Ian Read Online Free PDF Page B

happened to the odd beggar woman. Then he heard a noise from above him and looked up to see many crows settling in the branches of the trees. Amongst them was one large raven, staring down at him almost as if it could see into his very soul.
    “ Och, there ye are,” said Aidan coming out of the pub next, with his squirrel on his shoulder and wearing the arisaid, or long shawl of a woman and also a colorful ribbon tied in his hair. Onyx followed him, dressed the same. A wildcat darted out of the shadows and Onyx picked up his pet in his arms.
    “What the hell are ye wearin’?” growled Ian.
    “We did it fer the kids,” explained Onyx. “They enjoy seeing us dress like fools on this day. The women dress like men and the men like women – although we always wear a skirt, so no’ much different I guess.”
    “Dinna ye want te act like a fool as well?” asked Aidan.
    “Who said I haven’t already acted like a fool?” asked Ian under his breath, not able to stop thinking of what happened bet ween him and Kyla.
    “So have ye been with Kyla today ?” asked Aidan, causing Ian to stiffen his spine.
    “Nay. Why would ye think thet?” He didn’t like lying to his friend, but he needed to wait for the right moment to tell Aidan he kissed his sister. Or mayhap he never would. He just hoped Kyla hadn’t already ran and told him everything. “Have ye been with her?” he asked in return.
    “No one’s seen her since the market this mornin’,” said Onyx.
    “Aye,” said Aidan, “and I am startin’ te get a bit worried.”
    “Well, I saw her around here . . . this morning,” said Ian. “I’m sure she’s here somewhere.”
    “Did I hear someone mention me name?”
    He turned around to see Kyla standing there with Coira. They had bags of hazelnuts in their hands, and Coira held a hollowed-out gourd with a carved face on it. Inside, a candle burned brightly, the light spilling from the carved face to guide their way through the dark. It was custom on this night to have a scary face carved into a gourd or squash and lit from within. Usually they were placed on doorsteps or carried with one as they traveled, to ward away any evil spirits that may come from the other side on this All Hallow’s Eve.
    “Do ye care te tell me where ye were , wee sister?” asked Aidan, walking over and taking a nut from her and handing it to his squirrel on his shoulder.
    “What do ye mean?” Her eyes darted over to Ian, and that told him that their secret was still safe.
    “He jest means thet no one has really seen ye all day,” Ian explained.
    “No one? ” She raised her chin and perused him, and he felt like a big liar.
    “She was in the field of heather sle epin’,” said Coira. “We’re goin’ now te the bonfire te roast the hazelnuts and find out aboot our potential lovers.”
    “What do ye mean?” asked Aidan. “Kyla, ye’d better no’ have any lovers.”
    “Calm down brathai r,” she said, and then looked over to Ian when she spoke. “I can assure ye thet if I’d had a man worthy o’ callin’ a lover anywhere near me, I’d have kent it by now.”
    Coira spoke next. “I’m talkin’ about the tradition o’ putting hazelnuts in the fire and sayin’ the spell te find out if the man ye fancy will be yer lover.”
    “Aye, ye ken the sayin’.” Kyla looked right at Ian when she recited it. “If ye love me, pop and fly, and if ye hate me . . . burn and die!”
    Why did Ian feel as if she were telling him to go to hell for what he’d done? He didn’t like the way things were turning out this night already.
    “Well I dinna believe in witchery or spells,” said Ian, trying to sound convincing. In reality he believed in them a lot, as he’d seen from first-hand experience just how well they worked.
    “Kyla says she saw some glowin’ eyes in the forest,” relayed Coira. “And she heard someone hummin’ an eerie tune as well.”
    “ Nay, ye must be mistaken. It’s probably jest someone walkin’