Read Rhionan (A Gurruffallo Accessory) Page 16


  sixteen

  Where is Thor's tune? Maybe that isna the noise I hear.

  Maybe I've gone mad.

  I thought back for a moment, but I heard nothing that would have announced Thor to me. Taking in his overwhelming form, his size makes me tremble but he seems so gentle. I wondered if it ever bothers Catriona that he's such a large man. Are things awkward for them since she's so small?

  Thor continued talking through me thoughts, but the last thing he said caught me attention, “Our group is already divided. I don't want you to go because of the effects it will have on your sister, but you will make our divide much greater.”

  “Ye wish me to lea-leave?” I choked on the last word. I sensed it would come to this. I began debating rather or no I should leave when Armand told me Meleseus were forcing him out.

  Thor only nodded.

  “I canna stay. I'm leaving in the night when none will stop me.” I paused. 'Twere awkward that Thor and me could speak so directly, perhaps a bond from fighting the British together. That, alone, should have cleared up any awkwardness between us. Thor and me know things about each other that Cat doesna know, and might never know. Looking up, to meet his big blue eyes, “Can ye help me?”

  “I will meet you here,” he pointed to the ground beneath us. His face became gentle, “Look for me when the moon is at its highest. Do not tell anyone.”

  I nodded and ran to the dugout me parents kept. They made another dugout much like the one at our Clan home. 'Tis smaller though with less room for beds. Obviously, they didna plan on any of their children returning.

  Cain dug his home next to Da and Mums. I were surprised to see them finished. They have only been here three days. Da said Meleseus let them stay in the castle until their dugouts were finished. The other Clan people in Atleah helped Da and Cain dig, proving how united the people living here are.

  The evening dissolved quickly, fading into night. After me parents retired, I laid awake waiting for sleep to take them. Grabbing the few things I were given when we arrived, I packed light with one necessary change of clothing.

  As I sulked to the stables, where Thor and me agreed to meet, I decided he mustna be here yet. Thor's tune, his dizzy, playful melody, didna come to me as I approached the Edifice. From the moment we walked through the doors of Atleah and saw Thor and Catriona standing, waiting for me, that's the tune I associated with Thor.

  To me surprise, when I turned the corner, Thor stood at the door of the Edifice with Bells.

  Why can't I sense him? What changed? Maybe me theory about the melodies is wrong. Maybe I should ask someone if 'tis a normal immortal thing? I looked at Thor, waiting for the words to form, but they never came to me. The gnawing in me stomach, that keeps me away from Meleseus, wouldna let me spill me thoughts to Thor about the descriptive melodies.

  I canna imagine why he gave Armand's horse to me, but I'm comfortable with her and that will prove to be essential. Thor lifted me on top of the massive animal and led me to the castle gate.

  “Be careful. Take care of Bells. She means a lot to Armand.”

  “Why'd he name her Bells?”

  “She's named after his daughter. He came across them both in a similar way,” were all he offered.

  I wanted to press Thor further about Armand and Bells and his daughter, but 'twere too late. We stood at the gate. Time for me to leave. Suddenly, fear of the unknown engulfed me as me body froze on top of Bells.

  “Don't worry,” Thor commented as though he knew me thoughts. “Armand will find you when the time is right.”

  I nodded, even though I didna know where I'd be or how Armand would find me. “Take care of me sister,” were all I could muster as tears streamed me face.

  Thor reached up wiping a tear from me cheek. “I love her.” His words were more reassuring to me than imagining their life together. Still, it worried me that Thor would forever be young and leave her to age alone. Can they luv each other enough to survive his secret immortality? “I will take good care of her and the bairn. She knows about us, Rhionan. She has accepted me, and you.”

  With a gallant smile, he smacked the horse's rump and sent me on a new journey. Unsure of me future and me destination, I let Bells lead. Only looking over me shoulder once to see Atleah disappear into the night as I traveled between the two British guard posts that I noticed two days passed, upon arriving.

  'Tis only been two days, yet it feels longer.

  I watched the castle over me shoulder, as me family and me last chance for luv and happiness disappeared with it.

  About the Author

  Although Sandra is the youngest of three girls, growing up she was raised much like an only child and relied on her imagination to keep herself entertained.

  She currently lives in a small, comfortable Kansas town with her man and four spirited sons to encourage her wild imagination and many more stories to come.

 
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