The Silver Hand Read Online Free PDF Page A

waterfall; yew from the open place; blackthorn from the hidden place; elm from the shady place; rowan from the hill; oak from the sun. To these, the Nawglan, the Sacred Nine, I added holly with its bright array of spears; elder with its potent purple berries; and apple with its sweet, smooth hardness.
    I burned these in a fire built of a flat stone. Then I carefully collected the ash and put it into a leather pouch which I tied to my belt. When I had made these preparations, I returned to camp and set about gathering wood for the Tán n’Righ, the King Fire. For this, I took live embers from each of the hearthfires which the people had burned the night before, and firewood from the stockpile of each camp.
    The only difficulty lay in obtaining the ember and branch from the prince’s fire. But the Goodly-Wise smiled on me, and Meldron— bored with the duties of the camp, which he considered beneath him—rode out to hunt at midday. I had only to wait until he and the warriors of his Wolf Pack were out of sight. I helped myself to what I needed, and he was none the wiser.
    At dusk I summoned Llew from hiding and hastened back to camp to await Meldron’s return from the hunt.
    In the time-between-times—the light of a new-risen moon on my left, the setting sun on my right—I kindled the King Fire within a circle of stones gathered from the four quarters. Then I summoned the people with the aurochs horn. The sound had not been heard among us since Meldryn Mawr led us to Findargad, and the clansmen were alarmed to hear it now. They gathered quickly, circling the fire ring. Then I called Llew from my tent.
    As Llew stepped forward to take his place, Prince Meldron thrust his way forward through the host, Siawn Hy at his side. “What is this, Tegid?” Meldron called. “More of your foolishness?”
    I did not acknowledge the insult, for I did not want to give them leave to speak.
    â€œPut off your boots,” I told Llew. When he had untied the laces and pulled the buskins from his feet, I said, “Spread your cloak on the ground behind you.”
    He did this and turned again to me. “Remove your siarc and belt and breecs,” I told him.
    Llew hesitated at this command, but obeyed. “Lay aside your clothing,” I told him, “and come before me.”
    In full view of the gathered clan, Llew reluctantly stripped off his clothes, placing them on the outspread cloak as he removed them. Then he stepped before me, and I bade him walk three times in a rightwise circle around me.
    â€œThis is embarrassing,” he growled through clenched teeth as he passed the first time.
    â€œKeep walking.”
    â€œThey are laughing at me!” he whispered as he completed the second circuit.
    â€œLet them laugh. They will squeal like stuck pigs soon enough.”
    He continued, walking slowly, and, completing his third circuit, came to stand before me once more. “Can we get on with it?”
    â€œIt is of highest importance. You must be seen to possess no blemish,” I told him. “Stretch forth your right hand.”
    He put out his right hand. “Now the left,” I directed. And as he stretched forth his left hand, I stooped to the fire and caught up two burning branches which I had prepared. I pulled them out of the flames and stepped behind him. “Remember,” I whispered as I moved behind him. “Say nothing. And do not twitch a muscle.”
    Taking a branch in either hand, I began moving the flaming brands over his naked body. Beginning at the heels, I worked the torches up along his calves and thighs and over his buttocks and along his ribs, and then along his outstretched arms. Llew stood rigidly, looking neither right nor left, but staring straight ahead, his eyes fixed on the rising moon.
    I worked the flames over his chest and stomach, down over his groin and genitals, legs and feet. The hair on his chest and legs singed where the