Mist Warrior Read Free

appreciate that much, ” Branan said casually, not wanting to push Gavin even though his heart screamed questions faster than his thoughts could form the words.
    “ Aye, ” Gavin replied. “ Father...believes it is time for you to reclaim your heritage from Strickland. ”
    The blood drained from Branan’s face and abruptly he was forced to fight back his rage again. It seemed his future, the day which had seemed so far away it was never real, was suddenly at hand.
    Gavin focused his attention on the wood grain of the table. “ Strickland’s growing old. He sired a bastard and name d him heir. But you know the church and the king would not approve of this inheritance, especially if you challenge for your legal birthright. Still, my father fears if Strickland dies, your claim to the Wardenship of Inglewood will be further muddied. And lately, Strickland and his b astard have been terribly heavy- handed with the people, destroying villages who do not pay huge taxes to him. ”
    Branan’s gut curled into a sickening knot and he took a drink of wine to cool his temper.
    “ There is more, Branan, ” Gavin said softly.
    “ Aye? ”
    “ Catriona has been betrothed. ”
    Gavin’s words kicked him in his chest. A blinding flash of red shot across his vision and he battled to suck in a breath. He felt his control slipping away like sand through his fingers. God’s wounds! Why did this unexpected news hurt so much? It felt as if s omeone had shoved a dagger through him and twisted the blade until it snapped.
    Again he fought to breathe , and knew he was on thent>e was o verge of completely losing control. Only twice had he lost himself to his rage. First, on the eve of his mother’s death when he ’d tried to a ttack Strickland. The second had come a year later , when a boy had tried to strike Catriona. Branan, although only thirteen, had beat en the lad so badly he’d almost killed him. Both times had nearly resulted in death - the first his own, and then another’s. From that moment, Branan had realized he ’ d have to learn to control himself or he would become just as ruthless as Strickland, a man he abhorred.
    He had to escape this news and grab some air. He se t his cup down with a thunk and rose. “ The servants will see to yer meal, Gavin, ” Branan said, trying to be pleasant, but he spoke through clenched teeth. Then, g iving up on courtesy entirely, he strode from the hall, through the bailey, and out the gates, quickly vanishing into the cold mist.
    Branan did not know how long he walked , but he strode over the rough terrain until his leg muscles burned and his breath rattled in his throat. The mist seemed to close about him, beading his hair and dampening his face. Brown grass mottled the ground , with sharp breaks of dark rock and white patches of aging snow scattered about.
    He stopped on a small rise, able to see nothing but gray after a few feet. His anger was finally under some semblance of control but he understood so little of what wa s happening in his heart and the dark corners of his mind. Sometimes he felt as if he teetered on the edge of sanity. There was something so black, so powerful within him that it terrified him. It was always there, threatening to wrench from his contr ol, to possess him with madness –to consume him from the inside
    Why was it there? The first twelve years of his life haIt his lid been difficult and terrifying. That he readily admitted. For as long as he could remember , he had lived in fear of Strickland. Watching what his mother had suffered at Strickland’s hand had nearly destroyed his soul. Later, as he grew older, he ’d suffered Strickland’s wrath by trying to stop him. And to his horror, his actions only had caused his mother more agony. She had borne Strickland’s beatings with courage , but when Strickland turned his fists on Branan, it nearly unraveled her. She would submit to anything if Strickland would only leave him alone.
    Then there was his