Cait bore the ache of the hiraeth even as she exulted in the memory of that Christ Mass long ago, and gradually the conflicting emotions produced in her a pleasurable calm. As the voices announced the age-old gospel of the Blessed Messiah's birth, she felt a peaceful acceptance of all that had been and would be-an inexplicable recognition that somehow she was where she was meant to be; however she had come, whatever trials she had faced, she belonged here, her presence was ordained by forces beyond her imagining.

At last the service finished; the priest blessed his congregation, and then turned to his visitors. 'My friends, we would be honoured to have you stay with us and share our hospitality. Humble as it is, I daresay you will not find better tonight, nor, I think, a more heartfelt welcome anywhere.'

'Your offer is most kind, brother -' began Rognvald.

'Forgive me, I am Brother Timotheus,' the priest said quickly, 'known to one and all as Timo.'

'If, as you have proclaimed tonight,' Rognvald continued, 'a simple barn was good enough for the Holy Child, it will be good enough for us.'

'Well said, brother,' replied the priest. 'But we can do better than that.' He turned and called several of the villagers from among those who were timidly eyeing the large, fierce-looking newcomers. The knights were surrounded by a knot of boys who showed a lively interest in the swords hanging from their belts.

'Dominico,' the priest said, laying his hand on the shoulder of one of the men, 'is head man of this village, and these two fine young men are his sons. I will instruct them to find places for you among the people, if that is acceptable. We are but a small village, as you will have noticed, and there is not a house large enough to hold you all. Nevertheless, I can assure you of a warm dry place among kindly folk. Many a king could wish for as much, yes, and full many the -' Timotheus broke off suddenly. 'Ah, forgive me, I am preaching again.' He smiled meekly. 'I seem to do that more and more these days. I cannot say why.'

'We would be pleased to accept your kind invitation,' Cait told him, 'so long as it does not overtax the charity of the people.'

'Heaven forbid!' sniffed the priest. 'It will be good for them.' He turned and spoke quickly to the village chief who, with much nodding and smiling, hurried away with his sons, taking a fair portion of the population with him. Rognvald commanded the knights to go along and see that the horses were cared for. They all clumped out into the snowy darkness.

'What is the name of this place?' asked Cait, smiling at two little girls hiding behind their inquisitive elders.

'It is called Pronakaelit,' the priest said. 'It means Hidden Valley.'

Cait repeated the word, and asked, 'What language is spoken here?'

'Ah, yes,' replied Timotheus. 'Despite my best efforts, they speak but little Latin, as you have astutely observed. The tongue they prefer is their own. Their name for it is Euskari.'

'But the songs,' Cait pointed out, 'were Gaelic.'

Brother Timotheus smiled proudly. 'I know. I taught them.'

'As it happens,' said Rognvald, 'we have come in search of a young woman – tall and with long dark hair. Her name is Alethea, we were hoping to find her here.'

'Were you indeed!' replied the priest with some surprise. 'She has been here, I can tell you that.'

'Truly?' Cait clasped her hands together and raised them to her chin, hoping against hope that she had heard the priest correctly. Rognvald reached out and put his hand on her arm in anticipation of the news.

Before either of them could ask what he knew, the priest asked, 'Who is she that you should seek her so ardently?'

'She is my sister,' Cait said. 'Is she well? Do you know where she has gone?'

'Please,' said the priest, holding up his hands to stem the flood of questions he feared were forthcoming. 'I can tell you she is well, and she is nearby.'

'God be praised,' breathed Rognvald, his voice a slow sigh of relief.

'Where?' demanded Cait, excitedly. 'Can we go there now?'

'Peace, my lady,' the priest protested gently. 'I dare not say more.'

'Alethea was abducted by bandits,' Rognvald explained. 'They carried her into these mountains, and we have been searching for her since she was taken.'

Brother Timotheus nodded as if he suspected that this had been the way of things all along. 'I believe you, my friends. I assure you, I do believe you. And if it were up to me, I would send for the girl at once and happily preside over your joyful reunion.' He spread his hands apologetically. 'Be that as it may, however, it is not so easy as that, nor can I say more.'

Cait, mystified by this irrational reluctance, stared at the monk in bewilderment. 'But why?'

'I promised Annora that I would say nothing.'

Rognvald, seeing the clouds gathering on Cait's furrowed brow, moved to avert the storm. 'Who is Annora? Could you tell her that we have come for Alethea?'

'Annora is abbess of the Order of the Klais Main's. The good sisters maintain an abbey near here.'

'Klais Mairis,' said Cait, repeating the words. The name was, so far as she could tell, quite similar to the Gaelic she knew; it meant the Grey Marys. 'Is it far, this abbey? Can we go there?'

'Alas, no – at least, not tonight,' said the priest, 'but tomorrow I can send word to the abbey that you are here.'

Cait shook her head in dismay. The kindly priest frowned with sympathy. 'I am sorry, daughter,' he said. 'This is how it must be. But be of good cheer, for she is safe and well cared for, and I have no doubt that in a day or two you will be reunited with your sister.'

Rognvald thanked the good brother for this assurance and Cait, forcing a smile, thanked him too, and said with as good a grace as she could muster: 'We have waited this long, I suppose a day or two longer will make no difference. In any event, it is good to know that she is safe and well-wherever she may be.'

'Yes, that is the spirit.' Timo rubbed his hands. 'Now then, you must be hungry and thirsty from your journey. Would you and your men care to join me in a simple repast? It is only beans and bread, mind, for tomorrow is the first of many feast days.'

'We would be most happy to break bread with you,' replied Cait, overcoming her disappointment. 'But nothing would please me more than to hear how one of the Cele De came to be living in this remote fastness.'

Brother Timotheus' eyebrows arched high in surprise. 'Deus mews/' he exclaimed. 'You know of the Cele De?'

'Oh, I know enough to recognize them when I see them,' Cait assured him. Rognvald regarded her curiously, but said nothing. 'You see, my family has long supported a Cele De monastery on our lands.'

'Come along then, daughter,' he said, taking her hand excitedly. 'You must come and sit with me and tell me everything.'

The priest busied himself with snuffing the candles, beginning with those on the altar-pausing before each one and bowing three times before lowering the crook-shaped snuffer over the flame. He moved around the room with a sprightly step, humming to himself and glancing every now and then at his visitors as if to reassure himself that they had not vanished as suddenly and inexplicably as they had arrived.

Then, taking up a lantern from beside the door, Timotheus led them out and around to the back of the chapel to a cell built against the church wall. Darting inside, he collected his staff and hooded cloak, and then led his guests across the village square to the settlement's largest house. The door was open and there was music coming from inside. 'This is Dominico's house,' he told them. 'That is his baptism name, mind. I cannot pronounce his birth name.'

Inside, they found the knights huddled together beside a generous hearth, their feet stretched before a log fire while they listened to a pair of lively young men play music on a pipe and drum while womenfolk of various ages darted here and there with platters, bowls, and cups. Dominico stood in the middle of the room, welcoming his guests, singing loudly, and calling orders to all the others in their incomprehensible tongue, while his wife, a small, round woman called Elantra, directed the preparations with quiet efficiency.