The Raven's Moon by King Susan

Author:King Susan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Scottish Highland, Warrior, Warriors, Highlanders, Highlander, Love Story, Romance, Medieval Romance, Highland Warriors
Publisher: ePublishing Works!
Published: 2014-04-07T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

The morn is Hallowe'en night

The elfin court will ride,

Thro England and thro a' Scotland,

And thro the world wide.

—"Tam Lin"

Mairi leaned her cheek wearily on the heel of her hand, and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the hearthfire that blazed inside the inn. She was so tired she could barely lift her head, even without the cumbersome steel bonnet that lay on the bench beside her.

The inn was crowded, and some of the patrons blocked the welcome heat of the log fire. Men and women both were seated at tables, while still others moved about, their voices and laughter echoing inside the smoky, dim, low-ceilinged room.

Mairi inhaled the pungent odors of burning pinewood, tallow candles, ale, roasting beef. She glanced at Rowan, who sat beside her, sipping his ale. She took a drink from the flagon he had brought her.

When he spoke she could hardly hear him above the din. "Pardon?" she asked.

He leaned closer. "I said that the innkeeper send a runner to Lang Will Croser to tell him we are waiting here. Lang Will is supposed to bring the child here. Hey. You look tired, lass."

She nodded, and sipped again. The threepenny ale was warm and watery and did not sit well on her stomach after the beef and barley stew she had eaten. She pushed the cup away.

"I paid the innkeeper for two beds for the night," Rowan said. "Go up and rest. I'll wait for Lang Will."

"I'll stay. You brought me here to help with Jamie. And for no other reason," she added.

"Go up. I'll wait and let you know when they arrive."

"I'm not tired," she said stubbornly. Rowan sighed.

When the table rocked slightly under her arm, she glanced up. At the other end of the trestle, four men were tossing dice, cheering and swearing raucously with each throw of the bone pieces. One tipped over a flagon of ale, and liquid ran along the board. Mairi lifted her arm and bumped against Rowan.

"Spilled ale is good luck," he murmured, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. He rested his hand there for a moment. A delicious shiver ran through her and she closed her eyes, smiling softly.

"Hey hey," a gruff voice said. "Nane o' that here, now."

Startled, Mairi peered at a man across the table, a slightly built fellow in a dirty doublet. His grizzled face was framed by long silver hair that barely covered his scalp, and his toothless grin looked elfish and almost charming.

"Nane o' that," he repeated. "Save it for later, I say. That is a lass, not a laddie?" He winked at Mairi.

She sat up, dismayed to remember her lad's disguise.

"She's bonny, hey?" the man asked, eyes twinkling.

"Aye, bonny." Rowan touched her shoulder.

"Ye two lovers best behave till the morrow," the man went on. Confused, Mairi noticed that his speech was slurred, and thought he was far drunk. "A bonny lass, but in laddie's gear. Ye had a long ride through the 'Batable Land, hey?"

"Long enough," Rowan answered.

"If ye meant to hide her from reivers, ye've found a passel o' them here.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.