Read Online Celtic Stars (Celtic Steel Book 4) by Delaney Rhodes - Free Book Online

jest me and the Missus I suppose my Lord.”
    “Good, keep it that way, Ochnar. No one is to know she has any ties whatsoever to the O’Malleys. Is that clear? No one else, anyway,” he added.
    “What sort of lass is she?” asked Marina.
    “Well,” Easal spurted, “tell her.”
    “Well, she is verra pleasant to look at, I’d have to say that. She has long flowing golden hair, she’s a might petite, pretty puckered lips and nice eyes. She’s got herself a fiery temper though; she is downright murderous with rage over her beloved – I mean – her betrothed’s dalliance. Seems she was dead set on being married to a man of high station and said something about ‘cutting him down’ for what he’d done. Sharp tongue too – whoo whee – that lass there has flowery speech if I ever did hear any,” he laughed.
    “I bet,” Marina chuckled, “She’s no doubt a full-fledged Scottish lass.”
    “Go on,” Easal continued.
    “Well, seems to me, my Lord, she is the type that might get really excited about the prospect of finer things, and being the Lord’s wife,” he said. “Jest from looking a’ her ye can tell she has certain expectations, ye know, fine clothing and what-not. She would definitely look the part and she seems smart enough. I don’t think she’d take too well to a philandering man though, from what the men accompanying her have said, she’s pretty adept with a dagger,” he chuckled, scratching his chin.
    Marina chuckled, “I don’t think we’d have to worry about that Ochnar, Easal is a mon of honor.” She exchanged knowing glances with Easal and a plan was born. “Ochnar, please tell the Missus that the Lord requests the honor of her presence and that of the prisoners – our guests – please Ochnar, call them our “guests”, tomorrow evening in the great hall. We will discuss their safe return to their ports of origin.”
    “Ye mean to send her back, do ye?” Ochnar asked, looking puzzled.
    “Jest ye let me handle that part,” said Marina. “Ochnar, I will have a missive for ye to deliver to the Missus, come back at sun-up for it, it will be ready then.”
    “Aye,” he said as he bowed and backed his way out of the chamber, clear that he had been dismissed.
    “Wait,” grunted Easal. “What is this lass called?”
    “Ah – I believe they call her Aisling.”
     

E IGHT
Dragon’s Point
    She watched as the red dragon tenderly groomed the young, blue, dragon, careful not to be rough with its malformed wing. She determined this must be the mother, and the young its offspring.  No longer in fear for her life, why else would she still be alive , Daenal sat down peacefully against the stony wall and let the sounds of the water fall calm her into a peaceful oblivion. Of course, she still wondered why she was there, but realized that no amount of anxious imaginations would give her that answer, and so, she simply trusted. She trusted that she was here for a reason that she was needed, perhaps she could help and when the time came, she would be willing and ready to do so.
    The young blue dragon knew she was there, having looked her in the eye several times, appearing to be just as inquisitive about her as she was of he. It was a “he” alright; the tell-tale signs of newly cut horns blistered the top side of its dark blue head.  They had just finished their meal of fish and other sea creatures and curled up tenderly next to one another, grooming and preparing for slumber. She presumed as it was nearly sun up. The hare was putting off an inviting aroma after the red dragon tossed it upon a stone and lit it afire. Was it a peace offering of some kind? Daenal was growing very hungry and her low blood sugar told her to eat or sleep or pass out. She wasn’t sure which would happen first, but she was ready to find out just how done the hare was at this point.
    Reaching in her left boot, she retrieved the dagger her Uncle Ruarc gave her as a child and inched slowly on all fours