"Macoran told us all about ye, 'er I should say he told some and they spread it around. Gossip be our favorite diversion."
"'Tis the same where I come from. Where do ye live?"
"Just beyond the trees. We know Jirvel's husband cast her off. Two other men went with him. Does she know where they have gone? Macoran would surely like to know, he be none too pleased about it."
"She does not and she is well rid o' her husband from what I can see."
"Everyone says he was not inclined to marry her just as she was not inclined to marry him, but they married just the same. Her husband loved another, they say."
Stefan was intrigued. "Why do they say that?"
"Because the lass he wanted to marry…and who wanted to marry him…killed herself the day he married Jirvel."
Stefan quickly crossed himself. Then he found a large rock and sat down. "Does Jirvel know?"
"Aye, the lass hung herself from a branch of that tree next to Jirvel's cottage and it was Jirvel who found her."
Stefan could think of nothing worse and closed his eyes. He liked Jirvel and could only imagine how much pain it caused her. "Tell me, if neither wanted it, why did Eogan marry Jirvel?"
"That, no one knows for sure but greed be the suspect. 'Tis said Eogan wanted the land and the only way Macoran would grant it, was if he married Jirvel. 'Tis said Eogan planned to marry her, accuse her of adultery, set her aside and then marry the lass he loved. That way he could have both his preferred lass and the land."
"But the lass he loved did not know o' his plan."
"It would seem not. Are ye the missing Viking?"
Stefan rolled his eyes. "They have not yet found him?" He quickly searched his mind for something the boy could spread around that would end the suspicion. "As yer well aware, there are many Vikings in the north. I have heard of two who swam a great distance to get to a longship. Perhaps he…"
Diarmad's eyes grew wide and he quickly found a rock opposite Stefan to sit on. "In these cold waters?"
"Aye, they are very strong lads."
"'Tis possible, I suppose. We did not see a lad in the water, but we were not looking for one either."
"'Tis not like the Vikings to leave a lad behind. Perhaps they came back in the night to get him."
"That be possible too."
He should ask about the battle. Any other laddie who had not been there would, but Stefan could not stand to hear it. "Have ye any brothers and sisters?"