A Warrior's Perception (18 page)

“
Keep ye distance from her old man, least I should put my sword through ye ancient heart!
”

Haggart laughed merrily,
“
Which sword do ye speak of, the one on ye side or the one she possesses?
”

Kagan mounted Demon and frowned down at the old man who was still laughing,
“
Ye humor does ‘na fit ye nature!
”

As Kagan trotted off, Haggart said,
“
In the morn, six days from now, me takes pity on ye flesh, a cask of potion will await ye.
”

Kagan's frown deepened as he continued on to Geldamar. The mulched road seemed endless as he pondered Haggart's words. The crazed old fool was a bit perplexing to say the least. He always found a way to rile Kagan, even when he was a youth; the blasted man knew all his secrets.

Kagan did not fear Haggart nor did he loathe the man. Kagan felt a bond with him like he had with his mother, the bond was deep and Kagan respected Haggart's wisdom. He grinned. He would never admit that to the old man nor would he tell another man how his emotions sometimes bested his brain. He sighed knowing Haggart would already know due to his third eye, an eye his mother also had. His heart faltered at thoughts of his mother, but he refused to relive the pain of her death. He choked the memories down and urged Demon onward.

By the time he arrived at the inn, he was in a grim mood and stalked inside to find his men. They loomed in the far right corner around a battered old table. In the dim light, their alarming presence frightened the inn's guests. The dozen onlookers watched with wary eyes as the calm foreboding warriors drank deeply from their mugs. They cast fearful eyes upon the leader as he walked to the table and laid his sword on the mantle above the cold fireplace. He leaned into hearth and spit with vengeance and power. The guests shrank into their chairs as his voice raked across their cowardly ears.

“
Station on the outskirts of Fendenbriar and wait my arrival. I ha'e reason to belie'e all is'na as it should be. I will join ye at daybreak.
”

The men stood and turned on heels of loyalty and promptly left the inn. A barmaid, clad in green striped garb glided to his side with a seductive smile on her lips. Kagan sat down and thumped an empty mug on the table. The woman filled his cup and slowly bent to reveal the promise of naked fleshy breasts and smiled as she brushed his hand. Kagan ruthlessly surveyed all she had to offer. Her breasts were nice, but too small. Her chin and jaw were weak and unintelligent. Her waist was thin and her visible leg was shapely and strong. She was pretty and her dark hair was wavy and silky even in the dim light. Had he been in the right mood and unencumbered with his betrothed, he would have taken her offer and pleasured himself with her body.

He swallowed the brew and bit back an ill complaint. He shoved the chair back and stood, frowning and glaring at the would-be-temptress. Guilt washed over his conscious as Andra's green eyes bore into his head. He cursed under his breath and left the woman to her work.

Over the highland mist and across the waters around Scotland, the island of Vacrey lay hidden and concealed in frothy fog and surrounded by dangerous reef. The sandy shores led to thick vine burdened forest. Miles of entangled dense jungle stretched inward and sloped upward to the plateau that rested above the fog. The sound of crushing waterfalls hung in the air and the scent of wild orchids intoxicated the entire isle with its seductive fingers.

Haley, Darla, Randa, and Teal were all dressed in matching white silk gowns. Haley's red hair stood out among the four twins and her intense blue eyes filled her lovely face and pronounced her full pink lips. She nibbled on tender bits of orange fruit as Teal and Darla elaborated on Haggart's odd connection with mankind. Haley smiled as Randa commented on his behavior.

“
He sides with Dagma and watches over those animals as if he had created them himself,
”
Darla fussed,
“
Just because Dagma allowed him to choose their form does not justify wanting to aid them in their development.
”

Teal giggled,
“
Would it not be a sight to see if Haggart revealed his true form to those pitiful creatures?
”

Darla sighed at Teal's comment and offered her own,
“
He is a compassionate god and hopes mankind will someday rid itself of their violent tendencies. He has worked tirelessly for a hundred years and he is still besieged with worry over them.
”

Haley nodded her head,
“
We all should take a lesson from him and endeavor to assist him. He has taken such great pains to understand their hearts and we should at least support him. Dagma is already upset that we shun them as if they were ill-begotten beasts.
”

“
Men are disgusting! That thing between their legs acts as if it were in control of their bodies and their minds. They deserve no compassion and I for one am glad we do not have to deal with them unless we choose to.
”
Darla's words grew louder as she continued,
“
They should obey the women on earth and fall at their feet to worship the ground they walk on.
”

“
Does not that way of thinking make you as bad as you say they are? Have you not considered that men on earth are stronger and protect their women?
”
Haley stood as she pursed her lips in thought,
“
After all, did Dagma not intend for women to be weak to man's flesh and desire him? Look at us, we go to earth to find our mate to populate our society...our mates are men. Our children have mankind's blood running through their veins.
”

Darla paled,
“
But the men here are not violent! They coexist with little difficulty and seem to enjoy all that Vacrey offers.
”

“
The men who are bred here do become violent when they are on earth, due to circumstances beyond their control,
”
Haley frowned,
“
Dagma is a warrior and created them in his image, so why do you not blame him for their actions?
”

Darla pondered Haley's question briefly,
“
He is a god. We have no right to question what he does.
”

Haley grinned in satisfaction,
“
Then why do you look down on what He created?
”

Randa and Teal laughed at Darla's twisted face. Darla flung rose petals at them and crossed her arms as she walked away. Her light blonde hair bounced and disappeared around the edge of the garden as Queen Joaquinn held her slender hand up, silently advising her daughters to stop their chatter.

She caressed the bracelet on her arm as the girls stilled to listen,
“
Ell'andra soon becomes of age and her throne waits impatiently. Her father had her memory blocked and that has become an issue. Pray ye all that she has not been broken by that beast of a man that haunts her dreams of late.
”
Joaquinn toyed with her long braid that fell down to her waist,
“
She must return soon or I fear she will die at the hands of man.
”

Haley turned to the lavender rose bushes and smiled,
“
I have been keeping an eye on our cousin. She is strong and intelligent. She will get the best of that man and he will fall to his knees before her just as that bastard Pierre did.
”

Joaquinn narrowed her eyes at her daughter,
“
Perhaps it is time.
”

Haley frowned knowing what her mother meant,
“
I will not go to that land of bittersweet sin. I prefer to stay a virgin and live here forever. I do not want a man to ever lay his hands on me or think he has some power to affect me.
”

Joaquinn laughed softly,
“
Coward.
”

Haley wrinkled her nose and flipped a rose bud at her mother,
“
Men are evil and full of limitless desires and they refuse to love. All they care for are possessions.
”

“
Not all men are like that,
”
Joaquinn's eyes stilled and her heart longed to see a particular man with soft blue eyes and an unequaled kind heart,
“
Your father was ...
”

Haley smiled,
“
My father does not know I exist and I am thankful for it. He would no doubt do to me what Ell'andra’s done to her.
”

Joaquinn stood from the hammock and glared at Haley,
“
He is a fine man and loved me unconditionally. You have no right to judge him. I was the one who chose to leave and that makes me the beast because he loved me beyond reason!
”

Haley stared at her mother in disbelief. She had never raised her voice to her before and Haley knew it was because she looked so much like her father. So, Haley used that fact to get her way. Haley's wide eyes narrowed as Joaquinn clutched the emerald that hang slightly above her breasts. She watched in fascination as her mother's eyes filled with sadness and her lips quivered in heartbreaking pain.

“
I left him to come here and rule in JaQuay's absence. I let my sister have her life with Duncan and for what? I gave up the man I loved and lost my sister in the process.
”
Joaquinn turned and ran her hand over the orb that sat atop a white marble pedestal.
“
It has been the only regret in my life.
”
She stared at the foggy image of a man packing a stone block. The image refused to clear and vanished in a wispy cloud of shimmering smoke.

“
I am sorry mother. I know you loved him and I do wish I had known him.
”
Haley stood and wrapped her arms around the regal woman.

“
He would have loved you and your twin sisters, but you would have been special to him. You have his eyes and his stubborn pride,
”
she whispered as Haley smiled,
“
When you go to that world, promise me you will find him. Promise me you will tell him who you are.
”

Haley pulled away and frowned,
“
I have no desire to be in the world of men.
”

“
Fae has ordered you to go to make sure Ell’andra is in love with the male McKregan and to ensure that she returns to us as it was meant to be.
”

Haley’s jaw dropped. She knew she could not defy the goddess. If Fae, their goddess, ordered then it was to be and whether Haley wanted to go or not was now beside the point.

Joaquinn smiled softly and walked away. Vacrey cooed to her softly and the wind danced softly on her skin in warming comfort. Haley would go and probably never return. She would take it upon herself to rid man's world of savage sin. Joaquinn's smile turned into laughter as she envisioned Haley proclaiming herself the savior of men. She was a headstrong little woman and she would have her way, one way or another.