It took little time for the men to prepare themselves, and when they did, their cloaks about their shoulders still, lunch packed in small pouches that they intended to carry in hand with traveling-staves in their own hands. They were the very image of courage itself, so that Ida was now almost convinced that they might truly accomplish something wondrous. She also ordered them to one day return and to recall their duty to her, their mother and to the rest of their kinsmen. Daegan for her part was to grab her own cloak, fasten it about her shoulders in a hurry (she took one of Kenna’s which she at once noticed, was a little small on her own frame) and grabbing the last staff hurried after them before they could all leave the house.

  Cormac for his own part let out a groan at the sight of her, “Nay Dae you are not coming along.”

  “Mayhap, but I have something that you will have need of.” She countered having thought about it all the way up and down the stairs, and this time she was prepared for his refusal.

  Eyeing her warily, he asked her from between his tightly clenched teeth, “What is that?”

  “Cosantóir,” She reminded him, as she took up the sword and girded it, with a proud smile, thinking she must have appeared regal at that moment with the dark-scabbard upon her waist and the shimmering green gems, and white pommel. A second later the sword that was not properly girded to her girdle fell with a small clank to the ground, to her utter frustration. “I’faith!”

  “See, how magnificent a figure she cuts? I truly feel safe with her by my side,” Trygve muttered with apparent sarcasm, yet it brightened her mood as she thought him as always sincere.

  “Truly? Well, wait until you see it properly girded,” She told him haughtily with a hint of warmth beneath her voice.

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  He rolled his eyes alongside Indulf, who grumbled beneath his breath, “I do think it might be better, to confront those phantom-riders empty-handed.”

  “Do not speak so hastily, Indulf,” Wulfnoth countered still rubbing his rump, as he came to the assistance of the lass. “She is correct in that the only thing that appeared to harm the shadow-rider other than the light of the gods was the sword Cosantóir.”

  Pleased by this support on his part, for her along with his assistance with properly girding now the sword properly and aiding her in tightening the sash, so that it could better maintain the weight of the sword.

  Once satisfied he moved away, to encourage the trio of lads out the door, “Out you three, we have a long quest and it must begin now… lest we never depart.”

  Sullen, Cormac assented whereupon he followed the sons of Ida out the door, with the two older lads’ mother following after them with a worried expression on her face.

  It was then that the question of how she would manage the local villagers, who wished to banish Cormac at last entered into Indulf’s spirit, as he turned to face her. “Mother, what will you say to father and the rest who come to banish Cormac?”

  “You leave that to me, dear,” She said tearfully still heartbroken at his departure, “You worry about yourself and your brother.”

  At this he nodded dutifully, with his younger brother promising her at once, “Fear not ma, I shall ensure that Indulf returns safe and sound, along with Cormac and Daegan!”

  “You worry also about yourself please!”

  “Hurry the lot of you, less we shall never depart!” Daegan called impatiently, though she did not keep herself from sharing a swift hug with Ida before she hurried after Wulfnoth and the rest of them.

  “Turan keep you,” Ida whispered fervently into each of their ears as she hugged them close to her, before she let them all go, this included the sullen Cormac, the morose Indulf and fiery Daegan. In the case of the druid she simply said so gently without laying a hand upon him, wherefore he pressed his thumb a few centimeters from her temple and performed the symbol of the flower for her. Pleased by this, she smiled brilliantly at him, asking as she did, “Will you protect them?”

  “With all that I have in me, lass,” Wulfnoth promised earnestly.

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