he saw the goodness in you, the inability to hate another race of our people simply because they were different in their beast nature.” And finally, Eirik knew that to be true.
He still did not trust this woman entirely. She hid too many secrets, but he did not doubt that she had never intended the Éan harm.
“He wanted to create conriocht,” she admitted in a whisper.
Lais gasped. Mairi moaned with worry, but Talorc and Eirik met one another’s gaze with purpose. The Faolchú Chridhe would be found and brought to safety before it could fall into the hands of Chrechte that would misuse its power to destroy other shifters.
“All will be well,” he promised her, willing her to believe him.
Finally, she nodded, worrying her lower lip.
He groaned and before Eirik could give into an almost overwhelming need to kiss the Faol princess, he surged to his feet and moved back to his stance at her side.
“There is an elder among the Balmoral that knows all the ancient stories of the Faol,” the Sinclair said in a tone that showed more than anything how much he regretted there was no such elder among his own clan. “We need to speak to him.”
“I will go to Balmoral Island,” Eirik announced, not even considering the laird might prefer to send a Faol for this mission.
But Talorc nodded his approval. “You will lead this quest.”
“What? Why?” Ciara asked, clearly uncomfortable with her adopted father’s edict.
What did she think? That Eirik as an Éan would do something sinister with the wolves’ sacred stone? Little did she know, but the sacred stones of the Chrechte could not be destroyed and the Faolchú Chridhe would continue to call to Ciara until it was found and used by her.
The Sinclair looked like he would not answer his daughter’s challenge, but Abigail smacked him on the shoulder and Talorc’s expression changed.
Whatever the laird’s wife had said to him over the mindspeak of mates, he looked properly chastised. “As prince of the Éan, Eirik’s knowledge of the Clach Gealach Gra and ability to defeat any who would try to take possession of the Faolchú Chridhe make him the best warrior for this mission.”
“I am sorry I questioned your decision, laird.”
“I do not expect the same unquestioning acceptance of my orders from family as I do my soldiers,” the clan chief said, as if reciting something he had heard many times before.
Eirik had to stifle an urge to smile, confident he knew exactly where the laird had heard those words from. Abigail’s smile of approval confirmed his guess.
Talorc turned to Eirik. “You will take Ciara with you. As she is the keeper of the stone, Abigail believes it will continue to draw her to itself.” The Sinclair’s jaw hardened, his head giving a short jerk as if in answer to a silent question. “And your dragon will continue to protect her dreams so that she does not become ill.”
Eirik noted he was not the only one biting back amusement at his laird’s obvious discomfort at having given permission for such. But once again, the man’s wife looked quite pleased and he for one, had no desire to draw her wrath.
She was a wily one, he knew.
Ciara opened her mouth to speak, but whatever she meant to say, whether protest or acquiescence, was drowned out by Mairi’s plea. “Please let me go, too. I have had many dreams of this stone…I don’t know why, but I feel I am supposed to come on this journey as well.”
Lais frowned down at her. “You need more time to heal.”
“Is it that you feel that you should be there, or you crave the wolf your dreams have told you the stone will give to you?” Eirik asked, remembering what the human woman had claimed the night she was found.
Mairi showed no signs of embarrassment at his question. “If you had been beaten as often as I have for nothing more than the fact I have no wolf, you would not be so dismissive about the power of the Faolchú Chridhe to heal all Chrechte. It is my right as much as any other to be gifted that healing.”
“Of course it is,” Abigail inserted.
And no one gainsaid her. She was human, but she was lady of the clan and an acknowledged member of the pack despite her lack of wolf.
Mairi nodded her thanks and then frowned at Eirik. “But that is not why I believe I am supposed to be there. Once the stone is found,