208 new biscopric if a pallium could be sent. The clergy at;

Auxerre were puzzled (bui reiieved) that the heretic of Eburacum did not press for the inclusion of these new parishes in his own diocese. No matter; Germanus was only loo quick to nominate.

There lives in our grateful memory that S.

Patricias, once our sturdy help on our late visit, whose strength and resolution in Christ shapes him admirably to the new See. We would know his mind in this.

Meganius carefully mislaid the letter. The mind of S.

Patridus then was the last thing Germanus would want to know. One of the earlier letters, perhaps, from Ehe spring, while the bell was still a peal, the men, horses and faith unworn.

Never have I been so clearly set to God's work or given brothers whose Grace so far exceeds my own. This is, if any work ever, to be a war in the name of God. It is our destiny. It is mine.

v

Glory to God, Alleluia

wesu, I am Dorelei Mabh, first I wife to Padrec Raven, who is * known to You. The fhains

follow me now, and 1 am a great queen. Shall I do this new thing never tried before? Shaft I lift my hand like 1. Mo-ses and send forth my Prydn against Egypl-fhain?

1' You have given us so much. Where tallfolk have only tale-speaking of Your magic, we have seen and done it.

This is only right. We are Mother's first children and have . kept magic from the first days.

*>, As Lugh sent the Raven with Padrec, send me Your S sign. I would do Your will in this new thing. And now .' there is one other matter.

Jesu, do not think me ungrateful after all Your gifts, if I speak to You of forgiveness, which is much of your y teaching. Padrec has told of Judas and how he betrayed ^ You. Do not think me ignorant; 1 am a gern and must f know the way of the heart. Cru betrayed us, and we have '-* ail forgiven him, even Padrec whom he most wronged.

"' Cru and I are as finger and thumb, made to touch, and I would have him home. If I can forgive my Judas, it is only fair and reasonable for You to forgive Yours- Look you, Cru struck out of pain bcause he could not understand a love too large to fitjust him. Might not Judas have done as much? Standing there with the knife in his hand, Cru was H repen-tant before Padrec's blood flowed. Poor Judas, then, with the mean silver in his hand, and did he not feet much like Cru? What man hanged Judas but himself?

211.

212 Remember the lost lamb and the rejoicing when it was found. Would do You no harm to think on it, Jesu, nor grudge that the thought comes from a woman. You and Father-God are too unbending in the matter of women. It is the only fault I find with you.

Beyond the moonlit circle of stones, Bruidda waited by her pony, chosen out of respect by the other gems to hear Dorelei's decision and give what counsel the head- strong girl would accept. For all her magic, Dorelei didn't listen well. Bruidda watched her in the circle and pon- dered which was the greater cruelty: to be too old for the able use of wisdom, or young with too much power, like an overfed child that sickened on plenty even as it cried for more.

Dorelei's hand moved as if she were sowing seed, scattering the offered stones. She had waited for the full moon, since it would be unwise to make any important decision on the wane when Mother was no better disposed than any other woman just before the flow of her blood.

Evil alone could be worked in the dark of the moon, and this was to be a work for good.

la! Mother, hold Gawse in your bosom and guide her spirit to Tir-Nan-Og. She is young forever now. Take her my greeting.

See my offering and know you are not forgotten in this new time. If the men go forth for Jesu, it will not be until our wealth is born and the new fambs dropped. If the Roman Ambrose cannot see that spring is a time for increase, then Jesu must do without Prydn. As always, when Lugh came to you in summer, our men came to us.

We quickened and will bear in spring as our flocks, and our men will be there to help, to see life come forth and know it comes from you. Ambrose finds this hard to understand. To him it is woman's business alone, but he is only tallfblk.

Mother, I would do this new thing, not only for Jesu but for that I or my daughter is the one promised by the black fawn to raise Prydn to greatness, despite what Bruidda read in the signs. Such signs have been unclear before, 213.

and Bruidda has old bitterness like cataracts to cloud her sight. Let me be wise and strong before her, as Gawse was.

And for Cruaddan, first husband, let Lugh ride his arrows. Let your breast whisper to his foot as he walks and turn it home again. I would say this to no other woman, not even Nenaine. I wronged Cru before he ever struck at Padrec. There are more sins than those second husband speaks of. I love Padrec, but there is a place in my heart like a barrow.

Dorelei saw the figure by the pony. the gold of the tore flashing cold with moonlight, the ruby pendant and bracelets that shimmered when Bruidda moved.

"Dorelei Mabh, thy s'sters would speak through me."

Dorelei might have squatted with the other woman, but her belly made it hard now to sink into the position of rest. She remained standing before her sister gern. Nei- ther of them hurried to speak. Bruidda would meditate first on Mother's mooneye to add wisdom to her words.

Eventually Bruidda asked, "Thee will rade for Jesu?"

"If a send no sign against it- Be in my heart."

"And in our men. Thy Drust be like Raven now, like a god."

And so Salmon fliain grew in presence. Dorelei kept silent, making the older woman reach out.

"Sister, let us be plain," Bruidda said. "This new fever be a man-thing. A see the power thee gives Padrec Raven and be like Lugh breaking free of Mother."

"Will go when I say."

"Be patient and hear, Dorelei. Real power be always patient." Bruidda rubbed at the scars on her arms. "Roman- men have much of patience and more of wile."

"A's wisdom be smali beside Prydn."

"As bee's sting, yet may thee feel it. And our men fall over themselves to right a taflfolk war."

"For Jesu. Dost nae see the power we have now?"

Bruidda chose her words carefully. "Do speak of power.

Thee hast it now, even that which should be carried by thy sisters. Remember in this power that Mother's world has many tallfolk and few Prydn. What little Prydn did get from them, did shrewdly bargain for."

"Ai, Bruidda, speak thy mind." Despite her courteous

214 intentions, Dorelei was wearied with the weight of the child in her that made riding difficult now and her walk like a silly goose in a pen. She yearned to lie on her side with Padrec's arms and voice to lull her lo sleep.

"Tir-Nan-Og be nae here, child, and the Green Time will nae come again."

The woman wasted her time. "Mother told thee this?"

In the darkness she missed the subtle softening of Bruidda's mouth. "Nae, bairn. The cold in my bones a-winter. But hear thy sisters; thee scatters Rainbow-gift like sand among tallfolk. Cannae always be generous and wise in one day. If thee send our men with Ambrose, get a price in return. A braw price, Dorelei. For the days of thy wealth."

That was wisdom. Doreiei thought much on it. Bruidda and her sister gerns, backward in some ways, were still women of experience, pondering consequences while the young men dashed about on their ponies and gabbled of nothing but the adventure, even in bed, which was a place and time for better things. But tallfolk had been known to give short weight in bargaining. Dorelei lay awake with her back curved into the warmth of Padrec and pressed his hand to her stomach. "Husband?"

He nuzzled the nape of her neck. "Mm?"

"This rade: we can give a to jesu and ask only a's blessing."

"Truly."

"But from Ambrose and the tallfolk prince, we must have a bargain."

"Was in my mind loo, and wise. Marchudd will pay. A has money ana cattle. What will thee ask?"

The child in Dorelei stirred many new instincts. Things once trivial or totally alien became important. Money and cattle were not the coin of these promptings. Dorelei was a little awed by the reach of her thoughts.

Roman-men have land without reckoning, from Wail to Middle Sea. If Dronnarron will not come again, we could make our own for the days of our children. Then they could stand at a locked gale and say who entered and who did not.