AllFreeNovel
Share Us
What? Where am I?
The consistent pounding in her ears was like thunder as she stared out the back of the carriage. Blinking the world into focus, she realized where she was. The rattling carriage made her stomach turn sour and the shaking as the wheels rolled over the ground didn’t help matters.
Twisting her head, she stared out the back window of the carriage. In the distance, she caught glimpse of a man riding hard. For a moment she couldn’t place the face or why everything looked so far away. Her heart jumped as she tried to get her bearings.
“Faither?” she mumbled as her mind connected the distant rider’s face. Her heart skipped as she leaned forward trying to get a better view of the man. Relief washed through her and she pressed her hand against the window.
“Yer awake, good. I was afraid ye’d miss yer own death.”
Olivia glanced the left as she caught Sionn riding along side the carriage. Rage blurred her vision as she tried for the carriage door only to find it barred.
“Let me out,” she demanded as she rattled the door. Every movement she made was sluggish and difficult. With no strength to her, she knew she had to find some way to clear her head from the obsessive fog that lingered about her.
“All in good time,” Sionn said with a cackle. “But I’d rest if I were ye. Too much exhertion is nae good for the bairn inside of ye.”
“What did ye dae to me?” Olivia asked rubbing the back of her neck trying to get a grip on reality.
“Hemlock is a wonder is it nae? Too much and ye die, but just the right amount and even the bravest of warriors can be subdued.”
“Conner will kill ye for this,” Olivia shouted.
“I doubt he even kens yer gone. In which case, I have plenty of time to build a proper story of how I bein’ a cripple and all, didnae have it in me to save ye.”
“Yer a monster,” Olivia growled, setting off another bout of dizzy spells. Her eyes were locked on the rider behind them and found herself wishing more than anything that what she was seeing wasn’t a mere illusion from the hemlock.
“Sticks and stones, my dear,” Sionn chuckled.
When the carriage pulled out of the woods, her heart sank as she spotted the man falling back, refusing to go any further. Shaking her head, she pressed her hand to the window defeated.
“Nay,” she mumbled as all the hope that had been swelling within her ceased to be. Terror rose up in her as she noticed the green emerald grass fading to hard rocks and gray stones. Even the sky seemed to darken as the carriage tossed her about as it rolled over the rugged terrain.
Swallowing hard, Olivia knew she would have to save herself and the life of her unborn. Pressing her hand to her belly, she let a soft smile slip over her lips. Her mind bounced to a happier place and envisioned herself near the river with Conner, their child plucking stones to skip over the water with Conner.
Olivia’s heart sank as her mind shifted from her family to only Conner. She couldn’t believe how much had changed between them. How everything started with a letter from the King demanding the families put aside their differences.
“Well, at least I can say that is accomplished,” Olivia mumbled to her belly.
“Perhaps one day, I will tell ye all about the letter,” she continued as she rubbed her stomach. She couldn’t help but wonder if she would ever be able to hold her baby in her arms. A part of her wished and hoped, but she knew that wishing and hoping wouldn’t help. After all, she had wished and prayed that the letter from the King was wrong. That she wouldn’t have to go and be with Conner.
“After all is said and done though,” Olivia whispered. “I would nae change a thin’. For everythin’ that has happened was to brin’ Conner and I together. And yer faither would have loved ye so much. I ken because he loves me so very, very much. Oh how I wish ye could have met him.”
Dread filled Olivia as she spoke to her unborn child. She had no clue where she was going. But understood that wherever it was, wasn’t good.
Glancing out the window, she saw Sionn on his horse riding beside the carriage. The glare in his eyes frightened her. It wasn’t just the malice that resonated from him, but anger, hatred, loathing and something else she couldn’t quiet place. Still, it was enough to cause her to jerk back into the seat. With no place to go, and nothing else to do but wait for her end, Olivia mummed a haunting lullaby as she tried not to think of all the things that she would miss out on in this world, but all the blessings she had be given.
The sun drifted across the sky as the carriage rolled onward at a steady pace. It was clear by Sionn’s positioning at the back he was convinced the threat of being discovered was no more. His confidence seeped through him and crashed against her. Olivia clung to a small frayed rope of hope as her head swam from the hemlock.
Be brave my darlin’.
All will be well, ye’ll see.
Chewing on her lower lip, Olivia tried to piece together what she knew.
Joseph attacks me in the glen and gets thrown in the cell. He escapes and Damon comes back wit’ news of findin’ Conner’s sister and maither? That is all too convenient. What is the common ground here?
Her mouth popped open as she focused on Sionn. Reality slapped her across the face, stinging her perceptions.
“Ye,” she growled.
