The Winds of the Heavens (Sons of Rhodri Medieval Romance Series) by Anna Markland Read Free Book Online Page A

raked his hand through his hair. “What’s happened?”
    Rhydderch beckoned. “She spoke to me, Rhun. She spoke to me.”
    Rhun looked into his eyes, fearful for his twin.
    Glain hurried into the chamber, concern etched on her face. “What’s happening? Isolda? Has something—?”
    Rhydderch interrupted excitedly. “She spoke to me. Actually, at first she spoke to you. She called your name.”
    Glain had longed for Isolda to whisper her name, prayed for her sister to be whole again. She rushed to the bed. “But she still sleeps.”
    Rhydderch’s eyes were wild. “Yes, but she said your name, and mine. She sipped some ale. Then she fell back to sleep. But she told me she knew I—that I waited here—for her. She knew. She said ‘ thank you my love’ . She spoke. I heard her. She said it.”
    He looked at his twin’s face and must have seen the doubt written there. He clenched his fists. “I tell you she spoke and she’ll speak again.”
    Rhun kneaded the tense muscles of his brother’s shoulders. “I believe you.”
    I must, for my own sake.
    ***
    They continued their vigil into the early hours of the morning. Glain dozed in a chair. A faint whisper came to her ears. “ Glain ?”
    She rocked forward and grasped her sister’s hand, pressing it to her lips. “Isolda?”
    “Glain? The darkness—”
    Glain gasped, holding her breath. “It’s the middle of the night, Isolda. I’m here. Can you see me?”
    “No. But I feel your hand.”
    Sennights of restrained grief washed over Glain as she pressed her sister’s hand to her forehead, trying to stem the torrent of threatening tears. Rhun and Rhydderch now stood at her side. Rhun put his arms around her. “She’ll understand if you cry.”
    Glain finally took in a ragged breath. “Isolda, my sister, my twin. I feared you were lost to me forever. I’ve missed you.”
    Isolda’s voice was faint and raspy. “I’ve—missed—you—Glain. Rhydderch has been telling—me news of everyone—it’s dark—can you bring light?”
    Rhun hurriedly brought the torch from the hallway sconce.
    Rhydderch pressed Isolda’s hand to his lips. “My love, welcome back. My heart never doubted you would awaken.”
    With his help, Isolda sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. “Thank you for bringing me back. I can’t see. Is someone bringing light?”
    Rhun and Glain exchanged a glance, and Glain stifled a gasp. She passed her hands in front of Isolda’s eyes and looked back desperately at Rhun.
    Rhydderch was immersed in kissing Isolda’s hand.
    Glain whispered to Rhun. “Mayhap it’s a passing thing?”
    He shook his head.
    “Bring more light, Rhun,” Rhydderch suggested. “It’s a moonless night.”
    Rhun put his arm around his twin’s shoulder, and passed his hand in front of Isolda’s unflickering eyes. He whispered in his brother’s ear. “More light won’t improve the matter.”
    Rhydderch understood at once. He gathered Isolda to his chest and rocked her. “Isolda, your eyes will adjust to the light. We won’t bring torches until your sight improves. We don’t want to harm your beautiful blue eyes.”
    Pride and sorrow warred within Rhun as he watched his brother cradle his beloved.
    Rhydderch turned to look at them. “I’ll stay with her. She will need my help.”
    ***
    Rhydderch ap Rhodri had known all his life what his destiny was. Or thought he had. He had grown up listening to his father’s tales of his dream of the goddess, Arianrhod, revealing his destiny with Rhonwen as his wife.
    But in the moment he understood that Isolda was blind, Rhydderch recognised that his ultimate destiny was not to be a fanatical Welsh patriot warrior. The reason for his existence was to be the helpmate of this woman he loved. It was as compelling a truth as his father’s dream had been.
    He would not have thought it possible, but now he loved Isolda more. The pestilence had stolen nothing of her beauty. He grieved for her loss and acknowledged with a heavy