Son of the Shadows Read Online Free PDF Page A

business. Then I looked at my sister, and I saw the glance she sent his way from under her long, beautiful lashes.
    Dance with Eamonn, you stupid girl
    , I told her, but she had never been able to hear my inner voice.
    The music changed from a reel to a slow, graceful lament. It had words, and the crowd had drunk enough by now to sing along with the piper.
    "Will you dance with me, Liadan?"
    "Oh." Eamonn had startled me, suddenly there beside me in the darkness. The firelight showed his face as gravely composed as ever. If he were enjoying the party, he gave no sign of it. Now Page 11

    that I thought about it, I had not seen him dancing.
    "Oh. If you—but perhaps you should ask my sister. She dances far better than I." It came out sounding awkward, almost rude. Both of us looked across the sea of dancing youths and girls to where Niamh stood smiling, running a careless hand through her hair, surrounded by admirers, a tall, golden figure in the flickering light.
    "I'm asking you." There was no sign of a smile on Eamonn's lips. I was glad he was not able to read my thoughts as my Uncle Conor could. I had been quick enough to assess him earlier that evening. It made my cheeks burn to think of it. I reminded myself that I was a daughter of Sevenwaters and must observe certain courtesies. I got up and slipped off my shawl, and Eamonn surprised me by taking it from me and folding it neatly before he laid it on a nearby table. Then he took my hand and led me into the circle of dancers.
    It was a slow dance, couples meeting and parting, circling back to back, touching hands and letting go, a dance well suited to Brighid's festival, which is, after all, about new life and the stirring of the blood that gives it form. I could see Sean and Aisling moving around one another in perfect step, as if the two of them breathed the one breath. The wonderment in their eyes made my heart stop. I found myself saying silently, Let them keep this. Let them keep it
    . But to whom I said this, I did not know.
    "What is it, Liadan?" Eamonn had seen the change in my face as he came toward me, took my right hand in his, turned me under his arm. "What's wrong?"
    "Nothing," I lied. "Nothing. I suppose I'm tired, that's all. We were up early, gathering flowers, preparing food for the feast, the usual things."
    He gave an approving nod.
    "Liadan—" He started to say something but was interrupted by an exuberant couple who threatened to bowl us over as they spun wildly past. Adroitly, my partner whisked me out of harm's way, and for a moment both his arms were around my waist and my face close to his.
    "Liadan, I need to speak with you. I wish to tell you something."
    The moment was over. The music played on, and he let go as we were drawn back into the circle.
    "Well, talk then," I said, rather ungraciously. I could not see Niamh; surely she had not retired already.
    "What is it you want to say?"
    There was a lengthy pause. We reached the top of the line; he put one hand on my waist and I put one on his shoulder, and we executed a few turns as we made our way to the bottom under an arch of outstretched arms. Then suddenly it seemed Eamonn had had enough of dancing. He kept my hand in his and drew me to the edge of the circle.
    "Not here," he said. "This is not the time nor the place. Tomorrow. I want to talk with you alone."
    "But—"
    I felt his hands on my shoulders briefly as he placed the shawl about me. He was very close.
    Something within me sounded a sort of warning, but still I did not understand.
    "In the morning," he said. "You work in your garden early, do you not? I will come to you there.
    Thank you for the dance, Liadan. You should perhaps let me be the judge of your skills."
    I looked up at him, trying to work out what he meant, but his face gave nothing away. Then somebody called his name, and with a brief nod he was gone.
    I worked in the garden next morning, for the weather was fine, though cold, and there was always plenty to do between