Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock)
Page 46
“It’s exactly what law readers demand in such cases!”
“It’s not automatic, man! I’ve heard of other repayments that might be offered and accepted.”
“I’ve tried to find proof that I didn’t kill my mother. I can’t. I can’t let Palle remain king, either. I owe Dherrica a life.”
“And what of the life Dherrica owes me!” Doron cried. “Where was your precious Shaper law when Betajj died?”
“Doron.” He leaned toward her, picked up her hand and held it between his. Emlie squirmed in Doron’s arms, craning her head to watch their faces. “That’s just one more example of why I must reclaim the throne. Dherrica deserves law readers and Redmothers and a thousand things Palle will never permit.”
“Rot,” Doron said succinctly. “Sitrinian ideas. You spent too much time listening to their precious king.”
“And your brother,” he admitted. “Ivey knows how much Dherrica has lost. They both gave me some things to think about. Important things.”
Doron pulled her hand away from him. “Like pretty Shaper lasses?”
“Aye. Kamara is pretty.” He straightened and folded his arms over his chest. “Does that really matter?”
“It matters that you’re not only considering this, you’ve already chosen the woman! An old friend from the court, I suppose.”
“You’d rather I assault an unwilling stranger?” Pirse flared back at her.
Emlie started to cry. Doron, distracted, lifted the hem of her blouse and put the baby to her breast. The familiar, soothing routine of nursing calmed her as much as it did the baby. She looked up, and found Pirse watching them. His anger, too, had gone. Resignation, and a deep sadness, darkened his eyes and turned down the corners of his mouth.
“Oh, be off with you,” Doron said, her voice low. “You’ll do what you think you must. I can’t stop you.”
“You could understand me.”
She understood all too well. He could not deny his Shaper’s vows. To be truthful, she would probably throw him out of her house if he did. As painful as their fragmented relationship was, she cherished every devoted, earnest, honest, insufferably conscientious bone in his body.
She swallowed the ache in her throat. “Just see that you come back.”
In two long-legged strides he was kneeling beside her again. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, Emlie gently enfolded between them. Doron closed her eyes when he pulled back, and didn’t open them until she heard the sound of the gate and his footsteps trudging up the hill.
“You have to come back.” Privacy freed the words she had never said in his presence. “Please, Pirse. I love you.”
* * * * *
This ends Book One of “The Children of the Rock”. The story concludes in
Children of the Rock
Book II
Moons’ Dancing
by Susan Sizemore & Marguerite Krause
About the Authors
Marguerite Krause and Susan Sizemore have been friends since their days writing and editing for a Star Trek fanzine. In fact, they met through writing. Marguerite was Susan’s first editor and publisher… long ago in a galaxy far far away. When they decided to try their hands at collaborative writing, it seemed only natural to create a fantasy universe together. The results are Moons’ Dreaming and Moons’ Dancing.
Susan is the New York Times bestselling author of dozens of romance, paranormal, and fantasy novels in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. She has won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart award. Marguerite is a freelance editor and writer, and for recreation plays the Highland snare in a bagpipe band.
For Further Reading
Marguerite has written numerous essays for the SmartPopBooks series on popular culture, available on their website. Her fantasy novel, Blind Vision, first published by Speculation Press, is available as an ebook and trade paperback wherever such books are sold.
Look for more of Susan’s ebooks at your favorite ebook retailer, including:
Personal Demon
Primal Cravings
Nothing Else Matters
Memory of Morning
Sammy’s Song
Written in Ink
…and many more!
Send an email to sgsizemore@msn.com to join Susan’s mailing list to receive information on upcoming book releases. This is a private list and your information will not be shared.