Destiny's Path by Frewin Jones

Author:Frewin Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2009-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

18

“ARE YOU THISTLEDOWN that you think you can move among men without being seen?” In the darkness under the trees, Blodwedd’s eyes were like angry fires.

“No one saw me except for Iwan,” Branwen retorted, stung by the owl-girl’s rebuke and refusing to be browbeaten. “And I won’t answer to you for my movements. You’re here to be my guide, not my master.” She held Blodwedd’s eyes.

“Did you find out anything of use?” Rhodri asked, obviously wanting to break the tension between his two companions.

“More soldiers are coming,” Branwen said, turning to Rhodri. “Iwan told me so. And one of the soldiers thinks there’s a storm coming.” She peered up through the branches. “But I’m not so sure.” In the clear sky, stars were twinkling, cold and remote.

“He is right,” said Blodwedd, looking at Rhodri. “I can smell it on the air. It rides in on a brazen west wind. There will be rain before dawn.”

“Then we should get what sleep we can,” said Rhodri. “For a while, before the heavens open.” He pulled his cloak around his shoulders and curled up on his side.

Branwen settled back against a tree trunk, pillowed on dead leaves, with her knees up, her feet splayed, and her arms folded over her chest. She closed her eyes but was vividly aware of Blodwedd’s presence on Rhodri’s far side, bundled up like a grasshopper on a stoop of hay. Did the girl never lie down?

Girl? Is that what you called her? Careful, Branwen—don’t forget what she truly is.

Branwen opened an eye. She was surprised to see Blodwedd gazing at Rhodri with a curious, conflicted expression on her pale, wide face. It seemed part fascination, part joy, and part…what? Longing, almost. Yes, that was it exactly—a look of quiet, almost regretful yearning.

Has she fallen in love with him? Branwen wondered. She found the idea faintly repellent. And what feelings did Rhodri have for the owl-girl? He was kind to her, as was his nature, and he was obviously intrigued by her. But surely it was no more than that? Surely he could not have deep feelings for a creature so inhuman that she had come close to slaughtering a helpless baby?

Blodwedd’s eyes turned toward her and her face became blank and unreadable again. “You may speak freely,” Blodwedd said. “He will not wake.”

“Why?” Branwen asked sourly. “Have you put a spell on him?”

“Not I,” Blodwedd replied. “There are things you wish to ask me, but you fear the answers. Ask anyway, Warrior-Child—it is the fears that are never faced that gnaw the deepest.”

“The men were talking about this place,” Branwen began hesitantly. “About this forest. Something about it scares them, like children frightened of the dark, except not quite that. One of them started to talk about the Old Gods, but he was told to hold his tongue.” She sat up now, suddenly sleepless. “Do the Shining Ones live in this forest?”

“I have told you already,” Blodwedd said, as though speaking to a child. “The Shining Ones live in all things—trickle and torrent, shoot and tree, pebble and crag, breeze and blizzard.

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.