A Templar's Gifts Read Online Free Page B

near breaking at that thought voiced aloud. Had I caused the death of the Templar in trying to keep him from being killed?
    A spike of strong emotion I could not name leapt from Torquil, cutting through my unhappiness. “I’m sorry I sent ye back for the tinderbox, Tor. If I hadn’t, ye never would have gotten mixed up in all this trouble.”
    I was surprised by the vehemence in his voice. “Ye needn’t worry over that, Torquil. I’d do it all again with no regrets if I had the chance.”
    He cradled the wheel. I could almost see the thoughts whirring in his mind, but only his feelings came across to me. He was anxious. “Is it safe?” he asked.
    â€œIs what safe?”
    â€œThe artifact, the Holy Vessel ye found,” he replied.
    â€œOch, aye. The Order has it hidden away,” I said, thinking of the Abbot and his assurances when I’d delivered it to him.
    â€œBut if your vision showed soldiers at the preceptory …” he said. I didn’t remember saying that precisely.
    â€œ ’Tis safe,” I said with conviction. “It has to be. My duty was to get it there. It’s their responsibility now to keep it. They have a whole army to do it.”
    â€œYe would know that more than any other,” he said. I felt his confidence. It was a good and unexpected thing to have encountered in my brother after all I’d been through.
    A soft wind swept the bow. The shush of the water, ever moving, drew me. Without reaching, the pure, clean life of the ocean came to me. Like the mist that coated my skin, it was fresh, cold, and invigorating.
    The depths of the ocean called. And my mind was suddenly somewhere else.
    â€œCome forward.”
The voice was melodic, and yet commanding.
“Tell me what you saw.”
    â€œA light as like nothing I have ever encountered. The boy held it aloft and the hand of death struck any who advanced.”
The man’s terror curled my guts.
    â€œWhat was beyond the light? Surely you must be able to tell me something.”
His tone was scathing and the man flinched.
    â€œI believe it was a vessel, my Liege. A base and a bowl of some sort. But the light was too bright to behold. I can tell you nothing more.”
    I snapped to as Torquil adjusted the sail. “Ye were drifting,” he said apologetically. “I didn’t mean to wake ye.”
    It only took a moment for my thoughts to readjust. The queasiness that always appeared in the wake of avision roiled within me. They knew of the carving and bowl and I was their only link.
    â€œRest ye now, while ye can, Tormod. Ye will need yer strength when ye leave me. I’m here an’ will take care of ye. Sleep.”
    I was bone weary. Even with the vision fresh and the fear of what was to come, I could barely keep my eyes open. And so when sleep stole over me, I gave myself up to the protection of my brother.

BOARDED
    â€œT ormod!” Torquil’s panic assaulted me before the words passed his lips. I woke quickly and struggled to rise, fighting his terror as well as my own.
    â€œPrepare to be boarded.” A strong voice cut across the bow.
    â€œYour name is Dougal, an’ mine is Ian,” Torquil whispered anxiously. “We are MacDonalds from Inverness, returning from a sennight o’ fishing.” I nodded, barely able to think through the fear.
    An enormous ship approached our vessel, its weight causing our deck to tilt precariously. A flood of emotion battered me — theirs, mine, Torquil’s. Afraid of my lackof control, I quickly turned toward the water, reaching for its life and peace.
    Across a gap in their rail, two large planks angled down to our deck from the other. The ocean was fading before my eyes and I fought the darkness creeping up on me.
    â€œYour names.” A burly soldier of mid-years boarded before the rest. His hair was dark and his scowl was frightening.
    â€œDougal and Ian MacDonald,”