Haley, Darla, Randa, and Teal were all dressed in matching white silk gowns. Haley's red hair stood out among the four twins and her intense blue eyes filled her lovely face and pronounced her full pink lips. She nibbled on tender bits of orange fruit as Teal and Darla elaborated on Haggart's odd connection with mankind. Haley smiled as Randa commented on his behavior.
“He sides with Dagma and watches over those animals as if he had created them himself,” Darla fussed, “Just because Dagma allowed him to choose their form does not justify wanting to aid them in their development.”
Teal giggled, “Would it not be a sight to see if Haggart revealed his true form to those pitiful creatures?”
Darla sighed at Teal's comment and offered her own, “He is a compassionate god and hopes mankind will someday rid itself of their violent tendencies. He has worked tirelessly for a hundred years and he is still besieged with worry over them.”
Haley nodded her head, “We all should take a lesson from him and endeavor to assist him. He has taken such great pains to understand their hearts and we should at least support him. Dagma is already upset that we shun them as if they were ill-begotten beasts.”
“Men are disgusting! That thing between their legs acts as if it were in control of their bodies and their minds. They deserve no compassion and I for one am glad we do not have to deal with them unless we choose to.” Darla's words grew louder as she continued, “They should obey the women on earth and fall at their feet to worship the ground they walk on.”
“Does not that way of thinking make you as bad as you say they are? Have you not considered that men on earth are stronger and protect their women?” Haley stood as she pursed her lips in thought, “After all, did Dagma not intend for women to be weak to man's flesh and desire him? Look at us, we go to earth to find our mate to populate our society...our mates are men. Our children have mankind's blood running through their veins.”
Darla paled, “But the men here are not violent! They coexist with little difficulty and seem to enjoy all that Vacrey offers.”
“The men who are bred here do become violent when they are on earth, due to circumstances beyond their control,” Haley frowned, “Dagma is a warrior and created them in his image, so why do you not blame him for their actions?”
Darla pondered Haley's question briefly, “He is a god. We have no right to question what he does.”
Haley grinned in satisfaction, “Then why do you look down on what He created?”
Randa and Teal laughed at Darla's twisted face. Darla flung rose petals at them and crossed her arms as she walked away. Her light blonde hair bounced and disappeared around the edge of the garden as Queen Joaquinn held her slender hand up, silently advising her daughters to stop their chatter.
She caressed the bracelet on her arm as the girls stilled to listen, “Ell'andra soon becomes of age and her throne waits impatiently. Her father had her memory blocked and that has become an issue. Pray ye all that she has not been broken by that beast of a man that haunts her dreams of late.” Joaquinn toyed with her long braid that fell down to her waist, “She must return soon or I fear she will die at the hands of man.”
Haley turned to the lavender rose bushes and smiled, “I have been keeping an eye on our cousin. She is strong and intelligent. She will get the best of that man and he will fall to his knees before her just as that bastard Pierre did.”
Joaquinn narrowed her eyes at her daughter, “Perhaps it is time.”
Haley frowned knowing what her mother meant, “I will not go to that land of bittersweet sin. I prefer to stay a virgin and live here forever. I do not want a man to ever lay his hands on me or think he has some power to affect me.”
Joaquinn laughed softly, “Coward.”
Haley wrinkled her nose and flipped a rose bud at her mother, “Men are evil and full of limitless desires and they refuse to love. All they care for are possessions.”
“Not all men are like that,” Joaquinn's eyes stilled and her heart longed to see a particular man with soft blue eyes and an unequaled kind heart, “Your father was ...”
Haley smiled, “My father does not know I exist and I am thankful for it. He would no doubt do to me what Ell'andra’s done to her.”
Joaquinn stood from the hammock and glared at Haley, “He is a fine man and loved me unconditionally. You have no right to judge him. I was the one who chose to leave and that makes me the beast because he loved me beyond reason!”
Haley stared at her mother in disbelief. She had never raised her voice to her before and Haley knew it was because she looked so much like her father. So, Haley used that fact to get her way. Haley's wide eyes narrowed as Joaquinn clutched the emerald that hang slightly above her breasts. She watched in fascination as her mother's eyes filled with sadness and her lips quivered in heartbreaking pain.
“I left him to come here and rule in JaQuay's absence. I let my sister have her life with Duncan and for what? I gave up the man I loved and lost my sister in the process.” Joaquinn turned and ran her hand over the orb that sat atop a white marble pedestal. “It has been the only regret in my life.” She stared at the foggy image of a man packing a stone block. The image refused to clear and vanished in a wispy cloud of shimmering smoke.
“I am sorry mother. I know you loved him and I do wish I had known him.” Haley stood and wrapped her arms around the regal woman.
“He would have loved you and your twin sisters, but you would have been special to him. You have his eyes and his stubborn pride,” she whispered as Haley smiled, “When you go to that world, promise me you will find him. Promise me you will tell him who you are.”
Haley pulled away and frowned, “I have no desire to be in the world of men.”
“Fae has ordered you to go to make sure Ell’andra is in love with the male McKregan and to ensure that she returns to us as it was meant to be.”
Haley’s jaw dropped. She knew she could not defy the goddess. If Fae, their goddess, ordered then it was to be and whether Haley wanted to go or not was now beside the point.
Joaquinn smiled softly and walked away. Vacrey cooed to her softly and the wind danced softly on her skin in warming comfort. Haley would go and probably never return. She would take it upon herself to rid man's world of savage sin. Joaquinn's smile turned into laughter as she envisioned Haley proclaiming herself the savior of men. She was a headstrong little woman and she would have her way, one way or another.
The isle, being a part of Fae herself, laughed with her and shared Joaquinn's sentiment, but Her laughter held a far greater amused ring to it. Joaquinn's future had already been planned and Vacrey was intent on seeing those plans through. Vacrey turned Her attention to the realm of mankind as Andra numbly walked the halls of McKregan Keep. She blew kisses of strength and pride at the daughter of JaQuay.
It seemed like an eternity since Kagan had left the keep. He had been gone only two days and time had seemed to slow and the temperature had grown cold. No one in the keep's domain would tell her where he had gone and it had left Andra in a bitter mood. Andra knew he had taken at least ten of his warriors. Their absence was marked by the unheard sounds of clanging steel and hammering fists. The silence hung heavy in the air and even heavier on Andra's shoulders. The keep was deathly quite like the quite before a storm and Andra's nerves were on edge. She ran her hand along the cool stone pillar at the end of the great hall and stopped.
Her thoughts were on Kagan as a maid scurried by, unnoticed by Andra. Her brows knitted together as she wondered why she responded so wantonly to him. The sudden butterflies in her stomach and yearning in her loins flared as her face flushed. She could still feel his breath upon her skin, his hands running along her thighs, and his silky hair caressing her hands like flaming strings of desire. Her knees trembled and her breath came suddenly as she wished he was standing in front of her now. His powerful muscled hard body would lean against the wall and his gorgeous black hair would fall across his eyes.
Andra's drea
my eyes hardened at the sound of a sweet thick voice. Andra's back stiffened in defiance at the woman's appearance. Soft white silk fell from her shoulder and flowed to her ankles. A red sash was neatly tied at her thin waist and her small breasts sliced at the thin fabric clearly defining her erect nipples. The woman's hair was a flame of bright red curls and her white creamy skin was perfect and smooth. Her lips were curled into a suave smile and their glistening red shine brought attention to their delicate heart shaped poutiness.
“By the by, what ha'e we here?” The woman's husky voice asked in amused humor.
“Indeed. What do we ha'e here?” Andra gritted knowing she was a lady of ill repute and silent seductive behaviors. Both of the women looked upon each other as if they were standing on a great battlefield before a lethal enemy.
“I am Llana. Who, pray tell, are ye?” Llana questioned as she sized the voluptuous green eyed tan girl up.
“I am Ell'andra Duncan,” Andra softly replied as she stepped past the lovely woman, “Are ye visitin'? I ha'e na seen ye here 'fore.”
Llana raised her brow in amusement, “Nay, ye probably ha'e na. I keep late hours and comfort those in need of private attention.”
“Hmmm, I see,” Andra stated coolly as they walked into the ballroom on the first floor. Andra was interested in this obviously independent woman. She held herself well and spoke with intelligence and Andra respected that, for now.
“What brings ye to McKregan Keep?” The question was simple but it held a touch of venom.
“Kagan brings me here,” Andra used his name to emphasis her own independence and was satisfied with Llana's sudden look of intrigue.
“Kagan,” His name rolled off of her tongue like milk streaming from a cow's tit, “He is an astonishin' man and is quite a rare breed.”
“He is but a man and is na different than the rest,” Andra stated matter-of-factly, “He is thrown to his desires like an uncouth heathen and rejoices in his ego.”
Llana grinned wickedly, “Aye and I for one am thankful his desires are so uncouth.”
Her remark was intentional and struck a raw nerve but Andra smiled softly hiding her instant jolt of dislike for the woman, “Ye be his lover?”
It was more of a statement than a question and Llana seductively slid her fingers along Andra's arm, “Aye, when he wishes it. He finds my touch rather excitin' and has wondered into my bed more often than most I ha'e been attached to.”
Andra's skin crawled and she moved away from Llana's fingers, “Attached?”
“Men ha'e needs that are often unfulfilled by their stuffy wives and,” Llana ran her hand across her breast, “I fulfill their wildest fantasies as long as they can afford to gi'e me what I want in return.”
Andra's face paled as she turned away from the woman, “Then Kagan is truly na different than the rest.”
“He is very different,” she whispered, “Unlike any of the others, I come to him when he needs me and I take care to completely satisfy his e'ery wanton desire.”
“Then perhaps, since ye know him so well, you could gi'e him a message for me,” Andra insisted, “Tell him, I will be takin' a short lea'e of absence and will return soon to his side as I promised.” The lie was smooth and believable.
“He returns tomorrow and when he is sated, I will gi'e him the message.”
Andra smiled sweetly as they continued their walk through the ballroom doors and out into another hallway. “It is hardly belie'able that he can be sated without help from a fierce old scotch.”
Llana laughed wickedly, “My body is his scotch and I trust ye be well aware how a man's body falls in to the lust of a woman.”
“Aye, but a man such has the laird, na doubt has many lovers and visits them frequently and showers them with his urgent needs.” Andra's chest tightened and her heart froze as the words rolled out of her mouth like poison, “He takes what he wants and gi'es nothin' but superficial offerings in return to those ignorant enough to bend to his will.”
“Kagan is set in his ways. Howe'er, I am the only lover he takes to bed that he comes back to. I do hope that ye do'na find yeself taken with him. His lust for other woman wanes quickly and I do'na wish to see yer heart or pride bruised.” Llana watched Andra for a jealous reaction but was puzzled when it did not come.
Andra slowly smiled and looked deep in Llana's eyes, “I am afraid that ye clearly donna understand the situation. I am his betrothed and he comes to our bed e'ery night and rests his head beside of mine. Our relationship is more than simple lust and heated desires of the flesh.”
Llana's jaw dropped slightly and she gritted her teeth as she recovered, “Ne'er the less, he has sent for me and proves that ye donna completely satisfy him in one way or another.”
Andra shrugged her shoulders and sighed, “His honor will'na allow him to take my virginity ‘til our weddin’ night so I will allow him to ha'e his release elsewhere after he comes to worship my body.”
Llana's lip curled in prevailing malice, “Donna worry ye pretty little head, I will be sure to satisfy his e'ery desire, his e'ery whim of sensual need. After he takes ye, he will see that ye be na more than a plain piece of bread compared to my overflowin' banquet.”
Andra turned carelessly and politely curtsied with a small grin, “Pray ye please him beyond reason and sanity, least he should slip through ye fingers.”
Andra's heart thudded desperately against her chest as she walked away from Kagan's beautiful lover. She wanted to scream and cry. She wanted to pull out every red string of Llana's gorgeous red hair and wipe her red lips out from existence. She rounded the corner and ascended the staircase to her room. The door closed softly behind her and she slumped against its wooden strength. She pulled herself together and gathered a few articles of clothing and caressed the orb in her dress. She flew out of the door and darted down the steps to her escape.
As she galloped away from McKregan Keep atop a brown mare’s back, she refused to look back. She refused to acknowledge the pain in her chest and cursed Kagan McKregan for ever touching her. Her hot tears of anger, jealousy, and bitter defiance lanced her cheeks and fueled her heart felt rage. The heathen had sent for his lover and she was a beauty. He would no doubt find it amusing when Llana recited their conversation with him after he lay with her.
The deep feeling of not belonging returned to her heart tenfold as she rode across the hills. She knew there was something out there that was screaming for her, almost begging her to find. She would find it and swore she would embrace it with all her might.
“Dagma, help me!”
Chapter 11
The children squealed with joy as the woman they knew as Andra pounced after them like a tiger. Feona and Marilyn laughed as they watched their newly adopted children play happily in the grass. The least of the girls, Carrie climbed onto Andra's back and demanded a ride. Andra obliged and stalked about on all fours as Carrie giggled in delight atop her back.
Marilyn called for the children to wash up for sup and they ran to her side eagerly wishing to please the pretty kind woman, who they now called mother. Andra sat back and smiled. The children were happy and loved. Andra laughed as Marilyn shooed them to wash their hands and caught the oldest boy by his collar as he tried to escape the clutches of water and lye.
Andra caught sight of Flaron by his cottage on the hill. He was leaning on its wall. His smile was big and inviting. She stood, brushed off her skirts and glided up the hill. He greeted her at the door and stepped back to get a better view of her.
“Thought I'd ne'er see ye again.” Flaron admitted as Andra smiled.
“I could ‘na stay away.”
“The bairns ha'e become rather attached to their new mothers and fathers, but they miss ye very much,” he commented as she picked at the straw grass on her shirt.
“I miss 'em too.”
“Are ye stayin'?” His voice was low and sad.
“Nay, Marilyn says there be na extra beds and I donna want to impose,” she replied as sh
e looked at the orphanage.
“Nonsense! I ha'e another bed. Ye can stay with me and enjoy ye visit with the bairns. They would be heartbroken if ye left so soon.”
“Thank ye, but I ....”
“Hush, I will'na ha'e ye lea'ing tonight! Enjoy yeself,” he ordered as he pushed her towards the slanting hillside, “Go!”
Andra lay on the feather mattress staring at the ceiling. She could not sleep as Kagan raged like a bull through her thoughts. He was a brute, a self-indulging, womanizing, powerful, beautiful, well-endowed brute of a man. Her loins burned and ached as she imagined his hands rubbing up her thighs.
Anger flooded her cheeks as her thoughts turned sour. He was probably rubbing his hands up Llana's thighs at this very moment. He would do things to her that Andra could not even imagine and refused to think about. Her gut churned as she stood. She needed the cool crisp air of the highlands to help calm her nerves. A brisk walk, a sturdy tree to kick, and a private place to cry her eyes out was most certainly what she needed.
She tippy toed out of the room and slipped past Flaron's. She eased out of the cottage and briskly walked towards the open field in the pale moonlight. The night's beauty was oblivious to Andra as she tried to sort her thoughts. The moon's silvery sheen cast rays of dreamy light down upon her shoulders and kissed her long curls in rapturous delight. Her sea green eyes hardened and her frown deepened as she edged farther away from the cottage.
All men were insufferable heathens. They held no pity or love in their hearts, if they even had hearts. Calin had been a friend when they were children, but now he was a man and no different than the rest. He had only wanted to bed her and had all but refused to take no for an answer. She cursed herself for her stupidity in trusting him. She was a foolish child to have ever let him kiss her and touch her. Her skin crawled as memories of Calin's lips feverishly taking hers banged inside her head.
A Warrior's Perception Page 10