Page 86 (1/2)

Prologue

Ireland, 1500s

“He stands three heads above other th is that of a dozen warriors With his clay his ene in his wake death and destruction”

The histled around the stone and thatched-roof cottage, sounding as if so of the tale The children who sat gathered at the storyteller’s feet shivered, and their eyes greide The young girl nestled on the big, burly led closer to his warmth and the protection of his thick arms

When the wind ceased its anguished cries, Patrick Cullen continued, raising a beefy hand “His hands possess the ht of one hundred men and his weapon of choice—fear” He stopped and looked cautiously around the single-roolance, their sain settled into telling the tale “It is told that to face him in battle means certain death No one has seen his face, for he wears a black helned and crafted especially for him It conceals all but his eyes, mouth and jaw Men shiver and women weep in his presence, for he shows mercy to none”

The big irl in his ars fear hi to do with him”

He leaned back in his wooden chair and continued to captivate his young audience “It is told that he lives far north, where the winters turn bitter cold and no one dares trespass on his land Those brave enough to seek his help pay a dear price, for he does nothing out of the kindness of his heart—but he is always victorious He has a legion of men that follow him, follow him because they owe him their souls”

Several mouths dropped open, and the children huddled closer to those beside them

The man pounded the arm of his chair with a beefy fist “Sohost, but he has forever been called—” He paused for a moment, and the children waited anxiously and fearfully, their breaths caught in their throats The bigvoice, “The Legend!”

Silence struck the room, and even the crackle of the fire in the hearth quieted in reverence

John, a brave lad, spoke up though his voice trembled “We live north and our winters are cold Does that mean”—he stopped and sed hard, afraid to speak the naend lives nearby?”

The man rubbed his chin slowly, and the children waited in anxious anticipation “Could be the Legend lives not far from us”