Free Emer's Quest (Manannan Trilogy) by Michele McGrath Page B

ring on the hilt and I did the same.”
    Hari’s breath whistled through his teeth.
    “So…” Atli said. “Continue. Was there any more?”
    She sighed. “ The scene changed for the last time. I was back again in the green hills where I had met my guide. ‘Where are we now?’ I asked him. ‘This is the place where your family comes from, the land of Lir. I was born here and so was your mother. Niamh has described it to you, I know. Don’t you recognise it?’‘Perhaps.’ Truly it did not look at all like my mother’s description. ‘Why have you brought me here?’ I asked. ‘To show you the place of your ancestors where our magic began. Watch.’ I looked hard at him as he changed before my eyes. His white hair became black flecked with grey, he stood proud and tall with a great sword strapped to his waist. His dog changed too. No longer gaunt, it frolicked around us with the litheness of youth. Then something clicked in my mind and I remembered my mother’s tales. ‘Are you my grandfather, Manannan McLir?’ I asked him. He took me in his arms and kissed me, but his touch was icy, as if I had stepped into a frozen pool. Then he said, ‘Shea and I roam these hills now, with the other spirits. Tell your mother and also Renny, the Red Lady. I have always loved them and I always will.’ A woman appeared and came towards us, her hair golden and tied with flowers made of gold. She was laughing. She touched my hair and Grandfather said, ‘This is Emer, for whom you are named. You and your mother have inherited her golden hair.’ Then the vision faded and I was back here with you.”
    “ I see. So that was all? You’re sure?” Atli looked at her closely and Emer found it hard to meet his eyes, but she forced herself to do so. “Why did you scream?”
    “I am sure and I don’t know why I screamed.” Emer covered her eyes and shook her head, trying to rid herself of that other vision which she must not tell them.
    “ Come then.” Atli held out his hand to her and raised her to her feet. “You will need to sleep properly now and recover.”
    “I ’ll take her back to the other women, Fadir ,” Hari spoke for the first time and Emer looked at him in surprise. She had hardly noticed him and wondered at this sudden gesture. She let him lead her out of the hut, but she staggered as the cold breeze blew onto her face. Hari put his arm around her, steadied her but also stopping her from moving away from his side. They walked in the direction of the longhouse. Just before they reached the doorway, he drew her aside.
    “Do you truly believe these things will happen?” he hissed.
    “I do .”
    “You know what it means — that exchange of swords and rings, don’t you?”
    “I have never seen it before, only heard it described. It’s part of the wedding ceremony, isn’t it?”
    “Yes. So the next time you come out of a trance, be very sure to tell my father that we did not wed. For, by the gods, I will do my best to make certain that we do not!” He stamped away and Emer was left, clutching her cloak around her, staring after him in sudden fright.
     
     
     

7
     
    “We leave on tomorrow’s tide,” Atli told Emer, many days later. The weather had been stormy, as the solstice approached, but it showed signs of clearing at last. “We will sail for the Landnám islands as I promised you.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Go to Kolla, she will see you are suitably clothed for the journey, as the future wife of my son.”
    In spite of her fear and apprehension, Emer enjoyed the experience of wearing different clothing. The y were not new, but they were clean and warm and serviceable. Far better than the ones she had arrived in and finer even than those she had left at home, for her father was not a rich man. Kolla found her a long-sleeved, full-length tunic, a gown of green, embroidered in an orange thread and a coat pinned together with a metal brooch. She was given mittens and several hoods of linen, wool and