The Duke and the Dryad (Elemental Series) Read Free Page A

up in flame. Fire was her weakness and drained the life essence from her quickly. Her feet on the earth, and just touching the trees and plants gave her strength. She was the elemental guardian of the forest, and she would do anything – anything at all to protect it from the likes of people like him.
    “I am sorry for your loss,” sh e said. “But the animal knew ’twas a sacrifice to the gods and gave its life willingly. It did not suffer.”
    “Now you are really making me angry with your addlepated words. And mayhap the bull didn’t suffer, but when I am through, every last one of you druids will suffer immensely. Believe me on that one.”
    “There is no need for that. I am sure we can thin k of something to give you in exchange for the bull. Mayhap food from the earth, or even wood if need be.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. That was a prize d, rare, white bull, and worth more than any berries or roots you could possibly offer. I need a life for a life. That’s the only fair exchange. Now tell me, do you have any other bulls stashed away for future sacrifices? ’Twould not match my bull’s worth, but being the fair man that I am, I may consider it.”
    “Nay,” she answered. “As it was, the sacrifice called for two white bulls, but we only had the one. We live simply. The only animals here are the ones that live off the land in the forest.”
    “That will never do, and unless you want a war, you’d better come up with another alternative quickly. I am losing my patience , and I am not known for being a compromising man.”
    “Take one of us in exchange ,” came the desperate voice of the chief druid.
     
    “What?” Wolfe asked, and noticed the girl’s eyes open wide by the man’s comment, as she seemed just as surprised as he.
    “What are you saying, Humphrey ?” asked the girl. “That one of you would be willing to go with The Destroyer as a sacrifice?”
    “Not a sac rifice,” said Wolfe, “as that won’t replace my loss. I would take one of you back to the castle as my servant instead. ’Twill be someone to tend to my every need and do backbreaking work in my fields each day. Now that I am short an animal, I need someone to pull the plow. That was my breeder you killed as well. Not sure how you’ll remedy that!”
    “Take whichever of us you think would best serve your needs, my lord.” Humphrey extended his hand, offering the other druids. They said nothing, just sat there in silence, letting their leader trade them off like cattle being brought to the market.
    Wolf e took a look at the druids, and realized he didn’t want any of these heathens within his castle walls. They were weak, praying men, not strong warriors like him. They had no skills with any weapon. Nor did they have knowledge of what happened before or after a battle, should he decide to have them help his squire polish his sword or take the rust off his armor in the process. He sincerely doubted they knew anything about the hard life at a castle, as they’d lived in the forest their entire lives and probably had never done a decent day’s work - ever. They couldn’t plow a field let alone bring him his weapons or even a meal for that matter. All they could do was teach him how to chant or call upon their pagan gods, and that was something he would never do – not even if his own life depended on it. They were worthless! This would never do.
    Then his eyes fell on the odd girl aga in. She looked at him through intense but hooded big green eyes, drinking him in, reminding him of a cat. She was mysterious and alluring, and he couldn’t help feeling she was watching his every move, like a predator stalking its prey. Aye, she stirred his loins in an unusual way. And though he’d ignored it for many years, he did like an oddity. Anything unusual excited him, taking his interest and making him feel alive.
    Plus, he was tired of the castle lightskirts. He hadn’t had a decent bedding with a wench worth mentioning in so