Free The Well of Shades by Juliet Marillier

skeptically.
    “Besides, Suibne himself pointed out that there are Christian hermits in the Light Isles, not only tolerated but welcomed by my vassal king there, despite the adherenceof the local folk to the ancient gods. Suibne noted the inconsistency. If I refuse Colm his refuge I should by rights request the removal of the Christian presence in the northern isles as well.”
    “I don’t undervalue the spiritual arguments.” Redheaded Carnach had his fists clenched on the table. It was unusual for him to show any kind of agitation, for he was a cool and seasoned leader of fightingmen. “But surely, surely you cannot let such an opportunity pass you by, my lord king. The crown of Circinn… By the Flamekeeper’s manhood, I’d almost stand as a candidate myself rather than see some weakling kinsman of Drust’s assume power in the south, with Bargoit whispering in his ear. I can’t understand how you can support this, Talorgen. I can’t understand how any of you can even considerit. What sort of council is this? By all the gods, if we had Ged here, and all those fine men who fell in Fortriu’s service in the autumn, I know what they’d be saying. You are our king, Bridei, our leader and our inspiration.This is your time. It is the time to make the two kingdoms one again. You have strong chieftains, wise advisers, people who would gladly lay down their lives for you. Youcan hold Dalriada and rule Circinn as well as Fortriu. You can do it, Bridei. Have faith. Seize this chance! That it has come about now, so soon after our war was won, must surely mean the Flamekeeper intends you to take it.”
    Bridei regarded his kinsman, whose fair-skinned features were flushed with a mixture of ardor and frustration. Carnach had been one of his truest and most loyal chieftains,a source of immense strength in war and astute advice in peacetime. He was influential; a great deal hung on retaining his loyalty, not to speak of his friendship. Not for the first time, the king felt a pang of regret at Faolan’s absence; who else would give him truly honest advice on such a difficult issue? “Your faith in me and in the future warms me, Carnach,” he said. “Believe me, I do notunderestimate the ability of Fortriu’s leaders, nor her people, to meet a challenge. I have not yet made a decision on this matter. I will take Fola’s advice and seek the wisdom of the gods. I know what my warrior chieftains would say. For the main part they would agree with you. Press the advantage, they would tell me. I know what Broichan will want.”
    “I cannot believe you chose not to givehim this news,” said Fola. It was not quite a reproof; even she, who had known him since he was a child, did not forget that he was king.
    “Think harder,” Bridei told her, “and you will understand why I did not. If I choose to stand back from this election he must see it as a betrayal, both strategic and personal. I called this council to ascertain if I would have your support, should I decidenot to pursue the kingship of Circinn this time around. I want to be sure of that support before I pass the news of Drust’s death to anyone, Broichan included.”
    There was a silence. The significance of Broichan’sabsence was profound. As foster father to Bridei and as druid to the old king and the new, he had been instrumental in molding his foster son into the perfect king for Fortriu: a kingwho possessed a deep and lifelong allegiance to the ancient gods of the north, a king dedicated to the reunification of Priteni lands under the traditions of those deities, the Flamekeeper, the Shining One, Bone Mother, and the fair All-Flowers. And another god, whom Bridei would honor tonight in his vigil. Broichan loomed large in their minds, a figure of power, who had over the years convenedhis own secret council to which three of those present had belonged in the days of Bridei’s youth. In all their memories, the king’s druid had only once shown faulty