The Raven’s Stone (3)
I was telling the story
The Raven’s Stone
. Fair John’s father told him about the stone’s magic. They found a
raven’s nest. They stole the eggs. They made a fire with dry heather,
and they boiled the eggs. They remained in view of the nest the whole
time. The ravens returned. They knew that the eggs were damaged, and
they left again.
After three days, the ravens returned. The cock bird had a small stone.
He rubbed the stone on the eggs. When the birds were out of the nest
again, John picked up the stone and he took it with him. He tried out
the magic of the stone. He put it in his mouth, and he disappeared. He
was invisible. When he put the stone in his pocket, he was visible once
more.
‘It would be good for a man to have the stone on a battlefield,’ said
John. ‘He could destroy his enemies.’
‘Be quiet,’ said his father. ‘You musn’t use the stone with evil
intent.’
John left for Dunachton. He put the Raven’s Stone in his mouth. He was
invisible. He went to an orchard beside the castle. Helen and her aunt,
Lady Mackintosh, were there. They had two big dogs. The dogs were
upset. They were getting the smell of a stranger. But they didn’t see
John.
The Lady went inside with the dogs. John put the stone in his pocket.
He stood out and Helen was surprised. ‘John, darling!’ she said. She
was pleased to see her sweetheart.
However, Helen was unhappy in Dunachton. She agreed to flee with John.
They crossed the river and reached Balnacraig.
People were upset that the blacksmith, Duncan of the Two Thumbs, had
not returned home, after being in Dunachton.
‘He was murdered,’ said Helen. ‘He was delivering me a letter from
John.’
‘The Lady will pay for that,’ said John’s father.
‘It isn’t my aunt that ordered his death,’ said Helen, ‘but the sentry.
But it won’t be wrong until my aunt appears at the head of a military
force to take me home.’
And I’ll bring the story to a conclusion next week.
Clach an Fhithich (3)
Bha mi ag aithris na sgeulachd Clach an Fhithich. Dh’inns athair
Iain Bhàin dha mu dhraoidheachd na cloiche. Lorg iad nead fithich. Ghoid
iad na h-uighean. Rinn iad teine le fraoch tioram, agus ghoil iad na
h-uighean. Dh’fhuirich iad ann an sealladh an nid fad an t-siubhail. Thill
na fithich. Bha fios aca gun robh na h-uighean millte, agus dh’fhalbh iad
a-rithist.
An dèidh trì latha, thill na fithich. Bha clach bheag aig a’ choileach.
Shuath e a’ chlach ris na h-uighean. Nuair a bha na h-eòin a-mach às an
nead a-rithist, thog Iain a’ chlach agus thug e leis i. Dh’fheuch e
draoidheachd na cloiche. Chuir e na bheul i, agus chaidh e à fianais. Bha e
do-fhaicsinneach. Nuair a chuir e a’ chlach na phòcaid bha e faicsinneach
a-rithist.
‘Bhiodh e math a’ chlach a bhith aig duine air blàr-catha,’ thuirt Iain.
‘Dh’fhaodadh e sgrios a dhèanamh air a nàimhdean.’
‘Ist,’ thuirt athair. ‘Chan fhaod thu a’ chlach a chur gu feum le droch
rùn.’
Dh’fhalbh Iain a Dhùn Neachdain. Chuir e Clach an Fhithich na bheul. Bha e
do-fhaicsinneach. Chaidh e a dh’ubhal-ghort ri taobh a’ chaisteil. Bha
Eilidh agus a h-antaidh, a’ Bhean-uasal Nic an Tòisich, ann. Bha dà chù
mhòr aca. Bha na coin a’ gabhail dragh. Bha iad a’ faighinn fàileadh de
shrainnsear. Ach chan fhac’ iad Iain.
Dh’fhalbh a’ Bhean-uasal a-steach leis na coin. Chuir Iain a’ chlach na
phòcaid. Sheas e a-mach agus ghabh Eilidh iongnadh. ‘Iain, a ghràidh!’
thuirt i. Bha i toilichte a leannan fhaicinn.
Ge-tà, bha Eilidh mì-thoilichte ann an Dùn Neachdain. Dh’aontaich i
teicheadh còmhla ri Iain. Chaidh iad tarsainn na h-aibhne agus ràinig iad
Baile na Creige.
Bha dragh air daoine nach robh an gobha, Donnchadh na Dà Òrdaig, air
tilleadh dhachaigh an dèidh dha a bhith ann an Dùn Neachdain.
‘Chaidh a mhurt,’ thuirt Eilidh. ‘Bha e a’ lìbhrigeadh litir dhomh bho
Iain.’
‘Pàighidh a’ Bhean-uasal airson sin,’ ars athair Iain.
‘Chan e m’ antaidh a dh’òrdaich a bhàs,’ thuirt Eilidh, ‘ach am freiceadan.
Ach chan fhada gus an nochd m’ antaidh aig ceann feachd airson mo thoirt
dhachaigh.’
Agus bheir mi an stòiridh gu crìch an-ath-sheachdain.
