Bethan shrugged. “I don’t know.” And she laughed. “Come one, let me get some honey wine.”
“Bannock?” offered Rosemary.
Bethan took a piece of the oatmeal cake.
“Now, you must offer a piece to the livestock – the horses, sheep, goats, chickens and cows – and then a piece to those who prey upon them. Round here, that would be mostly foxes.”
Bethan nodded and waited for Patrick to take his piece also. They looked at each other.
“Ready?” he asked.
She nodded, and together they raised pieces to the animals and their predators, giggling as they swallowed the tasteless cake, washing it down with mead.
From the dark came the sound of animals as the cattle were driven out of the barn towards the fire. The villagers all moved forward to form a ring around the fire as the cattle were driven ar
