Defiance (The Priestess Trilogy) Read Online Free

heavy sound of hooves pounding against the earth reached them, followed by a shout, “Lord Ceallach!”
    The Fomorii man turned as a man approached quickly on horseback. “Earnán?” he asked.
    The man pulled his steed to a halt. “ Lord Ceallach,” he said breathlessly. “ One of the attackers returned … saying he was sent as a messenger… ”
    “And what tidings did he bring?” Réalta demanded harshly .
    “The messenger said that their le ader i s a man called Míl,” explained Earnán , “ who claims to be a kinsman of Ith. Míl has declared his intentions to extract revenge for Ith’s death . He comes with not only warriors , but families . He not only seeks war, but to lay claim to all of Éire.”
    “My assumptions were correct,” muttered Ceallach. “This attack was a warning. A display of what they are capable of. We are lucky they did not lay claim to Tara this night.” He exhaled heavily. “ We can only hope t he High C hieftains, Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht, and Mac Gréine , are able to forge a peace treaty.”
    “They call themselves the Milidh,” Earnán added.
    Shiovra looked up at the men. “They are a clan filled of war and vengeance,” she told them in a small voice. “I could feel it. The energies in the air were laden with their want of bloodshed.” She shivered unconsciously.
    Ceallach regarded the girl quietly for a moment , his face showing a rare glimpse of softness, before he turned back to the other man . “ Earnán, r ound up ever y able man. We need to bind w ounds and strengthen our defenses . Though this was a warning, we cannot allow our guard to slip. ”
    “Aye!” Earnán replied, nodding. He turned his steed sharply and gave it a sharp kick, riding back towards the broken village .
    Réalta crouched down beside Shiovra , touching her shoulder once more, only to have Mahon hold onto the girl more possessively . “Have you decided?” she asked, paying little mind to her nephew’s actions.
    “ Shiovra ?” Mahon begged softly , peering down at his sister’s face .
    Shiovra took a deep breath and pushed her brother away . “I must, Mahon,” she said softly , a great seriousness to her words for a child of eight . “This is something I must d o. I want to protect this village and by continuing my training is the only way I can .”
    Mahon’s face f ell and h e looked away from his sister in defeat.
    Daire stepped up to Shiovra as she rose to her feet . “Don’t worry about us, ” he told her with a warm smile. “ You’ll be back home before you know it.”
    Holding her calm, Shiovra nodded .
    “We need to leave,” Réalta said . She glanced at Ceallach, who nodded, then mounted the steed .
    Shiovra allowed Ceallach to lift her onto the horse, then looked at her brother, tears running down her cheeks. “We will see each other again,” she said, a smile touching her lips . “I promise you that, brother. I will come home and I will be stronger.”
    Mahon numbly nodded.
    With a swift kick, Réalta urged the horse into a steady canter, headin g towards the east . Shiovra glanced back only once, looking at Daire and her brother. She would not worry, she would not cry and she would return to Tara as a priestess who could defend her people. Biting her bottom lips she turned her face to the east where her destiny lay.
     
     
     
     
     
    1.        VISIONS
     
     
     
     
    A full moon hung brightly against the star speckled deep sapphire folds of the night sky . The wind was calm and cool, whispering lightly as it stirred the slender blades of grass. Silvery moonlight s hone down into a lush clearing surrounded by apple trees . The tall grass was dotted with vivid flower s and vines climbed nearby over a crumbling stone wall . The clearing was filled with a wild, marvelous splendor.
    The steady beat of a drum drifted across the tr anquil air. Under the moonlight women st ood in a circle, their braided hair adorned with flowers . They chanted in a sing song