“ ’Tis a sin to abuse a shield thusly,” Cormac muttered.

“ ’Tis good fun to ride down the hill atop them,” Crispen piped in.

Gannon appeared in the distance, the sun glinting off the large shield that he bore up the hill. When he reached the crowd of children they cheered.

Intrigued by the notion of sliding down a hill on a warrior’s shield, Keeley leaned closer to examine the object. ’Twas certainly large enough to hold a child or even a small adult.

“How does it work?”

“ ’Tis placed down like so,” Gannon said, placing the outward face onto the snow. “Then someone climbs atop and another gives them a push down the hill.”

Keeley’s eyes widened. “Is it safe?”

Gannon sighed. “Not if we allow them to slide into the loch or the courtyard where the men are training. The laird would be furious.”

“Then we must go the other way,” Keeley said, pointing away from the keep and the stone skirts.

Cormac eyed the next hill, sloping upward from the slight crest they were standing on. “Aye, the lass is right. We’ll need to go over the top of the next so we stay away from harm.”

“Yay! ’Tis a much steeper hillside to ride down,” Crispen cheered as they slogged up the rise through the snow.

“Me first!” Robbie cried as soon as they were looking down at the valley below them.

“Nay, ’Twas my idea and I did the asking,” Gretchen protested. “ ’Tis only fair I go first.”

“Let her go first,” Crispen muttered. “ ’Twill be her who is killed if ’tis not safe.”

Robbie grinned. “ ’Tis a sound plan that. All right, Gretchen. ’Tis agreed. You go first.”

Gretchen stared suspiciously at both boys but gladly took position on the shield that Gannon positioned in the snow.

“Now hold your skirts tight and don’t let go of the sides,” Christina said anxiously.

“All set?” Cormac asked.

“Aye, send me off,” Gretchen said, her eyes wide with excitement.

Gannon gave her a gentle push, but the polished iron of the shield was slick on the surface and she quickly picked up speed. Soon she was flying along the ground, barely skimming the surface.

At one point she turned sideways, gave a delighted squeal, and then was able to set herself to rights by using the weight of her body.

“ ’Tis a clever lass,” Gannon said in resignation. “I’ve no doubt that one day she’ll lead her own army.”

Christina and Keeley exchanged smug glances.

Gretchen landed at the bottom, coming to a skidding halt barely inches from one of the large trees that guarded the entrance to the forest. She waved her hand excitedly to let them know that all was well, not that they couldn’t tell that from the broad grin covering her face.

Dragging the shield behind her, she struggled up the hillside until Gannon went down to help her.