Defiance (The Priestess Trilogy) by Melissa Sasina Page A

who was also kin to Ainmire himself. Shiovra simply could not understand it. Yet with her anger also came the grief she had pushed aside ten years ago.
    Taking a deep breath to regain her composure, Shiovra stepped from the hut only to find Mahon and Daire waiting for her.
    A surprised paused was brought to her step.
    “Are you all right?” Mahon pressed anxiously, his eyes shifting away, narrowing coldly on something off down the path.
    Shiovra followed his gaze and found what had garnered his interest. All she saw was a man’s back r etreating away from them. “Aye…” she muttered watching as Odhrán walked away. “I am fine.” The priestess turned back to her brother. “Mahon…I… ,” s he began. 
    “Forgive me,” he interrupted. “I was being a fool, pushing you away when I should have welcomed you with open arms.”
    The priestess found she was momentarily stunned by his words and she found herself faltering to reply.
    “When you left Tara, with hardly a second glance back, I felt like you had turned you back on me,” admitted Mahon. “I allowed my anger at mother’s death and your departure get the better of me for ten years. I had no desire for you to become the High Priestess, I loathed the thought greatly. Ceallach’s words would not sway me. And for that, our reunion was not as joyful as it should have been. Please, forgive me.”
    Shiovra smiled, fighting back the sting of tears trying to form. “We are both a t fault,” she said gently. “I regret the manner in which I left, but I do not regret becoming the High Priestess of this village. Yet, due to my choice, what should have been a merry meeting became a meeting of harsh lectures.” A small laugh swelled within her, but it was quickly pushed aside. “I would like you to understand that this is not something I can run away from . What kind of priestess wou ld I be if I turned away ? How would that look in the eyes of the villagers we are in charge of protecting? We are the clan. They look to us for protection and guidance. I will not turn my back on them. And neither should you.”
    Ma hon was silent a moment , then asked, “Will you make me a promise?”
    Shiovra meet his gaze.
    “You have been seen by the Milidh clan outside this village, Daire told me thus ,” he said, voice hard. “They will begin to hunt you. I want you to promise me, that no matter what happens, you will do all in you power to survive. ”
    A slight smile touched Shiovra ’s face and she nodded. “You have my vow, brother. ”
    “Thank you,” Mahon replied with great relief. He looked her over briefly. “How is your wound? Does it heal well?”
    “Aye, though it may leave its mark upon me as a reminder,” she replied, her hand slipping to her side where bandages lay hidden beneath her clothing. Though the wound no longer ached, the memory of the Milidh man’s crazed gaze lingered painfully in her mind. “That man…Árdal…he was mad.”
    Daire nodded in agreement. “We need to be wary,” he said in a low voice. “There could be an attack upon the village.”
    Mahon’s face hardened. “We should speak of this elsewhere,” he suggested, gesturing towards the High fort . “We cannot be sure that the enemy doesn’t already have eyes in this village.”
    Shiovra though instantly of Odhrán. She did not know much of the Milidh man, only that each time she’d seen him, he had been watching . Following her brother and cousin up the path to the high fort and onward to the main cottage.
    Mahon pushed open the wicker door-lintel and st epped aside, allowing Daire and Shiovra to duck inside before following himself.
    The cottage was large with wicker-work screens hanging between each of the inner and outer support posts, portioning off the outer ring. Within the sections were bedding, supplies, and piles of wood. A hearth lined with stones stood in the center of the cottage, an empty pot hanging over it and benches surrounding it. Close to the hearth