The Sign of Fear (5 page)

The wicker man, Fieran thought. He did not like to think about that part of the ceremony. The part of the ceremony where the old chief would die, so that his spirit could enter the new chief.

“Fieran, look,” Brianna said again. This time she pointed at someone next to the wicker man.

Conn. Conn had chosen a spot so close to the wicker figure he could have touched it.

He must be very confident that he will be chosen, to stand so close, Fieran thought.

“Wherever Conn is, you should be also,” Brianna murmured.

Fieran took her by the arm and strode over to Conn. The low, eerie sound of a wooden pipe filled the air. Announcing the arrival of the chief.

Fieran's heart pumped faster as he watched the chief enter the clearing. His long robes trailed along the mossy ground.

The man held himself perfectly straight. But his steps were slow and painful. A whisper ran around the clearing. “The chief. The chief has come.”

The chief paused before the wicker figure. Then he climbed inside the cage in the torso. Fieran knew what would happen next. He knew it was a great gift from the chief. He knew the chief was ill, and near death.

But a feeling of dread settled over him.

The chief planned to give up his life that night. To pass his spirit on to his successor.

“Hear me, my people,” the chief called out from inside the wicker man. “Witness as I give my body to the flames.”

“We witness,” everyone repeated after him, their voices low.

As he spoke the words, Fieran's throat felt tight. Only the bravest of the chiefs passed their spirits on in this way. Fieran wondered if he would ever be brave enough.

“Witness,” the chief went on. “Watch and wait. Wait for the sign of the one who will come after.”

“We will wait,” the people in the circle promised. “We will wait for the sign of the chief.”

“There will be one among you who can bear the fire. One who will walk unharmed among the flames. He is the one who carries my spirit within him. He must be your new chief.”

All around the clearing, the people bowed their heads. Fieran felt his blood race through his veins. It will be me. I saw the flames in my vision.

Fieran lifted his head. The chief gave a signal. Two men with torches stepped forward. They stopped in front of the wicker man.

The chief gazed out. His eyes moved around the clearing. They rested on Conn. They rested on Fieran.

Then the chief raised his arms above his head. The men hurled their torches at the wicker man. With a hungry roar, the dry wood flared up.

Fieran heard Brianna give a low moan deep in her throat. He grabbed her hand and held it tight.

The flames roared, higher and higher. Almost as high as the tops of the trees. Within seconds, they consumed the wicker man.

The fire scorched Fieran's face. It took all his will not to step away.

The chief gave a great shout. “I choose! I choose my successor. Let him walk through the flames!”

Fieran felt his heart explode within his chest. Power surged along his every limb.

The sensation was too intense. His knees buckled. He fell to the ground.

It has happened, he thought. It has truly happened. I have been chosen. I am the new chief.

He knew he had to offer proof, or the others would
never believe him. “My people,” he cried, struggling to his feet. “I am chosen. Come here to me.”

But his cry was drowned out by a sudden babble of voices. Through the confusion, Fieran heard Conn. “I feel the power. I am the chosen one.”

No, Fieran thought. No. I felt it. I felt the chiefs spirit enter me. I am chosen!

“Who is it? Who is chosen?” the people asked one another.

“It is Conn!” a high-pitched voice called out.

“No! No!” Fieran yelled. He stepped closer to the flames. “If Conn says he is chosen, then he is lying. The spirit of the chief is alive within me.”

The people in the clearing fell silent. They stared at Conn and Fieran. They stood together, next to the wicker figure. Brianna stood between them.

“Proof,” someone called. “We must have proof.”

Fieran tried to speak. But Conn was too quick for him.

“
I
will offer proof,” Conn declared.

Conn shot his hand out and grabbed Brianna. He pulled her from Fieran's side. “The power of the chief is strong within me,” Conn shouted. “So strong that I can shield another from the fire.”

Before Fieran could stop him, Conn turned toward the burning wicker figure. He pulled Brianna with him into the towering flames.

“
B
rianna!” Fieran screamed out.
“Brianna! No!”

With a burst of bright white flame, the wicker man exploded. Huge, fiery embers shot straight up into the air.

As sparks rained down, Fieran saw two people standing in the wreckage. Brianna and Conn.

Relief flooded through Fieran. Brianna! She is alive!

And Conn has proven himself chief, Fieran realized.

What happened? Fieran was so sure he felt the old chief's spirit enter his body. The force of it knocked him down. Left him breathless. How could Conn have proven he is the chosen one—when I know he is not?

Fieran uttered a roar of fury and anguish. He ran into the red-hot coals. “Here is
my
proof,” he shouted. “Proof that Conn is a liar and a fraud.”

“You see?” Conn countered. “You see how great my power is? I extend protection even to those who don't believe me.” He stepped out of the ring of fire, holding Brianna close at his side.

Everyone rushed up and surrounded him. The others have accepted Conn as their leader, Fieran thought. Now they will protect him with their own lives.

It's not fair! He doesn't deserve it! Fieran rushed from the smoldering remains of the wicker figure. Straight to Brianna and Conn, pushing the others out of his way. “Brianna,” he pleaded. “You are skilled in reading the signs. Tell them that they are making a mistake. Tell them about my vision of fire. Tell them the chief has chosen me!”

Brianna's lips parted. But any words she might have spoken were drowned out by the others. “Seize him,” one cried out. “Seize Fieran. He has offered false proof. He has tried to destroy our holy ritual.”

“Seize him!”

“Kill him!”

“Fieran must die!”

“No!” Conn called out in a loud, deep voice. Instantly, the glade fell silent.

“You must not harm him. Fieran must not die. Can't you see what has happened? Seeing his dreams of power destroyed has been too much for him. Fieran has lost his mind. We must show him mercy.”

The people shook their heads in agreement and dismay. “What a terrible thing to happen. Brave Fieran has gone mad,” one woman cried.

“Listen to me!” Fieran screamed out. “I am not mad! I stood in the embers of the fire. I came out unharmed. The spirit of the old chief moves within me. You have chosen the wrong man!”

“That's enough!”
Conn cried in a terrible voice. “I pity you, Fieran. I know why you make these false accusations. But I cannot allow them to go on. From this day forth, you are no longer one of our people. You are no longer one of us. I banish you, Fieran. I banish you forever.”

“Banished,” the people echoed. “Fieran is banished. He is no longer one of us.”

B
anished! How can I be banished?

Only today I risked my life for my people in battle. Today I had the chance to kill Conn. I did not, because I believed my people needed him alive.

I must get away from this clearing. I must get away from Conn. When I'm far away, I'll be able to think clearly. I'll be able to think of how to defeat Conn and take my rightful place.

Fieran dashed out of the clearing. Away! he thought. I have to get away.

His vision had lied. He hadn't won. He had been defeated. And now banished.

Everything had been taken from him. There was absolutely nothing left for him. My life is over! Conn is chief!

Fieran stumbled through the forest, his long ceremonial robe slowing him down. He kept running. Running from the image of Conn and Brianna standing
in the embers. Running from the image of Conn being declared chief.

But no matter how far or how fast Fieran ran, the images refused to leave him. They were burned into his memory. They would last until the end of time.

Exhausted, Fieran stopped and gazed around him. With a shock, he realized where he was. The entrance of his own cave.

Home!
he thought. He pushed aside the hanging vines and walked in. His cave was cool and dark inside.

Fieran felt grateful for the darkness. He could hide here, away from everyone. He could try to forget about Conn.

The Roman head still sat upon its spit. The orange coals in the brazier reflected off its eyes. Fieran moved toward it, staring into those glowing eyes.

“I've been waiting for you, Fieran.”

Fieran choked back a cry of terror.
The head spoke!
he thought.

Then he heard a laugh behind him. He whirled around. At the entrance to his cave a figure waited. Even in the dim light, Fieran could see the hatred in its eyes.

“Conn,” he rasped out, his pulse still thundering. “What do you want here? Did you come to gloat?”

“That is no way to speak to your chief, Fieran. Especially after I treated you so mercifully. You should thank me.”

“You are not the true chief!”
Fieran shouted. “You might be able to fool the others,” Fieran continued, his voice tight. “But you cannot fool me, Conn. I'm going to find out what kind of trick you used. And when I do,
you
will be banished. Or killed.”

“But I
want
you to find out how I did it, Fieran.”

Fieran caught his breath. He could hardly believe his ears. Why would Conn reveal the fact that he was guilty? This had to be some kind of trap. “Why?” he demanded.

Conn moved forward a few paces. The orange light of the fire flickered in his eyes.

“I want you to know exactly how much you've lost.”

“I know how much I've lost,” Fieran said bitterly.

“Oh, no, Fieran. I don't think you know at all. I had to have help to pull off my little trick. I couldn't do it alone.”

Fieran's whole body began to tingle. “Someone helped you?” he exclaimed. “Who was it?
Tell me who!”

A satisfied smile flickered across Conn's face. “Brianna.”

The walls of the cave closed in around Fieran. He couldn't get any air. “It's not true,” he gasped. “I don't believe you.”

“Oh, but I'm afraid it is true, Fieran.”

“Brianna loves me. She would never betray me.”

Conn gave a bark of laughter. The cave echoed with the harsh sound. “Brianna loves power, Fieran. Nothing or no one else. She will do anything to get it. Even if it means betraying you.”

Fieran shook his head from side to side, as if he could drive Conn's ugly words from his head. “I don't believe you,” he said again. “It isn't true.”

“How else do you think I survived the fire?” Conn pressed him. He stared at Fieran with his cold blue eyes. Staring as if he could see right into Fieran's mind.

Look away, Fieran ordered himself.

But he couldn't. Conn's words held him in place.

“Think, Fieran!” Conn continued softly. “My spells are not strong enough to protect me from fire. But Brianna's are. Hers were strong enough to protect us both.”

“No!”
Fieran screamed. Brianna would never do that to him. They loved each other.

Conn went on and on. “I suppose I have you to thank for my victory, Fieran. You taught Brianna her first fire spells. She might not have decided to work with fire if not for you.”

I can't stand any more, Fieran thought. I have to make him stop. I have to make him stop.