Stone Heart (36 page)
Authors: Candace Sams
- "No. I want to know who stands loyal without question. It's
- "Not advising our leaders of your plans could cause the very
- Shayla stopped walking and turned to speak. "Are you saying
- He took her hands in his and spoke reassuringly. "Of course
- "When I know who'll stand with me without question in this m
- Hugh continued walking beside her. "I have. But what may com
- "Fear can be a good thing, my heart. Our mettle will be test
- "Aye," he agreed, "they must be."
- Karen looked over her shoulder, and noticed the seriousness
- He took her hand in his. "If the Sorceress dinna' wish it, y
- "May I ask how she got so powerful?"
- "It has been a long time since being instructed in the ways
- "And the leader is always a woman?"
- "Always." Angus smiled. "Women are the givers of life and ar
- "What's wrong?" Karen asked, noticing Angus' darkening expre
- "How do you like this century so far? Besides television and
- He shook off his foul mood and smiled again. "It is remarkab
- "It's all right, Angus. I've promised no harm will come to h
- Confused by what seemed like minutes of total silence and An
- "MacGregor is not convinced," Hugh shrugged and smiled. Besi
- "Show yourself," Angus commanded as he stared into the glade
- "Don't get your knickers in a knot," a small voice replied.
- Karen watched Hugh hide a grin behind one hand. Shayla shook
- "Come out, Pluck. This is Angus MacGregor. I'm sure you've h
- "She's pretty. He's still an oaf!" the voice repeated.
- "Sorceress, order him out of hiding!" Angus growled. "I disl
- "Pluck, behave yourself and come out. What will Karen think
- The bushes near Karen's right moved, and out stepped a tiny
- "Hello, Karen Matthews. I'm Pluck O'Reilly. But we seldom go
- Karen was enchanted with the man Angus called an Elf. "Ohhhh
- Pluck smirked broadly and proudly stuck out his chest. She c
- They laughed at the smug expression on his little face.
- Karen knelt to Pluck's level. "Isn't he adorable, Angus?"
- "She thinks I'm adorable, too. What do you think of that?" P
- Elves and Druids usually only tolerated each other. The smal
- "We can be friends can't we, Pluck?" she asked. "You don't m
- Shayla held her breath. Pluck wasn't known for his tactfulne
- "We all have to be something." Pluck shrugged. "I'm an Elf,
- Hugh and Shayla were trying hard not to laugh at Pluck's obv
- Angus glared at Pluck. "You'd do well to distance yourself f
- Pluck addressed Karen, completely ignoring Angus. "You're an
- "Yes. And you have a wonderful brogue. I've always loved the
- Pluck boldly took Karen's hand and began to lead her slowly
- "Don't wander far," Angus warned her.
- "She's with me, witless. I'll see she comes to no harm," Plu
- Heedless of Angus' concern, Karen continued walking away wit
- "Pluck will take care of her," Hugh promised. "His word is h
- "Why am I no' assured?" Angus groused as he watched Karen wa
- Shayla watched Angus' expression of fear and concern turn to
- "Pluck!" Shayla called, "Find Lore, Gryphon and Tearach. Hav
- Pluck nodded to Shayla, doffed his cap to Karen and dashed i
- Despite Karen's smile, Shayla sensed the girl's weariness. S
- Angus sensed Karen's lethargy as well. He quickly took her t
- Karen leaned against his chest and smiled up at him. "When c
- "Tomorrow," Shayla replied for him. "For now, the both of yo
- Hugh nodded his farewell and followed Shayla into the forest
- To Karen, it seemed the green of the shrubbery swallowed the
- "Hush, you. Rest. 'Tis but a short distance and you've had a
- She must have been more exhausted than she realized. The nex
- "We'll eat later. For now, sleep," he told her. It was still
- * * * *
- Karen awoke just as darkness was falling. A fire warmed the
- "What concerns you so?"
- She looked up as Angus' baritone voice reverberated from acr
- "Little chance of that." He laughed. "I'm probably the only
- Karen ran her hands through her hair and thought for a momen
- He tilted his head and came to sit before her. "Such things
- "When the Sorceress takes me to someplace where I can show y
- He saw her eyes light with enthusiasm. Here was something wh
- "That's very possible, as long as the information is on a da
- "'Twas just a question," he lied. "But if such a device exis
- She shrugged. "Like I said, storing information can open a w
- "I canna' imagine being able to speak with someone across th
- "Well, big guy, you're gonna' love this!" She put a hand to
- Angus loved speaking to her thus. Despite her failing body,
- He rose and threw another log on the fire. "Are you hungry?
- After several minutes of rummaging through enough foodstuffs
- He had to let her work a can opener for him, but the potatoe
- He moved toward the small kitchen area, and Karen was alarme
- Angus immediately turned to her and offered a sincere apolog
- Pluck walked into the cottage. "I've brought your luggage. Y
- "Hello, Pluck," Karen said. "Won't you come in and join us?
- The Elf watched Angus' darkening expression, saw the large m
- Angus dragged her luggage into the room, slammed the door an
- "What is it with you two?" she asked with a laugh.
- "If you recall, I did nothing to provoke his behavior," Angu
- "That's true, you didn't. But why doesn't he like you?"
- He shrugged as if the matter were of little concern. "Elves
- "And his attitude annoys you?" She grinned.
- He returned her smile. "It should not, I know. But the littl
- She knew he was teasing. But it made her day to hear the pos
- "By the way, you weren't going to actually use that on someo
- "I will put this back," he said, putting off answering. She
- "Open the packages the Sorceress sent with Pluck. I shall se
- Karen wasn't fooled by his evasiveness when it came to the s
- She took the packages to a wooden table, which served as the
- He opened the container, sniffed the contents and nodded. "Y
- "And not you?" she questioned.
- He laughed. "Perhaps she meant for me to drink some as well.
- She tore through the second larger bundle and unfolded a whi
- "To be more easily accepted by them, perhaps." He fingered t
- "What about you? You are Druid. I wonder why you weren't giv
- "The Sorceress knows I would no' wear it. Long ago I disasso
- "And you're not?" she asked.
- He noted the sad tone of her voice. "First, there is much I
- "Angus, please, let the past go. Let me help you," she plead
- "Since you ask, I will try." He smiled. "Now, put this garme
- "Will we be going out tonight?" She asked with a sense of ri
- "Aye, after we've eaten. And only for a short distance. You
- Angus almost gasped when she gifted him with a smile that wa
- Karen debated about leaving on her underwear, but guessed th
- Angus was putting the meal on the table when she walked into
- The difference was astounding. It was as if she belonged in
- "It suits you well," he murmured. "Many will no' easily sens
- "Like you said, maybe that's why Shayla sent it." She paused
- "Since she introduced herself to you as both, you may use ei
- "I will," she nodded. "I'm on your turf now."
- He was not exactly sure what that meant, but she was sincere
- * * * *
- Karen had packed his leather clothing with hers. There was n
- "I am ready," he announced as he entered the room.
- And she'd just been telling herself how comfortable she was
- For this moment in time, she'd be the damsel he'd chosen to
- "Shall we go forth, lady?"
- Chapter Seven
- Karen looked up into the cobalt-colored sky. The moon hung l
- "In this place, time seems to stop," Angus whispered. "This
- "Will they let me see them?" she asked as he sat and wrapped
- "I believe they will. They fear nothing here. No prey threat
- "What could possibly want to harm such creatures?"
- "The biggest fear they have is of being caught by some kinds
- "Angus, that's horrible!" Her hands covered her face. Then s
- He tried to stop chuckling. "They have no natural enemies ex
- "On the grill of a car? That's disgusting!" She tried hard n
- "Aye, just a little Druid humor." He smirked.
- "A very little." She tried to keep the mirth out of her voic
- "They will come in but a few moments."
- "What's the difference between Fairies and Pixies?" she aske
- "About three lengths of my arm, I should imagine."
- "What?"
- "I'll introduce you to some Fairies tomorrow. We're here to
- "Well, you're in a rare mood." His good humor was infectious
- He suddenly held up his hand. "They approach."
- From a distance, tiny bells tinkled. Then the sound grew clo
- Angus pulled her very close and wrapped his arms about her.
- Karen did as he instructed and froze in his embrace, but she
- "Gathering nectar for various drinks and medicines," he loud
- From the ambient light created by their small baskets, she c
- "I told you not to move. I said nothing about being quiet,"
- "You're an ass!" She openly laughed with him. "What's gotten
- "I dinna' know 'twould feel so good to be back. I have had n
- His own children. Of course he would want a family of his ow
- Angus had never thought or felt things like this before. Wom
- Karen felt his light mood slip away. Hers was gone, too. The
- "Angus, can we go back now?"
- "Aye, we should," he readily agreed.
- He led her back to the cottage. Karen did not seem in any be
- "What? What are you talking about?" She looked up at his fac
- "There are many times I speak without thinking. That matter
- "Angus, it's all right. Just say it." She put her hands on h
- He took a deep breath and tried to phrase what he wanted to
- Understanding crept in. Angus believed he'd hurt her feeling
- The need to set his mind at ease was more important than her
- He pulled her to him and hugged her. "Ach, dunna' trouble yo
- "I'm hoping you do have lots and lots of children. I think y
- His mood brightened considerably, and she rambled on about w
- * * * *
- Angus arose before Karen and decided to make use of the smal
- Karen sat up and stretched. It wasn't quite dawn, but Angus'
- "I will be but a moment longer," he loudly returned, "This s
- "But not your singing, you oversized waste of space! Hurry u
- In a few moments, the bathroom door crashed open and Angus b
- Karen tried not to laugh as she moved past the large, towel-
- "Take your time, Karen," Angus raised his voice so the Elf c
- A half hour later, Angus watched Karen emerge from the bathr
- "Thank you, Angus. What a sweet thing to say." She watched h
- As they sat together and exchanged a warm smile before shari
- "Don't suppose those are blueberry scones?" a voice squeaked
- Angus stared at Karen when she softly laughed and then looke
- "Please?" she softly pleaded and smiled her brightest smile.
- How could he refuse her anything? She was so sweet and winso
- Breakfast proceeded without further incident. It alarmed Ang
- "Everyone should be in the clearing by now. Are you ready?"
- Angus nodded and Karen got up to place her plate in the kitc
- "We should rest here, Karen. The overstuffed oaf is having a
- Karen laughed and sat upon a nearby log. Forever after that,
- In that moment, the Druid and Elf shared a meaningful, short
- Angus caught Pluck staring at him intently. It was as though
- Pluck grinned and nodded. The message was understood. Angus
- Karen glanced at Angus and Pluck. What was that all about? S
- Their journey continued for almost another hour. Karen was t
- "Wait here, Karen," Pluck directed her to a stone where she
- Angus came to her, knelt by her side and took her small hand
- "No. Well, maybe just a little," she conceded.
- "That's a brave lass," he crooned. "In my time, outsiders be
Other books
Ice Rift by Ben Hammott
Dune Time by Jack Nicholls
They Don't Teach Corporate in College by Alexandra Levit
Jane Ashford by Three Graces
Shimmer by Darynda Jones
Autumn at the Star and Sixpence by Holly Hepburn
Bones: Broken Bones MC by Leah Wilde
Nathaniel by John Saul
Love's Reward by Jean R. Ewing
Unholy Fire by Robert J. Mrazek
