Speirr tore through the forest at a dead run. His black stallion flew through the tangled underbrush and weeds, kicking up dirt in their wake. The sunlight drifted through the trees, dappling his armor as he urged the horse faster.
He had to reach his Nynia...
Nynia sighed as her mother handed her the tattered old basket that held ten nasty-smelling fish. "Must I deliver this?" she asked her mother, her voice pleading for clemency.
"Your brother is off on an errand and they be wanting it. Now go, child. I'll brook no more arguments from you."
Nynia clenched her teeth as she took the basket. How she hated this. She would rather be beaten than travel to the smith's home where Eala would no doubt be waiting to take her delivery. Her own age, Eala was the smith's daughter but she acted as if she were descended from a line as noble as Speirr's.
The girl took great pleasure in humiliating her.
And today, Nynia was in no mood for it. Not while her heart was so sore from its loss.
By now her Speirr would be married to another. He would be lost to her forever.
Blinking back tears, she left the tiny hut she shared with her mother, father, and brother, and headed for the nicer side of the village where the rest of the people resided, upwind from the fishmonger, tanner, and butcher.
"Oh, Speirr," she whispered as she wiped away her tears. How could she make it through a single day without him? All her life she'd had him to see her through the misery of her work. She'd always looked forward to their meetings. Looked forward to sharing laughter and fun with him down by the loch.
Now those days were gone forever.
When he returned, it would be with a new wife.
One day, his queen would bear his children...
Pain assailed her even more. Nynia walked aimlessly through the village, her thoughts on the only man she would ever love and on the fact that she would never bear his children. Never be able to hold him again.
She drew near the smith's cottage and saw Eala wasn't alone today. She stood with a small group of friends, talking. She recognized three of the boys, and the girls would have been her friends, too, had she, as they so often reminded her, not smelled of fish.
"Oh bother," Eala said disgustedly. "It's the fish girl with her fetid stench. Quick, everyone, hold your breath or you'll turn blue."
Nynia lifted her chin. They couldn't hurt her with their words. Not today. She was hurt enough.
She shoved the basket into Eala's hands.
Eala shrieked. "You're vile, Nynia!" she shouted, dropping the basket and dancing away from it. "No man will ever want so smelly a woman. Will he, Dearg?"
Dearg turned a speculative eye on Nynia. "I don't know. From what we saw her giving to Speirr the other day, I'd be willing to hold my nose."
Her face on fire, Nynia was horrified that someone had stumbled upon her and Speirr while they were making love in the woods.
"What say you, Aberth?" Dearg asked another handsome youth.
"Aye. She'd be good for a tup or two, especially since she's sheathed a strong sword, but you can marry her if you're like Speirr and common filth is to your taste. I'd rather not."
Their mean laughter rang in her ears.
Humiliated and embarrassed, Nynia had started away from them when she caught the sound of a horse approaching at a dead run.
Everyone in the village grew quiet at the sound. It was obvious the rider was in a dire hurry. His thick, deep voice could be heard urging the horse onward toward the village.
The instant Speirr came flying out of the woods, people scattered out of his way.
Nynia couldn't move as she watched him.
He had his head bent low, and both he and the horse were covered in sweat. United in power, beauty, and form, the two of them were a fierce and frightening sight to behold.
They flew as if the demons of Annwn were hot on their heels.