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to carry us north.”
    Time was critical now and he must get to Orkney and find the stone circle there. It was a more difficult task, considering the number of islands and places it could be. And he must discover the identities of the two warriors who would determine the outcome of this battle and possibly the entire war. It was the easier of the two tasks, but finding them would not guarantee success. He clenched his fists, trying not to strike out at the man before him. Hugh needed him for now.
    â€œWhen do we leave, Eudes? When?”
    â€œOnce the weather clears, my lord. The man said they’ve never seen a storm like this before.”
    Hugh glanced up at the sky, watching the storm clouds spinning, dumping torrents of rain down on them. As he searched to the west, there was no break in those clouds and the sun was completely blocked. It would not be this day, he knew.
    â€œAs soon as there is any break in this weather, send that message north to the earl.”
    â€œAye, my lord.” Eudes did not move away so there must be something else.
    â€œWhat is it, Eudes?”
    â€œShould I continue to train the men?”
    Hugh’s answer to the impertinent question was a gauntleted hand across his half brother’s face, a blow heavy enough to send the hulk of a man to his knees and to tear open his cheek. “Do not question my orders again.”
    The first battle had not been won or lost by the soldiers on the field but by those of the bloodlines with the powers of the ancient gods. Very few who’d witnessed the event understood what they’d seen. Even Eudes, who had seen many strange and inconceivable things while serving Hugh, was no more prepared for what would come than the others.
    Hugh crossed his arms over his chest and waited for Eudes to rise. This time Eudes was smart enough not to meet his gaze or to say anything at all. Eudes backed away with bowed head, not daring to touch the new wound while in Hugh’s sight.
    If Eudes questioned Hugh, Hugh’s authority would be undermined and his control would waver. Hugh could not allow that. A show of power was called for and he smiled as he contemplated how best to do it. His blood raced and heat built within him as he thought on how and whom to offer up to his goddess to continue in her favor.
    His cock rose as his flesh roused at the very idea of burning someone for Chaela. Their encounters always had that result—pleasure of the painful and fleshly kind. How better to worship her than with a sacrifice of the same kind? And in view of all, so that no one would dare question him or his power without remembering the cost of such an offense.
    â€œEudes!” he called out. The man stopped and returned immediately.
    â€œI require a virgin. Search out the farms we passed,” Hugh ordered. “And a large flat stone to be placed”—he looked over the area where his troops occupied—“there.” He pointed to the center of the encampment. Eudes lost all color in his face and Hugh smiled again. The man understood what would happen. “Now, Eudes.”
    His commander nodded and bowed and walked swiftly away to carry out his orders. Small groups went riding off down the roads to the south and west in search of the necessary virgin while others looked for the stone. Though this whole area was filled with large collections of ordinary stones and boulders, they’d passed a hillside covered in an arrangement of stones some miles south that had shimmered with power.
    The obedience he’d expected resulted in the arrival of everything he needed and his blood rose in eagerness to shed the virgin’s blood on the stone altar before burning her in honor of his goddess. The disappointment of the last few days was dimmed by the anticipation and excitement he always experienced before and after such an act.
    How would it feel when he sacrificed the rest of the Warriors of Destiny? If a simple human