Smoke in the Wind Read Free Page A

speak the language in 1991, the first time an enumeration of speakers was allowed since Partition.
    Language courses are now available on video and audio-cassette from a range of producers from Lingua-phone to RTÉ and BBC. There are some sixty summer schools and special intensive courses available. Teilifís na Gaeilge is the television station broadcasting entirely in Irish and there are several Irish language radio stations and newspapers. Information can be obtained from Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, 46 Sráid Chill Dara, Baile Atha Cliath 2, Éire.
    Readers might also like to know that Valley of the Shadow , in the Fidelma series, was produced on audio-cassette, read by Mary McCarthy, from Magna Story Sound (SS391 - ISBN 1-85903-313-X).

Principal Characters
    Sister Fidelma , of Cashel, a dálaigh or advocate of the law courts of seventh-century Ireland
    Brother Eadulf , of Seaxmund’s Ham, a Saxon monk from the land of the South Folk
     
    At Porth Clais
     
    Brother Rhodri , of Porth Clais
     
    At the Abbey of Dewi Sant, Menevia
     
    Abbot Tryffin
Gwlyddien , king of Dyfed
Cathen , son of Gwlyddien
Brother Meurig , a barnwr or judge of Dyfed
Brother Cyngar , of Menevia
Cadell , a warrior
     
    At Pen Caer and environs
     
    Mair , a victim
Iorwerth the smith, father of Mair
Iestyn , his friend, a farmer
Idwal , a youthful itinerant shepherd
Gwnda , lord of Pen Caer
Elen , Gwnda’s daughter
Buddog , a servant in Gwnda’s hall
    Clydog Cacynen , an outlaw
Corryn , one of his band
Sualda , another of his band
Goff , a smith
Rhonwen , his wife
Dewi , his son
Elisse , the apothecary
     
    Osric , thane of the Hwicce

Chapter One
    The girl looked as if she were merely resting among the bracken, lying with one arm thrown carelessly behind her head, the other extended at her side. Her pale, attractive features seemed relaxed; the eyes, with their dark lashes, were closed; the lips were partially opened showing fine, white teeth. Her dark hair formed a sharp contrast to the pallid texture of the skin.
    It was only by the thin line of blood, which had trickled from the corner of her mouth before congealing, and the fact that her facial skin seemed discoloured, mottled with red fading into blue, that one could see she was not resting naturally. From that, together with her torn, bloodstained, dirty clothing, a discerning observer might realise that something was clearly wrong.
    The youth stood before the body, gazing down at it without expression. He was thin, wiry, with ginger hair and a freckled face, but carrying a tan which seemed to indicate that he was used to being outside in most weathers. His lips were too red and full, making his features slightly ugly by the imbalance. His pale eyes were fixed on the body of the girl. He was dressed in a sleeveless sheepskin jacket, fastened by a leather belt. Thick homespun trousers and leather leggings gave him the appearance of a shepherd.
    A deep, long sigh came from his parted lips; a soft whistling sound.
    ‘Ah, Mair, why? Why, Mair?’
    The words came like a curious sob yet his expression did not alter.
    He stayed there with fixed gaze for a few more moments until the sound of shouting came to his ears. He raised his head sharply, tilting it slightly to one side in a listening attitude, and his features changed. A wild, hunted expression came on his face. People were moving in his direction. Their cries came clearly to his ears, moving closer and closer through the surrounding trees. He could hear them beating through the gorse and bracken.
    The youth glanced once more at the body of the girl and then turned quickly away from the approaching sounds.
    He had gone barely ten or twenty metres when a blow across the shoulders felled him to the ground. The momentum of the blow caused him to pitch forward. He dropped on his hands and knees, gasping for breath.
    A burly man had emerged from concealment behind a tree, still holding the thick wood cudgel in his hand. He was dark,