A taoiseach must care for all members of his clan, especially if old, sick or handicapped, and he must be just in all dealings with them and protect them against any threats. ‘I’m just going to use the mare to walk the road between here and Glenslade. I won’t even trot, I promise!’ said Mara apologetically. She had sent Moylan to tell Seán to saddle Brig, but Brigid, of course, always knew everything that was going on. Now she was gazing at Mara, her thin lips compressed and her green eyes sparkling with annoyance. ‘What do you have to go to Glenslade for, when you will have to go to Poulnabrone to make the announcement at vespers?’ Brigid’s voice was sharp with anger. ‘If you want to see anyone there, just send for them. That’s what your father would have done. He didn’t do all this journeying around. He sat in the schoolhouse and saw people there.’ ‘Well, I just want to see Donogh O’Lochlainn and, well . . . well, I thought it was better for me to go to see him, than . . .’ Brigid nodded resignedly.
