Dragon Knight's Ring (Order of the Dragon Knights Book 5) Read Free Page A

The very air they breathe is tainted by their infernal lives.”
    Drostan shook his head slowly. “Again, there is much ye need to hear from your brothers. The MacKays were not to blame.”
    Fisting his hands on his hips, Adam looked at the steward as if he had lost his mind. “Can ye not explain further?”
    “Nae, I will not.” Without giving Adam a chance to respond, Drostan left the chamber.
    “Is everyone mad?” he shouted. He walked over and retrieved his mug off the floor. Reaching for the pitcher, he filled it to the brim and drank deeply. Adams’s hand shook, his rage so great. “All the MacKays should rot in the fires of hell,” he growled.
    Taking the pitcher with him, he left his chambers and ascended the narrow passageway leading to the parapet. He had no desire to be around the others. He feared he would lash out with words or worse a blade.
    Pushing open the massive oak door, he was greeted once again with an icy, brittle rain. And Adam embraced the sting of torment.

Chapter Two
    “If you hear the call of the raven, be wary of her song of war.”
    Screams filled his head as he blocked another blow from the enemy. They were without mercy as they swung their blades, hacking at anyone who dared to cross their path. Dust and smoke clouded his vision, while he searched for the other Templar Knights. He tried in vain, screaming out in Latin and French, so that they may ken help was near, but stifling heat made it difficult to breathe, and his words came out garbled. Adam shouted once again—this time in his own language, so his friends would ken it was him and not the enemy.
    Yet, when he moved forward, slashing his way through the enemy, he stumbled upon the slaughtered bodies of the men he called friends. Heads severed from their shoulders and clothing shredded from their corpses. The blood pooled around them in a grisly river of red. “Nae!” he roared, clutching his head and stumbling away. The stench of death filled him. His stomach lurched, and he emptied what little he had in it against the wall.
    Groaning, Adam opened his eyes and blinked in confusion—pushing aside the remnants of the nightmare from his mind. His last thoughts were of sitting on the cold stone at the parapet and drinking far too much on an empty belly. Clutching at the furs, he attempted to sit. “Sweet Jesus,” he muttered. The room spun, and he clenched his eyes shut. He could not recall how he managed to make it back to his room last evening. Taking deep calming breaths, he slowly opened his eyes once more.
    “Welcome home, Adam,” greeted Patrick, sitting across from him.
    Adam stared at his brother for a few moments and then made to stand. Patrick was there in two strides to help steady him. He waited until the dizziness passed and then shrugged out of his brother’s embrace. Stumbling toward the table, he braced his arms on the rough wood. Seeing the trencher of meat and cheese, he shoved it aside and sniffed at the contents of the pitcher. Relieved to find it held only water, he lifted and drank deeply.
    “Did ye bring me back to my chambers?” he asked as he glanced over his shoulder at Patrick.
    “Aye, along with Alex. Upon hearing how ye spoke with Drostan, we figured ye went up to the parapet. Ye often went there to brood.”
    Adam could see the wariness etched across his brother’s face. Lines of worry creased his brow, and his hands were clasped behind his back. Remembering Drostan’s words that his brothers had searched the Highlands for him, guilt haunted Adam. He gave his brother a slight nod as he took a piece of bread and cheese. Walking over to the hearth, he chewed the food slowly. So many questions filled him, but only one burned within his mind.
    “Why have ye returned, if your plans will have ye leaving?” Patrick asked, not giving time for Adam to blurt out his one question.
    Adam sighed and gazed into the flames. Finishing the last bite of bread, he wiped the crumbs from his face. Turning to