Sneaking Up on a Woman

Ciaran eased the window open, but the grassy field beyond the hut was empty. He climbed out, barefoot and cold, and circled around the hut. No one was at the bog either.

But then he saw a figure down on the seashore, a woman in a cloak, hand outstretched toward the waves.

Ciaran, the woman said again.

He hurried toward the cliff, scrambled down the treacherous boulders, sprinted across the sand.

“Mum!” he cried.

The woman spun around, and a sword flashed in the moonlight.

Then Brenna said, “Are you mad, sneaking up on a woman like that?”

Ciaran stilled.