the look. "Ah well. Cannot have everything, can I?"

"Ugh, I am sick of this foul mess though, and we have barely got started," Nessa moaned, shaking out her long coat, flinging mud in every direction. "How long do we have to keep this up? We have seen neither hide nor hair of any Fomorian scum."