Riona Read Online Free PDF Page B

all.
    “And I’m not handing the twins over to anyone,” Fynn declared.
    Leila practically disappeared in the fold of Riona’s dress, nearly knocking her over.
    “I … I must protest, Father Abbot,” she stammered, regaining her footing. Fintan was a good-hearted man, and Riona was one of his favorites. He had to listen to her. “These children should not be separated on any account. Their family has been broken enough.”
    The abbot stared at Riona again as if he still could not believe it was his sister’s noble granddaughter. Self-conscious, she lowered her gaze and took a step back. Humility might prevail where her ladylike demeanor did not. Only a bath would rid her of the stable stench.
    “I must agree with Lady Riona. I can’t believe it is in the children’s interest to separate them. However—” the abbot raised his voice, cutting off Bishop Senan’s rising objection—“perhaps this couple would reconsider taking the older lad as well. He’s healthy and strong, certainly a boon to any freeman who works the land.”
    “If ye let me finish out this year with Brother Clemens, I’ll be able to take care of myself and the twins, making wares for the table,” Fynn announced. “Ask ’im! He says I learn fast and have a keen way with a blade.”
    “Look at the little dears, Taddy.” The farmer’s wife rushed over to Leila and fingered her long, straight hair. “So much like the babes we lost, e’en tho they was both lads. But I always wanted a girl. Surely we can take the eldest, too.” She cast a pleading look at her husband.
    “ ’E’s a gleeman’s son, born to steal. The little ones aren’t old enough to be tainted with their parents’ way, but ’e is. I can see it in them eyes.”
    If looks were blades, Fynn would have slain Tadgh then and there.Instead, the lad heeded the subtle warning in Riona’s gaze and stood, neck muscles strained red with his effort to remain silent.
    “But I want the babies. I’ll have no peace without ’em.” From the stand taken in Mebh’s voice, neither would Tadgh.
    All eyes went to the freeman, who looked to Senan as if for help. Clearly uncertain as to which stand best benefited him, the bishop offered him neither support nor condemnation.
    “Surely young Fynn will more than earn his keep,” the abbot suggested hopefully. “What say you, lad? Would you go with your brother and sister as son of these good people?”
    The stubborn set of Fynn’s chin said it all. He wanted nothing to do with them. His respect for the man who’d welcomed him and his siblings into the abbey and given them food and shelter was all that held his tongue.
    “Three mouths to feed, is that what you want, woman?” Tadgh exclaimed. “Three, when we could barely feed the two we had.”
    “But look at her,” Mebh pleaded, turning Leila toward him. “Like a little angel, she is.”
    Apparently, were the decision left to Tadgh, none of the children would be taken. His aversion to Fynn, indeed, his wife’s failure to make a whit of fuss over Liex did not bode well at all.
    Riona started forward. “Father Fintan—”
    “All right then,” Tadgh conceded, cutting her off. “We’ll take the lot.”
    Fynn could hold back no longer. “What makes you think
you
have the final say? We’re not slaves. We needn’t go with you if we don’t want, and
I
don’t want.”
    “Me, neither,” Liex declared, digging in beside his brother.
    Leila tugged away from Riona and marched to stand on Fynn’s other side, arms crossed, leaving no doubt as to what she thought of the proposition.
    Tadgh turned on Senan. “Ye said they was ours for the claimin’. I paid ye well enough for their findin’.”
    “They are,” the bishop assured him hastily. “We are not an orphanage, your holiness,” he reminded his superior. “We’ve carried these children through the winter.”
    “Paid?” The abbot’s question riveted Senan to the spot.
    “A donation to the abbey, nothing