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Fia was anxious to speak with her husband and as soon as the door closed, she asked, “The bairns Ella lost, were they born alive?”
“Aye, but barely lived,” Varrick said and pointed to the table for her to sit.
She sat on the bench with her back to the hearth and wondered how many battle plans had been discussed here. And wondered if she would win the one she planned to have with him.
“You should let me tend to Ella. I might be able to help,” she said.
“And if the bairn dies, what then? You will be blamed for stealing its soul.” Varrick shrugged. “But perhaps that is your plan.”
He almost choked on the accusation, for some reason thinking his wife’s intentions were more honorable than wicked.
“I do not know how many times I must say this… I am a healer. I harm no one.”
The more she claimed it as truth, the more he was beginning to believe her. But why? He knew her only a few days. She could be feeding him lie after lie even though she claimed to speak the truth, and yet seeing how she had tended to the ill and injured proved truth to her words. If that was so, she would be of no help to him. It was time to find out.
“I need you for a more important matter,” he said.
Fia listened, eager to hear, though her worry remained on Ella. No one there had the knowledge that she possessed to help save the bairn. She had to find a way.
“I need you to use your witch’s powers to fight an evil in the forest,” Varrick said.
Her brow narrowed in question.
Varrick delivered the news that had plagued his clan. “Arawn, the God of Death has taken residence there and sends out his hellhounds to claim souls from my clan.”
CHAPTER11
Fia sat, her eyes remaining fixed on her husband as she digested his words. Her grandmother and mum had talked of the myths that had been born in the Highlands. Her grandmother had insisted that myths were born from a grain of truth that grew wild and out of control by the telling or by those who would benefit from a grander tale. But that grain of truth that had given it life had to be considered before anything else.
Her brow wrinkled, recalling something about the myth. “Arawn was birthed of the Welsh. Why would he be here?”
“He has been known to travel amongst our lands,” Varrick explained.
“And you believe he has settled here?”
Agitated that she would question him, he snapped at her. “I do not believe… I know he has settled in my forest. He and his hellish hounds have been spotted.”
She ignored his irritation since she was beginning to suspect it was simply part of his nature. Besides, she was far too curious to find out more. “Who saw them?”
“Two of my warriors. They only got a quick glance at the God of Death, a man with antlers, they claimed. The hellhounds they saw more clearly and described them well, large and white with eyes that glared red, and their teeth bared and snarling, hungry to capture souls and speed them to their master, the God of Death, who claims them and sends them to where they will forever dwell.”
“You have not tried to speak with him?” Fia asked, not the least fearful of what he described since warriors were known for embellishing tales.
“Don’t you think I have tried,” he snapped again, shaking his head. “He eludes me, refusing to show himself.”
“You have had many deaths since he settled in the forest?”
“Too many suspicious deaths,” Varrick confirmed. “People dying for no obvious reason. Young or old alike—” A rap on the door interrupted Varrick. “Who dares to disturb me?”
“It is me, my lord,” Argus called out. “Brother Luke says it cannot wait. He must speak with you.”
“Enter!” Varrick shouted, annoyed enough as it was, now even more so at being interrupted.
Brother Luke rushed past Argus into the room. “My Lord, I just learned the God of Death haunts your land. I fear there is something about him that is not known to everyone… Arawn has the power to shapeshift, changing his appearance at will.”
“That would explain how the deaths occurred,” Argus said with a quick glance to Varrick. “That must have been how he was able to snatch the life from our people right under our own eyes.”
Argus and Brother Luke both turned questionable eyes on Fia.
