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By Root 2298 0

to prepare the path for the great man and make sure the audience understood the importance of their visitor. Briefly, he said a few words about the missionary. He outlined the bishop’s ancestry—for it was always important, in the ancient society of the western island, that his hearers should know that Patrick was a man of noble birth in his own right. That, for a start, would gain their respect. He gave them some account of how he was captured, of his years on the island as a slave, and of his subsequent return. He also named some of the princes in the north who had given Patrick their protection and had even been converted. This information, too, would impress his hearers. He also gave some indications of the great man’s character.

“He is a prince of the Church; to his followers, his word is law,” he explained. “And yet, like other men who have reached the high places of the spirit, he has a great simplicity. He is austere. He honours all women, but he is entirely celibate. He is humble. He is also quite without fear. People have sometimes threatened him for preaching the Gospel, but it never has any effect.”

“He has a terrible temper,” the young priest added with some relish.

“It is not often seen,” Larine gently corrected, “but it is true that his rebuke is terrible. But now,” he said with a smile at Deirdre, “let us attend to this feast.”

Deirdre was proud of the meal she had prepared. There was a watercress salad; several meat dishes, including the traditional pork for an honoured guest; stewed apples; cheese; and ale—the best of the island’s fare. When Larine complimented her warmly on the food and was joined by a chorus of approval, she knew that she had deserved it.

If it was strange that the Christian bishop should be sitting amongst them while in the background the drinking skull of Erc the Warrior gave a pale and ghostly glimmer in the firelight, it did not seem to strike anyone. Larine talked easily to the men, speaking of everyday things. He told them about events up in Ulster, and encouraged them to tell him stories about old Fergus. The conversation was light and cheerful. The only time he mentioned the subject of religion came after they had already finished the main courses, when he turned to her and remarked: “It may take a generation or two, Deirdre, but once it has established a sound foundation, it’s inevitable that the true religion will triumph here on the island, just as it has in every other land where it has come. The communities down in Munster and here in Leinster are still small and scattered, but they have protectors and they are starting to grow. And now Bishop Patrick is making great strides in Ulster, especially with the princes.” He smiled. “Once the princes are convinced, you see, their people will follow.”

“You do not think the druids could bring people back to the old faith, once they have known the new?” she asked.

“I don’t. At the end of the day, our pagan gods are only superstition. Idols. Before the higher understanding, they must fall away.”

Deirdre was not so sure about this last assertion. It seemed to her that the druids and their gods would not so easily retreat, but she said nothing. She would have liked at this point to have told Larine about the invitation of Morna to Tara and to have asked his advice, but the others would have heard, and so she said nothing. But shortly afterwards, watching the bishop and her son conversing happily and seeing the admiration in the young man’s face, it seemed to her that it shouldn’t be a difficult matter for Larine to persuade him to avoid the pagan ceremonies. And so she sat back with a sense of comfort and well-being and let the talk go on around her. Her mind even wandered a little. She saw Larine say something to Morna and saw her son look surprised. Then, suddenly, she was all attention. What was he saying? She stared.

At first, when he said it, she thought she had misheard.

“The High King’s feis,” Larine repeated. “I wondered when you were leaving for Tara. As you’re taking part.”

“Myself? Taking part?” Morna was looking