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“You never would. It is not for Fial we leave you, cousin.”
    Turning, Brannaugh packed the last of her things.
    â€œYour mother would not want this for you.”
    â€œMy mother would want us to be home, happy and safe with her and our father. But that was not to be. My mother gave her life for us, gave her power to us. And now her purpose to us. We must live our lives, embrace our power, complete our purpose.”
    â€œWhere will you go?”
    â€œTo Clare, I think. For now. We will come back. And we will go home. I feel it as true as life. He will not come here.”
    Turning back, she looked into her cousin’s eyes, her own like smoke. “He will not come here or harm you or any of yours. This I swear to you on my mother’s blood.”
    â€œHow can you know?”
    â€œI am one of three. I am a dark witch of Mayo, first daughter of Sorcha. He shall not come here nor harm you or yours. You are protected for all of your life. This I have done. I would not leave you unprotected.”
    â€œBrannaugh . . .”
    â€œYou worry.” Brannaugh laid her hands over her cousin’s hands, which rested on the mound of her belly. “Have I not told you your son is well and healthy? The birthing will go easy, and quickly as well. This I can promise as well, and I do. But . . .”
    â€œWhat is it? You must tell me.”
    â€œAs you love me so still you fear what I have. But you must bide me now, in this. Your son, this one to come, must be the last. He will be healthy, and the birthing will go well. But the next will not. If there is a next, you will not survive.”
    â€œI . . . You cannot know. I cannot deny my husband the marriage bed. Or myself.”
    â€œYou cannot deny your children their mother. It is a terrible grieving, Ailish.”
    â€œGod will decide.”
    â€œGod will have given you seven children, but the price for another will be your life, and the babe’s as well. As I love you, heed me.”
    She took a bottle from her pocket. “I have made this for you. Only you. You will put it away. Once every month on the first day of your courses, you will drink—one sip only. You will not conceive, even after you take the last sip, for it will be done. You will live. Your children will have their mother. You will live to rock their children.”
    Ailish laid her hands over the mound of her belly. “I will be barren.”
    â€œYou will sing to your children, and their children. You will share your bed with your man in pleasure. You will rejoice in the precious lives you brought into the world. The choice is yours, Ailish.”
    She closed her eyes a moment. When she opened them, they turned dark, dark. “You will call him Lughaidh. He will be fair of face and hair, blue of eye. A strong boy with a ready smile, and the voice of an angel. One day he will travel and ramble and use his voice to make his living. He will fall in love with a farmer’s daughter, and will come back to you with her to work the land. And you will hear his voice across the fields, for he will ever be joyful.”
    She let the vision go. “I have seen what can be. You must choose.”
    â€œThis is the name I chose for him,” Ailish murmured. “I never told you, nor anyone.” Now she took the bottle. “I will heed you.”
    Pressing her lips together, Ailish reached into her pocket, took out a small pouch. This she pushed into Brannaugh’s hand. “Take this.”
    â€œI won’t take your coin.”
    â€œYou
will
.” The tears fell now, spilling down her cheeks like rain. “Do you think I don’t know you saved me and Conall in the birthing? And even now you think of me and mine? You have given me joy. You have brought Sorcha to me when I missed her, for I saw her in you day by day. You will take the coin, and swear to me you will be safe, you will come back. All of you, for you are