Born of Silence (Immortal Guardians) (21 page)

“Oh.”
She flushed with embarrassment.
She quickly curtsied and tried to pull away, but Angus’s fingers wrapped quickly around her hand and brought it to his mouth. After a gentle kiss on her knuckles, he released her hand and stepped
back
.

“And you are?” he asked.

“I’m Danielle. Sorry, I’m not really used to any of this.”

“Don’t worry.” Garrick smiled. “They knew that you weren’t one of us within seconds.”

The little smile she actually had, fell. “Oh. What do they think I am?”

He bent close to her ear. “They have no idea.
Some might think that your Fairy essence is just lost. But they know for sure you’re not from our Isle.
”

Angus was still
regarding
her, his friendly smile still pinned into place. “Danielle is a beautiful name,” he said. “Where are you from, my dear?”

“A different realm,” Garrick quickly supplied. “She’s not from here.”

The Fairy
seemed surprised by this, but he cordially
nodded. “Very well, why don’t you two come and rest your feet and have a bite
?
Dinner is ready.”

The other Fairies had already started milling about, but at Angus’s mention of food, everyone made their way to the middle of the tent circle, many of them making eye contact with Dani and Garrick, and welcoming them to their makeshift village. Angus took a seat on what looked like a very comfortable, old-fashioned chair.
Dani focused on the grain in the chair, surprised at the myriad of colors within the wood itself.

Garrick’s interpretation of everything really had been spot on,
she
realized. It was like they were stuck in a time
warp, having gone back hundreds of years. She looked at the chair that old Angus had perched on, seeing that he’d actually whittled the wood into precise pieces.

Angus gestured to where they should sit, making them guests of honor during tonight’s meal.
“You’ve come on a good day,”
he
said as other Fairies stoked a huge bonfire in the middle of camp. “We have anoth
er visitor who just came this morn
. He’s promised to play his fiddle for our entertainment.” He grinned at Dani before focusing on Garrick. “You may recognize him, my prince, he performs at the palace.”

Dani shot a look at Garrick. “
Prince?
”

His own eyes widened, almost as wide as his mouth gaped open. He made a few noises before shutting his mouth. “It’s a long story.”

“I guess so,” she said, folding her arms. Was he actually a prince? Or did the gypsies just think he was? And if he was a prince, why didn’t he tell her?
It’s not like they hadn’t had plenty of time to talk during their long trek through the forest.

And why did it piss her off that he’d kept it from her?

Garrick’s expression changed suddenly. “Dani,” he warned. “Calm yourself.”

“Oh, why don’t you calm
yourself
?” she growled back.

He inched in closer, his
mouth inches from her ear
. “Because my eyes aren’t swirling red at the moment, and my skin color isn’t starting to change.”

She let out a slow breath, forcing herself to calm.

“Uh, did I say something I shouldn’a have?” Angus asked.

“You’re fine,” Garrick assured. “I just hadn’t told her everything yet.”

“Ah.” He nodded, clearly not intending to pry. “Well, Sharleigh is just tuning his fiddle in the guest tent, he should be out soon.”

“Sharleigh?” Garrick asked. “As in, Sharleigh McCray?”

“One
and
the same,” Angus said, a wide grin spreading across his face. “I hear your cousin finds his talents quite amusing.”

“Yes, he’s very talented.”

As if their speaking of him summoned him, Sharleigh McCray made an entrance into the tent-city’s center. He bowed formally to Angus, a friendly smile on his face. As he turned away, he caught sight of Garrick, at which point he stiffened and his eyes widened. “My prince?” he stammered.

“Sharleigh.” Garrick stood and approached the other man with eagerness. They touched palms and gave each other a quick hug.

“Oh my lord,
‘
tis good to see you,” Sharleigh said. “Where’ve you been all these years?”

“Here and there.”

“Your family will be pleased to hear of your return,” the other man said, the wide smile still plastered on his face.

“We’re probably just going to pass through,” Garrick said. “I’m not sure we’ll stop and see them.”

“Nonsense. I’ve a carriage, and I’d be happy to take you to Cathair
,
” Sharleigh said. “The inside is quite nice
.
I just drive it around, hauling all of my toys with me.” At toys, he’d held up his fiddle and bow in pride.

Garrick tossed a quick look at Dani before returning his gaze to Sharleigh.
She looked on, watching his excitement at seeing an old friend.
“That would be much appreciated,” he said. “It will make our travels much faster.”

“Oh, yes, yes,” Sharleigh said, beaming at Garrick. He then flicked his gaze to Dani and arched an eyebrow. “Oh, where are my manners? And who is the miss, my prince?”

Garrick stepped toward
her
, holding his arm out. “This is Danielle.” His smile fell and he froze, giving her an apologetic look. “She’s my
…
courtier.”

Dani’s face flamed and her mouth gaped open. She quickly shut it as Sharleigh, Angus, and many of the others laughed and clapped in amusement.

“Well, why didn’
a
you say so, my lad?” Angus asked. “This is cause for celebration.”

Sharleigh stepped forward as well, kneeling on one knee and bowing his head before meeting her eyes and holding out his hand. “My lady,” he said quietly. “I am honored to make your acquaintance.”

She gulped and offered her hand to
him
. After the Fairy’s touch of palms, he took her hand the same way Angus had and kissed her knuckles. “It’s nice to meet you as well,” she replied quietly.

“My
lord,” Sharleigh stood and whirled
toward Garrick. “Your mother will be quite pleased. Your family speaks of you oft.” His eyes glowed. “Is that why you brought the lady home? To wed?”

Garrick sputtered, covering it with a fake cough into his hand. “Uhh, no. Things aren’t that far yet.”

A sideways smile curved the fiddler’s lips and he stepped closer to him. “Did you forget that I have something of the sight?” he asked. “Don’t you think I can see what you’re both trying to hide?”

Garrick was silent, looking at Sharleigh with an expression Dani couldn’t read.

The fiddler’s voice lowered as if speaking to Garrick alone, though still loud enough for
her
to hear. “You may be hiding it well enough on your faces. But your eyes tell a whole other story.”

“Oh, Sharleigh,” Angus said, standing and clapping the Fairy on the back. “Leave them be. They obviously don’t want to attract attention.”

With the three men standing together, Dani used the excuse of comparing each of them in an attempt to lessen the blush that was flaming her face and chest. Sharleigh had a slight frame. Probably six inches shorter than Angus, he had red hair that rivaled Dani’s, and so dark brown of eyes that they looked black in certain lights. He wore more clothing than the others in camp, though he still dressed simply in thin brown pants and a tan button-up shirt; not what she’d imagine an employee of a royal court would dress in. As she’d noted earlier, Angus was a lot bigger around. His chest was probably twice the size of Sharleigh’s, his stomach a bit bigger even. He had dull, dark brown hair that likely hadn’t been washed in days and had a slight five o’clock shadow dusting his heavy jawline. His bright green eyes were the only contrast to his dark features and it appeared that they missed nothing as he looked around at each of his fellow gypsies, at Sharleigh and Garrick, and finally at Dani.

Garrick stood out more than any other, she thought. He faced the other two gentlemen, talking animatedly about something or other, and
she
couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He stood tall and proud, with an air that he was dressed in the finest royal garb rather than the tatters he’d been in sin
ce his capture. He was
used to dressing finely. That was obvious of the clothing he
wore
, despite its current appearance. His warm brown hair actually did gleam in the sunlight, though she didn’t know how it looked so clean. Garrick had never appeared remotely dirty in the time that she’d known him, as though his body rejected filth of any kind. That thought brought a smile to her face. Maybe that was because of his Fairyness. Maybe that was just Garrick. She had a feeling it was the latter.

“What are you smiling about, lass?” Angus asked, drawing Dani’s attention to the world once more.

“Oh. Nothing,” she said quickly, feeling yet another flush cross her features.

Angus, Sharleigh, and Garrick all smiled.
The others teased
Garrick that his lass was all but smitten with him.
He
shook his head at the other two before clapping their backs and returning to her side.

“Did you hear any of what we were just talking about?” he asked.

She
worried her lip. “No.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Angus took a seat on the other side of Dani. “Alright
,
Mr. McCray, you may begin.”

Sharleigh bowed to Angus and brought his fiddle to rest under his chin. He plucked the strings quietly, making a few adjustments here and there, his brows furrowing slightly whenever the tone wasn’t spot on.

“What did I miss?” Dani whispered.

“Just that we’re going to stay here with the gypsies tonight,” he replied. “And we’ll hitch a ride with Sharleigh to the castle tomorrow.”

Assumingly pleased with the tuning of the fiddle, Sharleigh brought his bow up to the strings and started playing a fast-paced jig. Dani leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees as she watched the fiddler hop to and fro as he drew his bow up and down in succession. Soon, the others were on their feet as well, dancing in miniature circles surrounding Sharleigh, and after a minute more everyone was up and dancing. Dani couldn’t help but clap to the beat and laugh as the others danced excitedly. Garrick tapped his feet to the beat as he clapped in time with
her
, a smile bright on his face as he watched the gypsy Fairies.

“It’s been too long,” he said. More to himself, Dani thought.
She had just been thinking the very same thing.
He turned to her then, his smile broadening as a glint shon
e
from his eyes.

“No,” she said, shaking her head.

“Yes.”

“Garrick, no. Don’t you realize how long it’s been? This is all weird.”

“Which is exactly why you’re doing it.”
Standing, he took her hand and led her to the middle of the circle, near where Sharleigh played. The fiddler winked at her and many of the Fairies whooped and cheered as Garrick spun her frantically around the middle of the circle, jumping and kicking out in a dance that Dani had never seen before, but found fun to try anyway.
The man had a way of bringing her out of her own insecurities.

“You’re getting the hang of it,” he laughed.

“Well I’d hope so,” Dani replied, laughing as well. “I used to dance.”

Another twirl, pull apart, a quick spin, and back together.

“You did?” Garrick asked.

“Mmm-hmm. Before I was taken.”

The song was coming to an end as Sharleigh played the final notes to his tune. Everyone clapped with the final draw of his bow across the fiddle’s strings.

Garrick clapped as well
,
before
bringing his fingers to his lips and whistling loudly.
He turned toward her again, his face alight with excitement. “Well, you’re pretty good.
”

Sharleigh bowed and brought his fiddle and bow up again as he started another song. With
all of them
already on their feet, the dancing started up promptly, but Garrick pulled her to the side with a quick, “This one’s tricky.”

Indeed it was.

Dani watched with fascination as the dancers moved almost as though they were choreographed, completing a set of moves before moving on to another partner, then repeating. It would have taken her a long time to memorize the moves to that one.

The song seemed very short compared to the last one and the fiddler immediately jumped into another rhythm. Garrick led her back into the fold only to be stopped by Angus.

“You can’t keep her all to yourself, laddie,” he said and reached for Dani’s hand. “Courtier or no.”