From his frown Jake found Rudi?s lilt-stronger than most in Clan Mackenzie and the product of Juniper Mackenzie?s own County Mayo accent-hard to follow as well. One of his tribesmen brought up a horse with a dead man across it. ?Thass our bro Murdy. The bastards killed him,? Jake said. To the air:?You don?t haunt us none, spook-Murdy,?cause we got?em for y?!?

The others in the Southsider party added more to the same effect. Rudi nodded approval; it was a warrior?s duty to avenge his comrades, and a kinsman?s too. ?And speaking of duties, now that we have time…?

He and Edain each bent to one of the bodies of the slain foemen, touched blood to a finger and that to his forehead. Then they faced the west and he murmured with raised hands: ?To Your black-wing host we dedicate the harvest of this unplowed field, Morrigu, Lady of the Ravens. Dread Lord of Death and Resurrection, Guardians of the Western Gate, guide the souls of these our foemen to the Lands of Summer where no evil comes and all hurts are healed. Goddess Mother-of-all, gentle and strong, through whose Cauldron we are all reborn, witness that we killed these Your children from need and duty, not wantonness, knowing that for us also the hour of the spear shall come, soon or late. For Earth must be fed.? ?So mote it be,? Edain finished.

They exchanged a glance and a slight nod. Rudi could tell the other Mackenzie was adding the same silent observation:

And return these rotters in better condition for their next go-round on the Wheel, once they?ve spent some time with You.

Jake gave Rudi a sharp look.?Hey, that?s a good saying word t? keep spooks down… You two aren?t part?a those bastards from Iowa, are you? You sure don?t sound like?em and they pray to the Jesus-man.?

It took Rudi a moment to realize what doze bassids meant; he made a mental effort to switch sounds and fill in the missing parts of speech. ?No, that I am not,? he said.?We?re from the Far West, from the lands of sunset, where we follow the Star Goddess, Who is also Earth the Mother, and Her consort the Sun Lord.?