Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“You have not tried to speak with him?” Fia asked, not the least fearful of what he described since warriors were known for embellishing tales.
“Don’t you think I have tried,” he snapped again, shaking his head. “He eludes me, refusing to show himself.”
“You have had many deaths since he settled in the forest?”
“Too many suspicious deaths,” Varrick confirmed. “People dying for no obvious reason. Young or old alike—” A rap on the door interrupted Varrick. “Who dares to disturb me?”
“It is me, my lord,” Argus called out. “Brother Luke says it cannot wait. He must speak with you.”
“Enter!” Varrick shouted, annoyed enough as it was, now even more so at being interrupted.
Brother Luke rushed past Argus into the room. “My Lord, I just learned the God of Death haunts your land. I fear there is something about him that is not known to everyone… Arawn has the power to shapeshift, changing his appearance at will.”
“That would explain how the deaths occurred,” Argus said with a quick glance to Varrick. “That must have been how he was able to snatch the life from our people right under our own eyes.”
Argus and Brother Luke both turned questionable eyes on Fia.
“Do not even suggest that the witch is Arawn,” Varrick said. “She has only been freed from a dungeon and need I remind you, Argus, why she was freed? To help us.”
“You cannot combat evil with evil,” Brother Luke warned.
“I disagree, Brother Luke. I have seen evil men battle evil many times,” Varrick said.
“Aye, he’s right. I’ve seen it myself,” Argus agreed.
“Then send her to the God of Death, my lord, and see if she can stop the wrath that will rain down upon you,” Brother Luke urged, “for Arawn will not leave until he gluts himself on souls.”
“How do you know these things about him?” Varrick asked.
“There was a Welsh cleric who sought sanctuary at the monastery and spoke with firsthand knowledge about Arawn. He saw it for himself at a village he had been sent to tend along with other monks. The dying did not end until the hell hounds howled no more.”
“An illness could have claimed them,” Fia said, offering a reasonable explanation.
Brother Luke shook his head. “No one took ill. They simply died one by one.”
Silence settled over the room as the monk’s words were considered.
Varrick finally commanded, “Leave us.”
With nods to Varrick, both men left the room.
He paced in front of the table, not looking at Fia. How did he send her into such danger when he was not sure if she was a witch or simply a healer? And why should he even worry one way or the other? She meant nothing to him and even now she could be tricking him.
Fia could almost feel the battle that waged within him as his strides turned more powerful. He fought with the decision he had to make, and she wondered why. Wasn’t it the very reason he had brought her here? Why hesitate now? She, however, thought of this moment as an opportunity and fearing she might not get another, she took it.
“I will go into the forest and try to find and talk with Arawn.”
Varrick stopped pacing and stared at her in disbelief. Was she that secure in her magic or evil that she did not fear facing Arawn?
Fia hurried to add. “On one condition.”
His disbelief grew that she would bargain with him.
Fia did not wait for him to protest, she continued to hurry and have her say. “You allow me to tend Ella and her bairn.”
With his clan’s need for her, she could have asked for almost anything for herself, but she hadn’t. She asked to help Ella and the bairn. But how did he agree when it would mean leaving her in the forest alone with no protection and why did he feel such an overpowering need to protect her?
Fia stood and walked around the table and placed her hand gently on his chest, only then recalling his words that she was not to touch him without permission. But since he did not protest, she let her hand rest there. “Please let me do this. Let me help.”
Her touch felt as if she reached deep down into his chest to hug his heart gently and the sense of how much she cared overwhelmed him so much that it startled him. What power did this woman have over him that made him feel that she cared for him? No one had ever made him feel that way. No one had ever cared for him. He wanted to linger in it, let it seep deep down into him so he would never forget the sensation of a caring hug.
Fia saw it in his blue eyes, felt it trickle through her hand.
He has never known a caring touch.
To hear that hurt her heart, though explained much about him and she wondered what she could do to help him. She also wondered why a simple touch of her hand on him brought a strange feeling to nestle in her own heart.