Read Mortal Magick Online

Authors: Patty Taylor

Mortal Magick (10 page)

BOOK: Mortal Magick
10.04Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Chapter 17

“I just can’t understand him, Darby. Duncan acts as if the mere sight of me disgusts him. I was surprised to see him come back this morning. He’s been different ever since I put on these new clothes the other night.” Keara swallowed a sigh and threw a handful of dirt over the smoldering campfire. She patted her hands together before placing them on her hips and turned her attention to Duncan helping Colin. “I guess I’ve held him back and become more of a burden than he bargained for. He must resent me for that.”

“Not true, Keara. Ye canna blame yerself for his moodiness. Duncan’s a good man with a giant heart, but I’m afraid ‘tis too much on his mind right now. He never was good when it came to having patience.” Darby grabbed her hand, patting the top of it with his stubby fingers. He smiled and glanced over at Duncan. “Dinna fret yerself. Ye must give him some time.”

Her small friend frowned while he muttered, a distant look in his eyes. “I think he found something more important to him than his own life. Something he’s afraid he’ll lose before he even has the chance to claim it.”

Keara began to ask Darby what he meant when she was interrupted by boisterous laughter. Duncan stood, his legs spread wide apart and arms crossed, watching Colin’s arrow soaring high in the clouds. The teen was obviously taking advantage of his uncle’s undivided attention. The young man hurried to shoot another arrow.

Darby glanced at Duncan and Colin, his chubby fingers pushing a dangling ivy vine sticking out of his bushy sideburns behind the tip of his ear. “I think I’ll go ask Duncan what his plans are for the day if ye dinna mind me leavin’ ye for a wee bit.”

“Thanks, Darby, but I’ll be fine. I’ll just sort through a few things.” She strolled to the new bag and peered inside while Darby lit his pipe and made his way beside the rambunctious pair.

Samson sprinted to her side, pawed at her leg, and mewed.

A cluster of tiny blinking lights danced in front of her, reminding her of the delightful displays of lightning bugs back home every July.
It’s not even dark yet
. She held out her hand, waiting for one to come close enough to catch. Less than the size of a pea, one of the lights bounced up and down on the palm of her hand and hovered several feet in front of her. The rest of them swarmed around her and floated toward the woods.

Keara glanced quickly at Duncan. His back turned toward her, he was yelling at Darby while Colin stood kicking his foot at the ground.
By the looks of things, I’m guessing it’s not a good time to interrupt. Besides, the lights could have hurt me already if they wanted to. I’ll be back before they even notice I’m gone.

Curious, she followed the bouncing orbs though a meadow of bluebells mixed with wood anemones. The unusual spheres disappeared someplace shrouded in mist behind a thicket of gorse. She pulled the hem of her gown right below her knees and watched her footing while treading over a small pathway of stepping stones.

The lights grew brighter, weaving within a circle of towering stones encrypted with symbols like those on her amulet. She approached one of the ancient stones and stopped. Awed by the structures, she rubbed her hand up and down the smooth surface, gliding her fingers over the peculiar engravings. She reached inside the gown’s hidden sewn pocket for the talisman. It grew warm in her hand just like the first night she found it.

Her stomach twisted in knots. Images of Duncan, Darby, and Colin filled her mind.
How
can I leave them without saying goodbye? Especially Duncan.
Hot tears stung her eyes. A sharp pain pierced her midriff as she realized this might be her only chance. She bent, scooping her faithful furry friend into her arms. “Hurry, Samson, this may be our way home.”

The feline squirmed and jumped to the ground, pawing at a patch of grass in the middle of the towering stones. A small pool of clear, sparkling water appeared in front of them. Keara stepped backward, her back colliding with one of the huge rocks. The golden amulet glowed, growing hotter inside her hand. The heat climbed up her arm. She couldn’t hold it much longer.

She knelt in front of the tiny pool, set the talisman by her side, and plunged her hands inside the cool, refreshing water. Ripples of water changed colors in front of her.

Three images appeared in front of her eyes. The first, of a beautiful young maiden wearing a wreath of flowers and leaves in her hair. It faded into the second image, of a pregnant middle-aged woman. The third image appeared—an elderly crone with an owl on her shoulder.

I know these signs. They represent the Triple Goddess.

The water whispered, “The pearl
.”

A watery mist sprayed on her wrist making her tattoo swell slightly in size. She felt no pain, only a sense of comfort and warmth, like someone tucking a snuggly blanket—right out of the dryer—around her.

“Drop the pearl into the water for the answers you seek,” the soothing voice ordered.

Keara unwrapped the handkerchief and placed the delicate, iridescent pearl on top of the water. Shaped like human fingers, the glistening liquid wrapped around her precious gift and tucked the pearl inside its clutches. The treasure slipped safely beneath its watery bed. A magnificent water lily emerged, floating in place of the pearl, and opened in full bloom in a variety of bright colors.

The sparkling orbs reappeared and encircled the lily. Their twinkling motions seemed to act as the flower’s voice.

“The Goddess protects and favors you, offering valuable gifts. You are a child of the earth, as were many of your ancestors. You must guard the talisman, enchanted by the Witches of the Mysts. It must not fall in the hands of evil. You must seek the answers inside your heart before you can save the lives you were sent here to protect.”

“Whose lives are in danger? How am I supposed to protect people when I can’t even protect myself right now?” Keara straightened, rubbing her wrist.

The petals slowly started to close. A few tiny orbs darted inside the plant and disappeared.

“Please, wait. I still don’t understand what I’m supposed to do. You promised me answers,” she pleaded, frustrated.

“Look to the night sky to guide your way. More answers await you there. Remember, Samhain Eve approaches fast.” The voices lowering to almost a whisper, the sparking lights fluttered in a frenzy above the shrinking plant. “Beware the poisonous, wicked seed. Make haste with your decisions and choose well. Heed this warning before doom befalls your fate and all becomes lost. Our paths are destined to cross again in the future.”

“But how will I know when our path crosses again?” Keara cried out.

The remaining orbs vanished into thin air.

She stood rubbing her arms and watched the tiny pool swallow the lily before the water shrank to the size of a puddle and was gone as fast as it appeared.

The pearl lay at her feet.

“I didn’t even get to ask what the symbols mean.”

Duncan turned to check on Keara.

“That fool-headed woman is gone again,” he yelled and clenched his fists, staring at Darby. “I knew I shouldna have listened to ye and planted her stubborn backside in a village where I didna’ have to worry about her hard-headed notions and wanderin’ off whenever she bloody-well pleases. I would have been to Dunscaith by now if it wasna fer her.”

He turned his head and spotted Samson scampering toward them.

“Where is she, lad?” he asked, while Colin stooped and petted the feline.

A breeze carried the scent of lavender to Duncan’s nose. “Never ye mind, I think I can find her on me own.”

Duncan’s temper was reaching its limit.
Bloody hell. Why does she have to have that effect on me?

Taking longer strides, he left Darby panting and running behind, trying to catch up. He was too angry to hear Darby’s cries, pleading with him to watch his tongue.

He spied Keara sitting on the ground in the meadow with her eyes closed and her face turned to the sky. Basking in the sun, her long hair shimmered, flowing to the ground. Auburn curls resembling lacy ribbons trailed in ripples across emerald-green grass.

The muscles in his legs and arms tightened. His hands clenched the shaft of his bow. His full attention focused on Keara, his gaze lingering on her body. The blasted woman aroused feelings he hadn’t felt for many years. But that wasn’t his only problem. No matter how hard he tried to stay away from her, like a strong wind, her appeal carried him back to her side. He could no longer deny his true feelings for her.

Keara stirred and opened her eyes. Their gazes locked, her face flushing a warm peach color before finally looking away. She hugged her knees, her fingers fussing with the bottom of her dress.

Duncan took a deep breath, relieved to find her safe. He sauntered to her side and squatted in front of her. “Woman, ye’ve got to stop wanderin’ off by yerself whenever ye damn well please. I would think by now ye would know better. Look here, lass. I know all this must be hard on ye. I wish there was something I could do to help make it easier for ye, but I did try me best to warn ye.”

“I’m sorry I’ve caused you nothing but aggravation since you met me.” Her head shot up, and she glared at him. “Is that why you’re so irritable when you’re around me lately? Does the very sight of me suddenly disgust you that much?”

He opened his mouth to speak and clamped it shut. Not expecting her reaction.

“I know you’re hiding something from me. I can feel it. Here.” She placed her hand on her chest. “You can’t deny the connection we have, no more than I can.”

Like a slap in his face, her accusation moments before was not without anguish. He realized he might have been too hard on her and even nastier than he should have been. His only defense was trying to push her away for her own good.

In truth, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. Especially to another man. A man named Dennis. A man living centuries in the future that could provide her with things he’d never imagined existed.

“Ye dinna’ understand, Keara.” He reached out and touched her face. The warmth of her soft skin made his fingers tingle. “Ye must trust me. Ye have no idea how I wished I could confide in ye. Canna ye believe that I’m doin’ this for yer own good? ‘Tis too dangerous. I fear only for yer safety.”

Darby stumbled behind him, panting and out of breath. The little man hobbled over to Keara and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Are ye all right, lass? Ye gave us a mighty scare.”

“I’m sorry, Darby. I didn’t mean to upset anyone.” She patted Darby’s hand but glared in Duncan’s direction. “I wanted to tell one of you about the lights, but Duncan seemed too busy raising his voice at you, so I decided to follow them on my own.”


Mo creach!
” Duncan straightened. “What lights?”

“The little bright orbs. They reminded me of lightning bugs back home, and they acted like they wanted me to follow them. So I did.” Her eyelids blinked and she turned her attention to Darby. Colin came strolling up behind him and stood between Keara and Darby.

“Look, woman.” A growl rumbled inside his chest. “Those
wee lights
could have led you deep in the woods and ye’d been lost forever. Do they not teach women any common sense where ye come from?”

Keara stood and faced him. Her cheeks turned red and her eyes narrowed, as she brushed the back of her gown with her hands. “Where I come from, people have the courtesy to let someone explain themself before jumping down their throat and accusing them like they did something wrong.”

“Ye willna have to worry about me accusin’ ye no more. I willna be responsible for any harm comin’ to someone that willna listen for her own good. Come ‘morrow, ye and Colin will be safe in a village, and ye’ll and wait ‘til my return. There shan’t be more talk about this.” His voice thundered as he turned and headed back to fetch Goliath and the rest of his gear.

“Ye’re bein’ foolish, man. Stop and listen to Keara.” Darby hobbled as fast as he could and grabbed the hem of Duncan’s plaid. “Do ye not want to know what she discovered and what the stone magick revealed to the lass?”

Frustration, disbelief, and rage filled his entire body. His fingers wrapped around the center of an arrow he gripped in his hand. He snapped it in half and threw it to the ground before stomping in Darby’s direction. “Ye mean to tell me ye knew all the time where she was and didna’ tell me? Is that why ye started an argument about how important it was to keep her with us, so I wouldna’ see her traipsin’ off on her own? I guess ye’re the one that planted the seed in her head about the witches’ stones. I wouldna’ put it past ye to summon the will-o’-the-wisp in the first place.”

Frustrated that his best friend would think to betray him, he stopped at the brownie’s side and grabbed his jacket by the neck and lifted the little man off the ground, holding him high above his own head. Darby’s small legs dangled in front of his chest.

Colin and Keara came running behind, Keara pleading with him to stop and listen.

“What’s got into ye, man?” Darby’s face turned pale as he kicked his feet in midair.

“The one friend I trusted and ye just played me for the fool,” Duncan shouted. His other hand was gripped into a fist. He had to restrain himself from hitting Darby in the face. After a few minutes, he lowered the little man and dropped him to the ground. “Did the two of ye ever think about tellin’ me the truth? Instead ye both schemed and used yer trickery behind me back.”

“I promise, I didna’ tell her about the stones. In case ye haven’t noticed, ye’ve not only been actin’ like a pig-headed fool, but ‘tis time ye admit the truth to yerself.” Darby pulled his jacket down and straightened his collar. He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “Ye’ve been treatin’ Keara with nothing but rudeness instead of respect. She deserves better from ye. Admit it, Duncan. Has suspicion blinded ye to the point where ye canna even see ye’re in love with the woman?”

For the first time ever in daylight, Duncan’s inner beast stirred, fighting to come to the surface. He leaned his head back and yelled, “No, I willna allow this.”

Colin’s hands grasped his arm. “U-Uncle Duncan. You’re sc-scaring Miss Keara.”

Duncan slammed his fist into his other hand. With long strides, he made his way back to the campfire and grabbed his saddle bag and flung it over his shoulder. The other three, close behind, caught up with him.

Keara stood next to Darby. Her face turned pale as she shot him a look of disgust. Darby reached up and took her hand inside of his. He stared at Duncan, his ears twitching.

BOOK: Mortal Magick
10.04Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Dante's Angel by Laurie Roma
Contingency Plan by Lou Allin
Cupid's Cupcake by Sinclair, Ivy
Wolf Creek by Ford Fargo
Rebel Sisters by Marita Conlon-McKenna
The Sharp Hook of Love by Sherry Jones
The Story of a Marriage by Greer, Andrew Sean
Deceitful Choices by C.A. Harms