Free The Sword of the Banshee by Amanda Hughes Page A

carefully and fired.
    “Thank you,” she said with a smile. “You have been a great help.”
    Satisfied but unsure how long she could retain the information, India walked directly to the stable, saddled a mare and road to a remote area of the estate. There in the sunlight and solitude of a meadow, she spent the autumn afternoon practicing loading and shooting her new firearm. Every day she practiced in the meadow until she could load and fire without hesitation. Although her skill at loading had improved, she was frustrated with her lack of accuracy hitting a mark. Her aim was poor because the gun was incredibly heavy for her. After much experimentation, trial and error, India decided to rest the pistol on her forearm and shoot. Gradually her accuracy improved.
    At last she felt ready to attend meetings again. This time, she would have her gun with her for protection.  All she needed now were men's clothes. Colm’s clothing was too large for India and too short, so she bought one of the servant boys at the manor a new suit of clothing, taking his cast offs for her disguise. After sewing several pieces of flour sack together for a white shirt, which was the official uniform of the repparees, she was ready to go. She also wore a hat, tucking her long hair into her jacket and pulling up the collar.
    It felt delicious to live dangerously and in such an independent manner. She attended rallies for weeks on end, until all hours of the night, standing anonymously among crowds of outraged Irishmen who were eager for vengeance.
         Over time, India learned the tactics of the partisan. She was eager for knowledge and absorbed the plans to every strike like a sponge. Her mind was greedy for information, and she listened intently to everything discussed about lines of attack and operations. She learned about active and passive resistance, networking, and spy techniques.
    Then one day, she realized that the repparees were using strategies that she had suggested to Colm years before, strategies which she had discovered from her comprehensive reading on the subject and shared with him. India found it curious that he had never told her that he was using her ideas. Nevertheless, she felt gratified that she had made some contribution to the fight.
    She chuckled as she crossed the meadow coming home from a meeting one night in the pouring rain; all those games of chess had paid off. At last she felt informed about the rebellion, her only wish now was that she could actively participate in the revolution.
     
    *           *            *
     
    Even with her new found adventures, India did not forget her correspondence with patrons. The continued success of the freedom fighters depended heavily upon their regular donations. She even made several new contacts in France and Spain. Although these benefactors masqueraded as individuals, India believed it was the French and Spanish governments behind the donations. France and Spain were age-old rivals of Great Britain, and she knew they welcomed an independent Ireland; Irish soil was in close proximity to London.
    Colm and India had crossed Ireland several times, garnering support. The British watched their movements closely, and the Crown’s high command began anticipating formal warfare. It pleased Colm that they were at last taking him seriously.
    Colm and the repparees arrived in Ulster stronger than ever. The region was a crucible of hatred and turmoil, and Colm made sure his forces were well trained before venturing there. England had confiscated more land in this part of Ireland than anywhere else. The British had literally starved out the Irish Catholic by importing Scots and Anglicans for over two hundred years. 
    Confrontation with the repparees came at last one evening in County Down. “The British received word that we are in Ulster,” said Colm. “And they have increased troop presence everywhere. They have been fortifying the large towns all day,