"And did ye see any sea monsters, bletherskite?"
"Nay, but Anundi did. They have very large mouths and spit water on the ships. Once a sea monster lifted a Viking ship clear out o' the water and dumped it over tossing the lads into the sea."
He looked so sincere when he told it she almost believed him. "But the lads go to sea anyway?"
"Aye, 'tis the way o' the Vikings. What else would they do?"
She thought about that for a moment and then her eyes brightened. "I wager there are no dragons."
He could see no way for her to win short of going to sea herself, so he considered it. "Wager what?"
"If ye win, I will take ye to see a hidden castle."
"And if ye win?"
"Ye will teach me how to swim."
Stefan frowned, "Ye are not yet strong enough to swim in the river."
"Aye, but I know where there be a loch with warmer water."
"Agreed. Now will ye go get the seed? The time for planting will soon leave us."
They had not seen the horse in days and supposed it was gone for good, but it suddenly broke through the trees and headed straight for them. To keep the stallion out of the garden, both Kannak and Stefan walked toward it. But when they neared, the horse stopped and then backed up.
"What do ye think be wrong with him?" Kannak asked.
Stefan reached out a hand to pat the stallion's nose, but again the horse backed away. Then he caught the reflection in the horse's eye and saw three men standing on the river path behind him. They wore different colored tartans than the Macoran clan and suddenly alarmed, Stefan quickly spun around and drew his sword. "Get behind me, Kannak."
She heard the fear in his voice, instantly obeyed and yelled for her mother.
Jirvel set her bowl on the table and rushed out the door. But as soon as she saw the men she shrieked with delight. "Greagor!" She ran to the one in the middle and threw her arms around his neck. Deliriously happy, she hated to let go of him but at length she stepped back and turned to her daughter. "Do ye remember my brother, Kannak?"
Stefan put his sword away and learned his lesson well. He let himself become distracted, had not been aware of the strangers and it might have been disastrous. He had the horse to thank for bringing that to his attention and this time when he walked to it, the stallion stood still and let him pat his neck. Stefan vowed he would not be so neglectful ever again and started that day to know exactly who and what was around him.