The Raven Queen by Jules Watson

Author:Jules Watson [Watson, Jules]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-345-52486-7
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2011-02-22T05:00:00+00:00

Maeve’s croak was as faint as a branch rubbing in the wind. “Did you tell them?”

Ruán dropped the spoon into the mutton broth and crouched beside her on the furs at the entrance to his tent. He had tucked her up there to let the sun bathe her sleeping face.

By habit, he felt her brow. “Yes.”

Maeve sighed, and when Ruán went to withdraw his hand, she turned her cheek into his palm. “Thank you.”

“You should not have ridden here in that state.”

“I didn’t. I was bleeding, and the men were fighting … and Lassar …” Her voice cracked and a droplet fell upon his wrist. “Lassar must have lifted me onto Meallán and strapped me down before he was attacked again. I think … I saw him …” She could not go on, her breath labored. “But not Garvan. Garvan lives.”

Her throat moved against Ruán’s wrist, and with shaking hand she touched her heart and brow in a silent prayer. “Meallán wandered, though I was barely aware of it, except for drinking rain when it fell on me. But the lake was closer than Cruachan, and I suppose he … he feels safe here.” She paused. “His heart is here.”

There was silence from them both.

At last Ruán peeled his fingers from her cheek. “Smart horse.”

He fetched water for her and helped her drink, and she groped for his hand again, tucking it beneath her chin. “The shadows still hover close. Stay with me.”

She had never pleaded with him.

Though Áedán and Orla had refused to give up and return to the island, at least Orla would not come anywhere near the lake now that Maeve was awake. Ruán had asked Áedán to also stay away; perhaps, Ruán thought, because he did not want to hear the druid speak his own thoughts—that he was mad, and had been since first he kissed Maeve back.

Right now there was nothing but a fire and the two of them, as if they were simple people after all, with simple lives. The pool of warmth and the hushed air pushed all that was real away.

Ruán settled into the deerskins. Maeve put her head on his chest, and all the breath went out of her. She was asleep immediately, nestling into his arms like a child.

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