Authors: Candace Sams
Stone Heart (40 page)
- "Roland is ... What has happened to her?" Shayla rushed towa
- "Please, I'm all right," Karen weakly announced.
- Angus held Karen close. He momentarily forgot his initial co
- Shayla was silent for a moment, considering this most surpri
- "Roland, no!" Tearach shouted.
- Angus turned to see what had alerted the Goblin Leader. Tear
- With a strength born of love, Karen twisted out of Angus' gr
- "Nooooooo!" Angus' agonized shout rent the air.
- Too late, Tearach descended upon Roland and struck him to th
- Shayla rushed forward with some of the others. "Let me see h
- Though Angus would not release his hold, he turned her body
- "He ... didn't ... hurt ... you?" she brokenly whispered as
- Angus shook his head and sobbed. "'Twas no' me he wanted, la
- "He ... hated that ... that much?"
- "He will neither hate nor breathe again. I swear!" Angus gro
- "No, Angus!" Karen placed her hands on his cheeks. "You're n
- "Hush you, lass. We will mend your wound and..."
- She stopped him with a slow shake of her head. He held her c
- "Promise me," Karen gasped. "Promise me ... Don't hurt him .
- Angus was overcome with agony. He could not bear the pain te
- "For you, my heart. I will promise to do anything you ask."
- Slowly and so very sweetly, she smiled up at him. "Love ...
- "And I love you, Karen. Always."
- Angus watched her draw one more breath. She smiled at him on
- Shayla sadly shook her head and quietly murmured. "We are di
- Gryphon moved toward Angus and placed a hand on the grieving
- Shayla watched them walk away and waited until she could see
- Hugh's gentle arm fell across her shoulders. "Shayla, Tearac
- She looked into his eyes and saw sorrow there. "What would y
- "I will support whatever decision you make, my Sorceress." H
- Shayla took a deep breath, slowly released it and forced her
- She turned and walked toward the Goblin Leader. Roland was o
- "What have you to say, Roland?" She paused and slowly circle
- The Goblin looked up. "She was an outsider. The only good ou
- "How very original," Shayla shot back. "I can imagine anyone
- "If you're going to pass judgement, you old crone, then do i
- Tearach grabbed the man by the collar and threw him at Shayl
- "Very well, coward!" Shayla angrily addressed him through cl
- Tearach jerked Roland to his feet. "I will take him, Sorcere
- "You will stay right where you are. Roland isn't the only on
- Tearach raised his head in pride. "I accept responsibility f
- Tearach let out a slow breath, closed his eyes and bowed his
- "On that same day, you will be judged as well. Men and women
- "What else have we been left, Sorceress?" He lifted his head
- Shayla gasped at his audacity. "Remove yourself from my pres
- "As you command." He bowed, then turned to walk away. But th
- "Before you go, you should know that the outsider begged for
- Hugh walked forward to stand beside Shayla. "Tearach's heart
- "I don't know, Hugh. If he isn't, I can promise you he will
- Chapter Twelve
- Angus stared out the window. He didn't see the beautiful sun
- Karen lay so still. Oddly, there was a peaceful, almost joyf
- "Please ask the Sorceress if she would come."
- Gryphon nodded, then walked away. Angus watched him leave. H
- He began to pace, anxious for the Sorceress to arrive. His r
- Shayla stopped at the foot of the bed and clasped her hands
- "Remember what I asked you in the clearing? Just before Kare
- Shayla was momentarily confused, then she understood. "You w
- "Aye, and I still do. I made her a promise. We exchanged oat
- She shook her head. "Angus, you can't be serious. What possi
- "I beg you," he said as his voice broke.
- She studied him for several long moments and then sighed. "A
- Hugh, Lore, Gryphon and Heather O'Connor filed into the room
- Angus looked at the stunned faces of those standing around t
- "I pledge you my honor, love, loyalty and life. For now and
- "As they have promised their love, I bind them," Shayla said
- Gryphon was the first to speak. Though he did so softly in r
- The two men clasped arms, and then the rest of those present
- "Angus." Shayla placed a calming hand upon his shoulder. "Go
- Angus glanced back at Karen and nodded. This had to be done.
- * * * *
- Angus swallowed hard. He and a great many others stood in th
- He nodded. "Let this be done."
- Pluck, as guardian, turned to open the door and moved to let
- "That's not possible," Pluck declared as he entered the room
- Hugh quickly walked to the window. "There's simply no way an
- "Karen is gone. Someone has to have taken her," Angus growle
- "Heather, Amber, when did you last leave this room?" Shayla
- Heather and Amber looked at one another.
- Finally, Heather found her voice first. "It was just before
- "Exactly!" Shayla muttered. "Everyone follow me." She and th
- Lore stood from his kneeling position and faced Shayla. "The
- "Someone has taken her!" Angus gasped. He was beside himself
- "Sorceress, Angus has had about as much as one man can take.
- Shayla watched as Angus began to pace. Sweat poured from him
- "You suspect he might know something about this?" Gryphon as
- "I don't know, but, by Herne, I'll find out!"
- Angus tried to fight them. All he could think of was that so
- "Come with us, man. There's nothing you can do the Sorceress
- "Why?" Angus looked into the other man's face. "She could no
- Gryphon sighed. He and the other men renewed their grip on t
- Angus stopped struggling and glanced at their faces. There w
- "Karen?" he whispered and gazed into the woods. The others s
- * * * *
- Shayla and Hugh made their way to the southern part of the f
- "I'm here, Sorceress," Tearach called and emerged from a den
- "As news here travels fast, I'm sure you know all about it,"
- "You're right. I have heard what's happened. Some of the Pix
- Shayla slowly walked forward until she stood within a foot o
- Tearach watched as Shayla and Hugh walked away. Threats to h
- * * * *
- Two days later, no sign of Karen's body had been found. Fina
- "Forgive me, my love. I should have guarded you myself. I sh
- He would rest only long enough to slake his thirst at the li
- He dipped his hands into the clear water of the pond. One dr
- "Angus?"
- For a second, he believed he must have imagined the soft, st
- Nothing. No sound could be heard at all.
- Angus shook his head. I must be going mad. Perhaps it would
- "Angus. Help me."
- He began to shake. His senses now told him there was a stran
- "Who is there?" he whispered. Since the sound seemed to come
- "I-I'm frightened."
- A reflection in the water caught and held his gaze. He looke
- "Please, tell me how I got here. What in the world happened
- "Karen!" he shouted. "By all that's sacred..."
- He stood, stretched out his arms and she placed her hands on
- "Oh, Angus," she wept. "It was so dark. I was so afraid!"
- For a very long time, he held her without moving or speaking
- Finally, she pushed herself away far enough to gaze up into
- Angus barely noticed that she was wearing some kind of gauzy
- Angus' hands tore her gown apart and his breath came in gasp
- "Take me, Angus," she cried.
- His body demanded he do so. Any thought of gently entering h
- "Don't. Don't pull away just yet. Let me feel you."
- The tinkling which accompanied her voice had him entranced.
- "You're crying," she whispered as her fingertips brushed awa
- "'Tis happiness causes me to weep. I thought I had lost you.
- "Lost? What do you mean?"
- He looked into her azure eyes and saw a measure of innocence
- "That man ... that Goblin ... he had a bow and arrow. I saw
- Karen knew there was more, but she just couldn't recall it.
- "Is there nothing else you can remember?" He stroked her gen
- "No. But, like in a dream, it seemed I could hear voices. As
- Angus sat up and pulled her onto his lap. He held her as he
- She smiled up at him and placed his hand over her left breas
- "That is no' all that has happened. You have ... changed ...
- "My hair was never this long! And it wasn't this blond, eith
- "Come, sweetness. Let me show you." He stood and lifted her
- Karen looked down into the water. She stretched out a hand t
- "I dunna' know, little one. But magic has been used upon you
- "Anything."
- He pulled her fiercely to him. "Promise to never be frighten
- "I trust you and as long as you're near, I'll never be afrai
- Angus held her and carefully explained the details from the
- "I thank the Goddess we dinna' bury you. You were only encha
- "Hush, my love. Hush. It didn't happen." She was glad it was
- He slowly pulled away and stared at her beautiful face. High
- Karen slowly dropped back upon the mossy bed and spread her
- With the first light of dawn, Angus slowly awoke. Karen's pr
- "So are you," she said with a sigh. She stretched against hi
- "We should find the Sorceress and have her call off the sear
- "I had a strange dream. I remember being in the dark and try
- They sat up together, he gently kissed her. "Dunna' trouble
- Karen nodded and stood up with him. She looked down at herse
- "If it were up to me, you'd never wear another thing. But, s
- After pulling on his leather pants and boots, he protectivel
- * * * *
- Shayla burst into the library of the estate. Hugh looked up
- "Word has just come to me that Karen has been found. Angus i
- "Why there? Has he any news of who might have taken her body
- "You're probably not going to believe this any more than I d
- "What?" Hugh gasped.
- "Apparently, Angus found her semiconscious in the woods. Nud
- Hugh shook his head in disbelief. "This is impossible. We sa
- "No, my man, we saw her shot with an arrow and only thought
- "Aye, Shayla." He nodded and left the room.
- "Extraordinary! This whole thing is just unbelievable," Shay
- * * * *
- Angus opened the door to the cottage before Shayla had to ra
- Shayla stepped through the door and almost collapsed. There,
- "Come forward, child. Let me look at you," Shayla commanded.
- Karen walked toward her. "I guess it would be an understatem
- Shayla tilted her head and listened when she heard the music
- Karen let the blanket fall to the floor and did as Shayla bi
- Karen slowly opened her eyes and Shayla was staring at her i
- "Sadly, no. The last of them died a millennium ago. They wer
- Karen frowned for a moment. "I was dying, now I'm well." She
- Shayla motioned for them to be seated as she took a chair be
- Karen thought for a long moment. She was aware of Shayla and
- Shayla laughed. "I should say not, my girl. Your kind were h
- Karen smiled and looked at them both. "Then I can stay with
- "Angus has already handfasted with you," Shayla said and lau
- "I remember his asking you if we could, but we never actuall
- "Uh, yes we did, lass," Angus responded. "When I thought you
- "You did that believing I was dead? Why?"
- "Because 'twas a promise I made you. And I love you. So shoc
- "Don't worry, Karen. We'll redo the entire ceremony properly
- Karen stared at Angus. "That is the most incredibly romantic
- "You had better, I will never let you go," he replied, kissi
- Shayla tactfully rose to leave. "I'll let you two have some
- After Shayla quietly left and closed the door, they made lov
- "However it happened, I'm so grateful to be alive. I'm so ha
- "Aye, lass, so am I. So am I," Angus replied and hugged her
- Chapter Thirteen
- "Bring the wretch forward," Shayla demanded as Lore and Gryp
- He rubbed his wrists at the chafing the bindings caused. "It
- "And it didn't matter to you that the girl had nothing whats
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