and bid her goodnight. Nieve's news disturbs me even more than I can let Andrasta believe. Tadgh has become a greater enemy than even my sister could have been.

Up the path to the Inn I encounter Cathal. He's very drunk but I hope he can carry out simple instructions.

"How could you do this to me Eoghain?" He asks witha slurred voice. "You know how much I despise that woman." he adds.

"Now is not the time to discuss your love life Cathal." I say.
"Go and get some of the men and post guards around Andrasta's hut. There are powers at work here tonight that can rip this clan apart worse than anything the Morrigu could have done."

"Oh, it's not time to discuss my love life, but your paramour gets protection on the night of your wife's funeral?" Cathal shouts.

"Cathal, do as I say!" I order. A look of disgust comes across the drunk man's face.

"You are a fool Eoghain! You have brought this upon us all. Perhaps Tadgh would be a much better man to lead this...."

The next sound is that of my fist striking my best friend. He collapse to the ground, bleeding from his lip.

"You bastard." I say, standing over him with my arms up in a defensive posture.

"I have always done everything for this clan and the one time I do something for myself, I am condemed by my best friend? That hurts me more than anything you could do on the battle field." I tell him.