Stone Heart (38 page)
- "Verra' clear, Goblin. And you hear this. Keep your minions
- "Best to mind your tongue when speaking to our leader, MacGr
- "Enough!" Shayla's voice resounded as loud as thunder and sh
- The entire assemblage, every man and woman, stopped and turn
- "Tearach, if you cannot control your people I will. Take the
- "I take responsibility for my clan, Shayla. I've promised no
- The Goblin quickly turned and stormed off. The rest of his b
- Shayla turned to Angus. "Tearach will abide by his word. The
- Karen was tired of being spoken about as if she weren't pres
- Shayla turned to look at her. "You made me a promise. The se
- "I can do that without offending anyone, Shayla. Just give m
- "You are no' the problem, little one. The Goblins are." Angu
- Aware that the confrontation had forestalled the celebration
- Fairies, Druids and all the others present resumed their mus
- "Drink and eat hearty, Karen. Ask what questions you will. W
- She did as everyone else was doing and tried to forget Teara
- She ate and drank more than usual because Angus urged her to
- Angus was determined that Karen would enjoy herself. That an
- "Angus," Karen leaned over and placed a hand on his arm, "is
- His gaze followed hers and he smiled. "That depends upon who
- A tall man approached the table. He was powerfully built, li
- "I see you recognize me," the man spoke.
- "Lore?" Karen squeaked and turned red when everyone at the t
- "You should see your expression. It's priceless." The Fairy
- "Incredible. It's just incredible," Karen repeated. And for
- Lore simply bowed his head, took her hand and kissed the bac
- Angus watched their exchange with another bout of jealousy w
- "I think we've had enough merriment for one night," Shayla n
- "It's time for us all to get some rest," Shayla said as she
- Karen nodded in agreement. "Of course. The sooner I begin, t
- "Hugh, will you show Angus and Karen the way? Angus may not
- "Of course, Sorceress." Lore turned toward the woods and too
- Angus watched Shayla and the tall Fairy disappear like wrait
- "I think he's drunk too much again," Hugh grinned. "It's a h
- Feeling tired herself, Karen took Angus' arm as they left th
- "'Tis no' as I remember it," Angus remarked. "The grounds ar
- "Thank you," Hugh replied. "We refer to this place as the es
- "You obviously take your duties very seriously. All of this
- "Nor shall I." Angus solemnly announced.
- Karen turned to look at him and smiled.
- "Come, let me show you your rooms," Hugh told them. "Tomorro
- A short time later, Angus closed Karen's door behind him. He
- For all he had done, for all he had lost and the crimes he h
- Angus cursed the fates that allowed a man like him to live w
- He stared into the blackness of the nearby forest. His heart
- Chapter Nine
- Angus leaned against a stone wall meant to divide one level
- "Who is there?" he called as he opened his eyes and slowly t
- "It's just me, Angus." Amber strode from behind some fir tre
- He frowned. "My thoughts could no' be in more chaos. I am in
- She moved closer to him and leaned against the wall. "Tell m
- "You know the matter."
- "Karen." She stated it as a fact. Then she placed her hand o
- For a time he did not speak. But his fears finally found a v
- "No, there isn't. And I'm so sorry. Shayla told me about why
- "Aye," he readily agreed, "she does."
- "In fact, Shayla has told everyone the story. I can't imagin
- "Unless that Goblin has his way before her illness does," he
- "Don't judge Tearach too harshly. His past has been terrifyi
- "Tell me. I would know why he hates outsiders as much as I o
- Amber looped her arm through his and leaned against the wall
- He gasped and stared at her in amazement. "There were once a
- "They've suffered destruction of their sacred places, war an
- "What did he do with them?" Angus didn't have to ask, but he
- "They're dead," Amber told him. "I don't know exactly what h
- Angus shook his head. "I can begin to understand now. I cann
- Tearach's youngest brother was among the last to be burned.
- Angus remembered that for a Goblin to acknowledge pain, in a
- "Almost all of them died, too. It was the most monstrous sit
- Angus shook his head and passed a hand over his face. "Ach,
- "You're a wise man, Angus. I believe you and Tearach could b
- "I can protect her from any man or beast, but no' the weakne
- "No one promised us a fair life. And though I've only known
- "Aye." The man was to be pitied though Angus knew Goblins sc
- After a few moments of silence, Amber wrapped her arm about
- * * * *
- The morning was beautiful, but Karen had to force herself to
- She closed her eyes and conjured images of what he and Amber
- "Ah, there you are." Shayla walked around a hedge holding a
- Karen's eyes opened and her hands covered her face. Who knew
- "Are you in pain, child? You look flushed." Shayla place her
- "A little too much sun, I guess."
- "Perhaps you should come into the study and out of the heat.
- "That's a good idea. I need to work."
- "You're sure you feel up to it?" Shayla asked.
- Shayla's concern made her feel guilty. On this occasion, the
- Shayla smiled and nodded. They walked back to the building,
- "This is magnificent," she said as she slowly turned and vie
- "Heather O'Connor, our archivist, will be along shortly. You
- "Will Angus be coming by?" she blurted.
- Shayla smiled. "Yes, later today. He's in the clearing with
- "Thank you, Shayla. I promise to make your computer files as
- "Advise Heather of everything you do." She walked toward Kar
- She nodded. "You won't be sorry. I swear it. I won't let any
- Shayla studied her for a long moment. "He means a great deal
- Karen didn't bother pretending who the he in question was. "
- Shayla placed the herbs she was carrying in a basket. Then s
- "You're not. You're just stating a fact. He'll remember me a
- "I was speaking of your feelings toward him."
- "No offense, Sorceress, but my emotions are my own and will
- Shayla stared at her for several moments before speaking. "I
- "No, I'm not strong." She shook her head. "Just determined n
- "You know," she said with a sigh, "if you weren't so ill, I'
- Karen grinned. "No, you wouldn't. You'd turn me into a spide
- "That's absolute rubbish! I've never turned anyone into a sp
- Karen watched the older woman smile and walk away. She wasn'
- She settled herself behind the desk and began to get familia
- "Hi. I'm Heather O'Connor, and I've heard a great deal about
- "American?" Karen almost shouted when she heard the woman's
- "New York born and bred. And you should see your expression,
- Karen smiled at her. "Oh, this I've gotta hear." The very id
- "How I got here is a long story, but I'll tell it while we w
- "At this point, I'm up for anything," Karen acknowledged.
- * * * *
- "The man swings a Claymore the way others wield a toothpick.
- "That's to be expected. He's from an age when those weapons
- "It's a good job for him. Look at the size of the brute." Hu
- "How long have they been at this?" Shayla asked.
- "All morning. Neither of them wants to be the first to stop.
- "Testosterone!" Shayla snorted and shook her head. "What wou
- "Aye, it makes the world go 'round." Hugh grinned as he watc
- "Very well, then. If they're going to beat each other catato
- Hugh rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "Now that'll
- Shayla watched as Hugh approached Lore and the other Fairies
- Shayla shook her head again. "Men! Goddess help us all." She
- "They're upon you, lads. Druids, dion!" Hugh shouted the Gae
- Angus and Gryphon finally paused long enough to see four new
- Shayla viewed the mock war with a critical eye. Taking over
- She let them fight on for another half hour, and then she st
- The men immediately stopped and handed their blades to bysta
- "Till he stopped," they both replied at the same time and la
- * * * *
- Karen had stood beside Heather and watched. Steel had met st
- Karen's heart plummeted and a lump formed in her throat. Tea
- She spent the rest of the day and into the evening working f
- "You are working too hard."
- She looked up to find the subject of her thoughts standing i
- The moment Angus saw her face, he knew she aware of everythi
- "I've been reading," she spoke softly.
- "From that box?"
- She nodded. "This is a computer. There's just about any kind
- "Aye. And some information you would rather not know?" he as
- She simply nodded.
- "What do you want to know, Karen? Ask me. No' that machine."
- She slowly stood and pointed at the screen. "Tell me this is
- He strode to where he could see the print on the screen. "I
- "Those things aren't true. You didn't do them, Angus. You di
- His gaze met hers. "That 'twould be correct, Karen. I dinna'
- "The Sorceress who cast the spell upon you wrote what happen
- The pain of that knowledge cut him in two. Though he knew he
- "I don't understand you." She turned her back to him as she
- "If you want me to give you excuses, there are none. Not the
- "Angus, stop." Karen put up her hands to halt his words. But
- "Sometimes they even took these unloved babes from their cof
- "Angus..."
- "Unwed girls who lay with men and died were treated in much
- He spoke as if he were in some kind of trance. She watched h
- "Karen, someone as good and kind as you could ne'er cause so
- "Stop it! It was a long time ago, Angus. I have no right to
- She stroked his hair and held him for a long time. He made n
- "Angus, listen to me." She held him close. "I've told you th
- "They fear me?" he asked, his face still nuzzled against her
- She nodded. "Shayla's been communicating with Druids in Engl
- He raised his head slightly. "'Tis natural I would be seen a
- "But what has your size got to do with anything?"
- He looked at her and shrugged. "Larger size means more power
- "Pluck isn't big." She smiled at him in an attempt to illici
- "I was speaking of the Druids, Fairies and Goblins. And Pluc
- "Then we're just going to have to prove you aren't the horri
- "I am your Angus?" he asked, gazing into her blue eyes.
- She grinned and hugged him again when she saw the ghost of a
- When he turned his head to speak, her lips were only a breat
- "I trust you and I'm your friend, Angus. I'll always be your
- He knew, in that instant, he would do anything to make her h
- * * * *
- "I would think you'd be tired. Especially after all the swor
- "Karen and I had much to say to one another," Angus responde
- "She worked very hard, too. Is she feeling well?"
- Angus nodded. She had gone to bed very drained, insisting on
- "And that bothers you?" Shayla watched him closely.
- "I was afraid I would lose her. But now that she knows the w
- Shayla moved to stand beside him. Moonlight flooded the gard
- "Aye. Such a man as I does no' deserve her. She is everythin
- "And how do you feel about the rest of us?"
- "I have come here to become a part of the Order and to use m
- She studied him for a moment. "From the moment we met, I sen
- "I regret the lives I wasted, including my own. I can never
- She patted him on the shoulder and draped her arm around his
- "I had believed there was more sophisticated weaponry. If th
- "That's easy. To have a friend, be one. And as far as the we
- "I lived life with the old ways of defense. If you would all
- "I was hoping you'd volunteer. Our younger members seem to b
- "There are times, when I was stone, that I heard weapons bei
- "Good, you have the right idea. Gryphon and Lore can help yo
- "There is only one thing I would ask of you, Sorceress. A fa
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