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three siblings ever heard uttered from their benefactress’s lips, separated the boys and sent Leila scrambling up the stick ladder to safety with her imaginary friend. Further embellishment of Riona’s ire was checked by the voice of Brother Domnall.
    “Like as not, the good Lord’ll have nothing to do with this lot of ragmullions, much less a lady wallowing in cattle dung.” The bent cleric peered at Riona and her charges from beneath the gray hedges of his eyebrows in utter contempt. “Mayhap ’tis penance for glorifying that heathen lore.”
    “Mayhap Brother Domnall will share a story then, while I rid myself of stench and filth.” Riona shook out her dress in dismay.
    Domnall started. “Oh, what with all the commotion, I near forgot. His Holiness, the Abbot, and Bishop Senan wish to see you at once in the hall. Them as well. All of them,” he added, casting a glance at the top of the ladder where Leila watched.
    “Why would the holy fathers wish to see the children?” Riona was fearful of the answer. Homes had been found for most of the orphans in her care. These three were the last, afterthoughts of the plague that had swept across Erin two years earlier.
    “There’s a couple from Dinwiddy who’d have a look at them.” Brother Domnall’s answer was sympathetic. So, the little ones had gotten to him, just as they had Riona.
    “You mean
we’ll
have a look at them,” Fynn said, squaring a mulish chin. “We won’t go with them if we don’t like their looks.”
    “Of course you won’t.” Riona brushed off her clothing as best she could, stewing inside with dread.
    There was so much she wanted to do with these foundlings.
    Oh, Lord, show me Thy will. If this couple is truly needy of this little family, then so be it. I know I can accept the role of a sister in Christ to these foundlings with as much joy as that of a mother
.
    “Brother Clemens says I’m a fast learner,” Fynn spoke up. “Maybe it won’t be long before I can provide for the twins and we won’t need parents.”
    Riona smiled. He wanted so to be a man, when most of his tall, lanky frame was still boy. “That well may be, but for now let’s see what God provides for us.”
    I want the best for them, Lord, I truly do
. Riona herded her brood like a mother hen across the short plank bridge over the fosse. A gray-robed brother opened the door to the reception hall as Riona and her entourage approached.
    Gathering a twin under each arm, Riona stepped inside. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the inside lighting of the hall after being in the afternoon sun. She focused on a humbly dressed couple, neither of whom looked to have gone more than a few hours without food. Freemen, perhaps?
    “Ah, Lady Riona, I—” Abbot Fintan stumbled over his greeting upon seeing her—
“we
welcome you and your charges into our presence.”
    “My lord brother,” Bishop Senan exclaimed in equal shock. “What malady has befallen the Lady O’Cuillin since I was away?”
    “None of consequence, your holiness.”
    Riona rushed forward to kneel before the abbot’s elaborately carved chair, the only furniture in the room, save the desk and stool where Brother Ninian recorded the hearings. The paved floor was cold to her knees. Bishop Senan, the abbot’s younger half brother, offered her a hand in rising so that she could return to where Leila, Liex, and Fynn held back in wary silence.
    “My Lord Abbot,” Riona ventured, “may I ask what this is about?”
    Senan motioned toward the children with a grandiose sweep of thearm. “It is about placing these foundlings in a good home with Tadgh here and his good wife Mebh.”
    “Only the little ones, milord bishop,” the man of the couple stipulated quickly.
    Riona’s heart sank, but there was no time to indulge it, for a veritable outcry ensued.
    “We’re not leavin’ Fynn!” Liex grabbed at his elder brother’s hand and pulled him closer to Riona as if she could protect them