Read Online Breathe (The Destiny Series: Book 1) by Christine Grey - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christine Grey
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retreat.
A sense of jubilation filled the Maj as they watched the last Breken leave their shores in haste. It was over! They had scattered and defeated the enemy! Never had they known such a one sided victory against their most hated and feared adversary. The people gathered to their lord, questioning their victory as it seemed almost too good to be true.
“Where’s Dearra? Where’s my daughter?” Hugh bellowed over the singing and celebration.
“Here, Father! I’m here.” Dearra skipped into the excited crowd of people, and threw her free arm around her father, the other hand still clutching her sword.
Hugh brought both arms around Dearra, and held her to him in a warm embrace. He lowered his head closer to her ear so that only she would hear him, and whispered, “We have much to discuss, my daughter.”
Dearra bit lightly on her bottom lip in nervous anticipation of that conversation. She nodded her assent and continued to cling to her father.
“To the caves!” Hugh said with a smile that lit his whole face. “Let us go to the rest of our people and let them know the danger has passed. There’s a feast to be prepared, and songs of victory to be sung. My own daughter may even have a story or two to tell.” Hugh grinned proudly at Dearra who blushed at the praise and the cheers of the people around her.
They walked together toward the caves, and the people hiding within came out to meet them when they heard the songs and laughter. Loved ones raced into each other’s arms. Fathers tossed children into the air, enjoying the squeals of delight from the little ones as they flew first up and then down into the safety of their fathers’ strong arms.
“Phillip! Pip, boy! Come and greet your father!” Hugh’s joy beamed as he searched the milling children for his wayward son.
Unsteady feet pulled Meggy toward Lord Hugh, her face pasty white, her lip trembling as she spoke. “Phillip isn’t with you, my lord?” Her voice came out shaking almost as badly as Meggy, herself.
The words took a moment to reach through Hugh’s elation, but when they did, he grabbed Meggy by the upper arms and lifted her cleanly from the ground. Shocked, the people went deathly silent.
Hugh was rigid with fear, and his fingers dug savagely into Meggy’s arms. He shook her roughly, and bellowed into her face, “What are you talking about? Why would he be with me? You were to be watching him! You! Where is my son? Speak Meggy! Where is my son?”
Dafyd’s own strong hands were on Hugh’s arm now, and he spoke as calmly as he could. “Lord, release my wife.”
Hugh looked into Meggy’s eyes, saw the tears that ran freely down her face, and then looked to his own hands clamped like vices around the soft flesh of her arms. He set her down, and spoke gently to both Dafyd and Meggy. “Forgive me.”
The look of humiliation on his face coupled with the fear he felt for his son, went to Meggy’s own, soft heart. Dafyd took his hand from Hugh’s arm and stepped back. Meggy took a step forward, and lay her gentle palm against Hugh’s face, forgiveness and sympathy in her eyes. “We came directly here as you ordered,” she said rapidly, for time was of the essence now. Phillip was in the rear helping to watch over the little ones. I saw him enter the cave with the others, and he seemed to be helping as best he could, but after we had been here for some time I noticed he was gone. We all searched for him, Lord, but we could not risk leaving the cave and drawing the Breken to the other children. I swear to you, I thought he had gone to join you. He is such a little man now, and so like his sister.” Meggy choked on the sob she desperately tried to contain.
“Daniel, Eldan, Dearra, with me!” Hugh boomed. “The rest of you, fan out and search!”
The joy of victory turned to desperation as every person not badly injured ran, walked, or limped in search of the little boy. Hugh fought back the crippling fear he felt, and
A sense of jubilation filled the Maj as they watched the last Breken leave their shores in haste. It was over! They had scattered and defeated the enemy! Never had they known such a one sided victory against their most hated and feared adversary. The people gathered to their lord, questioning their victory as it seemed almost too good to be true.
“Where’s Dearra? Where’s my daughter?” Hugh bellowed over the singing and celebration.
“Here, Father! I’m here.” Dearra skipped into the excited crowd of people, and threw her free arm around her father, the other hand still clutching her sword.
Hugh brought both arms around Dearra, and held her to him in a warm embrace. He lowered his head closer to her ear so that only she would hear him, and whispered, “We have much to discuss, my daughter.”
Dearra bit lightly on her bottom lip in nervous anticipation of that conversation. She nodded her assent and continued to cling to her father.
“To the caves!” Hugh said with a smile that lit his whole face. “Let us go to the rest of our people and let them know the danger has passed. There’s a feast to be prepared, and songs of victory to be sung. My own daughter may even have a story or two to tell.” Hugh grinned proudly at Dearra who blushed at the praise and the cheers of the people around her.
They walked together toward the caves, and the people hiding within came out to meet them when they heard the songs and laughter. Loved ones raced into each other’s arms. Fathers tossed children into the air, enjoying the squeals of delight from the little ones as they flew first up and then down into the safety of their fathers’ strong arms.
“Phillip! Pip, boy! Come and greet your father!” Hugh’s joy beamed as he searched the milling children for his wayward son.
Unsteady feet pulled Meggy toward Lord Hugh, her face pasty white, her lip trembling as she spoke. “Phillip isn’t with you, my lord?” Her voice came out shaking almost as badly as Meggy, herself.
The words took a moment to reach through Hugh’s elation, but when they did, he grabbed Meggy by the upper arms and lifted her cleanly from the ground. Shocked, the people went deathly silent.
Hugh was rigid with fear, and his fingers dug savagely into Meggy’s arms. He shook her roughly, and bellowed into her face, “What are you talking about? Why would he be with me? You were to be watching him! You! Where is my son? Speak Meggy! Where is my son?”
Dafyd’s own strong hands were on Hugh’s arm now, and he spoke as calmly as he could. “Lord, release my wife.”
Hugh looked into Meggy’s eyes, saw the tears that ran freely down her face, and then looked to his own hands clamped like vices around the soft flesh of her arms. He set her down, and spoke gently to both Dafyd and Meggy. “Forgive me.”
The look of humiliation on his face coupled with the fear he felt for his son, went to Meggy’s own, soft heart. Dafyd took his hand from Hugh’s arm and stepped back. Meggy took a step forward, and lay her gentle palm against Hugh’s face, forgiveness and sympathy in her eyes. “We came directly here as you ordered,” she said rapidly, for time was of the essence now. Phillip was in the rear helping to watch over the little ones. I saw him enter the cave with the others, and he seemed to be helping as best he could, but after we had been here for some time I noticed he was gone. We all searched for him, Lord, but we could not risk leaving the cave and drawing the Breken to the other children. I swear to you, I thought he had gone to join you. He is such a little man now, and so like his sister.” Meggy choked on the sob she desperately tried to contain.
“Daniel, Eldan, Dearra, with me!” Hugh boomed. “The rest of you, fan out and search!”
The joy of victory turned to desperation as every person not badly injured ran, walked, or limped in search of the little boy. Hugh fought back the crippling fear he felt, and
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