"How did you know I was here?" I asked, wading towards the bank.

"Ruadh knew," Dda answered, offering his hand to help me climb the slippery bank. "He told us where to find you."

I held up frozen hands to them and each took one and pulled me from the water. I reached to pick up my mantle, but my fingers were numb and shaking so badly I could not grasp it. Tuam quickly spread my cloak over my shoulders. "I thank you, brother," I murmured, pulling the cloak around me.

"Can you walk?" Tuam asked.

"Where are we going?" I wondered, shivering violently.

"To the cave," Dda replied, a glint of mystery in his eye. I gathered the rest of my clothes, clutching them to my chest, and they started away.

I followed, but my feet were numb and my legs shook so badly that I stumbled and fell three times before Tuam and Dda came to my aid; supporting me between them, we made our way along the river path.

The monks of Cenannus na Rig did not always meet in the cave. Indeed, only on the most important occasions was it so-and then rarely were we all together. Though my companions would say nothing more, I discerned from their secretive manner that something extraordinary was to happen. In this, I was not wrong.

As Tuam had said, everyone had been called and all were assembled by the time we reached the sanctorum speluncae. We entered quickly and took our places with the others. Still shaking, I drew on my mantle and cloak, dressing as quickly as my fumbling hands allowed.

Observing our arrival, the abbot stepped forward and raised his hand in blessing. "We watch, we fast, we study," Abbot Fraoch said, his voice a rasping croak in the domed chamber of the cave. "And this night we pray." He paused, a shepherd pleased at the gathering of his flock. "Brothers, we pray God's guidance and blessing on the choice before us, for this night the Cele De will be chosen." He paused-as if searching us one last time. "May God's mind be in us, and may God's wisdom be made manifest among us. Amen!"