Stone Heart (30 page)

You, as their leader, have the power to condemn this poisonous thinking, but you let it fester. Why?"

Everyone became quiet. Tearach held his head up proudly and spoke in a strong, deep voice. "I've just received word from Salisbury that three more Goblin children were stillborn.

One of their mothers died trying to give birth." The crowd gasped and he waited until the impact of what he was saying sank in. "Since the poisoning of our sacred water in Exmoor, 266

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not
one
newborn child has lived more than a few hours. In an attempt to strengthen our blood, we've tried mating with Druids, Fairies, Brownies and anyone in the Order who would make the mistake of loving us. But the babies still die. None of the Druid physicians or scientists seem to have an answer.

No one offers us
any
explanation. Eight years ago, hundreds of us were slaughtered. And the dying goes on. In one horrifying day, we lost most our loved ones to outsiders, and they are killing us still. Along with our families, they took something no one can restore." He paused. "They took
hope!"

He circled the area and looked into the faces of those who watched. "I don't condone Roland's actions. The Sorceress gave her word the outsider would be safe, and her word is law. But you can't blame
him
for what he feels. As the Sorceress said, I am his leader and I, too, feel the hatred and absolute outrage in being the last of our kind. With the death of the Goblin mother, excluding the stillborn Goblin babes, there are now only forty-seven of us left. If there's to be judgement passed today, let
me
receive it. For I can't order my people to forgive, much less
forget!"

There were murmurs in the crowd. Shayla raised her hand to silence them. "So be it, Tearach. You stand in place of your second-in-command. But before I pass judgement, I want one thing from Roland. I demand that he tells me what kind of magic he used when he shot his arrow into Karen Matthews."

Tearach turned to Roland. "If you used some kind of enchantment, tell her."

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"I'll take my punishment, Tearach. There's no need for
you
to do this. I don't care what happens to me anymore," Roland loudly declared.

"The thing is done. Now, I command you," Tearach persisted. "Tell the Sorceress what she wants to know."

Roland relented. "I wanted to make very sure the outsider died. There's a potion known to me that's made from all the most poisonous plants and trees. Once introduced into a body, it leaves no trace of its existence. I could have put it in her food and no one would have been the wiser. But I didn't care who saw me use it. I wanted to be very certain it got into her and that I was there to see her face. And to make doubly sure the concoction worked, I prayed to Herne to bless it and give it the power to undo the course of the outsider's life. Then I dipped the tip of my arrow into the brew so she would suffer before she died."

"You took no chances," Tearach sarcastically responded.

Shayla watched the Goblin Leader's expression. While Roland had spoken, something like repulsion crossed Tearach's face. Perhaps his heart wasn't as hard as even
he
believed. Shayla turned and gestured with her hand. The crowd parted. Gasps of surprise and utter shock echoed their way around the clearing when Angus walked forward with Karen. She was wearing a Druid robe of pale blue. It accentuated her shimmering beauty. But, even with the changes in her physical appearance, there was no mistaking who she was.

"No!" Roland cried out. "My aim was true. There was no way she could have survived."

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Shayla turned to him. "You're a fool. In your hatred, you forgot two things. First, you cannot ask a deity to harm anyone and hope that such a request will be fulfilled. Second, when you requested that Herne undo the course of her life, you stopped Karen from dying. She had a terminal heart condition.
That
was the course of her life. She was supposed to die, and you asked Herne to
undo
that."

For a moment, Roland looked confused, then plunged his hands into his dark hair.
"No!
There's no place for her here."

"
Look
at her Roland. Look into the face of the woman you would have butchered. Whatever words you uttered or potion you used, they have
changed
her.
This
is Herne's answer to your hatred. She is now a creature of absolute peace and beauty. Nothing you do can harm her." Shayla paused. "And I will know where you gained the knowledge for such an insidious potion."

Roland screamed in rage. Before anyone could stop him, he pushed a nearby Fairy to the ground and grabbed the man's dirk from his belt. Then he ran toward Karen. He raised his hand as Angus stepped forward, shielding Karen with his own body. A whooshing sound was followed by a resounding thud. Roland's face took on a sickening, surprised look. He turned around and women screamed. Karen buried her head against Angus' shoulder and he held her.

Roland looked at Tearach. The knife penetrating his back had been thrown by his own leader. "Tearach ... my ...

friend..."

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Tearach ran forward and caught Roland just before he hit the ground. "I'm sorry, Roland. Forgive me. I had to stop you."

"I-It's all right, my leader. I'll see my babes this night.

We'll be together again ... We'll be..."

Roland gasped hideously. His eyes rolled to one side and he died in Tearach's arms. The Goblin Leader gently lowered Roland to the ground and removed his knife. When he stood, everyone was absolutely quiet. There were tears clouding Tearach's vision. "Now, only forty-six."

* * * *

"Ach, lass, dunna' fash yourself so. 'Twas Roland's own hatred which caused this, believe me. Hatred is a subject in which I once excelled. Hush you, now."

"Angus is right, Karen. There's nothing to be done about it now," Shayla agreed and pressed a glass of wine into the girl's hand.

"
Why did Tearach stop him. I'd have thought he would
want to see me dead."

Shayla lifted a hand in denial. "I don't believe so. Not anymore. And I've summoned him here to force him to talk.

Do you mind?"

"
No, Shayla, I think ... I think I'd very much like to talk to
him.
"

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Angus spoke up. "If you don't mind, Sorceress, Karen has been through too much. 'Tis I who should speak with the Goblin Leader. I know more about what he is going through than any other person alive."

She considered his request. "All right. I'll have a room made ready for Karen."

"
No
." Karen stood up and shook her head. "
I can't stay
inside. Please. I feel like I need to get out of this building or
I'll go out of my head
." She began to shiver and every cell in her body cried to be outside in the fresh air.

"Karen, It will be all right, lass. Let me..."

She pushed Angus' arms away. "
No! I have to get out.

Someone, please listen ... I have to go.
"

"There, there, child," Shayla came forward and held her.

When Shayla saw Angus' look of concern, she smiled to alleviate his fears. "She has been inside for too long. I should have remembered that, but I've never had a Dryad in our midst before. It will take a bit of getting used to. And this one will have to adjust." Shayla pushed Karen's hair back. "Come along, dear. I'll take you back to your little glen."

Karen didn't know what was wrong and she began to sob.

There was just too much happening. A man was dead while she was miraculously alive. But she had been changed into something her mind and body just couldn't accept as yet. All she wanted was for Shayla to hold her and to get out of the building. Even Angus' murmured consolations did no good.

She was
frightened
. No one had ever wanted her dead before.

This dream world was quickly becoming a nightmare.

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As Shayla was preparing to leave with Karen, Angus tried to follow. They got as far as the foyer when Karen stopped and turned to face him. "
Angus, please stay here. I-I want to
be with Shayla. Or Heather. Please, don't follow me tonight.

Please?"

"Why, lass? We should be together." Angus was mystified over her request.

Shayla held up a hand in a calming gesture. "This has to be very traumatic for her, Angus. Let her have some space."

For a long moment, Angus gazed into Karen's eyes. "All right, love. I will do anything you ask."

"
Thank you,
" she whispered in response.

"Stay here, Angus. Wait for Tearach and tell him whatever you think will make a difference," Shayla advised. "There are some papers on my desk which include copies of computer photos. You might know them as pictures or images. You'll see what I'm speaking about. Karen found them while working and brought them to my attention. The pictures aren't very pleasant, but it might help you decide how to approach Tearach."

"Aye," he responded and watched them walk away. When he could see them no longer, Angus walked into the library, helped himself to some Scotch and waited for the Goblin Leader's arrival. He looked over the scattered papers on the Sorceress' desk and felt bile rise within him. What he saw among the images on the desk was heartbreaking. And he immediately connected the faces in those images with the Goblins' plight. He did not consider himself an eloquent man, but the words he would say had to be well considered. Much 272

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was at stake. He could almost feel the Goblin Leader's pain and had no right at all to judge the man. But, if his behavior indicated the man's true feelings, then Tearach still considered Karen a threat. Angus knew he could not be with her every second. Until she discovered what powers might be hers to command, her safety was still uncertain. Another of the Goblin faction might do to her what Roland hadn't. As their leader, Tearach had it in his power to order his minions to stay away from Karen and enforce the command better than he had previously done. The Goblin Leader's attitude toward that enforcement would go a long way toward engendering peace. Angus looked at the faces in the images once more, shook his head in sorrow and turned away.

There was a knock on the door and Hugh walked in.

"Tearach Bruce is here, as Shayla requested."

"Have him come in," Angus instructed. He poured out two glasses of whiskey and waited to hand one to the large Goblin.

When the Goblin walked into the room, Hugh turned to them both. "I'll be right outside if either of you need anything. Shayla has instructed that neither of you is to leave this room until there is an understanding over Karen and her safety. Is that clear?" When both men nodded, Hugh left and closed the heavy oak doors behind him.

"Drink this and talk to me, friend. I think you will find Karen isn't nearly so threatening as you might think."

Tearach looked at the other man suspiciously. He placed his hand over a dagger at his waist. "I'm not here to speak with
you
. Nor am I your friend, Druid."

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Angus noticed the man's right hand. A Goblin could throw a dagger with such deadly accuracy that an intended victim would never have time to cry out. There was a Claymore over the fireplace. But, no matter how fast he moved, Angus knew he would never have time to reach it. "I am unarmed, Goblin.

Is it your tradition to respond to courtesy with a blade?"

"What could we
possibly
have to say to one another? One of my men, my second-in-command as it happens, is dead.

He was trying to kill your woman. I can think of no words you and I could share to undo what has been done."

"No, that is true," Angus sighed. "But we might drink together instead of laying on arms. 'Tis a better way to remember the dead if we are no' going to talk."

Without smiling, Tearach took the whiskey Angus offered and downed it in one swallow. He walked to the liquor cabinet and refilled the glass. As he turned to the Druid, he perused the golden-colored whiskey within the crystal glass he held. "I can't apologize for what Roland did."

"Nor should you," Angus agreed. "You are no' he."

Tearach paced the length of the room several times while Angus continued to drink his own whiskey. Finally, he was unable to stand the tension any longer. The Goblin slammed the glass down on a table and rounded on Angus.

"Why are you wasting my time? I have to make arrangements to put another of my clan on a funeral fire and I stand here drinking with you." He leaned against the table and glared at the larger man. "What do you want, Druid?

Shayla has sent word that I'm to compensate you for the wrong Roland did. What can any of us have that you'd want?

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We haven't a great deal of money. Except for a little land here and there, our most sacred areas are polluted. All we have left is the food on our tables and the clothes off our backs. Name your price so I can get back to burying my friend."

Angus shook his head and poured the man another whiskey. It went untouched as Tearach continued to glare at him. "I once knew a man verra' like you. He hated outsiders to the point that he fought them, destroyed their livelihoods, lay with their women and left them to bear his children. He would no' even recognize his offspring as his own. This man left his own babes to whatever fate could throw their way."