The sea had spit the horse that had killed his father on to the beach that night.
Like a red phantom the stallion galloped across the rough sands faster than the wind. All muscle and speed and whipping winds.
Sean crouched near to the ground, waiting.
The horse galloped towards him.
Steady, he thought. Just a moment longer.
Then he sprang.
The horse reared in surprise as a rider appeared on his back and it was all he could do to hold on. The stallion sorted, snapped at Sean's legs, and raised his head to call but he pressed the iron into the animal's side, backing him away from the sea.
There was magic in the air. Magic of the Scorpio Sea. He could feel it swirl up around him, beckoning him to the join the waves. The animal under him skittered towards the shoreline ever so slightly.
No, he thought. He wasn't going to get away again. The iron was on the animal's flank again.
Down the long stretch of beach horse and rider flew. Sean leaned over the great steed's neck and whispered to him.
This was the animal that killed his father. Sean knew he should felt anger or fear but he was smarter than that. That was what really killed his father. Not the horse but the fear.
Sean didn't feel fear though. As the raced across the beach together for the first time, he connected with the horse. Two souls merged together to become one entity.
The wind whipped through his hair. Sea and salt and spray kicked up in his face but it didn't matter. Sean had eyes only for the red stallion. The great capall uisce and that small stretch of beach.
Corr, he murmured to the horse and the stallion pricked up his ears. Corr, your name is Corr.
The horse reared again and Sean wasn't sure if they were flying or just riding the wind.
There was nothing in the world but the sky and the sun and the sea and Corr.
He felt free.