Claire Delacroix by The Warrior

Author:The Warrior [Warrior, The]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

IX

The Hawk stands in the woods of Inverfyre, listening, his footsteps halted by the sounds of a creature fleeing through the bush. It is dark, darker than dark, the shadows ominous and deep. He realizes that he stands near Adaira’s hut in the same moment that he sees a flicker of movement in its portal.

He pursues his prey, stepping with care so as to not make a sound.

Silence accosts his ears, silence heavy with portent. He reaches the portal and eases around it, hoping to surprise whatever or whoever is within.

His efforts are to no avail.

The maiden awaits him, she of the dark hair and blue blue eyes, she who held the heart of Magnus Armstrong in thrall. She smiles in greeting, unsurprised by his appearance despite his efforts to be stealthy. The Hawk knows that he wears Magnus’ skin, for he feels the heat of his forebear’s ardor for this woman as keenly as if it were his own.

She steps toward him, her ardent expression kindling the fire in his blood.

“No, Anna, I am betrothed,” he protests, knowing that his forebear’s words fall from his lips, knowing that Magnus yet hopes to persuade this woman to his cause. He relives a moment that was lived by Magnus, though he knows not why. “There can be naught between us, not any longer.”

She slaps him with astonishing vigor.

He takes the blow, feeling it is her due to be angered.

“You vowed you would wed me,” she whispers, the thrum of fury in her words.

“I would have, were you not cursed to be barren.”

“You cannot know that to be true.”

“All know it,” he reminds her as gently as he can.

She averts her face, but this answer will not suffice.

“Do you deny what is whispered?” he asks, his tone more forceful. “Grant me evidence that it is not true, Anna.”

Her lips purse, granting him all the answer he needs. He makes to leave but she seizes his chin with alarming speed and holds him in an unholy grip. “How much will you sacrifice for Inverfyre?” she demands, her eyes narrowing. “What price will you find to be too high?” She half-laughs. “I doubt there is one.”

“I have to wed her,” the Hawk argues, mouthing the words Magnus had uttered long afore.

The maiden shakes her head. “You are not so compelled. You choose to wed her for your own advantage. You abandon your pledge to me because it no longer suits you to keep it. Do not fatten your crime by lying to me as well.”

He bows his head, guilty yet not prepared to change his plans. The Hawk understands that Magnus believes himself to be right. “It was a mistake to meet you here,” he says and turns again to leave.

“You will not depart so readily as that,” she mutters, but he ignores her.

She cries a word that he does not know. The walls of Adaira’s hut writhe, the branches alive as they were not in the Hawk’s time. He halts to stare. It

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