Onyx Read Online Free PDF

then turned her head and called to one of the men of her party to join her. When he did, Onyx could see he was donned in an ermine-trimmed cape but was not a noble or a guard. He was old, and had weathered skin and broken teeth. And his hair was gray and thin, and fell just past his shoulders. He seemed to Onyx no better than a ragpicker or perhaps one of those beady-eyed dockworkers from the coast.
    “Didn’t you say the woman we’re searching for was from the MacKeefe clan?” she asked the man.
    “ I believe she was,” said the old man. “But it was a long time ago. After twenty years my memory is not so good. So perhaps I am mistaken.”
    She looked at her guard and nodded slightly. The guard pulled out his pouch and handed the man a coin.
    “Is your damned memory any better now?” the guard growled.
    The old man looked at the coin in his hand and then back up to the guard. “It could be . . . but . . .”
    “Give h im another coin,” said the girl softly.
    “But my lady, he’s already dressed in one of our cloaks and we’ve fed him well and given him more than enough coins.”
    “One more,” she said, c rossing her arms over her chest, and the guard begrudgingly did as she instructed.
    “Well then,” she said to the man. “Is this the same tartan you saw the woman wearing or not?”
    The old man walked closer to Onyx and circled him, surveying his plaid. His hand was on his chin as if in thought.
    “I believe so,” he said, “aye, I am sure of it.” He reached out to touch the cloth, and in one instant Onyx pulled his gemstone dagger from his side and held it up in front of the man’s face.
    “Touch me cloot again and ye’ll find yer fingers severed from yer body.” Onyx looked the man in the eye and got the usual reaction he did from people who were seeing him for the first time. Upon spying his two different colored eyes, the man pulled his hand back and stepped away quickly. His own eyes were opened wide in fright, and his head cocked to the side.
    “He’s the devil,” spat the man , blessing himself quickly. He ran back and hid behind the guards. “Leave now I tell you. He’s come back to life and we will be cursed. Save yerself now, my lady before ’tis too late.”
    “You’ve seen this man before?” asked Lady Lovelle.
    “I’ve heard of him. A long time ago. I t was on the docks at Blackpool,” the frightened man answered. “The same day I saw that woman named Fenella.”
    Onyx broke in . “I have no recollection of ever seein’ this liar before. Now once again, I told ye the person ye search fer isna here, so be on yer way.”
    The old man cowered behind the guard and didn’t say another word.
    Onyx just looked at the girl as she bravely came closer and gazed directly into his eyes. He waited for her to flinch or back away when she looked at him, but she didn’t. Instead, she stared at him and didn’t break the connection. He’d never seen any lassie so brave – or so stupid.
    “He’s holding his dagger, my lady,” warned the guard, pulling his sword. “And in his left hand, just like a demon.”
    “Stay there,” she said with a raised hand and the guard did as commanded. “The old man seems to know you,” she said to Onyx. “He also seems too frightened by you to speak. Tell me, why is this?”
    “I dinna ken what ye mean,” he said. “And I dinna like being called a devil.”
    Actually, he kind of did. He liked the way people stood clear of him thinking he was more dangerous tha n he really was. He was tall in stature, and the girl had to crook her neck just to see into his eyes. And though he was skilled with his dagger better than any of the clansmen and he was in the prime of his life and his body in wonderful shape, he still didn’t have half the strength of Aidan, or half the charming skill with lassies that Ian did.
    “Have you ever been on the docks of Blackpool?” she asked him.
    “I try te stay out of me enemy’s territories. Me home is the