Read Online Charmed and Dangerous: An Appalachian Magic Novel (Appalachian Magic Series Book 1) by Debbie Herbert - Free Book Online
Authors: Debbie Herbert
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choice.”
He opened his eyes at last. Gone was the cunning, predatory gleam; now they reflected bald fear. “You won. There is no choice.”
“I’m offering mercy, you idiot.”
“Mercy?” He laughed bitterly. “No such thing among us. It’s a fight to the death, and victor takes all.”
“There is another way.” James didn’t want to kill, but he would if necessary. The odds were this man wouldn’t accept change. Usually they didn’t, especially the older ones.
The man moved his head slightly and spit on the ground. Beads of red blood spotted his neck where James kept the knife pressed. He couldn’t release the hold unless the man accepted his offer.
“What’s your name?” James asked.
“Andrew Scott.”
“Well, Andrew, this could be your lucky day.” He loosened the knife’s pressure a fraction. Andrew tensed, a crafty look flitting across his face.
“I’m not letting you go unless you agree to my terms.”
Andrew smiled without humor. “You have my attention.”
“Here in the hollows, there’s a new and better way. We’ve learned to exist in peace.”
“I . . . have heard such,” he admitted.
It was James’s turn to be surprised. “How?”
“There are rumors. I’d heard some younger immortals are changing from the Old Ways. But I didn’t believe it.”
“Believe it.” He loosened his hold slightly, testing Andrew. When he didn’t try to escape, James felt a stir of hope. Maybe this man would be different.
“You mentioned terms?”
“First, you must swear never to be the aggressor in a fight unless it’s to protect the New Ways or another’s life.”
“Agreed. Next.”
Andrew’s quick acceptance was a relief. “As proof of your sincerity, you must hand over your broadsword.”
“Hell, no.”
James sighed. “You’d rather die than surrender your sword? Don’t be stupid.”
“My sword is my power. You would leave me defenseless.”
“No. You’ll still be immortal and have all the physical strength as before. You will adjust. I fought and defeated you with only a bowie knife.”
Andrew studied him a few heartbeats, assessing the offer. “I agree to your terms.”
He eased the knife from Andrew’s throat, still alert for any sudden aggressive move. Those who trusted too easily tended to die early.
Andrew slowly sat up, grimacing in pain.
“You wound hasn’t fully healed,” James said. He extended his hand and pulled Andrew to his feet. The movement left James light-headed. He’d lost more blood than he’d thought when Andrew cut him.
Andrew staggered to the tree where his sword was impaled in the trunk. He groaned with the effort but managed to extract the weapon.
He held it out, its point lowered to the ground. “This belongs to you now. I thank you.”
James nodded, surprised at Andrew’s grace in defeat.
“I don’t understand these changes in our kind, but I think they could be a good thing.” Andrew’s throat worked, and when he spoke again, his voice was gruff. “I owe you my life. Should you ever need me, I live in Horse Creek about thirty miles north.”
James took the sword, and they shook hands. Andrew turned and walked down the mountain, injured yet able to live another day.
“Hey, how old are you anyway?” He yelled out before Andrew slipped from view.
“Six hundred nineteen.”
He sat down abruptly, Andrew’s sword clasped in his hand, and awaited the sword’s transfer of power. Although not as intense as the Quickening—when a defeated immortal’s life energy passed to another—absorbing the sword’s energy would be a physical ordeal, especially with all the blood loss from the fight. His body shook as the sky turned dark as night. Thunder rolled in, and large, blue-white bolts of lightning rained down.
And then all was blackness.
----
C allie poked at the fire , mind alternating between searching for her father and thoughts of James. Only a week had passed since returning home, but so much had happened, it
He opened his eyes at last. Gone was the cunning, predatory gleam; now they reflected bald fear. “You won. There is no choice.”
“I’m offering mercy, you idiot.”
“Mercy?” He laughed bitterly. “No such thing among us. It’s a fight to the death, and victor takes all.”
“There is another way.” James didn’t want to kill, but he would if necessary. The odds were this man wouldn’t accept change. Usually they didn’t, especially the older ones.
The man moved his head slightly and spit on the ground. Beads of red blood spotted his neck where James kept the knife pressed. He couldn’t release the hold unless the man accepted his offer.
“What’s your name?” James asked.
“Andrew Scott.”
“Well, Andrew, this could be your lucky day.” He loosened the knife’s pressure a fraction. Andrew tensed, a crafty look flitting across his face.
“I’m not letting you go unless you agree to my terms.”
Andrew smiled without humor. “You have my attention.”
“Here in the hollows, there’s a new and better way. We’ve learned to exist in peace.”
“I . . . have heard such,” he admitted.
It was James’s turn to be surprised. “How?”
“There are rumors. I’d heard some younger immortals are changing from the Old Ways. But I didn’t believe it.”
“Believe it.” He loosened his hold slightly, testing Andrew. When he didn’t try to escape, James felt a stir of hope. Maybe this man would be different.
“You mentioned terms?”
“First, you must swear never to be the aggressor in a fight unless it’s to protect the New Ways or another’s life.”
“Agreed. Next.”
Andrew’s quick acceptance was a relief. “As proof of your sincerity, you must hand over your broadsword.”
“Hell, no.”
James sighed. “You’d rather die than surrender your sword? Don’t be stupid.”
“My sword is my power. You would leave me defenseless.”
“No. You’ll still be immortal and have all the physical strength as before. You will adjust. I fought and defeated you with only a bowie knife.”
Andrew studied him a few heartbeats, assessing the offer. “I agree to your terms.”
He eased the knife from Andrew’s throat, still alert for any sudden aggressive move. Those who trusted too easily tended to die early.
Andrew slowly sat up, grimacing in pain.
“You wound hasn’t fully healed,” James said. He extended his hand and pulled Andrew to his feet. The movement left James light-headed. He’d lost more blood than he’d thought when Andrew cut him.
Andrew staggered to the tree where his sword was impaled in the trunk. He groaned with the effort but managed to extract the weapon.
He held it out, its point lowered to the ground. “This belongs to you now. I thank you.”
James nodded, surprised at Andrew’s grace in defeat.
“I don’t understand these changes in our kind, but I think they could be a good thing.” Andrew’s throat worked, and when he spoke again, his voice was gruff. “I owe you my life. Should you ever need me, I live in Horse Creek about thirty miles north.”
James took the sword, and they shook hands. Andrew turned and walked down the mountain, injured yet able to live another day.
“Hey, how old are you anyway?” He yelled out before Andrew slipped from view.
“Six hundred nineteen.”
He sat down abruptly, Andrew’s sword clasped in his hand, and awaited the sword’s transfer of power. Although not as intense as the Quickening—when a defeated immortal’s life energy passed to another—absorbing the sword’s energy would be a physical ordeal, especially with all the blood loss from the fight. His body shook as the sky turned dark as night. Thunder rolled in, and large, blue-white bolts of lightning rained down.
And then all was blackness.
----
C allie poked at the fire , mind alternating between searching for her father and thoughts of James. Only a week had passed since returning home, but so much had happened, it
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