Read Online Dera (Celtic Fae Legend Book One) (Lloyd Sisters Trilogy 1) by Kathrine Emrick - Free Book Online Page A

queen's pronouncement. He had no powers. The thought struck terror in his soul. He had no powers! What was he supposed to do without his powers? They defined him; made him who he was. He suddenly felt a chill of a very different sort. By stripping him of his powers, Isolde had unwittingly stripped him of his identity.
    He had no idea how long he sat there, in those desolate mountains. But when his teeth began to clatter from the cold, he knew it was time to move, if he didn't he would die from exposure. Slowly, his movements clumsy from the cold and the effects of the shock running through his veins, he stood up and began to place one foot in front of the other. He located a small track and decided to follow it, the slim hope of shelter propelling him forward.
    He understood Isolde's anger but she had no idea what she had interfered with. They may all be in danger and he had been sent out by King Geraint to gather intelligence. He knew he needed to find a way back, across the gateway but at that precise moment, the cold was a more pressing concern.

Chapter One
    Dera Lloyd opened her eyes blearily, the strident noise ringing in her ears making her grit her teeth. She'd been up very late the night before sorting out inventory for her market stall and six a.m. had seemed to come around rather too quickly. She looked at her alarm clock with distaste and seriously contemplated throwing it across the room. Luckily it was sitting on the sideboard out of reach; she always placed it there deliberately so she was forced to get out of bed to switch it off. She hated getting up in the mornings, especially when she'd had a late night.
    After silencing the offending clock she thought about her coming day, it was Thursday so she needed to get herself motivated. Carog, the beautiful, historic village nestled in the shadows of the North Wales Mountains where she lived had an outside market on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and they were her busiest days. She glanced through the open latticed window of her bedroom and sighed with relief, good, the sun was shining. The weather forecast the previous night had said it was going to be a beautiful autumn day and that hopefully meant lots of new customers as well as her regulars. The tourists would hopefully be out in force and she'd be able to sell much of her older merchandise thus giving her the much needed funds to invest in newer stock.
    Kicking back her duvet she stretched and yawned, a cup of tea to help wake her up, then her shower she decided. She'd have her breakfast in the café old Mrs. Jones ran in the market square. She'd be very ready for her bacon sandwich by the time she'd set up her stall and she needed to set up in her favorite spot before anyone else got there before her.
    ***
    Dera looked around her and sighed happily. She loved the autumn, especially days like today when the air was crisp and sharp. Living so near the beautiful mountains of North Wales wasn't so bad either, she loved living away from the smog and fumes of the cities. She'd spent several years living in London and had missed the Welsh countryside of her childhood. Leaving her corporate job and returning to her roots had been one of the best decisions she'd ever made.
    After setting up her stall to her satisfaction she leaned over to the elderly lady manning a knitting wool stall near to her, "can you watch my stall for me whilst I go grab a bite to eat from Mrs. Jones? I'm starving."
    Gladys nodded and smiled, "No problem Cariad" she replied, "Here's some money, can you fetch me something back as well?" Affection flooded Dera as the old woman spoke the welsh term of endearment. Translated it meant 'sweetheart' and it always made her feel nostalgic. It was something her mother had always said, with love, when Dera and her sisters were younger.
    She grinned at the old lady and shot over to the small market café where the smell of bacon wafted making her feel even hungrier. She added two cups of tea to her order