hunt; I have heard the stories from your proud family. You are better than my other Chrechte warriors. And your accuracy with the bow is even better than Connor’s. It makes me wonder why Rowland did not enlist your aid in his challenge with Earc.”
“He tried.”
“You refused.”
Lais drew himself up. “I am no murderer.” A stricken look came over his face. “I tried to be.”
“Nay. If you had tried, you would have done at least some damage. The truth is, you are no murderer, but Rowland was.”
“Do you really think he was the one who killed my father?”
“He or one who had his approval to do the deed.”
Lais swallowed and nodded. “I hated the ravens because it was easier than hating him.”
“Safer, too.”
“I’m ashamed to say it, but yes.”
Barr would undo Rowland’s legacy of hatred and deceit strand by strand and Sabrine could not help loving him even more for it. You are the most amazing man and Chrechte I have ever had the honor to know, she sent to him via their sacred bond.
Barr’s sudden, dazzling smile must have confused Lais because he started babbling apologies again, for trying to hurt them.
“If you had been really trying, you would have hit one of us the day you shot your bow.”
Lais shook his head. “I tried.”
“Nay. If you’d had a killing shot in mind, even my wolf’s instincts could not have saved us from at least a grazing of one of those arrows.”
A look of dawning understanding and wonder came over Lais’s features, but then he sighed and went all stoic. “I do not deserve your mercy.”
Men. A woman knew when to take a gift when it was offered, especially when that gift meant keeping her life.
“I do not agree.” Barr’s tone said that his opinion was the one that counted.
Sabrine did not fool herself into believing it was because he was acting laird, either. The man was simply too certain of his own opinions.
And right now? She really did not think he had cause to doubt himself.
The next day, Lais shifted to his eagle and rode on Barr’s shoulder. A smaller man could not have managed, but Barr was no average warrior and had no problem riding every bit as swiftly with the large bird of prey perched on one shoulder and his mate in his lap. He had insisted on holding her, as if he could physically protect her from harm with his body.
And no doubt, he could.
The giant beast of a horse seemed not to notice the additional burden, either, and they reached the caves at the sacred springs an hour after night had fallen.
Barr was relieved when his mate showed no hesitation in leading him and Lais to the secret chamber of the Éan deep in the labyrinth of caves beyond the sacred springs.
The sound of chanting reached his wolf’s hearing before his mate’s steps faltered in realization they were not alone. But she did not stop.
She quickened her steps, clearly intent on reaching the cave before the ritual was complete. She was running by the time they reached the giant cavern lit by several torches with a stone dais in the center and two pools fed by the underground springs on either side of it.
An old woman, who bore a striking resemblance to Sabrine, wore a cloak of raven feathers and spoke ancient Chrechte over a boy on the cusp of maturity. It must be Anya-Gra, Sabrine’s grandmother and the one who had prophesied the help of the Faol in the Éan’s fight for survival.
Two large men came forward, barring their way with weapons drawn. Sabrine ignored them, rushing between them, narrowly missing their reaching hands with a smooth twist of her body. To join her, Barr could see he would have to draw his own sword and he was not ready to do that.
He crossed his arms and gave each warrior a look that told them he neither feared nor intended to cause trouble.
Dismissing them, he watched as Sabrine ran to the still-chanting priestess and practically threw the Clach Gealach Gra into her hands. A strange blue light pulsed around them as both hands rested on the stone.
Then Sabrine stepped back and bowed her head.
“Sabrine-Gra Gealach, raven princess, return your hands to the Clach Gealach Gra.”
His mate’s confusion reached him across their link.
Have courage, sweeting. Do as your priestess requires.
She is my grandmother.
Even more reason to obey. His wolf was laughing and so was he, though he was careful to keep it to their