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this.” He paused, then lifted his chin. “I have a few coins put by. So do the rest of us. It won’t be near enough to repay your loss, but it is all we have. If you want me to end my service, I will.”
    Tellan smiled grimly. “Serous, if any of you had stayed, we would be burying fools this morning. I have no need of fools. Cowards try to excuse their absence. Rogoth warriors do not hide behind words. In Serous Caillen and his herdsmen I have such men. Keep your coins. You are more valuable than any metal jingling in a bag.”
    Rhiannon watched self-respect return to the old man’s countenance. The other herdsmen squared their shoulders, their chins held higher. She glanced at the three men-at-arms. To a man, they sat straighter in their saddles, grim pride breaking through their stoic demeanor.
    Serous’s lips trembled for a moment. He blinked rapidly, then turned his head. Clearing his throat, he hawked and spat before looking back.
    â€œTell me more about the attack on the hlaford,” Tellan said.
    â€œWhen the winged horrors realized no one was coming out, one of them dropped through the roof—the flames didn’t seem to bother it none. Then it flew back out and screeched at the others. That’s when they took to the sheep. It was a killing rage, m’lord. Pure and simple. They didn’t kill to feed; it was anger and frustration.”
    The herdsman paused, then gave Tellan a level look. “M’lord, I swear I could hear the winged horrors talking as they flew around the hlaford. It was strange and awful sounding, but I could understand them right enough. They kept chanting: ‘Red hair. Red hair. Kill red-haired girl.’”
    Everyone looked at Rhiannon. The blood chilled in her veins as her curly mane of dark red tresses suddenly felt heavy on her scalp.

Chapter Two
    R HIANNON
    T HE DRIZZLE STOPPED as they rode back to Lachlann. The sun began to burn through the clouds, sending rays of light to contrast the grayness. A layer of fog clung to the hollows while the upper ridges poked in and out of the misty blanket like undulations of a sea monster.
    On the left side of the trail, the ground rose away up the hillside, ablaze with yellow, gold, and red flowers blooming in broad swathes across the steep hillsides. Scattered trees dotted the landscape. Periodically, patches of blue-gray granite thrust up from the underlying bedrock like giant teeth chewing through the thin soil. A ring of flowers mimicking multicolored necklaces encircled many of the boulders. Only a few paces to Rhiannon’s right, the hillside sloped away steeply over broken terrain until it gave way to open air beneath.
    When they left the hlaford everyone had been on alert, although the legends said winged horrors flew only under the cover of darkness. The three warriors had strung their bows and now rode with arrows notched. After an uneventful length of travel, Tellan told them to sheathe their bows but remain watchful. Everyone drew deep breaths and sat easier on their mounts.
    It was spring in the highlands. In the sky, birds roamed the air currents with deft dips and weaves, their calls seeming to urge greater efforts from each other as they celebrated winter’s retreat. Even so, the wind still carried a hint of a chill with the sun only halfway above the horizon.
    Rhiannon and her brothers rode behind their father and Girard. Kinsmen lord and loreteller were in heated discussion about the attack. Two warriors rode a stone’s throw ahead as forward scouts; the third brought up the rear several paces behind the party. The rocky trail was barely wide enough for three horses to walk abreast.
    Rhiannon listened to Creag and Phelan discuss the winged horrors and the sheepherders’ actions.
    â€œThe herdsmen should have been dismissed,” Creag pronounced with iron conviction. “I would have done so first thing.”
    â€œWhy?” Phelan asked,