The nightgown wasn’t the only clothes she found within trunks in the back bedroom, garments made of the finest material and felt luxurious to the touch. The thought crossed her mind that the woman who owned these had a man to impress or perhaps it had been the man who wanted to impress the lady with these gifts?
The clothing she supposed mattered little. While she hid from the world, she had no fear of anyone seeing her in such a nightgown. Only at night did she dare wear such whether anyone saw or not.
She walked away from the window and turned into the room. The house was quaint, not large, but sufficient, especially for her needs. She had made the necessary adjustments needed for the time she had spent for well over three months. The garden that Beltcher had laid she tended. In time she produced enough food for her needs. The horse she boarded in the barn and let graze in the pasture. She had only to decide upon her course for the winter. Soon she would have to make a decision about her fate for this comfort wouldn’t last a winter.
Suddenly, her senses alerted to a danger. She raced back to the window with her heart pounding. She heard the horse long before she saw it. In the next moment, a figure of the horse silhouetted the night and loomed in the shadows of the path up to the house. Where had she left her pistol? In the bedroom? Why had she let her guard down after all this time?
To her horror, the horse didn’t ride up to the front of the house but headed round for the stables. Was there was only one horse? Jane saw only a single rider. Could they have only sent one? She swallowed. Quickly he would learn of her existence with the inevitable discovery of the horse. She hadn’t long.
She ran to the bedroom and took the pistol which lay upon the table. She looked upon the clothes she had worn during the day. She had no time to change. She eased out the window. She would only have one chance. The intruder wouldn’t have time to unsaddle his horse upon finding that one lived within the deserted house.
She knew the countryside well enough if she had access to a horse. Where she would go she didn’t know, but she would live another day. She stepped quietly across the yard and slid through the open stable door into the darkness. Her eyes couldn’t make out a figure, but she saw well the saddled horse. The animal heard her and sidled away, snorting. Where was the intruder?
Her horse nudged the door to his stall, calling attention to her. She frowned dropping the pistol to her side. The horse quieted when she stilled herself. She glanced around to the side. He had to be within. She slowly turned her glance in the darkness. A noise behind startled her. She held her musket out and turned quickly, but he was to her side.
Hitting her upon her arm, the pistol fell harmlessly behind the horse. The impact sent her reeling. Oh Mother of all! What would she do now? She crawled to her knees. Regaining her footing, she ran, but to no avail the quicker feet had her within his grasp within moments. She struggled with every bit of energy in her. She tried to claw at him, but he held tight her hands. Then she kicked at him. She knew where it would hurt.
Surprised at her assault, her assailant cried out, “Good Gawd, woman!”
In the same breath he let go. She ran out the barn and looked frantically around, searching for an escape, but he lunged at her and she fell against the hard ground, a hard rock. Her head hurt. She tried to stand, but lost balance. Her eyes wouldn’t focus. Though within her vision she saw a face whose eyes showed concern, handsome eyes. She knew nothing else as darkness descended upon her.
* * * *
Sumner settled the girl in the front bedroom of the house. He laid the mystery lady down on the bed. What the bloody hell had happened here? Who was this woman? She hadn’t the look of a homeless wanderer. Moreover what was she doing in his house?
The room looked as though she lived within it, littered with female garments. A dress hung over the back of a hardback chair. Slippers sat on the underside of the bed. Running his hand through his hair, his gaze fell back upon her. He studied her while he felt the bump on her head, a large bump.
With his touch, she began to mutter unintelligible words. At least he hadn't killed the poor thing. He hadn't known what to expect when he entered the stable and saw the horse. The house in the darkness had given no indication of someone lived in his house, no light, no noise. Seeing the horse put him on immediate alert.
He heard crackling of leaves and trigs when he dismounted. He eased off and waited. He attacked with the same force he would have a man. He hadn’t intended to harm a young woman, especially one as beautiful as she. Or was it the moonlight that had shone down upon her?
He watched her breathing. His eyes inspected her from her lovely face sweeping down her body to her bare feet. He hadn't looked upon a woman in this manner for a long time. The fabric of the white nightgown hung from her shoulders, leaving her arms bare and revealed the swell of her breasts, falling loose around her petite body. Her hair as dark as midnight hung, unbound, over her shoulders and down her back. He wondered what color her eyes were, but her features were fine.
Uncomfortable, she squirmed. One of her dainty hands folded into a fist and hit against the mattress, twisting and turning. Of course she was! He had knocked her out, but Lord, he must be in a bad state, for he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Questions raked his mind. Who was she? Why became clear as he thought. She was running, hiding. She had to be or she wouldn't be in such an isolated homestead. Was she running from her father, an abusive husband? In that he didn't know.
A few things he could discern about her while he watched her. She didn't frighten easily. She knew how to fight. And by God, she was beautiful.
SHADOWS OF THE PAST by Carrie James Haynes
Book One, Whispers of a Legend Series
FREE eBook!
Whispers of a Legend saga: Kela Calledwdele was born with a destiny, a Euchoun with only one purpose in life...to protect. Torn between two worlds, Kela soon discovers she is the hope of both. Now she must find the courage to face the destiny fate has dictated to her.
Kela has always known what path in life she would follow. She was born a Euchoun. Half Witheleghean, a passive peaceful race where magic runs freely and the other half, Sordarin, a valiant warrior race of hawkmen who rule the sky, she knows well her parents gave the ultimate sacrifice to give her a chance to live. Yet, in so doing, they have left Kela unprepared to face the dangers that await her. Her instincts are to protect and in this she does, but in so doing it leads her into a world where she knows not whom to trust. In time her power matures and grows stronger when she bonds with a Sordarin warrior, Cono. She learns well why she holds the power. An evil as no other before, Asmeodai, has emerged but all is not what it seems as a dark cloak encompasses her family. Betrayal, distrust, treachery leaves Kela alone. She is torn by her desire for Cono and the purpose, the path, she has been given to follow. And when another emerges within her world, one who seemly wants only to help her along her path, she is pulled further away from her Sordarin.
Shadows of the Past, Book One of the Whispers of a Legend is the first in nine installments of the saga. It is a journey of a young woman’s battle to embrace her destiny. Whispers of a Legend follows Kela along this conflicting path, where as a young woman unsure of her ability and her confidence in facing the challenges before her to where she emerges as a strong leader who learns to lean upon her own strength, to stand not behind, but side by side with her warrior.
The legend, they say, is whispered within the winds along the magnificent Preda Mountain Range, the words and deeds never to be forgotten of the Time of the Nuxvenom.
Little children sing to the glory of the Sordarins. Young lads praise their heroes of the past with dreams of following within their footsteps. Old men bask in the deeds of another time, a time when the Sordarins crushed the impending threat and once more Scarladin was safe.
The mighty Sordarins, rulers of the sky! The people look high up in the clouds and see their warriors soaring under the sun and know they are safe and secure in their world; they never to have to w
orry about the threat of the Arachnideans or the dreaded Asmeodai, the ones whose quest seeks only to destroy all the Sordarins have ever known!
The Sordarins have slept well over the years secure in their knowledge the Great One watches over them, knowing that the legends hold a mighty warrior will emerge if threatened again, born with a destiny only to defend their world.
But subtle changes have emerged. Little by little fear begins to resurface that their world; their very existence is once again threatened. They look to the skies anxiously awaiting their warrior; questioning perchance if the Great One has forgotten them.
I know this how? For I am the one born to defend their world. I, Kela Calledwdele, was born a Euchoun. I am their warrior.
EXCERPT
The trail back to the cottage was well worn, but a long walk. I didn’t care. I needed the time. The sounds of the Forest surrounded me. Sounds that now I found comfort in. Suddenly over head a shadow appeared silhouetted the ground beneath me from the moonlight. I look up as I climbed over a small rocky hill. I glanced upward wondering who was leaving the castle.
In the moonlight, his wings spread wide over the cloudless sky. He circled over head. My eyes lay mesmerized upon the Sordarin who within moments landed before me. He did not say a word at first. He just stood there, too close, too tall, too dark. He smiled at me.
“Are you heading somewhere?” Cono smiled a wide arrogant grin.
“Should you not be back at the castle with everyone?” I said. “My destination is not your concern. Now, please go along with your flight. I have no intentions of detaining you.”
“You’re not,” he reached out and touched my face. I recoiled. I have never been touched in that manner for any reason. “I have waited for this opportunity to talk with you without everyone’s ears.” He paused for a moment, glancing down at my bare feet. “The slippers weren’t comfortable?”
My eyes flamed. To be ridiculed! I stepped around him. His arm halted my progression. “You walk unprotected in the dead of night?”
“You don’t know me well,” I answered blandly. “I’m not afraid. Of what? Why would someone try to harm me?”
“I can think of a few reasons,” his eyes glanced over me in a way that made color rush to my cheeks. Happy at least the night’s dim light hid my embarrassment.
I faced him in the night. “I can well take care of myself. I have been trained well.”
“In that I don’t question,” His head tilted to hold to my eyes I had tried to divert. He looked upward. “It is a grand night for a flight. Do you not think?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Then it is time to find out.”
Without another utterance, his arms rounded me and upward he soared. My arms instinctually clutched his neck. He laughed heartily. “It is better than blasting at me. Much better.”
At first I dug my head into his chest. I closed my eyes and faced the wind. Oh, the taste of what freedom! Slowly I opened my eyes. I drank in the feeling, the sight and the remembrance of once before flying high in the sky with the one that held me. I wanted it to go on forever for the Sordarin warrior who held me to bring me out of Forbidden Forest. Instead he lit upon the cliffs high above the Forest.
His arms released me and I stood along the edge. So tiny all beneath my gaze. Oh, the beauty. I turned to find his eyes dancing upon me. The anger igniting within me only moments before dissipated.
“Thank you,” I uttered. “This is so beautiful.”
“It is,” he agreed as he stepped closer to me, so close I could feel his breath upon my neck.
His arms rounded me, pressing my face to his. My lips pulsed beneath his touch. My whole body did from his proximity and gaze. I gritted my teeth. Why was I doing acting like a fool! His dark eyes considered me. They lured me. Their color deepened. He smiled vaguely.
He looked handsome with the moonlit highlighting him in the darkness. I had no time to consider my situation when he lowered his head. His lips touched mine delicately and kissed me softly. His lips lingered a moment, rested only an extra instant. He cupped the nape of my neck with his strong hand and kissed me again. This time, I responded back.
My body trembled with his touch. The kiss, his closeness, his kiss provoked something inside of me that caused me to forget for a moment all around me. When he broke from me, I stared up at him in shock. I would have stepped back but his arms held me tightly.
“I don’t want you to fall.”
My eyes widened with fascination of the depth of feeling he evoked within me. Finally, however, I realized he was playing with me. “Let go,” I said. “You may do this often. But I will not be treated such. I may look as though…”
He shook his head, then kissed me again. “I have never done this before, nor wanted to with anyone else. I told you I wanted to talk with you. I want to understand all that you have been through for the last four years. It may well have been four years, but I remember well the power surging through you. And in all it may show conceit, but I believe well that you are stronger with me by your side.”
“I don’t understand what you are saying.”
“I’m saying I witnessed a Euchoun almost destroy the entire Royal Unit with one blast when I touched her. I fought along side of her when she helped destroy an Arachnidaens leader. I have dreamed of a girl in a mist for years. I have felt a pull toward something I can’t explain until I saw you when you saved your sister. Did you not hear me when I called to you? I did not speak a word, but you heard me. Didn’t you?”
I stared strangely at him. I nodded only. I had heard the words and trusted him. “I did, but in all, Cono, I know all I have been trained to do. Your words…Johannes says that I’m too naïve. I will not be used. I know what my purpose is and will complete it…”
“With me.”
“With you?”
“Kela, can you not understand? From the beginning it was you and I. Within you now, even though you words say different, you do not fear me,” his hand caressed my face. “No, you don’t fear me. You feel the pull, the call within us. Us. Kela, we are bonded and have always.”
“Bonded? With you? You want to be bonded with a girl? I know of no other except my brother. Johannes thought perchance I was to battle alone…,” My voice waded for he shook his head.
He reached down and took my hand in his. He brought it to his lips and kissed it. “You have a power within you that few have seen. My grandmother has always been believed that the bond was between us. With following you within the tunnel that night, the blast when we retrieved you, and if the legends hold to be true, it will be needed. Do you doubt me?”
“I know of no other bonds that find one in another’s arms.”
“In that I’ll admit. It may play that I should keep my hands off of you, but in that also Kela I feel drawn to you as I have never been drawn before. Tell me you don’t feel it also.”
“How am I to compare?”
“Then I take it as a yes. I don’t want you comparing. I want your eyes only on me,” he laughed. “This is good, but beware, Kela. I have not the best of tempers and my patience is none existent at times. I put nothing in front of my mission. Nothing.”
“Neither do I.”
His hand found my face again. “In this I know we are to fight together, be together, Kela. I don’t know why King Edulf has hidden you for these years. I don’t know why, but I do know that we are going to the Payelaga Desert. I want you there with me.”
“How? Openly flaunting…”
“I have thought of it. Johannes is going with Falco. He can help. I will take you there as my page. No one will question me. You will be beside me without question and we will see where all leads. Are you ready to meet your destiny, Kela?”
“Yes,” I said simply.
Contact Jerri Hines at:
twitter.com/jhines340.com
http://jerrihines.org/
Jerri Hines Booklist
The Cry For Freedom, Book One, Winds of Betra
yal Series
Embrace of the Enemy, Book Two, Winds of Betrayal Series
Kiss of Deceit, Book Three, Winds of Betrayal Series
The Heavens Shall Fall, Book Four, Winds of Betrayal Series
Coming 2014!
The Judas Kiss, Book One. Tides of Charleston Series
The Promise, Book Two, Tides of Charleston Series
Another Night Falls, Book Three, Tides of Charleston Series
Carrie James Haynes Booklist
Whispers of a Legend, Part One- Shadows of the Past- Free!
Whispers of a Legend, Part Two- The Path Now Turned
Whispers of a Legend, Part Three- Vision of Destiny
Whispers of a Legend, Volume I
Whispers of a Legend, Part Four- Time of the Nuxvenom
Whispers of a Legend, Part Five- Heir of Witheleghe
Coming Soon!
Dreamscape, Dream Walker Series
Colleen Connally Booklist
Seductive Secrets- Book One, Secret Lives Series- Free!
Broken Legacy, Book Two, Secret Lives Series
Seductive Lies, Book Three, Secret Lives Series
Coming Soon!
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Broken Legacy (Secret Lives Series) Page 25