Read Online The Pillars Of The World by Anne Bishop - Free Book Online

reminding her that she was here to hide, not enjoy a summer evening by the sea.
    After making sure the shallow cave wasn’t occupied by anything else, Ari tucked her pack inside. There was a small stack of dried wood at the back of the cave. If she’d dared, she could have made a fire.
    No matter. The low wall would block a fair amount of wind, and the night was fairly warm for early summer. Tucked in the cave with her cloak, she would be comfortable enough.
    Ari closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths, letting the rhythm of the sea and the roll of quiet waves settle her pounding heart.
    No one had seen her come here. No one would find her here.
    She opened her eyes and saw the black horse galloping along the water’s edge.
    It must have found another path down to the beach, she thought as she watched it. But wasn’t it odd that the horse would even try to find its way down the cliff on its own? It couldn’t drink the water, and there was nothing on the beach for it to eat. Maybe it just liked the feel of sand beneath its hooves and sea foam around its legs? She’d have to ask Ahern the next time she saw him. His “special” horses tended to act a bit differently from other animals.
    She didn’t know if the horse had seen her or had caught her scent in some shift of the wind, but one moment it was galloping in the foam and the next it was charging up the beach straight at her.
    Ari took a step back, ready to duck into the cave.
    The horse stopped a length away from the wall and reared.
    A wave of heat went through Ari’s body, leaving behind the strange sensation of a heavy lushness combined with the ability to float.
    The horse laid its ears back and pawed the sand.

    “I have as much right to be here as you do,” Ari said.
    Rearing again, the horse trumpeted a challenge.
    Obviously, it didn’t like sharing the beach. Well that was just too bad. It could just go galloping back to Ahern’s farm—or wherever it came from. Besides, it was making too much noise, which could draw someone’s attention.
    Ari put her hands on her hips. “Now see here, my handsome lad,” she said sternly. “Showing off your fifth leg might make your four-legged ladies roll their eyes and swish their tails, but it doesn’t impress me.
    ”
    A flash of panic swept through her. Why had she said that? Was this part of the fancy’s magic, to make a woman speak so brazenly?
    The stallion’s forelegs hit the sand. He snorted indignantly.
    Ari laughed. “There’s no need for you to nurse a bruised ego. I’m sure your ladies are most appreciative of your . . .” She waved a hand vaguely at his body.
    He snorted again.
    Ari’s chest tightened. Since it already bound her, she couldn’t fight the fancy’s magic. It would turn back on her if she did. So she had to find some harmless way to channel it. But, Lord and Lady, her body was becoming a stranger she couldn’t trust, and her thoughts were following unfamiliar paths. Even when she’
    d so foolishly believed herself in love with Royce she hadn’t felt like this.
    The stallion pawed the sand.
    Ari held out her hand and took a few steps toward the horse. “You are a handsome lad, aren’t you?”
    she said softly.
    The stallion regarded her for a moment before coming forward to sniff her hand.
    Ari remained still while he sniffed and lipped her palm, but when he began to lip her long, dark hair, she leaned back. “That isn’t hay.”
    He snorted softly, almost sounding amused.
    She’d never seen a gray-eyed horse before, Ari thought while the stallion pushed his muzzle under her cloak and snuffled her hip. In the moonlight, those eyes reminded her of her grandmother’s pewter vase that sat on the mantel.
    The stallion nudged her left pocket. He stiffened, made an angry sound, then leaped away from her. He laid his ears back and pawed the sand while he stared at her.
    Confused, Ari slowly reached into her left pocket. She withdrew the fancy wrapped in the brown