The day of my departure from the Uá Broíthe farmstead was the saddest of my life, other than that of the loss of Edwy. Saying my farewells to Sherlaith made it so. We were alone in a shady bower in the courtyard, its latticework covered in an early-blooming rambling rose. The dappled sunlight through the delicate pink petals and buds sought in vain to cheer our gloomy faces.
Sherlaith glanced into the yard and even though reassured we were not being overheard, as if not daring to give voice to her feelings, whispered in my ear,
“Aella, you have stolen my heart. Promise you will come for me when your studies are ended. I will wait for you.”
My pulse skipped and beat faster at her words; it was true, then, she loved me as much as I adored her. But now I had to leave her to return to my te
