Choosing Hearts - The Fighter's Passion (Gritty, Explicit Romance Novel) (A Lusty Stand Alone Story) Read Online Free PDF Page B

with a patronizing nod. “Didn’t they lock you up?”
     
    “No one locks me
up, Outlander.” The disheveled older woman sneered. “Heed my words: your days
here are numbered.”
     
    “I know, I am to
be wed tomorrow.” He chuckled even as Alicia clutched at his arm in fear.
     
    “You may think
little of what  I say now, but beware the darkness… it approaches.” Mymisa
shook her ragged head and waved a gnarled finger.
     
    “What do you mean,
old one?” Alicia demanded, holding on to Rogan tightly.
     
    “Ah, my poor
child.” Mymisa gazed sadly at the younger woman. “Such beauty and so much
sorrow to bear… so much sadness.”
     
    “Enough of that,
old crone.” Rogan rasped, his patience wearing thin. “Be on your way lest I
call the guard upon you.”
     
    “Beware, bold
knight.” The woman cackled as she turned and walked away. “The darkness will
bring great sorrow. Yet there is hope, but at a great cost, and if you do pay the
price, your destiny and that of your progeny shall prosper for eons, but in
lands anew and unheard of.”
     
    “Away with you,
old dreamer.” Rogan snapped at the departing woman, “Sell your false visions to
fools who would care.”
     
    “Rogan, what did
she mean?” Alicia demanded of her lover.
     
    “Pay no heed to
mad Mymisa, dear Alicia.” Rogan gritted his teeth. “She only does this to fool
people, so they may ask her more and cross her palm with coin.”
     
    “She spoke ill of
you and… and sorrow for me…” The blue eyed beauty went on, shivering slightly.
     
    “Forget her, my
love.Now come. Our new home awaits us.” He grinned and helped her up to the
saddle before jumping on himself and kicking the great black into a fast
gallop.
     
    Alicia glanced
back one more time at the caterwauling old woman as the horse thundered ahead.
A cold chill ran down her spine at the ominous words of the woman. She
remembered stories she had heard about a demented seer in the city who foretold
much of the troubles that had plagued Kirk Falls before Rogan had arrived to
the dukedom.  Not much was heard from her the last three years when peace had
prevailed all around. And now she was back again with her strange prophecies of
doom and despair.
     
    ~ ~ ~
     

 
     
    “The most
memorable day of our lives.” Rogan sighed deeply, stretching himself on the
large bed he himself had fashioned from an old oak tree. “And I am more
exhausted than I had been after a week’s worth of battles on the northern
border last winter.”
     
    “Indeed, my love.”
Alicia giggled, still a bit overwhelmed by the lavish ceremony. “This is a day
we will never forget. The Duke must be really in your debt to sponsor such a
splendid feast in our honor.”
     
    “It is hard to
believe that this one-time wandering nomad would be worthy of such opulence.”
Rogan shook his fiery blonde head with a bemused smile. “The Duke’s kitchens
must have slaughtered half the beef cattle of the dukedom alone… and all that
fine wine and succulent cakes and pastry.”
     
    “Yes, it was a
feast fit for kings… and honored knights.” Alicia sat down beside her husband.
“Yet now it is a memory to cherish and we must move on.”
     
    “What troubles
you, my blushing bride?” Rogan laughed, caressing her dark shining tresses.
     
    “I haven’t quite
gotten over that seer woman’s omens.” Alicia sighed, running her fingers over
his massive chest. “Her words have filled my heart with fear… fear of losing
you.”
     
    “Mymisa is mad, my
love,” Rogan said softly. “Ignore her.She roams the outskirts of town selling
her self-made prophecies to fools who believe in such things.”
     
    “That may be true,
but this fear has clawed its roots deep within me.” She said with watery eyes.
“Before we were wed, I was so proud of you… of your valiant deeds and heroic
exploits. I reveled in the glory of your achievements and wanted you to keep
striving to bring law and order to Kirk