The Betrayal - By Ruth Langan Page 0,17

the fever was back. His flesh was hot to the touch. What’s more, his pain had not subsided. She could feel it, pulsing through him in waves. Her fault, she thought with a twinge of guilt. She’d known, of course, that some wounds needed much more care than others, yet she’d allowed herself to get distracted by the mundane chores of this strange new world.

Oh, if only Allegra were here. She was so much better at healing, Kylia thought.

She placed her hands on either side of Grant’s head and began to chant the ancient words that would drive the evil from his body.

Hours later, her voice hoarse, her arms throbbing from the effort to keep them outstretched, she allowed herself the luxury of sitting back on her heels, pressing a hand to the small of her back. She would ease her discomfort for only a moment, she promised herself as her lids closed and her head bobbed. Seconds later she jerked awake and struggled to focus on the firelight, but her eyes swam from the effort and she allowed the lids to flutter, then close.

She would soon have to add more branches to the fire.

It was her last coherent thought before the need for sleep dragged her down.

Kylia awoke with a start at the strange rustling sounds. Confused, disoriented, she sat up rubbing her eyes. Beside her, Grant stirred, then stared in disbelief at the shadowy figures creeping from their places of concealment in the nearby forest.

“The fire,” he shouted.

Kylia gave a hiss of self-disgust. She’d fallen asleep and allowed the fire to burn out. All that remained were gleaming coals, giving off enough light to see the outlines of the fearsome creatures. Some were foaming at the mouth, others snarling, fangs bared, as they started forward.

“Take this.” Grant pressed his dirk into her hand.

She was already shaking her head. “I couldn’t harm any creature.”

“It may be your only chance,” he whispered as he got to his feet, brandishing his sword. “For I’ve no doubt they mean us harm.”

As the last of the fire died, the night was suddenly alive with creatures, some with hair bristling, others standing upright, as tall as trees. One great shaggy beast rushed forward, and Kylia stared in horrified fascination at its two heads.

“Get behind me.” Grant stepped in front of her, holding his sword aloft.

The creature’s two vicious jaws opened, revealing razor-sharp fangs. Two pair of gleaming red eyes were fixed on Grant with a look meant to freeze the blood in his veins.

Just then a snake more than six feet in length slithered from the forest and began weaving its way toward them. Its body was the thickness of a great hollow log, proving it would have no trouble swallowing them whole.

Joining it were more than a dozen creatures larger than a horse, some snarling, others silent as they formed an uneven ring around the two intruders.

“Now I know why my fellow Highland warriors fear this place.” Grant drew an arm around Kylia, offering her what little comfort he could. “I’ll fight to my last breath, my lady. My only regret is that I’ll not be able to save you, for I know my strength is no match for these creatures.”

He peered through the gloom. As darkness closed in around them, the forest seemed alive with every manner of beast imaginable. “These are the creatures of my worst nightmare.” He pointed with his sword at the two-headed monster creeping closer. “As a child, I used to see the likes of him in the twisted shapes and shadows of the night. I even had a name for the creature. Dubh gall.”

“Dark stranger?”

Grant shot her a look. “Is that what it means?”

“Aye.” She nodded. “You didn’t recognize the ancient words?”

He shook his head, keeping his gaze fixed on the monster. “The name came to me only in my sleep. Until now.”

Kylia nodded toward the giant snake. “Such a creature was always present in my childhood dreams whenever they were troubled. When I described it to my mum, she told me there were no snakes in our kingdom, but such creatures did exist beyond our shores.”

“That’s true. Though I’ve never seen one as big as that.” Seeing the two-headed beast creeping closer, Grant slashed out with his sword, forcing the creature back. “But such a beast as that one exists nowhere else in our land except here.”

As the circle of light grew smaller and dimmer, more and more creatures crept from their places of concealment, until