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.She put her hand over her mouth to keep her fright in check.Davina! Several prayers rattled around inside the young Gypsy’s head.Davina grabbed her crock of honey and left Veronique undiscovered in the darkness.She breathed a quiet sigh of relief and almost collapsed on the floor.She waited a moment before peeking through the doorway.Davina sat at the table in the center of the kitchen and Veronique sat back in her hiding spot behind the barrel, biting her curved index finger to keep from screaming her frustrations.She would have to wait until Davina finished and went back to bed.Sitting at the long prep table in the kitchen, Davina placed the crock before her and swirled the honey around with the wand, her chin in her hand as she watched the golden liquid glistening in the candlelight.“Oh, Kehr,” she sighed and closed her eyes.She could almost see her brother sitting at the table beside her, his large frame leaning against her—shoulder to shoulder—resting on his elbows as he dipped his finger into the honey and pulled out a dripping mouthful.She chuckled.“You were always a glutton about eating our honey.”“I am not!” he retorted.Davina pursed her lips at her brother.“Aye, you are indeed!” She dipped a delicate finger into the crock and coated the tip with the sticky treat.“You don’t have to load your finger up with all the honey it can take.Just a taste, Kehr.”Davina brought her finger to her mouth and touched her tongue before she closed her lips around her finger and let the honey melt into her mouth.She opened her eyes.This new batch of honey Seamus picked up yesterday tasted bitter.She would have to speak with him and find out from whom he’d purchased it.Had he changed beekeepers? She tried another sample, shrugged and continued eating.Aye, she would indeed need to speak with Seamus.She closed her eyes once more.“See?” she continued her imagined conversation with her brother.Davina swirled the honey around, enjoying the smoothness on her tongue and the roof of her mouth.“Savor every drop of this nectar from the Gods.”Kehr held his laughter back for as long as he could, and then burst into a mild fit.“‘Nectar of the Gods,’” he mocked.“Savor all you want.I’m gorging.” They giggled together in the darkness.Davina opened her eyes to find herself alone again, the candle flame twirling its silent dance upon the wick, morphing the shadows around her, drawing her into its lazy movements.The flame glistened like a star through her tears, a half-hearted grin tugged at the corners of her mouth as she continued eating the honey, choking back her grief.* * * * *“Sorry, lass,” Broderick said to the young woman sitting before him in the tent.He released her hand and smiled.“I cannot give you details.The lines do not reveal anything more than generalities.” She cast him a dreamy smile.This was the third trip the lass made into their tent to see Broderick, and though he didn’t normally read a palm more than once, twice at the maximum, they needed the funds.Nevertheless, she was there for more than mere fortune telling, and he didn’t feel right about making her part with her coin.When a long silence passed and she failed to get up from the table, Broderick leaned forward.“I cannot give you what you seek, lass.Run along now.” Her hand flew to her blushing cheek, her smile vanished from her face, and she dashed from the tent without depositing any donation.Broderick shook his head, feeling sorry for the girl.Sighing, he sat back in his chair and crossed his arms, alone to ponder his fruitless search the night before.There were times when Broderick could sense Angus, certain he would pop out of the darkness from behind a building or tree or rock.Then the presence disappeared.No more tingling sensations in his midsection, no more hairs rising on the back of his neck.Nothing.He wanted to comb the land for his enemy, not sit here reading fortunes.Conversely, he didn’t want to leave the people he loved alone and vulnerable, so he stayed to protect them.Mulling over the failure would do him no good.He turned his attention to other matters: His dreams.They were becoming more disturbing as the nights wore on.Frowning, he recalled the frantic images of Davina wasting away—her face gaunt and her gut cramping.No matter what he did, he couldn’t get near enough to help her; her cries for his assistance went unanswered.He wanted very much to check on Davina, but needed to focus his attention on Angus, and she was too delightful a distraction.Making his way to the tent opening, he noticed Amice and Veronique sitting at the fireside.Flames performed a flitting dance in the pit as the women huddled near its warmth.The snow on the ground lay thick.The cold silence broke when hurried footsteps sounded in the camp.Rosselyn stumbled up to them.“Amice, we need your help! Davina is ill.” Her bottom lip quivered.“We fear she may die!”Broderick’s heart battered in his chest, and Amice stood.“What are her signs?” she asked [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]