Strange Speech
A tale I told to me grandkids on this special occasion...
'The King of Stoneland called forth fightin' folk to defend the coast. Pirates from the Southland had come ashore, plunderin' and burnin' as they went. Very few answered the call, but wee Beannaithe were among them who did.
When teams of defenders were assembled, Beannaithe were paired with an old Dwarf. The lass had a fondness for old Dwarves, for reasons that ye all know well, so the pairin' suited her just fine. The two, Dwarf and Hobad (Hobbit), engaged in an impromptu contest to see who could defeat the most pirates.
"Lass, you may be young and nimble, but they're no substitute for experience and guile," the old Dwarf said with a wink. Beannaithe giggled.
The teams of defenders went this way and that. Soon Dwarf and Hobad lass were out of sight of the others. It did not take long to find the pirates, for they were as bold as they were cunnin'.
"Avast, me hearties!" shouted one among a trio of pirates. "I spy a Dwarf! 'Tis certain his purse be filled with gold."
"Aye,' says another. "And look at the armour the wee wench is wearin'. It be worth a fortune or I'm a scurvy dog."
"Ye are a scurvy dog, and a bilge rat besides!" snarled a third pirate. "But you're right just the same. Get 'em!"
"Right!" said the other two.
Those were the last words those three scallywags ever spoke. Before the old Dwarf could draw his axe from his belt, Beannaithe struck down not one, not two, but all three pirates.
The Dwarf peered at the lass through half-closed eyes. "Well done, lass," the old Dwarf grudgin'ly said, "but it'll be different with the next three. Look there!" he cried pointing at yet another trio of pirates.
The Dwarf held his axe ready to strike a blow, but he were again too slow. One, two, three pirates lay dead. The Dwarf, to his chagrin, did not fell a single pirate with his razor-sharp axe.
The lass turned and smiled sweetly at the Dwarf. She pointed to herself then held up five fingers on one hand and the thumb on the other indicatin' the six pirates she'd slain. She then pressed together her thumb and forefinger on one hand indicatin' naught, and pointed to the Dwarf. The Dwarf laughed despite himself.
Aye, me wee darlin's, the Dwarf had a bad day, yet not so bad as the pirates who fell to Claíomh Solais for in every encounter Beannaithe's blade proved far too swift.'
'Well I'll be a landlubber!' exclaimed Diolun. We all laughed.
