Song of the Fairy Queen by Valerie Douglas Read Free Book Online Page A

neighbors save the northern reavers. Morgan had stood beside him on the day Oryan had married Gwenifer, seeing more quivers in Oryan that day than he had on the field of battle.
    “Will she love me, Morgan?” Oryan had asked then. “Is it truly me or the King she loves?”
    Time had answered that question more truly, but Morgan had answered him even so, knowing it to be true. He’d been friend to both. “You, Oryan, never doubt it.”
    And wished for the same for himself, someday.
    Now? It was doubtful he’d live so long.
    Morgan had risen through the ranks under Oryan’s father Taran until he’d stood as second to the last High Marshal. Until the day Oryan named him to that higher service, needing his own trusted man there. There had been time for little else.
    “I could have served no better King,” Morgan said evenly, his eyes on that King.
    He meant it. While he’d respected the father, he loved the Prince and now King like the brother he’d never had.
    Their eyes met, Oryan’s familiar brown, Morgan’s pale blue.
    “My oath on it,” Morgan said.
    A reminder of his knighting at Oryan’s hand, of his obligation to his King and the realm.
    Oryan looked at him, smiled briefly. “Shut up.”
    “My liege,” Morgan said obediently, smiling a little, inclining his head.
    How long had they known each other ? Oryan wondered. He couldn’t remember a time when Morgan hadn’t stood at his shoulder in one way or another, solid, calm, confident.
    One more parting, one more absence.
    For the first time since Oryan had laid the sword of knighthood on Morgan’s shoulders, Oryan offered his arm to him, one man to another.
    Morgan looked at the man he’d served for most of his adult life.
    A good man, steady, sure, calm in the face of crisis and he silently cursed Haerold for what he’d done, although his face showed none of it.
    Resolute, Morgan clasped the offered arm, his fingers closing over solid muscle.
    Morgan’s eyes turned to his own trusted few. Pwyll, Jack and Dareth met his eyes. He’d tasked them with protecting the King, with the aid of Kyri and her people, until others could arrive.
    Pwyll saluted, sharply.
    “We’ll keep him safe, Captain, sir,” Pwyll said.
    Nodding his head, Morgan said, “See that you do.”
    Sucking in a breath, Morgan tightened his fingers over Oryan’s arm.
    “My friend, be safe,” Oryan said.
    No greater accolade was needed than that. My friend . Morgan could see the sincerity in his King’s eyes, though he’d always known it.
    It was enough.
    With a nod to the King, Morgan released him.
    He looked at lovely Kyriay, sitting astride her horse bareback, as all her people did, and remembered suddenly and vividly that moment in the hall at Gwen’s estate.
    Eyes sparkling, she lifted her chin in response and smiled a little, almost daring him to remind her of her duty as he had the others.
    He met that gaze and smiled in return.
    “Morgan,” Kyri’s light, flute-like voice said…”I have another gift…”
    Turning her horse’s head, she guided it close to his.
    Slipping her fingers beneath a thin silver chain around her throat, she lifted it, shaking her head to free the links from the spill of golden curls.
    His body tightened almost reflexively even as her arms raised.
    She guided her horse close.
    Morgan ducked his head as she slipped the chain over his head.
    In that moment she was as near as she’d ever been, but for that moment in the hall. The soft scent of her reached him as her slender fingers lightly brushed the skin at his throat to send a shiver through him. Those lovely eyes were solemn…. her long slender fingers tapped lightly at the crystalline amulet on the end of the chain. It was shaped like a feather.
    “Protection against magic,” she said, and looked at him intently, “as much as I can give you.”
    He covered her hand over his heart and watched her eyes widen a little, the light in them shift, a small flicker of her brows. A smile