Free Becoming Billy Dare by Kirsty Murray Page A

sound like some sort of tadpole.
    â€˜You not heard of him? The great Celtic bard? What were they teaching you in that school of yours?’
    â€˜Latin and algebra mostly.’
    â€˜Well, I'm sure there's plenty of books about Taliesin of the White Brow. See, he had the gift of the gab too. Taliesin brought good luck to his master, same as you've brought us all this fair sailing weather. Look at that hair of yours, if that isn't a symbol of good luck, what else could it be?’
    â€˜I don't feel very lucky,’ said Paddy, touching his curls. They were just about at his collar now. Paddy reeled off all the unlucky things that had happened to him from losing his dad and mam to being caned at school, flogged by Uncle Kevin and then not being able to find a place on a ship.
    â€˜Well, you are lucky. Lucky we didn't throw you overboard for a start. If I'd known you were never going to stop jawing, maybe I would have.’
    Paddy folded his arms, determined to be silent, but after a few minutes of watching Dai whittle, he said, ‘Aren't you going to tell me the story? About Taliesin?’
    Dai laughed. ‘I knew you couldn't be quiet for long. All right then, there was this fine young Welsh prince, his name was Elphin, and on May-eve, his dad sent him down the weir to find what he would find. The prince was thinking he'd find gold, but all he found was a white-browed baby in a sack, hanging on the weir. “Behold a radiant brow!” cried Elphin when he set eyes upon the boy. And I was thinking just that myself when I opened the hatch and saw you curled up inside.’
    â€˜I bet you wish I had been a sack of gold!'
    â€˜Sure, if Elphin didn't think the same, but he took the child home and all the ride back, the babe sang tales in his master's ear, and Elphin knew he'd found a great bard of his own. And ever since I hauled you out of the hatch, why, you've never stopped talking. For sure, you'll be someone's bard.’
    â€˜What if I decide I'm a sailor instead?’
    Dai laughed. ‘Well, you'd best be finding yourself a hobby other than talking the hind leg off a donkey.’
    He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small knife which he threw towards Paddy. Paddy caught it mid-flight and cradled it in his hands. It had a strong steel blade and a wooden handle that the blade folded into. When the blade was extended, he could turn a little ring on the handle to lock it into place.
    â€˜Now here's a treat for you, boy.’ Dai pulled a piece of pale timber from the small black bag in which he carried his carving tools. It was about as thick as Paddy's wrist at one end and tapered to a point at the other.
    â€˜That's limewood. Beautiful white timber. Not the usual sort for a love spoon, but when you're finished with it, it could be the finest spoon that ever a girl possessed.’
    â€˜But I don't know any girls.’
    â€˜You don't be wanting to wait until you do. It may take you years to make a perfect spoon. One day there'll be a girl you'll be wanting for your own, and a love spoon is a sure way of wooing her. A flower, that's a sign of affection, and a cross is for faith and a diamond for riches, but the chains, they're important because they show how you and your girl will be bound together forever, no matter how long you're at sea.’
    Paddy traced his finger across the smooth white lime-wood. He couldn't imagine that any girl would ever love him for long, no matter how many love spoons he carved for her. He'd be bound to disappoint her. For the first time that evening, he fell completely silent. The eight o'clock bells rang, echoing across the still waters. The captain set the watch for the dark hours, the sailor at the wheel was relieved, and the galley was shut. Paddy slipped his knife into his pocket and followed Dai below decks.
    As they sailed further south, the weather grew wild. When Paddy was sent to help with the rigging, his hands were too numb to work.