Power Prompt: Usquebae

Usquebae*

I came upon the cottage one cloudy moonlit night. A yellow light shone from the window, yet I knew it to be abandoned.  I got off my horse, and walked up the steps to the door.

Suddenly, the light went out.

“Hello! Who’s there!” I shouted though I knew not why.

I pushed at the door and found it oddly open. So, I proceeded to walk cautiously into the room.There, on the old scarred hard-wood table was a bottle.  I picked it up and took a whiff.

“My oh my…someone’s made some pretty fine moonshine!” I whispered.

“Aye, and I did! Finest usquebae ta be found!” replied a craggy voice.

The bottle fell from my hand.

“Ach laddie, dae be careful! Me spirits been here nigh 100 years…”

And so I knew how the McCloud’s secret moonshine formula lived on.

(*whiskey as it was known in 1715)

Written for Bastet’s Writing Prompt