Lord of Sherwood by Laura Strickland

Author:Laura Strickland [Strickland, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Medieval
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2014-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

“I must leave at once and go into the forest. We have but three days in which to rescue Falcon.”

Anwyn watched little puffs of vapor appear from Curlew Champion’s lips. The morning was deadly chill, brisk and alive with color. She tried to understand why it felt as if Curlew’s words echoed inside her, and gave it up. She comprehended little enough of what had happened to her since she came to Sherwood.

Only that Lark Scarlet wanted her sent back to Nottingham in exchange for Falcon. That somehow she and Curlew had commanded a staggering, great magic and saved Heron’s life. And that she could not bear to be parted from Curlew ever again.

She ached to lie with him—oh, aye—but it was not just that. She ached also for his presence, could sense it when he did or did not remain near. In a curious way she seemed able to feel his moods as well, almost as if they touched upon her awareness.

The two of them stood now just outside Diera’s hut. Not far away soared the great tree for which Oakham was named, its dying leaves stained the color of the light on Curlew’s hair.

She said the only thing she could: “Let me come with you.”

He studied her for an instant and she thought he must agree, but he shook his head. “Better not. I can move more swiftly alone.”

“Master Champion—”

“You had better call me ‘Curlew’ now, given what happened yesterday.”

“What did happen yesterday?”

Again he seemed to hesitate. The brightness in his eyes devoured her face, and she wondered what he saw. She had never been beautiful; now perished by the cold and worn by her emotions, she felt fragile beyond belief.

But his expression softened, and his emotions fluttered in her mind before he said, “It seems Sherwood led you to us for a reason, a precious one.”

Her heart protested it: Sherwood had not led her to them, so much as to him, through the sightless dark. Had he forgotten? She could never forget—each separate memory still had the power to possess her.

“Curlew, please do not leave me. Heron’s mother does not want me here.”

“She is grateful to you for saving Heron, and she knows you belong.”

She belonged with him. But that explained nothing. She reached out and seized his arm. “But just how did I help you save Heron? What was that light?”

Something grave and wonderful looked at her out of his eyes. “You, dear girl, are the one Heron and I have sought so long, the third of our number.”

She almost fell down. “I?”

A rueful smile curled his mouth. “Indeed, and I nearly failed to accept it, fought the very idea just like my aunt. But no one can deny what occurred when we called Heron back from death. You must have felt the bonds form and how strongly they now join the three of us.”

“I do not know what I felt,” Anwyn confessed. Amazement and terror moved within her, and a thousand doubts. From the very beginning Curlew had impressed upon her that an inescapable duty lay before him.

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