Celtic Stars (Celtic Steel Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

was told it made me a Dragonian, although I’ve never truly understood what that means.”
    “Lucian has a similar ring, does he no’? asked Flynn.
    “He does.”
    “Where did he get his ring?” he asked before sitting down on the last stair leading to the council chamber’s corridor.
    “His older brother, Airard, sent it to him last year. Had it sent over from MacCahan lands, my family’s clan, just before I arrived here to wed Darina? Airard told Lucian he would explain all things to him in due time.”
    “Well, Patrick,” said Flynn as he arose from his seat on the stairs and took up step with Patrick down the corridor.  “I believe due time is come,” he added motioning for Patrick to enter the council chamber before him.
    Lucian greeted him at the door, a preemptive strike it seemed, because close behind him stood Darina.  The elder scribe had a look of pure mental exhaustion on his face.  Patrick could definitely relate, and he could also sympathize.  Swollen with their first child, Darina’s nerves had been on edge for quite some time.  Considering the tragic events surrounding her sister Daenal’s capture by the dragon, any mood she would be in would be understandable.
    “Patrick,” greeted Airard from the far right corner of the Council Chamber.  It had been several months since Patrick had seen his mentor, Airard.  He arrived only days earlier from Patrick’s homeland. It was indeed good to see him.  Surely Airard would know what to do, if anyone on the face of the earth would know it would be he.  Lucian’s older brother was in declining health and Patrick silently suspected this visit was partly to say his goodbyes.
    “Airard my dear friend,” Patrick said, clearly.
    Patrick hadn’t stuttered once in some time, not since the day that Daenal prayed with him.  Patrick had invoked his own healing, she assured him.  Of that, he was thankful.  It certainly made communication easier and quicker, but he often wondered why the injury to his right arm could not be healed in the same manner.
    “I am so glad you’re here,” Patrick whispered as he hugged Darina about the waist carefully searching for a tiny kick or bump.  He motioned for Darina to sit next to his seat at the Council table, before taking his own seat next to her.  Reaching across the table, he grabbed a pitcher and poured a small glass of elderberry wine and set it before her, hoping the spirits would calm her nerves.
    “Patrick,” began Lucian, “We are only waiting for one other person.”
    “Jamie, I presume,?”  asked Patrick.
    “Aye,” said Gemma.  “We had to send a sentry out to get him, he was half way to Burke lands with his guards.  It took them quite a while to convince him to come back, but they managed. I assume he’ll be in no kind of mood when he arrives,” she murmured.
    “Could ye blame him?” asked Darina with a thick Irish brogue.  “Me seesta has been gone for several hours and nothings been done about it.”
    Galen spoke up, “Darina.  What we have is very delicate situation that has to be handled in a very delicate way.”  The priest spoke in a very calm manner, hoping his words would provide some type of comfort to Darina.  “I think we may have an unconventional solution…”
    “Let’s not go and get ahead of ourselves,” interrupted Darina's uncle Ruarc.  “What we need to do is wait on Jamie, before anything else is said.”
    “And why is that?” Darina demanded.  “Daenal has only been Jamie’s betrothed for a short time, she has been me seesta for seventeen years.  Right now, she could be dead.  And we would not know it because no one budged,  not even one finger has been lifted to do anything about this.”
    “I wouldn’t say no one,” interrupted Jamie Burke from the entrance to the Council Chamber.  Followed by his guards, Jamie was an imposing figure indeed.  Tall, muscular, with ruddy good looks, he could arouse fear and curiosity simply with his