Its green fire embraced the lessons of many ages; its five facets reflected the virtues of love, forgiveness, truth, honor and unity. The stone was a gift to the future daughters of the faerykind, so its power might be called upon to aid Eire when she is shadowed by darkness and blood — Prologue Inishdeven Island,Lough Ree, 937 DESPITE HIS PRAYERS, THE pagans came.Huddled at the top of the round stone tower, Brother Donal tried to block out the screams of his brethren below. “A furore Normannorum libera nos domine,” he murmured, crossing himself. “Lord, save us from the rage of the Nordic men.”Angry shouts carried on a hot wind up to him, as if a reply from Hades itself. Fingers of fear crept up his spine and clutched him by the throat. St. Gall’s was caught off guard. They never expected the Vik to travel so far inland.As the youngest and quickest monk, if raiders came it was Donal’s duty to ring the tower bell in sets of three. Thus, he did as Father Murray ordered and pulled each ladder up after him as he made the perilous climb through the tower’s belly to the belfry.
