Stone Heart (36 page)
Authors: Candace Sams
- "No. I want to know who stands loyal without question. It's
- "Not advising our leaders of your plans could cause the very
- Shayla stopped walking and turned to speak. "Are you saying
- He took her hands in his and spoke reassuringly. "Of course
- "When I know who'll stand with me without question in this m
- Hugh continued walking beside her. "I have. But what may com
- "Fear can be a good thing, my heart. Our mettle will be test
- "Aye," he agreed, "they must be."
- Karen looked over her shoulder, and noticed the seriousness
- He took her hand in his. "If the Sorceress dinna' wish it, y
- "May I ask how she got so powerful?"
- "It has been a long time since being instructed in the ways
- "And the leader is always a woman?"
- "Always." Angus smiled. "Women are the givers of life and ar
- "What's wrong?" Karen asked, noticing Angus' darkening expre
- "How do you like this century so far? Besides television and
- He shook off his foul mood and smiled again. "It is remarkab
- "It's all right, Angus. I've promised no harm will come to h
- Confused by what seemed like minutes of total silence and An
- "MacGregor is not convinced," Hugh shrugged and smiled. Besi
- "Show yourself," Angus commanded as he stared into the glade
- "Don't get your knickers in a knot," a small voice replied.
- Karen watched Hugh hide a grin behind one hand. Shayla shook
- "Come out, Pluck. This is Angus MacGregor. I'm sure you've h
- "She's pretty. He's still an oaf!" the voice repeated.
- "Sorceress, order him out of hiding!" Angus growled. "I disl
- "Pluck, behave yourself and come out. What will Karen think
- The bushes near Karen's right moved, and out stepped a tiny
- "Hello, Karen Matthews. I'm Pluck O'Reilly. But we seldom go
- Karen was enchanted with the man Angus called an Elf. "Ohhhh
- Pluck smirked broadly and proudly stuck out his chest. She c
- They laughed at the smug expression on his little face.
- Karen knelt to Pluck's level. "Isn't he adorable, Angus?"
- "She thinks I'm adorable, too. What do you think of that?" P
- Elves and Druids usually only tolerated each other. The smal
- "We can be friends can't we, Pluck?" she asked. "You don't m
- Shayla held her breath. Pluck wasn't known for his tactfulne
- "We all have to be something." Pluck shrugged. "I'm an Elf,
- Hugh and Shayla were trying hard not to laugh at Pluck's obv
- Angus glared at Pluck. "You'd do well to distance yourself f
- Pluck addressed Karen, completely ignoring Angus. "You're an
- "Yes. And you have a wonderful brogue. I've always loved the
- Pluck boldly took Karen's hand and began to lead her slowly
- "Don't wander far," Angus warned her.
- "She's with me, witless. I'll see she comes to no harm," Plu
- Heedless of Angus' concern, Karen continued walking away wit
- "Pluck will take care of her," Hugh promised. "His word is h
- "Why am I no' assured?" Angus groused as he watched Karen wa
- Shayla watched Angus' expression of fear and concern turn to
- "Pluck!" Shayla called, "Find Lore, Gryphon and Tearach. Hav
- Pluck nodded to Shayla, doffed his cap to Karen and dashed i
- Despite Karen's smile, Shayla sensed the girl's weariness. S
- Angus sensed Karen's lethargy as well. He quickly took her t
- Karen leaned against his chest and smiled up at him. "When c
- "Tomorrow," Shayla replied for him. "For now, the both of yo
- Hugh nodded his farewell and followed Shayla into the forest
- To Karen, it seemed the green of the shrubbery swallowed the
- "Hush, you. Rest. 'Tis but a short distance and you've had a
- She must have been more exhausted than she realized. The nex
- "We'll eat later. For now, sleep," he told her. It was still
- * * * *
- Karen awoke just as darkness was falling. A fire warmed the
- "What concerns you so?"
- She looked up as Angus' baritone voice reverberated from acr
- "Little chance of that." He laughed. "I'm probably the only
- Karen ran her hands through her hair and thought for a momen
- He tilted his head and came to sit before her. "Such things
- "When the Sorceress takes me to someplace where I can show y
- He saw her eyes light with enthusiasm. Here was something wh
- "That's very possible, as long as the information is on a da
- "'Twas just a question," he lied. "But if such a device exis
- She shrugged. "Like I said, storing information can open a w
- "I canna' imagine being able to speak with someone across th
- "Well, big guy, you're gonna' love this!" She put a hand to
- Angus loved speaking to her thus. Despite her failing body,
- He rose and threw another log on the fire. "Are you hungry?
- After several minutes of rummaging through enough foodstuffs
- He had to let her work a can opener for him, but the potatoe
- He moved toward the small kitchen area, and Karen was alarme
- Angus immediately turned to her and offered a sincere apolog
- Pluck walked into the cottage. "I've brought your luggage. Y
- "Hello, Pluck," Karen said. "Won't you come in and join us?
- The Elf watched Angus' darkening expression, saw the large m
- Angus dragged her luggage into the room, slammed the door an
- "What is it with you two?" she asked with a laugh.
- "If you recall, I did nothing to provoke his behavior," Angu
- "That's true, you didn't. But why doesn't he like you?"
- He shrugged as if the matter were of little concern. "Elves
- "And his attitude annoys you?" She grinned.
- He returned her smile. "It should not, I know. But the littl
- She knew he was teasing. But it made her day to hear the pos
- "By the way, you weren't going to actually use that on someo
- "I will put this back," he said, putting off answering. She
- "Open the packages the Sorceress sent with Pluck. I shall se
- Karen wasn't fooled by his evasiveness when it came to the s
- She took the packages to a wooden table, which served as the
- He opened the container, sniffed the contents and nodded. "Y
- "And not you?" she questioned.
- He laughed. "Perhaps she meant for me to drink some as well.
- She tore through the second larger bundle and unfolded a whi
- "To be more easily accepted by them, perhaps." He fingered t
- "What about you? You are Druid. I wonder why you weren't giv
- "The Sorceress knows I would no' wear it. Long ago I disasso
- "And you're not?" she asked.
- He noted the sad tone of her voice. "First, there is much I
- "Angus, please, let the past go. Let me help you," she plead
- "Since you ask, I will try." He smiled. "Now, put this garme
- "Will we be going out tonight?" She asked with a sense of ri
- "Aye, after we've eaten. And only for a short distance. You
- Angus almost gasped when she gifted him with a smile that wa
- Karen debated about leaving on her underwear, but guessed th
- Angus was putting the meal on the table when she walked into
- The difference was astounding. It was as if she belonged in
- "It suits you well," he murmured. "Many will no' easily sens
- "Like you said, maybe that's why Shayla sent it." She paused
- "Since she introduced herself to you as both, you may use ei
- "I will," she nodded. "I'm on your turf now."
- He was not exactly sure what that meant, but she was sincere
- * * * *
- Karen had packed his leather clothing with hers. There was n
- "I am ready," he announced as he entered the room.
- And she'd just been telling herself how comfortable she was
- For this moment in time, she'd be the damsel he'd chosen to
- "Shall we go forth, lady?"
- Chapter Seven
- Karen looked up into the cobalt-colored sky. The moon hung l
- "In this place, time seems to stop," Angus whispered. "This
- "Will they let me see them?" she asked as he sat and wrapped
- "I believe they will. They fear nothing here. No prey threat
- "What could possibly want to harm such creatures?"
- "The biggest fear they have is of being caught by some kinds
- "Angus, that's horrible!" Her hands covered her face. Then s
- He tried to stop chuckling. "They have no natural enemies ex
- "On the grill of a car? That's disgusting!" She tried hard n
- "Aye, just a little Druid humor." He smirked.
- "A very little." She tried to keep the mirth out of her voic
- "They will come in but a few moments."
- "What's the difference between Fairies and Pixies?" she aske
- "About three lengths of my arm, I should imagine."
- "What?"
- "I'll introduce you to some Fairies tomorrow. We're here to
- "Well, you're in a rare mood." His good humor was infectious
- He suddenly held up his hand. "They approach."
- From a distance, tiny bells tinkled. Then the sound grew clo
- Angus pulled her very close and wrapped his arms about her.
- Karen did as he instructed and froze in his embrace, but she
- "Gathering nectar for various drinks and medicines," he loud
- From the ambient light created by their small baskets, she c
- "I told you not to move. I said nothing about being quiet,"
- "You're an ass!" She openly laughed with him. "What's gotten
- "I dinna' know 'twould feel so good to be back. I have had n
- His own children. Of course he would want a family of his ow
- Angus had never thought or felt things like this before. Wom
- Karen felt his light mood slip away. Hers was gone, too. The
- "Angus, can we go back now?"
- "Aye, we should," he readily agreed.
- He led her back to the cottage. Karen did not seem in any be
- "What? What are you talking about?" She looked up at his fac
- "There are many times I speak without thinking. That matter
- "Angus, it's all right. Just say it." She put her hands on h
- He took a deep breath and tried to phrase what he wanted to
- Understanding crept in. Angus believed he'd hurt her feeling
- The need to set his mind at ease was more important than her
- He pulled her to him and hugged her. "Ach, dunna' trouble yo
- "I'm hoping you do have lots and lots of children. I think y
- His mood brightened considerably, and she rambled on about w
- * * * *
- Angus arose before Karen and decided to make use of the smal
- Karen sat up and stretched. It wasn't quite dawn, but Angus'
- "I will be but a moment longer," he loudly returned, "This s
- "But not your singing, you oversized waste of space! Hurry u
- In a few moments, the bathroom door crashed open and Angus b
- Karen tried not to laugh as she moved past the large, towel-
- "Take your time, Karen," Angus raised his voice so the Elf c
- A half hour later, Angus watched Karen emerge from the bathr
- "Thank you, Angus. What a sweet thing to say." She watched h
- As they sat together and exchanged a warm smile before shari
- "Don't suppose those are blueberry scones?" a voice squeaked
- Angus stared at Karen when she softly laughed and then looke
- "Please?" she softly pleaded and smiled her brightest smile.
- How could he refuse her anything? She was so sweet and winso
- Breakfast proceeded without further incident. It alarmed Ang
- "Everyone should be in the clearing by now. Are you ready?"
- Angus nodded and Karen got up to place her plate in the kitc
- "We should rest here, Karen. The overstuffed oaf is having a
- Karen laughed and sat upon a nearby log. Forever after that,
- In that moment, the Druid and Elf shared a meaningful, short
- Angus caught Pluck staring at him intently. It was as though
- Pluck grinned and nodded. The message was understood. Angus
- Karen glanced at Angus and Pluck. What was that all about? S
- Their journey continued for almost another hour. Karen was t
- "Wait here, Karen," Pluck directed her to a stone where she
- Angus came to her, knelt by her side and took her small hand
- "No. Well, maybe just a little," she conceded.
- "That's a brave lass," he crooned. "In my time, outsiders be
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