Enchantress Mine Read Online Free PDF

so,” he finished, and looking into his cold blue eyes the lady St. Ronan shuddered. It would be just as well to be rid of the big man, she thought, for she did not entirely trust him.
    “Go then,” she said, “but do not come back begging for my favor when the slaver drives you away! It matters not! You may starve for all I care! I have gained a whole silver-piece profit for the bastard which I shall add to my coming child’s inheritance.”
    “Blood money,” said Dagda softly. “It will not bring your child luck. Rather it will bring her misfortune.”
    “Get out!” Blanche St. Ronan had gone white at his words.
    Dagda gave her a smile that was more ferocious than friendly, and Blanche St. Ronan retreated, fleeing back into her hall. Then turning to Ivo, Dagda said, “Lead us to this slave merchant. I must have words with him.”
    Ivo smiled to himself and unconsciously hurried his steps as he moved from the castle out into the courtyard where the man waited for his human cargo. He wanted to see the look on the slave merchant’s face when he learned that Dagda would be accompanying them.
    The slaver was called Fren by the English with whom he had done business for many years, but the English no longer bought slaves in the numbers they once had. Those who lived in the Danelaw were better customers, however, than the crazy Anglo-Saxons who bought slaves only to free them. Fren was a Greek who normally would not have been inland in Brittany, but he had been approached in Brest by the secretary of a bishop who requested he come to Landerneau where the lady of St. Ronan would speak with him. Her husband was dying, she told him, and when he breathed his last, she would rid herself of his bastard daughter whom he allowed to live within the castle. The child was five, and totally useless, but she was a pretty thing and surely worth something. Fren had haggled fiercely with the lady, who had finally agreed to take a silver piece in exchange for the child.
    He was secretly jubilant over his bargain. He would make a large profit on the little girl, for children, especially pretty children, were greatly sought after by connoisseurs in both Western and Eastern Europe. The lady of St. Ronan, however, could not know such a thing, thought Fren with a smile. Had she known, he thought, he should not have gained the child so cheaply. Watching as Mairin made her way toward him, her small hand tucked within the great paw of the giant who walked by her side measuring his steps carefully to fit hers, Fren was not unhappy.
    The child was extremely beautiful. Incredibly so! He would certainly not sell her in England. Oh no! The little girl’s value was not as a servant at all. He would carefully preserve and protect her throughout the next few months of travel for he had in mind a buyer in Constantinople who would pay him a small fortune for such perfection.
    “This is the child, Mairin,” said Ivo. “Are you content with the bargain, Fren? Will you turn over to me the silver piece agreed upon by my lady St. Ronan?”
    Fren reached into the leather purse which hung from his waist, and unhesitantly drew forth a tarnished coin which he handed to Ivo. “I am content with the bargain.”
    Ivo’s teeth bit into the coin, and satisfied it was genuine, he said to Mairin, “Farewell, demoiselle. May God and his Blessed Mother look after you.”
    “Bid old Catell adieu for me, Ivo,” said Mairin.
    The steward’s eyes widened, but he nodded. “I will.”
    Fren reached out to pull Mairin toward him, but the giant by her side growled a low warning. “You will not put your rude hands upon my mistress, slaver,” he said.
    “Who is this . . .” Fren looked up the long length of Dagda. “. . . this fellow?” he finished helplessly. The creature was enormous, and looked dangerous.
    Unable to restrain himself, Ivo chuckled. “I will let him tell you who he is, Master Fren.” Then turning he reentered the castle leaving the three behind