Night of the Fifth Moon Read Online Free PDF

‘Nuada!’ he announced. ‘King Nuada led the Tuatha de Danaan in a battle. And then . . .’ He glanced at Goll’s single pointing finger. ‘ H . . . hand!’ He looked round the circle, light-headed with relief. ‘The hand of King Nuada was struck from his arm; and though Credne the Smith fashioned a new hand of silver, Nuada had a blemish and was no longer fit for kingship. There!’ He turned to Bran. ‘Now your turn.’
    But as Bran began to speak, Ket’s eyes drifted to the ogham rod Faelán had stuck in the ground. At the very top there was one straight line pointing left. Huathe! H for hand! He already knew the first feda in the message!

THE GREATER
HARMONY
    â€˜So,’ said the druid next morning, ‘Ket has already benefited from my first instruction, to gain strength and inspiration from the trees.’
    Ket squirmed as the others turned to look at him.
    â€˜Well,’ he mumbled. ‘I . . .’
    â€˜Now you must build on that lesson,’ Faelán continued. ‘You must all build. You must study and communicate with everything around you, from the tallest tree to the smallest insect. Open your eyes and your ears. Be receptive to the spirits around you. See, listen, hear what they have to tell you. Come with me now, look around. Tell me what you see.’
    He strode towards the forest and the fosterlings hurried after him.
    â€˜Trees!’ called Lorccán.
    â€˜Ah.’ The druid paused below the hollow oak. ‘But what are the messages from the trees?’ The fosterlings looked at each other blankly. ‘How do they tell us the end of the year approaches?’ probed Faelán.
    â€˜Their leaves are changing colour.’
    â€˜And falling off!’ cried Bran, holding out his hand to catch an oak leaf as it floated down. Before it could reach him, Lorccán dived forward and plucked it from the air.
    â€˜Got it!’ he yelled.
    â€˜Ah, Lorccán,’ Faelán chuckled, ‘you have just won yourself good health during the coming months of cold. Now, what other signs tell us that winter is approaching?’
    They stared round for inspiration ‘If it were summer, what would you see?’ asked Faelán.
    â€˜ Green leaves,’ said Lorccán quickly.
    â€˜Flowers.’
    â€˜Pigs rooting for acorns,’ said Nessa, ‘and the swineherds who bring them from the ringforts.’
    Ket closed his eyes and pictured the woodland in the month of Beltane. The trees and bushes would be festive with bloom – cascades of white on the hawthorn and rowan, bright sprays of yellow on the gorse, golden catkins dangling from the oak tree, bluebells nodding their heads. He could feel the sun warm through the branches and hear the buzz of insects.
    â€˜Bees and butterflies,’ he murmured.
    â€˜And what else can you hear?’ asked Faelán.
    â€˜Pipits, reed warblers, swallows.’
    â€˜Good.’ Ket opened his eyes and Faelán nodded, pleased. ‘But now . . .’ The druid swept out his arms. ‘All those signs of summer have gone. What do you see now in the forest?’
    â€˜The blackberries are ripe,’ said Lorccán.
    â€˜And the sloe berries, and the dark purple elderberries.’
    â€˜Hazelnuts,’ said Nessa. ‘The squirrels are gathering their winter hoards.’
    â€˜But that stuff’s all obvious,’ Bran broke in. ‘Everyone knows trees lose their leaves in autumn, and berries are ready to pick. You don’t have to be a druid for that!’
    â€˜Ah, so that is why you seek further.’ Faelán stooped and patted the rotting leaf litter. ‘Search beneath these leaves . . .’ He thrust his hand under the leaves and when he drew it out, a grey, scaly woodlouse was crawling across his palm. ‘Hold out your hand,’ he instructed Riona.
    She pulled a face as he eased the insect onto her reluctant finger.
    â€˜What