It was a beautiful spring day, the sound of birds broken only by the creaking of leather and jingle of harness and Conor and Fergus made their way home from a meeting with the river people.
"Well, I think that went rather well, don't you, Fergus?"
Fergus grins, studiously not looking at Conor, "That it did, especially after
you managed to convince Eogan not to spit you like a rabbit."
"Fergus."
Fregus' grin widens, "Standing up to give a grand speech and knocking over a full tankard of ale all over King Eogan," throwing his arms wide to demonstrate. "I'll never
forget his face, or yours, for that matter." Glancing at Conor over his shoulder.
Conor gives him a pained look. "Well I can't be perfect all the time, Fergus, and I did appologize. I didn't mean ta..." he trails off, reiging his horse in. "Do ya hear that?"-THE DRUID
They stopped, each man alert to the sounds of the world around them, and to any sound which did not belong. The birds were silent, barely a leaf turned in the stillness of the day. The air was tense. "Come on!" Conor urged beneath his breath. "There!" It was a slight sound of a small twig snapping. Fergus reeled his horse around, sword drawn and ready, at Conor's back. But the only thing stirring through the stand of trees was a wizened old woman, bent with years. She made her way out to the road and set her basket down by a fallen branch. Conor and Fergus lowered their weapons, but something still did not set right and their guard was aroused. The old woman pushed her head covering back revealing a long braid twisted around into a bun and shuffled over to admire Conor's horse. "She's a beauty," the old woman croaked, smoothing down the horse's flank with her gnarled hand. "Thank you," Conor said, looking at Fergus in bewilderment. Something wasn't right, he could feel it. And yet, things seemed so ordinary... "Could you do an old woman a favor, Conor?" the woman asked as she continued to stroke the horse. Conor looked to Fergus, who shrugged. "Of course," Conor said. The old woman lifted her basket and handed it to him with dificulty. "Could you take this to the house in yonder clearing? My back aches and I must get myself to bed." Conor looked the way the woman had pointed. The road curved through the trees just beyond where they stood, but now that she had mentioned it, he could see the thatch of a small house through the branches. "We'd be glad to take your basket to that house," he replied, smiling down at her. "Well, I was hoping that Fergus would see me home." Conor shrugged at Fergus. "Are you sure you'll be all right?" Fergus asked Conor, a sly smile tugging at his mouth. "Of course I will!" Conor replied. "You go ahead and see her to her home and I'll meet you back here." Conor turned his mount and trotted off toward the clearing beyond the trees. Fergus dismounted and offered the old woman his saddle, which she refused. "I can walk, Sir, thank you. If I could take your arm..." Fergus offered her his arm and they set off back down the narrow forest path........