FREE on Medieval Monday: The Druid Knight’s Tale
Medieval Monday. What’s better than reading about a dreadful betrayal that threatens the lives and love of a magical couple? It’s reading the entire story–FREE! Ruth A. Casie has made THE DRUID KNIGHT TALES free for everyone to enjoy.
So sit back and be tempted!
Excerpt:
He stood by the stone altar. The
mist thickened in deep pools and drifted to the bottom of the great sarsen
stones. Churning like a phantom stew, fingers of mist crept up the stones,
leaving a shimmering outline in its wake. The silhouette thickened, revealing
the hooded forms of the Ancestors.
mist thickened in deep pools and drifted to the bottom of the great sarsen
stones. Churning like a phantom stew, fingers of mist crept up the stones,
leaving a shimmering outline in its wake. The silhouette thickened, revealing
the hooded forms of the Ancestors.
“Grand Master, who do you bring
to the sacred circle?”
to the sacred circle?”
“The healer—” his voice boomed.
“Only you, the Grand Master, are
permitted to approach us for our guidance.” The angry voice of an Ancestor
reached his ears. “But we are forgiving.”
permitted to approach us for our guidance.” The angry voice of an Ancestor
reached his ears. “But we are forgiving.”
“I come to seek—”
“Before you tell us what you
seek, tell us of your quest.”
seek, tell us of your quest.”
A flicker of apprehension pulsed
through him. He was certain Ellyn didn’t have much time and the full red moon
hung large in the sky. Only a thin arc of sun remained on the horizon.
through him. He was certain Ellyn didn’t have much time and the full red moon
hung large in the sky. Only a thin arc of sun remained on the horizon.
He removed the wrapped cloth
from his pouch and laid the package on the altar stone. “I have passed your
test.” He did not expose the mistletoe. He didn’t want the Ancestors to see the
dead plant, not until he had Ellyn safely back to Avebury. After that he didn’t
care.
from his pouch and laid the package on the altar stone. “I have passed your
test.” He did not expose the mistletoe. He didn’t want the Ancestors to see the
dead plant, not until he had Ellyn safely back to Avebury. After that he didn’t
care.
“You have found your mate?”
Max hesitated. “Perhaps. I have
much to tell you, but before I begin I ask for a boon.” He glanced over his
shoulder. She waited for him.
much to tell you, but before I begin I ask for a boon.” He glanced over his
shoulder. She waited for him.
“What do you seek?” the
Ancestors rumbled with a cold, hard voice.
Ancestors rumbled with a cold, hard voice.
“Ellyn of Brodgar is ill. I ask
you to help her. She is honorable and has served the people well and denies no
one at her own expense.”
you to help her. She is honorable and has served the people well and denies no
one at her own expense.”
“You are the people’s Grand
Master. She is your responsibility. We can only guide and help those who have
passed on to our world.”
Master. She is your responsibility. We can only guide and help those who have
passed on to our world.”
“No,” he insisted, pounding his
fist on the stone altar. How could this be? For the first time in his life he
felt helpless. He could not lose her. He knew if he did he would lose a part of
himself. “She has done everything—”
fist on the stone altar. How could this be? For the first time in his life he
felt helpless. He could not lose her. He knew if he did he would lose a part of
himself. “She has done everything—”
“It is not for us to interfere.”
The voice was calm and without empathy.
The voice was calm and without empathy.
“You do not interfere? You
demanded I find a mate.”
demanded I find a mate.”
There was no response.
He tried to keep his control.
“She told me she was compelled to come here. Why?”
“She told me she was compelled to come here. Why?”
Still they did not respond.
Anger surged through him. “You
brought her here. She needs your help. She’s dying.” He pointed to where he
left her.
brought her here. She needs your help. She’s dying.” He pointed to where he
left her.
“Only you can help her, Grand
Master.”
Master.”
“Me?” He stopped short. “How? If
I could she’d already be cured.”
I could she’d already be cured.”
“Why do you care what happens to
her? She is just a simple Orkney witch. Nothing else.”
her? She is just a simple Orkney witch. Nothing else.”
Ideas flashed across Max’s mind.
If he was the only one that could help her the answer must lie in his greatest
gift. His magick. He must get her back to Avebury, back to his magick, before
the sun set.
If he was the only one that could help her the answer must lie in his greatest
gift. His magick. He must get her back to Avebury, back to his magick, before
the sun set.
“Here.” He unrolled the
mistletoe. “Here is your talisman. Send us back to Avebury,” he demanded.
mistletoe. “Here is your talisman. Send us back to Avebury,” he demanded.
“So, you found your mate,” the
Ancestor said with a satisfied voice.
Ancestor said with a satisfied voice.
Max looked at the healthy
mistletoe and gaped in astonishment. The plant was dead when he’d last looked.
How could it now be alive? Icy fear raced up his back. He glanced at Ellyn on
the far side of the circle. Her kisses. He had teased her and it was her kiss
all along.
mistletoe and gaped in astonishment. The plant was dead when he’d last looked.
How could it now be alive? Icy fear raced up his back. He glanced at Ellyn on
the far side of the circle. Her kisses. He had teased her and it was her kiss
all along.
“You hold her destiny in your
hands.”
hands.”
Blurb:
After
a year of searching, Maximilian, the druid Grand Master, finds the sacred
mistletoe destined for his soul mate shriveled and dead. He must journey to the
Otherworld and tell the Ancestors of his failure.
a year of searching, Maximilian, the druid Grand Master, finds the sacred
mistletoe destined for his soul mate shriveled and dead. He must journey to the
Otherworld and tell the Ancestors of his failure.
Ellyn
of Brodgar is an exceptional healer. But each healing kiss depletes her
energy and brings her closer to death. Ellyn needs to find her own healing
power before it’s too late.
of Brodgar is an exceptional healer. But each healing kiss depletes her
energy and brings her closer to death. Ellyn needs to find her own healing
power before it’s too late.
Max
and Ellyn are tossed into the Otherworld and have until the third sunset to
appeal to the Ancestors or be lost forever. Together they find love, and as the
last rays of the third sunset slip away, both are willing to sacrifice their
hopes, dreams, and lives for the other. Do they have what it takes to escape
the Otherworld and begin their life together?
and Ellyn are tossed into the Otherworld and have until the third sunset to
appeal to the Ancestors or be lost forever. Together they find love, and as the
last rays of the third sunset slip away, both are willing to sacrifice their
hopes, dreams, and lives for the other. Do they have what it takes to escape
the Otherworld and begin their life together?
Amazon: http://bit.ly/DruidKnightTales
