A Warrior's Perception (24 page)

“
Under what whiskey are ye besieged that ye ego has melted and ye seem a mere man?
”

“
Donna I seem to be a man any other time?
”
He asked as she gently tugged on his hair.

“
Nay, ye walk about as if ye were a lion greedily licking it's hungry lips.
”

“
Perhaps this lion hungers for his lioness that holds him back from her succulent side,
”
he whispered as she slid her hands down his numb arms,
“
Perhaps he hopes she will let him claim her and shower her with radiant kisses and caresses.
”

“
The drunken lion needs to quieten his tongue or he will be kicked in his royal backside!
”
She grinned,
“
And the lioness is'na impressed with his show of arrogance and pride.
”

Kagan rested his heavy head on her shoulder and sank into her warmth. For a few brief minutes he wondered if he were dreaming and then she yawned in his ear as pushed him up. He rolled as best he could so she could stretch out on the bed. His silence and indifferent touches threatened her pride. She toyed with her hair as she pouted at him. He stood and the room grew fuzzy.

She puffed and frowned,
“
Go to bed and sleep ye drunkenness away, I grow ill of ye slurred speech and swaggered steps.
”

He groaned as he made his way to the door deciding he had taken too much of the poison. He stepped through the doorway and shut the door. He turned towards the bed and fell forward, landing on his knees. His eyes shut and the floor broke the reminder of his fall. He slept deeply and dreamt of breaking Haggart's bony neck and skinning his old wrinkled body.

Crimm frowned as he watched the small army make camp on the southern border of Geldamar. They had traveled for three days now and were intent on reaching Fendenbrair in less than a week. Crimm had followed and kept to the shadows to learn what scheme lay at hand. Trouble was brewing among the nomads and O'Donnells. Silt O'Donnell was either ignorant and arrogant or he was relaying on King James to come to his rescue again. O'Donnell had demanded his cousin, the king, to deploy two thousand soldiers and lay waste to his enemies. Unfortunately for him, the King did not take to being ordered around. King James had other plans for O'Donnell and Crimm held the orders in his tightly wadded fist.

Kagan was not going to like what was to come, but Kagan was not king and Crimm must obey a direct order from King James or have his head neatly packaged in a woven basket.

The four hundred and twenty four souls that camped below were nomads not soldiers, but they knew how to fight and they knew the land. They would use the knowledge to their advantage and defeat whatever defenses O'Donnell could put forth. Crimm eased back down the hillside and mounted his steed. An eerie feeling clutched at the back of his neck as he eased around the edge of the hill.

He would inform Kagan of the king’s orders and seek his council. Kagan could control the outcome and Crimm prayed the deaths would be small in numbers. The nomads would be viscous and relentless. If they stormed O'Donnell's home, no one would live to tell the tale and the O'Donnell clan would be erased from history's pages.

Crimm raced toward McKregan Keep, knowing it would take him at least two, maybe three, days ride to get there and that was if he did not stop to rest. He would stop at Shinonoble long enough to get a fresh horse and then on to Gildon to do the same. The blurred trees swam past as Crimm hoped the nomads would wait for the new moon and complete darkness giving him five days to return. Time could be a great enemy and now he needed a great ally.

Kagan stirred as his head pounded ruthlessly and his knees ached. He pulled himself up from the floor and cursed at the dull pounding at his door. He stepped to the door and let the maids in with his bath water in tow. They dropped their eyes and hurriedly filled the tub as the laird dropped into the chair at his desk. He rubbed his temples and tried to steady his stomach with sheer will power.

He sat up as the maids noisily left with clanging buckets and loudly rustling skirts. Kagan groaned in pain as lightening flashed through his eyes. He would make Haggart wish he had never been born.

He settled into his great tub and a smile crept onto his lips. Andra would be a very pleasing wife not only in bed but in conversation as well. They would have many debates and make love every night and often during the day as well. She would come around and enjoy his rule, she would obey and act the lady while in the presence of
anyone
other than himself.  He would take this one step at a time and she would fall hopelessly in love with him just as every other female had.

He chuckled, maybe he would only choke Haggart a little this time. Maybe.

Haggart sat before his orb in the dark recesses of his cottage and grinned at Kagan's reflection.
Stubborn hopeless fool.
His grin softened to a smile as Andra's sleeping form appeared in the white smoke of the orb.

She was so like her mother in all things, beauty, strength, intelligence, and demeanor. Such a lovely creature as she should have never been allowed to leave Vacrey until she was ready to bare her children. His deep ragged breath echoed in the dark room as he stood.

“
Haggart, we have much to discuss. Come to Vacrey Isle and enlighten me with your presence.
”

Haggart turned to the orb and teased,
“
Still think you can control the outcome? Your control does not extend beyond Vacrey's gates, or have you forgotten?
”

Joaquinn smiled and blew a kiss to her favorite god who was chuckling as he snatched up his cane and covered the orb with a purple silk pouch. Haggart did have one stop to make before he left on his journey by air, McKregan Keep.

Sunlight poured into the room as he slid outside and whistled. From the  great all seeing sky came a great white mare with a sparkling set of red eyes and a gold twisted horn. Her mane was long and black and fell in silken waves down her chest. Her giant wings fluttered as she stepped down to the earth. Her black tail swished in happiness as Haggart caressed her neck.

“
It has been too long my friend,
”
he whispered as she snorted loudly and pushed him gently with her soft nose,
“
He is fine and doing very well.
”

She pranced about nervously and jerked her head upwards.

“
Of course, Delyia, how could I refuse?
”
Haggart groaned as he pulled himself upon to her bent knee and less than graciously clambered onto her back,
“
We will stop at McKregan Keep and while you visit your son, I will visit my great niece.
”

“
Me thinks the lovely lady is sad,
”
the old man stated as Andra looked up into his old green eyes,
“
Something troubles ye?
”

Andra carefully watched the old man sit down across from her at the stone table she had claimed as hers. His bones cracked and popped as he melted onto the bench. She had not heard him approach and wondered where he had come from. His accent was strange and laced heavy with familiarity.

“
I enjoy the peace and quiet of this garden and do'na like interruptions,
”
she explained as she stood.
“
Howe'er since ye are so old and helpless lookin', I will allow ye to visit the flowers as I take my lea'e.
”

“
Come now, please sit and talk ta me,
”
he urged as he laid a gold butterfly barrette onto the table,
“
We have much ta discuss, Ell'andra of Vacrey Isle, daughter of Queen JaQuay.
”

Andra sat and stared at the familiar hair piece. Her hands scooped it up before she feared it would disappear.

She traced it's fine detailed lines and rubbed the emerald embedded wings with her fingertips. Green pastures, crystal clear lakes, and gigantic roaring waterfalls clouded her mind.  Blackened memories and painful departures gave way to the smiling happy faces of people she had known as a small child. Visions of her mother clearly flowed in her mind and Andra cried. JaQuay hugged her six year old Ell'andra to her breast and whispered words of love and sweet dreams to her ears. Her mother’s strained voice told her to be strong and always remember her homeland. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she looked at the old man before her, whom she now knew was her great uncle Haggart.

“
The spell on your memory has been broken,
”
he spoke in fae tongue and Andra understood,
“
It is now as it should have been years ago.
”

Haggart bent his tired old head and whispered,
“
Hold it not against your father dear child, he did what he thought was best and what his heart made him believe was right. He is a father who wanted to raise his daughter in his world, by his side.
”

Andra still could not find her tongue and stared mutely into Haggart's face. She wanted to hug him, kiss him, and thank him for his precious gift of memory. She closed her eyes and let the memories she had longed for fill every inch of her heart and soul.

Vacrey Isle was her home and it called to her from the farthest reaches of the sea. The soft white clouds pushed against her face and her cheeks and eyelids misted with the cool glitter of freedom, life, and happiness. Children waved at her and sang songs she suddenly knew by heart. The plateau, miles and miles of green grass and wild horses, swept beneath her feet as she soared over her home. The lakes and willowing trees called her by name and welcomed her back. Her cousins and aunt smiled as she glided through the castle she once called Mother's Palace. It's pearly white towers and gold banners shimmered in the sun and rainbows sprang from every water filled fish tank in the gardens.

She did not want to open her eyes, she wanted to stay where she knew she wanted to be all her life. She clung to the vision and cried out in heart pounding pain as she was jerked away and flung back to the stone table. Her eyes opened angrily and her cheeks flushed with innate yearning. Haggart smiled and patted her tightly clenched fist that still held the barrette.

Her head sagged to the table as she spoke in fae tongue,
“
Take me home. Please Haggart take me home.
”

“
You have two paths before you,
”
Haggart whispered,
“
One keeps you here with a man you will love and cherish no matter what he does or how he may hurt you. The other takes you home but..
”

“
But what?
”

“
Can you leave this world behind? You chose once, as a child, to go with your father. Are you sure that Vacrey has what you want?
”
Haggart's eyes softened and his dark orbs hazed with affection,
“
When you are ready to come home, you must harbor no thoughts of ever returning here. Take your time and choose wisely. If there is something here that keeps your heart the isle will know. She is part of you and knows your heart's desires.
”