Eallair stood with Lochan gazing out to sea. The strengthening wind was whipping the waves into a frenzy and both men were very glad they had anchored before the storm set in. They looked down as the men were beaching the ships, preparing their hulking forms against the fast approaching storm.

Eallair turned to Lochan, “Have the scouts found anything?”, he asked.

“There seems to be the remains of an old church at the foot of the mountain to the northwest, I guess we should get Father Harndall to have a look when the weather is better”, he replied, “Apart from that there are the ruins of old buildings scattered around the part of the island they’ve explored. I don’t know if they are sturdy but if so we may be able to use them as foundations for new buildings. And if not we can at least use the stone”.

“What happened to this place?”, Eallair mused, “I mean who lived here and where have they all gone? From what you say the island was inhabited by enough people to warrant the building of a church. Do you suppose they had to leave for some reason or perhaps they were killed by some foul plague”.

“I don’t know Eallair”, Lochan answered him, “All I know is that there is about to be a monster of a storm and we should really make sure that everyone is back inside the ships, as soon as they have finished securing them”.

“Yes, of course you’re right”, Eallair agreed. “We can wonder about these things later”.

“And we can explore the island better when the weather is fine again”, Lochan said.

“I know these things too… sometimes I think I just let my thoughts run away with me. That’s why I’m lucky to have you and Madlenka to keep me grounded”.

And he did feel lucky. He had been thrown in the deep end with this king business. He was the third son and had never expected to have to rule. Without Madlenka and Lochan he would surely sink.

They both jumped, startled by a loud thunder clap.

“We had better hurry”, Lochan said.