[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.”Not the answer she badly needed to hear.Palms damp around the reins, she tried to sound anything but desperate.“Does it mean you aren’t coming with me?”“And miss out on all the fun? I don’t think so.Like it or not, Ariana, you’re stuck with me until the end.”The end of their quest, or the end of their world? She didn’t care right now because he’d escort and protect her.More to the point, she wouldn’t be alone.He’d stand by her, however frightening the quest turned out to be.Spirits higher, she trotted alongside him.They reached the outskirts of a village a while later.With the last of daylight, the place seemed already quiet.As they advanced toward a pretty fountain, she spotted a middle-aged man shuffling along the street with the aid of a very long walking stick.She slowly pushed her horse toward him.“Excuse me, is this Frahern?”“Aye, it is.”“Could you tell me where I might find Moyna the healer?”From up close, the man looked older than she had first thought.He bobbed his head while gesturing past the fountain.“Follow this pathway right down to the back.Hers is the last house before the edge of the forest.”“Thank you.”They found the house without any difficulties.Deciding to leave the horses up front for the time being, she dismounted and knocked while Cameron came to stand next to her.The prospect of seeing her aunt after so many years filled her with joy now that she was finally here.Yet when the door opened, she couldn’t help but gasp at the person standing in the candlelight.“You!”Chapter Twenty-Four“Ariana! I’m so glad to see you, my child.”“So am I.”Wrapped in a big hug, dazed by this turn of event, she stood still until released from the thin arms.“But I don't understand.How come you’re here?”The Lord of the Clans moved forward, his huge stature blocking the light from any outside viewer.She realised introductions had become compulsory when she felt his hand on her shoulder.“Cameron, this is my shaman.”Although he muttered a few words that sounded like “what were the odds?”, he spoke too low for her mentor to hear his wry repartee.At least she hoped so.She put a smile on her face and stepped inside.“Shaman, this is our Lord.”The gaunt man’s eyes widened as he raised his head to look at his ruler.If astonishment had a face, it would have been his in this particular moment.Then he recovered and bowed.“I’m honoured to meet you, my lord.”Cameron probably didn’t feel as honoured because he all but ushered the three of them into the house before closing the door.“We need to talk, shaman.”“I am at your service, my lord.”This wasn’t going the way she had planned.Unwilling to let the men launch into an endless discussion, she took her shaman’s hand.“Where’s my aunt? How is she?”“She’s gone out with her husband, but they’ll be back shortly.I can assure you she’s fine.I treated her as soon as I got here.”“Thank the Mighty Gods.”“Ariana, I left home a few hours after you.I meant to catch up with you on the road, but I never found you.I’ve been here for four days now, and I must say I was getting really worried.Where have you been?”First, she wasted three days riding due north instead of west, until she stumbled upon Cameron’s warrior clan and got locked up in chains.Then they had been delayed at both temples.“I’m afraid I got a little lost.”“I feared something like this would happen.That’s why I changed my mind and rode after you.”“Well, I’m all right, thanks to our Lord.But I’m so happy to see you, shaman, and I have so many things to tell you.”Cameron nudged her back so lightly that she wondered if she had really felt a poke.Yet as his finger lingered against her body, she recalled his previous warnings and went quiet.Who knew his trust issues might prove well-grounded after all.In any case, she’d already picked her side.“Shaman, how about you make some tea while we wait for my aunt? Is there a place we can refresh?”“Dear Creators, I’m not the perfect host, am I?”“You're doing fine.”He backed away to give them some space, looked at their dusty clothes, and gestured toward the back of the house.“You’ll find everything you need through that door.Meanwhile, I’ll go make some tea.You must be dead tired after your long journey.”“I am, for one.”As he left them to head toward the kitchen corner, she turned round and whispered to Cameron.“You believe we can’t trust him, don’t you?”“For now, yes.Listen, I’ll take the horses and set up camp at the edge of the forest while you get cleaned up.Don’t speak to him or to anyone else, and don’t get out of that room until I’m back.Is that clear?”“As clear as water.”“Good.Now, go!”“Would you mind bringing me my saddlebags?”He went outside while she followed her shaman’s instructions and opened the door.To her delight, the small room contained everything she needed to feel clean again.When Cameron came back, he dropped her bags on the floor.“There.I’ll be right back.”She grinned at him, feeling like they were two conspirators against the whole world.Then he left her alone and she set to work.She used cold water on a white cloth to wipe sweat off her naked body.Once she felt crispy clean, she put on a fresh shirt and a fluid skirt before she smoothed her long hair.The sometimes painful brushing took her a great while as the wind had pretty much tangled her hair into a turbulent mass.She managed it just in time to hear a knock on the door.“Come on in.”Cameron’s gaze travelled down to her skirt as she stood ready for a pleasant evening in her aunt’s company.He'd always seen her wearing the so comfortable men’s pants she favoured for riding, but tonight she wanted to look good for Moyna.To have her recall the little girl she used to be.He must have found a stream or a river in the forest because he’d changed and shaved
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]