Jude glanced to Hugh as the boy shook his head slowly. It was clear, by the soothing tone of her voice, she had already pulled Hugh into the story, for the boy inched closer to Jude involuntarily as a wicked grin tugged at the corners of Cleo’s lips.
“On the distant shores of Loch Garve, a weary traveler must keep their wits about them at all times. For there is a tale of a beautiful girl, with flowing golden hair that once traveled those parts unafraid. She would walk along those distant shores each day picking the wild flowers that grew on the banks. And each night, she would return to her home only to long to be out there once again.
“One day, as she was out plucking the flowers for her mother, she spotted a magnificent stallion racing along the bank. It was like no other horse she had seen before. Its mane flowed like the clouds and when it raced by her, she thought she could hear thunder clapping as each hoof fell to the ground. She was mystified by the stallion and its mightiness. It was as if she was lured to it by an unseen force, begging for her to approach it. In the back of the girl’s mind, she recalled her mother’s warning to never approach such a creature on the loch.
“Glancing over her shoulder, the girl spied the village not far from where she was at. In her mind the poor girl believed the horse to belong to one of the villagers. Thinking that the horse was merely heading back to the village, she approached the stallion. As she stepped closer, her foot slipped into the nook of a rock and she crashed to the ground. Pain shot up through her leg and she let out a scream, but the steed did not cower at the sound she made, he stepped closer to her as if to offer her help.
“Slowly, she rose to her feet and hobbled to the horse’s side. Running her hand down the horse’s neck, she peered into its gray eyes. It was almost as if the creature pleaded with her to ride it.
“‘Surely, you belong to a wealthy man in the village. Perhaps you could take me home so that I would not have to walk such a distance back?’ she asked as she wondered how she would ever make it back to the village with such a sprained ankle.
“The steed shook its mighty head and lowered itself to her. Carefully, the girl slipped onto the horse’s back. The instant she was steady, the horse took off and dove into the loch.”
Hugh jumped back and clasped his little hands over his mouth. Jude couldn’t help but chuckle at the shock on his son’s face. Hugh inched closer as he shook his head.
“What happened next?” Hugh asked. Cleo’s smile stretched across her face as she locked her eyes on him.
“Well,” Cleo said lowering her voice. “The horse went deeper and deeper into the loch, and the young girl could not break away. As her eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, the girl witnessed the stallion transform before her very eyes. The white mane that resembled the clouds turned into vines of kelp that slapped her cheeks. The smooth hide she had ran her hands over was now scaly and brittle. In the depths of the loch, the girl saw two glowing red eyes and tentacles that flowed off the creature’s chin.”
“Nay!” Hugh gasped as he jolted into Jude’s arms. Cleo giggled as Hugh nuzzled his face into Jude’s chest.
“Perhaps we will continue at a later date,” Jude said trying to pry his son off him.
“Nay,” Hugh said trying to straighten himself. “Please, faither, let her continue.”
“Aye,” Ronan encouraged. “Let the girl finish the story.”
Jude glanced at the men. Every one of them had been pulled into Cleo’s story. He exhaled as a pang of jealousy rolled through him. Jude had thought Cleo’s charms were only for him, but clearly by the eager expressions on his men’s faces, she had captivated them as well.
“Go on then,” Jude said. “Finish the story.”
Cleo cleared her throat and leaned forward. She waved her hands about the fire as she continued the story.
“The girl, unafraid, looked upon the creature, not with disdain or disgust, but of admiration and desire. She found the beauty within the beast. But as time went on, and she remained in the creature’s care, she grew unhappy. It wasn’t the food, or isolation that caused her heart to freeze, but the water that pricked her skin. She turned to the creature and begged him for warmth. Yet no matter how much the creature tried to give it to her, it never lasted.
“Helpless, the creature decided to go to the surface and seek help elsewhere. Transforming into his stallion self, he rode hard and long to find the solution to his beloved’s problem. Finally, he came to a town where he spotted a man who worked with the stone of the earth. Knowing the creature’s influence over men, he caught the stone mason’s attention. The man looked on the creature as something he desired to own and mounted the stallion.”
“Oh,” Hugh gasped and quickly composed himself the instant he saw Jude’s stern glare. “Sorry,” Hugh whispered sheepishly. “Go on.”
“The creature took the stone mason and raced back to the loch. No matter how hard the stone mason tried to break free he could not. The mason pleaded with the beast to release him and swore he would do anything the creature desired if the creature would spare him. The beast transformed and turned on the mason.
“‘You beg for your life?’ the creature asked as the mason’s lungs begged for air. ‘I shall spare your life, on one condition,’ the creature said. ‘I require a fireplace and a chimney,’ the beast said holding the man close to his mangled face.
“‘It is impossible. Water puts out fire. How will it
