Iseal was larger. Ballintubber seemed more LÁth Iseal was larger. Ballintubber seemed more inviting.At first glance, Dún Kiil was a gray town on a gray mountainside beyond gray water. Jenna knew the impression was unfair—the weather had gone to drizzle by the time they reached the seat of Inish Thuaidh and the clouds were a landscape of unbroken, featureless slate overhead. The bright colors of the doors and the flowery window boxes were muted, and most of the people in the streets were intent on getting to their destinations and out of the weather.The keep dripped. Jenna could hear the rhythmic, echoing splat of water striking the stone flags, as if the gods were keeping time to the Rí’s welcoming speech.Rí Ionhar MacBrádaigh of Inish Thuaidh was not an impressive speaker or an impressive man. His complexion was pallid, his voice mild, his physique potbellied and flabby. Jenna could understand why they called him the Shadow Rí behind his back; already it had been made clear to her that the true negotiations would take place with the Banrion and the Comhairle of Tiarna.
