Stone Heart (35 page)
- "I don't care what you say, or what you've done in the past.
- His heart warmed at her words of loyalty though he knew they
- "Even if I believed what you're saying, that was then. It wa
- After traveling for another hour, and practicing his driving
- "A crop circle! Oh, Angus, isn't it fantastic? I've seen pic
- "Aye. It also means we're verra' near where members of the O
- "These things are made by the Order?" she whispered, as she
- "They are made by the Order," he confirmed, "and we're being
- "You mean we in a general sense don't you?"
- He shook his head. "You and I are being told exactly how to
- Too late, he saw her eyes widen and an expression of alarm c
- "How could they know we're here? How do they know about me?"
- "Someone may have come looking for me on the three-hundredth
- "Oh, I'm certain know one knows about them. The way communic
- He smiled and pushed a strand of hair out of her face. "We a
- She shook her head. "I'm not worried about me, Angus. I don'
- It was suddenly very important that she knew something of wh
- "I was told what I thought were a lot of fairy tales about m
- "Angus, just tell me and quit treating me like an invalid. I
- How brave she is. In that moment, he knew he had never met a
- Angus told her of the different creatures he could remember.
- Karen appeared to take the information in stride. She displa
- * * * *
- When they stopped for the night again, Karen and Angus were
- Angus started to lift Karen's luggage containing some of his
- "No need for you to carry all that, sir," the registration c
- Angus nodded and turned to find a young girl ready to take t
- The girl blinked at him, then looked at the registration cle
- He, in turn, looked at Karen and she burst into laughter. Sh
- "Well, sir, uh ... What ... Whatever you say, then," the reg
- Angus put the luggage back on the ground, approached the des
- "Well, certainly ... that is, the hotel does. But I'm the ma
- "Then she is in your employ," Angus interrupted, "and you sh
- Karen looked around. There were several porters and some cle
- "Of course, sir. The customer is always right," the man shar
- Angus shook his head, picked up the luggage again and turned
- Karen saw the intense look the defended girl bestowed on Ang
- The porter looked at him. "It's just the motion of the eleva
- Karen opened her mouth to speak for him, but Angus was quick
- "There are none where I come from, but I am fine," he assure
- When the girl let them into their room, Karen tipped her wel
- "I wish I came from where you do, Mister. Seems like people
- "No, she would no' like to be where I am from. Women were tr
- Karen shook her head in amazement. "You'll have the entire h
- "Bah!" He waved away the compliment. "I only did what I thou
- "Well, Sir Angus, have a hamburger as a reward for being so
- He rubbed his palms together in anticipation. "If that is th
- * * * *
- Karen was tired, but after a good meal and a refreshing show
- After he showered, while singing some bawdy song about a bar
- "I am anxious to hear what news there is," he explained.
- "You're getting very good at operating certain mechanical th
- "'Tis necessary to learn," he shot back.
- Karen indulged herself by opening a bag of potato chips and
- "These are verra' good."
- "These are verra' fattening," she mocked and shoved his shou
- "Good! I like fattening," he quipped.
- A movie started and Karen tapped his shoulder to get his att
- Angus sat up and stared intently at the screen. "What is a m
- "It's like a play. There are actors and they pretend to be m
- "Ah, I understand. Are there other plays like this movie?"
- She nodded and stuffed her mouth with more chips. "Sure, the
- "And that is what this beastie is? Tele ... television?" He
- "Yep. And if it's hooked up to a lot of channels, you can si
- He shook his head. "I think 'twould make poor company if it
- Karen leaned against him and motioned toward the black box.
- To prove his own point, Angus quickly became engrossed in th
- "What?" she asked.
- "King Arthur did no' give his sword to Percival to throw bac
- Karen almost choked. "What do you mean?"
- "When the good King lay dying, he gave his sword to the Gree
- "Are you totally serious?"
- "Aye," he answered. "Why would I no' be?"
- "Are you telling me that story is true?" She widened her eye
- "Aye. Did you not know this?" he asked.
- "The world thinks it's just some kind of old legend."
- "So, I believe, am I. Yet here I sit. Eating out of yon bag
- "Potato chips," she supplied.
- "Aye, potato chips." He reached into the bag, grabbed a hand
- "But Arthur would have lived centuries before you. How could
- "As a young boy in the Order, I was taught it was so. My par
- Karen sat up on her knees. "Get outta' Dodge!"
- "Get out of where?"
- She exhaled. "It's another expression. It means that I just
- "S'truth." He nodded.
- She leaned back against him. "Do you know what people would
- "This could be why the Order has never wanted to have outsid
- Karen thought for a moment and distractedly handed Angus a c
- "If it were no', I would no' take you there, lass. We have b
- "And you're absolutely sure you won't be in trouble for doin
- Angus gently turned her to face him. "You are worried for no
- "It's not me I'm worried about..."
- "Hush, you." He pulled her against his shoulder. "Tomorrow,
- "We're that close to the Order?"
- "We are."
- Karen swallowed hard. She wished they had gotten lost on the
- Sensing some of her confusion, Angus pulled her against him
- * * * *
- "This is it?" She stood in front of the car and looked into
- "Aye, apparently our kind live as they always have. The wood
- Karen wasn't having a hard time believing in the shape shift
- "We wait right here. If the Sorceress is in residence, we wi
- "I won't ask how you know there are people out there," she m
- He took her hand in his. "Just rest easy, lass. All will be
- They sat in the car and didn't make a sound for the next hal
- "Stay here, Karen," he commanded.
- "Where are you going?" She couldn't see anything, but Angus'
- "I will no' leave your sight, but I need to go toward the wo
- Angus knew they were there. It had been a very long time, bu
- "Peace Be With You. Blessed Be, Angus MacGregor."
- A calm but strong voice addressed him. He turned to see a ta
- Centuries earlier, he would have said something annoying, tu
- He knelt upon the ground and lowered his head, as he had bee
- "We only just learned of it, MacGregor, or we would not have
- He turned to look back at the frail figure standing beside t
- "Bring her to me," Shayla told him. She watched as Angus wal
- "Look at the lass. She's a wee, fragile thing." Hugh nodded
- "We'll soon know, my love. Right now I'm worried that if tha
- Angus walked toward Karen, forcing himself to relax and smil
- Karen swallowed hard and gratefully accepted Angus' large ha
- "Come here, girl," the woman she assumed was the Sorceress s
- Karen walked forward and knew she'd never seen such a lovely
- Shayla took Karen's hand and tried not to show emotion as sh
- After shaking both their hands Karen addressed them. "I'm ov
- "And what did he tell you?" Shayla asked in a friendly tone.
- Angus stepped forward, but Shayla bid him stop with a mere l
- "He said that I'd been invited, but I'm not crazy enough to
- Hugh and Shayla looked at each other. This woman wasn't a fo
- "Were you the person who hacked into our computer files? The
- Karen shook her head. "They're not all that secure, and I wa
- "Succinctly put, my dear. You quite amazed and frightened ou
- "No, and that's the God's truth!" Karen looked Hugh straight
- "And where is this person to whom your promise was made?" Sh
- "That was my Aunt Agatha and she's dead. I have no other fam
- "You realize that if I wanted to silence you, you've just gi
- Angus stepped forward and placed his hands on Karen's should
- Karen looked up into his face and shook her head, silently w
- Shayla watched this silent exchange with interest. Angus was
- "I'm dying, Ms. Gallagher. There's nothing you can do to me
- Defiant words, bravely spoken. As the minutes passed, Shayla
- "What are your plans?" Shayla questioned using a softer, les
- Angus stepped protectively in front of Karen. "I would ask a
- Hugh raised his hand in a questioning gesture. "Even if that
- Karen pressed her lips together to keep from saying somethin
- "I pledge my life on my promise to do no harm," Angus offere
- That got Karen riled. Angus shouldn't have to justify himsel
- "Perhaps three centuries gave you time to think, eh, MacGreg
- "Aye, to think. And to feel the blackness forever cast upon
- Shayla studied him for a few minutes before speaking again.
- "What American State are you from?" Shayla asked.
- "Indiana," Karen replied. She knew there was no mistaking he
- "Are you sure that no one knows you entered into our databas
- "No one knows anything about it."
- Shayla nodded. She was convinced the girl was telling her th
- He smiled and softly said, "You're a brave lass to come so f
- "I have a companion," she said as she looped her arm through
- Angus looked down into her upturned face and had to grin. Sh
- "I'll make a deal with you," Shayla addressed them both. "An
- Karen looked up at him and eagerly nodded. Her blue eyes ref
- Shayla walked a short distance with Angus while Hugh stayed
- "What's on your mind, MacGregor? The girl seems quite willin
- "When she has done what you request of her ... What then, So
- "I see no point in that, MacGregor." She hasn't got much tim
- "So, it is as I thought. The old ways are still enforced. Ou
- Outsiders would be brought into their realm under very speci
- Angus looked away from Karen and brought his gaze back to th
- Shayla was impressed. The man had been willing to give his o
- "Aye. I would have tried to send her away. Failing that, I'd
- "If these events had transpired, how much do you think she'd
- "I would have let no one harm her. No one!" he insisted.
- "Those are bold words, my man. Would you have challenged me?
- "I would have kept her safe," he responded. "She is no' and
- "It isn't your right to bring her here just because she may
- He knelt before her. "Aye, Sorceress. You have my promise of
- So, the so-called murderer cared about someone so much he wo
- "There's just one more thing I'd like to know, MacGregor. Ho
- He sighed, not wanting to repeat the story to her. Her expre
- Shayla stared at him. She'd been led to believe the man woul
- Her expression must have shown the astonishment she felt, be
- As he walked back to where Hugh and Karen stood, Shayla smil
- Chapter Six
- As they walked toward the center of the forest, Shayla watch
- "Keep an eye on them when we go to the great clearing tomorr
- "You expect trouble?"
- "Not with everyone. But you know as well as I that I'm break
- "You're Sorceress. No one would dare do more than ask questi
- "I'm not so sure, my love. Not everyone realizes that differ
- "What was Lore's response?" Hugh asked, knowing the Fairy wa
- "You know Lore. He's as loyal and steady as any man could be
- "I talked with O'Connor as you asked. He supports you entire
- "Ah, yes. Gryphon." She smiled. "He and Heather are staunch
- "As I've said many times, Shayla. You are the lawgiver. Your
- "She was accepted only because magic changed her into one of
- Hugh realized that part of the problems concerning loyalty a
- Trying to ensure the same thing would never happen again, Sh
- Silently considering these matters for a time, Hugh finally
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