Winter's Desire by Amanda McIntyre

Author:Amanda McIntyre [McIntyre, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Erotica, Anthologies (Multiple Authors), C429, Extratorrents, Kat
ISBN: 9781459242784
Publisher: Spice
Published: 2012-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

4

HOLDING THE WARM MUG IN HER HANDS, SINEAD sipped at the wassail as she scanned the crowd of revelers. All the villagers were here—youngest to oldest—celebrating the solstice and offering up gifts to the ancient gods and goddesses so that the bleak winter months would be neither unduly harsh nor long.

Everyone was making merry, laughing and drinking, calling out cheers for good health and a warm home. There was country dancing to the fiddle and the singing of old, seasonal songs. Cheeks were crimson with the slap of the cold breeze, and eyes were bright with the merriment of the festivities.

Walking around the enormous bonfire that was in the middle of the village green, Sinead, jostled by the revelers, watched from the periphery, never really part of the celebration. Despite this, she had come to the place where the ancient stones had stood for centuries, watching over the tiny northern village. There was magic in those stones. She believed it, and not just because of her Celtic roots, but because she felt it. Especially this evening. A thrilling enchantment hung thick in the atmosphere, cloaking her.

Scanning the laughing faces, she did not see the one she longed for. Kieran was not present amongst the merry gentlemen who danced and tried to steal kisses from blushing maidens. She felt empty knowing he was not there. A part of her had believed he would be, and that part of her had been convinced that she’d give herself to him this night—this night of magic and passion.

“The Mummers!” a young lad cried as he ran into the circle of dancers. “They are making their procession into the village.”

“I wonder what they shall be acting out this year?” a young maid with rosy cheeks and sparkling blues eyes asked excitedly.

“Who cares, as long as Squire Bolton’s son is leading them,” answered her friend. The two began to giggle. Sinead found herself smiling. She had once been like them, young and carefree, with little more to worry about than handsome squires, or village boys. It had been aeons since she’d had a true friend to share a laugh with, or to tell secrets to.

The Mummers’ voices were carried on the darkness as they chanted their ancient song in Gaelic. Sinead could only recall a few words in her ancestors’ native tongue. Her grandmother had tried to keep their culture alive after Sinead’s mother had died when she was three, but soon her grandmother had followed her mother, and Sinead had been left with her father, who had loved her, but who had been too busy to see to traditions.

“Bandia, Sianaitheoir, Beannaithe leannan.”

“Goddess, Savior, Sacred Lover,” the Mummers were singing of the priestess.

Sinead took a long sip of her drink, letting the mulled spirit warm her belly as she waited to see the troupe of actors who were integral to the solstice gathering. The revelers’ voices grew louder until the costumed Mummers, their identities concealed by masks, burst into the clearing, dancing and singing. The crowd quieted, stepping back to give the actors wide berth.

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.