Chapter 13: Cacophony

“Daddy!” Siannon said without thinking.

Her father didn’t hear her over the cacophony of his hammer striking the horseshoe on the anvil. He stopped his work and said, “I beg your pardon?”

“I said, ‘You must be her daddy,’” Siannon said. “You have the same dark hair and green eyes.”

“She’s my little knight-in-training,” he said. “You’re new around here.”

“Not exactly,” Siannon said. “I used to live here a long time ago. I’m just passing through today.”

“Welcome back, then,” he said. “I’m Declan.”

“Pleased to meet you, Declan,” she said, shaking his hand. “I’m Kate,” taking the diminutive of her middle name.

“Siannon, come say hello,” Declan said. The girl marched forward, stood at attention, and threw Siannon an enthusiastic salute.

“I’m going to be a knight someday,” she said. “The bravest knight Ireland has ever seen!”

“That’s true, little one,” Siannon said. “People will tell stories about you.”

A group of boys walked by. One of them stuck his tongue out at little Siannon, who howled out a war cry and chased after them with her wooden sword. They shouted in fake terror and ran away, all of them laughing together.

“Where are you going?” Declan asked.

Without thinking, Siannon replied, “Killashandra.”

Declan handed her a small bottle with a cork stopper. “You’ll need this.”

“What is it?” she asked.

“Dragon bone,” he said. “Sprinkle it inside the dolmen.”

She stepped forward and hugged her father, her tears flowing freely. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“You be brave, Siannon.”