Soul Magic by Karen Whiddon Read Free Book Online Page A

offspring, bastard or legal.”
                  “He does now.”  Darrick jerked his head at Alanna, whose emerald-colored eyes had gone smoky.  “This child Morfran has taken is hers.  Alanna bore the man a son.”
                  The messenger’s mouth dropped open. 
                  Stunned, Geoffrey felt himself do the same.  Closing his mouth with a snap, he stared at Alanna, as did all of the men who’d gathered. 
                  Color high, she jerked her head in a nod. 
                  “Darrick speaks true,” she said.  “I have a son who was stolen from me.  Caradoc is his name.  And Gorsedd is well-known to me.  He is of my people.  He was the one who took him.”
                  Geoffrey found his voice.  “Why should we help her?” He looked at Darrick as he spoke.  “She betrayed you.  Now you tell us she bore the heir of your enemy.” 
                  Reasonable questions.  The rest of the men muttered, agreeing with him. 
                  But Alanna did not appear cowed, though all hint of color had drained from her face.  She locked gazes with him, and Geoffrey felt a moment of shame before his righteous anger reasserted itself.
                  “He raped me,” she said, spitting the words at him.  Chin held high, she looked at each man in turn, daring them to speak.  When none did, she turned to Darrick, eyes blazing.
                  “Now you have one more reason to make haste for Morfran’s keep.  Not only must we regain my son, but your own mother as well.”
                  Squelching pity, Geoffrey stepped forward.  “Morfran is Rowena’s brother.  Surely she is in no great danger.”
                  The messenger’s throat moved as he swallowed, gaze darting from Alanna to Darrick, then to Geoffrey. 
                  “The Lady Rowena,” he swallowed again.  “Her suffering is mighty.”
                  Darrick made an inarticulate sound of rage as his men began again to murmur among themselves.  “Go on.”
                  Encouraged, the messenger elaborated.  “Morfran keeps her in a damp cell under the keep.  There is a dirt floor and starving rats and all other manner of crawling creatures.  Because she must wear chains, she is not able to fend them off.   But that is not the worst of it - Morfran visits her, sometimes as much as twice a day and forces himself upon her.”
                  Darrick snarled out loud. 
                  Geoffrey himself felt like vomiting. “Her own brother?” 
                  The messenger nodded.  “She is fed,” he continued, “though her meals consist of a watery porridge and hard bread.  She fears she will die there, in the dampness and darkness, her body eaten by rodents, unless you can free her.”
                  Alanna uttered a wordless cry.  Glancing at her, Geoffrey saw that even she looked nauseated.  Then he remembered that she too had suffered at Morfran’s hands.
                  “The man is a monster.”  The messenger, having finished his tale, slumped on his horse’s back, his exhaustion plain to see.
                  “Take your horse to the barn at the southern end of the keep.  There she’ll be well taken care of.  You yourself need to rest.” 
                  Nodding, the man and his tired horse moved off.
                  Darrick clapped his hand on Geoffrey’s shoulder.  “I would ride out now to rescue my mother and,” he inclined his head towards Alanna, “her son.”
                  “Now?”  Geoffrey did not bother to hide his dismay.  “The men have battled long and hard this day.  They need food and rest and--”
                  “Now,” Darrick interjected, his