Warrior Reborn by Mayhue Melissa

Author:Mayhue, Melissa [Mayhue, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Paranormal, Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Historical, General, Time Travel
ISBN: 9781451640885
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2012-10-30T07:00:00+00:00

Twenty-two

THE THWANG OF metal striking frozen ground reverberated up Chase’s arms and into his shoulders. No wonder the old woman had wanted him to dig her waste pit for her. He doubted she could lift the spade he held, let alone dig the damned hole.

He hoisted the pitiful excuse for a shovel and slammed it down once more, digging into the earth a quarter of an inch.

“Bullshit,” he muttered, tossing the spade down in favor of the miniature pickax Orabilis had brought out for him. A dolabra, she’d called it. Ancient toy pick would have suited it better. This thing looked as though it must have been old when Orabilis was born.

“You’ve no made much in the way of progress, have you, lad?”

The old witch wobbled in his direction, one hand held above her eyes against the sun.

“You do know that the ground is frozen, right?”

The old woman shrugged one shoulder. “Aye. But I dinna expect a big, strong lad such as yerself to be giving up so easily.”

If he clenched his teeth any harder, he suspected his jaw would crack.

“Did I say I was giving up? I’ll get your damn hole dug.”

One swift move and the blade of the dolabra dug into the ground. Maybe half an inch this time.

Orabilis cackled, obviously taking way too much pleasure from his performance of the task. “Rest for a moment, lad. I’ve brought you a drop of the good ale to wet yer throat.” She held out the small flask she carried, digging in the pouch at her waist after he took it from her. “And this.” She held out her hand.

“What’s this?” he asked, taking her offering, turning it over to inspect it.

A carving strung on some kind of twine, perhaps the most rustic version of a necklace he’d ever seen. The wooden animal pendant was easily half the size of his hand and the feet had been whittled down to sharp little points.

“A token. A goat formed from the wood of the rowan for luck and protection. To thank you for all you’ve done, both for me and for my Christy.”

“Well, thanks.” He hardly knew what to say. Just when he thought the worst of her, Orabilis surprised him. “I appreciate that.”

“Dinna go to blubbering now,” she cautioned. “And put the thing on. It’ll do no good lest it’s hanging round a neck.”

Chase slid the twine over his head, grinning at the old woman’s retreating back. Her ugly little ornament, and the intent behind it, made him smile.

As did the sound of horses approaching.

Ulfr and the men from Tordenet came into view, hauling the repaired wagon with its precious cargo of flour. Fine, strong men, at that. Strong enough to finish this little chore of his easily if they all divided the work.

Now, wasn’t that a stroke of good luck? Maybe Orabilis’s charm was already working.

“THEY’VE COME.”

They were the words Christiana had dreaded for the last two days and, from the look on Orabilis’s face, her old nurse was no happier about the prospect than she was.

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