Aonghus stands, apparently willing to wait on a deep winter for my answer.

“I don’t have much to add. I came early in the morning, moments before Andrasta, and found the place deserted. I entered the village from the south. Animals were roaming free, unattended. I entered the largest hut hoping to find someone… anyone. It is
then that I umm met your sister.” …finishing my sentence with a brief nod to Andrasta.

Her beauty holds my attention longer than appropriate having her brother so near. Commenting silently to myself… ‘I could spend an entire day and night looking into those eyes’

Aonghus interrupts my thoughts with more questions…
You saw no bodies? No sign of a fight?

Not being quite sure where the questions were directed, Andrasta and I answer quickly and at the same time. “None!” I add “Not counting our own meeting of course”

Aonghus looks upstream then back the way we had come. I can see in his eyes and manner a man of action calculating times, distances and weighing options. Normally I would enter this silent discussion but this is his land… his home… his clan… and I’ve already decided to follow his lead in this.

Before long I find myself looking at Andrasta. Her silhouette is framed by the trees across the river. Her stance, knowing the sword with a grace assigned to dancers, sound… her arms casual yet prepared. She is an intoxicating mixture of beauty and strength.

Suddenly and without warning we are plunged into a shroud of unusual silence.