The Sword of the Banshee by Amanda Hughes Read Free Book Online

an entire land. Her needs were not important.
    She wrapped her cloak more closely around herself and thrust her chin into the air. She must not think of hearth and home anymore. She must bury these thoughts with her children. It was dangerous to dream.
    India smiled cynically as she turned back toward the house. It was no wonder they called her the "Ice Queen".  Every bit of fire and passion had been snuffed from her soul. Now only lofty ideals and frosty thrones remained.
    Suddenly, she felt tired. She pulled herself up the hill toward the manor house. Mr. Peadar was gone from his post, and she was glad. Poor man, perhaps now he can get some rest.
    As she approached the steps, she noticed that he had forgotten his pack. The bundle lay across the threshold just inside the open door. As she approached, her heart jumped. It was no bundle at all, but a man lying under the stone archway. In a flash she was on her knees beside the man. It was the guard, Marcas Peadar. When she pulled him toward her, blood spattered her face and gown. India blinked and jumped back in horror. He was still alive, and he clutched her bodice frantically. He was gasping and gurgling, blood pumping from his neck. Quickly she gathered her cloak pressing it against his throat. The gash was too deep, it soaked the material instantly. India watched helplessly as the life poured out of the man. Suddenly his body relaxed and he was silent.
    India stared at him, too stunned to move. Slowly she stood up, holding her palms out, soaked with blood. She looked at the open door, then out toward the woods. She opened her mouth to call for the guards than caught herself. The assault had just occurred. Whoever had killed Mr. Peadar may be in the house at this moment searching for her. She pictured the assassin going from room to room, knife in hand ready to slit her throat. Like a bolt of lightning, India shot down the steps and across the lawns toward the cover of the wood.
    Tearing madly through the brush, she dashed into the darkness, running madly and without direction deep into the woods. She began to sob, looking back over her shoulder again and again, but she saw no one. She followed a deer trail yanking her skirts up, jumping over fallen trees, tearing branches back.  Suddenly she lost her footing and tumbled down a ravine, rolling head over heels, hitting rocks and razor sharp brambles, ripping her clothes and banging her head. She lay at the bottom, bruised and exhausted. Her head was spinning. When she caught her breath, she listened. She heard the wind rustling the trees, nothing more. She pulled herself to her feet and stumbled on through the brush toward a light in the distance. There was a stabbing pain in her side, and her lungs felt as if they would burst. She continued to run and look over her shoulder. She was so parched that she started gagging. Finally she came to a large clearing with a cottage in the distance. It was the cottage she had seen earlier that day.
    As she stumbled across the field, a sheep dog jumped out of the brush and began barking. The closer she got to the cottage, the more he began to snap and growl. As she approached the dwelling, the dog stopped her, standing stiff-legged in her path. Suddenly the cottage door flew open. A man stood on the threshold, light flickering behind him.
    "Who's there!" he demanded.
    "Help me," India gasped. "Please," and she dropped to her knees.
    "Jesus!" the man cried, dropping down to her. He looked around the clearing with a shillelagh in his hand and said, "Are ya alone?"
    "Yes," India said breathlessly. The dog rushed forward and began to lick her face.
    The man scooped India into his arms and in three large strides he brought her into the cottage. He laid her on the dirt floor in front of the peat fire and shut the cottage door.
    He was a robust man in the prime of his life. His long, auburn hair fell in tangles around his care worn face. "What happened?" he whispered.
    Before she could answer,