Posted by Cearas Cumhaill


Using the auguries of fire, water and earth, she had divined the hour of the ceremony. It was early morning. Nothing good comes from such things that happen when the sun is in decline.

The stones that surrounded the grove and the sacred well were not large. Once she was satisfied with her calculations that the exact hour was imminent, she stepped forward, into the circle of stones.

Raising her staff to the sun, she quietly recited some prayers.. She lowered her staff and repeated the ritual as she turned to face the other points of the compass.

Once she'd completed the prayers, she raised a sword to the direction of the sun and then brought it down quickly against the nearest stone, shattering it in two and then tossed it into the well.

The others joined in, tearing the clothing, the breastplates, the horsegears of the Morna and sacrificing them as well as the gold and silver taken from the dead.

Then the Morna were brought in. There were five of them, naked. Four were taken to the stones under the trees and nooses were placed on their necks. Once again, Cearas raised her staff to the direction of the rising sun. When she dropped it, the first was pushed off the stone. She repeated it as she faced south, west and then north. Each time she lowered her staff, another Morna was pushed off to hang.

The fifth Morna, naked and frightened, was led to the stone in the center. Cearas walked up to him, dipped her hand in a dish of newly drawn blood and then, after a moment's deliberation, she touched him high on his belly.

The crowd was still and silent. Cathal entered the circle carrying a black shafted war spear. He placed the tip directly over the marked spot and then looked directly into his eyes. There were tears in the eyes of the Morna. Cathal waited until he was still and then he thrust.

The Morna screamed and from his death throes, the most powerful of all divinations, Cearas would be able to tell the future of the clan.

After what seemed like an eternity, Cearas turned and addressed her words to Eoghain. "The Morna did not inflict a deadly blow on the Cumhail's. A strange union will heal the damage done and the Cumhaill will rise again."