Highland Magic Read Online Free PDF

leather thong, fell across
his cheek and she brushed it away from his face.
    “’Twas your wife who did this to you?” she
was impelled to ask, no matter the imprudence of the query.
    “Nay, my wife is dead,” he rasped. “‘Twas my
faithless father-in-law who did the deed.”
    Dead! Lara was dead? What of her babe?
She dared not question him further, however, lest her true identity
be revealed.
    He said naught more, and after another
moment, Branwenn realized he’d fallen into a slumber once more.
Leaning down, she rested her cheek against his chest and, feeling
the even rise-and-fall of his chest and hearing the tempered,
strong beat of his heart, expelled a sigh of relief.
    She rose to her feet and retrieved a cloth
and a bucket of water. With slow, gentle strokes, she cooled his
brow and cheeks with the damp cloth. Afterward, she silently
cleaned up the results of his purging before positioning the rolled
blanket she’d been using for a pillow under his head. Leaving the
taper in its holder next to her reclining patient, she walked a bit
away and settled against the wall on the opposite side of the cave
to continue watching him. Over the next hour or so, she monitored
his recovery from a distance, but ‘twas not long before questions
began to spin madly about in her mind: Why would his father-in-law
have done this to him? What had Callum gotten himself into this
time? And, oh, God, what if he did not recover? With effort, she
forced her worries down deep, for she had no way of aiding him,
and, Lord knew, she had worries enough of her own without taking on
his burdens as well.
    A strange smack ing sound came from the
area where Callum now rested, followed by a muffled groan. Branwenn
leapt to her feet and hurried over to him.
    “Water,” Callum said, his voice a dry
whisper.
    “Aye,” Branwenn answered anxiously as she
lifted the candle and turned first one way and then the other
looking for her leather flask. Spying it at last, she hurried to
retrieve it and, after removing the stopper, settled the opening to
his parched lips. “Drink slowly—and only a bit—else ‘twill no doubt
rise back up just as quickly,” she warned softly.
    Callum, his eyes barely open, surprisingly
did as she bade, taking only two small swigs before rolling to his
back and resting his head on the make-shift pillow once more.
    Branwenn ran the palm of her hand over his
forehead and cheek. His skin was still a bit too hot and much too
damp for her liking. She began to worry her lip as her conscience
did battle with her intellect. In the next moment, her decision
made, she said, “Your fever is not lessening, sir. We must get you
to your dwelling in all haste, for, ‘tis clear to me that you are
in need of more proper tending, else surely you will grow
worse.”
    Callum opened his eyes and looked at her.
“What is your name?”
    Branwenn thought quickly. “Mai,” she said
with a shrug. Why not? She’d always liked that name.
    “Mai? So plain a name for one so
magical?”
    Bristling, Branwenn replied, “I think it a
lovely name. And do not change the subject. Where is your
home?”
    Callum, tho’ still a bit groggy, was revived
enough for the moment to get his bearings. He tried to sit up.
    “Be careful!” Branwenn said.
    He fell back with a groan. Well, mayhap he
wasn’t as recovered as he’d believed. “Aye.” His head throbbed and
his muscles were stiff and sore, but he was determined to rise. So,
with a loud grunt, he lifted up again and forced his body to hold
his weight this time. Dizzy from the exertion, he held his aching
skull in his hands for a moment.
    “Have you a sore head?” Branwenn asked.
    “Aye, a bit,” he said before looking around
the cave once more. The fey one was right, he must get home—and
quickly—for he must inform his stepfather of this latest outrage
against their clan. “Stand back, I must rise.”
    Branwenn nodded and did as he bade, staying
close enough to catch him if he began to