Stolen Souls (2 page)

He watched as she approached. Stopping a few feet away from him and giving one glance over her shoulder to be sure no monster was at her back, Jean set Rabbie down and tried to catch her breath. Still frightened, Rabbie clung to her knees.

The stranger peered at her. “What are you running from, child?”

Jean looked up at him. He wasn’t a Highlander, but she didn’t think his words carried the tones of a Lowlander either. Perhaps he was English; Jean had never met an Englishman. He had the bearing of a lord, with his straight spine and the fine weave of his clothing. But what held her attention were his eyes. She didn’t know anyone with silver eyes.

Jean’s throat was so dry she had to swallow several times before she could speak.

“Please, sir . . . my lord.” She didn’t want to give offense if he was indeed a nobleman. “My village has been attacked.”

His brow furrowed. “Attacked? By whom?”

“I . . . I don’t know,” Jean said, not knowing if the stranger would believe her. Her grandmother had scoffed at lords like this man, saying they thought themselves too high for the old ways. “A terrible evil.”

“Evil?” For a moment Jean thought that the man would smile, but instead he shook his head. “Then we must get you safely away from here.”

“Please, my lord,” Jean pressed. “Do you have a horse? We must flee.”

“I have a horse nearby.” The stranger was remarkably calm considering the panic in Jean’s voice. He looked at Rabbie. “Who is this?”

“My brother.”

His eyes moved over Jean’s small frame. “And you carried him from the village? You must be exhausted.”

At his words, Jean suddenly felt every ache in her body like the stab of a knife. All she could do was nod.

“Let me take him.” The stranger crouched, stretching his arms toward Rabbie. “We’ll go to my horse and be away.”

With consoling words, Jean pried Rabbie off her legs and turned him to face the stranger.

“Go to him, Rabbie,” Jean said. “He’s going to help us.”

Rabbie looked into her face, doubtful.

“Go,” Jean told him. “We must get away from here.”

She gave him a little push, and Rabbie went to the stranger. Jean’s knees tried to buckle in relief as the man scooped Rabbie up, but she managed to stay on her feet.

“Thank you, my lord,” Jean said.

The stranger smiled at her, his silver eyes gleaming.

She didn’t see the shadow rising at her back, looming over her, ready to strike.