Despite the leagues separating them from the hall of Emain Macha, the glow from the burning hall lit the underside of the rain clouds above them. They could smell the smoke and ash in the air. Genonn fancied he could even hear the crackle of the fire but knew it was in his mind or the crackle of their own, which was hissing with fat dripping from a brace of hares spitted above it.

He looked at their somber faces. Even Conall felt the solemnity evoked by the act of burning the feast hall. Proud atop its hill, Emain Macha had seen hundreds of summers as the center of Ulaid. It had seen kings crowned and wed, disputes resolved, and wars begun. It had seen a kingdom evolve into the most powerful Ériu had ever known.

All now just ash, flame, and a column of blackness.

Genonn did not think he would ever forget the sight of the column rising from the hill. People had streamed past them, seeking the solace of protection from another ráth. There was nothing for them now in Emain Macha. No king. No Red Branch. Nothing. Despite their protection rising above the hill in a big black column, the people waved as they passed. They had been glad to see the usurper’s reign burned to ash.

“What now, Conall?” Genonn asked, feeling his hand stray towards his ear and consciously restraining it.

“I came here for two things: revenge and the Red Branch. They can’t be too far away. I will go and find them.”

“Then we must come with you. There is little point in separating now,” Genonn said, nodding. He could not think of anything else to do. They needed to break the queen out of her stronghold. To do that, they must find the absent Red Branch. “Where do you think they could be?”

Conall turned the hares before responding, “Guard said they went north. That was two days since. They could be anywhere by now.”

“We head north then,” Bradán said.

Conall shook his head. “We could end up chasing our tails. We head north while they head south, different roads. I’m thinking the best thing we can do is find somewhere to wait and let it be known we’re there.”

“We could stay around Emain Macha. It will soon be all over the Five Kingdoms that you burned the feast hall,” Fedelm said.

Genonn could see she was staring hard at Conall. She disagreed with what he had done. Bradán was furtive, shooting sidelong glances at the seeress, a little on the surly side.

He shook his head. “I am going to eat and then sleep. It has been a long couple of days. I feel like I could eat for a company and sleep for a moon cycle.”

“I’ll take watch. Too much on my mind to think of sleep,” Bradán said.

Genonn saw him stare pointedly at Fedelm, who nodded slightly. So Bradán was not offering to take the watch as a kindness. He was offering to do it so the pair could sneak off into the undergrowth and feed their lust.

***

Kathvar stared at Genonn with one milk-glazed eye, talking to him in whispers he could not hear—quick whispers, hissing. Dornoll was beside him, also whispering, glowering at him intermittently with accusing eyes. The hissing noises were like the sound sheeting rain makes on the forest canopy.

He wanted to hear the words, even though he did not need to. He knew the words were attacking him for his failure. His father remained unavenged because Genonn failed to prove whether Medb or Longas paid to have him killed. He still wanted to hear. He wanted confirmation that his father felt betrayed. Dornoll was whispering in his ears, desperately trying to get him on the road to Tír na nÓg, but he would not go. Not without his revenge.

“You think she’s involved?”

“Not me, Genonn,” Medb said, shaking her head.

He turned to the tall redhead standing beside his father, naked except for the blue woad. She had an ornate shield of gold on her arm, her lance in one hand, a bull’s head dripping blood in the other, a leer. Always a leer. “Choose someone else to blame,” she hissed.

“But not me,” Longas whispered from where he had appeared beside her. He took a step forward, causing a twig to break.

“Did he hear?”

Genonn opened his eyes, unmoving, listening to the whispers as they receded. “Are you sure he didn’t hear?”

“Aye, I’m sure, Fedelm. Who would have heard over Conall’s snores?”

“I think it’s safe to light the torch, then, if they’re both sleeping. Will they be safe without a guard?”

A touching sentiment, which does not excuse the watchman from sneaking off to create the monster with two heads.

“We’re only going far enough for a little privacy. We’ll hear trouble if it comes.”

Genonn sat up and followed the light as it receded into the forest. He could no longer hear their whispered conversation. He suspected the words might have stopped to be replaced with fumbled gropes, hands under skirts, or untying triús. Enough time had passed for them to be enjoying each other. He wanted to lie down and go back to sleep but could not. He needed to see for himself what they were doing. He needed to be sure they were having sex behind his back, looking for gratification instead of guarding the camp. Cursing himself for a fool, Genonn pushed off his hide and made after them, moving carefully. He did not want to warn them of his arrival. He just wanted to finally catch and confront them with their puerile behavior.

As Genonn neared the light, he could hear whispered words but was again unable to distinguish them. They were heated and not in a passionate way. He arrived at a small dell and saw the torch wedged between a forked branch. Fedelm and Bradán were facing each other at the bottom of the depression. She had her hands on her hips, head tilted slightly.

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“...I just needed time to think.”

“I don’t understand what you mean. Think about what?” Bradán asked. “What Lee told you is damning evidence.”

“I just cannot believe it of her.”

“Believe what of whom?” Genonn asked as he stepped into the light.

“Spying on me now, are you?” Fedelm snapped and then scowled into the night.

“I followed expecting to see you in a tryst, only to find you plotting…”

Bradán held up his hands and backed out of the dingle, mumbling about not offering his sword as backing for some idiotic feuding.

“Offered you his sword, did he?” Genonn asked with a sneer.

“Aye, but it is not what you think,” she replied, still unable to look at him.

“No? And what is it I am thinking, Fedelm?”

“Just like the man-child you are, you think we’re doing it, in secret, like a couple of adolescents. And you couldn’t be more wrong.” Why does she call me man-child? I am older than her by some years.

“How dare you. I have never–”

“I see how you peek at me when you think I’m not looking.”

Genonn stared at her, fuming, trying to cow her with his eyes. “I see the way you stare at him. I see you whispering together–”

“You see what you want to see, man-child.”

“Maybe I do. But never mind that. Who is damned by Lee’s evidence? Which evidence? What have you been plotting?”

“What plotting?”

“If you are not plotting, why have you not shared this so-called damning evidence?”

Fedelm did not respond quickly, just peering into the night with a deep frown. He wondered what she could be trying to hide; sure, it was grotesque, but when she finally spoke, Fedelm surprised him.

“I haven’t said anything because I don’t know what to do. I really don’t know if I believe it. I’m lost.”

“What are you talking about?” Are those blushes on her cheeks or a glow from the torch?

Fedelm hesitated momentarily before taking his hand and leading him to a fallen log, where she forced him to sit with the power of her will. He could not resist her. She did not let go of his hand as she said, “Lee spoke at length before he died. He admitted the claim to the throne...”

“Slurring nonsense. He was not in his right mind, you said.”

“Please, Genonn, let me speak.”

“I am sorry, Fedelm. It’s all so—”

“I know, strange and frightening.

“He wasn’t in his right mind most of the time. Talking nonsense, calling me ma. But near the end, his eyes cleared, and he grabbed me with urgency. Then he told me…” She hesitated. He gave her hand a little squeeze of encouragement. “Biróg told Lee he was the rightful king, and he half believed her. They were hiding in the forest above Dún Dealgan and followed you when you left.”

“But I do not understand. Biróg? She was not even there. Just Lee and Niamh.”

“It was Biróg in disguise. There was no Niamh.”

“But to what end? It does not make sense.”

“He didn’t know her motives. I think he was not the brightest star in the night sky.”

“Where did he come from?”

“He came from a small steading near Brú na Bóinne. He did tell me the name, but I couldn’t catch it. He said Biróg approached him last year and asked if he wanted to be high king. I can only think she saw him when visiting Temuir. Saw a passing resemblance to Macc Cecht and dreamed of her little ruse.”

“Did she want to take control of the kingdoms?”

“I don’t know what she wanted, Genonn. I still can’t believe it.”

“Do you think Biróg had Kathvar killed because he would not back Lee?” Fedelm did not answer him. There was worry in her eyes, and Genonn heard it in her sighs. “Do you think she paid Nechtan to murder Lee so he would not reveal what he knew?”

“I don’t know.” She stamped her foot. “I must admit, that is my worry. I can’t believe it. I can’t, Genonn. She’s like a mother to me, so she is.”

“And all Bréannin said was it was a woman and not Medb?” She nodded again, staring into the woods and still blushing from the redness of her elegant neck. “That was why Niamh kept her face hidden and left while I was sleeping.”

“They sought you out and waited for darkness before making themselves known.”

“But why me?”

“Probably because she knew you to be honorable. She knew you would bring him to the council.”

“But the petition had little chance of success. There was no proof to back the claim. Why did she do it?”

“Which is the reason I didn’t believe it. Lee—”

“—was dying. So why would he lie? We should go back to camp and tell Conall.”

Fedelm shook her head and sighed. He could feel her warmth, smell her scent, hear her breathing. He watched the rise and fall of her chest and felt the heat of his blush when she asked, “Why did you follow us?”

Genonn was unsure how to respond. He did not even believe his excuse about exposing their adolescent behavior. He knew he followed her because of jealousy. He followed her because she was involved with Bradán. It hurt, making his guts churn and his heart heavy like a lump of newly dug peat. He might be able to admit it to himself but not to Fedelm.

“Just so you know,” she said. “Bradán pitches his tent on the other side of the palisade.”

“Pitches his tent on… Oh. Are you sure?”

“As sure as I can be. Have you not seen the doting eyes he turns on Conall?”

“Conall. Really?” He felt his heart begin to calm. “Why did you leave camp?”

“I wanted to talk to Bradán about Lee in private. I needed advice. I knew something needed to be done, but I was not sure what. He suggested we return to Caer Leb and confront Biróg. I think he’s right. She needs to explain herself.”

“I need to seek out Kathvar’s killer.” An owl hooted, causing them both to jump and then laugh.

“Your father’s killer will still be there after we confront Biróg…” She hesitated and said, “She might also be able to tell us something about his death.”

Genonn knew she was right. They needed to confront Biróg. Whatever they chose to do, another few days’ delay was unavoidable.

“All right. Shall we wake Conall and talk about it?”

“No, I think we need to discuss something else.”

“Should we not decide what needs to be done?”

“Later,” Fedelm insisted. “I need you to listen to me. I want to talk about your father.”

“I cannot bear to talk about him, Fedelm. It’s too early. I miss him, but I still cannot forgive him for what he did.”

“But he did nothing—”

“You do not know what you are talking about,” he spat. “He betrayed me. Hanged a man to prove his point.”

“He didn’t, though.”

“You were not there, Fedelm. I saw the woodsman swinging from a tree. I could see my father standing there with his arms crossed. Grinning.”

“You were so close you could see a grin?”

“Well, no, it was more his posture. He seemed…”

She put a finger on his lips to still him. He felt a flush rising; his guts fluttered in anticipation of… he had no idea what he was anticipating. He shook his head and smiled at his stupidity, which became a chuckling snort.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. I just thought you hated me. And here we are, like two doves cooing on a branch.”

“You think we’re lovemaking?”

The blush intensified, and Genonn turned away into the night. How could he have misread the signals so badly? He felt like a complete fool. She, half his age, was calm and collected. He was like a bird that had accidentally flown into a roundhouse, flapping, splattering everything with white and green droppings. Mad in its panic. Cooing like two doves? What a complete arse he was to think a beautiful girl like her would show any interest in the likes of an aging warrior like him.

“Sorry, Fedelm, I just…”

She placed her finger on his mouth for the second time before leaning in and replacing it with her lips. The kiss was lingering, open-mouthed, tongues touching, exploring, announcing their mutual attraction and need.

When she finally broke contact, she said, “You are an eejit. I was having a jest, Genonn. Of course, we’re lovemaking, and it’s about time.”