“In ancient Ireland, a contest was held between the Vikings greatest warrior and the young Celtic Prince. It was agreed that whoever could row their boat the quickest and touch the land fist would be declared ruler of the Emerald Isle. The Viking warrior was an experienced and able rower. The Prince was a great horseman, but had little experience with the sea. The Viking warrior rowed more quickly and was about to touch the shore with the young Prince some 20 yards behind him and farther out to sea. However, the young Prince was declared the winner and inherited the kingdom.”Grandpa Smith was just about to finish telling this old Irish tale to his great grandson, Mitchell when Franklin, Mitchell’s dog came in the room with a letter clutched tight in his mouth. He dropped the letter at the feet of Grandpa Smith and began to bark to get his attention.
“What is this?” Grandpa Smith asked Franklin. Franklin answered with another distinctive bark that sounded a lot like a sneeze. “Open the letter grandpa!” suggested Mitchell in baby talk that sounded to anyone else like agu ahh. Grandpa Smith was the only person who understood Mitchell’s words as plainly as anyone else’s speech.
Grandpa Smith broke the beeswax seal on the letter, opened the flap and pulled out a piece of beautiful handmade paper. He began to read:
Máistir[1] Smith:
We have Queen Ruth locked in the castle on Oileán Thiar[2]. Come quickly if you want us to release her.
Tionlaic your grandson Mitchell[3].
Taibhse Lochlannach[4]
Franklin began barking again. Mitchell, who could understand Franklin’s words explained, using his secret code for his great grandpa, “Seanathair[5], Franklin says we need to leave right a way to save Queen Ruth.”
Than off we go Mitchell. It seems Franklin knows what is going on here, so let’s bring him with us.
So off the trio flew to the Emerald Isle: Seanathair Smith who could understand the words and wisdom of Mitchell; Mitchell, who could understand the words and wisdom of Franklin the dog; and Franklin, who was the only one who knew the true identity of Seanathair Smith.
On the flight to Ireland, Seanathair Smith explained to Mitchell that Oileán Thiar was the rightful home of the Smith clan and all its descendants, including Mitchell. The Vikings tried to take the island away from the Smiths a thousand years ago. “The story I was told as a boy was that the ghost of the Viking king would rise again in a millennium of time to try to take the Island that felt they were robbed of all those years ago. You see, the story that is told of the Irish Prince and the Viking warrior is true. It happened just as it is told and happened at Oileán Thiar. The Irish Prince who was about to lose wanted the Island more than the Viking and actually chopped off his hand and threw it to the Island, this touching land before the Vikings. Unfortunately, the Prince died shortly after the contest. You see, he could not tie a tourniquet on his injured arm with just one hand.” Mitchell didn’t say a word. Franklin began to whimper.
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