Selkie's Song (Fado Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page A

funeral home to honor the lost loved one. Tynan’s chest gave a squeeze of sorrow for a brother lost.
    Mary was halfway up the stairs, chattering on as she fumbled with a bunch of keys, found the right one, and opened the bedroom door.
    “If this doesn’t please you, young man, you let me know. I want to be sure you’re comfortable.”
    The window was open and the breeze filled the room with salty air. “It’s perfect, Mary.” Ty set his bag down on the floor, his mandolin case on the bed, and stepped to the window. He’d lived in Ireland most of his life, but something about this place set the skin on the back of his neck to prickle with unexpected excitement.
    Mary was puttering about, opening cupboards and showing him where to hang his clothes, chatting to no one in particular the whole time. “…and if ya happen down to those cliffs—”
    “What do you call them? Those cliffs to the west there.” He pointed to a spectacular grassy paddock dotted with sheep and bounded on the far side by a drop of about five hundred feet.
    “Ah, yes, now that headland is Ceann Na Conghaile, Conneely’s Head.”
    “I’m certain there’s a story behind that name.” Tynan knew it wouldn’t take much probing to get the whole tale from Mary. She was poised to give it—with embellishments.
    “True, oh, so true. Legend has it, long ago, the kin of the Conneely were selkies.” She pointed, with a slight tremor of her hand, for dramatic effect no doubt. “A man needs to be cautious when he hears the selkie’s song. I believe it’s not simply a tale, more than one man has been lured from those cliffs…” She looked square in his eyes and took a deep breath. “They can’t stop themselves. Ah, it’s a tragic thing, it is.”
    He had to stop her. “I’ll get unpacked now. Thank you.” He gave her his best smile and hoped she would get the message.
    “My granny knew a woman who had an uncle…one of the O’Malleys, sure now. He married a daughter of the Ó Conghaile. Her name was Mara. Yes, Mara Conneely was a lovely girl. Disappeared out on the cliffs. Her husband went out to find her. Story goes, he heard her singing.”
    Tynan knew exactly where this was going. He had heard versions of this tale, up and down the west coast of Ireland. “Did he find her?”
    “Well, he was never seen again, so the locals say.” She pointed toward the window with a shaky hand. “Ya see that standing stone across the paddock there? Some folks think he waited for her there, in a freezing rain, until he died, standing up, right there at that spot.”
    Tynan saw the upright monolith. The shape, with the light of late morning casting odd shadows, was reminiscent of a man, standing, looking out to sea.
    Mary shook herself as though trying to come to her senses. “Ach, now, would you come down for tea or shall I bring it up to you?”
    “Oh, thank you, but I’d like to unpack and get organized.”
    “Ah, sure, I’ll leave you to yourself. Breakfast is half eight. I’ve the full Irish or you can have griddle cakes if you wish. I try to please.”
    She wasn’t moving toward the door.
    “Eggs, bangers, and pudding…lovely, Mary. I’ll dream on it.” Deep wishing and telepathy weren’t working. He gently took her elbow and gallantly walked her out into the hall. “I’ll just settle myself in now. Thank you. Everything is perfect.”
    She gave him a grin that deepened the crinkles at the edges of her eyes, turned, and humming a tune, left him in peace.
    Tynan flipped his case open and started to sort his clothes, but concentration was interrupted by a glance out the window and down to the Ó Conghaile cliffs.
    Selkies. He’d grown up on the lore of selkies, kelpies, and the water horse. Perfectly wonderful legends that had inspired bards and seanchaí since time out of mind.
    The sun, skirting the eastern hills when he arrived, had reached its zenith. Ty left his suitcase half unpacked and made his way as quietly as possible