![Susan King - [Celtic Nights 03]](https://fs.dianahicksbooks.com/606913/thumbs/152x264/susan-king-celtic-nights-03.jpg)
Read Online Susan King - [Celtic Nights 03] by The Sword Maiden - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: The Sword Maiden
Ads: Link
dishonorable our king can be. This isle must remain in your keeping, or there may be dire consequences for all of Scotland, according to the legend. Now that you are no longer living on the isle yourself, your claim is weakened."
She frowned. "I am doing what I think best. Colin sent me a letter last year saying that he had requested the return of my clan's rights and my brother's pardon. He is keeping his promise to me. The pardon may even be accomplished by now." She tried to smile. "We will find out soon."
"Bah. Green Colin serves himself, not you and your clan! You have heard little from him in all this time. Both Simon and I want you to break that betrothal and let the rebels take their chances. Do not sacrifice your happiness."
She shook her head. "I gave my promise in exchange for his help," she murmured. "I will honor it." She had never told anyone about Colin's threat to have Donal killed and Simon hunted down if she did not go through with the marriage. Aware of the risks that her marriage might hold, she still hoped to keep her kinsmen safe. She did not look at Alpin as she fingered the rose petals.
"Tcha," he said. "Stubborn girl. You do not want this. Where is the bold Eva I once knew, eh? What does she want?"
"I want what is best for my clan, and Innisfarna. What more could I want?" Once there had been more, but now her true desires emerged only in dreams, where she shared her misty, lovely island home with a dark-haired man who ruled fire and made iron yield to his will, and whose deep, tender embraces made her yearn for far more than dreams. She sighed.
"There is something you can do," Alpin said. "You were named for the valiant and beautiful Aeife, who defended this island long ago. Do what she did. Fight for Innisfarna. I have been training you for it," he added, giving her an odd glance.
Eva stared at him. "Fight? You taught me how to use a weapon to defend myself, but I am no warrior!"
"Listen to me." He pointed to the loch. "The Sword of Light lies in those waters, guarding the doorway to the faery world. Only you and I truly understand its importance. This isle must never leave the safekeeping of Aeife's female line. Look what has happened since the peace of this place was disturbed. Garrisoning, forfeiture—and the loss of twenty Highland chiefs, including your father."
"Alpin, that is not the legend come to bear!"
"Is it not? Legends are powerful mysteries. If Innisfarna is threatened, the Sword of Light is not safe, and neither is Scotland. You must fight, as Aeife did," he urged. "I saw this coming, and so I have prepared you."
She stared at him. "Why did you not tell me this earlier?"
"You would have refused. For all your boldness, you never liked to fight with the boys, nor did you like to hear about that part of your island's legend. But now that you have the skills, we will find the warrior in you," he confided, grinning.
"Alpin, it is just a tale! You cannot expect me—"
"What are legends but pure truths? This one teaches courage and righteousness. We must heed it, or lose all."
"I cannot go against a garrison. I have no army, no weapons—and no desire to fight!"
"Look at this." Alpin pulled the fat pink bloom forward again. "Tell me the secret of the rose."
"The secret?" She frowned, confused.
"It is beautiful. Take it. Go on."
She reached out, wincing as the thorns stung her thumb. She let go, sucking on the wound, watching Alpin.
He nodded. "The rose defends itself, and you will do the same. You are a strong and nimble girl, with a bold heart. Put that to use. You have much potential, and some skill already. And of course you have an excellent tutor." He winked.
She stared at him. "You sly old warrior."
"I am that, Aeife," he said, using the old, breathy pronunciation of her name: Eh-fah.
She regarded him thoughtfully, remembering the stories she had heard of his prowess as a warrior before her birth, before he had become their ferryman. He had instructed her brothers
She frowned. "I am doing what I think best. Colin sent me a letter last year saying that he had requested the return of my clan's rights and my brother's pardon. He is keeping his promise to me. The pardon may even be accomplished by now." She tried to smile. "We will find out soon."
"Bah. Green Colin serves himself, not you and your clan! You have heard little from him in all this time. Both Simon and I want you to break that betrothal and let the rebels take their chances. Do not sacrifice your happiness."
She shook her head. "I gave my promise in exchange for his help," she murmured. "I will honor it." She had never told anyone about Colin's threat to have Donal killed and Simon hunted down if she did not go through with the marriage. Aware of the risks that her marriage might hold, she still hoped to keep her kinsmen safe. She did not look at Alpin as she fingered the rose petals.
"Tcha," he said. "Stubborn girl. You do not want this. Where is the bold Eva I once knew, eh? What does she want?"
"I want what is best for my clan, and Innisfarna. What more could I want?" Once there had been more, but now her true desires emerged only in dreams, where she shared her misty, lovely island home with a dark-haired man who ruled fire and made iron yield to his will, and whose deep, tender embraces made her yearn for far more than dreams. She sighed.
"There is something you can do," Alpin said. "You were named for the valiant and beautiful Aeife, who defended this island long ago. Do what she did. Fight for Innisfarna. I have been training you for it," he added, giving her an odd glance.
Eva stared at him. "Fight? You taught me how to use a weapon to defend myself, but I am no warrior!"
"Listen to me." He pointed to the loch. "The Sword of Light lies in those waters, guarding the doorway to the faery world. Only you and I truly understand its importance. This isle must never leave the safekeeping of Aeife's female line. Look what has happened since the peace of this place was disturbed. Garrisoning, forfeiture—and the loss of twenty Highland chiefs, including your father."
"Alpin, that is not the legend come to bear!"
"Is it not? Legends are powerful mysteries. If Innisfarna is threatened, the Sword of Light is not safe, and neither is Scotland. You must fight, as Aeife did," he urged. "I saw this coming, and so I have prepared you."
She stared at him. "Why did you not tell me this earlier?"
"You would have refused. For all your boldness, you never liked to fight with the boys, nor did you like to hear about that part of your island's legend. But now that you have the skills, we will find the warrior in you," he confided, grinning.
"Alpin, it is just a tale! You cannot expect me—"
"What are legends but pure truths? This one teaches courage and righteousness. We must heed it, or lose all."
"I cannot go against a garrison. I have no army, no weapons—and no desire to fight!"
"Look at this." Alpin pulled the fat pink bloom forward again. "Tell me the secret of the rose."
"The secret?" She frowned, confused.
"It is beautiful. Take it. Go on."
She reached out, wincing as the thorns stung her thumb. She let go, sucking on the wound, watching Alpin.
He nodded. "The rose defends itself, and you will do the same. You are a strong and nimble girl, with a bold heart. Put that to use. You have much potential, and some skill already. And of course you have an excellent tutor." He winked.
She stared at him. "You sly old warrior."
"I am that, Aeife," he said, using the old, breathy pronunciation of her name: Eh-fah.
She regarded him thoughtfully, remembering the stories she had heard of his prowess as a warrior before her birth, before he had become their ferryman. He had instructed her brothers
Similar Books
