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'lompaim siar go dti Goiroias,
an Chathair Tintri,
Dun an tSolais,
Dun Gleadhrach Gloir,
Dun Feasa,
Baile don Tiarna loldanach . ..'
Her voice, gentle and melodious in the snow-smothered silence, wrought a magical change in the knights.
They stared at Cait with rapt, almost ecstatic expressions of amazement - as if she had suddenly sprouted
wings.
'What does it mean?' asked Rognvald when she finished.
'It is an old invocation,' she replied. 'It means:
I am turning towards the West,
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towards Goirais, the Fiery City,
Fortress of Light,
Fortress of Blazing Glory,
Fortress of Wisdom,
Home of the Many-Gifted Lord ...'
She broke off suddenly, aware of the wondering stares of the knights. 'It is part of a Yuletide ritual
performed by the Cele De,' she explained.
'Yuletide,' remarked Svein. 'Can it be the Christ Mass?'
'This way,' Dag said, starting off along the path leading into the settlement. The others followed, and they
shortly arrived at a small village green. At the end of the green was an odd round building of rough
mountain stone. Larger than any of the surrounding houses and barns, it was roofed with turf, and topped
by a wooden cross. A round window above the chapel door allowed light to stream out into the
darkness - along with the clear, poignant strains of the song the congregation was singing.
The knights, so rapt in their fascination with the song, remained motionless in their saddles, listening as
the last notes of the graceful melody faded away.
'If it is the Christ Mass,' said Yngvar, breaking the silence at last. 'Let us go in and join the celebration.'
Svein and Dag were out of the saddle and hurrying towards the door before he finished speaking.
Rodrigo and Yngvar followed. 'Lady,' said Rognvald, 'it seems we are going to church.'
'So it seems, my lord, and not before time.'
As they dismounted, the congregation inside the chapel began singing again. Recognition caused Cait's
heart to beat faster; she halted in midstep to listen.
'A Fionnghil,
A Lonraigh,
A Feasaigh .. . Tiana anocht. .. Tiana, Naofa Leanbh, anocht
Seeing Cait had stopped, Rognvald turned and heard her repeating the words of the song. 'O Bright
One, O Radiant One, O Knowing One ... Come tonight ... Come, Holy Child, tonight...' she said,
translating the words for him.
The tall knight smiled with genuine pleasure then nodded to Dag to proceed.
Dag pushed open the door of the chapel and stepped inside, with Yngvar, Rodrigo and Svein close on
his heels. The singing stopped instantly. Cait and Rognvald entered to find the villagers gaping in
amazement at the snow-covered, half-frozen knights - as if at the Wise Kings appearing fresh from the
Judaean hills on their fateful journey.
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The chapel blazed with the light of hundreds of candles, and, in the centre of the timber floor, a large
bronze bowl filled with glowing embers. Before this glowing bowl stood a priest in robes of undyed wool,
his hands still raised in supplication, his mouth open, the song fresh on his lips.
At Cait's appearance, the priest lowered his hands. He spoke a few words in a language Cait did not
know. 'Pax vobiscum,' she offered by way of reply. Stepping forward, she quickly searched the
congregation for her sister, but did not see her and realized, with a pang of disappointment, that if Alethea
were here, she would have made herself known by now.
'Pax vobiscum' the priest answered excitedly. 'Pax vobiscum! Gloria in excelsis Deo? He moved quickly
around the burning bowl and came to stand before Cait. 'Lady of the Blessed Night,' he said in curiously
accented Latin, 'I greet you with a holy kiss.' Seizing both her hands in his, he raised them to his lips and
kissed them, then led her by the hand into the centre of the round chapel.
This caused a hushed sensation among the villagers - a group of fewer than seventy souls, young and
old; the people gawked and murmured over their priest and the strange woman. Cait glanced around at
the ring of watching faces once more in the forlorn hope that Alethea might yet be found among them -
perhaps overcome by the sudden appearance of her sister and unable to step forward.
Meanwhile, the priest turned to the knights. 'Welcome, friends,' he exclaimed, pulling Cait with him to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]