Three

                                    

                                          


                          
One night, having made camp amongst the soft rolling hills, she was awakened by the sound of galloping horses and the shouts of men. Her heart thundered in her breast as she leaped to her feet and looked around. Begorrah gaped as she spied an army of men riding circles around the largest mound. She rubbed her eyes and smiled as the land shimmered and a door suddenly appeared. She only had a vague idea where she was and hoped she traveled in the right direction. Now she knew, before her stood the fabled Hill of Mullaghmast, home of Georoidh Iarla, the Earl of Fitzgerald!
                          
Cautiously, the girl approached the hill wondering how she could enter without being trampled by the silver-shoed steeds that raced past. Suddenly, a large gloved hand clamped over her mouth and powerful arms seized her and dragged her behind another hill. Being large and strong, Begorrah struggled and screamed, even biting the hand over her mouth but her captor made no indication of being harmed. Only when she tired and closed her eyes, expecting the worst, did her captor speak.
                          
"That's better. Now if ye would settle down I can help ye!" A deep male voice breathed into her ear.
                          
Aye, even an ugly duck like she knew what kind of help he was thinking and she wanted no part of it. She relaxed her body and when he released her she spun around and brought her knee up to connect with the most masculine part of her captor. He growled and Begorrah suddenly found herself on the floor, her head feeling as if she'd been kicked by a mule. She looked up, fists balled, to find the man glaring back at her on his knees. So she had managed to hurt him.
                          
"Never hit a man like that!" he snarled.
                          
"Ye can't use it on me now though, can ye?" she bit back.
                          
The man looked startled.
                          
"Ye thought.." He blinked and then chuckled. "Fear not, cailin, I will not ravage ye."
                          
Begorrah looked at the man and suddenly felt foolish. Dressed as a warrior, his dark hair brushed his shoulders and fell into sharp green eyes that twinkled when he laughed. Of course he wouldn't ravage the likes of her.
                          
"Who are ye, laoch?" she asked the warrior.
                          
"I am Ethal Anbual of Ulaidh."
                          
Begorrah blanched at the name and felt doubly stupid about her assumption then.
                          
"Ethal Anbual," she stammered, "The king of the Fe of Ulaidh?"
                          
Ethal smiled and nodded. "The same."
                          
Begorrah stumbled to her knees with apologies but he held up a hand to silence her. His eyes bore into hers and suddenly her mouth went dry.
                          
"Now, who are ye and what are ye doing in a place like this?"
                          
"My name is Begorrah, sire, I have come to ask the Earl of Fitzgerald for help."
                          
Ethal looked at her oddly. "Alone? Tis a dangerous undertaking for a girl such as ye."
                          
Begorrah blushed and nodded. "Aye, but my sister is in even graver danger than I. Tis for her sake that I am here."
                          
Ethal rose to his feet and held out a hand which Begorrah took, hesitantly at first. He pulled her to her feet and said, "Then we shall visit Georoidh Iarla and see what he has to say."
                          
They approached the massive hill and watched as the army continued galloping. Begorrah jumped as Ethal placed an arm around her waist and pulled her against his hip while the other took her hand. She looked up and realized they were walking faster.
                          
"What are ye doing?" she asked.
                          
"There is a small break amongst the riders that comes once every few days. We must use it quickly or prepare to make camp."