Kate Forsyth - Eileanan 01 by Forsyth Kate

Author:Forsyth, Kate
Language: eng
Format: epub

THE THREADS ENTWINE

Khan'derin the Scarred Warrior

Khan'derin sat as far away from the fireplace as she could, finding the heat of its flames on her face almost unbearable. It was a warm night, the stars overhead so close it almost seemed as if she could touch them. The old witch was telling her stories about her so-called twin sister. Khan'derin peered into her bowl, looking for something more interesting to eat than the withered carrots and turnips she found there. Finding nothing, she put the wooden bowl down with a sigh and tried to concentrate on what the sorceress was telling her.

Meghan obviously thought some of the things Is'a'beau had said or done were funny, chuckling a little to herself as she told the tale. Khan'derin wondered why the wood witch had not beaten her ward severely for such disrespect. Why, she had lost the skin off her back more times than she could tell for much lesser crimes. She thought Is'a'beau sounded like a cheeky good-for-nothing, and wondered at the obvious affection in the witch's voice.

She looked about her at the dark forest, rustling and murmuring with alien sounds, and wished she was back in the Haven, listening to war stories or tales of her hero father. Unconsciously she twisted the dragoneye ring on her finger, but stilled her hands immediately, hoping the wood witch had not noticed. Fidgeting was for untutored children, she reminded herself. A hunter should be able to sit for hours without twitching a muscle.

After a while, the old witch's reminiscences stopped and Khan'derin looked up to see the intense black eyes watching her. Khan'derin waited for her to go on, but there was silence. The little creature the witch carried around in her pocket sat up on its hind legs and made a chittering noise.

Meghan's face relaxed and she smiled a little, chittering back in return. Khan'derin wondered if she dared ask a question; then, remembering the amusement in Meghan's voice over her obstreperous ward's antics, took her courage in both hands.

"Auld mother, forgive me, but is that your totem?"

"Gitâ is my familiar," Meghan explained. "He is my eyes and my feet, my protector and my friend."

"That is similar," Khan'derin said. She looked at Gitâ with increased respect, for if he was like her Auld Mother's totem, he was a powerful spirit indeed.

The old witch said, "In the dragon's hall, ye told me ye were found with a dragoneye ring on ye—May I see it?"

Reluctantly Khan'derin tugged off the ring and passed it to the old witch. Meghan turned it over in her hands and saw, inscribed on the inside, the word Iseult. She looked up in surprise and studied Khan'derin's face. "Iseult," she said.

The girl flushed scarlet, the scars on her cheekbones showing white. "My name is Khan'derin," she said in a muffled voice. "My grandmother named me!"

Meghan looked as if she was going to say something but evidently changed her mind, for there was a pause, and then she continued, "Ye also said

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.