Galen faced the elder and looked into her eyes. “Just because I want something does no’ mean I’ll take it.”
“We know nothing of you or Logan.”
“You allowed us inside your village.”
Mairi smiled slightly. “You have no weapons, and though we are women, it would take some doing for two men to gather all of us.”
Galen blew out a sharp breath. If only Mairi knew the truth … “What is the real reason you doona want me near Reaghan?”
“I’ve told you the truth, Galen. She is destined for great things.”
And Galen knew he was far from great. He would only harm her, and somehow Mairi saw that. He couldn’t blame the elder for wanting to keep Reaghan safe. Galen would do the same in Mairi’s situation.
“Please. I’m begging you. Keep your distance from Reaghan.”
“I will no’ ignore her.”
Mairi bowed her head. “Thank you.”
His enjoyment gone, Galen turned and walked away. He needed to find Logan anyway and see if he had learned anything new.
It was no surprise when he found Logan with another woman. This one had flaxen hair and voluptuous breasts she kept jutting toward Logan’s face.
Logan spotted Galen and nodded in greeting. He said something to the woman, gave her a quick kiss, and made his way to Galen.
“I didna mean to interrupt.”
Logan winked and smiled knowingly. “No harm done.”
Galen could only shake his head. “I’m glad one of us is making headway.”
“Come,” Logan said. “Let us walk.”
They strode side by side deeper into the forest, away from the village. Once they knew no one was near, Logan turned to him. “Did you discover anything?”
“It seems the Druids were curious enough about me to want a closer look. They spoke, and a few answered some questions. No one I talked to knew how to read the pillars,” Galen answered.
“I learned the same. I was able to get a bit more out of a couple of women. These women could do with more Warriors around. They are in desperate need.”
Galen bit back a laugh. “Just tell me what information you gleaned.”
“They are hiding something here. I gather it’s the artifact, but they doona call it by a name. They rarely speak of it, but occasionally they would mention something about the Druids protecting the object.”
“Just what the column stated.”
Logan nodded. “My thoughts exactly. I pressed for more, but the woman quickly stopped talking when she realized she had let that wee bit of information slip.”
“What else?”
“Druids have been leaving the village for some years. What you see is all that’s left. The young men were either killed by wyrran that came sniffing around, were taken by the wyrran, or left on their own accord.”
Galen leaned a shoulder against a tree. “With everyone thinking they are so safe, it will be easy for Deirdre to invade.”
“Aye. I’ve had the same thoughts. The magic here is old, but the Druids themselves have little magic. They will be no match for the wyrran.”
Galen growled at the mention of wyrran. “Unless Deirdre comes herself. She could have found another Druid and already used magic to return her form. In which case she’ll be coming here herself.”
“Shite.”
“I’d hate to return empty-handed to the castle, but unless we make some headway soon, I imagine we’ll be asked to leave.”
Logan quirked an eyebrow. “I’m surprised they have no’ already asked.”
“I expect it will come with the dawn. Mairi warned me away from Reaghan.”
Logan grunted and rolled his eyes. “I’ve noticed Mairi doesna allow Reaghan out of sight for long. I’m no’ sure what Reaghan has done to have that kind of attention, but it would make me daft.”
“Interesting. I didna realize Mairi watched her so. There is a deep bond between them that’s evident.” Galen scratched his jaw and frowned. “But when we came upon Reaghan yesterday she was alone.”
“True enough. It didna take the elders long to locate her, though.”
Galen shifted and put his entire back against the tree. “Do you think the artifact could be on Reaghan? Maybe a pendant or something?”
“I doona think so. For some reason it appears as though they treat Reaghan as if she’s the most precious thing in the world.”
“I wonder if it has anything to do with the fever they helped heal her from.”
“Could be,” Logan said. “If we doona know what the artifact is, we cannot just take it.”
Galen grimaced. “I doona think we should steal it even if we know what it is.”
“It’s Deirdre we’re talking about, Galen. If this could end it all, wouldn’t you take that chance?”
“Aye,” Galen said with a sigh. He knew Logan was right, though he hoped it didn’t come to them pilfering anything. “I hate to do that to these Druids, but they are no’ leaving us much choice.”
“Once we have the artifact, then you can have Reaghan. I have a feeling she’ll come with us if you ask her.”
As tempting as that was, Galen couldn’t chance it. “You know I cannot.”
“Then I will. She needs to get out of here and meet other Druids. To have a life. Even you should be able to see she needs that.”
“She seems happy. I’ve no’ seen them mistreat her. In fact, their attention proves how much they care for her.”
But the thought of journeying back to MacLeod Castle with her for several days left Galen burning bright with need, a hunger he feared would only grow the more he was around her.
Logan rubbed his hands together and grinned wickedly. “If I find it, I’m going to take the artifact.”
“Without asking first?”
Logan flattened his lips. “You read the pillars, Galen. It said it cannot leave. The Druids willna part with it.”
“Do these Druids know that? They cannot read the text.”
“The story could have been passed down to them. Do no’ underestimate the Druids.”
“Exactly. Take your own advice,” Galen countered. “You doona know what these Druids might try to do.”
Logan scoffed at Galen’s words. “The only one with any amount of magic is Reaghan, and I doona believe she’d do anything to you. I hear you, Galen, I do. But I’m thinking of Deirdre and the threat she poses. I’ll chance these Druids’ ire in order to do whatever it takes to end Deirdre.”
Galen nodded slowly. “Aye, my friend. I feel the same. I was just as angry as you when we learned Deirdre wasn’t dead, as we’d thought.”
“Angry doesn’t being to describe how I feel.”
Galen paused, unused to the vehemence in Logan’s voice. The Logan before him now was one Galen saw only in battle, and it just proved how deep Logan’s hatred for Deirdre went.
“We will find the artifact,” Galen promised his friend. “Everyone is counting on us, and I doona want to return without it. I willna return without it.”
“Agreed. The ones we need to focus on next are the elders. They’ll know where the artifact is.”
“That willna be easy,” Galen said. “Let me see what I can do with them first. You keep questioning the women who continue to fall into your lap. You may discover more than we could hope for.”
Logan nodded and ran his fingers through his hair. “Someone besides the elders has to know something. We just need to determine who that is.”
“I say we doona waste any more time. I’ll see if I can find Odara. She seemed the most agreeable of the three elders.”
