"I agree." He let Diarmad take the lead and as they rode past farm after farm, Diarmad had this and that to say about each, mostly good things but occasionally he was critical of the man for his farming skills. It appeared farming skills were far more important to Diarmad than the man's care of his wife and children, but Stefan kept his thoughts to himself.
When they came to a place in the path that was flooded, Diarmad halted his horse. "Searc and Sionn have been here, I see." He turned his horse off the path, found the creek and just as he thought, rocks and mud had been piled in the creek to force the water onto the path.
"Why do ye suspect Macoran's sons o' this?" Stefan dismounted and began to move the rocks out of the creek.
"Who else would do it? They are a pest and blight on us all. The laddies particularly like to cause the widow Sarah's discomfort. She has a sharp voice when she be riled and they do all they can to get her so. Once they put eggs in her chair and she neglected to look before she sat. Her screeching was so loud, half the Limonds came to the river to see if they were needed."
"And Macoran does nothing to stop his sons?"
"They are well trained to keep out o' sight and not get caught."
"Trained by whom?"
"Mistress Agnes, 'tis said, though none have the proof. If they did, they would tell Macoran. God help us all when those two are grown. We will no doubt be tempted to tell the Vikings where to find them." Diarmad joined his laughter to Stefan's, watched him get back on his horse and then led the way back to the path. "The twins particularly like fire and more than once a lad or lass has pulled them away from one just in time. At least we have one saving grace."
"What might that be?"
"In the spring, Macoran sends them off with their mother to the Brodie's. 'Tis the most blessed time o' the year for us all."