Read Online Morganna (The Brocade Collection, Book 4) by Jackie Ivie - Free Book Online Page A

stepped a bit to the back of Zander. They were approaching a Scottish gathering, and wearing FitzHugh colors? They were going to be surrounded and captured, maybe even stoned themselves.
    “FitzHugh?” One of the leaders bellowed
    “Zander.” He bowed deeply. “Of the Highland FitzHughs. Doona’ mistake me for my eldest brother.”
    “We’ve heard of you, Zander. You may approach. You can bring your frightened boy with you, too.”
    Zander’s glance said enough of his disgust that Morgan didn’t have to guess what he thought. She set her lips and stepped out from behind him. She’d never done anything so insane before. She’d been the only one in her village brave enough to challenge the ghosts of the dead! Yet now she had acted so completely against her character, she didn’t know what to think.
    She hung her head a bit, then raised it. She had acted like a frightened rabbit for a moment or two, when she hadn’t done anything like that in more years than she could count. It was Zander’s fault, too. He had her dirks.
    “Smart lad,” Zander whispered. “They’ll na’ suspect your expertise if they expect fear.”
    Morgan’s face split with a grin, then she stopped in her tracks. She was smiling because the kin of her mortal enemy praised her? She was going insane! She pulled the sling-shot from her wrist and started stretching it as she jogged to catch up with them.
    There were more people in that gathering than in her village, and more than she’d seen, alive at one place, in her life. Morgan hung back behind Zander, catching the interested eyes of lasses as they eyed first Zander, and then her. She had to look away from more than one who would lower her lashes a bit and then boldly stare back at her. Morgan knew her cheeks were rosy. She just didn’t know how to stop it.
    “ Look about, lad. There’s lasses a-plenty here. There might even be one fitting your ideal maid.”
    ‘‘Perhaps. There’s also sow-size ones for you , I notice.”
    His lips twisting was the only sign he ’d heard. “I’ve seen their stoner. He’s of a slender size, like yourself. Very accurate. If you best him, I’ll give you one of your dirks.”
    “Two ,” she returned, beneath her breath.
    He glanced sidelong at her. “Very well. Two,” he agreed.
    There were two stuffed dummies placed on poles, already showing the results of earlier contests. Morgan eyed them. From the marked-off distance, she could take out any piece of straw on either dummy’s head.
    “’T is too easy,” she complained.
    Zander held up his arm and started speaking, in such a loud booming voice, Morgan wasn’t the only one staring at him with her mouth open. “My friends! I’ve a gamble to make today! I’ve a newly acquired squire you see before you. Not much, you think? Well, this lad will take out your target’s eye at this range, much less any hit. I suggest we double the distance! Are there any takers?”
    Three. Morgan eyed them as they did her. Three young men, not one as tall as her, but none with what Zander would describe as scrawny arms.
    “He’s got no strength to toss with, and you’ve not shown us the color of your silver.”
    “A Scotsman with silver? The fairies have stolen your wits. I’ve more than silver, though. I’ve this squire. He’ll make any a fine servant, and well-trained he is, too. I’ll personally guarantee his service for three years.”
    “Zander!” Morgan gasped, lifting her eyes to his. She had a perfect aim, but had never had it tested with her own freedom at stake.
    “The lad begs to differ!” Zander shouted, “His aim is so true, he’ll give five years, and mark off another ten paces!”
    He wanted to be rid of her that much? Morgan felt what had to be her heart hitting the region of her well-filled belly, and then she was angry. So angry in fact, that her entire body shook with it. She controlled it viciously, until only her hands felt it, and then it stilled. Zander FitzHugh was going