wants. In fact, I might leave in any case. I canât stand the thought of being at Kildare without you.â
âDari,â I said, âdonât be foolish. Kildare is your home. Iâm not going to be responsible for your leaving all that behind.â
âI donât want to leave the monastery, but itâs not the same without you there.â
âAre the others being unkind to you for being my friend?â
âSome are a bit cold, but not exactly unkindâwell, except for Eithne, who has managed to say âI told you so about Deirdreâ at least ten times since yesterday. Iâm ready to pound her with a frying pan.â
âForget Eithne. How are the solitaries doing inside the monastery?â
âThatâs one of the things weighing on Sister Anna. Even with all thatâs happened, most of them refuse to come to Kildare. They say theyâll trust in God to protect them.â
âTheyâre ignoring the orders of the king?â
âI think theyâre more afraid of Sister Anna than the king, but they wonât even come to the monastery for her sake. The problem is that theyâre uncomfortable living with other people. Many of them have been alone for years. Itâs a terrifying thought for them to suddenly move into crowded sleeping quarters with other nuns. In fact, those few solitaries who have come to the monastery have settled into other buildings so they can be by themselves. I think Sister Coleen has set up her bed in the nook above the granary.â
âWhat about Riona?â
Sister Riona was a solitary who lived about a mile from my grandmotherâs home. She was a cousin of mine on my motherâs side, a couple of years younger than me, and a much better nun than I had ever been. Her grandfather had been a druid, though she never knew him. Her father and mother had become Christians before she was born and encouraged Riona in her desire to be a sister of holy Brigid. She was an only child, so when they died a few years ago she moved back into the family home as a solitary. She raised sheep there and gave the meat and wool to the monastery.
âSheâs one of those who has refused to come to Kildare,â Dari said. âSister Anna told me to visit her and try to persuade her to return. Itâs nearby, so Iâm on my way there now.â
âLet me come with you. Maybe sheâll listen to a kinswoman. I donât like the thought of her out there alone. If she doesnât want to go to the monastery, Iâll see if she wants to stay here with my grandmother and me.â
âIâd be grateful. Sheâs as sweet as can be, but thereâs a stubborn streak in your family.â
âNot stubborn, Dari, just . . . determined.â
We laughed again and went out the door. Kevin was taking his role as protector very seriously, marching backand forth in front of the hut as if the Saxons were about to invade.
âKevin, Iâm going with Dari to Rionaâs hermitage to see if I canât talk her into returning to Kildare. You can wait here until I bring her back. Maybe you could help my grandmother in the garden. Dari will be safe with me.â
He scratched his head.
âWell, I donât know, Deirdre. Sister Anna told me to guard her. Are you sure youâll be safe? I mean, I donât want anything to happen to either of you.â
Kevin was one of the best men I knew. He was loyal and brave and kind, not to mention tall and handsome. If he hadnât been such a pious monk, I would have invited him into my bed years ago.
âPlease donât worry, Kevin,â I said. âYou know that no one would dare to touch a bard or anyone under their protection. If it makes you feel better, Iâll take a sword with me.â
âAll right, but please promise youâll be back here before dark.â
âI promise.â
I told my grandmother where we were going and took my