Lightnings Daughter by Mary Herbert (android based ebook reader .txt) 📗

"My lord, I . . . Ouch!" Bregan flinched away from Piers's needle.

"That's what happens when you move! You're worse than a child,” the healer admonished. He pushed Bregan's head around so he could see the gash better in the firelight.

"If you were about to say that you don't need the rest,” Athlone told the old warrior, "forget it. All of us could use a respite from the road." A look of concern crossed his face. "We could also use several new horses and some supplies."

Piers looked sharply at the chieftain. "Do you intend to stop at Reidhar Treld? Is that a good idea?"

"No. But they're close, and we have little choice."

Khan'di asked, "What is wrong with the Reidhar?"

"There's nothing particularly wrong with the clan,” said Piers, tying off a stitch on Bregan's forehead. "The trouble is their chieftain, Lord Caurus. He hates sorcery, and he's suspicious of the Khulinin's wealth and influence. Last summer, when Medb threatened the clans with war, Lord Caurus would not side with Medb, but he wouldn't side with Lord Savaric either. He took his clan back to their lands and waited to see what would happen."

"I don't know what he expected to do there,” Bregan commented. "His clan would never have survived an attack by Lord Medb if the sorcerer had survived the battle at Ab-Chakan."

Athlone chuckled. "Caurus stil can't believe my father and Gabria destroyed Lord Medb without his help."

"He won't be happy to see us,” Bregan said, frowning.

"He will abide by clan hospitality," Athlone stated flatly. "We wil receive the supplies we need to continue."

Piers finished the stitching and began to put away his tools. "Wil he include Gabria in that hospitality?" he asked carefully.

Khan'di turned to watch the sorceress as she helped Sayyed fix the evening meal. "She travels with us. Doesn't clan law make it clear that she must be included?"

"Caurus might not pay attention to the details of the law, but I don't intend to give him a choice."

Athlone replied.

Bregan and Piers exchanged glances at the stone-cold tone of the chieftain's voice. "I hope you're right." Piers said. "Gabria needs rest more than any of us."

There was a pause. The chief shifted slightly and said, "Why?"

"I think this confrontation with Branth is affecting her more than we realize. She has been pushing herself too hard."

Athlone's eyebrows went up. His cold, dark eyes softened a little, and he nodded once to himself.

"We have al been pushing her,” he said quietly. He slapped Piers on the shoulder and went back to work.

After the meal, Athlone passed the word of their destination to the rest of the parry. Gabria's heart sank. She did not like Lord Caurus. He was loud, arrogant, and very unpleasant to anyone who annoyed him. He had also made it clear last summer that he despised sorcery---an attitude he had impressed upon his clan.

While the men settled down for the night, Gabria went for a long walk beside the creek that meandered through the val ey. She took only her thoughts with her and tried to find solace in the solitude of the spring night. She did not have much success.

On her way back to camp, she passed the meadow where the horses grazed and saw Athlone standing in the grass with Eurus. The chieftain was brushing the Hunnuli's ebony coat with a steady, unconscious stroke.

For a time the young woman stood in the shadows and watched the chieftain. She wanted to talk to him, to ask him what was wrong, to learn if he still loved her. But an uncomfortable reluctance to know the truth made her hesitate.

Her heart pounding, Gabria final y walked out of the trees to Eurus's side. The big horse nickered a welcome, and Athlone started, dropping his brush. To hide his nervousness, he slowly leaned over to retrieve it, then took the time to clean it of din.

Nara came to join them, and Gabria leaned gratefully against the mare's warm side. "Athlone, I . . ."

The chief did not seem to hear her. He resumed brushing Eurus and immediately said, "Tomorrow, when we ride to the Reidhar camp, I want you to wear your skirts. Put your sword away and keep quiet."

Gabria straightened and felt her face begin to burn. "I had already planned to do so,” she replied, her words frosted with anger.

"Good. We need the Reidhar's cooperation. And another thing,” he went on, "al of us have been expecting a great deal from you. Too much, I think, and our feelings have only been getting in the way.

We need to remember the priorities of our journey."

Athlone glanced at her form in the shadow of the Hunnuli. It was too dark to see her face or the hurt confusion in her eyes.

"Gabria,” he said, brushing Eurus harder, "I came on this journey to help you, not get in your way.

From now on I will stand behind you and al ow---"

Gabria pounced on the last word. "Allow!" she cried, coming around beside Eurus. "Don't patronize me with your pride-riddled speeches, Athlone. I don't deserve it!" She glared at him. "What are you really talking about?"

For days Athlone had been wondering what he would say if he had time alone with Gabria. Now he had that time, but nothing was coming out as he had planned. He wanted to gather her in his arms and feel her warmth and love. Instead all he could see in his mind was her slim, strong body in Sayyed's embrace, and the more the image played in his head, the greater his anger waxed. The jealousy grew until all of his rehearsed speeches and truest desires were burned in its heat. His days of frustration, anxiety, and confusion suddenly crested in a flooding wave of anger and confusion that came sweeping out in a reckless torrent.

"I'm talking about Sayyed!" he shouted at her.

"Sayyed!" Gabria