They continued into the camp and went to a deep forest green and highly ornamented wagon with gold medallions the roof of the wagon was a deep green with strange, stylized dragons flowing down the roof sides to blend with the medallions on the sides of the wagon. Tully rapped on the side of the wagon and a young woman opened the panel door and peered out.
"Is Rowan about?"
She glanced past Tully to look warily at Sunny, "I will see." She replied.
Tully nodded and turned to Sunny, "We will wait over by the meeting tent," he said, "It might take a while."
They went over to the tent and stood there for a moment, and then Rowan Teague appeared at the door of his wagon and stepped down with the help of two young men who stood nearby with their broad shoulders serving as stabilizers for the grey-haired chieftain.
Rowan Teague was a tall man with steel grey hair that grew well past his shoulders. He wore it loose and held it in place by a loose headwrap. He wore a dark green tunic with a black sash tied around his narrow waist. The tunic had full sleeves and was embroidered with black dragons that chased around both the hem of the sleeves and the bottom of the tunic.
His dark brown eyes regarded Tully with a gleam of interest and when he looked at Sunny, he smiled faintly, bowing toward her, and extended his hand out in greeting Tully. "Good morning Tully, Siobhan. What brings you here this morning?"
Tully took Rowan's hand and shook it then turned to Sunny, "We need a favor from you later on this evening."
Rowan tilted his head in question, "How may I help?"
Tully smiled first at Sunny then looked to the chieftain, "Fiona is naming Sunny as her successor, and we need witnesses."
Rowan's smile faltered only slightly, and he glanced first at Tully then to Sunny, "You are -- agreeable to this arrangement?"
"I am," Sunny replied.
"We came to you first as the chieftain of the Dannan tribe; we're also going to ask Rainbow Wells, Griffin Doyle, and the others," Tully replied, "Nicodemus and I will make up the number of required witnesses."
Rowan frowned at the mention of Nicodemus, "Are you sure about including Fury?"
Tully was silent for a moment then nodded. "Aye. It is his connection to both the Partholan and the Fianna ---"
"Oh, aye," Rowan laid a hand on Tully's arm and broke in, "As you say; what time, and where will this event take place?"
"At seven o'clock this evening at Fiona's place," Tully answered.
Rowan nodded. "I will be there."
"Thank you," Sunny replied. "Aunt Fiona and I appreciate you standing with us."
Rowan smiled faintly and inclined his head, "It is both my honor and pleasure,"
Tully took Rowan's extended hand once again and looked to Sunny, "Let's collect my wagon; then we'll head out to Rainbow's camp."
As they were about to leave, Rowan touched Tully's sleeve, and glanced upward into the trees, "You should know, Tully - Danu is out and about."
Tully glanced into the trees and grunted. Sunny also looked and saw only the trees and the sunlight filtering through the leaves. She followed Tully to his wagon and saw that Cherry Brumble was tethered nearby. The mare nickered greeting them, then returned to the business of munching on the basket of hay that had been secured to a tree with rope.
"Tully who is Danu?" Sunny asked.
Tully glanced up into the trees again as he was preparing the harness for Cherry Brumble. "Danu goes about listening and watching comings and goings then goes back and tells what he's seen."
"A truthful accounting?" Sunny wanted to know.
Tully paused and looked over at her chuckling, "Well, I do not know about that," he took Cherry's lead and slowly backed her between the wagon arms and began securing the leather harness, "Seems he is a bit more of a gossip than giving a truthful accounting what he has seen and heard."
"So not a watcher," Sunny replied.
"No, not anything like a watcher," Tully responded. He slapped Cherry Brumble's neck affectionately and turned to Sunny. "A watcher watches everything that goes on and for the most part; if they decide to give an accounting of what they have seen, they report accurately without embellishment or emotion," Tully's eyes slid up into the trees to search the foliage then pointed, "Now Danu there, he spies for his master or mistress; then flies back as soon as he got something of interest and tattles what he has seen."
Sunny turned and looked up in the direction Tully was jabbing his finger. There perched in the oak was a raven. It was preening its wing feathers and seemingly only interested in the activity of cleaning and sunbathing in the light that filtered down through the trees. She smiled up at the bird then angled a look back at Tully, "So he's spying on me?"
Tully chuckled. "You should ask him while I finish harnessing up Cherry."
Sunny looked back up into the branches at the raven, "Hey there! Are you spying on me?"
The raven paused in its stretching and angled one eye down at her. It chuckled hoarsely, then hopped off its perch and sailed down to the ground a few feet from where Sunny stood. The bird was much larger than she expected it to be. It was black as coal, but its feathers were iridescent glinting deep green, blue, and violet when the weak sunlight touched its body.
Sunny put her hands on her hips and watched as the raven strolled around the area. It continued to mutter softly, but it was most definitely watching her closely. "Well?" she asked, "Are you spying on me or not?"
"You!" the raven croaked then sprang up to perch on the lowest limb near where Sunny stood.
Sunny was amazed and fascinated by the strangeness of hearing a raven speaking so clearly, she was also annoyed by the fact she was being spied on. "Well --You can go back and report that I'm going to be named by the Dannan as her successor tonight at seven o'clock. Maybe you should come and watch that too!"
The raven chuckled, arching its wings wide in a languid stretch, "Invite? Invite!"
Sunny scoffed at the bird, "Sure why not? Yes! Only I invite you, not your master or mistress! I invite you -- to the succession ceremony of Siobhan O'Neil tonight at seven o'clock at Laurel Cottage!"
The raven angled its head to one side and leveled a beady black eye at her then hopped up to a higher perch as Tully rejoined Sunny. "Well, what did you learn?"
Sunny shook her head, "Nothing much. But I did invite him to the succession ceremony. I was waiting to hear if he was going to accept."
Tully looked surprised then scowled up at the bird, "Well? Answer the lass! Are you coming, or not?"
The raven ruffled its feathers then stood up tall and regal, "Aye!" he cawed then flew off.
"I made a stipulation," Sunny replied as they walked over to the waiting wagon, "I said I was inviting him and not whomever he was tattling to."
Tully threw back his head and laughed heartily, "That should rankle his patron to no end!"
"Will it?" She was bemused at the blacksmith's reaction but smiled happily; his laughter was infectious and made her feel very good. They climbed up into the wagon and Tully lifted the reins and Cherry Brumble set off on the trail toward Thornefield.
"Aye, I do not think Danu or any of his kind has ever been accorded the privilege of attending a Nemed ceremony."
"What exactly is that; Nemed?" Sunny wanted to know.
Tully thought for a moment then nodded his head, "Essentially it is akin to royalty but much more than that. In ancient times, long before the written word; Nemed were thought of as gods."
Sunny frowned at the term gods. "You know how difficult it seems to be thought of as a god? It is so – arrogant."
"But when faced with the incomprehensible power to do good or evil –as you did the night you were able to protect Michael Fury with unconscious effort and render the enemy to ashes – you can understand how that would be perceived by those without the ability." Tully replied, "And I did not say we were gods; only thought of as gods."
Sunny nodded then peered over at Tully, "Any thoughts of how I can do what I've done?"
Tully shook his head. He had his suspicions, but he wasn't prepared to voice them to anyone least of all to the young woman who could turn out to be more powerful than all of them combined. To have her fall into the wrong hands – he broke his line of thought and answered her. "I am not sure how or why --- only that you need protection until you fully understand what your role is and how to control whatever it is you possess. You will need to tread very carefully, especially at the High Council. Fiona is the Dannan, and she must not lose her position."
"By naming me her successor surely that will quiet the idea that I would somehow strip her of her title," Sunny said.
"To most," Tully replied, "But to a few, it will be the kindling to start the fires of sedition."
"Sedition," Sunny repeated, "Who would most benefit?"
"Honestly?" Tully asked looking over at her.
Sunny frowned and then gasped as she put all the recent comments together, "Nicodemus Fury?"
Tully nodded, "Aye. Since it appears that he has made some decision to lend his protection to you. Some would get behind him and assist in placing him on the throne – he only has to look in their direction."
"Is that why there are so many people against him?" Sunny asked.
"It is not only that," Tully answered, "Nico has formed questionable alliances over the years, done things that even he is trying to distance himself from --- things that even his supporters have questioned."
"If he is that way," Sunny wondered, "why would he be so prejudiced about the watchers?"
Tully sighed heavily, "I think it is Bracken, in particular, he has a problem with," the smith said. "The little hunky punk appears to have an alliance with the Dannan that no other watcher has cared to form."
"To Aunt Fiona?"
Tully shook his head, "Not to Fiona specifically, to the Dannan; whoever that is. Bracken is far older than you'd suspect, and he's been with a Dannan for many generations."
"Really," Sunny murmured, "And why would anyone care what one watcher does?"
"Just like Danu and his kind, the watchers and all the others; should they rally behind an individual they could by their information alone, help overthrow the Partholan and help that individual rule Nu'Ada. The Partholan are not very sympathetic to the doer Nemed and have made enemies during their reign," Tully replied. "But as to why there is no love lost between Bracken and Nico," Tully paused and shrugged his shoulders, "I do not know really. But if Nico decided to make his move, he could easily emerge as a rallying figure, and given the alliances he has managed to maintain good and bad ---well, he could be formidable."
Sunny shook her head. "Wow, even in Nu'Ada you have folks playing political games."
Tully shrugged his shoulders lightly, "Cannot say I blame the doer Nemed; they've not always been dealt a fair hand by the Partholan."
"That sounds like you support Nicodemus Fury," Sunny remarked casting an aside glance at the blacksmith.
Tully chuckled, "If he ever showed any ambition of that sort, I'd back him," he raised his head to peer ahead of Cherry Brumble's head on the trail then clucked his tongue to urge the horse into a quicker step. "But Nico's comfortable in his role as the Da'ark sheep of the family."
"He has two surviving siblings, right?" Sunny queried.
"Aye, his sister; Brianna," Tully replied. "She is married to the king's brother; Ronan Affaron. And there's Gabriel, he is the sitting lord of the Fury lands and holdings. His son Michael is the Ard Ri's commander. Michael is of the order of 'Oraebh Ruadh' – the red branch – the kings' guard."
"How did the current Ard Ri come to reign?" Sunny wanted to know, "Is it like the monarchy here?"
Tully shook his head. "Nae, the Ard Ri is called by the stone of destiny."
"You're chosen by a stone?"
Tully smiled. "It is the land itself that calls – when the Ard Ri dies his body is taken to the place called Anwyn'Fail. (On-when-fay-eel). There his body rests in the sanctuary for three days. There is a lot of talking, singing, and drinking," Tully said with a wink.
"I'll bet!" Sunny murmured.
"Anyhow, when the funeral gets underway, the high priests and priestesses come in and they pray for the dead king and prepare his body for the pyre."
"Cremation?" Sunny said with surprise.
"Aye," Tully responded. "Then they commence with more praying and the pyre is lit. When that happens, the great stone of destiny that lies below the pyre awakens and begins to call out across the land."
Sunny frowned. "How does it sound?"
"Like a mighty horn," Tully responded. "Sometimes it will continue to sound for days until the sound of it reaches the right man and he comes to Anwyn'Fail to be crowned."
"So, prospects for the throne are usually nearby?" Sunny guessed.
"Oh aye," Tully replied. "When the king begins to show signs of age or illness, the young warriors begin to stay close. Others are called in from the far corners of the land to gather near."
"Has the stone ever called a woman?" Sunny asked.
Tully shrugged lightly, "Not that I have ever known."
Sunny grunted noncommittally and then looked ahead. They were reaching the entrance of the Thornefield encampment. There were two men standing watch at the picket line. They waved Tully through, and he steered Cherry Brumble toward the inner path to where Rainbow had his trailer.
Rainbow was standing among a group of men, and when he saw Tully, he broke away waving the men to disperse. Tully did not move from his perch and Sunny followed suit; waiting to be invited down. Rainbow smiled pleasantly up at them, "Good day to you Tully, miss, you are well?"
Tully leaned down and extended his hand in greeting. Sunny smiled back. "I am well, and you? The family?"
"They are all well," Rainbow said to Sunny and shook Tully's hand, "What brings you in?"
"We have a favor to ask of you," Tully said and looked to Sunny to continue. Rainbow had not given leave to come down and Tully had not moved from his perch. Sunny followed the lead, wondering if this was customary protocol. Hugh had done much the same when they had first visited the camp.
"Aunt Fiona is to name me her successor this evening, and we'd like you to be there as a witness." She told him.
Rainbow folded his arms across his chest and lowered his head in thought for a moment then nodded. He stepped back and extended a hand, "Come down and tell me what brought this on."
Tully looped the reins around the brake and climbed down then turned to help Sunny from the wagon. They walked a few steps to where there were several stools positioned around a fire. Tully showed Sunny to a stool and then sat next to her. Rainbow sat across from them, the low-banked fire between them. "No doubt ye heard about last night at the Dannan camp."
Rainbow nodded and studied Sunny through the rising smoke. "Aye, our ponies returned early this morning."
Sunny felt her face flush; she wondered just how far-reaching the call had gone. Rainbow leaned forward, leaning an elbow on one knee, "I would caution you not to be forced into something you are ill-equipped for."
Sunny frowned. "Aunt Fiona is naming me her successor."
Rainbow nodded. "That very well may be," he replied. "But there will be those who will see this as something much more."
Tully leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees. "It will be all the chieftains, Nicodemus Fury, and I in attendance."
Rainbow raised his eyebrows in mild astonishment, "Would that be wise to include Fury?"
Tully shrugged his shoulders. "He'll stand as one of the Partholan."
Rainbow looked between Tully and Sunny for a moment, then nodded. "I will stand witness. What time is the ceremony?"
"Seven," Tully replied then got to his feet. "Sunny and I have more stops to make; we need to see Griffin Doyle and Oran Bishop."
"You have already spoken to Rowan Teague?" Rainbow wanted to know.
"Aye, he was our first stop," Tully responded and looked to Sunny, "Let us be off, lass."
Sunny got to her feet and smiled her thanks at Rainbow. "Thank you again. See you at seven."
Rainbow bowed in her direction, "Glad to be of service."
Tully took her arm and steered her toward the wagon. He lifted a hand in farewell as they headed away from the camp and toward town. Tully angled a look at her. "I suspect the Morrigan or one of her lackeys has been chatting up Rainbow."
"Why?" Sunny asked. "Did you think he was acting sort of different?"
"Aye," Tully grumbled. "He was too curious of the selection of witnesses – In fact, Rowan was a bit curious to Nicodemus' being a witness."
"Just how many people are against Nicodemus?" She wondered.
"It's not just the lot that follows in behind the Morrigan," Tully responded. "I wonder how Griffin and Oran will be when we get there."
"You think we're being shadowed?"
"Watched!" A hoarse voice from the eave of the wagon announced. Sunny gasped and Tully jumped and let fly an oath. They both looked up and saw the raven peering down at them.
"Danu watches us?" Sunny asked as she recovered her voice and her heart slowed to normal.
The raven chuckled and peered into the trees. Tully jabbed a finger up into the canopy, "His brothers and sisters seem to be employed by several patrons."
"I wish they'd just go away!" Sunny grumbled.
Danu peered over the eave at Sunny again then launched himself ahead of the wagon flying low ahead of Cherry Brumble. "Away! Away!" He cawed loudly, "Away! Away!"
The others perched in the trees immediately joined in his call of "Away!" and flew off still calling to one another, "Away! Away!"
Tully stared off at the retreating ravens then smiled at Sunny, "Seems you have a friend in high places. Danu will keep them away if he can. I doubt whomever he is spying for will not be happy to find him absent when he is expected to make his report."
"When is that?" Sunny wanted to know.
"At dusk," Tully replied. "I would imagine he and his brothers and sisters will be in the trees tonight at Fiona's."
"Watching?"
"Aye," Tully said with a chuckle, "But as guests, not as spies."
"Good!"
The trail passing through the Ballencoo forest was interesting for Sunny. She had not realized how large the old wood forest was. There were towering cedar and oak trees that appeared to be centuries old. They did not encounter anyone or anything on the trail. Cherry Brumble trotted down the path at a nice steady pace. The mare was seemingly enjoying the outing; occasionally she would toss her head, her long silky mane flying back in a cloud of white and copper. The path wound past Ian McTavish's place and Sunny noticed the house was not unlike Laurel Cottage. It sat nestled under a stand of oak trees and had climbing roses winding around the back door and cascading over the arbors completely obscured by the pink blossoms.
They broke out into a clearing and the sunlight was nearly blinding as they headed toward the dense canopy of trees on the far side of the meadow. They crossed over a wooden bridge and saw a group of children playing at the water's edge. Tully nodded in their direction, "We're not far from the Wolf clan. We'll stay put until we're invited down by Griffin."
Sunny nodded. "A business call."
"Aye!" Tully responded.
Arriving at the Wolf encampment they were greeted by both children and hounds alike, running and cheering and barking. Sunny grinned at them as they rode into the camp. There were more motor homes than wagons in the Wolf camp and far more trucks than horses, although temporary pens were holding impressive-looking horses at the center of the camp. Tully nodded to several men who called out to him, he did not stop but headed toward Griffin Doyle's motor home. Outside the motor home were white pennants sporting a red wolf's head to either side of the open door. Several teenage boys were working on a motorbike and others perched on stools watching.
Tully pulled up Cherry and the boys stopped what they were doing and looked curiously at them. Shannon recognized Sunny and came bounding over. "Hey, Sunny! Tully!"
"Shannon me lad, how are you this fine day?" Tully asked by way of greeting.
Shannon grinned, shoved his hands in his pockets, and shrugged. "Oh, right fine, I suppose!"
Tully chuckled and winked at him. "Your Da about?"
Shannon took a quick look around and shook his head, "He's out hunting but should be back in a little bit."
Sunny pointed to the knot of boys around the motorbike, "Are you fixing to go out cross country?"
Shannon looked over at the group of boys who had turned back to the bike. "If they can get it running. I told them it's the carburetor, but they don't listen to me."
Several large wolfhounds galloped into camp, they barked sharply and raced around the area then bounded off again. Shannon looked up at Sunny and Tully, "Da is coming."
Within a few minutes, Griffin Doyle came into the camp. He was smiling big as he walked into camp to be greeted by his fellow tribesmen. He waved to Tully and when he spotted Sunny sitting next to him his smile faded slightly then he recovered and walked up and extended his hand, "Tully."
"Griff, I trust the hunting went well," Tully replied.
Griffin's grin returned, "Oh aye!" he looked over at Sunny, "Miss; welcome to the Wolf camp."
"Thanks, Mr. Doyle," Sunny replied with her warmest smile.
Griffin's eyes landed on Shannon who was leaning against the wheel closest to Sunny. "Shannon your brother Todd's looking for you."
Shannon nodded and jerked his chin up at Sunny, "See ya later Sunny."
"Later!" she returned with a wave of her hand to the boy.
"Griff, we're here to ask a favor of ye," Tully said when the boy had trotted off.
Doyle nodded. "Let me wash up quickly and I'll be with you in a tic. Come down and Katie will get us something to drink."
Tully climbed down and then extended a hand up to Sunny, who allowed the blacksmith to help her down. They went to the front of Griffin's motor home and were greeted by Katie Doyle, a nice-looking woman with bright brown eyes and brown hair that had golden highlights mixed with the beginnings of silver at the temples. "Would you care for coffee or tea?"
"Tea would be wonderful," Sunny responded with a smile. "Thank you."
Katie smiled and went into the motor home and almost immediately a young woman about sixteen came up; bobbed a hasty curtsey then disappeared into the motor home. She emerged again with a tray of cookies. Her light brown eyes looked at Sunny with a mixture of awe and suspicion then she returned to the door and took the tray Katie handed down to her.
Griffin appeared. His hair was wet and combed back; he had hurriedly washed and changed into a clean shirt. Katie came with the teapot and cups on another tray and the girl helped arrange the cups and saucers. She poured the tea and handed Griffin his cup while Katie poured and handed Sunny her cup and then poured Tully's. Griffin nodded to the girl, and she disappeared. Katie offered the tray of cookies to Sunny, and she took several gingersnaps and tucked them to one side of her teacup on the brightly patterned saucer.
Katie was last to prepare her tea and joined her husband on a campstool. Griffin sipped his tea and patted Katie's knee and gave her a wink. She blushed and Sunny smiled to see the playfulness between them. Tully glanced at Sunny then leaned forward slightly, "To the favor," he began and looked again to Sunny.
Taking the lead, Sunny sipped her tea and looked to Griffin, "Aunt Fiona is to name me her successor and I've come to ask if you'd stand witness."
Griffin was reaching for a cookie off the tray and froze his hand just as he was about to take a sugar cookie and then abandoned the action to meet Sunny's eyes. "You're to be the Dannan?"
"No," Tully said, "Fiona is naming Sunny as her successor."
"And when Fiona is unable to fulfill her role as Dannan?" Griffin asked looking between Tully and Sunny.
Tully's expression did not change as he looked back at Griffin. "We will see when that time comes."
Griffin pulled nervously at an ear then nodded, "Aye, I will come to witness the naming. You need seven witnesses; who else is coming?"
"We are hoping all the chieftains," Tully responded, "me and Nicodemus Fury."
Katie's reaction was violent at the mention of Fury. She turned her head and spat then she murmured something in a language that Sunny did not understand, but apparently, both Griffin and Tully did because both men responded but with different declarations. Katie rose and politely excused herself and disappeared into the motor home closing the door soundly.
"I'll be there," Griffin said. "But is it necessary to have Fury there?"
"He represents the Partholan," Tully said.
"Aye," Griffin murmured, nodding his head. "Forgive my good wife," he said looking to the door his wife had disappeared, "She is related to the Mack family. Because of the past unpleasantness, the Ard Ri has banned the Mack family from ever entering Nu'Ada."
"That doesn't seem fair," Sunny said.
Griffin nodded in agreement then shrugged his shoulders, "The Partholan doesn't always see things fairly; they see things their way."
"I see," Sunny murmured. She was beginning to understand what Tully had told her about the Partholan having enemies on both sides of the arch.
"Sunny has also invited Danu as a guest as well," Tully said, "Bracken makes up the seven, and probably Orion will be among the guests tonight."
Griffin smiled, an almost devilish gleam glittering in his dark brown eyes. "I would imagine his highness will rankle at that."
Sunny scoffed at the idea then winked at Griffin, "It is my ceremony, and I will invite whom I please."
"Aye, after last night – I doubt any man would go against you," Griffin replied.
"Ye heard about that eh?" Tully asked.
"Could not help but notice something was up," Griffin said rolling his eyes at Sunny, "All the lads were trying to keep their ponies in their pens, but they ended up with nothing but rope burns."
"This morning?" Sunny inquired.
"All back and cropping grass peacefully," Griffin replied then chuckled lightly, "A lot of excitement last night, but now – as if nothing ever happened."
Tully smothered his smile and looked around, "Griff the lass that was just here; she belonging to one of your boys?"
Griffin nodded and jerked a thumb over his shoulder toward the knot of boys still working on the motorbike, "My eldest boy; Hamish – although he's not thinking of taking a wife just yet – it is Rose's thought – most definitely!
They chuckled lightly, and after finishing his tea, Tully got to his feet, "We best be off, there still more preparations to make before tonight."
"What time tonight?" Griffin asked.
"Things get underway at seven," Tully answered as he and Sunny climbed into the wagon.
Griffin waved in farewell, "I'll see you at seven."
Tully clucked to Cherry and the red and white mare pricked her ears forward and set off once again on the trail that would take them to the other side of Ballencoo where the Badger clan had set camp. The clan had set up their encampment on the edge of town with the chieftain's motor home sitting at the center of the camp that was laid out like the spokes of a wagon wheel.
Tully reined in Cherry Brumble at the edge of the encampment, and four men arrived. As before, Sunny and Tully did not attempt to climb down from the wagon; instead, Tully nodded to the captain, "We're here to speak to Oran Bishop."
The captain turned to a young man and signaled to him. The man immediately trotted off. While they waited the three remaining men spoke quietly among themselves. Sunny leaned closer to Tully, "They seem kinda suspicious."
Tully made a non-committal grunt, "Typical of the Badger clan."
The young man returned and delivered his message to the captain, who then turned to Tully, "Stay on this path, it will take you to the chieftain's caravan."
Tully nodded and waved his thanks. He picked up the reins and called softly to Cherry. Her ears pricked forward, and she proceeded down the path past the men and toward the center of the camp. As the wagon rolled past the various motor homes, Sunny noticed the curious looks they received. There did not seem to be any horse-drawn wagons anywhere. Tully seemed to follow her thoughts, "Nae, the Badger clan only use horses to race, or breed to sell."
"Seems like something is lost or maybe a connection to the land?"
Tully nodded, "You will feel the reconnection once we reach the hub."
There was a distinct difference that Sunny felt the instant they cross into the warded area of the hub. She looked over at Tully when she felt it. "There it is! I feel it!"
"Oran's wife is a conjurer," Tully replied.
"Like a witch?" Sunny asked.
Tully shook his head, "Nae, her family is from a long line of priests and priestesses that served the Ard Ri. When it comes time to select a new Ard Ri, she will be there."
Oran Bishop and his wife were waiting outside the screened tent that was connected to their motor home. "Greetings! Welcome to the Badger Clan!"
Tully reined in Cherry and leaned over to take Oran's extended hand in greeting. "Good day to you and your good wife," Tully responded. He looked over to Sunny, "You've not met Siobhan O'Neil, the Dannan's great niece."
Oran nodded to Sunny, "Glad to make your acquaintance, Miss. My wife, Lucy,"
Lucy was a striking woman, Sunny studied her with an artist's eye, she was tall and slender with almond-shaped black eyes and black hair that was braided and coiled around her head like a crown. She wore a flowing sky-blue skirt and a white peasant top that was highly embroidered with bluebirds and orange flowers around the scoop neckline. Her skin was coppery colored and when she smiled up at Sunny her teeth were stark white again her skin. Sunny smiled back, "Thank you for receiving us," Sunny said. "Tully has brought me here that I might ask a favor of you."
Oran looked curiously from Tully to Sunny, "Well, come down and let us speak together."
Lucy and Oran stepped back to allow Tully to climb down from the wagon. He reached up and helped Sunny down. Once they were on the ground Sunny saw that they were standing just outside a wide ring of colored sand. It had intricated patterns drawn in the band of sand that was multi-colored but had an overall blue cast to it. Sunny looked and spotted another band of black and white sand a few yards from where the blue band was laid out.
Sunny realized that they had come down the path that had a straight line of black and white sand and as she turned other lines of sand radiated out from the outer band. "Like the spokes of a wagon wheel," she murmured to herself. She realized if you had a bird-eye view, you would see that the entire encampment was ringed by a wide protective band of white and black sand.
"We stand protected at the center of the hub," Lucy said pointing to the ground where she and her husband stood on the inside of the blue band of sand. The band encompassed everything around the motor home including their truck and equipment.
Sunny looked down at the wide blue band of sand and then looked to Tully who seemed to be waiting for something to happen. Lucy extended her hand to Sunny and stepped back with her husband. Sunny stepped over the band and felt a gossamer thin curtain slide over her body but beyond that, she encountered no resistance. Lucy and Oran Bishop appeared to be relieved and then waited for Tully to step over the band.
"A ward?" Sunny asked Lucy.
"Only one without malice or evil intent could cross over the ward without harm," Lucy replied.
Sunny nodded and glanced over her shoulder at Tully who had also successfully passed through the wards. He combed his fingers through his hair, "Like walking through cobwebs," he muttered to Oran.
The chieftain chuckled softly and slapped the blacksmith's shoulder, "Come and let's talk of this favor."
When they were seated inside the screened tent Oran leaned in toward Sunny. "How can the Badger clan be of assistance?"
"Aunt Fiona is naming me her successor tonight and I – we would very much like you to be there as a witness."
"Indeed?" Oran said, "Fiona is not stepping down as Dannan is she?"
"No," Tully responded, "Fiona remains the Dannan until such time she can no longer serve,"
Bishop and his wife looked over at Sunny then he inclined his head. "Of course, I will be there," Oran said.
"We will meet at Laurel cottage," Tully said.
"Who makes up the seven?" Lucy wanted to know.
"The chieftains, Tully, Nicodemus Fury, and Bracken," Sunny replied while she ticked off the number on her fingers.
Oran chuckled then winked at Sunny, "Forgive me for making light, but knowing Fury and a Watcher will be in the same ceremony is delightful."
"Well knowing that Danu and probably more of the doer-Nemed will be guests tonight will cheer you even more!" Tully said drolly.
Oran Bishop chuckled and clapped his hands in gleeful delight. "Oh aye, what I wouldn't give to be the raven to send that report back to the Partholan!"
Lucy regarded her husband somberly then nodded at Sunny, "Only right that all be included." She replied.
"So, we can count on you to be there?" Tully asked.
"Couldn't keep me away!" Oran declared cheerfully. "What time?"
"At seven tonight at Laurel cottage," Sunny said.
Oran nodded and looked to his wife who also nodded her consent. Tully clapped his hands on his knees and got to his feet; business had been concluded. Sunny also rose with Oran and Lucy. Lucy came and embraced Sunny warmly and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Blessings be with you," she whispered in Sunny's ear.
Sunny returned the hug and stepped back, looking into the woman's ebony eyes. What she saw there was concern in the woman's gaze. Oran shook Tully's hand, and he inclined his head respectfully to Sunny, "Very happy to have met you, Miss!"
Sunny smiled back and once again she and Tully stepped over the warded border feeling again the whisper-soft curtain over her body. They got into the wagon and Tully headed Cherry Brumble on the path leading out of the encampment. Tully lifted a hand in farewell to the men stationed at the picket line and he turned the mare toward town. "Libations for after," Tully said, "Piper has a newly turned-out keg with my name on it."
"And in time for the festival too," Sunny remarked.
"Aye only five days before the shindig," Tully said, "You have your party going dress?"
Sunny nodded. "Yes, I found several in Aunt Fiona's attic. All of them are so beautiful so it's just a matter of selecting the one I want to wear."
"Well, you need to get to the important stuff lassie!" Tully told her with a grin, "You need to be making your maiden's favor as well."
"What's that?" She asked.
Tully shook his head in dismay, "Ye poor lassie – the maiden's favor is a carefully constructed and charmed piece of finery that every unattached girl puts up for the lads to charge after."
"That must be what Shannon was talking about," Sunny said smiling in memory, "He said the girls make a wreath of flowers and the boys spear the wreath in a contest."
"Aye not only that," Tully said, "But there's also a bit of magic and some communication that's going on at the same time. All very carefully planned and worked out between the maiden and her family."
"And what are she and her family saying?" Sunny wanted to know.
"Well," Tully began and then looked aside at her, "Are you really wanting to know?"
Sunny frowned at him. "I just want to do what's right and not make a fool out of myself. I haven't been shown how to do anything so I don't know what it is I should do."
"And Fiona hasn't talked to you about this?" Tully asked.
Sunny expelled a huge sigh and shook her head. "No, I guess she is thinking in a few weeks or so, I'll be going back to the States, and Mama's thinking I'm going to come home and be all cured of whatever she sent me over here to get cured of; and everything will all right."
"And--," Tully prompted.
"I don't think everything is going to ever be 'all right'," Sunny said. "I think something is brewing that is going to be bad --- really bad."
"Your intuition or are you just feeling confused?"
"Both!" Sunny exclaimed.
Tully chuckled softly, "Well, that puts all of us in the same predicament! But first things first, we get through tonight and then we look after your coming out at the festival. Fiona had a bonny maiden's favor. I nearly had it one season, but there were always other boys who beat me to it. You know it can get a bit competitive when more than one boy goes after a popular lass."
"Really?" Sunny said grinning at Tully, "And who could beat you?"
Tully chuckled, "It wasn't for lack of tryin' – just boys with faster ponies than me!"
"Did Nicodemus ever try?" Sunny asked.
Tully shook his head, "No. Nico has spent much of his time in Nu'Ada. Many years spent in a place where no one could reach him."
"There were lads who won Fiona's favor," Tully said chuckling. "None other than Rory Affaraon, the Ard Ri, himself."
"Wow!" she exclaimed, "Aunt Fiona had the eye of the king!"
"Aye," Tully replied, "She had quite a few of us chasing after her. She never committed to any of us; not after Colleen left."
"As in marriage?" she asked softly.
Tully nodded and looked ahead. "The geis is that the Dannan becomes wedded to the land. That is the fate of the Dannan."
"Never to marry," Sunny said, then frowned and looked at Tully. "No marriages?"
Tully smiled. "I did not say that my girl. But most men want to be the first and only priority of their wives. With the Dannan, it is the land that comes first, then the people. A husband is always going to be last – not many men will stand for it."
"I see," Sunny murmured, then smiled over at Tully, "Aunt Fiona doesn't seem to be unhappy, does she?"
Tully smiled over at Sunny, "Fiona is as she's always been," he clicked his tongue and Cherry picked up her pace. "A kind gentle good-hearted woman."
They arrived in town and headed up the road to Cluny's. There was a knot of men sitting on the benches outside and drinking glasses of beer. Piper waved to them as they pulled up alongside another pony tied to the hitching post. "Oi, I have your keg waitin'!"
Tully waved back and climbed down from the wagon with Sunny following suit. Piper disappeared around the back of the pub then returned shortly with a small wooden keg on his shoulder. Tully went around to the back of his wagon and opened the door. Piper set the keg just inside the wagon and clapped Tully's shoulder. "I was up early this morning pulling the last of the brew and was wondering when you'd come for your keg."
"We'll be using it to celebrate tonight," Tully replied and jabbed a thumb toward Sunny, "Fiona is naming Sunny as her heir."
Piper angled a look at Sunny, "Are ye now?"
"Trying to set things right," Sunny replied.
Piper glanced over at Tully and then nodded silently. A smile slowly spread over his lips and he briskly rubbed his hands together, "In that case let me also get you a cask of something a bit more celebratory." He looked back to Sunny and winked, "Cassie will want to say hello to ye lass, she's inside. Tully, come with me to the back, and I'll get ye that cask."
Tully nodded and followed Piper around the side of the building. Sunny went into the pub. There were a lot of people inside eating and drinking and having a very good time. Sunny's notion of a pub wasn't the same as what this local Irish pub. The American bar was completely different from the pub. The former was for the consumption of alcohol, dancing, and primarily for the selection of partners both temporary and perhaps long-term; the latter was family-oriented. The pub was a social meeting place that was generational. Young and old alike intermingled and interacted with one another. If food was offered, it attracted families and was a meeting place for promotions, birthdays, and even more somber celebrations.
Cassie spotted Sunny and waved her over to the tall bar. "Sunny so happy to see you!"
Sunny grinned and joined the other drinkers at the bar. She perched on a stool and leaned forward, "You are incredibly busy!"
Cassie giggled, throwing her hands up in the air, "Aye, it's a blessing!" She leaned forward in a conspiratorial fashion, "And it sure helps to be the only pub in Ballencoo!"
Sunny laughed and indicated the clientele with a nod of her head, "So is this what the pre-festival business is like?"
Cassie nodded. She drew up two pints of dark beer and handed them to waiting customers, then waved at a couple that had just entered the pub. She looked to Sunny, "Is Fiona with you?"
"No, I came in with Tully," Sunny replied. "We were running a few errands."
Cassie glanced toward the back door and then looked curiously at Sunny. "Anything wrong?"
"No," Sunny replied. She was tracing a finger along the highly polished bumper then laid her arms on the bar, "Aunt Fiona is naming me her heir, tonight."
"So, you need witnesses," Cassie replied matter-of-factly. "All of them are going to be there?"
Sunny looked Cassie directly in the eye. Cassie knew more than her husband did. It was clear that most everyone in town – if not all, had connections of some kind in Nu'Ada. Sunny smiled slowly and Cassie grinned back, "Yes, we have everyone – and a few extra."
Piper poked his head into the pub from the back door and waved to Sunny. She waved back. "Well, it looks like Tully's ready to head on back to Laurel cottage,"
Cassie glanced over her shoulder to catch her husband walking back out the back, "Ye mind telling him to bring in another keg? I'm close to the bottom of this one." She patted the large oak barrel nestled in the bar's corner.
"I will," Sunny replied as she reached the door turned, and waved to Cassie. "Sláinte!"
Cheers immediately went up and many remembered they needed more to drink. Cassie laughed and waved to her and began refilling the glasses. Sunny went around to the side, "Cassie says she needs another barrel, she's running low."
Piper grinned and nodded, "Aye, we heard the cheer just now." He gave her a hand up to the wagon next to Tully. "Good luck tonight m'dear!" He held on to her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Sunny patted his hand with her free one, "Thanks."
He waved to Tully and the blacksmith clucked to Cherry Brumble who was off with a flick of her silky tail.
Once they were underway, Sunny looked over at Tully with a sly smile, "What tribe is Cassie from?"
"Her family is from the Badger clan," Tully replied. "She is related to Lucy."
Sunny chuckled, "So that's why the pub feels so safe and secure."
Tully nodded and glanced over at Sunny, "Lucy learned from the best. If you're ever in trouble – just get to the pub. No harm can come past the door."
"I will keep that in mind," She replied.