Night of the Fifth Moon Read Online Free PDF Page B

can you feel?’ he inquired.
    â€˜Nothing.’
    â€˜This insect is so small, so light, we cannot feel it exists. Most people would crush it, and not even be aware they did so. But in spite of its tiny size, it plays an important part in the cycle of life. By nibbling the fallen leaves, it will gradually break them down till they become part of the soil. In turn, the dead leaves will nourish the tree that bore them, so that new leaves can grow.’ He looked up into the branches of the oak then back at his listeners. His tone changed and he snapped a question. ‘What are the lessons in this?’
    Nessa gestured in excitement. Her green eyes shone, and her red-gold hair was the same glowing colour as the birch leaves.
    â€˜We can all do something to help others, even if we are small and weak,’ she exclaimed.
    â€˜Good.’
    â€˜And . . . and we should respect all lives, even the lives of insects?’ asked Ket.
    Faelán nodded. ‘Insects, trees, even leaves. Ordinary mortals smash through this world, disturbing and destroying for their own needs. But a druid tries to be part of the Greater Harmony.’
    â€˜I’ve seen that when you walk,’ said Ket excitedly. ‘Your feet don’t even disturb the grass. Are you going to teach us to walk like that?’
    The druid tugged his beard. ‘That is something you must work out for yourselves,’ he said. ‘It is learnt through observation. Between now and the next new moon, I advise you to open your eyes and look around you.’ He spread his arms. ‘Study the insects; the birds; the buds on the trees. The river. The sky. Respect them, and learn what they can teach.’
    â€˜But . . .’
    The druid dropped his hands. ‘Yes, Bran?’
    â€˜We’ve already got all those stories to learn!’
    â€˜If you memorise the tales, the poems and the songs, and learn nothing more,’ chided Faelán, ‘then you will only reach the level of a bard. Is that your desire? It is an honourable calling, but a bard has not the powers of a druid.’
    â€˜I want to be a druid,’ mumbled Bran.
    â€˜Well then, keep your eyes and your ears open. Look around you – in daytime and at night, in sunshine and in rain – and you will learn many important things.’
    Gently, he returned the woodlouse to the leaves, and straightened up.
    â€˜Ket . . .’ He turned. ‘You have already shown an affinity with the trees. Which tree was it that gave you support when you needed to complete your story task?’
    â€˜Uuh . . .’ Ket saw all the others watching him, jealous and curious. He closed his eyes and pictured the ogham signs scraped into the smooth, grey-green trunk. ‘It was an ash.’
    â€˜An ash ?!’ The druid’s voice rose inquiringly. ‘The ash is a warrior’s tree. Its strong wood makes fine spears, but I would not have expected . . .’
    He gazed at Ket, one eyebrow raised, and Ket felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment.
    â€˜It wasn’t the tree that helped me, exactly,’ he mumbled. ‘It was Goll. He showed me some ogham. He carved it on the trunk.’
    â€˜Aaah!’ Faelán nodded, but Ket could feel the indignation of the others around him.
    â€˜Is . . . is Goll allowed to help?’ burst out Riona.
    â€˜Why not?’ responded Faelán. ‘When I challenged you to search for ogham clues I did not tell you where or how to look. It is your good fortune if one of the anruth chooses to teach you. But now . . .’ The corner of his mouth curled. ‘Ket has a difficult choice. He must decide if he will share his knowledge with the rest of you.’ In the strained silence that followed, he turned to leave.
    The moment he was out of sight, the others rounded on Ket.
    â€˜You cheated,’ cried Lorccán indignantly.
    â€˜Ooh, Master Faelán, the trees helped me,’ mimicked Bran.
    â€˜You are