Dreamer's Pool Read Online Free

Conmael.’
    It meant absolutely nothing. I couldn’t for the life of me imagine why the fellow would have any interest in what happened to me. As for offering my own name, I’d had one when they’d locked me up, and another one before that, but I wasn’t going to share either with a complete stranger. ‘What proposition?’ Under the circumstances, only one kind of proposition was of any interest, and that was one that would see me survive the dawn and stand up before the council as I’d expected. How this Conmael would achieve such a thing, and why he’d bother, was quite beyond me. Lies, all lies – what else could this be? ‘I’m growing weary of tricks,’ I said. ‘These days, I lose my temper quickly.’
    Conmael smiled. He folded his hands on the table before him. His fingers were long and graceful; he wore a number of silver rings. ‘It is no trick,’ he said. ‘Nor is it an unconditional offer of freedom. But you can leave this place safely, no longer in fear of your life, provided you agree to my terms.’
    Despite everything, my heart leaped at the word freedom . I clamped down the sudden elation. He wanted something from me, no doubt of that. I couldn’t imagine what it might be, since I had nothing at all to offer. The whole thing was deeply suspect. I might be exchanging my present hell on earth for something even worse. But you’d be alive , said a little voice inside me. ‘Terms. What terms?’
    ‘You had a calling before ill luck visited you. A profession, a direction in life. Yes?’
    If he thought I was going to talk about the time before, he was wrong. That was past, over, forgotten. All that remained was Mathuin, and vengeance.
    ‘You have certain talents by which you can provide for yourself and do good in the community.’
    ‘Had. Not have. That time’s over. That woman’s gone.’
    ‘If you were free now, this moment, what would you do?’
    ‘Why would I tell you that? You could be anyone. You could be in Mathuin’s pay.’
    ‘I am in no man’s pay. Answer my question, please.’
    ‘I’d do what I thought I’d be doing until the guard kindly brought me the news that my execution was imminent. I’d stand up before the midsummer council. Explain what it was that got me locked up. Tell them what Mathuin does. Tell the story of the young woman who fell pregnant with his child when he took her by force, and how her husband abandoned her when he found out, and how she asked me to help her get rid of the child. How I spoke out publicly against Mathuin, and found that there were a dozen other women whom he’d treated in the same way. How he locked me up for smearing his name.’ Mathuin should be brought to account for his behaviour, most certainly. But it was not this wrong that burned in me, crying out for vengeance. It was a far older evil. I would not tell of that. When the chieftain of Laois had imprisoned me, he had not known who I was. I’d planned to tell him when I spoke out before the council. ‘I want that man exposed for what he truly is. I want him punished. Mathuin is not fit to be chieftain.’
    ‘And afterwards?’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘After you expose the chieftain of Laois as an evil-doer and have him removed from his position of power, what then?’
    ‘Don’t mock me!’
    ‘Answer the question, please. Dawn is fast approaching.’
    ‘Then nothing. All that matters is . . .’
    ‘Vengeance?’ Conmael’s voice was very quiet. ‘This is not simply a case of standing up for those women, is it? It’s more, far more. It’s a burning need to right a personal wrong. An old wrong.’
    I stared at him, and he gazed back, eyes blue as deep water, handsome features perfectly composed. ‘How can you know all this? Who are you?’
    ‘A friend. Someone who would rather not see you destroy yourself.’
    ‘Destroy myself ? It’s Mathuin who’s doing the destroying.’
    ‘If you want me to help you, you must set your need for vengeance