Dark Sword 05: Shadow Highlander Read Online Free PDF Page B

intruding, had sent Galen away from everyone.
    He went through life trying his damnedest not to touch anyone except when he had to. Even when he battled the wyrran he saw into their wicked minds, saw the evil they yearned to swathe the world in.
    It left him disgusted and sick to his stomach, but he would endure it if it meant more wyrran were killed.
    Galen paused when he saw the stone pillars so similar to the structures that dotted many of the isles around Scotland.
    “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Reaghan said. “I’m always taken aback when I look at them.”
    The pillars stood half the size of an oak with a thick slab of stone laid atop them. They were covered in the ancient text of the Celts. Mixed with the language was intricate knotwork that wound around the stones in a lavish and spectacular display of craftsmanship.
    “Incredible,” Logan murmured.
    Reaghan smiled and let out a contented sigh.
    “Who crafted these?” Galen asked.
    She shrugged. “As far as I know, they’ve been around for centuries.”
    “Can anyone in your village read the language?”
    “Can you?”
    Galen looked at Logan and chanced telling Reaghan half the truth despite his curiosity at her not answering him. If they wanted to find the artifact they were searching for, they would need someone from the village on their side. “Some of it.”
    “What does it say?”
    Logan moved to the stone nearest him and pointed to the top. “It says Loch Awe and the surrounding area are protected by the magic of the Druids, and to do evil is to provoke that magic.”
    Reaghan’s silver eyes were ablaze with excitement. “And the rest?”
    “We’ll need more time to decipher it,” Galen said.
    “Interesting.” Reaghan’s smile was bright, lighting up her face with a warm glow.
    Galen felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach.
    “Come,” Reaghan said. “It’s time you saw the village.”
    Galen watched her walk through the pillars and knew that somehow the stones were responsible for hiding the Druids.
    “Are you all right?” Logan asked Galen.
    “Aye. Why do you ask?”
    Logan snorted and gave him a wry smile. “Because I saw your face when Reaghan smiled. If you find her attractive there’s no reason you cannot take your pleasure with her if she’s willing.”
    “If only it were that easy, my friend. If only it were that easy.”

FOUR
     
    Galen took a deep, calming breath and followed Reaghan through the pillars. Once through, he was able to see the village. It wasn’t hidden by the same shielding magic Isla used at MacLeod Castle, but it was similar.
    Logan halted beside him as they surveyed the small settlement. Dotted along the slope of the mountain were cottages built around trees or between clusters of trees.
    “This wasn’t what I expected,” Logan said under his breath.
    “If their magic is waning, as Reaghan said, this is probably the best they could do, but it also means it willna keep the wyrran from finding them eventually.”
    “We doona have much time. Deirdre knows there are Druids here.”
    Galen clenched his jaw and nodded. “If she was coming to take the artifact, then it means she will most likely send wyrran here in the hopes of finding Druids.”
    “We need to convince the Druids to leave with us.”
    “You know that willna happen.”
    Logan turned hazel eyes to him. “Even if we get the artifact, I cannot leave Druids here to await their death by Deirdre’s hand.”
    Galen agreed with Logan, but he could tell by the way the Druids lived that they were entrenched in the land. Galen didn’t even want to entertain the thought of forcing them to leave.
    Reaghan turned and waved for them to follow. Galen tried to tamp down his growing desire and started toward Reaghan and the elders. He, like Logan, had anticipated something different. For one, he had envisioned more Druids.
    He counted just over a score. And many of the twenty-three were old and frail. The only younger ones were women who